Pamela Ditchoff's Blog

December 30, 2021

Beatrice Penny Survived

Dear Goodreads readers, my new novel, Beatrice Penny Survived, is now available on Amazon. You may find an excerpt and plot summary in the description, but I'd like to add a bit more personal information.

I chose to publish with Kindle Direct Publishing because I spent four years researching and writing this novel, four more years corresponding with five publishing houses. The process, as authors may know, is submitting a pitch, waiting for response. Sending sample chapters and waiting for a response. They all want to read it but won't accept dual submissions, and months go by . . . I'm not complaining; editors are overwhelmed by submissions, [the state of publishing is in upheaval, in which I am a tiny cog] and each editor did respond with kind words when they passed on the novel. I had begun work on a new novel, 100 pages in when I became aware of the Guernica Prize for Literary Fiction, 2021. I entered the competition and my novel was long-listed for the prize. Although my novel was not awarded the prize, it was a great honor to be included . . . and I wanted Beatrice's voice to be heard . . . now rather than in four years or more, or not at all. I have more years behind me than ahead of me. It is simple, for writers who don't write in hopes of becoming rich or well-know, but write because something burns bright in your mind and heart and because your soul is diminished if you don't.
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Published on December 30, 2021 05:31

September 10, 2014

Phoebe's Way

Phoebe's Way is the story of a Saint John Ambulance therapy dog whose unsentimental lesson on aging propel this story. Although this is a slim novella, it was the most difficult work I have as yet written. Each week, when returning from the Manor [nursing home] I would jot down stories from men who had fished for 50 years or retired schoolteachers, engineers, shop owners . . . and the stories of the interaction between Phoebe and the dementia patients . . . hard to put into words; a dog can communicate with a person who may seem unreachable. I believe dog lovers with enjoy Phoebe's Way, and those interested in therapy dog work, and people in the medical field of geriatrics; for those who have had to make the tough decision of placing a loved one in a nursing home.
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Published on September 10, 2014 07:20

May 25, 2012

The Book Of Leaves

My latest novel, The Book Of Leaves is now available at amazon.com. In this coming of age novel, author Pamela Ditchoff invites the reader into Peonies Teas, a teashop in a Victorian house in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With humour and compassion Ditchoff relates the story of Deanna Penwick, a girl born with the gift, born into a tea leaf reading family stretching back to the 1700's when The Book Of Leaves was begun. Deanna's story begins at her eighth birthday party when the spirit of her great grandmother Julia appears with a message. As Deanna's aunts, Pekoe, Darjeeling, and Verbena enter the story they bring lessons on the blessing and curses of being female and how to distinguish one from the other. The Penwick women are quirky, intelligent, outrageous, and outspoken in an era when these qualities were not appreciated in women. Ditchoff deftly weaves the essence of each era from poodle skirts to troll dolls to mood rings into her story. As Deanna ages she becomes a student of tea and of the leaves, keeping this secret from her mother. Her aunt's and great grandmother's spirits guide through disillusionment, puberty, betrayal, first love, the violence of rape, and the death of her firstborn child. Deanna leaves Halifax for California vowing to give up the leaves. But with herbal teas, lessons learned, and unfailing love, Deanna returns to Halifax, her family, and the leaves. The Book Of Leaves is your grandmother's story, your mother's, your aunts, and your own. You will find yourself immersed in this novel like raw linen steeped in tea. http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Leaves...
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Published on May 25, 2012 05:14 Tags: coming-of-age, fiction, halifax, magic-realism

October 6, 2010

Princess Beast

Dear goodreads members,
Princess Beast, the sequel to Mrs. Beast, is now available on amazon's kindle page. If you read and enjoyed the adventure of Mrs. Beast, I think you will equally enjoy Princess Beast.
Thank you and all Best
Pamela Ditchoff
http://www.amazon.com/PRINCESS-BEAST-...
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Published on October 06, 2010 07:24 Tags: adventure, beast, fantasy, fiction, hans-christian-anderson, literature, princess, retold-fairy-tales, women-s

June 13, 2009

Halifax Chronicle Herald

Hi Goodreads Members,
There is a new interview in today's Halifa Chronicle Herald newspaper regarding my new novel Mrs. Beast.
To read the on-line version, please go to
http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife

Thanks and best,
Pamela Ditchoff
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Published on June 13, 2009 08:50

May 1, 2009

Stay Thirsty Interview

Dear Goodreads Members,
Today, Stay Thirsty has posted an interview with me regarding my latest novel, Mrs. Beast. To learn about the writing of the novel, please visit their website, www.staythirstymedia.com

Thanks and best,
Pamela Ditchoff
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Published on May 01, 2009 08:30

March 29, 2009

Publication of Mrs. Beast

Dear Goodreads friends,
My novel Mrs. Beast has just been published by Stay Thirsty Media as an ebook for Kindle. The novel can also be downloaded to iphone and ipod. Stay Thirsty currently is posting a feature story along with Chapter 1 of the novel. Mrs. Beast is a riff on the classic fairy tale beauties: Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. The novel explores in a dark, edgy, bawdy and humorous manner, what happens after "happily ever after." Please check it out at
www.staythirstymedia.com
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Published on March 29, 2009 05:30