MMB Open Book Blog Hop 25th March

Do you like to read? Would you like to know more about your favourite authors? Well, you have come to the right place! If you join the MMB Open Book Blog Hop each Wednesday, we will tell all. Every week we will answer questions, and after you have enjoyed the blog on this site we will direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.

Here is this week’s question:

Name three things on your bucket list that you have accomplished, or three that you still have to look forward to.

1.  Becoming a Medical Secretary.

When I started a job as a grade 2 ward clerk in the hospital where I’ve worked for the past 13 years, it was always my intention to work my way up to becoming a grade 4 medical secretary.  I knew I could do it, and it was just a case of getting one’s foot in the door, so to speak.

Once my foot was in the door I found it was not as easy as I’d first thought.  More qualified people than me applied and were cherry-picked for any vacant secretarial jobs.  In fact it took three and a half years before I could start out in the job I had wanted for so long.  The way that it happened was not how I’d envisioned either.

After taking sick leave to have treatment for cancer 10 years ago, I found I had no voice.  Although I could work, I couldn’t speak to answer the phone on the ward which rang constantly.  The managers asked me if I’d be willing to work as a grade 3 secretary, just typing clinic letters and nothing else.  Would I!  I jumped at the chance, and after 6 months my voice returned and I was promoted to a grade 4 with my own doctor to work for.  Sometimes every cloud has a silver lining.

2.  Finding a Publisher.

When I started writing novels two years ago I was under the impression that you had to find a literary agent and then they would find you a publisher.  After receiving the usual rejections from agents I decided to try and improve with every novel, cut out the middle man, and find my own publisher.  Time moved on; I learned more of what I should and should not be doing when writing a novel, and I’m pleased to say that my 8th book ‘The Daughter-in-law Syndrome’ has been accepted by Second Wind Publishing for publication in May 2015.  Okay, it’s not one of the big publishers which only the agents seem to be able to contact, but it’s still great news for me!

3.  Going to the Rio Carnival.

Ah yes, I’d always wanted to go to this. When I was told in 2009 that I was in remission we booked a cruise to celebrate that stopped at Rio de Janeiro at carnival time.  Sitting on hard concrete steps in the Sambadrome in sweltering heat, crammed in like sardines was not quite what I’d expected, but to see the beautiful floats parading up and down was something else!

I thought you might like to know three things that I’d still like to accomplish:

1.  I’d like to visit New Orleans at Mardi Gras.

2.  I’d like to see Elvis Presley’s ‘Graceland’ mansion.

3.  I’d like to live long enough to see my 4 grandchildren grow up.  I can do something about the first two, but this one’s in the hands of the gods!

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See what’s on Christine Ardigo’s bucket list.  Hop over to http://christine-ardigo-author.com/whats-on-your-bucket-list/ to find out!