Keep going

My goal is to not let so much time pass by between posts. So I want to say just a bit on perseverance.

How easy it would be to say I'm tired, that there are too many other things I should be doing. But do you know what? I can't. I just can't. I have fallen in love with writing. I'm having a torrid affair with words and I can't tear myself away.

At the moment, I'm working on a book I call "The Ivory Key." It's taking so much more research than my last book. There are quite a few dates and details that have to be accurate but it's such a fun story that I keep going back to it. Writing is supposed to be fun, and this book is, but it's different in that with this story, I have to plan, plot, and outline.

The last book I wrote simply dripped from my fingertips and onto the computer. I loved that. It was fast. I wrote it in about a months time. This time, I have to be clever, smart and organized. Yes, it's quite the stretch for me, but I'm learning and loving the process. It has taken longer than a month!

I also want to give a shout-out for my critique group buddies. They have made this book come alive. So often, people pass by the opportunity to share their work in this way. Because of my group, my characters and story go so much deeper, are much more compelling. Thanks guys.

So, there will be times when you can sit and write like there's no tomorrow and other times when you have to go slow, plan and outline. May your journey be one of wonder and fulfillment. Mine certainly has been. Thank you to all those who have mentored me along the way. My success is also yours.

What a conference!

Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a while, and let me tell you, I almost missed out on it. Thursdays at my house are very hectic, but a feeling kept telling me to go to the Book Academy conference anyway. So I followed that gut feeling.

I met Josi Kilpack in Salt Lake and we drove the rest of the way together. What fun! Josi and I have been long time email friends, but we'd never had the chance to really sit down and spend time together. How fabulous to find out how much we have in common. I think we could jabber all day long and never get tired!

Then, I had the opportunity to see these great authors in the workshops they taught. Annette Lyon taught the word nerd class I went to and what a brain. That girl is SMART! And not only that, but fun too. I've really enjoyed getting to know her better.

One particular highlight was toward the end when I found Scott Judd, an old friend from college. (who I dated for a bit, (hey there, Scott!). So I sat with him at his table to visit only to find that his wife was there to do the power point for the final keynote speaker, Maria Covey Cole. Maria's family came to support her. Do you know what this means? It means that I sat at the table with Stephen R. Covey and his family! Yes I did! In fact, he walked right up to little ole me and shook my hand like it was an honor. What a gracious man. I was very impressed. Also, Maria's sister sat next to me so I struck up a conversation, asking if she was related to Wid Covey who I had a crush on for three years in jr. high. He's her cousin! That was fun and what a small, small world!

After the conference, I was invited to eat out with a few of the published authors who taught the classes. OH MY WORD! What great people! First of all, to be included in a such an elite group of writers was an honor--and I've gotten to know them a bit from other conferences--but to be included like I was one of them was the real treat. James Dashner, Rob Wells, and Jeff Savage kept us in stitches (cliche, I know) but seriously, I never quick laughing. Thanks guys for letting me hang. I enjoyed every minute.

All in all, it was a day I will long remember. A day where every moment was filled with discovery and laughter. My heart is full and I needed that!

I'm back!

Earlier this week I watched "1408" as I folded my Mount Everest pile of laundry. I'd seen it a while ago, and I love a good thrill. On Thursday night, I drove to Heber for The LUW conference that was going to be held at the Homestead. I opted to stay at the Holiday Inn to save money and can you guess what the first thing was I thought of when I walked into my hotel room?

You got it! 1408! In case some of you aren't familiar with the movie, it's about a guy who tries to stay the night in a haunted hotel room. I laughed it off and enjoyed my evening alone. (I seldom get those) It wasn't until three in the morning, alone, in the dark, that the chickens came home to roost. I won't go into detail, but I did a fabulous job of freaking myself out!

The conference was fantastic! I loved hearing Richard Paul Evans at the opening night dinner. I've never seen or heard him speak before and talk about moving. His reputation is that he makes people cry. Well . . . I did! He was wonderful and his class the next day was too.

I really enjoyed Kirt Hickman's all day course on Friday. He had his how to book for sale and before the day was over, I had it in my greedy, little hands!

All the speakers were published authors and my word, they were wonderful. I made so many new friends who's names I may not remember but I will know their faces next time I see them.

I also had a one on one with the Acquisition editors for WiDo Publishing. They are a new company in Salt Lake and they liked my story enough that they asked me to send them the whole manuscript! WOO HOO! For those of you out there who don't know, this is big! I am very excited! They were fun, smart ladies and I was very impressed with them.

So, I hob-nobbed and rubbed shoulders with some awesome people this weekend, and as my first LUW conference, it was unforgettable! Loved every minute!

I placed!!

I listened to my answering machine last night (I know, that never usually happens) and guess what I found there. It was the lady in charge of the Peach Days writing contest! Both my short story and my essay won in the contest! Woo Hoo!

Now I don't know which place they won (they don't tell you that until the award ceremony on Saturday) but who cares! I placed! How cool! I am very excited about this. I can't believe I've found a new passion so late in life. Well, not late really, I probably have at least forty more years of left! Hopefully! lol

Anywho, I'll let you know how it goes!