54 Comments
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Susan Hammond's avatar

Kate, I empathize with your experience with blogs. I had a similar dismal experience. Bravo on developing your construction muscles. Sending hugs.

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you, Susan! I'm learning a lot. The blog was successful in many ways but the blogging platform and world changed so much.

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Pat Gualtieri's avatar

So impressed and thankful for your perseverance. Kudos to you!

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you, Pat!

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Annette Laing's avatar

Kate, people need to care about writers making a living. If someone has no problem buying a beer, coffee, or burger, but balks at buying at least a subscription or two, they need to think.

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Kate McDermott's avatar

I've always worked in the arts...music, writing, culinary...and have been able to squeak by. I'll make keep plugging...uh I mean typing away.

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Annette Laing's avatar

You deserve a roar, not a squeak! ❤️😀

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Kate McDermott's avatar

🦁

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Pam's avatar

Your skill set just keeps growing! A word about Substack... I think Substack is growing so fast. As a reader it's hard to keep up with it. And as much as we might want to, it's not possible to support everyone. I have chosen a few that are meaningful and enjoyable to me, yours being one of them. Rest assured I'll remain a paid subscriber and #1 fan! I apologize to all whose writing I enjoy, and I feel a bit guilty that I'm an "unpaid" subscriber for those folks. I will also mention that I subscribed and paid for an account that I quickly knew was a mistake. After a month or so I appealed to Substack to cancel that account and give me a partial refund. Sorry to say, they don't do that; but they have assured me that the account will not be auto-renewed in October. So...when the email comes from said account, I delete it without reading it. Bummer!! Here's hoping you keep writing, Kate! You feed the soul! ❤️

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thanks so much, Pam for your words of encouragement and continued support! I haven't had this experience yet, but you may want to know that if you dispute a subscription charge the author, in addition to losing the money for the subscription, is charged an additional $15. This is all in addition to the fees that Stripe and Substack take. Now, don't get me wrong. I believe wholeheartedly that the fees taken out of each paid subscription by Stripe and Substack (about 15% ) are well worth being able to publish here. And yes, Substack is being taken seriously and growing exponentially!

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Pam's avatar

Kate, thank you for this additional information!

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Anne Monday's avatar

You are one very busy Lady. I love reading your newsletter where I always find something that sings to me. You inspire to try new things, new books and new (to me) music. You are a gift.

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you so much, Anne!

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Betsy Massie's avatar

I enjoy getting and reading your newsletter whenever it arrives, I'm not concerned if it's a few days or weeks late.

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you, Betsy!

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lois's avatar

Hi Kate,

All so well said! And, no need to apologize. Ever. Life off- line is equally, if not more, important.

I believe that I subscribed 2 years ago. I found you through one of Amy Wallen's site. Love her.

Last year, you kindly "gifted" me in. This year, I'm able to afford to subscribe again, but the link won't open because it thinks I'm subscribed. So, when renewal time comes, I will re-subscribe.

I so admire your latest project. That's a LOT of labor. Good for you! And your mentor... what a great guy.

Have great fun with the pies.

Hugs hello from California 🙋‍♀️

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Always happy to help and thanks for being part of our community, Lois! Hugs back to you, too!

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Teri Harbour's avatar

I’m in awe!😲🥰

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Kate McDermott's avatar

You'll be seeing the progress soon!

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Jan Peppler's avatar

I'm glad you're here, Kate! Bravo on building your community! Yes, it is sooooo much work.

on a fun note, as soon as I saw Chicken Tacos I thought of Taco tariffs... ;) xo

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Well, as is said...IFKYK...cluck cluck.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Congrats! And, yeah, when we first started out blog as nomads, I couldn't bear the keyword crap, the SEO titles, and all the rest. Thank God Substack came along.

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you, Michael! It became such a slog. I love our home here.

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tom johnson's avatar

Well worth being a subscriber.

Thanks Kate for all you work.

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you, Tom!

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Rachel Ciordas's avatar

Thanks for being so real, so transparent. It's not easy, any of it! You are amazing, I'm so very happy to know you and your work. (Also I'm terrified I'll accidentally push the wrong button and lose hundreds of subs - or like others my whole publication, ack!)

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Kate McDermott's avatar

My stomach absolutely dropped when I pushed the wrong button. So many free subscribers that potentially could have become paid gone just like that!

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Rachel Ciordas's avatar

😬a nightmare I'm so sorry!!

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Amie McGraham's avatar

You’re a force of nature and I’m proud to know you, Kate!

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thanks, Amie! I’m learning survival skills!

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Mel's avatar

Reading that Michael Hedges had passed, cut me short. I used to listen to a radio channel called "Music From the Hearts of Space" and his work was featured constantly. His music filled up empty spaces inside of me. I just looked up his death and it seemed so meaningless. Very sad...

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Kate McDermott's avatar

I remember that radio station!

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Mel's avatar

It was my "go to" music.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Kate, congratulations on 4 brilliant years, your voice, talent and heart ❤️ shine through!

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Kate McDermott's avatar

Thank you so much, dear Jolene!

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Story Has It's avatar

Cosmic balance made me laugh. Hope that I can cultivate 4 years of newsletter writing endurance!

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Kate McDermott's avatar

You can do anything if you think you can. My favorite book has always been “The Little Engine That Could.”

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