August 2025

Earlier this year, during a sleepless night around 2:30 am, I was listening to the Shonda Rhimes 2016 Ted Talk "My Year of Saying Yes To Everything"...things that scared her, made her nervous, or took her out of her comfort zone. The hugely-talented creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, and executive producer of Bridgerton and How to Get Away with Murder revealed how saying YES changed her life. 

I wondered what would happen if I said YES to things that made me anxious or were out of my comfort zone.

Here are my four 'yesses' from this year so far...

BAIPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MAY - I've been a member of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) for ten years and have learned so much. When I was invited to be on the Board this year, I decided it was time to give something back. BAIPA is an amazing group of creatives representing all phases of the indie book publishing business from editing to book design to publishing and to marketing.

Pictured with me are the other new members: (left) Stephen Rustad, graphic design and video production, and (right) Kelly McClymer, author, writing coach, and instructor.

RENO 1947 - The Wild West of Divorce

JUNE - Western writers such as Anne Hillerman (Dark Winds) and Craig Johnson (Longmire) have appeared on this podcast hosted by Bobbi Jean Bell and Jim Bell on L.A. Talk Radio. So, yes, I was a little nervous.

In true cowboy spirit, Henry C. Parke, film editor for True West magazine (he's in the other black hat), honored me - and Bill - and read aloud the favorite chapter "Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, and Me" from The Divorce Seekers.

ACTING CHOPS

JULY - Signed up for a Presentation Skills workshop by Lenore Hirsch, member of both Napa Valley Writers (a branch of California Writers Club) and BAIPA. The objective was to teach authors how to read from their books. I was paired with fellow BAIPA member Carol Jacobsen to rehearse our readings in private before doing them in front of the group. Each participating author took home written comments from their peers and a video of their reading at the mic. My take aways: need to work on my presentation skills - a lot.

What's the Scuddlebutt Podcast

JULY - An invite to be on a World War II podcast to talk about working with Bill on his military histories. Out of my comfort zone, indeed. But who wouldn't say yes to being on a podcast with these good-lookin' gentlemen?

Sandra V. McGee launched her writing career as a publicist for the performing arts. In 2000, she ventured into the bygone world of Nevada divorce ranches and never left. Her passions are ballet, film noir, B movies, and Reno when it was “Divorce Capital of the World”.