A World of Word Acrobats

E127: Lit up at Goa LitFest GALF 2024

Dateline: Goa, India

Who knew words could twist and turn like that? That they could hover in the air, then slip through the silks, graze the ground, then trapeze back into the heavens.

I was surrounded by literati and linguists and poets who perform gymnastics and acrobatics with their words. Heaven! It was the Goa Arts and Literary Festival (GALF), and I was fortunate to be a panelist at an event that also hosted Indian poets Mamang Dai, Ranjit Hoskote, Jerry Pinto, Mustansir Dalvi, Robin Ngangom and Saligao native Ramesh Ghadi. And then there were the authors attending from Kashmir in the north to Pondicherry in the south … and of course from Goa. The event was a blast and included a stunning sunset poetry reading at the Goa Governor’s mansion Cabo Raj Nivas. Sublime.

Words, words, words!
Yet this post will be short.

Books galore

I was proud to be offered attention to my own book “Contours of Courageous Parenting - tilting Towards Better Decisions.”

It was cool to ask these amazing authors for selfies with them and their books.

But my favourite moment was getting mobbed by a group of university students attending the event, looking for their own selfie … of ME? with my book!!

Permission to lay down a plate

I am not publishing on the schedule I preferred — this week got away from me. But I finally paid heed to the advice of many of our Tribe who recommended taking it slower. Ultimately, it was the words of my daughter “Mum, you know what they say about spinning too many plates at the same time? It is OK to lay one down for a little while. I give you permission.” And just like that, my nerves calmed right down. [“Remember — you may miss one, but never two,” said my sister. I know you will still enjoy this short missive, even though it is late, and hopefully be inspired to hear more when time permits.

But meantime, if you need someone to give you permission to lay down one of your spinning plates, I hope you have a daughter as wise as mine.
And if not, allow me to offer it to you.

---

Dedicated to my Crow sisters, the published authors who held and hold my hand while I publish my books:

Cindy Villanueva

Margaret O'Brien

Kathy Karn

Beverly Delidow, Lisa Orlick, Joann Malone, Jackie Alcalde Marr
And to my support team in our salon of aspiring authors working hard on their books at present: Wildlife photographer and artist

Ishan Shanavas

,

Angie Wang

,

Monica Lim

and Kora

Remember, we write [to help/inspire/support/for] the one person in 8 billion who needs to hear it just the way we say it.

---

Thank you to all the new members of our Tribe Tilt. And welcome to our community!

We believe we can make a difference to the people and places that are precious to us - that we have hope and agency within our own lives that ripples through to others.

Stay healthy. From there all else becomes possible. Treat your health as the precious resource it is.

Karena

Would you like to join our Tribe Tilt?