Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 107

I didn’t set out to be any sort of paperback writer, but some things simply happen! #22 is set for release on November 2nd. What!!??! (Yup… Book 2 in the historical fiction Destiny trilogy continues telling my family’s Armenian story. Following “Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear,” this one is entitled “Destiny of Determination: Faith and Family.”)

But writing books started with a funny, family-friendly book that was not meant to be a book at all. I started writing letters from Miles, our Newfie, to Ron’s youngest daughter while she was away at school. Then it occurred to me that all his silly stories and adventures were like little chapters. “Dog Days in the Life of the Miles-Mannered Man” soon followed. It is a collection of tall tales, wagging tails, and tantalizing treats, all penned by Miles himself, of course. (I merely held the pen for him.) Oh, and Miles insists his book is non-fiction… because he swears every word is true. (Hmmmm….)

Naturally, Bandit then wrote his own riotous romp with “A Dangerous Book for Dogs: Train Your Human.” I particularly liked writing a few non-fiction, life lessons books. This group started with “The Bimbo Has Brains… and Other Freaky Facts,” which was followed by “The Bimbo Has MORE Brains… Surviving Political Correctness. Then came one of my most popular works… “Encouragement: How to Be and Find the Best.”  And I followed that with “Good Living Skills: Lessons Learned from my Mother.” I also ripped “Healthy Thinking Habits: Seven Attitude Skills Simplified” from a compilation to which I had contributed along with Deepak Chopra and several other authors. There were a few others, including a book of my poems (& other ramblings) and a couple of real estate guides.

I guess that when folks ask which genre I write my books, I should simply answer, “Yes.” LOL. Of course, I have muddied the genre waters plenty by adding 9 cookbooks to my paperback list.

My first cookbook series launched as I compiled old family recipe cards. The 3-book series “Fifty Years of Fabulous Family Favorites” was born. This was quickly followed by several more:

“Champagne: Facts, Fizz, Food, and Fun”

“Cranberry Cooking”

“Dockside Dining: Round One”

“Dockside Dining: A Second Helping”

“Dockside Dining: Back for Thirds”

Then came my first larger format and full-color paperback cookbook:

“Lobacious Lobster: Decadently Super Simple Recipes”

Yes, food fans… several more are in the works! But so far, though I publish in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats, these are my contributions to Paperback Book Day. HUGE thanks to all of you who have read any of my titles… and even reviewed!!! You add light and sparkle to my life!

“It is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken from you.” 

Richard “Dick” Cheney (1941 – )

46th Vice President of the United States

Hindsight feeds our clarity, but “kindsight” feeds our souls.

— Cathy Burnham Martin

American author, voiceover artist & dedicated foodie

“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”

— Dale Carnegie (1888 – 1955)

American writer & lecturer

Hmmmmm… Yes, we can enjoy both success and happiness!!!

Today is a day that’s all about forgetting our differences… race, religion, culture, language, politics, boundaries, and so much more.  On National One Voice Day, may we speak with one voice and commit to the cause of world peace.

Naturally, this wish has echoed for decade after decade and century after century. We continually envision a calm world so future generations do not have to experience war.

Hmmm…  I know. I know. With human nature involved, I recognize this is highly unlikely… even impossible, beyond improbable. But a girl can dream, can’t she?

(Photo by Christian Dorn)

This day marks the 22nd anniversary of my first date with Sir Ronald. For several years, we “returned to the scene of the crime” for lunch on the anniversary of that date. (I’d even wear the same outfit… just me being silly me.) Of course, we now celebrate our wedding anniversary… with the 21st fast approaching in September. But as I have been focusing on special family-oriented days of celebration, I thought it nice to recall this very special day. Happy First Date Anniversary to Sir Ronald… and to everyone who loves to celebrate such happy occasions. (The photo is from 2002 on the 2nd anniversary of that first date. Yes… we were in Manchester, New Hampshire at Cotton, although for our first date it was still Cafe Pavone.) Fun memories!

When we are very lucky, we grow up enjoying beautiful and loving siblings… our sisters and brothers. Sometimes we also get Bonus Siblings in the form of cousins. I enjoyed a blessed childhood with wonderful siblings AND cousins. On this National Cousins Day, we recognize and thank our cousins for being perfectly marvelous parts of our lives. Some we may still enjoy relationships with as adults. Others may have slipped off into their own busy worlds and away from our embrace. Today, I enjoy a moment to pause and feel loving gratitude for each and every cousin… David, Marcia, Barb, Marilyn, Bill, Rick, and more! Don’t even get me started with my second and third cousins! Each and every one is precious!!! Love to you all!

I must include a photo with a favorite cousin… aka Bonus Sister… Barbara Cracraft Cote at one of my books signing events in Concord, New Hampshire in 2017. Since we were children, she has exuded all the love and compassion of the Bonus Sister she truly is. Thank you!

Since 1984, today is the day set aside annually to recognize women “of a certain age” whether they are Grandmothers or not. Thanks to all Nana, Grammies, and Grannies by any name for passing down traditions, wit, and wisdom… for loving and nurturing people as if it was the only thing you had to do that day or any day. So, I share my little collection of photos to celebrate the footsteps of those who lead us as we walk on this official National Gorgeous Grandma Day.

The first photo is from our wedding. I am with my Gorgeous Grandma… plus my Mom, another Gorgeous Grandma, along with my sister and her daughter… the one who first turned Mom into a Gorgeous Grandma, and my Grandmother into a Gorgeous Great Grandmother. Of course, my Mom is now not only a Gorgeous Grandma, but this October she is set to become a Gorgeous GREAT Grandma for the third time. And she remains Gorgeous Glenna Burnham forever and ever!

Another picture is of daughter-in-law Caiti… taken with all 4 Moms and Stepmoms (pre-Grandmas) at Adam and Caiti’s wedding rehearsal dinner in Savannah, Georgia in 2017.

Then in November 2021, we got the other shot with all four of us… now officially Grandmas… but always officially “Gorgeous Grandmas” regardless.

Sigh. Just imagine drifting off to blissful sleep while swaying gently in a hammock between a couple of shade trees. “They” say that we can fall asleep more quickly in a hammock, while also enjoying better quality sleep and improved blood circulation. Hammocks also ease muscle aches and provide great stress relief.

Hammocks were originally woven by Mayans from the Hamack tree, native to Latin America. While Christopher Columbus most certainly did not discover America, he did introduce the hammock to Europe in the 15th century.

While I have not (yet) personally located it, “they” say the world’s largest hammock is in North Carolina, spanning 42 feet and woven from 10,000 feet of rope! Bring lots of friends, because it can hold 8,000 lbs. While that could be fun, the other hammock oddity I learned about sounds anything BUT restful to me. That would be the world’s highest hammock. Strung up over a canyon in Utah, it sways a cool 492 feet high. (No, thank you.)

“I write down what I want to remember, which opens space in my mind for new thoughts.”

— Cathy Burnham Martin

American author, voiceover artist & dedicated foodie

(Image by Mohamed Hassan)