Victorian Fantasy contracted!

It's been too long since I posted, but I wanted to share good news. My Victorian fantasy was contracted about 2 weeks ago. Yeah, I know, I should have shouted from the roof tops but it's been crazy busy at my place.

Anyway, if ever there was a book of the heart, this was it. I wrote her five years ago and have been polishing ever since. It features the Keeper of a mystical world and a very prim and proper Victorian Nanny. As a fantasy, the story comes complete with trolls, fairies and gnomes.

I'll post more about it later, but I wanted to share here first.

Bremond was a Success!

On February 5, I narrated a script for a silent play. The play was inspired by a scene from my book, Once Jilted and was only part of the goings on at the Bremond Library Fundraiser. It was a blast.

Besides the silent play, the Cowboy Church provided cowboy stew cooked outside along with biscuits and cobbler baked in a dutch oven. Kids were treated to a few old time type games while parents bid on silent auction items.

I invited Linda LaRoque to join me. After the play, they allowed us to talk about our books, t

hen afterwards we were allowed to sell and autograph our books. Way too much fun!

To the left are some of the actors in action. And to the right, I'm watching as Linda gives her speech.

The reason I was asked to participate in this event was because Bremond was once a stop for the orphan train and there are still several descendants of the orphan train riders living in Bremond. I really enjoyed giving the program and letting everyone know a little more about the orphan train riders.

Gearing up

It seems like forever since I posted. Most folks would take time to go over new year's resolutions, etc. Well, mine in a nutshell is to survive in the fast lane. Lots of things are going my way already so I just want it to all go smoothly.

Right now, I'm gearing up for a huge event with the Bremond Library. They'll be featuring my book, Once Jilted. It's their annual fundraiser and they are focusing most of the activities around this book. Wow. I'm honored. It's been forever since I acted on stage and I'm so nervous. I'll be narrating a play that's based on a scene from this book.

Right now, I'm sewing a dress so I can look the part. I used to sew all the time but it's been 15 years since I've made a suit and the pattern I chose is basically a suit jacket and skirt. I'll be sure to post pics once it's done. With my schedule, I'm sewing one seam a day. Too fun.

Tis the Season to be Jolly

I love the idea behind Christmas but I think it's become way too commercialized. Shopping is no longer fun but a chore. Bah humbug.

On a brighter note, I almost have all my shopping done so I won't need to fight the last minute rush to buy things.

I can't believe this year has gone by so quickly. Two more days of teaching and then I have two and half weeks - to write!!! I'm really looking forward to starting something new. Not sure what, but yeah, my muse has been yammering at me.

Creative Blogger

I'm such a bad blogger. I can't believe it's been so long. Whaaa. If someone could "can" time and sell it, they'd be a millionaire. LOL.

About two weeks ago, Bethany, a wonderfully engaging blogger, sent me a creative blogger award. I promised I'd post it and here I am two weeks later. Ugh. Thanks bunches Bethany!. So, with this gift, I'm supposed to tell you 7 things about myself that you might not know.

1. I used to teach Geometry before I taught art. Yep, I tested right down the middle for left/right brain thinking. I hold a BFA with a major in art and minor in math.

2. I hate to grocery shop. I think I'd rather go to the dentist. No one knows shopping etiquette so I get frustrated when folks park their baskets in the middle of the aisle. Oh well.

3. I sang two solos at Girl Scout Camp when I was sixteen. At the time I could hit a high C. Those days are long gone.

4. I worked as a dental assistant for two years before going back to school. I thought about being a dentist until Chemistry ate my lunch.

5. I used to collect demitasse spoons and even made one while I was in jewelry class so I could add it to the collection as well.

6. When I was in high school, I sewed all of my clothes and my brother's shirts.

7. I hate mustard greens and turnips.

Now I need to pass this on to seven others who blog. So ....

1. Linda LaRoque

2. Ginger Simpson

3. Rayka Mennen

4. Kimber Chin

5. Donica Covey

6. Becka Goings

7. Candace Morehouse

My First Writer's Bar Camp

I heartily apologize for not staying current with this blog. When there's a dry spell from me, you can tell I'm in the writing "zone" or I'm busy with one of my three jobs.

A week ago, I attended my first writer's bar camp. What fun. I wish I could have stayed all day but I was under deadline to get a magazine ready for print. I went first thing in the morning not knowing what to expect. I'd hoped for a schedule of events as I'm sorta anal that way, but when I arrived it was a free-for-all. Big signs were posted on the walls with room numbers and time slots. If you wanted to present, you wrote in your name and claimed a room for the hour. If you wanted to just attend, you waited to see who all was presenting and show up for the lecture.

As I had things to do, I chose the first slot available. I spoke to a group of about 8 - 10 who seemed very interested in what I had to say about getting published and e-publishing in general. They asked great questions and no one yawned. That's always a good sign. I stayed to hear a talk on editing and afterwards left for the day.

In hind sight, I wish I'd stayed and given my talk again. I think more folks would have attended as many didn't arrive until much later anyway.

Bar camps were devised for and by computer geeks who wanted to host a gathering where they could exchange knowledge. The first few were so successful, that they decided to apply it to writers. Writing organizations pay lots of money for guest speakers, but the idea behind a bar camp is writer's teaching writers. It's just a very large share fest of information.

Next year, I plan to stay all day and give more than one talk. Networking is fun as well.

The End

The End - those are magical words to an author, especially when they've slaved over a book, don't several rewrites and stalled more times than they'd care to admit. Well, I"m excited to report that I just wrote those words on my last wip. Whoop! 93,000+ words and I'm done. I finished the synopsis and I submitted to my publisher. Now, I have to wait to see if I'm offered a contract. Ugh. Waiting is soooo hard.

So, while I wait, I'm going to be playing this month. First, visit the blog, "Dishing it Out," for some suspenseful excerpts and spooky shorts. Ginger is a dear friend and always does such fun things on her blog. And yours truly gets to be one of her first guests so for an excerpt from my Viking Time Travel, check out her blog tomorrow.

Another author buddy of mine, Becka Goings is having her fifth annual birthday bash with all sorts of prizes handed out this week. Check out her loop, The Magic of Romance, and come play. She'll also be posting one of my excerpts but I'm not sure when, but I'll let you know when I know.

Off to go write some more, or maybe not. I'm about due a rest but then the Muse isn't always on my time clock.