Telling Tales and Sharing Secrets

by Jackie Collins, Diana Kinared, Sally Showalter

"Yes-- the reader will discover that Telling Tales and Sharing Secrets is a perfect companion for your own writer's journey. This book is imbued with generosity. There's a thoughtful, constructive dialogue between the authors, and you, as reader, are invited to the writing table. This book is the creative journey of three women who write together, who create poetry, story & non-fiction. The reader will find Hands-on ways "write outside one's comfort zone" and shape poetry from "a list of random words plucked out of a book." Writing prompts will inspire your creativity. Honest writing-from-the-heart...sensory and delicious! Writing prompts are presented with lush descriptions of meals served with the "De Vinci ravioli with pine-nut roasted pepper sauce & tiramisu... Spinach Pockets & mom's Peach Cobbler."" --Rita Maria Magdaleno - Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth & My Mother

Writing, melded with dedication and friendship, tied three women together for nearly twenty-five years. We three are not professional writers. We are women who love to craft words in a variety of ways. A writer is anyone who is compelled to sort out ideas, emotions, and facts of life through the act of writing stories, poems, essays, or journals. Writing expressed in these ways helps the writer examine their life and the universe in which they exist. The beauty of a writers' group is that you find a safe place to articulate your views, inspirations, and imaginations. Herein is the arc of our journey as a group with some of our compositions and commentary on the group. We ventured away from our desks, exploring outside our group, diverse avenues for inspiration, together and separately. We hope you enjoy our writing journey as much as we enjoyed putting our discoveries on the page. Our book is dedicated to those who want to have that safe place to practice the craft of writing with the comradery of other writers who support their efforts.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Debra VanDeventer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through these pages Diana, Jackie and Sally reveal the inner workings of the group that has sustained them as writers and friends for twenty-four years. I found this book to be a perfect combination of personal stories, reflection, and practical tips on how to grow as a writer and how to maintain a productive writer's group including a generous supply of writing prompts. A must read for writers, but even non-writers will enjoy the story of these amazing women.

[Ram Halady · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read multiple prompt-triggered stories and reflections threaded through a lasting friendship among three writers. The journey, amazingly, lasted through decades, going through changes - some of the members changed, but the core 3 remained.
The writing styles are easy to fall in love with, the descriptive portrayals emitting vulnerability and sensitivities - I will have to go back to those over time again and again to relish and refresh my memory.
The idea of forming a writing club and the structure of the presentation belie the complexity and challenges the team faced. Telling Tales and Sharing Secrets is a gem of a book and will remain on my shelf, proudly among my favorites.
A good recipe for a heartfelt movie!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey of three women who started a writing group and shared life and stories for 25 years. Each on takes turns telling their tales. Inspiration for any woman to find her creative outlet and friends along the way.