Where We Left Off

Martha Kennedy 16 Comments

Back in the fall of 2019 I was pretty famous here in the back of beyond. The China book! I did a reading at the local independent bookstore, a couple of radio interviews, another reading at the museum. Other things — even involving other books — were lining up and it was really cool after the first one. I enjoyed being a famous writer (on this scale) and loved meeting people in my community in this way. I did a beautiful display for the book, too. In fact, the first time I participated in the holiday show at the Rio Grande County Museum, it wasn’t as a visual artist, but as a writer.

I didn’t even know that I LIKED reading my books to people or that I LIKED being on the radio.

Then, suddenly, the whole world was under the weather, and that was the end of that.The China book, which was such a labor of love, just kind of got pushed aside like everything else as I — along with everyone else — tried to figure out what was going on and how to respond to it.

Yesterday I got the local paper which is 8 pages. There is also — with it — another, thicker, paper “Lifestyles,” which tells about events that affect the entire San Luis Valley population of 40,000 people. I look through these journalistic missives pretty quickly before consigning them to recycling or package wrapping, whichever. On the front page of the thick insert I read a write up of Louise’ (Rio Grande County Museum) press release about the upcoming holiday art show. It said, “Martha Kennedy will be doing a reading and a story of her experience of a Christmas in China.”

I thought, “OK, this is where we left off.” And I understood that is exactly right.

If you can see it, there’s an article about a kid’s park that was built in my town entirely by volunteers. That’s also where we left off.

Still, it seems like eons ago — another lifetime, anyway — since 2019 and the publication of As a Baby Duck Listens to Thunder. It wasn’t, but it feels like it. <3. Here’s the story about the featured photo.

https://marthakennedy.blog/2021/10/17/review-of-baby-duck/
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/11/04/rdp-thursday-under-the-weather/

16 thoughts on “Where We Left Off”

  1. Yeah, it is both interesting and nice to be a “local author” in a small place. It comes and goes and that’s fine. For me lately, though, it’s been embarrassing to have to respond to the question: “How’s that next novel coming?” Sigh.

    • You’re a writer. You have the right to fly off the handle at that question or break into spontaneous tears. Artistic temperament, right?

      What I hate is, “Writer’s block?” I’m all, “Fuck you. I’ll writer’s block you,” but I don’t say that. I like, “Novel? What novel? Huh?” 😀

      “What are you writing these days?” “My name???”

      In fact, no one ever asks me anything about my writing down here so they are safe from all this…

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