Thursday, November 7, 2013

Friday Girls



Swishing skirts, high heels and Cadillac-bound,
It's the Friday girls, the Friday girls, the Friday girls.

When I was trying to come up a name for my short story collection I just fell in love with "Friday Girls." The very idea conjured up images of kick-ass women, confident in their abilities but all too human, kicking up their high heels and heading brashly into the weekend. But the name was also practical. Most of the stories were, after all, written about "girls" of all ages, and most were written for #FridayFlash, the Internet meme that transformed me from a journalist who wrote just-the-facts-ma'am into a bonafide fiction writer.

If you've never heard of #FridayFlash, let me quickly explain. It's the brainchild of Jon M. Strother who came up with the idea of writers, from all over the world, concocting a story of 1,000 words or less and posting it on their blogs every Friday. These stories were tweeted and Facebooked with the hashtag #FridayFlash, which enabled other writers (and readers) to find the stories, comment on them, share them and give positive feedback – thus boosting the confidence and visibility of the writers.

I have bloggy friend CJ Hodges MacFarlane to thank for turning me onto #FridayFlash, something I immediately fell head over heels with. There was such a rush in seeing what other people said about my stories. And there was such immense satisfaction in sitting down in front of a computer screen, with little more than an idea, and coming up with a real live story. Usually I had no idea what I was going to write until I started writing and it always amazed the heck out of me when a story turned out right.

Plus, I met the most amazing people. People who were just like me – struggling writers with the self-confidence of fleas. We shared the same dreams, the same goals and the same fervour to get those stories written, week after week.

I wrote a story the week before my wedding. I wrote one on my honeymoon. I wrote when I was crazy busy, and I wrote when I was ill. Bloggy friend Alan W. Davidson said I was "addicted" to #FridayFlash and he was absolutely right.

As my confidence increased I turned my attention to my novel, Green Eggs & Weezie, and, for the most part, left #FridayFlash behind. But I never stopped thinking about my "Friday girls" and I tried not to lose touch with the writing community that changed my life.

I'd like to thank Paula Boon for editing my stories, and Lou Freshwater and Jon Strother for providing introductions, as well as Steven Novak for the beautiful cover. Mostly I want to thank the writers of #FridayFlash who liked, or at least pretended to like (!) the stories that took a little bit out of my heart.

I think you'll like these stories. I'm hoping they make you smile, or make you cry, or at least make you think. These are my girls, the daughters I never had, my friends, my relatives, and they're as special to me as the women in my real life.

Starting tomorrow, for five days, Friday Girls will be free to download on Amazon. I'm working on getting the paperback version together (as well as writing a new novel during Nanowrimo, gawd help me) and should have that together in the coming days. (That one won't be free, however!)

Would anyone care to post a blurb about Friday Girls on their blogs? Doesn't have to be a big deal. Just a blurb that it's out there and it's free for five days. And if you read the book, and you like it, I'd sincerely appreciate a review on Goodreads and Amazon. It's a jungle out there in book publishing land and you really need the help of your friends to get a book launched. I hope I'm not too big a pain in your butts but please know you are soooooo appreciated.

E-mail me if you need cover art or a blurb or a link or money. Oops, sorry, don't have money. I'm a writer, remember?

27 comments:

  1. Pop! Fizz!

    No, not "pop quiz" - I just shook the bubbly a little before opening it. and now I've got champagne splashes all over your new book, Cathy.

    Um...congratulations? *sheepish grin*

    No, sincere congratulations, Cathy, on doing this. The Collected Cathy Fridays sounds like a great idea. I'm happy to pen a note on my blog to point to this.

    Again, congratulations! *Clink*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Kevin!!!! *clinks right back atcha* Btw, there's never anything wrong with spilling champagne on a book! It's a stain that keeps on giving!

      Delete
  2. Congratulations! Now I have the link...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cathy I am so excited and proud. I loved your Friday Flashes, they re-introduced you to me. Now I will have two books written by one of my favourite authors. It's just extra special cause we're Cuzin's. Glowing here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, you're the sweetest, Debi. Thank you so much. And you must know, I'm always proud to tell people you're my cousin. xoxox

      Delete
  4. OK - where do I sign......

    Since our first encounter, Cathy, you have amazed me with your literary talents which, by turns, have had me guffawing wildly or blubbing. One of your other hallmarks is your generous spirit of encouragement doled out by the bucket-load - I know, because I have been one of the recipients of said encouragement!

    So, send me whatever you'd like to be shared via my blog and I'll do my best to start bragging on the blogosphere on your behalf! :-)

    (....and I have to say - every time I look at your blog and that smily-faced lady appears with the tiller in her hand I can't help but smile back and imagine you throwing back your head and giving a great big raucous laugh! It brightens my day ;-p)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, gee shucks Sue that's nice. And I love Hilda, too. My favourite pin-up girl of all time. There's a host of them on the net - probably one to fit a knitter, I bet!

      So thanks. Sincerely. I shall send you something forthwith!

      What is it about conversing with folks around the globe? When I talk to you, I suddenly sound British. When I talk to folks in the south, I'm all y'all. Weird....

      Delete
    2. OK - you've been Bloggered, Tweeted and Facebooked - I'm just about to strap on my big bass drum and grab my trumpet and go out along the highways and byways promoting Friday Girls!

      (I trust my cheque's in the post....? ;-p)

      Delete
    3. You did SUCH a good job! Feeling so loved. :) But I gotta warn you... that cheque's no good. Jest sayin'...

      Delete
  5. I will post a link on facebook. I will also put this on my blog tomorrow. I downloaded your book already. I think I can afford a buck. haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristy, I barely know you and yet you have been one of the most fervent supports of my work. I bow to you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

      Delete
  6. I already put this on my blog. I hope you don't mind that I used your cover art and copy and pasted, a description from amazon.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good for you, Cathy!

    I'll do the same as Kristy. I can get it done that way before I leave. I'll be posting a blog in the morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, William! I really really appreciate it! oxox

      Delete
  8. This is really exciting news!

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow Cathy I will check this out you inspire so many and there are a lot of writers who look to your drive and determination and lack of money. :) B

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can't wait to check this out Cathy. You amaze me and I can't wait to read all about your kick-ass Friday Girls.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent, Cathy! I love the 'story' behind the stories, and the cover is great. Will be downloading it later today. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Madeline!!! I hope your book is doing well, too! I absolutely loved your stories!

      Delete
  12. That link took me to Green Eggs and Weezie, which I already bought, but I managed to hack my way through the jungle of Amazon to Friday Girls, which is now MIIIIINE!!!!

    Would you like to come feature Friday Girls on my blog on Monday? You know the drill! Cover pic (I already have one of your beautiful self), book blurb, excerpt from one of the stories, if you like, anything you'd like to share. <3

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well you seem to be getting over your publishing anxiety nicely. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete

How's it going, eh? It's SO good to hear from you. Tell me every darn thing...