The Queen's Proclamation

 

 

 

August 2011
News, updates, & pronouncements from Pat Ballard,
the Queen of Rubenesque Romances

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. 
Eleanor Roosevelt

Something to think about....

I don’t know the key to success
 but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
 Bill Cosby

I come from a large extended family, who is, for the most part, pretty religious. Now, even though most of them profess to be of the same denomination, I don't know if there are any two of them who totally agree with each other. Be that as it may, most of them go about judging everyone else by their own standards. But don't we all do that to some degree?

Most of my life I knew I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to write novels. And by my mid-teens, I knew I wanted to write romance novels with a motivational message. It was much later, after I'd worked through my dieting years, that I knew I wanted to write those novels with the message that a woman's body can be sexy and lovable, no matter what size she is.

For several years I put off writing the romance novels because I knew that some of those family members whom I loved dearly would totally disapprove of my subject matter. So I waited—and waited—and waited—until one day I thought, "Wait a minute! These people live forever! I can't wait until they all die, because by then I'll be too old to even care about writing a romance novel."

So I pursued my dream with the mindset that none of them had to read my books, and if they did, then so be it. I think I had four published when one day, I called one of my aunts. She was one of the key people I was concerned would highly disapprove of my career choice. When she answered the phone, I asked her if I was interrupting anything important. She said, tongue in cheek, "Oh, yes. I'm reading a romance novel." Well, I almost passed out. I asked her if she'd like to read mine and she said she'd love to. She became a big fan of my books.

Not long after that, one of my uncles called me and asked how he could buy some of my books. I thought, "Uh-oh. This is awkward!" But I told him I'd send him a couple and if he liked them I'd send him more. As of this writing he's read all of my books except the last one, which he's waiting impatiently for me to send to him.

There are other similar examples that I won't take the space to write about, but the bottom line is that I've had the joy of living my dream and the honor of receiving many emails from readers who have told me that my books have made a difference in the way they feel about their bodies.

If I hadn't gathered my courage and determination to go forward, I'd still be waiting.

To be nobody but yourself
in a world which is doing its best,
night and day,
to make you everybody else
means to fight the hardest battle
 which any human being can fight;
 and never stop fighting.
e.e. cummings, 1955
 
Hi everyone!

I truly hope you all have been able to stay relatively cool during this very hot summer. My heart and prayers go out to all the people in Texas and other areas where it's so horrible. I have relatives in East Texas, so they're really on my mind.

I had the unhappy experience of attending my Uncle Ralph's funeral a couple of weeks ago. He turned 87 on the 25th of July, then died on the 29th. But he had a good active life until about 3 months before he died. My memories of him go back until I was 2 years old, and they're all good memories.

I'm already wondering if we're going to have an early fall and winter, or if varmints just enjoy our home. Early this week I went into the utility room and discovered a mouse. Within the past couple of weeks we've had two lizards inside, which has never happened before. I spotted a cricket inside yesterday, and it seems like it's a little early for crickets to come inside. I've already started an accelerated battle with spiders.

So it seems to me that fall is right around the corner, but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part. Daydreaming about fall is one way to deal with this blasted heat!

I'm keeping my grandkids, Shaun and Kayla, Saturday night, and I'm looking forward to playing with them.

Everyone have a wonderful August!

                                 Love,

                                                  Pat

Something To Think About: Reflections on Life, Family, Body Image & Other Weighty Matters by the Queen of Rubenesque Romances

Download it for free at
http://www.pearlsong.com/newsroom/patballard/somethingtothinkabout.pdf.

                            

Visit Pat's Place at www.patballard.com | Write me at patballard@bellsouth.net
 

Click on the Bookbuzzr graphic (if visible on your computer screen) to browse an excerpt from Pat's newest book.

Dangerous Love
by Pat Ballard

Now available in PDF, Mobipocket & Kindle ebook format as well as original trade paperback!

Ava Manning has allowed her heart to be broken once. Once is enough. She never intends to let anyone get close enough to hurt her again. She just wants to do her job as a lab technician at Cloneall Drugs, Inc, without any complications in her life.

But after Ava saw some research she wasn't supposed to, someone wants her dead. And now she has to deal with the Southern talking, g-dropping, charming LAPD detective Ricky Don McKinzie.

Her life is just beginning to get complicated.

More info at the Pearlsong Press website. (All copies of Dangerous Love purchased from the Pearlsong Press website are autographed by Pat.)

You can also browse and share Bookbuzzr excerpts from Dangerous Love,  10 Steps to Loving Your Body, and Pat's other books online at
 http://www.pearlsong.com/patballardbookexcerpts.htm.
 

Weighty Matters
Below is a wonderful article from the "Dances With Fat" blog titled: "Long Healthy Life," by Ragen Chastain (http://danceswithfat.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/long-healthy-life/).

Fat people often hear that we should try to lose weight so that we can live a longer, healthier life.  I’m not capitulating, in fact I think it’s crap, but for the sake of argument let’s say that’s true.

First, remember that there are plenty of people who put themselves in a position to have shorter, less healthy lives:

There are the daring:  People who choose to be professional bull riders, race car drivers and stunt people. People who sky dive, bungee jump, and white water raft.  People who live fast and die young with a sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle.  People who try to climb Everest and swim the English channel.

And we think that’s great.  In fact, most of the people who engage in the activities above are celebrated.  Not because their life will be as long as possible, but because we perceive that it will be as full as possible.

Read the rest of the article at: http://danceswithfat.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/long-healthy-life/
 

Reader Review of the Month

Editor's Note: Post a review of one of Pat's books at an online bookstore, magazine, or public website, email us at proclamation @ pearlsong.com to let us know, and we'll consider your review for inclusion in The QP. 

The following note was sent to Pat via email from Beverly Bishop:

Thank you so much for saving my sanity, I have your list of Ten Steps to Loving Your Body in my cube at work and in a frame hanging over my dresser!

Finally someone who has made me realize I am awesome the way I am. A weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I have never felt better about myself!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
 


Browse and share excerpts from Pat Ballard's books online.

Listen to the mp3 recording of Pat, her fearless publisher, and several other Pearlsong Press authors in a Pearlsong Conversation about
creating fat friendly fiction and fat positive characters.

Listen to a Feb. 11, 2009 Conversation with Pat Ballard
(blog post with link to 50-min mp3 recording of Pat talking about her journey to
self- and body-acceptance and -love, her writing process,
and why a truly Happy Valentine's Day and satisfying sex life
starts with loving your body,
no matter what it looks like.
 

Calendar of Events

Now available from Pearlsong Press—Pat's newest book, Dangerous Love.

Pat is now co-hosting Radio Free Nashville's Health At Every Size show, which airs every Monday morning. The show is streamed live over the Internet 10-11 a.m. CST Mondays. You can also subscribe to the podcast of the show. Go to http://www.healthateverysize.info for more info, including archived recordings, or to subscribe.

You can also listen to or download recordings of many of the shows at www.pearlsong.com/audio.htm.
 

Ask your public library to add Pat's books to their collection!
 
Newsletter Archives

Read previous issues of The Queen's Proclamation at http://www.pearlsong.com/newsletterarchives.htm.
 

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