Seasons of Parenting

Thursday evening's Seasons of Parenting event was a blast. I'm so honored to have been invited to participate in the inaugural event.

I spoke about keeping your relationships spicy. . .

:)

Selah the Scribe of Sensory Bible Experiences, the energy behind Seasons of Parenting, plans on producing a Seasons' event quarterly.

We were hosted by Kunjani Coffee, a wonderful cafe in Parker. You can see from the photos that it's a lovely establishment. BTW, they also have free wifi.

The Seasons series of talks is designed to offer the community informative, encouraging and fun events focused on a theme and to give local authors, speakers, and artists and opportunity to share their expertise and craft.

Writer/speaker Michele Cushatt talked about viewing all types of families through the prism of love and acceptance.

And Selah the Scribe read an original story about the Father's love.

Denver-area event

I'm going to be participating in this new event, speaking and signing my books. It will be held in Parker next month. It's going to be a fun event, and if you're in the area I hope to see you there.

The Evolution of my Writing Space

I've been talking about my new office, and lest you think I'm putting on airs let me tell you that I've paid my dues as far as writing spaces go.

When I decided to commit myself to really making a run at publication my darling husband set up a desk in the basement. Old desk, old PC, but it was under one of the few heat vents in our unfinished basement. The desk is piled with junk now, but you can see the calendar pages I taped to the concrete wall to make it more cheerful. When I was working there I kept a jacket and scarf nearby because it got pretty chilly down there in the cool months.
My daughter Liz says the random images on the wall looks like the scene in the movie when the cops finally track down the address of the mass murderer. Once a writer friend asked to see my writing space. When I took her down to the basement her comment was, "Wow. You must really want to write to do it down here." So true.

Then I got a laptop, and I no longer was relegated to the dim, cold basement. I would write in my living room sitting on a chair or this loveseat with a lap desk.

Most of my writing was done on the loveseat with a dog sitting beside me -- and sometimes inching her way on to my lap.


One year during the holidays I mixed things up and sat in a rocking chair to write.

See my laptop on the footstool in front of the chair? It was pleasant to sit next to the Christmas tree and enjoy the holiday fragrance.

On occasion I throw an old piece of particle board and an old suitcase over the bars of my treadmill to create my treadmill desk. Yes, writing in the basement. Again. At times.
When the weather permits, I work outside. This is a photo of an autumn day. I guess I'm stubborn about working outside -- even when it gets cool. I had two throws and a jack to keep me warm.
This year my outdoor office expanded when I got this Adirondack chair for Mother's Day. It is very comfortable.


Drum roll, please . . .

And now I've got a whole room to myself!

It's still a work in progress. I have more decorating to do, and I need to haul some of my books into the bookshelf. And look, it's a room without purple. (I've been on a purple kick for a few years now.) The walls are blue, it's the only blue in the house, but I want to feel like I'm riding a cloud in the sky. To compensate for the lack of royal purple, I selected gold, another shade of royalty. :)

I finally decided on a quote to use over the couch. It says, "You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club." ~Jack London.


I trust God will bless me lots and lots of words while I work in this office. It's wonderful to finally have a place for all my stuff.

And now, back to writing!!!

You gotta love this . . .

. . . especially if you're a writer or book lover. It's a library parking garage in Kansas City.


And check out this one, it's the Cardiff (UK) Central Library temporary building.

Redecorating!!

I'm excited about the project I'm working on now. No -- it's not a book (although I am writing a book).

As my DH (darling husband) says, "You haven't lost a daughter, you've gained a study." Ahhh, yes. That wise man knows how to ease my mama's heartache from the loss of my sweet girl going off and getting married. I'm getting a fresh, new, only-Megan's study.

This past weekend we bought furniture and scheduled new carpet installation. Yesterday I bought paint, a pretty pale blue. I'm also going to paint the ceiling blue. I want to feel like I'm riding on a cloud while I write.

I decided that instead of putting a picture over the couch I would put a quote or saying on the wall. I had planned on stenciling it, but I saw this product.

It's called Once upon a Wall, and it's vinyl letters you can put on the wall that looks like a stencil.

I've done some research, and have chosen a few writers' quotes to rotate, depending on my mood.

Which do you like best?

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
~Anton Chekhov

There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
~W. Somerset Maugham

Fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie.
~Stephen King

You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.
~Jack London

I've been busy

Sorry to be so neglectful of my blog. I've been gloriously busy. For the past several months we were planning my daughter's wedding. So much effort went into a day that passed much too quickly. The happy day was October 4th.

Please enjoy the photos and share our joy.

We were thrilled that friends and relatives traveled from NY to spend this time with us. They arrived on Friday morning, and we had al fresco lunch in my backyard.

We rented a 15-passenger van and packed it. My daughter Liz looks so happy to be joining the family onboard, doesn't she?

Here's the rehearsal. Kathleen and Scott were practicing their first kiss.

The rehearsal dinner was so much fun. Here's the happy couple with their grandparents.

I love this photo. Kathleen's bridesmaids were fussing with her gown, but she was intent on getting to her groom.

It had been windy in the afternoon, and my husband Carl and Pastor Jack prayed for the wind to calm. When Kathleen appeared, a gust of wind lifted her vail. She was quick to grab it and continue on to Scott.

As soon as her feet hit the grass, the winds died and were quiet for the ceremony.

It was a wonderful, sweet time. Here's a photo of the bride and her sister and cousin Jen.

AG (Aunt Grace) with Scott.

All the pretty girls.

2009 ACFW Conference

Wow. I've gone to the ACFW Conference every year since 2004, this was my 6th -- and best one yet! (The photo below is of the dessert at the banquet.)

I can't urge writers and wanna be writers enough to attend conferences. The education, the friendships, the opportunity to meet agents and editors, the fire it lights in your heart to write, write, write are compelling reasons to push yourself to go to a conference. Start a separate account and put a bit of money in it monthly. In a year you should have enough for a conference.

Each year there are more wonderful memories made.

The Donald Maass early bird workshop was worth the price of the entire conference. So much info and so much advice!

I attended a continuing session on screenwriting. It was taught by Rene Gutteridge. She was wonderful about sharing her knowledge and encouragement. Guess what I'm going to try to do now?

The workshops and chats were wonderful, too. It's fun to sit with friends and learn new things about the craft and the industry.

On Saturday I participated in a book signing with over 100 other authors. Thrilling!

On the right is a photo of me with the delightful and talented author Nicole Young.

I was thrilled to join other WordServe writers for a wonderful dinner at McCormick & Schmicks on Friday night. Fun!

I was so happy that my friend Donita K. Paul won the Mentor of the Year award. Here she is with her lovely daughter Evangeline. Donita was very surprised, it was so much fun to see her get this well-deserved honor.

My friend Danica Favorite-McDonald was a finalist in the Genesis Contest (for unpublished authors), she won runner up. I'm so proud of her. Her Husband joined her at the banquet.











Here's my friend Michele Cushatt (she writes beautifully and is a gifted speaker) and the 2009 conference photographer Pauline Fortuna of Fat Tuna Photography.


This is a photo of me with Angie Breidenbach (Mrs. Montana!). And yes, that's her crown I'm wearing.

Buying Books & Peaches

I bought some peaches the other day. Not headline-making news, but consider this, I knew that I had peaches at home in my fridge.

The reason for my impulse purchase was because the clerk at the store stopped me to tell me how delicious the peaches were. She said that she really looks forward to eating one when they’re this fresh and ripe. She made those peaches sound like the most delicious fruit on earth. I bought them because she hand sold them to me.

Having someone talk up a product adds perceived value to that product. Keep reading . . .

ACFW Conference Photographer

If you're one of the lucky authors who will be attending the ACFW Conference next month, consider updating your headshot at the conference. Pauline Fortuna of Fat Tuna Photography is offering ACFW authors a screaming deal.

Pauline's my photographer, and I can't say enough nice things about her and her high level of skill in capturing amazing images. She's a consummate pro, a delightful person, and a skilled imaging artist. A professional photographer can help you to put your "best face" forward. And let's face it, if you're over 30, you really need professional digital artwork for the portrait to look its best. For a long time I've preached the importance of presenting yourself in the most professional way with your marketing. Curious? Go here to read my blog posts on marketing. If you scroll down, you'll find tips on preparing for a portrait session and what to wear.

Don't think about it any longer -- schedule an appointment now. You don't want to miss this opportunity.

How do you get to know your characters?

Writers, how do you get to know your characters? Readers, can you tell how well an author knows their characters?

Having a thorough knowledge of your book’s characters is imperative in writing fiction. You have to be true to the character you’ve created for their world to be believable. Keep reading. . .

What authors and writers can learn on Twitter

Every writer knows that social networking is good for your career. I’ve had the pleasure of making new friends and acquaintances online who have been a great encouragement and have given me advice and insight.

There are some agents, editors, and writers who are active on Twitter who occasionally . . . Keep reading...

A delightful surprise

One of our local magazines, Search Parker, came in the mail yesterday. I was delighted and surprised to see a blurb for Out of Her Hands and a photo of the book's cover on the "book" page.


I love living in our community. It's a beautiful, caring place where individuals reach out to one another, and our local merchants truly care about their home area. Thanks, Pam Waid. You made my day.

Book Spines

The other day we discussed book covers and how they’re designed to intrigue readers enough to pick up the book and give it a chance.I read several industry blogs, one of them Michael Hyatt’s. If you don’t know, he’s the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. His recent post about the importance of listening to consumers, talks about market research and how to best use the spine of a book cover as a marketing tool.

Continue reading . . .

Book Covers

If you’re like most folks, you do judge a book by its cover. A book cover is designed to sell books, the goal is to intrigue you enough with the cover that you pick up the book and investigate what it’s about.

When a book cover entices me to pick it up off the shelf, I usually flip it over and read the back copy, and then open the book and read the first few sentences. For me the book has to have more than just an attractive cover to win me over.

The book covers shown have something in common. 

Keep reading . . .

Write Away Field Trip

Today I joined my Words For The Journey writing friends on our 3rd annual Write Away Field Trip to the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

It's a beautiful resort, and they are very welcoming to the dozen or so writers who take up residence on the patio and in the mezzanine to write for the day.

We all -- well, most of us -- spent the time there productively writing our novels, article, and non-fiction books. The sound of our keyboards clacking away was music to a writer's ears.

Above is Lucille, Kay, and Diane. This is the cool table. You can tell by the serious, writerly look on Robbie's face. From left to right: Michele, Heather, yours truly, and Robbie. And here's the social table with Denise and Jan. They were the chatty girls.
This is our 2009 group photo, but unfortunately it didn't occur to us to take the photo until after some of the ladies had gone home. Sorry, girls.

A novel’s first sentences

I’ll say it up front: I’m a real sucker for a good first sentence in a novel. I may read on if the sentence is ho-hum, but I’ll read more eagerly if the first sentence pulls me into the story.

Like many readers I’ll peruse the books on a shelf and pick up novels by authors I’ve previously enjoyed or select a book whose title or cover catches my eye. I’ll flip it over and read the back cover copy and then turn to the first page. Reading the first lines of a novel is like going out on a blind date, I don’t know what to expect, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised, swept off my feet, and fall madly in love.

Some people contend that the most difficult sentences to write in a novel are the first ones. After all, they are the hook that draws people in. My favorite first sentences are the ones that make me ask, “what??” —the lines that peak my curiosity and leave me panting for more. Please don’t give me a weather report or tell me what the character looks like. I want to read a provocative statement or a question that has me hungering for an answer.

Of course there are some first lines from bestselling authors that are so boring I want to toss the book across the room, but then because it was written by a bestselling author, I read on. After all, their books sell, and they could probably post their grocery list on the first page and people would read on. However, for the rest of us authors, we need to give our readers some lines that will keep them engaged.

Here are a few of my favorite first lines:

Keep reading . . .

Author Frank McCourt's legacy

Did you read Angela's Ashes? I did, and I loved it. I was sad to hear about author Frank McCourt's passing this past Sunday.

Frank McCourt, the schoolteacher turned late-blooming memoirist, died Sunday of cancer. He was 78.

McCourt was known for verbally spinning a great tale long before he even penned the words to his debut book, Angela’s Ashes.

Keep reading . . .

A day at the beach

We spent the day at Nickerson Beach on Long Island, NY. Here's 10 seconds of bliss.

Answering critics

Everyone’s a critic. Everyone has an opinion. And of course, everyone's entitled to their opinion.

But what happens when a critic or a reviewer or a book club member reads your book and doesn’t like it? What do you do when you read a cutting review of the book you toiled over for months (or years)?
Keep Reading »

Loveland Book Signing

Yesterday I traveled to Loveland, Colorado, to sign books at the Barnes & Noble at the Promenade Shops at Centerra.

What a lovely shopping mall, and what a great Barnes & Noble. Their hospitality is overwhelming.

The best part of the day was doing the signing with my friend Tina Forkner. Her second novel, Rose House, just came out this past May.

We had a great afternoon chatting with book lovers and discovering some new writers. It's always fun to talk about the business and encourage other writers.

We had a pleasant surprise when our friend and fellow author Kathy Kovach stopped in for a visit. She chatted with us for a bit and hung out in the cafe to work on her next book.

WFTJ Photo Day

Yesterday several of my Words For The Journey friends got together to support the five of us who were getting new headshots. We had a blast!

As you can see, a photo session is a group project with the WFTJ crew. In all there were about ten of us milling around enjoying each other's company.

Terri Michael is the model of the moment in the above photo. Darcie Gudger is holding the reflector, photographer extraordinaire Pauline Fortuna is coaching Terri, and Darcie's boy "Booger" is chatting with Lucille Zimmerman. That beautiful spot is O'Brien Park in downtown Parker.
Here Genevra Bonati's posing while we look on and encourage her smiles. I should have taken more photos to show the support we had. Several ladies who weren't getting their photo taken came along for moral support. This part of the session was held in my neighborhood, there were some attractive shady spots that made a good background.

If I weren't holding the reflector when Michele Cushatt was getting her photo taken I'd have a cool picture of her coming headfirst out of a twisty slide. Trust me, it's going to be a great headshot.

New outdoor workspace

The past few years I've enjoyed working outdoors during the nice weather. I would install myself on my chaise on the patio and work there until it's too cold to stay outside.

Now I'm thrilled to have a new outdoor workspace. I got an Adirondack chair for Mother's Day, and I have it nestled on the side of the yard alongside my Aspen clump.

It's very comfortable, and from noon-ish on it's in the shade, which is important because you can't see a computer screen if you're sitting in the sun.

My little Jack Russell Terrier, Bayle, thinks I should be ready to play at all times. Can you see two of her toys next to the chair? She keeps me company while I work.

It's not an oversized chair, and my lap desk sits comfortably on the arms, so working is a breeze.

I even have a nifty little table for my phones, water, etc.

It sure doesn't take much to make me happy. A comfy chair, a shady spot, the sounds of nature to listen to while I work.

Here's a photo of my little distracter, Bayle. If she could speak, she's be saying, "Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me!

Thinking of the ACFW Conference

Can you believe it's nearly July? And before you know it, the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference will begin (September 17th - 20th). This year it will be held in Denver, my home area.

I can't wait for the conference to come to my hometown and to welcome all my friends to one of the best locations on earth.

In the next few weeks I'm going to be posting on the ACFW Conference blog. I'll be highlighting some dining options to suit most tastes and budgets. Are you familiar with yelp.com? It's a great site for reviews. You might want to go online to check out some of the choices that I'll list.

We'll discuss restaurants you can walk to as well as those a quick light rail ride away. The light rail is about a five minute walk from the hotel, and the fare is $2 each way/$1 each way for seniors. The fare box takes quarters or bills but returns change in dollar coins only.

Most of the meals are included in the conference fee, but Friday night's dinner is a fun break to get out and investigate what's around with new friends and old. There are also some great, close restaurants you can visit if you want to get away for breakfast or lunch.

Price range is a relative indication of cost. Some restaurants did not list prices online.

$ = Inexpensive

$$ = Moderate

$$$ = Pricey

$$$$ = Ultra High-End

The Lift, $$ located inside the Marriott, serves all-American cuisine (burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pasta, etc.). $10 - $20. They don't have a website but the Marriott promises to email me a menu that I will share with you.

There are several restaurants within walking distance from the Marriott. The hotel address is 4900 S. Syracuse St., 80237. Feel free to Google directions from the hotel the restaurants so that you'll have some context to where they are located and how to get there.

By the way, it's always easy to tell which direction you're heading in when you're in Denver. If the mountains are in front of you, you're heading west. If they're on your left, you're going north.

Darcy's Bistro & Pub is about .03 miles if you don't mind walking through parking lots to get there. Basically, it's due east of the hotel. Darcy's combines traditional Irish fare, such as corned beef and cabbage, with great steaks and fresh seafood, delicious tapas (Spanish small plates), salads and sandwiches. Reviews.

Garcia's Mexican Restaurant $$ is about .02 miles down the road from the hotel on the same street, located at 5050 S. Syracuse Street. There's no website, but here's the reviews on yelp.com.

Paradise Bakery $ is .01 miles south on Syracuse Street. They're a great option for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner. They stop serving soup, salad, and sandwiches at 3:00, and are bakery only from 3:00 to 4:00.

If you're willing to walk ½ mile, there's a strip mall at 8000 E. Belleview Ave. with several dining choices. From the hotel, walk south on S. Syracuse St. to Belleview. Cross Belleview and turn left (right). Continue walking about .02 miles and the strip mall's on your right.

The Original Pancake House $$ is open seven days a week with limited hours: 6a.m. to 2 p.m. It's very, very good if you're looking for breakfast food.

Bara Sushi $$$ The reviews on yelp rave about the bento box which is a lunch box with a little of this and a little of that. The biggest raves? The bento box is $10! Unfortunately their website looks like a work in progress, and the menu/prices are not listed.

Il Forniao $$-$$$ serves delicious Italian food. Their menu is online, and depending what you get (share a pizza?) the price varies.

Chipotle $ is a Colorado company known for gourmet burritos and tacos (no kidding!). The helpings are so large that you might want to share a meal with someone.

Erbert & Gerbert's Subs and Clubs $ serves sandwiches, soups, sides, and desserts.

Santoro's Pizzeria $ (303) 770-7428, is on 8101 E Belleview Avenue about .07 of a mile from the hotel. Walk south to Belleview and turn left. It is on the left side of the road about .01 mile off Belleview on a private lane.

The next ACFW Conference blog dining post will discuss restaurant options south at Park Meadows. Some may call it a shopping mall, but they refer to themselves as a retail resort.

Choosing the right word

As writers, we work with words the way a sculptor uses chisels, files, and hammers.

The words we choose and the way we arrange them determines our success, so choosing the exact word needed to convey an idea, emotion, characterization, or setting is crucial.

As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

All words carry connotations, both personally to the reader and also culturally to the society. Authors need to be conscious of the connotations of the language they select. Keep reading...

I'm Sorry

I’m sorry.

Why are those two little words so difficult for some people to say? I’ve been thinking about it lately, and then David Letterman’s offensive remarks and abysmal apology to the Palin family became news.

Apparently, Letterman’s succumbed to pressure and is finally trying to act like a decent man and really apologize. Although at this point I think he’s being PC rather than authentic, but then I’m a girl from New York.

Aside from Letterman, I’ve been thinking about the phony baloney “apologies” that are tossed about in public, mostly from politicians or media stars. To be honest, they make me gag.

The most egregious apology, in my humble opinion, is the, “If I hurt you, then I’m sorry.” Excuse me? Does anyone else see that for the rhetorical failure that it truly is? Saying, “If I blah, blah, then I’m sorry,” is not taking responsibility because the “if” gives the apologizer too much wiggle room and allows them to avoid ownership of the misdeed.

How about if I knock you down with a baseball bat and then when you’re on the ground I mash your face into the mud, and then later I say, “If I knocked you down with a baseball bat and then mashed your face into the mud, I’m sorry.”

Where’s the honor and integrity of admitting your mistake, owning up to it, and sincerely apologizing with heartfelt words? Where’s the offer to try to make the misdeed right?

Why can't people simply say, "I said/did blah, blah and I'm very sorry. How can I make it right?"

It’s a shame that our society is forgetting how to say, “I’m sorry.” It’s just a crying shame.

Rant over. Thanks for listening. Now please, go out and be kind to one another. And if need be, apologize. Really apologize.

*** I just watched the Letterman apology. Sorry, Dave. It didn't do it for me. His apology was based on the fact that the public misunderstood the joke. Give me a break! He simply needed to say, "I shouldn't have said that, and I'm sorry."

Letterman's gobbledegook uh, I mean, his words:
It’s the perception rather than the intent.’ It doesn’t make any difference what my intent was, it’s the perception. And, as they say about jokes, if you have to explain the joke, it’s not a very good joke. And I’m certainly – ” (audience applause) “– thank you. Well, my responsibility – I take full blame for that. I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke. It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault. That it was misunderstood.”

Yippi for ParkerFest

I had a blast at ParkerFest on Sunday. I love Parker, it's such a sweet, pretty, friendly place.The Douglas County Library system paid for the booth I occupied and furnished a nifty canopy, table, chair, and banner. I brought along my books, a poster, and some marketing materials.
I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with book lovers and hanging out where folks were having fun. Of course the fun only lasted until the tornado warnings came. Fortunately my husband kept me company, and my darling daughters stopped by just in time to help dismantle the canopy and pack up. The tornado touched down not far from where we were.

It was amazing to feel the temperatures drop so quickly and the sky cloud over. You can see how beautiful it was from the photos, and then the Colorado weather took over and changed the day.

Join Me at ParkerFest

This Sunday, June 7th, I'll be meeting folks and signing books at ParkerFest in downtown Parker.

Every Sunday during the summer the Town of Parker closes a few blocks of Mainstreet to traffic and hosts ParkerFest, a lovely street fair. There is a farmer’s market, food, craft booths, musical entertainment, special events, and a “Kid Zone” each week.

I think I fall under the category of special events. Our wonderful library system, Douglas County Library, funds a booth and loans it out to a local author or illustrator each week.

I'm going to be at ParkerFest from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. I'll be visiting with folks and signing my novels, Searching for Spice and Out of Her Hands. Please stop by and say hello.

Megan's Speaking Brochure

This is the front and back of my new marketing piece to promote my speaking ministry. Pretty, isn't it? My designer, Natasha, (tash100proof@gmail.com) created exactly what I had in mind.

















I gave Tash a photo I took last year of the beautiful prairie flowers that grow alongside the path I walk on during the warmer months. (The Cherry Creek Trail runs behind my neighborhood.) That's the same photo I've used on my blog and website. I told her that I wanted to use those colors. Didn't she do a great job?

For the back image, I gave her a mountain-view photo that I took two weeks ago when I crashed the Colorado Christian Writers Conference for the day. I went there to cheer on some friends who were attending. If you scroll down to the previous post, you can see that lovely photo.

Now I'm ready to really start promoting my speaking. I'm only going to have only about 50 of these printed (locally) for now because I'd like to have a new headshot taken by the talented and delightful Pauline Fortuna of Fat Tuna Photography.

I was in a rush to create this piece because I'm going to be the featured author at ParkerFest next Sunday (6/7) on Mainstreet in downtown Parker. If you're in the area, you should come over. It runs from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and is a wonderful street fair with food, cool stuff to buy, and great music to enjoy.

The piece is what is called a rack card. I wanted my brochure to stand out from so many of the tri-fold brochures that are floating around out there, so I choose a different format. This card rack is a 4x9 glossy with color on both sides. This is a great size to pass out, and it will fit into a legal size envelope. Like I did for my bookmark, when I order a larger quantity, I'll purchase it online at PrintRunner.

In addition to this hard piece, I'm also going to have a digital brochure that can be emailed. I love to network (I've passed out over 2,000 bookmarks in less than a year) and when I'm at book signings or events like ParkerFest, I'll give my speaker brochure to people who agree to pass it along to the women's ministry leader in their church.

If you click on the images, they will enlarge in your browser.

65 Questions

There are probably about a million other things I should be doing now (maybe not a million, but I can think of three other more worthwhile pursuits), but I was cruising through some blogs, and my friend Kay had this list on her's. It interested me, but then, Kay's pretty interesting. :)

65 Questions You've Probably Never Been Asked:

1. First thing you wash in the shower? My hair.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? Hmm. Do I have a hoodie?

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Oh, yes!

4. Do you plan outfits? Most of the time.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Hopeful.

6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red? My dog’s toy.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? I remember, but it’s too sad to share.

8. Did you meet anybody new today? Yes.

9. What are you craving right now? Prayer, there’s never enough.

10. Do you floss? Ah, yes.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Red in salads.

12. Are you emotional? You better believe it.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Nope.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? I’m a licker.

15. Do you like your hair? Yes.

16. Do you like yourself? Yes, I do, actually.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Sure.

18. What are you listening to right now? Pandora and my dog squeaking a toy.

20. Would you go skydiving? No.

21. Do you like cottage cheese? Yes. Sometimes I splurge and put it on rye toast.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Perhaps. Depends on the definition.

23. Do you rent movies often? Yes, I love Netflix.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? My grandmother’s antique crystal.

25. How many countries have you visited? About seven.

26. Have you made a prank phone call? Naaah.

27. Ever been on a train? Yes.

28. Brown or white eggs? Doesn’t matter. Eggs are eggs.

29. Do you have a cell phone? Yes.

30. Do you use chap stick? No.

31. Do you own a gun? No

32. Can you use chopsticks? Yes.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? My husband.

34. Are you too forgiving? No. My heart's been bruised too badly to not be careful with it.

35. Ever been in love? Absolutely.

36. What is your best friend doing tomorrow? That would be my husband, and he’s doing yard
work with me. He just doesn’t know it yet.

37. Ever have cream puffs? Oh yes. Aunt Beatrice makes the best!

38. Last time you cried? Not too long ago.

39. What was the last question you asked? Why is the patio light on?

40. Favorite time of the year? Summer. The colors, the fragrance, the starry nights.

41. Last TV show you watched? “Lie to Me” on Hulu.

42. Are you sarcastic? On occasion. But not if it will be hurtful.

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? No.

44. Ever walked into a wall? No, thank goodness.

45. Favorite color? Changes.

46. Ever slapped someone? Can’t recall.

47. Is your hair curly? No.

48. What was the last CD you bought? Probably a Christmas CD.

49. Do looks matter? No, appearance matters.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? I try to be forgiving, but forgetting is the hard part.

51. Is your phone bill sky high? No.

52. Do you like your life right now? Yes!

53. Do you sleep with the TV on? Not on purpose.

54. Can you handle the truth? Yes, even when it hurts.

55. Do you have good vision? It’s okay.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? I don't hate anyone. I avoid mean people.

57. How often do you talk on the phone? As little as possible. Hate talking on the phone. It’s a
tool used for a specific purpose.

58. Do you text a lot? No, not much.

59. What are you wearing? Sweat pants, T-shirt. (My home attire.)

60. What is your favorite animal? Dogs

61. Where was your default picture taken at? What??

62. Can you hula hoop? Yes.

63. Do you have a job? Yes.

64. What was the most recent thing you bought? Eyedrops.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window? I think so.

The photos were taken a week and a half ago when I drove up to Estes Park to spend time at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference for the day. Beautiful, isn't it?

Whaaaat?

Okay, life's too short to burn any brain cells on this, but - - really? What kind of person buys a specially-designed doggie stroller?


I can't imagine it, but maybe that's just me. Don't our pets need exercise too? And wouldn't that little dog be happier walking around interacting with other dogs and people? The poor dear looks so miserable in there.

What has the world come to that we have to push our pets around in a stroller?

Words For The Journey Day

Today at WFTJ we had an active-vs-passive-sentence contest.

The delightful Dianne Daniels was taking on the rule-obsessed and feisty Robbie Iobst. In a slick move of both physical skill and mental acuity, the talented Ms. Iobst prevailed.

The Gift of Friendship

If you've got a tender heart, grab a tissue before you watch this video.

We were going out to dinner to celebrate my darling daughter's college graduation, and her best friend's mom and sister just happened to be at the restaurant where we were dining. Watch the video for the rest of the story.

Dynamic!

I survived (and actually thrived) at the Dynamic Communicators Workshop last week. I learned to prepare speeches with focus, deliver with clarity, and speak with power. It was fairly intense, but I soaked up knowledge and learned new ways to communicate. If you know me, that's a big deal. I always try to be specific and purposeful in my communication, so I was the crazy lady who occasionally broke into spontaneous applause at the conference.

While I was there I met a new reader, and was able to have my photo taken with him. That cow's got good taste in fiction, right? :) And, who knew the Chick-fil-A cow was so tall? Well, I guess since he's standing on his back legs--oh, never mind. :)

One of the best things about the conference was making the acquaintance of so many amazing people: men and women from all walks of life who were intent of polishing their skills and making a difference in their world. I saw hearts that were humble and truly wanted to serve God and tend to others. Some of the pastors who attended have been preaching for 20 or 30 years, and yet they still wanted to dig deep and find their best talents. There were people in ministry looking for fun and effective ways to speak to their audience. Incredible.

Here's the group photo. It represents people from all over the US and from all walks of life. What an honor to be in that group.

This photo is of me and Tennessee Richard. There were two Richards in my small group. This gentleman brought tears to my eyes with his mission. He's retired and has purposed to best learn how to present apologetics to high school seniors to prepare them for college. Isn't that something?

There were three pastors in our group: The Other Richard, Thomas, and Dan -- wonderful, God-loving men. Then there was Denise, a woman who was refreshingly authentic and was intent on polishing her presentation skills for her job (at Dollywood!). Sonny was there to improve his presentation skills for the premarital counseling he did. Gary was preparing for the next step he knew God would lead him on, and our coach was the wonderful Scot S. who gently critiqued and strongly encouraged us.

All in all, it was a great week. I was challenged, satisfied, and stretched. I made incredible friendships with many people and had a great time. Best of all, I'm ready and eager to honor those who invite me to speak with clear, logical, and entertaining speaking. Rock on!

The conference was held at the beautiful Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC. It was so beautiful and peaceful.

This week I'm stepping out of my comfort zone. Actually, I'm taking a giant leap.

When I purposed to become a published author, I began to attend writers conferences. Well, I've decided to pursue another goal, to become a more effective speaker. I've been delighted to be able to speak to women's groups and moms' groups, and I want to reward their confidence in me with the best presentation I can give them.

Since attending writers conferences seems to have worked out as hoped, I've decided to attend a workshop to learn how to present my ideas better.

I'll be in Asheville, NC this week at a Dynamic Communicators Workshop. Gulp. I'm going to give a speech every day, and they're going to tape me! Oh, be still my heart.

I'll give you a report after I survive the experience. Okay, that was said tongue in cheek. I don't think it will be a torturous experience, just a new one.

Have a blessed week, friends.

The joy of deadlines

Sooner or later, as a writer you’ll be under the gun of a deadline.

You can look on the bright side and see deadlines from an optimist’s point of view:

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”

~Diane Scharf Hunt

That’s a good quote. If you’re a new writer you can appreciate Ms. Hunt’s quote. I remember hammering away on my novel, trying to complete it by my deadline, which was the 2006 ACFW conference. If I hadn’t set that deadline for myself, I probably wouldn’t be published today because it was at that conference that I met my acquisitions editor. (One of the first questions she asked me was, “Is the manuscript complete?”)

Deadlines. Some writers hate them, some embrace them, and others learn to live with them. Sooner or later, as a writer you’ll be under the gun of a deadline.

Do you fall into the I-hate-deadlines-but-understand-they’re-necessary category? If so, you’ll appreciate this quote:

“One forges one’s style on the terrible anvil of daily deadlines.”

~Emile Zola

A daily deadline is a form of encouragement for me. I know what’s expected, but I also know that with work, I can accomplish my deadline. When I was a young woman, my first job out of college was as a radio reporter. I had to broadcast a three-minute newscast ever hour. Five days a week, I had six hourly deadlines to meet. And I always did.

Here’s another great quote:

“A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all.”

~Rita Mae Brown

Yes, have you ever had a writing assignment with a deadline? Boy howdy, you’re inspired while working under that deadline. At least if you’re professional you are.

I don’t think there are many writers who’ve never heard of this quote:

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make when they fly by.”

~Douglas Adams

Uhh, yea. Take that attitude and you may never have to worry about another deadline again. Editors expect that when you’re given a deadline you’ll meet it. Blow their confidence in you, and you may never get the opportunity to be under deadline again.

Have you ever heard of Dr. Wicked.com? It’s an online site that allows you to write under a time constraint.

The application is called, “Write or Die: Putting the Prod in Productivity.”

To participate, you input your word goal, your time goal (anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours), select the grace period (forgiving, strict, or evil), and select the mode (gentle, normal, kamikaze, or electric shock).

It’s amazing how much you can do when you know the clock’s ticking. I sampled the site on kamikaze mode, and the border around the space where you type glows red if stop typing for too long. And then, believe it or not, your words start to disappear, letter by letter, until you start typing again. That consequence got my fingers flying over the keyboard.

Give it a try, and have fun! Write or Die: Dr. Wicked’s Writing Lab

Ahh spring!

I hope we didn't jump the gun by putting out our patio furniture today. I've been looking forward to warm weather with a vengeance this year.

My summer office is my patio, usually from some time in May until October. I. Just. Can't. Wait!!

See the chaise lounge to the right of the door? That spot is shady 100% of the time, and that's where I write, weather permitting. That photo was taken last year. Colorado is not quite that green and blooming--yet.

We did a bit of yard work today. We tore up a big honeysuckle. An aspen tree volunteered to grow next to it, and the honeysuckle was overpowering the tender shoot.

I've been aggravated with that honeysuckle for about five years or so now anyway. It had no fragrance. Can you believe that? Isn't that half the reason for planting honeysuckle? The previous one used to scent the entire yard with it's fragrance, but this one was fragrance free.

I'm starting out this week with a prayer and a praise, how about you?

Author Voice

A lot of time is spent in writing circles discussing author voice. What is it? How do you perfect it?

Let’s look at some passages from books by two authors and “listen” to a few different voices and hear what they say to us. Keep reading -->


In other news: I spoke to a fabulous moms' group this morning about the power of words. Had a blast. I even got to hold a little one. My only regret is that I forgot to bring my camera. Rats.

A star in the making

This was Bayle's second agility training class. Darling daughter # 1 was putting her through the paces.

Purchase Sara Mills' books

I met Sara Mills last September at the ACFW Conference in Minneapolis. We happened to find ourselves sitting next to each other at the annual chocolate party.

Last week, Sara was widowed when her 40-year-old husband died of a heart attack.

Sara was just gearing up to promote her new book, Miss Match, about a female private detective, set in NYC in 1947. The authors of American Christian Fiction Writers are showing their support of Sara by getting out word about her novels.

The following is a previously published interview with Sara about her novels:

Tell us how you got the idea for Allie and these books...

I got the idea for Miss Fortune in the middle of the night, when all good ideas come to me:

One sleepless night I was watching The Maltese Falcon and I started to wonder how different the story would be if Sam Spade had been a woman. She'd never have fallen for Miss Wunderly's charms and lies. She'd have been smart and tough and she would have solved the case in half the time it took Sam because she wouldn't spend all of her time smoking cigarettes and calling her secretary Precious.

The thought of a hard-boiled female detective got my mind whirling.

I paused the movie and sat in my darkened living room thinking about how much fun a female Sam Spade could be. Intrigued but not yet ready to dash to my computer, I changed disks and put on Casablanca (my all time favorite movie ever). The sweeping love story, a tale full of hard choices and sacrifice was what finally made the whole idea click in my mind. If I could just combine the P.I. detective story of the Maltese Falcon with the love story from Casablanca, and make Sam Spade more of a Samantha, I could have the best of all worlds.

These books are so good, I wish I'd written them. How did you set the stage to capture that gritty PI feel without being dark?

I find that a lot of PI stories are gritty and dark, focusing on the worst of the humanity, and while I wanted the Allie Fortune mysteries to be exciting and tension-filled I didn’t want them to be stark and hopeless.

One of the things I tried to do to counteract the darkness was to give Allie a multi-layered life. She has cases, relationships, friends and family, all of which I hope combine to make the stories textured, rich and full of life.

Allie is a character I'd love to have coffee with. What did she teach you while you wrote these books?

Allie was a great character to write. One of the things I learned from her was that human relationships (man/woman, mother/daughter, friends) are complicated and full of unspoken rules and expectations. Allie is a rule-breaker at heart and it complicates her life on a regular basis. One of the storylines I loved most is Allie’s relationship with her mother and how it grows and changes and how it’s shaped her.

Another dimension of Allie’s character that really taught me a lot was her willingness to do whatever was needed to help those she loves. There is no price on that kind of friendship and it’s a characteristic I’d like to see more of in myself. Okay I admit it, I’ve got a bit of a friend-crush on Allie. LOL.

One last question: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would that be and who would you take with you?

If I could go anywhere right now I’d head to Monterey, California (I’m writing a book set there right now) and I’d plant myself on the beach with a notebook, writing my story as the waves crashed. Sounds like my idea of heaven on earth. There’s something about the wind-shaped Cypress trees and the crash of the surf in Monterey that calls to me. I don’t know why, it just is.

Miss Fortune, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #1

By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers

In 1947 Allie Fortune is the only female private investigator in New York City, but she's kept awake at night by a mystery of her own: her fianci disappeared in the war and no one knows if he's still alive. Until Allie finds out, she will have no peace. When there's a knock on her office door at four in the morning, Allie suspects trouble as usual, and Mary Gordon is no exception. Mary claims someone is following her, that her apartment has been ransacked, and that she's been shot at, but she has no idea why any of this is happening. Allie takes the case, and in the process discovers an international mystery that puts her own life in danger.
Meanwhile, the FBI is working the case as well, and she is partnered up with an attractive, single agent who would be perfect for her under other circumstances-if only she knew whether her fianci was still alive.


Miss Match, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #2

By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers


FBI agent Jack O'Connor receives a letter from Maggie, a woman he used to love, saying she's in trouble in Berlin. The FBI refuses to get involved, so Jack asks Allie Fortune to help him investigate. Allie and Jack pose as a missionary couple who want to bring orphans back to the United States.
A child finds important documents that everyone in the city - Soviets and allies alike - want for themselves. Maggie refuses to tell Jack what the documents are, saying if things go wrong, they are better off not knowing. Through the course of the search, Allie's past is brought back to her, half a world away from home.

Sad but true

Maybe I should start bringing Bayle to my book signings. Ha!

It's conference season!

Have you considered attending a writers conference this year? If not, perhaps you should. I’m a proponent of conferences because I believe...

Keep reading-->

In other news . . .  It's official. I'm a bona fide dog nerd. I've enrolled my Jack Russell Terrier, Bayle, in agility training. Our first class is on Friday afternoon. Since I've written Bayle into my wip, do you suppose I can claim this expense as research? 

Do I really look that dumb?

I was accosted by one of those product snipers that lurk at the kiosks in the mall this past week. She seemed innocent enough, "May I share some hand lotion with you, ma'am?"

The lotion was lovely, but then before I knew it, she was dabbing me with two layers of eye creams. Apparently they must work together for the desired result. A moment after she finished dabbing the second eye, she pulled out a mirror. "Oh, see that? See the difference? All those fine lines have disappeared!"

Really? Hmm. I didn't see anything.

She further explained. "They activate the muscles in your skin immediately."

Really? I didn't have the heart to tell this eager sniper that skin does not have muscles. So, how much do you think this stuff costs?

Hold onto your hat.

A 4 oz. vial is $160! Yes, that's right. To purchase both 4 oz. vials would cost you a whopping $320!!

Now I'm wondering why she chose to snare me and dupe me into shelling out that much money on eye cream. After all, I have many other parts that can use work beside my eyes. If I started there, who knows where this beautification project would end up.

You know, it would be like the lady who decides to purchase new sofa cushions, and then she has to buy new curtains, new carpets, paint the room, and then of course the sofa's got to be replaced because it no longer "goes" with the room.

Plotting vs. Seat-of-the-pants writing

I believe there are as many writing styles as there are writers.

Generally, writers fall into two camps, plotters and intuitive writers (sometimes called seat-of-the-pants writers). I am an intuitive writer. Of course there is always some ... read more...

So, you want to be a writer?

Have you ever dreamed of being a writer? In those quiet moments when daydreams struggle against the confines of reality, have you ever thought, “Yeah, I want to write, and I think I can.”

 Let me tell you, if I had $10 for every person who’s told me that they want to write a book/can write a book/have the perfect story for a book, then I could pay off my mortgage.

Friends, if you want to write a book or  read more . . .

Denver Christian Fiction Examiner: Novel set in Denver area

The delightful and well-read Kay Day as recently become Denver's newest Examiner on Examiner.com. Her title is Denver Christian Fiction Examiner. Yippi.

I'm honored that her first article was about me and Searching for Spice. Thanks, Kay!

Denver Christian Fiction Examiner: Novel set in Denver area

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Writers and Readers

If you're a writer, a wanna-be writer, or a reader you should also be a supporter of writers. I know, if you buy books you support writers, true. But it's a crazy industry, and a note of encouragement or a show of support goes a lo-o-o-n-g way. Trust me. My heart is touched by readers who take time out of their busy lives to drop me a note to say they enjoyed my books. 

Even before I came out of the closet and admitted I wanted to be a novelist I loved to meet authors and find out how they think, where they get their inspiration, and what their life is like. Book signings are a great opportunity to find out about writers, and most writers love to connect with their readers. 

To illustrated my point I'm going to drive to Loveland, Colorado tomorrow morning to hear author Tina Forkner speak and support her while she signs books at Barnes & Noble in Centerra tomorrow. 

I met Tina while traveling to an ACFW conference about three years ago, and we've been friends since. I'm looking forward to learning something about the craft of writing from her.

She speaks at 10:00 a.m., with the book signing to follow at noon.

Tina's the author of Ruby Among Us, a delightful tale of a girl uncovering the truths about her family and her deceased mother. The Rose House, the sequel to RAU, releases in May.

I'm an Examiner!

Have you ever heard of Examiner.com?

Examiner.com is one of the top 200 sites on the Internet today, it's a destination for news and information of all types.

I'm one of the newest Denver Examiners, and I'd be thrilled to have you check out my Examiner page. My title is Denver Writing Examiner, and I write articles on, duh, writing. :) I'll write articles 3 - 5 times a week.

If you want to stay updated on my articles, you can subscribe to my email notification. The link is to the right of my photo. I've been an Examiner for less than a week, and I'm having a blast.

Examiner has editions in many different cities in the US. To find your city's page, go to the drop-down menu under the Examiner logo.

Take a breath

I'm busy. We're all busy, right?

I had a moment last week when an appointment that should have been recorded somehow missed being input into my iCal (Mac's online calendar). In my frenzy, I shrieked, "Well, it's not on my iCal!"

Fortunately only about three seconds passed before I realized I sounded like an idiot. In my mind, if it wasn't on my iCal, then it couldn't possibly exist. Ha! The mad cat photo captures my emotions at the time.

For just a moment, I became unglued. Ever had that happen to you? Come on, be honest.

Anyway, I'm glad my tizzy mode was brief. It was a great reality check. I took a moment, sat in the sun flooding into my living room, closed my eyes and gave myself permission to have failed. What? You didn't know I wasn't perfect? (I just said that with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek.)

Sometimes it good to screw up. (Did I just say that?) It makes you reevaluate your priorities. That day I had too much on my plate, a mistake to begin with, and it was inevitable that my day would not run smoothly.

As a spiritual woman, my thoughts turned to God. Let me share a great verse that helps me to put my day into perspective. (The Message) Ps. 90:17 "And let the love of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!"

'Nuff said. Have a blessed weekend.

Christian Fiction Survey

Do you read Christian novels? Do you buy Christian novels?

Glass Road Public Relations is conducting a research study and wants to know more about you! If you would like to participate, go to Christian Fiction Buying Research to take an anonymous survey about buying Christian fiction.

At the end of the survey, you can enter to win a library of TEN Christian novels.

I took the survey, it wasn't long. I hope GRPR shares the results.

Breast Friend's Day

Yes, you read that correctly. It's not a typo. Today was Breast Friend's Day.

On a day (St. Patrick's Day) when nearly 50% of the population was wearing green, my girlfriends and I wore pink.

First we met for our Words For The Journey meeting. Danica Favorite-MacDonald spoke about tax issues for writers. I learned so much, and I'm r-e-a-l-l-y thankful that we have an accountant who figures all that out for us. See Michele in the center of the photo? Don't tell anyone, but I think she was probably twittering.

After WFTJ I went to lunch with Jan and Karen. We ate outside. In March. In Colorado. :)

Then we went to the Invision/Sally Jobe imaging center. Wow. They moved their suite since last year, and it looks like a spa, resort-like.

Here's a photo of Jan and Karen at the Keureg machine, they were about to brew their coffee.

And then our turns came. And, no. We didn't go in for the mammogram together.

After I completed the necessary paperwork (in a semi-private cubicle), I was instructed to go through the double doors.

I went through the doors and was greeted by a delightful, happy woman who smiled and said, "Hello, darling!" She was like a female Wal-Mart greeter on both estrogen and steroids. What a delight! She gave me a quick tour of the exam suite and then gave me a heated robe. Ahhh.

The, ahem, procedure lasted only a few minutes. Their digital machines are fast and painless.

Now, of course you can make an appointment and get a mammogram by yourself, but why should you when you can make an event of it with friends? Jan always brings chocolate to share with everyone. One of the staff referred to her as the "Chocolate Lady." Isn't that cute?

We shared smiles and laughter with some of the other ladies there today. We called it a celebration of health.

Having a mammogram usually isn't at the top of most women's list of things they want to do, but it's something that we should do for our loved ones.

It's our responsibility to guard our health, and it can even be a pleasure. Like on days like today.