Goodbye, 2022!

Dear 2022:

You’ve been on my mind…

You came into my life with a storm and flooded my cabin. I spent hours and hours drying the floor so that the water wouldn’t turn into ice because of freezing temperatures, so our initial encounter was somewhat unpleasant, but this made me install a floor drain in my at-the-time-roofless sunroom. Thanks for the insight.

You allowed me to publish Reflections: A Journey of Transformation, a book that was difficult for me to write. I didn’t like my first draft, so I rewrote it, all of it, in two weeks and spent another four editing it. Thank you for letting the words flow.

You gave me the opportunity to visit Indiana and teach four classes at a prestigious university. I got to work with wonderful students. This allowed me to make published authors out of my writing students and gave me the material for another memoir, Indiana Joes, the second book I published during our time together. Thank you.

You gave me enough sunny days to work on my sunroom, and you sent me someone who needed the scraps from my old cabin, all of which he hauled away, helping me clean up my yard. Thank you for giving me the strength to complete my sunroom and for sending this person my way.

You put obstacles in my way when I wanted to publish my children’s book about Iran, and you did so several times throughout the year. I always knew there was something to it, but I didn’t know the reason. Now I do…

You started the chain of events that led to a revolution in Iran and gave my people enough fuel to begin their fight against evil, a fight that has continued into its fourth month. Thank you for this fuel that sadly came in the form of a human sacrifice, and thank you for giving me the skills to tell the world about everything that followed. 

You gave me time with my beloved dogs — time I cherish dearly. Thank you.

I am grateful for you and for my journey with you. I hope your successor is as kind as you.

Gratitude & Hope...

Noosha Ravaghi

https://gratigi.blogspot.com/2022/12/thank-you-2022.html

 

Vincent Van Gogh

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” 
Vincent Van Gogh

... Said the Editor: Anthology 2022

... Said the Editor: Anthology 2022, created by Ava Safran, is now available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Said-Editor-Anthology-2022-ebook/dp/B0BR5ZN6YD/

Arabica & Robusta - Five

 

Arabica & Robusta - Four

 

Book Review

 

Arabica & Robusta - Three

 

Arabica & Robusta - Two

 

Arabica & Robusta - One

 

Aung San Suu Kyi

"The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear." 
Aung San Suu Kyi

Books... So Far

 

Coming Soon...

 

William Faulkner

"Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good." 
William Faulkner

... Said the Editor

 

Gratitude Girl

Those who have read Indiana Joes understand the significance of this gratitude letter I wrote to my students on August 3, 2022:

Dear Reading & Writing 7 Students:

You've been on my mind...

Adriana, Leyda, Remy, Rikuya, Rino, Kosuke, and Pedro, I am so very proud of you! As of today, all of you have published your books and officially become authors. I gave you a huge writing project six weeks ago, and you all completed it... in only six weeks. 

I am also very grateful for each one of you! This was a huge project for me, too, and today I feel I've achieved an important task. Without you, I wouldn't have this feeling of accomplishment. I appreciate all your work in my not-so-easy writing class. 

Thank you for supporting each other during this arduous process. Congratulations!!!

Love...

Noosha Ravaghi

https://gratigi.blogspot.com/2022/08/my-university-students.html

Dr. Seuss

"So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads."

Dr. Seuss

Coming Soon...

... Said the Editor: Anthology 2022, created by Ava Safran, my co-editor, is coming soon.

 

If you haven't read ... Said the Editor: Anthology 2021, do it now:
https://www.amazon.com/said-editor-anthology-2021/dp/B09QFDJWL1

Donald M. Murray

"Writing is not thinking written down after all of the thinking is completed. Writing is thinking."
Donald M. Murray

Coffee & Books...

... & chocolate, of course.

 

Indiana Joes

 

Book Review

 

From Germany

Thank you, Lucy, for sending me this picture.
I hope you enjoy reading my book.

 

Barbara Kingsolver

"Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer."
Barbara Kingsolver 

Nancy Kress

Without coffee, nothing gets written. Period.
Nancy Kress

Indiana Joes

 

#Language Lovers & #ESL Teachers

 

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR LANGUAGE LOVERS & ESL TEACHERS:
LANGUAGES & LIFE LESSONS by AFARIN RAVA
HARDCOVER: $15 
https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Life-Lessons-Afarin-Rava/dp/B09TYZN5MY

https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Life-Lessons-Afarin-Rava/dp/B09TYZN5MY

From USA

I love it when my readers take a photo with my book. Thanks, Chris! I always look forward to your gratitude posts.

 

The Perfect #Gift

The #book Languages & Life Lessons makes the perfect #gift for language lovers, #ESL instructors, and any #memoir lover.

The hardcover is only $15 until December 25.

https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Life-Lessons-Afarin-Rava/dp/B09TYZN5MY

Book Review

 

From USA

I love it when readers send pictures of my books. Thanks, Nina.

 

Wanda L. Worley

Decaf coffee is as good as regular coffee.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Wanda L. Worley