On to the next chapter!
If you’re new here, welcome! If you’re a regular visitor, welcome back!
It has been a minute, hasn’t it?
As you probably know, I’ve been sweating over a manuscript about how my mom and I survived working together for a decade in her iconic Vancouver Asian antiques shop.
Well, guess what? After five years, it’s finally finished.
On To The Next Chapter
I need to get it out into the world. To do that, I’ve decided to self-publish!
What? Why?
Because my mother turned 101 in September.
While we all hope Francine makes it to 110, I realize I’ve got to get the damn thing into her hands.
She not had a proper look at it since she first cast her eyes upon one or two of the dismal early drafts back in 2018.
Note the unique seating arrangement. We were hanging out in the hallway of her residence because her place was getting a quick dust and a vacuum. Whenever someone walked down the hall, she’d flap the pages and holler out a greeting.
“Would you like me to see if one of these old folks would like to be your editor, Kel?”
“Uh, no. Thanks. I’ll find someone currently in the biz.”
Which I did. More on my fabulous editor in another post.
What did Francine think of those initial drafts?
“There’s room for improvement, Kel.”
So what’s Francine’s story? Is she qualified to tell me there’s room for improvement? Why did she open an Asian antique store?
Our Francine always felt “a little less” around the other doctors’ wives who were more educated. So, when her youngest (me) entered the first grade, she seized the chance to enrol full-time at the local university. She loved her classes, particularly those dealing with Asian art. After six long years, Francine emerged with her Bachelors and Masters degrees in what was then called, “Oriental Art History.”
In the early ’60’s, she was one of only four “mature” female students in the department. However, I assumed everyone’s mother spent their days at school. Annoying her while she studied was as routine as reading under the covers, leaping into my parents’ bed in the middle of the night, and sneaking cookies from her excessive Metrecal diet stash.
The Student Becomes A Prof
For reasons known only to them, the university hired her to teach the art of Latin America. An interesting choice, considering Francine was as familiar with that part of the world as she was with the intricacies of car mechanics. But nevermind. She seized the opportunity to lecture. Trips down to Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru for several weeks every summer became the norm.
As a result of lecturing and grading papers for eight years as a respected prof, it’s fair to say she’s more than qualified to tell me “there’s room for improvement.”
However, after becoming proficient in the art of Latin America, she was ready for a different challenge. Despite zero business acumen, Francine acquired a bank loan and opened her own business selling Asian antiques and collectibles. She turned a profit the very first year.
And was I impressed now? Pfft. Hardly. Our house had morphed into something vastly different from my friends. No longer outfitted with sleek mid-century modern pieces, it was awash with antique Japanese tansu and heavy Chinese blackwood tables. We even had a gold leaf six-panel eighteenth century Japanese screen – depicting several red-crested cranes – plastered on the living room wall. The fact she sold this stuff to others didn’t really register much. I loved the world of theatre and dreamed of becoming an actor. While Francine would go on to run a very successful business for seventeen years, I never dreamed I’d thrive working alongside her for the last ten.
How did that come about?
Well, let me tell you about this book that’s about to be published …
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34 Responses
Congratulations, Kelly!
I can’t wait.
Love the mature student to Latin American art lecturer to Asian antiques angle. It’s a fresh idea. 🙂
All the best to Frankie!
Aw, thanks so very much, Katy. I will definitely pass on your kind words to Mom. I’m hoping to play Bingo with her tomorrow but the side roads here are quite treacherous thanks to Wednesday’s snowfall. Schools were cancelled for two days and my lane is a skating rink. Gotta love Vancouver in the snow!
Love this post ! So great to hear more about your Mum’s start in her post secondary education and business. Such a go getter !!
So excited for your book to come out , and so proud of you, my friend !!
Thank you so very much, Jane. You’ve always been such a great supporter. I really appreciate it. And yes, our Francine is quite the force. Hope I can get to Bingo tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
Tell when and where I can purchase – you have teased with snippets here and there but my curiosity has been peaked for quite sometime. Cannot wait !
Thanks, Janice! It’ll be available on Amazon and Kindle. Also available for libraries and, fingers crossed, picked up in bookstores. We’re looking at an early March publication. You’ll be swamped with progress reports over the next six weeks, I promise! 😉
Kel!
Got no words my friend other than …YES, YES, YES!!!
We are so excited for you and Frankie. It’s been a journey Kelly, and you’ve shown determination, grace , humour and a huge willingness to learn as you’ve travelled the road. So proud!
Love to you and Frankie as she pulls in the Bingo prizes!
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words, Mair. You’ve got me teary. And yes, it’s been quite the journey. It’s a very different book from the one Mom would love to see, however I think she’ll be pleased with it in the end. Here’s hoping the snowplow visits our clogged lane and I can get to Bingo tomorrow! Hope you can stay safe and cosy warm inside.
So so looking forward to reading it!!
Thanks so very much, Chels. I can’t wait for you to tuck in. Enjoy your lovely sunny LA. Quite the slippery/slushy time we’re enjoying here … and yes, a Hallmark moment, indeed 😉
Well well, well. I hope you bring that baby to ERMA. We’ve all been waiting a long time. I’m so very happy you and Jackie hit it off, and that you got the thing done. So excited. I know someone i the film business and I’m gonna introduce this to her. See ya soon, God willing. xoxoxo
Can not wait for April and ERMA. Thank you for your help, Allia. It means the world to me. And yes, we’ve all been waiting a long time for this puppy. It’ll be good to get it out into the world.
Bravo, my friend!!! I’m so happy for you and greatly in awe of your perseverance and talent!! Like dear Chelsea, I can’t wait to read about your adventures with Francine!
Thank you so very much, Mo! You’ve been one of my greatest cheerleaders and I am grateful for our friendship.
Great insights* and it’s most interesting to follow along your courageous path to publication! Looking forward to book readings up the coast.
WGA
*Never occurred to me that going from Asian to Latin American Art was odd. 😉
Thanks so much, Wend. Interesting you never found that switch odd. And did ya like the Metrecal reference? I have a searing memory of pushing the stool over to the counter and scrambling up to pull down the Metrecal box of cookies. I wonder if these were the ones I shared with Donya under the kitchen table. Probably. Or maybe they were something Mom whipped up in her spare time. Ha. Wait’ll you read the chapter about dining at Bette and Bard’s. Yum. Pass the cognac.
Excellent news! Looking forward to reading your book!
Thanks so very much, Lynn. It’s been a long time coming, as you know. I’ll be glad to get it off my laptop and out into the world.
An amazing life and I look forward to your book.
Amy
Hi Amy, how grand to hear from you. Thanks so very much for dropping by. Mom has had an amazing life – and she somehow survived working with me. Ha. Hope all is well with you.
Wow Kelly I really look forward to reading it, congrats to you
Aw, thanks Kim. It’ll be good to get it out into the world and off my laptop, I gotta say.
Fabulous Kel. Can’t wait to get my hands on your book and be wonderfully entertained.
Aw, thanks so very much, AMD.
Whoo Hoo! Writing a book is like birthing a baby, and you’re almost there. Can’t wait to hear more about it.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving such an insightful comment, Kathy. You’re right – it is like birthing a baby.
Congratulations Kelly! You have accomplished quite a feat . Well we all know that Francine is a force of nature; but you are as well.
Apparently the apple does not fall far from the tree .
I relish your written words.
I look forward to the stories and I send you the warmest of hugs and wishes. Enjoy this time in your life.
Thank you – I so appreciate your kind words and the hugs and wishes. Just the best. I must say I’m excited to get the manuscript off my laptop and out into the world. So is Francine!
Well done Kel. Little did I know so many more interesting things about your mom. I’m very excited to read your book.
Marie
Thank you Marie. Lovely to hear from you. It’s been quite the journey – both working with Mom and writing about it. I’m excited to get it off my laptop and out into the world.
How does one get an autographed version of the book???
And I think the sincerity and volume of the comments on this thread bode well for book sales.
You are my first friend that has (almost) published a book. I feel famous…..LOL.
Congrats, I couldn’t be happier for you, and your mom.
Oh Ken, you’re the best. Thanks for reading the post and for leaving a comment. Very thoughtful. Over the next few weeks I’ll be revealing the title, the cover and how to get a copy. I love that you would like an autographed copy. And I’m your first pal to be (almost) published? That’s very cool.