Year in Review

February 8, 2022 | Filed under blindness nonfiction writing Writing Life

Annie Shares News Issue 2.2 February 2022

anniesharesnews@groups.io Subscribe anniesharesnews+subscribe@groups.io

Here’s to palindromes, 2.2.2022! There are ten palindrome dates during 2022 and in 2021 there were twenty-two. Hm. 💭

I wasn’t going to do it, wasn’t going to give into the year-in-review, fan the rolodex of personal and literary accomplishments and ego-boosting feats and phantasms claiming it is imperative for others to read it and feign being impressed. What can I say? I gave in like a cheap pair of dollar store flip-flops.

Here’s a year in review. I’ll attempt to complete it in quarters and leave the unmentionables unmentioned.

Two of my books on Audible.com.
Narrating part of the book, Words of Life: Poems and Essays. Gads of winks to Lilly and Graydon for encouraging me to even do it.
Completing my YA novel, Hope for the Tarnished and getting it to my editor, Leonore.
Submitting to more journals and article writing opportunities in paying markets to benefit my craft and visibility in the writing community.
Collaborating and developing two podcasts.
Being a guest on two international podcasts to promote my books.
Posting a monthly newsletter and making it a routine.
Stepping back from stressful volunteer responsibilities and healing my overstressed mind, body and spirit.
Joining a private weekly poetry writing and critique group that I adore.
Embracing my talents in both the physical, creative, and metaphysical places and forms.
Accepting the aging process and working with what I’ve been given.

I am sure I could go on to number over twenty items but won’t belabor it, folks. I am good and find the place where I am now one of wonder, learning, and balanced with stubbornness necessary to push through the challenges.

Peace and health for you, friends. I value the connections and the free exchange of support and care we’ve shared over the past year and hope we continue the connections into the future.

Dreya the book dragon wants to wish you all well and continued flights of creativity to come your way.

1Red and green dragon floating amid books and musical notes. She is smiling and Ann’s name and the words “Making meaningful connections with others through writing” is to the right of the dragon.

Smashing prices, not Pumpkins

December 17, 2021 | Filed under blindness Fiction Guide dogs nonfiction paranormal Poem writing

📚 You won’t want to miss out on these discounts

All my titles are on sale until January 1, 2022. Save 50% at the Smashwords year-end sale.

Or visit my author’s page to find out more and read a preview:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnChiappetta

Why Smashwords? Electronic choices, of course. Simple and get the book delivered to your inbox. Transfer it to your favorite book reading app. It’s great, kindle isn’t the only eBook reading app in town. 😉

The numbers Are In

November 19, 2021 | Filed under blindness nonfiction Relationships

The numbers Are In

As it happened, this year my first article for Outlook Enrichment posted:

https://www.outlooken.org/news/article/the-way-i-see-it-ann-chiappetta

What does the article have to do with numbers? Mom was born on November 17. She’s been gone six years and I miss her even though the harsh pang of grief has softened. I am grateful for my sisters and our extended family, who help keep Mom’s spirit going.

The universe supports keeping Mom’s spirit upfront and in a cherished place for us. Special things keep falling on the date of her birth and every time it happens, I get the feeling she’s delighted. We love you and miss you, Mom; keep sending reminders that you’re out there and the universe is caring for you.

As for my new gig, I think it’s the best omen it was scheduled on this special date.

A Round Trip From New York to Greece in an Hour✈

November 17, 2021 | Filed under blindness Fiction nonfiction Poem writing

Yes, folks, I spent time with Karina Kantas, the host of the author’s assist podcast and the Artist First Radio Network , talking all things creativity and writing. Karina lives in the Greek Isles and it was a great show. To visit with us and enjoy the conversation, click here.

Not sure where Dreya and I will fly to next but it’s sure to be interesting. I’ve got our virtual bags packed and ready to go.

Ann’s personal logo

Life is a Grand (Writing) Adventure

October 7, 2021 | Filed under blindness writing Writing Life

♓ ✨ 🔯

I read my daily horoscope. It waits in my inbox until the right time. Sometimes it is a day late, providing insights into things that already happened, other days it’s right on the money. Today is an accurate horoscope day.

Since semi-retiring at age fifty-something, I’ve picked up a few contract jobs but none in the field where my true passion lay: writing and creating content for blogging and podcasts. I am hoping my horoscope and a new opportunity will assist me in shifting focus and a new adventure will include my passion with a salary, too.

I’m on a grand adventure

Full of words and sounds

Together Heart and mind smile

Ann’s personal logo

Artificial Divide Anthology

September 1, 2021 | Filed under blindness Fiction Guide dogs

Hi readers, check out a new #OwnVoice anthology by authors with visual impairment, the first anthology to include one of my short stories plus over twelve other authors. Read the description and you will understand why it’s a pivotal collection. Thanks to Robert Kingett and Randy Lacey for making it possible, along with Renaissance Press.

I hope you and your friends and colleagues support it by pre-ordering the collection. Thanks for your support, we cannot be a success without readers like you.

Release date is September 15, 2021, order now, why wait?

Artificial Divide Anthology by Renaissance Press

Step into a world of rogue screen readers, Braille in fantasy worlds, a friend meeting an acquaintance after several years, and more.

This #OwnVoices anthology features fiction by Blind and visually impaired authors showing readers how they thrive, hurt, get revenge, outsmart bullies, or go on epic adventures. Artificial Divide is an own-voices story collection that captures the many layers of Blindness and, for once, puts visually impaired protagonists in the driver’s seat, letting us glimpse their lives.

When we think about it, we’re not really divided. Stories by Eunice Cooper-Matchett, Anita Haas, Rebecca Blaevoet, Tessa Soderberg, Laurie Alice Eakes, Melissa Yuan, Innes – Jamieson Wolf, Ben Fulton, Felix Imonti, – Niki White, M.

Leona Godin, Ann Chiappetta, Lawrence Gunther, Heather Meares, and Jameyanne Fuller.

Links for preordering the paperback, eBook and Audio formats

https://tinyurl.com/b8mk6wxb

https://tinyurl.com/s2tz367e

Acrostic Poem for Guiding Eyes

May 27, 2021 | Filed under blindness Guide dogs Poem writing

Hello all-

It’s always a pleasure to put my writing and performing skills to good use, like when helping out Guiding Eyes for the Blind www.guidingeyes.org . Here’s something I wrote to help them out.

Hi my name is Ann Chiappetta and I am a Guiding Eyes graduate.

I’d like to share what Guiding Eyes means to me

In the form of an acrostic poem.

Guide dog mobility instructors who are the best in the business

Unparalleled and internationally recognized brood and stud program

Increased independence

Doggone bestest puppy program

Excellent follow up services for graduates and their dogs

Developing programs for athletes

, active older adults, and people with additional disabilities

Organization who believes in the potential of it’s clients

Graduates like me who

are recipients of

confident, capable and loving canine partners.

Thanks for listening.

Click here for the audio:

Path of Discovery

April 26, 2021 | Filed under blindness nonfiction recovering the self

This article was posted on the Recovering the Self blog, why not check it out?

https://www.recoveringself.com/travel/a-path-of-discovery.https://www.recoveringself.com/travel/a-path-of-discovery.

A Match in March

March 13, 2021 | Filed under blindness Guide dogs

This post is for my best friend and buddy, Bailey. He’s full of heart and has cream colored fur. He’s got a big head and beautiful brown eyes. People say his face is puppy like and his big brown nose and ears make him look both regal and goofy depending on the situation. He is a 75 lb. yellow lab from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. His first family and puppy raiser are from Maine. He loves to swim and play.

He loves my hubby and daughter and shares our home with another dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. Last night the cat curled up beside him, it’s paw on his back. 🐾

He’s kept me safe and guided me through so much in life and has been there during some of the darkest moments of it.

The unconditional regard of a dog for it’s partner is felt and expressed through the ebb and flow of life and I will do my best not to take this for granted because it is a gift to be honored, cherished and earned.

Here’s to 6 years together, Bailey.

This image requires alt text, but the alt text is currently blank. Either add alt text or mark the image as decorative. yellow lab Bailey in our livingroom

Free ebooks

March 6, 2021 | Filed under blindness Fiction Guide dogs nonfiction Poem

From March 7 to March 13 all my titles on www.smashwords.com are free.

Go to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnChiappetta

To download all or any of my titles. If you want to read poetry, fiction and nonfiction, I’ve got a title for you. Poems in Upwelling, heartfelt journeys with my guide dog in the memoir, Follow Your Dog a Story of Love and Trust, essays and poems written for nature lovers in Words of Life: Poems and Essays and a short story collection certain to send your imagination soaring in A String of Stories From the Heart to the Future.

I hope you come along for the word journey with me and share this link, it’s only free from March 7 until March 13, 2021.

#smashwords #ebookweek21