When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.
Three years ago, I started working on a new book. It was going nowhere fast and my husband kept saying that I had to use my blog voice. My what? My sociopath voice? My whiney vaginey voice? My pitted, potted, sometimes besotted voice. My childlike wonder, my hemorrhoidal idyll, my knock knock give a dog a bone. Short story long: my new book is coming out in May, 2016. It wouldn’t exist if not for the four years of writing here, the incredible love and support from our merry band. Even the guy who said he wanted to kill me and Patti Smith with a pitchfork. You gave me the chance to develop my voice, and as we say in these parts, I finished the fucker. Will say more about it soon. Until then, THANK YOU dearest readers of this blog. Love, Betsy
Filed under: Authors, Books, Freak Flag, Memoir, shana mahin, The Bridge Ladies, Uncategorized, Writing, You Go Girl |
Betsy Lerner 
Mazel tov, Betsy! I kind of don’t even care what it’s about. I’ll read it because I’m drawn to your voice.
Aww congrats! Very good news this. May cannot come soon enough.
All the best!
What? I didn’t even know you were married!
(Congratulations on finishing the book.)
The lovely voice.
Congratulations, Betsy!
Good for you; looking forward to reading it.
Sent from my iPhone
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Anything you got from us is far less than what you’ve given, Betsy, of that I’m sure. Congratulations on finishing the fucker.
As writers, we should strive to use words of our own — but Frank, you already said them, the exact perfect ones, as good as the things could be said.
Fuckin A
Yep. My thoughts, exactly. Cheers, Betsy!
Oh! Thrilling! Looking forward to reading it.
Your hubby is one smart fella.
Congrats. Can’t wait to hear more about it.
Go you ! Your husband was right. It’s a one of a kind voice that I can’t get enough of. Looking forward to reading it.
Congratulations!
I’m damn proud of you for using your whiney vaginey voice for good. Here’s to you for Finishing that Fucker, Betsy!
You know, my husband has given me advice before and damned if he isn’t usually right. Sounds like your husband was too. Finding one’s voice is one of the hardest things to do, but sometimes it’s right up under our noses – do I daresay literally? 🙂
Congratulations! Such an exciting thing, and I can’t wait till you spill the details!
Congrats! Can’t wait to read it!!
Naturally, I send along my kudos — !! But I also need to ask this: is there a lesson for us about developing our own writing “voice?” If so, what is it?
I love the advice to write in whiny blog voice. Sometimes it takes someone else to tell us which of our voices work. I received great advice to use a voice that I discounted because it came too easily. But it’s the voice I use now for the story I am telling. It took someone else to tell me that it was a voice to value. Sorry if incoherent, the coffee hasn’t cut through the fog yet.
That’s huge. (Hope nobody every said that before.)
Congratulations! And thank you.
If I could sum up the voice of your blog, it would be wonderful, thought provoking and encouraging. Combined with the thoughts and stories from all the merry pranksters who contribute makes this a fun place to hang out. Peace and good wishes to all!
Say Hallelujah, somebody, and raise a glass of winter cheer. Crack bottles most merrily and roasted chestnuts, too. Hell, crack open a roasted squirrel or two, they make good holiday nibbling.
Congratulations, Betsy, and as one fucker-finisher to another, there ain’t no coming like the grand way it comes when at last it all comes together, now is there. So light another spliff for the never-ending road, toss back the stirrup-cup, and know that wherever our paths may take us, we wanderers of the penciled wood, we shall ever remain able to recognize the secret sign that binds us together. (No, I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.)
Love to you and ours, the merry band. Here’s to finishing the fuckers!
Congratulations. SO looking forward to reading the book. And thank you. Thank you for writing it and thank you for the blog. Nice fucking work!