the world's leading magazine for writers, judged the book in its 10th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards, and while another of the more than 2,100 books entered was selected as winner, Loosely-Braided Fog received an excellent review: "Everything about this book is impressive. I agree with the Midwest Book Review…I am most impressed by the concept and [that] this is a lot of writing. 'Eureka! Moments'...[is] wonderfully whimsical. The poetry is intimate and discerning, skillfully written with a fine command of the language and an understanding and intelligent eye. The author has written with genuine passion and compassion on everything in [the single mom's] world of social experience, sharing life events as a learning tool for the rest of us.
"The quality of the poetry does not suffer with the message - some pieces stand out. 'No One Ever Snores' and 'Sound and Fury' are beautifully written pieces that would stand on their own in any collection of fine poetry. And they are not alone here. The book is a collection that should be read and come back to. I believe readers will be glad the author has realized the stated goal of the book. My congratulations on a good mission accomplished."
...FOR A LIMITED TIME: COPIES PURCHASED SECURELY FROM HATS OFF BOOKS ARE AUTOGRAPHED BY DEIRDRE WEAVER. Excerpts can be found on this webpage as well.
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...by JAMES COX, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW, July 2001, * * * * * FIVE STARS "In her very highly recommended book, Weaver blends fact with fiction in a totally engaging read that takes us on an insightful, entertaining, informative, and compelling story of relationship decision making and mistakes; single-parenting moments; and 're-entry dating' which confront all women who find themselves being single parents in the world today. Although a novel, Loosely-Braided Fog is one of those much appreciated works that is more informative, accessible, and revealing than any non-fiction study or essay could ever hope to be about the perils, pitfalls, and rewards of single parenthood."
...FREDERICA MATHEWES-GREEN, NPR COMMENTATOR and BOARD MEMBER of the SUSAN B. ANTHONY LIST (a national organization helping elect pro-life women to national office), said, "I know this book must be a great encouragement to many women."
...by ANTOINETTE BOTSFORD, Editor, NAPRA ReVIEW, May 2001 "In the bounty of books about single-mommery, Weaver's stands out, with poetic musings laced with an equal measure of wry humor and bathos. The title just about says it all--fog, braided or otherwise, is difficult to contain or organize. It obfuscates details. And so it is with the Way of the Single Mother. The path may be steep, the cliff dangerously near, the way far from clear, but she carries on, as surely as the legendary Christopher bore the Christchild on his shoulder as he crossed an icy rushing river in the middle of the night. Indeed, Weaver's well-tended ragoût of experience and ponderings leads to-- if not exactly a map--at least a sense of pattern and meaning."
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... ANTOINETTE BOSCO, NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMNIST for the CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, June 15, 2001 "THE STILL CHANGING AMERICAN FAMILY: The May 2000 consensus had me wondering if things had changed for single moms, now numbering 12.2 million. I called Deirdre Weaver, a younger woman friend, about being a single mom. I learned that one thing hadn't changed: the pain one suffers from the dreams and hopes shattered when a marriage ends.
"Weaver, a devout Catholic, said she believed that 'God has pushed me in front of an oncoming freight train for a reason.' She began writing about being a single mom, and this became lyric poetry she describes as being 'like a blood-letting necessary for wounds to heal.' She says she wanted single moms to know 'they are not alone.'
"But when you begin to put words down, new ideas come. When Weaver learned that 70% of single moms don't have Internet access, she decided to write a book that would help single moms bridge that digital divide. Called Loosely-Braided Fog: A 3-D Single Mom in the Making, her work has now been published by Hats Off Books. Both she and her publisher will donate some of the book's proceeds to charities which teach single moms about information technologies. My deepest respect goes to her and people like her who extend help, not criticisms and judgments, to single parents."
[An award-winning journalist, Toni Bosco has written 200 magazine articles, thousands of newspaper stories, and 7 books including The Pummeled Heart. Her columns appear in 25 Catholic newspapers nationally.]
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...RETREAT NEWS OF NOTE... "RETREATS INTERNATIONAL" DIVORCE-RECOVERY RETREATANTS FIND LOOSELY-BRAIDED FOG HELPFUL The Sisters of Our Lady of the Cenacle, Ronkonkoma, NY recently held a divorced/ separated retreat, and 8 retreatants purchased Deirdre's book, with no advance publicity, while the bookstore is stocking more. Sr. Josephine Daspro, CSJ, D.Min., mentioned that they always have retreatants who would be interested in the book. Thank you, Cenacle Sisters!
"THE CASA" RETREATANTS IN SCOTTSDALE HEAR ABOUT LOOSELY-BRAIDED FOG: Judith McHale, MA Ed., leads the annual Divorce/Separated Retreat at Franciscan Renewal Center, Casa de Paz y Bien in Arizona, and recommended Deirdre's book in her retreatant bibliography. The Casa Bookshop can be contacted for copies at (800) 356-3247 or (480) 948-7460, X.142. Judith commented, "It was beautifully written. I am glad to include it for the retreatants and in our weekly meetings. It can help people know that no matter how painful it gets, others have survived so they can and will too."
DIVORCE/SEPARATED RECOVERY GROUPS hoping to hear how others survived. SOCIOLOGY PROFESSORS looking for good, contemporary, literary fiction portraying how students can avoid patterns leading to single-momhood. RETREAT DIRECTORS and BOOKSTORES. SINGLE MOM WEB-SITES. FAMILY LIFE MINISTRIES. deirdrew({[at}])personalradar([{dot]})com You all have our full blessing to e-mail this secure PDF copy of the book, print it and share it with friends, students, colleagues, all for free. The paperback retails for $13.95, but I'm glad to share it freely online with new readers. Just e-mail:, and then feel free to pass it on or send friends a link to this web-site, www.personalradar.com, for more info.
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...THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, JULY 16, 2001 "SOLE PROVIDERS: Sound financial plans crucial for single parents." A Personal Finance article by PAMELA YIP...quotes Deirdre's candid interview comments about how most single moms can't benefit from popular financial advice since the "flat, storyboard model" of single moms does not apply.
...by AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR SINGLE PEOPLE "This one-of-a-kind book will surely provide an inspirational and insightful view that would benefit not only single moms but everyone who picks up this book."
..."NAIBA" BOOKSELLERS INVITE AUTHOR TO TRADESHOW The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association invited Deirdre Weaver, a Lon Gisland native, as an autographing author at their tradeshow at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. , October 6-7, 2001. NAIBA is dedicated to the success of independent bookstores from New York to Virginia. Thanks to Eileen Dengler, Doreen, and all of NAIBA!
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WANT TO SUBMIT A EUREKA! MOMENT™ or RE-ENTRY-DATING RED FLAG™ OF YOUR OWN? In future books/calendars, we'll give you credit for your funny and/or touching personal experience in the parenting- and/or love-lives of single moms. E-mail us at deirdrew({[at}])personalradar([{dot]})com
When purchases are made from the publisher or from independent bookstores, donatable dollars are NOT drastically reduced. Help us help more single mom families AND help keep your local independent bookstores open! Call them and ask them to order ISBN # 1-58736-024-1 for you; they'll take care of the rest.
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Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Learn from others' mistakes. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." When we laugh, cry, and even learn from such a jarring story, we can see that we're not so alone.
Loosely-Braided Fog is a story about and for all struggling single moms, and for those who'd like to know and understand them better or maybe avoid the avoidable mistakes. It won't give you The Reasons for what you are living through. But it may help you see how to accept the reasons when you finally are shown them. And then to rise above it. Practicality and tenacity do not preclude enthusiasm and castle-building. Here's to "The Purposeful Dreamer" in all of us.
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ALSO AVAILABLE on BN.COM
ISBN # 1-58736-024-1; LCCN # 200-1087294
TO PURCHASE FROM THE PUBLISHER, Hats Off Books (competitive discounts and terms for stores/libraries even on a single copy), please click here or Toll-free: 1-888-934-0888, or snailmail to: Hats Off Books, Wheatmark Book Orders, 610 East Delano St., Suite 104, Tucson, AZ 85705. E-mail Customer Service at: orders@wheatmark.com
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MORE REVIEWS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MORE ON THE "DIGITAL DIVIDE" ADVOCACY
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ISBN # 1-58736-024-1 ® Registered Copyright ©2001, All Rights Reserved, Deirdre A. Weaver, Hats Off Books™, Publisher.
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'Nuff said.
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