Tuesday's Houseguest: Asa Maria Bradley!

Houseguest day is so much fun!

This week's houseguest is someone I really enjoy and admire. She's hardworking and incredibly helpful. I've had a great time getting to know her since going to my first meeting of the Inland Empire Chapter of the RWA, and I hope to continue working with her for years to come.

Everyone...meet Asa Maria Bradley!

Asa was kind enough to write a guest post about her adventures in anthology writing. Since I am somewhat a newbie in novella and anthology writing, I was really excited to hear her story. Asa was a contributing author for Female Nomad and Friends, and I'm stoked to read it. The proceeds are for a spectacular cause, which is always a plus, and the contributors are all wonderful writers. I have a weakness for travel stories, and I know that a few of my tongue-in-cheek fans are, too, so this one is right up our alley. Plus, Asa's journey into contributing to this anthology started with a fan letter...and so help me, I love hearing that other authors are--like me--readers and fans first...

Stop by Asa's website, to learn more about her: www.asamariabradley.com

My Journey Into Anthologies

By Asa Maria Bradley

I’m ecstatic to be a guest blogger here on Brooke’s blog. You know that spectacular voice you read in THE WHAT IF GUY? We’ll that carries over into a spectacularly fun and witty woman when you meet her in person. If you ever have a chance to go to one of her readings or events, you should. 

So, I’m here today to tell you about my adventures in anthology writing. Back in 2002, just after returning from eight months of traveling through India, South East Asia, and Australia, I picked up the amazing book FEMALE NOMAD: LIVING AT LARGE IN THE WORLD by Rita Golden Gelman (http://www.ritagoldengelman.com). The book blew my mind and I did something I’d never done before, I wrote the author a fan letter. 

I told her I was a fellow traveler and writer and that her book was the most fantastic travel book I’d ever read. What made it different from all others, is that instead of being a twenty-something backpacker, Ms. Gelman didn’t start traveling until she was in her forties. After an upsetting divorce, she decided she didn’t really need a permanent address anymore and now, a few decades later, she’s still a true nomad. She spends her life meeting new and old friends while traveling from country to country. Her narrative is brutally honest and very funny. It’s like you’re sitting down with a friend and she says, “Did I tell you about the time I slept among sea lions on the Galapagos Islands? Well, nobody ever tells you about the smell…”

Okay, back to MY story. A few days after my fan email, I found a message from Rita in my inbox. She thanked me for my “kind words” and shared some writing advice she’d gotten early in her career from a publisher. She also suggested I’d get involved in a new writing project she was working on. She wanted to create an anthology that was all about meeting new cultures and making new friends. Since women often bond over cooking and food, she also wanted to include recipes that were somehow tied in with the stories in the book. I was gob smacked. Here was this amazing writer giving little ol’ me advice. And she wanted me to send her some of my writing! I immediately sent Rita a story and a recipe. 

Fast forward a few years and my story THANKSGIVING: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE had made the cuts as first Rita, then Rita’s agent, and finally an editor at Random House decided which stories to include in the collection. The book FEMALE NOMAD AND FRIENDS: TALES OF BREAKING FREE AND BREAKING BREAD AROUND THE WORLD came out in June of 2010. Several of the authors traveled to Seattle for a party at Rita’s daughter’s house where we sampled scrumptious dishes from the recipes in the book, drank amazing wines, and chatted as old friends even though it was the first time we met in person.  In the evening, we headed to Third Place Books and read our stories to a great turn-out of readers. It was such an honor to be reading with Rita and the other fantastic authors. When I think back on the event it still seems like a dream since I walked around slightly star-struck through the day and evening. 

Everyone involved in this project wrote for free. All proceeds go to help kids who grew up in the slums of India to go to vocational schools. Even if these kids have the grades to qualify as students, they often don’t have the money for the materials necessary to attend. So far, we’ve raised more than $46 000. 

As a debut author, being part of an anthology was a great opportunity. I had no idea what the publishing process was. Instead of having to figure it out on my own, I could access an amazing support system. Signing contracts and working on promotional events were easy to do when I had a whole group of more experienced authors to ask for advice, and the staff at Random House to hold my hand. Everyone was so supportive and very inspiring.

If you’re looking for something to read or give as a gift, pick up a copy of FEMALE NOMAD AND FRIENDS: TALES OF BREAKING FREE AND BREAKING BREAD AROUND THE WORLD. Not only will you be supporting a great cause, you are in for a treat—both visually and culinary. Rita’s introduction to the book, including a fabulous recipe for Curried Carrot Soup, can be read at the Random House website: https://randomhouse.box.com/shared/c3tdisusoj. 

We are also giving away copies to two randomly picked winners. Leave a comment on the blog, and a way of contacting you, to automatically be entered in the contest. 

***Seriously, peeps, don't forget to leave a comment with an email address. This is an anthology worth reading, and I want to share Asa's story with all of you! Besides, who doesn't love free books? This contest will run until next Tuesday, the 24th. Good luck!***

Brooke Moss.