Celebrating Writers

As the year ends, I’m delighted to share the accomplishments of four remarkable Writing Circle members, past and present. I can’t think of a better way to close out 2024 than by showcasing these women and their work.

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The Pugilist’s Daughter
Poetry
Judith Lynn Antelman

Meet Judith: Judith participates in my Wednesday Write Where You Are writing circle. She’s a poet and editor who loves to travel, plays classical piano, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School in May 2021.

Judith’s debut poetry collection is haunting and masterfully written. I savored each morsel of this book, a banquet of words that explores childhood, forgiveness, and the scars of genocide and war. Part celebration, part lament, Judith takes readers from her hometown in New Jersey to San Francisco, Fez, Berlin, Krakow, and beyond. Her words are both fresh and familiar. 

From Judith: Bella is my favorite person I met this year. Her writing circles have changed my writing life, and I am forever grateful to her. I love everyone in our circle and can’t wait for our meetings to resume in January. It is incredible how intimate Zoom can be.

Check out Judith’s website: Poeming Around.

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Leaning into Curves: Trusting the Wild Intuitive Way of Love
A Psycho-spiritual, Prescriptive Memoir
Linda Sandel Pettit, ED.D.

Meet Linda: Linda surprised me by signing up for a writing circle after I’d reached out to her for spiritual guidance. She’s a counseling psychologist, spiritual mentor, and visionary guide who participated in my writing circles and coaching program from 2018 to 2019.
 
Linda’s book won the 2024 Maxy Book Award for Self-help and Inspiration. In her story, Linda, a twenty-something woman, falls in love with a priest twice her age. Her memoir chronicles their love story, which ends tragically. But Linda’s story sparkles with silver linings—and a second chance at love. Leaning into Curves is filled with spiritual and psychological wisdom. It’s easy to read and will inspire you to trust your intuition, listen within for guidance, and live an authentic, joyful life. 

From Linda: Our work together helped me see I had a story to tell and gave me the confidence to do it. Bella’s thoughtful, loving support was pivotal and showed me the value of writing circles and working with coaches and editors. It’s fun to look back and realize, “If this hadn’t happened, and this hadn’t happened, and this hadn’t happened…I wouldn’t be sitting here with a published book, a labor of love, and a magnificent creative accomplishment.”
 
Visit Linda Online.

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Heart. Soul. Pen.
Find Your Voice on the Page and in Your Life
Inspirational Self-help for Writers
Robin Finn

Meet Robin: Robin was a regular in my writing circles for several years. She read at many salons and wrote like crazy—and her work made everybody laugh and cry. She then published essays in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Buzz Feed, and elsewhere. She also began teaching at UCLA and founded Heart. Soul. Pen. writing groups for women. Robin is a bundle of energy and light and also a friend.

Robin’s book is informed by her education (advanced degrees) in spiritual psychology and women’s health. A gentle, compassionate, and encouraging guide, Heart. Soul. Pen. is crafted with the female experience at its core and designed to unlock the deep, creative, often repressed voice within. This process includes recognizing and releasing limiting beliefs, claiming your worth, and living in harmony with your values. This book contains stories from Robin’s life, student writings, humor, insight, and wisdom.

From Robin:  I found Bella’s writing circles years ago after participating in other writing classes that left me feeling deflated and full of doubt. Bella’s uplifting notes always left me feeling inspired and confident. After working with her for several years, to my great surprise, my first novel, “Restless in L.A..” was born! Since then, I have considered Bella my mentor and dear friend. Her love and support transformed my creative journey—as a writer, teacher, and artist! She is a treasure!

Visit Robin online.

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“The Room That Knew”
Personal Essay published in Lilith Magazine
Joelle Golyk

Meet Joelle: Joelle is a writer, educator, and start-up advisor from New York who lives in Los Angeles. She has been part of the Write Where You Are community for over a year and has been writing personal narrative essays that delve into themes of trauma, complex family dynamics, healing, and emotional resilience. 

Joelle’s essay, “The Room That Knew,” was published in Lilith Magazine’s Fall 2024 issue. You may read it here. This essay is understated and packs a punch.

From Joelle: This is my first-ever publication. It appears in Lilith’s print and online editions and is one of the first pieces I wrote in Bella’s writing circle. I am grateful for Bella’s open and supportive sessions, which have helped me become a published writer!”

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“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.”
—Anne Lamott
 
Heads Up: Winter Writing Circles begin
January 13, 2025

I have a couple of open seats. 
Please let me know if you’d like to join us.