NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2024
Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is full of wonder and brings you much joy.
One of the items on my to-do list for this week is to write thank-you notes for all of the wonderfully thoughtful gifts our family received during this holiday season. Since you might also have some to write, I thought I’d pass along these “Four Tips for Writing a Good Thank-You Note.” But first, I’d like to express my gratitude to some folks and let you know of two upcoming events you might like to attend.
A Christmastime Book Party at Stillwater Books
I offer this heartfelt “Thank you!” to Steven and Dawn Porter of Stillwater Books (New London Square Plaza, 1745 Main Street, West Warwick, RI) for being such gracious hosts on Saturday, December 16, for our Christmastime Book Party with Author Lynne Heinzmann at their wonderful new store in West Warwick, RI. We munched on delicious Christmas treats and had a lively discussion about But Cats Don’t Talk, my heart-touching new novel about a Rhode Island concert pianist and her talkative kitty. If you weren’t able to make it to this event, please be sure to stop by Stillwater Books soon. It’s such a welcoming place with a friendly staff and is stocked full of fantastic books—many written by Rhode Island authors. Click here for more information about the store and other events they have planned.
January Appearances
I have two Rhode Island library appearances scheduled for January: one on Thursday, January 18, at 4 p.m. at the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown and another on Wednesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Free Library near URI. Please come to one of them to hear all about my new book, But Cats Don’t Talk. Here are the event flyers with the details:
Click here to find out more about the book or to order a signed copy.
That’s all the news for this month. As promised, here’s the info on thank-you notes. I’ll also post a copy of this newsletter on my website so you can revisit it there whenever you’d like.
Thanks for reading!
Lynne
In this day of fast-flying texts and emails, who doesn’t love to get actual snail mail on occasion? To open the mailbox at the end of your driveway and find something other than advertising circulars or bills—how wonderful! A handwritten note from a loved one is certain to brighten anyone’s day. At this time of year, those welcome missives are often in the form of thank-you notes, acknowledging a thoughtful holiday gift. But how do you write a good one? What should it include? Here are four tips you may find helpful when writing your next thank-you note.
Tip #1: Be Specific
Be sure to identify the gift that was given to you. This will remind the giver of what she gifted and show that it was memorable to you. “Thanks for the present” is way too generic and devoid of any real feeling.
Tip #2: Make It Personal
In your note, explain why the gift is meaningful to you. For example: “Thank you for the blue sweater—my favorite color.” People like to know that you value their gift and that it is special to you in some way.
Tip #3: Keep It Brief
Just a few lines are all that are needed to deliver your message. And by limiting the length of your note, you are much more likely to write it, since the task won’t seem too overwhelming. Generally, three to five sentences are sufficient.
Tip #4: Be Sincere
Your thanks—like all good writing—should come from your heart. If you absolutely LOVE that box of your favorite chocolates from Aunt Norma, go ahead and let those adjectives fly—“scrumptious”, “melt-in-your-mouth delicious”, “delectable”, etc. But if you aren’t all that excited about the package of Post-It Notes from Uncle George, use words like “useful” and “colorful,” which are polite and honest. You can usually find something nice to say about any gift. If nothing else, acknowledge the person’s thoughtfulness or generosity.
Of course, the most important part of writing a thank-you note is making sure you deliver it. Gratitude is a precious gift for both the giver and the receiver.
