Made It Moment: Jane Risdon
Sometimes there is a Moment that hasn’t quite happened yet, or an author who is hoping for that Made It sensation to arise. When that happens, I often think it’s important to publish a little taste of that writer’s work–at times, this blog has been the first place a writer ever shared her prose.
Today’s guest, Jane Risdon, has been published before, but as she embarks on the long and awesome process of novel-writing, I wanted to give readers a chance to hear both her voices: the one in fiction, and the one just beginning to experience that Moment.
I know it’s coming.
I suppose I’ve enjoyed many ‘Made It Moments’ during my lifetime. Most have been directed and facilitated by me on behalf of others – artistes – whom I’ve managed in the Music Industry. Although I’ve been instrumental in bringing about success for others, including Number One hits in China and SE Asia, Top Twenty hits in the USA, Movie and Television Soundtracks, including The Jersey Girl, Power Rangers, Baywatch and Sinbad, I have yet to experience my own full blown ‘Made It Moment’.
Having always wanted to write and always finding excuses not to, I found myself free from all the time constraints and excuses about two years ago. I decided to stop dreaming of writing and just get on with it.
An old friend who used to be my husband’s Fan Club Secretary was also a Pop/Rock journalist at the time, and she had turned her hand to writing. I guess I thought if she could do it, then so could I. Mind you, she has umpteen books published and is award- winning too. Aim high I always say!
To cut a long story short, she read my stories and encouraged me. The result has been a series of Short Stories and Flash Fiction pieces, which I’ve received great feed-back about. Three stories have been published in ‘real’ books and others via Kindle. I am writing four novels, including one co-written with my friend who invited me to write with her. I am thrilled she has belief in me and so I guess to date this might be considered my ‘Made It Moment’. I feel very honoured and privileged to be writing with such an accomplished and successful writer, and I really am hopeful that this is just the first of many more personal ‘Made It Moments’.
An excerpt from Ms. Birdsong Investigates:
Amelia Payne closed her dressing-room door and leaned against it. Her head was fit to bust as the blood pounded her temples. She held on to the handle steadying herself, her legs felt as if they were floating from under her. Think, think, she told herself trying to take deep breaths and centre herself. Think.
After a while her breathing calmed a little and her temples didn’t thump as much and she moved to her sofa and sat down heavily. She felt totally drained. She closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the sofa, the soft fabric soothing against her skin.
Eventually she leaned over the arm and grabbed her handbag from the floor. Opening it with shaking hands she took two tablets from the bottle inside. Then she moved into her bathroom and filled a glass with water and swallowed the pills. She checked her watch: Linden wouldn’t be home for a while yet.
She splashed her face and wrists with cold water, leaning heavily on the basin, taking deeper breaths. Amelia closed her swollen eyes. When she felt strong enough she opened them and gazed at herself in the mirror – Christ, she looked a mess. Her mascara was all but gone, so was her lipstick, and her hair looked as if she had been making passionate love all night. She smiled wryly at her image in-spite of everything.
Moving back into her dressing-room she locked the door and removed her clothes. Her trouser suit was covered in grass and mud streaks. She put them inside the wash basket, removed her mud-caked shoes and lay them on the bathroom floor. She ran a bath and automatically added her favourite bubble bath. Sitting on the edge of the bath still shaking, she managed to put her hair up in a cloth cap then lowered herself into the hot water, sinking right up to her neck. Amelia closed her eyes waiting for the pills to kick in: her mind longing for numbness.
After years on the road and in recording studios, Jane realised a life-long ambition two years ago when she began writing. Jane was thrilled to have two stories included in an Anthology, ‘Telling Tales,’ written in aid of The Norfolk Hospice, and another in an Anthology in aid of Women’s Aid, Breakthrough and Women for Women, ‘I Am Woman’ Anthology Volume One.
She is also working on a novel with a co-author about their exploits in the 1960’s Music Business, which they hope will be ready for publication during the early part of 2013.
Great moment!
Comment by Kellie — February 13, 2013 @ 10:09 pm
Congrats and good for you!
Comment by Judy — February 13, 2013 @ 10:13 pm
Congratulations! It is never too late. Best of luck Jane!
Comment by Darlene Foster — February 14, 2013 @ 12:13 am
Good luck, Jane!
Comment by Carlie Cullen — February 14, 2013 @ 3:43 am
[...] http://www.jennymilchman.com/blog/2013/02/13/made-it-moment-jane-risdon/ [...]
Pingback by Suspense Your Disbelief « Jane Risdon — February 14, 2013 @ 5:05 am
Sounds like you’re really enjoying your writing too, Jane. Great excerpt – I shall look forward to it’s release! x
Comment by Suzie Tullett — February 14, 2013 @ 6:31 am
You’ve definitely made it! Great writing skills – looking forward to seeing more by you.
Comment by mountainmama — February 14, 2013 @ 7:15 am
Nice to see you here Jane…it’s a long way since we did Telling Tales isn’t it? Best of luck. xxx
Comment by Jo — February 14, 2013 @ 7:23 am
What a terrific moment, Jane! Thanks for sharing. And I’m eagerly looking forward to the rest of your novel!
Comment by Margot Kinberg — February 14, 2013 @ 8:48 am
Is that Norfolk, VA?
Love it. It’s great that you’ve decided to try something new and are doing so well. Congrats on being in anthologies! That’s major.
Comment by Savvy — February 14, 2013 @ 9:42 am
Jane!! What a wonderful post. You will TOTALLY get your MADE IT moment, I know it for certain. Love the excerpt, can’t wait to read the whole thing. You totally rock! XX
Comment by Nicky Wells — February 14, 2013 @ 10:49 am
Very well done, Jane. Good descriptive writing. Good luck.
Comment by phylburton — February 14, 2013 @ 10:58 am
Very cool, Jane! I will look forward to seeing what else you have written.
Comment by Jeanice Deering — February 14, 2013 @ 8:35 pm
Congratulations, Jane! You made your dream come true!
Comment by Dorothy Hayes — February 15, 2013 @ 5:02 pm
Many thanks for you kind comments. I really appreciate you taking the time to read this and remark upon it. I am thrilled someone has read this. Have a great weekend. Jane
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 9:56 am
Glad you liked it. Thanks so much for commenting and reading what I had to say. I am so pleased anyone took the time. Much appreciated. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 9:57 am
Thanks so much, your support means a great deal as you know. Thanks for popping in to read this. I am so relieved someone did…appreciated. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 9:58 am
Rock ‘n’ roll enough for you? Hope so and thanks for popping in and giving me your support, as always much appreciated. Glad you liked it. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 9:59 am
Not Norfolk VA no, but I have been there. Virginia is a lovely State. Thanks for taking time to read my piece and I am glad you enjoyed it. Appreciated. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 10:00 am
Oh, thanks for coming and having a visit, much appreciated. I didn’t want to give too much away as you can understand. Hope you liked what you read….Ms Birdsong has her hands full with this investigation! Your support means a lot. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 10:03 am
Thanks so much, your support is most appreciated as ever and I really do want to thank you for taking time to come and read all this. Ms B is getting there slow but sure. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 10:05 am
Your comments are really much appreciated and thanks for spending time here reading my piece…very daunting thing to do! I am thrilled, thanks so much. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 10:06 am
Your comments and support are always appreciated and thanks for coming here to read all about my aims and dreams. I hope it won’t be too long before I am able to say that say that I am a ‘proper’ writer like you! Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 10:07 am
Kellie, Judy, Darlene, Carie, Suzie,Mountainmama, Jo, Margot, Savvy, Nicky, Phyllis, Jeanice and Dorothy many many thanks for your kind word and support. So very appreciated. I tried to leave individual messages but seemed to have messed it up – little grey cells gone walk-about! But if you read my replies I am sure you will see how much your time and trouble has been appreciated by me. I do hope we cross paths again. Jane x
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 16, 2013 @ 10:15 am
Wishing you all the very best in your career as a writer, Jane. You are so supportive to other writers you deserve success. Annie
Comment by Annie Ireson — February 17, 2013 @ 1:14 pm
Love the excerpt – good luck with it!
Comment by Karen — February 17, 2013 @ 4:44 pm
Annie, thanks so much for your lovely comments which I really appreciate. I wish you all the best also….have a lovely day.
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 19, 2013 @ 5:15 am
Karen, thanks for your kind comment, really appreciate it. Never know if anyone likes a piece, and as it is not published yet few ever get to read what I am up to. Thanks for your best wishes. Best of luck to you too.
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 19, 2013 @ 5:16 am
Wow thanks for the wonderful comments everyone and for taking time and trouble to come over and visit me here and I hope you managed to take a good look around Jenny’s blog and to find out more about her work too. I really am grateful to her for hosting me here and for your visits. Thanks everyone
Comment by Jane Risdon — February 15, 2014 @ 9:39 am