Irene Watson

Recently, I had a bit of good news that I was going to share with Irene. The last time we talked she was excited about doing something new. And finally, I had something new to tell her. But she died last week, so I guess she already knows my news. I know she would be delighted with it.

We often talked shop. Of course, there were the industry tips we'd share. The one thing we were safe to do with each other was to be brutally honest about the publishing industry in ways that it isn't politically correct to be with just anyone. That was refreshing. I liked that about Irene, among other traits that probably everyone who knew her liked about her.

I will miss her. But my publishing experience is much richer for knowing her.

Get her book, The Sitting Swing, and meet my friend, Irene Watson.

Party with IRENE WATSON!

Party, Party, Par-ty. Party, Party, Par-ty. (Conga line) YES! This party is ALL about having fun with writers and winning autographed books. It is world wide, everyone is invited...EVERYONE!

Late in the day yesterday, Connie donated a second autographed book. Our winners are: Ta-Da! Nick and Andrew. Congratulations guys! That is sooooo cool to have men so interested in Breast Cancer. All us women think you two rock! (email me, please)


Irene Watson is an amazing woman. I found Irene years ago when I was doing my usual thing of really-really reading websites. I saw a link to ReaderViews.com, a book review company that Irene runs. In exploring at RV, I somehow came across the fact that Irene had written a memoir. Call me crazy - but reading and dyslexia are like oil and water - I had never read a memoir, so I bought Irene's book, The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference.

As the only surviving child of Ukrainian immigrant parents living in Canada, Sitting Swing tells the story of Irene's childhood and the far reaching effects it had on her as an adult.

Her website says: Irene Watson's pretentious life could go no further until she faced her own past. Her inspiring memoir begins at the end, in a recovery center, where she has gone to understand a childhood fraught with abuse, guilt, and uncertainty. http://irenewatson.com/

Later, when I was looking for a good review service for my books, I went back to ReaderViews.com. I had a question or something about the process and Irene answered it.

Over time, our friendship has been one of frank discussions about the publishing industry in general and the indie corner in particular. Irene is one of the industry's pros. I love our discussions, idea bouncing, and years long friendship. Irene has come in and provided services to indie writers that were once road blocks to our entrance into the arena of the publishing world.

Today, I'm switching her hat to the writer Irene. There is so much I want to ask about writing a memoir. I write faux memoirs, so I'm off the hook to get things right - I make them up. However, I'm sure Irene will gladly answer questions about the industry for writers and for readers who are curious about what the heck it is that we do. Plus I will take the liberty to plug that serious readers who want to be reviewers for Irene can contact her for details. irene@readerviews.com

Until I started writing Irene's day, I hadn't realized she has a new video for her second edition of The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference.

Check this out!



Party Game: Irene is giving away two autographed copies of Sitting Swing. To be eligible to win, the game is name the country your family immigrated from or you would like to immigrate to - make something up, if you don't have a real answer.

This is the place to party without worrying about typos in the comments (who cares?), so if English is a second language, comment anyway -- this is after all, only the FIRST DRAFT.

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