Christmas in July

for YOU!

Sometimes you just gotta wear your feather boa and be FABULOUS, right? Here's a picture of my daughter, Heejong, doing just that with her little nine-year-old self. You'll get to read her inspiring adoption story in my upcoming memoir, Hope Diamond.

But today we're having Christmas in July! Rather than a story, today I've got TWO SURPRISES and a GIFT for you!

Let's start with the first surprise.

Many writers recently signed onto this newsletter as a result of a Substack Note I wrote about my writing journey. It got me thinking. Do I want to share my experiences and perhaps inspire some great writing? YES

Do I want to clutter up this newsletter, The Heart Connection, with such advice? NO

(drum roll please!)

(photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash)

Enter WRITE AND PUBLISH with Anna, my new Substack publication!

It’s a community learning space to grow together and get inspired. As a teacher and writer, I will do my best to impart what I have learned along the way and show you how to save time and heartache as you make decisions about your writing.

Click here: Write and Grow with Anna

Don't worry, The Heart Connection will still be active and full of stories. The new one is not a substitute, so please don’t leave. It’s just an additional space for writers to discuss writing without annoying the rest of this lovely community of readers.

So, that's ONE surprise. Which I guess was actually a GIFT. But who's counting?

Here's your TRUE GIFT:

It’s a FREE BOOK. My friend here on Substack, Jacqueline Hollows, has written a fantastic guide for anyone who wants to attract new clients and do good work. It's not just for writers! It’s for anyone wanting to make an impact. As she Jacqueline says,

Are you struggling to explain your powerful work in a way that truly resonates with others?

Let Them Feel It is the answer. This book will guide you in connecting with people on a deeper level and sharing your message in a way that makes a real impact.

Here’s the link:

FOR INFO AND FREE DOWNLOAD

Got it?

Whew, that’s a lot of excitement! I think we need som egg nog before continuing.

Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash

Ready?

NOW, I have a second SURPRISE: It's a new book — from me!

"Eh? I thought you were working on Hope Diamond," you might say.

Yes, but Hope Diamond is annoyingly in the hands of other people right now. Some friends in Korea are fact-checking so I don't say anything terribly wrong, and my awesome editor (shout-out to Holly Welker! Thank you!), has reminded me with great patience that the words "that" and "which" are actually not synonymous, despite what I teach my ESL students.

So I've prepared a little book hors-d'oeuvre, a little book-atizer to tide us over until November. It's a gentle poetry book about social isolation and yearning for human connection. It falls into the genre of mental health poetry, which until recently, I did not know even existed. Although it’s new, I’ve put the ebook version on 80% off at just $1.99 (for this month) for our Christmas in July party!

The book is a short collection of minimalistic poems aimed at promoting reflection and conversation about loneliness, isolation, attempts at connection, and finally our sense of community.

Click here: $1.99 on Amazon

It’s only on Amazon for now. I’ll publish it widely once I work out the rest of the platforms.

HOWEVER, I want you to do something while you get my little book. If you download Jacqueline's book too, please read it and leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. This is one of the BEST ways to thank and appreciate a writer!

While you're there, you might also review Reaching Out. But please be gentle. I make no claims to be Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson – just honest about my heart.

SO -

How was that for a fun Substack read? You got a boa picture, two surprises, and a gift – and it wasn't even your birthday! (Or WAS it??)

As always, PLEASE feel free to comment below, and please enjoy my stories in The Heart Connection.

Warmly,

Anna