What's Happening

TODAY IS:  Saturday, August 21, 2010

Today I attended the monthly meeting of Two Rivers Romance Authors, my home writing group.  Our guest speaker was Eric Hall West, author of "TRUCK".  Visit his website for more information.  We're gearing up for our September 11-12, 2010 "The Great Iowa Book Event".  We're holding a huge book sale at Merle Hay Mall here in Des Moines and we have a raffle basket with a bi-plane ride plus other related goodies.  I hope to win it myself!

I just returned from visiting my relatives in Alabama.  Attended my family reunion and had a blast.  

Also attended the "ODPC 38th Dulcimer Funfest" in Evart, Michigan in July.  That was awesome!  There were concerts each evening and lots of jam sessions to attend.  Classes were held all day for not only hammered dulcimers but also mountain dulcimers, harps, guitars, bass fiddles, and lots more.  Even the hurdy gurdy!   It was really a dream come true for me.  I've always wanted to go and had a chance at the last minute.  It was just incredible.

TODAY IS:  Monday, May 17, 2010

Just returned from the WisRWA Conference - Love is Brewing in Milwaukee.  WOW!  It was an exhausting, fun conference.  Six of us from Two Rivers Romance Authors traveled from Des Moines, Iowa to Milwaukee for the conference.  We had a blast!

Are there any twins out there?  I'm working on a new book idea and I need information from twins.  Contact me with the word "Twins" in the subject line.

TODAY IS:  Saturday, April 24, 2010

Mark you calendards now!  Two Rivers Romance Authors will be presenting The Great Iowa Book Event, September 11-12, 2010, featuring 42 Iowa authors autographing their latest releases.  In addition, they'll have a "gently" used book sale (over 1,000 books)  featuring books from all genres.  There's also a silent auction and a wonderful raffle basket.  One of the prizes in the raffle basket will be a bi-plane ride!  Mark your calendar now for this annual event.  You won't want to miss it.

Times are Sep 11:  10 am - 9 pm; Sep 12: noon - 5 pm in the Bridge Court at Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines, IA.  Hope to see you there!

 Also, for those of you who know my son, today's his birthday!  Be sure to surprise him and say "happy birthday!"

TODAY IS:  Friday, April 23, 2010

The speaking engagement at the Newton Library went over so well, they've asked me to return on July 12 at 6 pm. and hold a children's writing class.  So if you have children interested in writing, be sure to bring them to the Newton Library on July 12th!

TODAY IS:  Saturday, April 10, 2010

Join me Monday, April 12, 2010 at the Newton Public Library.  You can find details here:  Newton Public Library  I will be speaking from 6-7:30 p.m.  Come on out and join the fun!

Didn't get the Pepsi Grant and the kids were disappointed but we're still trying to raise the $5,000 we need to purchase the dulcimers.  We'll keep trying

TODAY IS:  Sunday, January 31, 2010

Wow!  Where did 2009 go?  Hope your 2009 was a fun-filled successful and peaceful year.  It's been a really cold winter this year here in Iowa.  Temps below zero and loads of snow.  There's snow everywhere and more to come!  2009 was an eventful year for me.  As you already know, I had eye surgery which was successful and then, I lost my mom in November.  My dad (who still lives in Alabama) and I talk almost daily on the phone.   I had a book published the first of last year so I've been doing some book signings.  For 2010, I'll be working hard at finishing up several of the manuscripts I have plus my classes will start up again and I'm trying to get a grant to buy dulcimers to use in a music class for underprivileged kids.  Music helps kids learn and mountain dulcimers are extremely easy to play.  I need 30 of them to teach classes in schools, community center, etc. for kids.  It'll be a fun endeavor if I can get the dulcimers.  We'll see.

TODAY IS:  Thursday, October 8, 2009  

It's been a really busy summer this year.  I've been writing, plotting, attending workshops and writers' meetings galore!  It's just been hectic.  I have writers' meetings two weekends a month plus critique groups seven days a month and I teach classes four days a month.  Whew!  Don't know where I'm supposed to be.  August was family reunion time, although I didn't get to make it this year due to having eye surgery scheduled.  The surgery went well and I can see without glasses - first time since I was 11 years old.  It's remarkable what can be done these days.

In September a group of us writers visited the Ax Murder House.  It's in Villisca, Iowa.  A husband, wife, their four children and two visiting children were all murdered in their beds as they slept.  The murder has never been solved.  It was very interesting.  For those not faint of heart, you can actually stay overnight in the house - none of us did.

In May of this year, we formed a new writing group called Two Rivers Romance Authors.  It's the local Des Moines chapter of Romance Writers of America.  I was voted in as President.  It's a time-consuming job and also a very fun job.  For October, we have Julie Miller and Sherry James as our guests speakers and November we will be having Lois Greiman.  Both meetings will be fun-filled events.  In November we will be having a writers' retreat where we will be locked away in a hotel room writing for two days straight.  Someone will throw food at us on occasions and we'll emerge victorious at the end.  In December, we have our annual Awards Banquet.  Lots of awards will be given out this year for jobs well done.  We're going to have a blast.  You should join!

TODAY IS:  Thursday, July 2, 2009  

I've been working hard trying to get a book finished.  Also my internet service was down for about 2 weeks.  Seemed as though everything I needed was on the internet.  I do my research over the internet, answer e-mails, plot with other writers and a whole lot of other stuff all over the internet.  It was awful not having it.  Had to actually get into my car and drive to the library to do some research.  Felt like I was back in the dark ages.  It's back up now so I'll get to those e-mails soon - all 387 of them (and those were the goods one - I deleted the junk stuff)!

TODAY IS:  Wednesday, June 10, 2009  

Been really busy lately.  Too many things cutting into my writing time and my sleeping time (what little there is of it).  Just returned from a trip to Alabama where I attended my brother's wedding.  Visited my mom everyday while I was there.  Met a couple old friends and had a good chat.  Met Bob and Rose Taunton of Sweet Fern Music and bought myself a new bass Mountain Dulcimer.  It's absolutely beautiful.  It's made of American chestnut recycled from a barn built in Kentucky in 1885.  There are a few wormholes (very desirable) in the wood, and it sports a Spanish cedar top.  I'm really pleased with it.  Now if I could just play the darn thing!  I'll let you know how I progress.

TODAY IS:  Tuesday, May 2, 2009  

Attended the Iowa Book Festival today.  It was great seeing my fans!  Thanks to all of you for coming. 

Several of my writing friends from Iowa Romance Novelists attended the event with me.  We had a wonderful time talking and autographing books.  Of course, Buttercup McDuck was there getting underfoot as often as possible.  You can read her version of what went on on her page.  That duck does have an imagination.

TODAY IS:  Tuesday, March 2, 2009

Wow, where did February go?  I've been busy working on several books, attending workshops and just doing general writing things.  I've been teaching my Romance writing clsses and had lots of fun with my students.  They're a great group of people.  I've been trying to blog as often as possible, too.   I just finished my required number of pages for today so it's off to play a bit before I come back for another writing session.

TODAY IS:  Tuesday, January 27, 2009

It's snowing outside today and over on my blog, we're discussing the pros and cons of bald men!  Be sure to stop in and see which side is winning.  2008 was another great year.  In my local writers' group, I took home the Tender Heart award for helping my fellow writers.  This is an award that's voted on by the group.  I was surprised to say the least.

I'm back to teaching my Thursday evening writing class.  Those are always so much fun.  I got my set number of pages written for the day and now I can relax and type even more pages!

TODAY IS:  Monday, December 29, 2008

Well, dear friends, 2008 is slowly coming to an end.  Did you accomplish what you set out to do in January 2008?  Dig out those New Year's resolutions.  How many did you stick with, how many went by the wayside?  Look at your Goals List.  How many of your goals did you accomplish.  Celebrate those you accomplished and think about those you didn't.  2009 is a New Year!  We can all accomplish our goals for 2009.  Right now, sit down and make out your list.  Send your list to me if you want.  I'll e-mail you each month to find out where you stand and maybe give you some encouragement to keep your eye on that goal.

What am I doing today?  I'm closing down my year end stuff.  I'm a procrastinator when it comes to getting my records ready for my tax accountant.  I have to start now and hopefully by February, March or April 14th at midnight, I'll have all my receipts, etc. together so I can get it all to him.  He's done my taxes for years and I must admit he's the greatest at sorting out the mess I hand him.   I am a writer.  Period.  The other stuff that goes with writing is very difficult for me - probably even more so for my accountant!

TODAY IS:  Tuesday, November 4, 2008  

This is the view of my window on the 3rd floor.  You can see the wonderful view of the ocean and beach that I saw each and every day.  It was a very relaxing time and an extremely educational time, too.  On Thursday, Emma, Elaine McCarthy (The Falconer), and I were invited to Roger's for dinner with he and his beautiful wife.  What wonderful hosts!  Roger's wife, Teresa is an artist in her own right and we were treated to viewing her paintings.  WOW!  She's awesome.

The three of us also took a boat tour (this is the boat - the Carolina Belle) and a carriage tour of South Carolina.  I really enjoyed both tours.  The tour guides were fabulous and filled us in on all the gossip along with the history of what we were seeing.

 I'm back home in Iowa now - bummer.  Hated to leave - but I'll definitely be back next year!

TODAY IS:  Wednesday, October 29, 2008

What an interesting time we had last night.  We had an oyster roast and a shrimp boil.  My first!  Roger (the token male in the group) roasted the oysters while several ladies attended to the shrimp boil.  I actually tasted an oyster - my first!  I'm no longer an oyster virgin.  It wasn't bad.  Roger took the little tool that you crack them with and dug out the oyster for me.  I ate it on a cracker and it wasn't bad at all.  Seems like a lot of work though for such a small piece of meat.  The shrimp however were good.  There were potatoes, corn, sausage and rice mixed in.  Everyone had a fabulous time. 

This morning, there were dolphins playing in the ocean right outside my window.  It was an awesome sight for an Iowan.   

Emma and I are really having a fabulous time.  We attended a workshop this morning with Alicia Rasley (Editor, Red Sage Publishing) and what a workshop it was.

 Wish everyone could be here with us.  It's truly a writer's paradise!

TODAY IS:  Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Fabulous day today!  Yesterday I was in a workshop with Rita Herron, Alicia Rasley and C.J. Lyons - what awesome workshops they were, too.  I've already heard from several of the ladies back in Iowa and they're already making plans to come with Emma and I next year.  Looks like I'll have a van full! 

TODAY IS:  Sunday, October 26, 2008

Wow!  Emma Robuck and I have been having a fabulous time here in South Carolina at the Low Country RWA Jumpstart Master Class and Retreat.  If you've never been, it's definitely something writers of all levels must experience at least once.  We arrived Friday evening - exhausted!  We were excited to see old friends and there were plenty of new ones, too. 

Here's a pic of the house we're staying in.  Emma and I are in the 3rd floor to the right (as you face the picture).  You walk out of the house and directly down to the beach.  There is a heated swimming pool in case you'd rather not swim in the ocean.  I'll try to get some pics posted for you soon.  Today we actually saw a dolphin playing in the ocean waves (something we don't see too much of in Iowa!)  We've strolled up and down the beach, splashed in the ocean waves and just enjoyed the beautiful weather today.

 We've been in fabulous workshops each day with Nina Bruhns, C.J. Lyons and Alicia Rasley!  And there are more to come.  The workshops are very informative and the instructors very knowledgeable.  It's a writers' paradise for sure!

TODAY IS:  Monday, October 20, 2008

I'm packing my suitcases!  I'll be heading to South Carolina Wednesday evening.  Romance Author, Emma Robuck and I will be heading to the Isle of Palms again this year for a fabulous week with great instructors and fellow romance authors.  We'll have workshops all day and critique sessions most of the night.  There's time for strolls on the beach at sunrise or sunset and, of course, shopping!  We already know where the local bookstore is - we found it last year.  We'll be seeing some of the same faces from last year and we'll also get to meet new ones, too.  I'll be posting pics from our event and I'll try to give you an update of what we're doing.  Wish everyone could be there!