The Loot Bag that Won’t Be Left at The Bottom of Your Car ... and How I Got Back into Writing
ECHOage Enthusiast: Sharon Neiss Arbess
Author: Me and My So-Called Friends
“My child doesn’t read – but she read your book.”
That quote was said to me, in different forms, by several parents. And I must be honest, accolades like this makes me beam with pride – but this didn’t happen overnight.
Let me tell you the story of how I got here.
Many years ago I was early for an appointment, so I stepped into a nearby coffee shop to pass the time. I sat alone in a booth, enjoyed a coffee, and stared into space. It was a welcome retreat as I had a toddler and a newborn at home. I let my mind to wonder, and I was mesmerized on how I was feeling.
Gloriously happy with an immense desire to write.
This didn’t come as a surprise to me, as I was trained as a copywriter. I worked in the field for a while but left when I had children as I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. The work was repetitive, the hours were not ideal, and the work environment was not the most welcoming. I knew a lot of copywriters and they were happy. But I wasn’t and it wasn’t worth it anymore for me. Plus, I wanted to be home with my kids.
I’m Back!
The following day, I found myself wanting to feel what I felt the previous day. Alone in a coffee shop with a notebook and pen. So, after dropping my son off at preschool, I dashed to my neighbourhood coffee shop, to do just that.
I thought I’m back and I am ready to do this. What “This” was – I had no clue, but I had to find out.
As I sipped my coffee, I opened a notepad and let my thoughts spill out like Niagra Falls. They came down hard. And I was euphorically happy.
That was fast!
Before I knew it, two hours flew by and a had written a handful of pages. What I wrote wasn’t clear, but I sure had fun doing it. So, I decided to return the next day.
And the next.
And the next.
And for the next 9 months I visited this coffee shop about three to four times a week. Some days I wrote a lot and some days I didn’t write at all.
My story became clearer, the more I wrote. I was like a passenger on an adventure, not knowing where it was going to take me next. Since it was my first book, I embraced the famous saying “Write what you know” which guided me to where I wanted to explore and what I wanted the reader to experience.
A story of resilience. Growth. And overcoming obstacles, as told by a 15-year-old girl.
A book that was, and still is needed for the middle school child. The amazing thing is parents enjoy reading it too – as it gives them an opportunity to talk about difficult subjects that can be hard to approach.
My rebirth as a writer led me to write a book that can help your child become engaged in reading, tackle issues that kids face on a daily basis at school, and provide you with an ideal loot bag for your child’s birthday! I hope you’ll check out my book. If you buy in bulk (10 or more copies) it’s only $10 per book. Much less than a loot bag full of sugar or plastic! And this loot bag lasts and hopefully inspires. You can reach Sharon here to order your copies.