The Sheila Variations

What an amazing site! I'm a fixture at my local library's quarterly used book sales, and I always look for inscriptions in my purchases. This is crack cocaine to me, too. Thanks for posting this!

Hi Sheila,

I wanted to stop by to thank you for your very kind comment about my post on Pioneer Woman's blog.

Your writing's are fascinating, so I can see that you understand what I was trying to say about using your own voice. I truly do not understand how people think that they have the right to censor someone else's voice, just because they are not comfortable with what is being said. As a writer, I am sure that you have experienced what it is like to have someone else try to redirect your ideas in a way that better suits their needs. Like I told Ree, don't ever allow someone to tell you what you should or should not write about. You are a unique, extraordinary human being, and you have a voice and a way of telling stories that is individual to you. Don't ever allow anyone to stifle that.

As for your saying that I am your hero, your words truly humble me. Thank you. Keep writing about things that are meaningful to you. Your voice is strong and clear!

Hugs,
Debbie

Oh Debbie - my gosh, you are most welcome. That was an insane conversation, and it grated me from the beginning. Not the "prudes" or "non-prudes" - but the basic PROPRIETARY feeling people were taking towards her blog. Like: the story should go MY way or I won't feel comfortable.

Like - what???? She's writing about her own love story. Which has already occurred. What on earth are these people bitching about??

Anyway, your voice was calm, rational, kind - and you took the side of her art, her "voice" - and I thought it was so great.

I'm so glad you stopped by!!

Jaquandor - I know, I know - crack cocaine, right??? I haven't even scratched the surface of that site, but man, I love it!

Thanks for the link to my Dakota post the other day, by the way.

Tropicalia its my favorite topic...
Well... when i have money to buy a book (yes... I am a poor brazilian... its unnormal buy books in brazil... cose if u have money u buy if u dont have u use the public library and pray to find ur book - to find Henry Miller... forget) i kill who touch in my books... if someone wrote any stuff in my book... to say the true i cry... :(
So... ah... ok... i remember what about i was thinking...
this is the part that i say that u write "wonderfuly" (tired to use google translate), i love ur stile... blabalbalblabla...
and sorry my poor english...
bye...

by the way... are u real?

Sheila Pithan asked, "by the way... are u real?"

Ah, is a daydream real? A feeling you're standing on the edge of a startling new discovery? Sheila O'Malley is real enough but elusive enough that us mere mortals can only gaze up in awe and wonderment at all that is ... uh... um... variated here. That's gotta be a word right?

And her "about me" picture has got to be one of the coolest on the web.

By the way, I love inscriptions in books. I have tons of old books picked up at thrift stores that are filled with fascinating tidbits, sometimes whole letters. Great site you linked to. Thanks.

sheila - yes, dear, I am real - and I thank you for your compliment about my writing. Your English is fine!

And I feel the same way. I will kill anyone who "touches in my books". I alone am allowed to write in them, should I desire! Nobody else!!

Jonathan - it's amazing what the iPhoto Booth can do. In that particular photo you mention - i was wearing flannel pajamas and slippers - but I put on my Gibson Girl hat and snapped away. Hilarity ensued in a completely solitary way.

I'm glad, by the way, that we have discovered each other's blogs. You're something special, too.