Dear Reader

Gently releasing

I'm not going to pretend life without my sister's presence is easy. It's not. There's not a moment she isn't in my thoughts.

Little things, big things, and nothing at all bring her back into my mind and heart. I'm no different to others of us who grieve. I've lived long enough now to know that grief is irrevocably stitched into the fabric of human lives. Mine is no different.

It's how we live with this new fabric that is unique to each of us. Our memories of our loved one are unique as well. I'm leaving my photo of my sister up on the newsletter today in memory of what is special about her for me - and perhaps to those who loved her too.

And time to reflect

And time to enjoy the peace and joy of being in our home space. Here's a snapshot of part of our garden after a sunshower. Lots to rest the eyes on while my thoughts are steadying.

What is occupying me now?

Connections!

Most importantly I'm enjoying keeping up with family and friends. If you've read my 'stuff' for a while, you'll know that I think connection is so very important. In our busy lives we don't always have time, or make time, for the important people in our lives. It's lovely having my daughter and her husband here from Australia. And it's lovely hearing news from near and far, however fleetingly.

My daughter Amy drives eastwards to work and shared this amazing sunrise. It takes me back to our recent time together where she also made sure we had some rest time while we were in the midst of sorting and organising. This is a lovely reminder we live in a beautiful world.

Following on from Ages of Pages Book Fair

Last weekend fellow author and my daughter, Phoebe, and I attended the Ages of Pages Book Fair event here in Hamilton, New Zealand.

We had a great time. I just love meeting fellow authors and readers - finding out what genre appeals and if they've read my books what impressed them.

I was excited this year to meet an AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) counsellor and a psychiatrist and discuss the relevancy of their work with my own experience that prompted writing my memoir.

On the Friday before the Book Fair we had a dinner. I have to admit I'm not a gregarious person when with people I've just met and sometimes (most times!) before such events I'm a bundle of nerves. But authors are generally introverts who explode into extroverts when we get together.

Before the dinner, we had the opportunity to attend some workshops. These were invaluable - again for meeting fellow authors and also learning from those a few steps ahead of us on the publishing ladder. But for me, the workshops helped me focus mostly on for developing a cohesive on-line presence.

Rebranding my presence on some on-line platforms

I've enjoyed focusing on this aspect of being a writer. I realise I've been a bit higgledy-piggledy about it in the past. I'm not highly skilled at this part of the work - so if you happen to see some mistakes and inconsistencies, believe me when I say I'll be grateful to you for pointing them out!

To start with, you may note that my newsletter now has a title The Long Thread - pointing to my place as matriarch of a large multi-generational family - something that surprises me everytime I think of my family.The Long Thread is also the name of my Substack.

I'm also changing my profile pictures and bio on the platforms to bring a more consistent appearance. You can sneak a peak at some I've already done this on these sites:

I've not been very active on media platforms the past few months and hopefully this will change.

Back into my writing

I have a good start on my cosy mystery, Threads of Trust (do you see a theme here?) I'm hopeful to finish it by Christmas.

Another memoir is brewing on the back burner. There are some themes and patterns that are prominent in our family that I'd like to explore. Researching the times the women - my mother, grandmother, great=grandmother - lived seems to highlight some social context for these themes and patterns. My big question is: how brave am I to write about some of these and uncover how these play out in my own life? Right now, I'm not feeling very brave. But I know how willingness to be vulnerable bubbles up over time until I see the situation clearly and can share my thoughts and feelings.

I think this is something many of you appreciate in my writing and I thank you for sharing your own similar experiences. We are different but the same in so many ways.

Till next time,

With love, always,
Stephanie

Ages of Pages Book Fair - Hamilton, NZ May 1st 2027

I'm getting in early to invite you to the Ages of Pages Book Fair 2027! If things go haywire for me, at least you'll have this invite to refer to earlier to the time. I'll be there and so will my daughter Phoebe. Along with over 140 other authors and book vendors.

Once the website for 2027 is up I'll share the link here. In the meantime, I'm keeping this invite up on the newsletter.

Why I Write - for you and for me too.

Some stories come from lived experience, like navigating my son’s addiction and the long road of recovery. Others are shaped by imagination, like the cozy mystery I’m writing, set in a small café where trust is both tested and rebuilt. Some of my life stories still bring tears. Others make me smile. And many are filled with memories that warm my heart.

I write for anyone who’s ever carried a burden across generations, and for anyone who longs to heal forward.

I write to bring a little encouragement, comfort and joy into my life and yours.

With love,
Stephanie

My thoughts for Living Life in 2026 and beyond:

"My religion is kindness"

Dalai Lama

“Cast your bread upon the waters and it will
come back - buttered”

Doris May Payne - my mother

"Life is a Daring Adventure or Nothing"

Helen Keller

“Write it on my heart that every day is
the best day of the year”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Remember that sometimes not getting
what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck"
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Dalai Lama

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.”

Nelson Mandela

Read past Newsletters and, if you enjoy them,
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www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com

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