After a long time, an agent in London expressed interest in representing me. I can say from all the solitude, self-doubt, re-writes, and happiness to have completed The Last Merry Go Round two years ago—I’m numb. Continue reading
Author Archives: c.l. charlesworth
A SENSE OF SPACE
Summer brings many things to mind, and one is the sense of space I had as a child. School recess went from June to September. A grin filled my face when the final bell rang. Happiness meant a reprieve from classmates who got on my nerves and unimaginative teachers, whose play-book was rule-driven. Finally, freedom from peer pressure about which suitable school (aka-hip) outfits to wear, or how to maneuver a full-throttle class load (parents insisted on me maintaining honors). Continue reading
TOO MANY CARDS IN THE DECK
Okay, summer is coming, and I realize May is one month before June, marking one-half the year gone.
Focus is stamped inside my head. Focus is the morning alarm clock. Focus has been with me all my life. It’s my parents’ voice, my teachers’ voice, and all too much—my conscience. Continue reading
CONVERSATIONS OVER COFFEE
As a result of meeting several women in a book club, I belong to a conversational group, gathering monthly at various coffeehouses around town.
There aren’t requirements, other than to make the time (about two hours) for weekend coffee. Attendance of writers, students, artists, retirees, self-employed, and newcomers to town varies between eight to a dozen. Continue reading
Mental Spring Cleaning
A simple life has been my goal FOREVER, BUT, AS THE WEEKS OF THE NEW YEAR TURN INTO MONTHS, I BEGIN TO DECONSTRUCT ME. I’m basically in the same place, the beginning of March, as I was in the beginning of the year!
RED HEART-SHAPED MOON

Valentine’s Day owns February. The color RED means ROMANCE singing the timeless words . . . I love you.
I have friends who recently married, or celebrated wedding anniversaries, or got engaged — all within the last six months.
Writing my last novel, The Last Merry Go Round, is about a marriage — a fractured marriage . . . to say the least.
SIT-REST-WORK–THE NEW CALENDAR
There are times when fear chases my shadow and I wonder why I’m not where I think I should be in my life. With promise of an agent reviewing my latest novel, The Last Merry Go Round, I feel I can breathe a little knowing validation will soon be on the horizon.
However, a thought keeps nagging me: Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Continue reading
Melted Snowflakes
DECEMBER comes earlier this year. Advertising was bumped up to the beginning of October where I live, with merchants’ holiday decorations, to gift suggestions, to those little Christmas jingles stuffing your ears with sounds of the coming—December 25th, two months away! Trees downtown strung with twinkling lights the beginning of November and store window displays earnestly competing with Macy’s (which takes up a whole downtown square block). A gigantic decorated tree displays in the center of downtown. Continue reading
CRITIQUING GRATEFUL
Grateful: Feeling or showing an appreciation for something done, received, or to someone… English Oxford Living Dictionary
Years back, I was on my way to lunch in Hollywood with a woman I’ve known for now, nearly 30 years. Our friendship was oil and water. There were times when it was easy being in her presence, and times, when the conversation was a lecture and criticism on her part. To be honest, after much contemplation, I sank our friendship. It became difficult for me to be a passenger in such murky waters. Continue reading
OCTOBER’S HANGOVER
I need to get rid of wearing-me-down-baggage with the onset of October and the fall season. Seeing that I’m not a person who makes New Years’ resolutions, I take this time of the year to recharge and access for that last sprint before December 31st.
I once read: “It’s not how you start, but rather how you finish.” Looking over the past months leading into October, there’s been laughter, shock, happiness, sadness, enlightenment, and plagues of stagnation. Continue reading