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.Do you all remember a first sentence contest I ran a few years ago? No, I didn’t either. Well, I have just been reminded that the winner was: “Twig, Population 189.” It’s better than Fargo. Well, that little fucker has crossed the finish line after numerous revisions, turn downs, and help from some supportive writers from the blog.
It was announced yesterday in Publishers Market Place:
“Damhnait Monaghan’s NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE, set in 1985, about a teacher from a big city who takes a job at a Catholic school in a small Newfoundland fishing village, pitched as Derry Girls meets Come From Away, to Janice Zawerbny at Harper Canada, in a pre-empt, for publication in March 2021, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists (NA).
Let’s all please shower Damhnait Monaghan with praise, love and roses for her tenacity, discipline, smarts to reach out for support, her belief in her work and her words. If this fucking blog ever did anything good in the world, I believe this is it. Yes, I take full credit and why not? For all of us unpublished and published, loved and unloved, pretty and not so much, fuck all.
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Betsy Lerner 
This is wonderful news! I think about that first sentence a lot, actually. It was brilliant.
Congratulations, Damhnait! I’m thrilled to bits for you!
Thanks so much Averil! xo
The Duchess rules and I bow down before her. She deserves this because her work is fantastic but also because she is the most supportive, kind, and lovely friend a fellow writer could ever hope to find in this world. I can’t wait to hold her book in my hands and blubber all over the pages. I’m so proud of her. Congratulations, lovely woman.
Well now I’m blubbering at my keyboard, Bobbi. To think we met here on this very page. xo
Hear hear!
Awww.
Thank you Betsy. When I stumbled across this blog I found a writer who made me spew my coffee with her humour and tear up at her honesty. I also found a supportive group of fellow writers, many of whom I’m still in touch with and proud to call my friends. Two of them have been long time (looonggg time) beta readers for this very book. (Thank you Indy Clause and Bobbi French!) Sharing the praise, love and roses with all, and especially you dear Betsy. XO
OMFG …. thrilled & thrilling. Y’all rock.
Thanks Jody!
big congrats, Damhnait! it’s a major achievement and one to savour. and that first sentence was/is pretty fucking great.
is it the still the first sentence?
rea
Hi Rea. The population grew a little in the wilderness years 😉 And the town is now called Little Cove.
And thank you!!!!
looking forward to the new first sentence OF YOUR NOVEL.
EEK!
Post it!!
Meet the new sentence, same as the old one (mostly).
Little Cove, Population 389.
woohoo!
rea
2011. that 1st sentence contest was in 2011.
gah.
rea
Wow. Dreams do come true. Congratulations!!!
Keep chipping away, because they do!
I am so fucking happy for you!!
Thank you! I’m pretty darn happy myself! xo
Well, this is cool! Congratulations!
Thanks so much!
Hooray for everyone! Especially, congratulations to Damhnait.
Thank you Augustina.
Congratulations, Damhnait! May your book hit the charts with a bullet, and never remaindered be.
Tetman! Thank you. And I like your thinking!
Congratulations, Damhnait! It’s great that the first sentence was here, even better that it will be seen by many more. Enjoy!
Thanks so much Mike.
I DO remember that contest! And I couldn’t be happier or more excited for our friend Damhnait/Downith!
It is incredible how many of our writer friends from Betsy’s circle here have gone on to publishing success, as well as others who are just on the brink of it. It is surely a testament to their amazing talent and to the support and guidance they have received here.
I so look forward to reading this book!
A huge congratulations!
Yes! Betsy gets the credit again! Thank you Sherry, you bad ass. When’s your next one out?
“BULLY! BULLY!” Anything In The Pipeline By Or About Jim Carroll? How About A Live Concert/Spoken Word Compilation? Stay Safe In Your Life & Wild In Your Work!~~~Sean Andrew Heaney
Downith!!!
Congratulations, my dear friend! Way to persevere, baby.
That was s great first sentence. My sense of time and space has completely collapsed so that feels like last week and a previous lifetime.
I look forward to getting my hands on the final version. Well done, you.
It was last week and a previous lifetime I think! And thank you!!