Article posted on AFB Career Connect ✍️ 🧑💻
| Filed under blindness blogging nonfiction
| Filed under blindness blogging nonfiction
| Filed under nonfiction novel writing Writing Life
Annie Shares News Volume 2 Issue 7 July 2023
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Summer greetings!
🏖️ 🩴 ✈️ 🍹 🧳 🚢
New Projects and New Beginnings
June and July are busy months for me and my family. We take on projects and enjoy long weekends driving to regional fairs, events and picnics. I’ve been an active member of the American Council of the Blind for over twenty years. Our National conference and convention is in July. Since the pandemic, ACB has incorporated it’s virtual and in-person attendance, accommodating a hybrid program and schedule. Now that I am invested in and serving as the Friends In Art affiliate President, my time and passion for the arts and FIA keeps me busy in late June with the virtual program as well as attending some of the hybrid events. I wanted to attend the in-person portion of the conference taking place in Schaumburg, Illinois but circumstances have kept me from doing so. Positive circumstances, like house hunting and finishing my second novel. 😊
July is Read an eBook month.
All my Books are On Sale DURING JULY
Now is your best chance to find my entire eBook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos all months! #SWSale2023 #Smashwords
I support learning something new each year post-retirement. Last year it was Zoom and all its bells and whistles. In 2021 it was learning how a two-channel USB connector and studio microphone and headphones worked with my pc and crafting a portable noise damper. Yes, folks, I used a twin sized sheet, 12 x 12 foam tiles and plenty of safety pins to make a tent. And, no, I am not taking pictures. It is too embarrassing. It works when needed, that is all I will tell you .
This year I am learning how to use a digital audio workstation, or DAW, called Gold wave. I am working on recording my next poetry collection myself. 😉
The novel? Imperfections is in final rewrite mode. It comes in under 300 pages and is a romance. But it is more than a romance; it is a great story about love, hope and healing. It’s not too late to be a beta reader. Email me at anniecms64@gmail.com if you would like to read an advanced copy and provide answers to six targeted questions. Once you return your answers, I will compensate you with a copy of the book.
My guide dog, Bailey, has recovered from his surgery and is healthy. He is still working part-time for me, enjoying road trips and attending presentations. I am blessed with the gift of independence in the form
of a great dog. Bailey will retire soon but indicates he still wants to work, so we will continue, being mindful of his condition.
I was featured in an article discussing the digital divide for people with disabilities. Go here to read it.
The energy I’ve absorbed from the recent summer solstice fills me with exciting plans. Relocating to another State is happening soon as well as decluttering our current home in advance of the move.
May warm breezes and pleasant experiences be with you.
Until next time,
Annie and Bailey
| Filed under nonfiction Poem
The Ride
To Pepsi, the best horse I ever rode.
By Ann Chiappetta
forge the stream On docile
chestnut Appaloosa. Hooves
splash and click on submerged stones
this is big country air crisp and wild
A split trail. Guide points
“Mountain lion won’t look for you there. You got two hours, follow the stream to get back,”
Horse and rider brush Past weeping willows and wildflowers.
A light shake of reins, a tap of heels
Trot, canter, galloping
horse jumps. clears mud puddle
rider flies,
lands with a wet plop
on back, breathless
warm breath, big nose nuzzles face
mud splattered Eyes open
soft equine gaze says,
“Hey, let’s finish the ride,”
Lake Tahoe, Nevada September 1980
| Filed under blogging nonfiction pets and people Poem
Transformation
By Ann Chiappetta
My City Dogs become Porch mongrels
Laying beside the mason jar of sun tea
The basso drone of a honey bee
The snap of a Jay’s call
The aroma of a grill
A whisking breeze bestows relief
It is a call to prayer
Soon we will rise
Shake free of the delightful
porch-dog torpor
trade the carefree for the city
But for now we are country hounds.
2022
| Filed under nonfiction Relationships
It was a stressful day. I visited my dentist and underwent an extraction, one of many in preparation for implants. It wasn’t as horrible as anticipated, though I will admit I do get anxious whenever my trusted dental expert schedules to remove something I’ve grown up with and have learned to depend upon like a front tooth. Needless to say today some comedic relief would have been wonderful, and with this in mind, here’s the story:
I was going back to the kitchen to refill my drink with ice and Jerry was preparing dinner. He turned to me, then looked down and exclaimed,
“Hey, where’s the other ear of corn?” and before I could say anything, he bolted past me and found the stolen item beside another bone on the dog bed in the living room. May was not owning up to it, and) conspicuously nowhere near the crime. She is not only a bone hoarder but also a corn-on-the-cob thief. We’ve caught her before, and one time, it took her three days to finally poop out the cob.
I could not hold back and burst out and laughed the gut-busting kind of laugh, complete with tears and belly cramps, followed by giggles and more laughing.
May and my hubby gave me the best gift, stress relief!
| Filed under blindness Fiction Guide dogs nonfiction Poem
The 14th Annual Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale has begun, running now through July 31. Visit my author’s page to order your free eBooks from Smashwords during the Summer sale!
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnChiappetta
All my titles are free, a gift to readers everywhere.
Why Smashwords? Electronic choices, of course. It’s 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. 😉
| Filed under nonfiction Poem writing
Springtime Bliss with Valentina
Blessed to have been invited to submit something for Valentina’s blog.
https://valentinaexpressions.com/2022/04/26/spring-beauty-and-books-ann-chiappetta/
| Filed under blindness nonfiction writing Writing Life
Annie Shares News Issue 2.2 February 2022
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Everything Annie: www.annchiappetta.com
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.
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.
| Filed under nonfiction Relationships writing
| Filed under nonfiction Relationships writing
Annie Shares News Issue 1 January 2022
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🍾 Happy New Year! 🎇
Well now, friends and followers, 2021 has been complicated, hasn’t it? I don’t know about you but I feel wrung-out and all kinds of weird – hm, could it be the wacky weather or maybe the long-term effects of a two-year long pandemic. One blogger I know stated the continual loss and grieving may contribute to feeling wrung-out and disheartened. – whatever is contributing to it, it’s sure been a rollercoaster ride of strained emotions. If you think you’ve been alone in feeling this way, rest assured you are one of many and you are not alone.
As written by Plato: “Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught falsehoods in school. And the person that dares to tell the truth is called at once a lunatic and fool”
He might have been talking about himself yet his words are prophetic and powerful. I never thought we would be living through a pandemic and yet here we are.
I will move onto less troubling topics,. Most of the early part of 2021 was recording my two most recently published books as audio books. It’s a goal to strive for my material to be offered in alternative formats for the blind and people with print disabilities like dyslexia. All my books are available from audible.com and as digital books from the National Library of Congress talking book catalog. The specific links and everything Annie is on my website, www.annchiappetta.com .
I would not have been able to do it myself, and huge thanks goes out to voice actor and the best narrator, Lillian Yves for being there to help.
Taking part in interviews and podcasts is fun and exciting, especially when being an international guest. Check out this one with Princess Diva: https://anchor.fm/diva-williams/episodes/Inspirational-moments-with-Ann-Chiappetta–Author-e19j36i
and this one with Karina KKantas: https://www.artistfirst.com/kantas.htm
Here’s a haiku for you to ponder:
Hands cup grains of sand
Delicate and Rough to touch
Stars pulsing through time
Dreya the book dragon sends wing beats of creativity and kindness your way, 🐲