CHATTERBOX IS THANKFUL
This Thanksgiving, I turn to Marcel Proust: “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
We Gather Together.
It’s the thankful season. A time to gather around the table with friends and family and…eat too much. When, if I’m honest, I look forward to the side dishes more than the turkey. (Sorry, my fine-feathered friend.) I don’t get to eat stuffing and buttery mashed potatoes many other times of the year. Whereas, turkey is what I usually eat for lunch between two slices of bread slathered with mayo and guacamole and topped with lettuce and pepper or onion slices to add moisture and crunch. But, still, thank you, Tom Turkey, for being the symbol for thanksgiving.
I am thankful for so much—Geoffrey, the man I adore, my family, my friends, knowing my niece Melissa is marrying Brian next year and there will be a big celebration, for my home, for the food I eat, for the bravery we have found to stand up against cruelty, violence and what we know is not right and moral and for Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life. My little book has brought me so much joy—brought me face-to-face with people I know and had never met before to share stories, to laugh, to make friends of strangers and to believe there is good in the world, possibility and a future.
Thank you to all the people who made my gorgeous pink book possible—Rochelle Udell, Doug Turshen, Steve Turner, Steve Walkowiak, Susan Schadt Press: Susan Schadt and Lauren Esthus, Jacob Starr and Leighanna Shirey. Thank you to everyone who gave me a place to bring Chatterbox to readers—I AM Books, the Italian American Writers Association, Arts By The People, Cyrus Webb, Hudson Valley Books for Humanity, North Haledon Public Library, Wayne Public Library, Little Falls Public Library, Bradley Beach Library, Morphmom: Seema Khichi McGrath and Kathleen Butler Smith, Carol Berardi and the Garibaldi Meucci Museum, Rita Wollner and J Jill, Friends of The College of Staten Island, Passaic County Book Festival, Pride Alliance of Passaic County, the Salem Athenaeum, Dublin Public Library, Toadstool Bookstore Keene, The Bookery, Toastique Ridgewood and NYC Poetry Festival.
Thank you to everyone who supported me through the writing and launch process, bought a copy of Chatterbox, who showed up for a reading and who reads this newsletter. And finally, thank you to everyone who wrote an endorsement for Chatterbox—Tony Amatullo, Kathy Curto, Paul Genega, Colin Goedecke, Linda Dini Jenkins, Barbara Lawrence, Maria Lisella, Joyce Markovics, Paul Rabinowitz and Rochelle Udell—and to the publications that gave the book great reviews—Kirkus Reviews, Midwest Book Review and BookLife/PW. I will raise a turkey leg and glass of wine this Thanksgiving to all of you! Thank you, truly, thank you.
“November Always Seems To Me The Norway Of The Year.” Emily Dickinson
November 5, 2025, Once I Wore…Hudson Valley Books For Humanity
On my long list of my favorite bookstores, Hudson Valley Books For Humanity (HVBFH) in Ossining, NY is right at the top. It sits at 67 Central Avenue and has a bit of the “Flourish & Blotts” from Harry Potter about it. That’s to say, it’s magical. You walk in and fall in love with the place, so much so for some people that they have moved to Ossining to be closer to this bookstore. All this magic is due to its co-founders Amy Hall and Rob Lowenthal—husband and wife—the store’s team and their shared commitment to maximizing the life of every book, community outreach and activism, carefully curated artisan items and events and sustainability.
A good deal of that HVBFH magic was in the air on November 5 for “Once I Wore…An Evening of Stories about the Memories We Wear.” Amy Hall, Joyce Markovics, Rochelle Udell, Betsy Kates, Amy Alpert and I shared stories about clothes we once wore and the place each piece holds in our hearts. Dorothy Johnson riffed on the theme with her paintings that elevate what we wear to high art. Audience members with a clothing story to tell stood up for the open mic. Funds were raised and festive clothing collected to benefit IFCA (Interfaith Council for Action). Cookies, brownies and blondies were munched. Drinks sipped. Books bought, and the store rang with community and good will. The night ended on a real high, so yes, we plan a repeat performance in 2026. Watch this newsletter for our next theme and date—and until then, please drop by Hudson Valley Books For Humanity. It is most definitely worth the trip.
November 8, 2025: Taking Pride—the Little Falls Public Library
Everyone had a grandparents’ kitchen story at the Pride Alliance of Passaic County Chatterbox reading at the Little Falls Public Library on November 8. There were also plenty of cookies, candies, laughs and singing along with Old Blue Eyes (aka Frank Sinatra) with friends new and old. Thank you, Mike Stracco, President and Founder of the Pride Alliance, and Jeff Machno, Liaison of Adult Programming & Community Engagement at the Little Falls Public Library, for a wonderful day.
November 12, 2025, Pasta & Prose—The Wayne Public Library
I first met Janette Pardo the Assistant Director of the Wayne Public Library in 2024 when she brought me in to do my “Telling Your Story” workshop. This year, I was back for the library’s Lunchbox Learning Series on November 12. Janette, The Friends of the Library and the group who showed up for some storytelling and fun were fantastic. The highlight of the day was seeing Tatiana, who took my 2024 workshop, in the room and having her show me the collection of stories she has finished since the workshop. Wow! Thank you, to Janette and the Wayne Public Library, everyone who showed up on the day and Tatiana for sharing her work with me. She absolutely made my day.
November 15, 2025—Paterson Literary Review
The day the annual edition of the Paterson Literary Review publishes should be declared a holiday. Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Founder & Editor of PLR, and Cynthia Pagan, Assistant Editor, bring together a gathering of extraordinary poets and writers at the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, The Hamilton Club. This year, featured writers and poets, friends and family came together to celebrate for the launch of Volume 53. I am so honored to have my story “North to Alaska” in this year’s edition. Thank you to Maria Mazziotti Gillan for including me in the collection. It has been wonderful to become part of the PLR community.
November 20, 2025—Winter Looks & Cozy Books, J Jill Garden State Plaza
Thank you, Rita Wollner, for another fun day at J Jill Garden State Plaza. A really good sale brought in lots of shoppers—which is always good for me and my book sales. Selling books is always good, but I think the best things about being in the store are spending time with the staff and chatting with the women shoppers who stop by my table to talk books and all sorts of things. I get to meet a lot of teachers, writers, book lovers, librarians and parents and grandparents shopping for the young people in their lives. I love it. And, of course, I do a little shopping. That’s always part of the fun. Thanks again, Rita, Becky, Lorraine, Sherry and Maryann for a terrific day and for supporting Chatterbox and helping me to connect with the community. And ladies, you are my heroes. I have fully come to appreciate how hard it is to stand on your feet all day! A portion of my book sales goes to the YORK STREET PROJECT to help women and girls.
Give A Little Love
Helping Kids Smile—The Joy Project
Co-founded by Kathy Curto and her family and Dr. Patricia Devine, The Joy Project does a whole lot of good for pediatric patients in New Rochelle, NY. The charity works hard to keep children from 0-12 warm and cozy with new winter coats and to put smiles on young faces with some new books—including Too Tall Alice. To learn more and contribute to The Joy Project, please go to https://www.kathycurto.com/the-joy-project. Thank you.
A Gentle Reminder: Paying It Forward
It Takes A Village
The home page for the Community Food Bank of NJ—a favorite of mine.
There are a lot of people in need right now and many organizations sending texts and calling to ask for donations. It is overwhelming—no doubt. Thanksgiving really is a time to be grateful for what we have and to remember those who are not as fortunate. Food pantries are accepting non-perishable items. Supermarkets and other retailers are offering opportunities for cash donations to food banks. If you can swing it, make that extra dollar donation for your neighborhood food pantry when you check out at the supermarket. Food is expensive, but if you have that extra dollar, please help someone who has so much less. And again, Happy Thanksgiving. I am so grateful to know you.
December 3, 2025: Platform Review Book Launch—ARTS By The People
December is party season. I am thankful for that, and the festivities for me start on December 3 with the launch of the first print issue of Platform Review 2024-2025 from ARTS By The People. I am so excited to be one of the featured writers. We’ll be launching the book with readings at the Madison Arts Center, 10 Kings Road, Madison, NJ on December 3. To purchase copies of the book in advance, please go to: https://www.artsbythepeople.org/shop/platform-review And then, it’s time to celebrate the holidays for me. Hope you have a good one. I’ll see you next year. Okay, groan.
Want To Bring Chatterbox To A Bookstore, Library, Italian Restaurant, Coffee Shop, School, Book Club, Etc., Near You? Please get in touch. Email me at barbara@barbaraworton.com. And let’s talk date, time and place. Thank you!
Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life–print and eBook—Is Just A Click Away:
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