“I could not stop talking because now that I had started my story, it wanted to be finished. We cannot choose where to start and stop. Our stories are the tellers of us.”
―Chris Cleave, writer/ journalist
It was just before 6 am, the morning darkened by autumn's approach. Rain was falling, which for many would be disappointing as it was Labor Day---the last hurrah of the summer season. For me, the day was significant for a different reason. In exactly one week I would be heading to Ireland--- not as a tourist, but as Christina M. Abt, Writer/Author.
I have spent the last fifteen years of my life writing books and traveling throughout the United States speaking about them and my writing craft. Yet when I woke up with full awareness of my looming trip, I realized that I have never fully acknowledged to myself that I am a writer/ author.
Sound trite, or oddly ridiculous?
I agree. Yet, that was the truth I faced in the early September morning. The question was, why?
Why do I not consider myself a full-fledged writer and author when years of newspaper and radio commentaries, and five books, clearly evidence otherwise?
Judgements of self worth and critical recriminations filtered through my mind. Quickly I rejected them all. Then a thought flashed like a spark and fanned into realization and acknowledgement.
From my earliest memories I have loved to talk. The Irish call it, "The Gift of Gab."
While I was disciplined in school for next-to-no self control when it came to talking, and been regularly admonished by family for my chatty nature, the truth was that I was never speaking to hear my own voice, or make my presence known. Rather, it was the sense of connection I felt when I shared my words with others.
Then came the day when I discovered the magical place where my "talking" was valued, my voice celebrated---.the world of storytelling. And as Chris Cleave states in the opening quote of this newsletter, “I could not stop talking..."
In less than a week, I will embark upon a journey to the land of my ancestors for the express purpose of speaking and signing at Connolly Books (touted as "Ireland's Oldest Radical Bookshop,") and as a speaker at The International Dublin Writers' Festival.
I will tell the story of this experience in a daily blog on my website (https://www.christinaabt.com/blog) and across social media. And as I do I will revel in the wonderful gift of sharing this adventure with all of you...confidently gabbing away as Christina M. Abt Writer/Author, and most essentially, Storyteller.
