World of Ink Guest Post with Author Judy Snider - The Back Story of "The Sacred Purse"

The Sacred Purse

The idea for The Sacred Purse started one morning at Debi Wacker’s kitchen table as our writer’s group of women talked about how busy their lives were . These are hard working zany women who juggle all sorts of roles in life. We started talking about the many roles women have in life, and Debi and the women said that would be a good idea for a book. There was more discussion on it and I remember thinking it was a great idea, but where would I find time. Debi Wacker who compiled and edited the book and the other women, especially Pam Racine and Cindy Dragas, were the ones that got the energy of the book started. We started meeting every six weeks or so, it became a project that had “life”. Each chapter was a role women have in life: Sister/Friend, Mother, Daughter, Survivor,Provide,Partner/Artist. The women in the group and a few outside contributors were asked to write a poem, short story, prose and more. Each number of weeks we would submit a story or poem on one of the roles women have, and have a discussion about the topic as well as other topics on writing and books. Debi says, “It was our version of a communal quilt writing together. Everyone pitched in and we worked together. It shows the many “faces” of women and many women can relate to the book.” The book is also fun because when you think of woman and all that they carry inside it is like a purse. It is unique and the contents are interesting.

When we did a few book signings, it was interesting to ask people what they had in their purse, and cared to share. It made us laugh, and also some women pulled out sentimental things to them that they carried around with them. One man said he never knew what was in his mom’s purse, but did not know. When we asked him what was in the purse, he laughed and said, “Oh, No, we never could see what was in that purse”.

The book took much work, with Debi Wacker being the editor and coordinator, we all had fun and learned even more hearing women’s stories about the many roles in life.

Debi’s website gives a good sample of the book http://www.sacredpurse.com

Judy Snider, Joan’s sister lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, Gil, and two silly cats. She is the author of the CWA award-winning children’s picture book, Goldy’s Baby Socks, and on a team of authors of The Scared Purse.

You can learn more about Judy Snider and her World of Ink Tour at

http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/JudySniderandJoanDickow.aspx