While writing my childhood memoirs, I totally lose track of the time. When my head comes up from the keyboard, I am disoriented, momentarily even forgetting which house I am in.  You see I travel back in time, and find my youthful self in my classroom, bedroom or backyard. As soon as I am there, so many related memories come flooding back. In fact, at times I can’t type fast enough to get all of those memories down.

Early in the week, I asked one of my friends about some details of our early childhood classroom. ‘Oh I can’t remember that,’ she said. I then read her some of the memoir I’d been writing about that time.  Several days later she spoke to me again, ‘It was funny Em, after you read to me it made me start thinking about that time, and now so many memories have come back!’

Many years ago, I worked as an EEG technician, running electroencephalograms to detect brain injury and evidence of seizures.  My position was in a clinic at the local psychiatric hospital, where I saw both inpatients and outpatients. Many of the inpatients were convinced I was going to give ECT, Electroconvulsive Treatment, something that the hospital had retained as part of its battery of ‘fixes’ for severe depression. The fact that I was dressed like a technician, and there was a bed for patients to lie down, also didn’t help. The names EEG and ECT looked and sounded similar to some patients and I suppose me placing wires all over the patient’s head did nothing to quell their fears, no matter how many times I tried to calmly explain that my test was painless.

One day after arriving in the clinic, a highly anxious elderly patient became gradually convinced that he recognised me. 'I know you, you performed a tonsillectomy on me in 1936!' he finally shouted, his frail body suddenly developing muscles of steel. He lunged, holding me by the throat until the two stunned orderlies accompanying him were able to loosen his grip. It was obvious something about the setting and experience had stimulated that distant memory in him.

So while immersing in and then emerging from my writing this week, I’ve been pondering this. I have thought about pockets of memory and what evokes them. I’ve even decided that helping others access their precious memories may be the most important role of a memoir writer.  A reader once told me, 'You know sharing your stories has just brought to mind, so many of mine!'

Throughout the week, and during most of the above activities, my mind kept straying back to a podcast I listened to at Ella’s suggestion; “Getting Noticed in a Noisy World with Your First Book,” with Michael Hyatt (As below).

There is just so much to organise yourself when you are a self-publishing author.  I have been thinking that I really need a PA because my daily tasks before getting to the writing part are just so time consuming.
 Here is a taste of my daily world:

• Check emails and write responses. This is the most time consuming part as emails vary so much from day to day. They may encompass responding to topics such as writing about a reader's own memories of Alaska, answering questions about some aspect of my stories, answering enquiries about upcoming talks, book orders, responding to questions about their own writing, or simply replying to a complimentary email about a reader's enjoyment of my writing.
  
• Prepare books from internet sales; signing, addressing and placing book marks and business cards inside. Put packages by front door for posting.
• Respond to or ask questions about development of my website, an ongoing and evolving process.
• Check the number of books, postage bags, bookmarks, business cards remaining and reorder as needed.
• Talk with my printer about further print runs and where to send them.
• Decide on an outfit, “Which quspuk this time?” for an upcoming talk.
• Prepare book bags, artefacts and spare books for an upcoming talk.
• Charm Kotz in the hopes he will accompany me to said talk.
• Worry about getting talks into the North Island, “How can I do that?”
• Check calendar for upcoming appointments.
• Make any necessary bookings for upcoming talks.
• Try to write 500 words of my new writing project.
• Write blog.

Having thought about all this, I am realizing that Kotz is a actually a very good PA for me and I am lucky. He provides ongoing positive encouragement, even when I am exhausted. He gives me reminders – ”What’s happening this week, honey?” He is my box and luggage-toter, as well as my postie.  His ears are always flapping to hear any piece of writing I may be doing.
 
So I am grateful for my very own PA; even if he does continue to puff on his beloved cigars when I read to him, leaving me wondering if it is the cigars or the writing that lowers his lids in definite pleasure.

My public speaking journey really began back in 2008 when I gave a talk at the Motueka Community Centre. This first public talk was organised by Anne, a secretary at the nearby Parklands School who heard me speak, show some Alaskan artefacts to one of the classes, and watched the enthralled reaction. "Would you be  happy to share your stories to a local community group, Emma?" she asked. Since that initial meeting I have been invited to speak to many groups, probably well over sixty by now, all subsequent invitations spawned from members of my audiences, and through word of mouth. 
 
I had actually planned on writing an Alaskan memoir before this public speaking circuit began. It was why I wrote regular newsletters home in my early years of living in bush Alaska; knowing the newsletters would remind me of details of the adventures I was having. These early presentations confirmed that desire. My audiences told me, “Write your stories down Emma, we’d love to read  them!”

The whole situation was caused by under-supply. There were not enough books out on display. Having had so many public speaking experiences by now, I was cross that I had arrived under-prepared. I usually carry extra stock with me in my car. Kotz and I had driven to Christchurch from Nelson via Hanmer Springs where I inadvertently left the extra box of books in our motel room.  After the talk, Kotz was fielding as many questions as I was and we were both unable to carefully monitor the book sales.
 
I contacted the club to let them know, as well as to offer a sparkling new copy of the book to swap for the less than pristine copy in some poor buyer’s hands. I await contact with bated breath...
The journey of a self-published author is one of continuous learning and improvement but you know, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have spent the last week in Auckland, doing interviews for radio and TV, catching up with my editor Jo, all the while fielding the most common question, “So what’s next?”
 
It is not that I haven’t contemplated that question; indeed it has been humming under the daily demands of promoting Dancing on The Tundra. However this current trip - I am writing this at Wellington airport en route from Auckland home to Nelson - has given me time and distance for clearer focus and so, ta dah de dah, I have finally decided what’s next!

These stories always managed to bring the 8-13 year-olds to a total hush, while I teased out the climax, sometimes not finishing the story till the following day. “To be continued, ” I would tell them.
I imagined their interest was spawned in hearing stories about their teacher’s childhood growing up in Whanganui; some of the painful, funny and naughty things she did (too)?  I have since shared those stories with Aboriginal, Eskimo and Kiwi children, and their universal appeal has remained as strong as ever.
 
One of my pupils from my alternative school days recently wrote, “Your stories were always engrossing Emma, they contained a simple but profound message. I loved them!”

​So now gentle reader, you can say, “I know what Emma is publishing next!”

https://www.facebook.com/thecafenz/   ( Go to the page scroll down and click on videos and voilà!)

One of the highlights of this past week was entertaining an Alaskan husband and wife who have both been bush pilots. We met this couple via the NZ Society of Authors, when I gave a talk about my Alaskan memoirs.  Both Gary and I were greatly entertained over lunch at our place, at their stories of flying in white-out conditions, their hunting and fishing escapades involving the Alaskan favourite characters: salmon, caribou, moose and bears, and their ‘near miss’ or ‘lucky me’ stories.

But the downside of all of this reminiscing is that it sets the mind back to Alaska, that great white place of adventure in the Far North, and unsettles the equilibrium of ‘just being at home’. Any quiet enjoyment of the mundane is thrown askew; hedge trimming, rose pruning or a gentle wander along the country road don’t really seem to cut it when images of rearing grizzlies and murky flying conditions are only a recent memory away.

This weekend I am preparing to fly to Auckland to record another radio interview and head into the TVNZ studios to talk about my writing on TV3’s breakfast programme, The Café.
 
That more exciting prospect is now looming in my mind, cleverly subverting the ordinary while I attempt to select appropriate attire to wear, wonder about the effects of Cyclone Cook on my travel plans, and enjoy the luxury of the more hectic and exhilarating schedule of a self-published author.
I guess this writing business does have its upsides…

​Last week I learned that my mid week prerecorded Radio Live interview, would go to air at 12:50 on Sunday. Instead of excitement, this news filled me with dread; I had spent days post-interview berating myself for a variety of errors and blunders I knew I had made. These included talking over Ryan my interviewer, correcting mistakes he made during the recording, but worst of all ‘gabbling’- my mother’s term to describe the speed of my talking, especially when I am nervous.  I convinced myself there was no way I was ever going to comfortably sit listening to this recording, especially knowing friends would listen to it.
 
My husband, Kotz, however, had other ideas.  “Oh honey, I’m sure it will be great!”  “I think you are exaggerating the problems!” and so on. He was up in the Kahurangi National Park with our Pilot Station visitors while I recorded that interview, so how did he know? 

​
​Sunday dawned and Kotz  unplugged his precious multi band radio from his workshop, carried it up onto our covered deck and set it up in a grandstand position on the centre table, carefully placing a semi circle of chairs to face it. The setup reminded me of my childhood days, waiting by the large radio set with my sister for our favourite program Life with Dexter to begin. ​

​Kotz then made drinks and called all to the deck to await the promised hour.  Everyone seemed to forget any interesting alternate activities for a beautiful sunny Nelson day, at least until the darned thing was over. Kotz checked and double-checked the radio frequency that I had dutifully copied down, then as our little group sat there, I held my breath awaiting my public humiliation.

​ 
But 12:50 came, then 12:50 went and still the announcer gave no indication of any forthcoming author interview.  My relief at this unexpected development   inspired some of my excuses: “Oh, it must’ve needed too much editing,”  “They probably decided I was gabbling too much!” 
I leapt from my seat leaving the others sitting there still staring at the radio, in the hopes of managing to conjure the elusive interview from the machine.  I tried hard to match their consternation but was actually jumping for internal joy. 

​It was not until I checked my inbox about 30 minutes later, that I discovered it was filled with messages like “Congratulations, great interview!”  “Loved it!’  “Brilliant!” and so on.
It appeared that the interview had been aired at the correct time, and that my fears of ruining it were unfounded.
 
There are further interviews scheduled, and my husband has decided to search these out himself,  believing I deliberately misled him with the frequency of the radio program.  I can honestly tell you gentle readers, I definitely did not.
 

Living for years in remote ‘bush’ Alaska leaves an indelible imprint on the mind. Sometime during the week either one of us is bound to set off reminiscing about the far worse/ better bush Alaskan experience that relates to our current daily life predicament. 
These memories emerge at unexpected times e.g. during a particularly large grocery shop, “Yeah it is a lot of stuff, babe, but lucky it’s not the annual grocery expedition in Anchorage,” or after suffering through a particularly humid day one may remark, “Oh for the cold chill of an Alaskan fall day.”
Even a domestic flight disruption does not seem half as bad when one of you can drum up the memory, “Better than being stuck in Bethel airport waiting for a seven-hour delayed flight and discovering the toilets are all bolted shut with ‘Not Working’ ‘Overflow’ signs plastered on the grimy doors!”

No doubt then, you could imagine us this week when two special friends flew in to stay here in Nelson NZ with us. These friends hail from our Pilot Station on the Yukon River, ‘Walking on Ice’ days!  Their visit is creating a succulent remembering fest that can last for hours.
It seems one person’s memory can jog another’s.
 “Remember when Jim hid in the cupboard and caught the pantry robber at the school?” General raucous laughter, then someone pipes up.
"Yeah and didn't that robber actually have a set of keys?" 
"Jim still laughs about that.. he reckoned he squatted in there for hours while he was waiting. He reckons he passed the time reading a book by torch light behind the flour bin!" 
Someone breaks into the laughter with yet another story.
 “How about that silly new teacher who never listened and built a lean to on the back side of the house. Even when we told her it would never work, she insisted and guess what?” We all await the denouement, smiles at the ready to hear of the folly of a cheechako teacher.  “You can guess! First snow, the door froze solid.  Couldn’t open it!  Couldn’t get in there… and her snow machine was in there!” Hoots of laughter and table thumping while we all enjoy the folly of the new comer, remembering when we had been one ourselves. “You know we had to get picks out to open that door! " LOL

Any of our neighbours who should venture outside during one of these post meal ‘remember when’ sessions over the coming week, may well hear the shouts of laughter and lively banter of four friends reminiscing about a Bush Alaskan experience few are privy to.
 

Harry, who features in the chapters, “A Moose-hunting Escapade, Bravery and Intensive Care” sent me his Thai address with an added a cautionary note. “The Thai postal system, like its US counterpart, is fairly dependable. Parcels usually arrive anywhere between 30 days and 30 months after being sent.” Twenty days after mailing, I wondered when or if his copies of the book would actually arrive.
 
Meanwhile Misty, my Dillingham photographer who took the wonderful cover pic wrote excitedly to say her copy of the book had arrived in Dillingham, Alaska.  I wrote and told Harry, “Well Harry, the books have reached Dillingham, Alaska.”
 
My brother in Melbourne wrote, “Book arrived and looks fantastic. You are becoming legendary!”

Yesterday I received a message from Nassiruaq a friend in Chevak, Alaska, “Hi Emma, just received the book you sent, can't wait to read it!”
 
My sister in Christchurch emailed me the same day, “I checked the letterbox about 2 and have just checked again and the book is here - Yay!!”
 
Harry in Thailand just emailed.  “The books arrived today!!! Thank you so much. Of course I went right to the hunting mishap. Great read! Now I can start at the beginning and enjoy it.”

Forget TV appearances I feel just so good to know that my Alaskan memoir has been greeted with such enthusiasm and joy, near and far!

People are receiving copies of Dancing on the Tundra all over the world, and that  definitely makes me feel like a ‘world-wide author’!

 We received some sad news this week. Robert, our best man and my second cousin died after a long battle with cancer. His passing has left us talking about him all week, sharing some of our special memories. 
 
 In January 2001 it was hard for Gary to try and find a best man to stand at his side, especially here in his new country of NZ.  All the people he dearly wanted to come lived in the northern hemisphere where the depths of winter, difficulty in getting leave, the expense of traveling as well as fear of flying, were all valid reasons for friends and family to not be with him.
 
 Knowing the importance of my soon-to-be-husband’s support system on his big day - the sort of support that only another man friend could give, I came up with an idea.
‘How about Robert?’ I ventured one day. Robert lived in Wellington in the North Island where we'd spent some great time visiting him and his wife Lynne. Gary thought for a nanosecond.
‘Oh that’d be great!’ he agreed. ‘We get on really well. Do you think he’d do it?’
'Why don't you call and ask him.’
'He agreed!  Gary said excitedly after an immediate phone call, 'and Lynne was happy to be MC!'
'Great stuff!'  I replied, feeling pleased with my fiance's telephone skills and Robert and Lynne's kind hearts.

            ‘I don’t know what it was,’ Gary mused as he pulled his wedding suit out of the bag he has kept it in for the last 16 years, ‘but Robert and I had an instant rapport. We seemed to understand each other from the start.’
          ‘I know sweetheart,’ I agreed. ‘You two formed a close brotherhood from the moment you met. Remember when he whispered to you in the church that you had one last chance to make a dash for it?’ Gary smiled reminiscing.
            ‘Yeah, it was the perfect thing to say at the time. I was feeling too emotional when I saw you, and he broke the spell, made me chuckle and relax. He was always giving me good advice.’ Gary stopped and thought a moment.  ‘You know,’ he paused, ‘you know the last piece of advice he gave me last summer when he called in?’
             ‘No, what was that?’
             ‘Buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee,’ he advised me.  ‘Emma will love it and you can do everything you want in it.’
I stopped and stared at Gary. 
            ‘You never told me that before.’
            ‘Well I’ve just remembered it,' my husband answered before adding. ‘Honestly he did!’

I could imagine Robert’s sparkling eyes as Gary grinned at me. Those two were thick as thieves.