;-) [Paperback]

Francine Saint Marie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2009

CONTENTS: Rhyme and reason, song and dance, kiss and tell, truth or dare, do or die, collected thoughts, love and marriage, grin and bear...a memoir. (Sort of.) .............Note from the publisher: Francine Saint Marie is the author of the popular series "The Secret Trilogy" as well as "Girl Trouble" and the bestselling writing treatise "Write Now!". Her debut novel "The Secret Keeping" was a LAMBDA Notable Book; Goldie Award finalist; semi-finalist for the Independent Publishers Award, and an IPPY Bronze medalist. "The Secret Trilogy" was nominated for the Ferro/Grumley literary prize in LGBT fiction. A writer and fine artist, Saint Marie was born, educated and currently resides in New York. Look for her titles also on Lulu.com, Smashwords.com, and Scribd.com.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Francine Saint Marie is the author of The Secret Trilogy and Girl Trouble. Her debut novel was a 2006 LAMBDA Notable Book; a 2007 finalist for the Goldie Award in fiction; a 2007 semi-finalist for the Independent Publishers Award, and an 2007 IPPY Award Bronze medalist. Her trilogy is presently in consideration for the 2009 Ferro/Grumley literary prize in LGBT fiction.

From the Author

Excerpt From the Author's Introduction:

"If I was going to write a memoir, I'd have to start at the beginning, I guess. That makes perfect sense. But I've accumulated so many beginnings over the past four and a half decades. Which one would I pick? And what would be the major points of reference, so I didn't lose my place? It's daunting and dizzying to contemplate. All those landmarks and watersheds in a woman's life. Her failures and failings. Her triumphs and successes.

I think, if I was going to actually write a memoir, a decent memoir, not just a cheap kiss-and-tell, I would have to keep it somewhat brief, not too tedious with the facts and yet not too vague with them, either. Life's been a blur, so I'd try to stay focused on the big picture stuff, like coming of age and aging, and do so in that same sort of lurching manner that Time and Nature has with us. And I don't think it could be a conventional one, formulaic, because I haven't exactly lived a conventional, formulaic existence, though I did try once, with all my might, to achieve such a state.

My memoir, if I was to write it, would be composed of snippets and cameos, I bet. Of old shopping lists and love letters, extracted journals, forced rhymes, attempted poems, thwarted plans and...about twenty-five years worth ought to be reasonable enough. However, I doubt that those entries would be submitted in the order in which they'd originally been written. Although, if I arranged them properly, it may all end up seeming chronological, nonetheless. But, perhaps, just for further clarification, I'd throw in a few anecdotal accounts of some of the key events of my life, or of some of my greatest epiphanies and peak experiences, a few circular conversations. Those might have to be in the first person narrative, of course. And, while I was at it, I'd probably have to include a nano-novel or two, because those are very informative pieces. They can tell a reader a lot in just a jiff, give them an opportunity to examine, up close and personal, an otherwise seemingly fuzzy protagonist.

Of course, any story worth the paper it's written on should also have an antagonist in it and mine would, necessarily, contain a few. And hells bells, to really do it right, to be totally fair to everyone, then I'd have to be willing to expose Good right alongside of Evil. In fact, show the two intentionally--and ecstatically--colliding!

Yes, I think that's what I would do then, if ever I wrote a memoir. But, should the players in mine prove guilty or innocent, I'm still not a hundred percent sure if I'd offer anybody protection..."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (February 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1438257740
• ISBN-13: 978-1438257747
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,297,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Published in 2006 by the renowned womens press Spinsters Ink, Francine Saint Marie's debut novel "The Secret Keeping" was a LAMBDA Notable Book, a Goldie Award finalist, a semi-finalist for the Independent Publishers Award and an IPPY Bronze medalist. Her popular three-novel series "The Secret Trilogy" containing her acclaimed debut was nominated for the prestigious Ferro/Grumley literary prize in fiction. She is also the recent recipient of the Green Book Award which honors works of literature that bring greater public awareness of issues concerning the environment. A writer and artist living in New York, Saint Marie's new novel "Persuasion" is now available in paperback and EXCLUSIVELY in Amazon's Kindle store. *Find unlimited e-ditions of all other Saint Marie titles here and wherever else eBooks are sold. Contact: FifthColumnPress[at]gmail.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wierd but well written. I liked it., October 7, 2010

By 

G. Uhl "Allons-y, ... and don't blink." (PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: ;-) [A memoir...sort of] (Kindle Edition)

If you liked any of Francine Saint Marie's trilogy stories you'll like this too. Sort of back story. I think. I'm not sure.

Why is it being discontinued?

Because the title makes it hard to find and search for? Well that's a good reason. Also I guess it wouldn't make any sense at all if you hadn't read any of her other stories.

This is not a proper memoir or a proper story. It's a proper mess. But it's really interesting.

I think you should think of it as a book of poetry. That creates enough plus and minus tolerance so it meets the specification.

It's really short. Disjointed. I REALLY like the poetry. The little essay like parts are good too. It's well written again.

I like it and there is no sex in it at all. That's saying something.