OK, so I’m not a celebrity, but I am going to be on TV. I guess. If I don’t fall victim to a case of giant nerves before May 3. I have to admit I’d never heard of the Oklahoma County Metropolitan Library System’s READ ABOUT IT TV show…until I received an email yesterday from the show’s producer. Seems they are taping interviews with OWFI authors at the Fantastic Forty, Writer’s Glory, 40th Anniversary Conference in Oklahoma City May 1-3. And I’m one of the lucky authors. I’ll have a chance to talk about my fantasy anthology, OTHER WORLDS, for 8 minutes. Don’t get me wrong. I am flattered. I’m excited (in a shaky sort of way). And I’m scared to death. This is so not me. I write stories. I write books. Quietly. By myself. In my own corner of the world in Poteau, USA. I don’t even do public speaking, so why did I agree to this thing that is totally foreign to me? <SIGH> Because it’s a great opportunity to get out the word about a book I really love with stories that are very special to me. It sort of feels like a Mother Thing: I’m making a huge sacrifice because my children, those very special stories, need me to talk about them. As long as I keep thinking that way and not about 1:20 PM on May 3, I may survive. All prayers appreciated.
Here’s a fun quiz for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Be sure and post and let us know how smart you are. And be sure and believe them when they say it’s FAST. Have fun!
I did it! Three pages in one day! Now, I know this isn’t a major accomplishment for many writers, but for me, Queen of the Slowpokes, it’s BIG! What’s really great though is that my WIP is working. I’m enjoying the writing, having fun with it. After a five-year drought, no wonder I’m a happy writer.
Very early this morning–between 1 and 6 AM–I managed to get more writing done than I have in many days. For some reason, I woke up at 1 wide awake, so I started thinking about my current WIP, a middle grade fantasy novel. I’ll bet I made six trips into the next room to write down the ideas that kept pouring through. In fact, I discovered most of the major plot points for the book, including who is the real antagonist, clarifying a couple of names, and the all-important conclusion. What a gift! I’m tired today, but who cares? Now I can get some serious writing done. And…as if that wasn’t enough, in the middle of all this information flow, a completely different thought came to me. The words, “Chet’s wrist” popped into my head, and I suddenly realized that the reason my golfer husband’s wrist has been bothering him is because of a change he made in his left hand grip. Talk about tapping into the subconscious, or universal consciousness, or whatever. Something happened during those wee hours, and all I can say is, “Thank you!”
March is the month of windy weather, flying kites, Easter baskets…and LEPRECHAUNS! March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing a story about leprechauns? Check out Little Lost Leprechaun, my St. Patrick’s Day picture book about a little girl who decides to direct her family’s Shamrock Pageant.
Have you ever had a story that you couldn’t write but couldn’t stay away from either? I sure do. It’s called AMAZING GRACE, a paranormal romance novel that I’ve been trying to write for about six years. By now, I’ve had so many versions, so many changes, so many false starts, so many stops and re-starts, I’m not sure where I am, or where GRACE is either. I love the first chapter. It’s a near-death experience, and even now, six years later, I think it’s some of my best writing. But after that…yikes! I’ll bet I’ve written at least five different chapter 2’s, 3’s and 4’s. Once, I got as far as Chapter 6 and decided it didn’t work at all. About two months ago, I put it away, yet again. Then, last night, either while I was sleeping/dreaming or about to go to sleep or about to wake up, I had (another) epiphany. I knew exactly how to fix chapter 2. Exciting, right? Aaaa-aagh!!! Do I want to do this to myself again? No! But I can’t help it. GRACE haunts me, and I know I won’t rest until I’ve told her story. So, I just dragged out my stack of notebooks again, opened my GRACE folder again, and I’ll probably start writing…again.
The Foxy Hens are three very special ladies with a very special talent for writing and entertaining. Paula Watkins Alfred, Jackie King, and Peggy Fielding came to Poteau yesterday to share their expertise with my local writers club, the Green Country Ruff Riters. Dressed to the hilt in colorful boas (and other things) and seated at the head of a mahogany executive table in the Days Inn Board Room, Paula, Jackie and Peggy entertained several dozen people with tales of “eerie” Poteau mixed in with sound writing advice. It was an eclectic crowd of veteran and newbie writers, their friends and families. We listened, asked questions, shared stories, ate goodies and drank coffee. The Hens made lots of friends while signing copies of their latest book, The Foxy Statehood Hens and Murder Most Fowl. Needless to say, a great time was had by all, and I thank the Foxy Hens for visiting my little corner of Oklahoma’s Green Country…which I’ve never found eerie at all. Although, come to think of it, there was that spooky incident in the first house we built in Poteau…and the ghost my husband and my cat think they see from time to time. I guess you’ll just have to come to Poteau and decide for yourself. Happy Day. Paula
Here’s today’s hot news: I’ve added two new websites to “Favorite Links.” You can now check out all the news from Carole Nelson Douglas, one of my all-time favorite SF/Fantasy authors. Carole writes great mysteries, too, and both her websites are fun places to browse. Paula
