Tag: story

The Time I Accidentally Interviewed John Lennon’s Best Friend 

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This is something that happened a couple of years ago and even though it’s such a bonkers and interesting story, I never got the chance to share it on the blog.  

As a writer you often have odd and specific questions that come up during your draft. And since I was writing a book about a real historical person, I was heavily researching all the time. Most of the novel takes place in 1958 and during that time, John Lennon was a student at the Liverpool College of Art. So I was trying to dig up any information about teachers, summer assignments, general environment, etc. But I couldn’t find a whole lot in relation to John… mostly because he hated going to school and caused so much trouble there, he got kicked out lol.  

As I was Googling this very specific question, I found a Facebook group for those who attended the college at the time. There was this guy from Liverpool that had randomly commented something on that page. I thought he seemed pretty sharp,. It was a long shot that he would have actually been in Lennon’s year (’58) or had a class with him or anything, but he had at least been a student and would know some of my specific questions about the college. So I sent him a message.

Just want to say, I do not solicit strangers on the internet. This was a huge deal for me to do this, really. When he wrote me back I was overjoyed that he would want to talk to me! My heart was pounding so hard. I mean, this was a person that walked the same halls as a Beatle, my goodness. He could’ve known someone who had an actual conversation with John or touched John’s old discarded gum on the underside of a desk for all I knew. (foreshadowing wink)

So I talked about the college with this stranger named Bill. And I didn’t dare ask him directly about Lennon, because I just figured people were tired of talking about him honestly. His strong personality was very much hit or miss in art school. But all the sudden, to my absolute astonishment, this Bill guy started telling me personal stories about John. “John and I would go to this pub and we had this secret club and we used to do this and this.” And I was like… wait… I looked up this Bill Harry guy… and holy $#!%! I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO ONE OF JOHN’S BEST FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL SUPER CASUAL ON FB MESSENGER.

I barged into Dan’s room full on shaking and sobbing.

ME: *hysterical* I just got a one-degree separation from all The Beatles.

Hahaha! So anyway, even though Bill Harry went to this art school he ended up becoming a writer. And he actually even sent me some articles he wrote about John (K he’s like the nicest guy ever. First off) He ended up becoming this amazing contact. I could go to him with any questions regarding Lennon or the 1958 Liverpool music scene or anything!  

I’m so happy to tell you that many of Bill’s personal stories of John made their way into the book!  

I don’t know if you believe in fate, or synchronicities, or kharma. But I personally believe that I was led to talk to this person. I mean… One of John’s good friends during the exact time period the book takes place AND someone who became an accomplished writer themselves AND was still alive and accessible! It was just pretty amazing to me.  

If you’re anxious to pick up Love Me Do and start reading, you do not have to wait until February! All of my patrons who sign up this month will get immediate access to the first chapter. AND there is a bonus never ever ever before seen opening. Different tiers have different rewards going forward and you can cancel at any time! Click below to learn more: 

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The Payoff

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I’m sharing this story on the request of my mother, who wanted me to write it down.

Sometimes as a mom you feel like your efforts are fruitless. And I mean that. You try and try and try to get a certain thing through and you don’t see any movement at all. It can make it really difficult to keep pressing forward. For example, some days I feel over the top trying to get my boys to express their emotions and deal with them in a healthy way. And I felt like nothing was seeking in.

Well, I got lucky. One day, I got to see the payoff.

I was having a hard day. Trying to get my two year old to eat is like trying to stick the wrong end of two magnets together. It’s just NOT going to happen somedays. So I was trying and trying and trying and somehow during the shuffle a full glass of juice got knocked onto the floor. CRASH SPLASH!

I could feel myself on the verge of exploding. But I FORCED myself to be that freaking mom from Daniel Tiger and make my emotions clear but soft. I said, “I’m feeling very mad and I need to take a time out in my room!”

And then I left into my bedroom to cry.

It was quiet in the kitchen. Very quiet. And then suddenly I heard little feet shuffling and the pantry door open. Meanwhile, the bedroom door creaked open and my two-year-old sat on my lap. He put his hands gently on my cheeks and I heard my own words come back to me.

“Are you sad, Mommy? It helps to say it. You can say it, you can say, ‘I’m sad’.”

Through my tears I blurted out, “I’m sad.” And then I surprised myself by adding, “Mommy’s sad because Daddy is gone at work all day and Mommy is so tired.”

!!! I didn’t even know that’s why I was overwhelmed until my two-year-old got me to say it!

He then told me that I needed a ‘sad song” and began to sing it. ‘The sad song’ is a song that I invented and sing to my boys when they cry. These are the words:

It’s okay to be sad.

It’s okay to be mad.

But if you scream, hurt or throw that’s bad.

So put your hand on your heart,

And count to four really slow.

One… two… three… four

Now, quick! Tell me what color is your toe!

Hahaha! I don’t know. But it DID make me feel better! I had stopped crying. I went back into the kitchen where I found my actual four-year-old, MOPPING UP THE JUICE with a Swiffer! I probably started crying again. Jack put the mop away. And then suddenly, Casey was eating his lunch.

I guess the moral of the story is that you never know your impact. Most of the time, you feel like you don’t have ANY impact at all. But you really do! They remember what you say and how you act. My boys knew EXACTLY what to do for me when I was sad and it meant all the world to me.

Detective Big Nose – PART ONE

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1997/1998 I was seven years old and BIG on mysteries. I was completely hooked on Scooby-Doo. I checked out a lot of Hardy Boys from the library. It was totally my jam. So I created my OWN Sherlock-Holmes-type detective called Detective Big Nose and wrote a series. I hope you enjoy.

“Try to catch the thief to put in jail. Clues down: Follow the foot prints. The Bear, Episode One”
“Hi Randy.” (I just thought I was SO funny to reveal the villain right off the bat.)
“Ha! The Bank! Let’s go inside.” “Look at other pages”
“Bear.” “Maddison fainted because of the bear.” “Sarah.”
“Where’s Randy?” said Big Nose. “And Maddison?” Sarah added. “Look! Maddison and a bear,” Sarah added again. “That’s NO bear,” he said coming near it. “That’s Randy!” He took off the mask. For all time they thought Randy was the thief.

Join me next month for another installment of Detective Big Nose.