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Bucks County

On a Saturday afternoon in May my husband and I drove to Lake Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County.  Hand-in-hand we strolled the lake’s shoreline gazing at sailboats and ducks.  Pleasurable talks, pleasurable silences.  Later, we drove down picturesque country roads.  At a “T” formed where Highway 563 meets 412, we discovered OwWowCOW Creamery, an extraordinary ice cream shop.   A much-needed, most quiet adventure.

It was around this time that I read of an upcoming event sponsored by Bucks County Romance Writers.  An editor and two literary agents were taking part in a BCRW Chapter Special  Event. With memories of my peaceful lake visit still fresh, I registered.  As the deadline drew near, I dutifully sent off the first page of my manuscript.

The premise of this event is that a panel of publishing professionals, in this case Silhouette Editor Patience Smith, and Literary Agents Chasya Milgrom and Anne Hawkins, read the first pages of those attending.  Each then gives a brief review.

Another adventure awaited me, alone this time.  No, not alone.  Like my writing, my characters had been hibernating.  Today, as I drove south on Highway 412 and into the heart of Bucks County, they stirred and began to mutter.   Over a superb Chicken Waldorf salad at Catherine’s Restaurant, I skimmed old notes and added new.  Later, during the meeting, they awoke and began to speak.

Thank you, Bucks County RW, for providing this opportunity for your fellow writers.  And, thanks especially to Patience Smith, Chasya Milgrom, and Anne Hawkins, for your remarkable insight into such a diverse range of stories.  Like the May adventure, I needed this day.  I’m sure others did, too.  ∞

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Annapolis

At heart I’m still a Midwestern gal but I’ve come to love the sea. Because of that, I’ve learned to enjoy life on the eastern seaboard.  There is so much to see and do, and so much of it within an easy driving distance. And let’s face it, we all need to get away on an adventure from time to time.

Our latest adventure together took us to the Harbor View Inn, a lovely Bed & Breakfast near the heart of historic Annapolis, Maryland. Wow, and wow again! What a true delight!  A wonderful haven managed by such a gracious couple.   We loved having our own private deck.  Downstairs each morning we were served outstanding breakfasts, and wine and appetizers each evening…so nice!   We met a pleasant couple who were celebrating their 40th – great talks.   The last morning our hostess snapped a picture of the four of us at the foot of the elegant staircase.  Capturing memories.

The U.S. Naval Academy was an easy walk from the Harbor View. So was the Maryland State House.  We took a trolley tour that gave us a good historic overview of the city.  As true history lovers, we toured the William Paca House & Gardens and the Hammond-Harwood House learning all about Georgian architecture. We strolled the Annapolis streets stopping into quaint little shops.  And we sampled such exquisite foods.   We thoroughly loved the Galway Bay Irish Pub, one of the best Irish restaurants we’ve visited (including a few in Ireland).  But then, it is owned and run by an Irishman!

On Friday evening we took a 2-hour sunset cruise on the Schooner Woodwind, a  74-foot sail boat.   That was about the temperature, too, 74 degrees and sunny.  Not much wind to speak of, so our experienced Captain and Crew motored us up the Severn River, then back out into the Chesapeake Bay.  The sails fluttered here and there, but I doubt that anyone cared much about the still air…so peaceful…so relaxing.  So very much what we needed.

From time to time, married folks need to get away together.  It keeps the marriage fresh.  It doesn’t need to be a week in the Carribean, or even a 3 day trip to Annapolis.  Sometimes a simple drive in the country, or a date movie followed by a stop for ice cream will do.  (Oh…did I tell you about Storm Brothers homemade frozen peach yogurt?  My first frozen yogurt in months and so much better when eaten on the docks of Ego Alley, watching the dingies, sailboats and yachts come and go…)

On the journey home, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, that marvelous expanse, was closed for a time.  We sat in the middle of traffic for an hour and a half.  Despite the heat I found, somehow, even that became a memorable part of the adventure.  Our conversation still brings a smile.

Please share a memory of a particularly happy getaway you have taken or plan to take.  ∞

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My Darlin’ Clementine

I never saw myself as heavy, but I was.  Birthing three babies and cooking & baking for my growing family, sampling as I cooked, put on pounds.  End-of-day munchies and after-dinner snacks invited small fat cells to grow bigger.  But as I aged, even though I shopped for clothes in the Woman’s Department, no longer in Misses, I never viewed myself as overweight, or as…obese.  (What a nasty word!)  Maybe it was ego, or arrogance, but I did nothing about my weight gain, except shop for more clothes to disguise my bulges. (Another nasty word).

Humans weren’t meant to be sedentary slugs.  We were meant to be active, to use food as nutritional fuel, not to store it as excess fat.  When we carry too many bloated fat cells, the body (the mind also I think) ultimately revolts.  Finally, my body grew too tired, too sick, to keep on as it was.  That led me to my first real diet since age 21.

Diet is another nasty word.   So is the term fad diets.  They just don’t make sense.  Too many folks lose pounds then gain them back when they return to real life.  Yo-yo dieters.  Keeping weight off calls for a permanent lifestyle change, one I knew I must make.  I discovered the key in one word – moderation.

I started my change in deep winter, when I most longed to settle indoors, gorging on rich, homemade beef stew, well-buttered dinner rolls, and home-baked chocolate chip cookies followed by a big bowl of vanilla ice cream.  I think it might have been easier to start in the spring, when fresh air and sunshine cries out for activity.

Like others before me, I made a spreadsheet.  On it, I charted everything I ate, every last morsel, and included its calorie count and nutritional value.  1,200 to 1,500 calories a day.  I wrote it all down.  It often took me longer to chart, often looking up nutritional data, than it did to eat.

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit.  I logged in my food intake for just about three weeks.  A real chore but by then I’d gained a handle on what I could and could not eat in a day.  Although I now no longer chart my calories, I seem to know how much, and what, I can safely eat.

Fruit is my salvation.  I miss homemade chocolate chip cookies until I bite into a juicy sweet, 35-calorie, Clementine orange.

So far I’ve lost over 30 pounds.  Slow and steady.  More to go, lots more, but I don’t think about that.  This is how I must live.  No other options.  Someone once said “Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!”.  While I’m not yet thin, doubtful I’ll ever be really thin, each day I’m happy to simply FEEL better.  Shopping is more fun, too.   So many more options in the Misses Department!

I hope you will share some thoughts and experiences with your own lifestyle changes. ∞

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When Worlds Meet

Conferences stimulate. And sometimes they surprise.

For my day job, I attended the annual PAEOP “Reach for the Stars” Conference in State College, PA.  As I sat down in a workshop given by Pamela Posey, President of the National Association of Educational Office Professionals, I expected simply to gather pointers that would help me in my job.  Pamela’s accent, an intriguing blend of southern Illinois and Mississippi, guided us through goal setting.  Unexpectedly, I heard her quote a familiar name.   “Margie Lawson,” she said.   Surreal.

As an educational secretary I probably would not know of Margie Lawson.  But writers of romance know her and stand in awe.  Her Deep Edits system has breathed life into countless novels.   A few years ago I attended an all-day workshop Margie presented at an event sponsored by the New Jersey Romance Writers. It was grueling.  Six hours of Deep Edits and other wisdom left me feeling whipped and wrung dry.  I drove home knowing I’d run a marathon.  But my writing improved.  God bless Margie, and other such giving writers.

I try not to mix my “gotta save for retirement” job with my career as a writer.  I lead a double life in separate worlds.   When I leave work at 4:30 or 5:00 pm each day, I eagerly shed my office skin and don my writer’s identity.  My alter ego.  Call it a need.

But yesterday, when I heard Margie Lawson’s name, my two worlds met and momentarily merged.  The experience was…interesting.

Near the end of the conference, I sat in on a roundtable discussion with other office professionals who work in offices similar to mine.  For the opening exercise we wrote on slips of paper — “some secret that few people know about me.”   The folded slips were gathered.  We then each chose someone else’s secret and tried to guess who at the table had written it.  I wrote on my slip “I write romance novels.”  It felt good.  ∞



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Spring 2010

It was a long winter. Outside, heavy snows blanketed trees and bushes as blizzard followed blizzard. Schools and highways closed with only emergency vehicles allowed.

Inside, on the worst of the days, our family huddled together. While the winds whipped the willows, within our kitchen’s warmth we sipped hot tea and savored bowls of chili.  Grateful to be safe from the treacherous roads we chatted, cherishing our time together.

Snow days can make for good memories. For those who can stay inside, they are a true gift.

I didn’t accomplish much this winter. I haven’t for a long while. It’s been months since I’ve blogged. Months since I have read.  Or written.  Months since I’ve done much of anything except life’s bare essentials – my job, laundry, minimal housework (not that housework has ever been a priority 😉 ). For a long time, I’ve felt tired. Fatigued. Nothing concrete enough to push me to seek medical help, just tired.

I’ve only had one major illness in my life. I’m not prone to seek medical advice for myself. But late this winter a lingering infection sent me to the doctor. I’m glad I went. After a series of blood tests, they found the underlying cause of my fatigue.

I believe that a diagnosis, whatever it might be, changes a person. One starts down a different path.

For me…my values have re-awakened.  Nutrition habits have changed. I’m on meds.  Temporarily at least, the doctor’s office is now on my speed dial. I will become healthy again.

I am a winter child. My whole life I have been happiest in winter.  This year, as the snow melted and lilac leaf buds burst forth from seemingly dead twigs, I’ve come to see the relationship between winter and spring in a new light.   A new road opens ahead.

It has been a long winter for us all, but spring has come.  ∞

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Cooking Trout

When I first dreamed of writing a novel, in those early days before I understood the enormity of the task, I attended a small writers’ conference.   My first.  It was an all-day event at a local university.  The focus of workshops ran the spectrum from literary writing to genre, from non-fiction to poetry.  Topics, too, varied broadly but I only remember one with any degree of detail.

Our speaker on editing was a freelance writer who mainly sold articles to a highly popular food magazine.  troutAfter a brief introduction, she placed a transparency on the glass plate of the overhead and projected it on to the screen.  The typewritten article, one she had sold for a nice sum, was about cooking trout.

We sat in a large, sunny room in seats too far from the blurry screen.  Timidly, I sat in the last row, so far back that I couldn’t see the words.  But I saw the format.  It was the closest I’d been to a behind-the-scenes look at an article for publication and my blood raced.

The writer read a few lines aloud then talked about her opening.  I can still hear her jittery voice.  Obviously, she was more comfortable at her desk tapping typewriter keys than in front of fifty or so aspiring writers.  Still, with a great deal of grit, she guided us through the article.

She wasn’t happy with her preliminary opening, she said.  It didn’t have the strength, the power she wanted.  She put up another transparency.  I squinted.  Dark lines slashed through many of the words of her original version. “Weak words,’ she said, and replaced them.

Over the next hour, she dissected the first then the second draft of her article, showing just how she edited, explaining every change made, and why.

Perhaps, with all that article dissection, I should have learned how to cook trout. Instead, I learned to cook words and to understand the meaning of edit.

A well-written story, fiction or non, isn’t just written.  Words must often be hand-picked and their placement well-planned.  The writer must carefully craft the story so that it leads the reader on a journey.  The journey may lead to a place of happily ever after, or to a plate of succulent trout.

It was a strong realization for one aspiring writer. ∞

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NJRW Conference – 2009

No matter how many RWA conferences I attend, National or Chapter, I’m always amazed at their organization and the energy they generate.   This year’s NJRW Conference at the newly redesigned Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Iselin, NJ was no exception.  This 25th anniversary was a celebration.

I arrived mid-afternoon Thursday to have dinner with friends.  Friday morning dawned early.  Jennifer Crusie gave a dynamic 3-hour Pre-Conference workshop titled Revising Your Novel: What to Do When the First Draft is Done.  Some of us met again over a luncheon buffet at the OLIO Restaurant in the hotel.  (Great cheescake!)

After my brief volunteer stint, the regular sessions started.  So many to choose, and it was only Friday.  The afternoon alone offered a choice of 18 workshops.  Choosing three wasn’t easy.  NJRW’s Pan Liaison, Jen Wagner, also organized an all-afternoon retreat for published authors, featuring PAN Keynote Speaker, Beth deGuzman of Grand Central Publishing.

At 6 pm Friday, we gathered outside the Diamond Ballroom for a Cocktail Reception with a pasta bar and a multitude of hors d’oeuvres.   At 7 o’clock, we entered the ballroom.  Our incredible Conference Chair, Beth Ann Kerber, presented a nostalgic slide show collage of NJRW’s first 25 years.   The awards began.

Lyn Wagner, PYHIAB Short Contemporary winner & Golden Leaf Dual Winner, Terri Brisbin

Lyn Wagner, PYHIAB Short Contemporary Winner & Golden Leaf Dual Winner, Terri Brisbin

Winners in the Put Your Heart in a Book contest included Lyn Wagner for THE LAWMAN’S BABY, Heidi Luchterhand for ONCE UPON A MARGARITA, Tracey Devlyn for A LADY’S REVENGE, Cate Rowan for KISMET’S KISS, and Barbara Kroon for GET REAL.  Golden Leaf Awards wins went to Terri Brisbin for POSSESSED BY THE HIGHLANDER (Historical), Joy Nash for A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC (Long Contemporary),  Anna DePalo for THE BILLIONAIRE IN PENTHOUSE B (Short Contemporary), Maria Snyder for STORM GLASS (Paranormal), Robin Kaye for ROMEO, ROMEO ( Single Title), Linda Parisi for NOBLE BLOOD (Best First Book), and Terri Brisbin for BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE (Novella).

Saturday morning’s Breakfast Keynote Speaker was Karen Rose.  A variety of morning workshops followed, along with editor and agent appointments where writers pitched their books, often receiving personal requests to mail their partial or full manuscript.  I was particularly impressed with Madeline Hunter’s 2-hour workshop, The Book that Writes Itself: Using Good Conflict in a Romance Novel.  In her inimitable no-nonsense style, she walked us through the necessary steps, showing us how to create a solid core conflict in our novels.

Our 25th Anniversary Luncheon Speaker was Allison Brennan.  More afternoon workshops and Editor and Agents Panels followed.  At 4 pm, the Diamond Ballroom opened its doors to all (including the public) for a Literacy Book Fair and Author Signing.  The Conference came to a close with an anniversary after-party and dessert reception in the Crystal Ballroom.

At one point, a first-timer at our conference told me that while he’d been writing for a while now, he’d never seen such a supportive, giving writers’ organization as RWA.  I smiled.  Yeah, I thought.  It’s why I’m here. ∞

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Seasons

Seasons pass around me. Spring to summer.  Autumn to winter.  Like the passage of time in an old movie, I see leaves bud and grow green.  autumn 003I smell sultry summer roses then, in a blink, I bask in the golden glory of autumn.  I feel the heavy frost of winter approach.  One season is scarcely born before nature grows pregnant with the next.

Today’s merchants add to this rush of time. Easter pastels appear in the stores while, outside, white snow still blankets the ground. From May into the summer, banners of red, white, and blue wave together.  Suddenly we are greeted by the earthy hues of Halloween and Thanksgiving.  On a recent trip to the grocery store, I spied a frozen cake sprinkled with red and green. Christmas colors, two weeks before Halloween!   It seemed almost alien.

When I come out of my story, I’m often jolted by the era, sometimes by the mere existence of microwave ovens and motor cars.  Maybe that’s why these seasonal shifts have such a hold on me.  Nature matters.  As I create, I feel wrapped in her arms.

In Em’s world, there are no stores.  Not as we know them.  There are no fireworks nor 4th of July flags.  No Halloween witches.  No Christmas angels.  None of the trappings our society dons to mark the seasons.

It’s funny how a story takes hold of a writer’s mind.  I can only hope the final book has the same effect on my reader.  Whenever that may be.   ∞

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Acorns in the Rain

Acorns hang heavy on the branches of our red oak. A drenching summer rain washes over them and the surrounding leaves.  AcornsDroplets gather and fall.  The acorns are plentiful this year, more than any other since we first planted the tree some 16 years ago.   I don’t know if it’s because of the oak’s age, because it’s been a favorable summer, or if the acorn abundance is simply a harbinger of a tough winter ahead.

Rainy days bring out the muse in me, especially when I can stay inside and listen to the downpour.  But this morning the deluge draws me outside under the oak’s umbrella, camera in hand.   Trees are important in my new book.  I need to stand beneath our rain-drenched oak, to run my fingers over its bark and smell the fresh scent of its leaves.  The acorns are an amazing bonus.

The squirrels haven’t harvested many yet.  Why?  We certainly have our share of the bushy tailed rodents in our yard.  When I return indoors, a quick internet search tells me that squirrels tend to eat a white oak’s acorns first.  Acorns from the red oak are more likely to be buried, hoarded away.  It all has to do with the tannins and chemical make-up.  As I understand it, white oak acorns taste best fresh off the tree.  Red oak acorns need aging.  I promise those tidbits will never find their way into my romance, but they are interesting, don’t you think?

In the distance I hear a roll of thunder, calling me back to work.  On this day of deluge, I’m glad for the rain, glad for the lush green it brings to our yard.  Glad especially for the acorns.  Through it all, I immerse my mind into the forest primeval. ∞

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RWA National – July 18

Hard to believe that a week has passed since our return from Washington, D.C.   A whole week but memories of 2009’s RWA National at the Marriott stay vivid – the speakers, workshops, booksignings, the RITA & GH awards, and chatting with old friends and new.  To wrap up this sensational event, I’ll post several of my remaining pictures.  (Click the photos for links.)

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Christie Craig, Faye Hughes, and me - just after their dynamic workshop "Make It Happen: 10 Tips to Breaking In or Breaking Back In."Christie Craig, Faye Hughes, and me, just after their dynamic workshop “Make It Happen: 10 Tips to Breaking In or Breaking Back In” on Saturday morning.

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Ballantine & Bantam Dell Autograhing Session.

Ballantine & Bantam Dell Autographing Session.

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Author Deeanne Gist "Unveiling the Mystery of How Book Covers Come About"

Author Deeanne Gist “Unveiling the Mystery of How Book Covers Come About” at Bethany House.

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 174

Fire engines showed up just after lunch on Saturday.  False alarm but it emptied the hotel for about a half hour.  Pleasant breeze.  During the break, I enjoyed meeting a fellow WisRWA member.  (Click pic to see who.)

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Author Lauren Willig signs at an autographing session.

Author Lauren Willig signs at an autographing session.

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Author Heidi Betts shows her latest title.

Author Heidi Betts shows her latest title, TANGLED IN LOVE.

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Shipping books home at the Marriott packing center.

A writer sends books home at the Marriott Hotel shipping center.

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Screenwriter Victoria Johnson discusses "How to Use Screenwriting Techniques to Add Passion, Depth, and Immediacy to Your Novels."

Screenwriter Victoria M. Johnson discusses “How to Use Screenwriting Techniques to Add Passion, Depth, and Immediacy to Your Novels.”

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 162

As in past years, Bill Stephens Productions offers recordings of RWA National’s workshops.

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A gathering of WisRWA friends, after the RITA & Golden Heart Awards.

A gathering of WisRWA friends after the RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony.

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What a conference!  Here’s looking to RWA National 2010 in Nashville – Where Legends Are Born.  ∞

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RWA National – Friday, July 17

Saturated.  That’s how I feel.   RWA National has that effect. There was just so much happening, every hour.   Long drive home, and work today . . . and all I want to do now is write.   So here are some pictures and captions of a few Friday events.   Doesn’t the old cliché tell us that one picture is worth a thousand words?  (Please click photos for important links.)

Jennifer Bray-Weber at the Hearts Through History Breakfast on Friday.

Jennifer Bray-Weber at the Hearts Through History breakfast & the chapter's AGM on Friday.

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Meagan Hatfield at Hearts Through History breakfast and AGM. She just sold DRAGON FIRE to Harlequin Silhouette Nocturne.

Meagan Hatfield at Hearts Through History breakfast and AGM. Meagan just sold DRAGON FIRE to Harlequin Silhouette Nocturne.

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Michele Young, w/a Ann Lethbridge at the Hearts Through History meeting.

Michele Young, also writing as Ann Lethbridge, at the Hearts Through History breakfast. It was a great morning. So nice to meet and celebrate successes!

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One of many workshops I attended Friday.

One of many workshops I attended Friday.

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Overview of the lobby bar, mid-day.

Overview of the lobby bar, mid-day.

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The Chart House in Old Alexandria, along the river. Great seafood!

The Chart House in Old Alexandria, along the river. Great seafood, and wonderful company!

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More to come! ∞

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AGM, Workshops, & Death by Chocolate

RWA's Annual General Meeting

RWA's Annual General Meeting

Thursday, 8 am. My volunteer assignment had me counting proxies for RWA’s AGM (Annual General Meeting).  The actual meeting started at 10:30 am.   RWA’s Board has met over the past few days and worked late to resolve several issues.  Members are urged to log on to the member section of the RWA website to review the Hot Sheet for changes in contest rules.

NY Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich started the Conference with a rousing opening session at 9 am.  Keynote Speaker Linda Howard had the whole room in stitches as she described her position in her family as the Keeper of the Nuts.  And then came the first workshops.

Two Thursday Workshops of Note:

Brenda Hiatt gave her annual talk “Show Me the Money.” Throughout the year she surveys authors confidentially obtaining their advance figures then averages the numbers and presents the results at RWA National, and on her website.  In her workshop, she also summarizes what happens financially after a writer gets the CALL.

In “Got High Concept?” Lori Wilde pulled us through the steps needed to create a high-concept story.   Another Wow! presentation that included 25-word High Concept pitch examples.  fyi – Lori’s workbook is available for sale on her website.

Washington DC 2009 RWA 116Thursday, 8 pm. The Kiss of Death/Mystery & Romantic Suspense Chapter held their annual DEATH BY CHOCOLATE Party & Awards Ceremony.  Members were treated to tables of delicious chocolate and other desserts.  The awards ceremony for the Daphne DuMaurier Awards ceremony followed, coordinated by Donnell Ann Bell.

2009 Unpublished 1st Place Winners in the KOD Daphne Awards

Category/Series – SEE JANE RUN – Angela Platt

Historical – THE DECEIT of DESIRE – Pamela Bolton-Holifield

Inspirational – ESCAPE to TERROR – Sandra van den Bogerd

Mainstream – MOONLIGHTING in VERMONT – Kate George

Paranormal, Time Travel, Fantasy – UNDERBELLY – Tammy Hoganson

Single Title – GUARDIAN’S GIFT – Sharon Wray

The overall winner was Sandra van den Bogerd for ESCAPE TO TERROR.  Congratulations, Sandra, and to all the winners and finalists!

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2009 Published Winners in the Daphne Awards

Category/Series – TERMS OF SURRENDER- Kylie Brant – Silhouette Romantic Suspense

Historical – SEDUCED BY A SPY – Andrea Pickens – Grand Central

Inspirational – SUSPICIOUS MINDS – Christy Barritt – Kregel Publications

Mainstream – THE TENTH CASE – Joseph Teller – MIRA

Paranormal, Time Travel, Fantasy – APHRODIASIC – Allyson Roy-Berkley – Penguin

Single Title – VICTIM – Gayle Wilson – MIRA

The Overall Winner was Kylie Brant for TERMS OF SURRENDER – Silhouette Romantic Suspense.  Congratulations, Kylie, and to all other winners and finalists!

Kylie Brant

Kylie Brant shows her gold award for Best Overall.

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Crystal KOD Skull

Kiss of Death's Skull.

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Chocolate

Death by Chocolate.

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Winning KOD (& NJRW) Member Carolyn J. Coles with a KOD Raffle Bag.

KOD (& NJRW) Member Carolyn J. Coles won one of 12 Raffle Bags.

More on Friday!  ∞


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RWA National – Kick-off!

Wednesday, 7 am. Registration for RWA National.  Volunteers distributed badges, nametags, ribbons, schedules, and books!  Along with 5 paperbacks and a hardcover, we received a flash drive from Harlequin that holds conference handouts, a 14-page pdf file of Harlequin covers from 1949-2009, and 3 more complete books.  Cool!  At registration, I saw some old friends and met a few new fellow writers.  Some will sightsee today.  Some will be busy with board matters or other events.  Today is Librarians’ Day and the Chapter Leadership Event.

After a pleasant breakfast at the Stone’s Throw Washington DC 2009 RWA 079 Restaurant in the Marriott, my husband and I left for the Metro and more touring.  Out the back service door, down the hill, then across 24th Street and we were at the entrance.  We bought our fare cards and were carried down, and down, and down the escalators.  Mind the GapThe last time I rode the subway (aka/underground or tube) was in London a few years ago.  While Washington’s system is just as efficient, I sorta missed the sultry British voice reminding me to “Mind the Gap” as I stepped aboard.

The Library of Congress was our first destination.  Washington DC 2009 RWA 054My goal was some genealogy research and learning how the system works.  Before accessing books, I had to register for a Reader Card in the Madison Building of the Library, then walk back through the tunnel to the Jefferson Building.  Interesting.  The Jefferson Building is gorgeous, inside and out.  The intricate paintings and carvings on the ceilings are awe-inspiring.

Early afternoon we hopped back on the Metro for a quick ride to the “Federal Triangle” and a visit to the National Museum of American History.  The exhibit honoring the First Ladies held a special appeal, from Mary Todd Lincolns’ tiny waisted gown worn in 1861 to Jacqueline Kennedy’s classic pale sheath a hundred years later.  So much to see in Washington, D.C.!

When we returned to the hotel it seemed it had made a shift from teachers to writers.  A quick change and I was downstairs for the “Readers for Life Literacy Autographing.” Five hundred romance authors lined up at tables to sign, and at least triple that number looking to meet their favorites make a lasting impression.  Washington DC 2009 RWA 084

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 087

Terri Brisbin talks with fan at the Literacy Booksigning.

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 091

Beth Ciotta shows off EVIE EVER AFTER at RWA's Literacy Booksigning.

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 090

Carla Cassidy signs LAST GASP.

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 083

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 098

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Washington DC 2009 RWA 101

Where to begin?   ∞

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RWA National – KOD Tour

My husband and I arrived in Washington, D.C. Monday. We have a grand view from our hotel room window – Washington DC 2009 RWA 009the National Cathedral is stunning at sunset!  We hope to visit it sometime before returning home.

Our first action as tourists (other than prerequisite checking in…tipping the very helpful bellman… unpacking) was a stroll up to the National Zoo.  From the conference hotel, it is a 3 to 4 block walk to the zoo’s entrance.  The pandas all seemed to be eating, or sleeping.   A new elephant habitat is under construction.  Good seeing how huge and natural looking it will be.  Although there’s a cost for parking, like many other national sites in D.C. the zoo itself is free to visitors.  Quite pleasant for strolling.

Tuesday, 8 am. Kiss of Death met in the lobby for the annual pre-conference tour.  I enjoyed saying “Hi!” to fellow WisRWA member, Laura Iding.  Also met other KOD members I knew mainly by name from the loop.   We boarded.  On our way to the first stop, our driver treated us to a drive-by tour of some of Washington’s many memorials.

At the U. S. Department of State, we were greeted with courtesy and security then ushered into the Loy Henderson Auditorium.   Washington DC 2009 RWA 029The next three hours we learned about diplomats, foreign service, and counter-terroism.   Director of the Foreign Press Center, Gordon Duguid, gave a great Overview of the Department Mission and Function.  Michelle Bernier-Toth, Director of Overseas Citizen Services and Crisis Management presented a lively discussion about Overseas Citizen Servies.   The Deputy Coordinator for Programs and Policy, Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, concluded with a terrific talk on U.S. Counterterroism Efforts.   They all highlighted the morning with lively anecdotes while answering many of KOD’s authors’ questions.

We drove south to the National Abortoreum to enjoy a brief box lunch and a little more chatting with fellow writers under the shade in a serene setting.

The United States Postal Inspection Service was our afternoon destination.  USPIS We were met at the door and ushered in like honored guests.  A team of at least twelve Postal Inspectors greeted us with agendas, personalized name tags, and cold drinks.  An enthusiastic introduction was followed by a dynamic presentation by the Team Leader on the Anthrax Investigation.  After catching our breath, our large group was broken up into groups of 12 or so and rotated through five breakout sessions on topics that included Mail Fraud, Mail Theft, and Child Exploitation, among others.  I was awed not only by the Inspectors’ excitement in their jobs, but also the breadth of their knowledge.   They seemed genuinely excited to share their passion with us.  Lots of heroes in that group! 🙂

For a few years I’ve heard about the superb quality of the Kiss of Death Pre-Conference tours but have never been able to attend one.  Today I experienced this tour first hand.  The word “Wow!” falls short.  Thanks to the U.S. State Department and to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Finally, my sincere appreciation to the organizers of this year’s event – Nina Bruhns and Debbi Ward.   Thank you, ladies! ∞

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RWA National – DC Here I Come

Tomorrow we leave for Washington, DC. Yay!  It’s about a four-hour drive from home so we’re timing ourselves to avoid rush hour here and elsewhere.  (Like that’s really possible along I-95.  :wink:)

Since last week, I’ve been watching DC’s 10-day weather forecast.  Washington DC 2007 047 It’s changed some since I first looked.  Hotter, more rain than originally called for.  Bring your umbrella!   Tuesday should be warm and pleasant – 87°F and mostly sunny.  Tuesday is the all-day Kiss of Death Tour.  We’ll tour the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Postal Inspectors.  Kiss of Death also is sponsoring special tours to the FBI and CIA on other days.  The timing didn’t work for us but I hope to hear from others who attend.

LOTS to see in Washington. Washington DC 2007 061Our most recent trip was a long weekend in 2007, just after Cherry Blossom time.  Along with a sensational day trip to Mount Vernon, we visited the National Gallery of Art, some of the Smithsonian, and toured all the monuments including the World War II Memorial.  That memorial has special meaning since both our fathers served in that war.  This picture shows only one half.  It sits in a huge circle, with columns for each state.  Like the other Washington, DC memorials, it inspires an awed and reverent silence.

The National Zoo sits just acrossWashington DC 2007 049 the street from the Marriott-Wardman conference hotel.  I expect a fair number of conference attendees will wander over there.  I plan to.  Other places on our list to visit this year are the National Cathedral and the National Museum of American History.  And I’d love to visit Mr. Lincoln again.  Of all places in Washington, the Lincoln Memorial is my favorite.

Not that I’ll have much time, but that’s why we’re driving down early.  As always, the RWA National Conference is packed with events!

Reminder to self, CHECK LIST:  clothing – business-casual for conference; capris and cotton tops for touring; dressy for RITA & GH awards; comfortable shoes; peds/socks; meds; umbrella; hat/s; sunglasses; jewelry; toiletries; laptop; camera; business cards; AGM Proxy; and print-off workshop hand-outs.  For smaller items, I keep telling myself, there’s a CVS near the conference hotel.

Finally, for all of you coming to Washington, you must visit author Jamie Michele’s website (click).  On her links page, she’s given possibly the most complete and detailed directions I’ve ever seen – airports to hotels and using the Washington DC metro-rail.  Take a look.   Thank you, Jamie!

See (many of you) soon!  ∞

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Twilight Zone

“You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into…the Twilight Zone.” ~ Rod Serling

From a young age, I was a fan. After bedtime, I’d sneak onto the top of the night stairs and sit in silence as Twilight Zoneolder family members watched the program below on our black and white TV.  Down the hall in our shared bedroom, my younger sister slept.  But in the darkness of that stairwell I sat entranced by Rod Serling’s hypnotic voice as he introduced the latest episode.

There was magic in the stories.  In later years I’d grow to appreciate the scripts with their social commentary.  But at age 8 or 9 there was only the wonder of ordinary people being thrown into extraordinary circumstances.   Along with the fairy tales Mom once read aloud, The Twilight Zone best revealed to my young mind the miraculous art of storytelling.

For years now, I’ve struggled with invisible demons.  What has kept me from publishing?  DoorI want my stories to be bound into books, to be read and enjoyed.  I believe I have it in me to succeed.  Yet, like an actor who fears the stage, just when I’m close I step away.  Is it fear?  Fear of the bogeymen that hide in the forest of publishing?  Am I afraid of the doorway I must enter?

Last month I flew home to visit family, and to attend a conference.  While there I talked in depth with my little sister, the one who once slept through The Twilight Zone.  (Just as well; she was only 3 or 4 at the time.  :wink:)  I also talked with a dear friend, a fellow writer who has gone forward, even as I’ve held back.  Both of them chewed me out and both, like others before them, encouraged.

Soon after my flight home, I saw that for a long while I’ve been unhappy with what I’ve been trying to write.  To publish I must change, wholeheartedly and without reservation.  To rediscover the excitement I once knew, I must cross into another dimension, one that calls to me.

My new work-in-progress is more than a new plot, new characters.  Though still technically a romance, it represents a genre change, one I read but have never attempted to write.   Revitalized, I am writing.   And, if my courage holds, if I maintain the perseverance a published author needs, then my journey into this new dimension may mean success.  ∞

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RWA National Travel Tips

Traveling to RWA National in DC? If you are a newbie, or if you just haven’t traveled recently, here are a few last minute reminders to help ease your journey.Flying

Are you flying in? Many of you reading this are savvy travelers but, for those who haven’t flown for a while…

  1. Suitcases – Weight limit is 50 pounds for checked bags.   When I flew to Atlanta in 2006, I brought my 26-inch suitcase.  The weight was ok flying there, barely, but was over by about 25 pounds on my return trip.  I managed to squeeze some of those overweight free books into my tote.   Some I just gave to the guy at the counter for his girlfriend.   I’ve now switched to traveling with a 21-inch suitcase.  Weigh it at home before you leave.   Mine, even when packed full, rarely exceeds 35 pounds.
  2. Extra fee – Whether overweight or not, airlines now charge extra for a checked bag – $15 or $25 on most airlines.  That’s a one-way charge.
  3. Carry-ons – You are only allowed 2 carry-ons, one personal (a purse or computer) and another small bag.  Downsize to a smaller purse, then pack it inside your tote-bag for added flexibility.
  4. Wear slip-on shoes.  You will have to remove them at security so they can be scanned.  Shoes with ties or buckles hold up the lines.
  5. Filled water bottles are not permitted through security.  Empty ones generally are.  For the frugal-minded, bring an empty bottle in your tote.  Once you are beyond security, you can fill it at a water fountain, or you can buy bottled water at a kiosk.   Water bought near the gates is allowed on-board.
  6. Keep your photo ID and Boarding Pass handy until you are through security.  After that, you will only need your Boarding Pass to get onto the plane.
  7. For added tips, read the TSA Guidelines for How to Get Through the Security Line Faster (click).

Or are you driving?

  1. Click this link for the current Washington DC gas prices.
  2. A reminder that parking at the Marriott is an extra $32 (or so) a day.

A few other reminders:

  1. Wear comfortable shoes for the conference and sight-seeing.  Not the time to break in a new pair.
  2. Washington DC summers are sweltering but bring a sweater or wrap for the air-conditioned workshop rooms.  A pashmina is light-weight, packable, and easy to carry in your conference tote.
  3. Don’t forget your business cards. Make them or have them made.  Keep them simple, elegant, professional.
  4. There’s a CVS Pharmacy within walking distance of the Marriott.
  5. Visit RWA National website Conference FAQ’s for added info.

→ Please share your travel tips for RWA National.  Hope to see you there!

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Common Craft

The world spins, ever faster. New uses for the computer pop up quicker than I can process.   What is podcasting?  RSS code?  I sort of understand Twitter, but is it useful?  What is a Wiki?  And, while we’re at it, how does the World Wide Web really work?

Enter Common Craft, a delightfully interesting company owned by Lee and Sachi LeFever in Seattle, Washington, USA. They explain things.  Lee founded Common Craft in 2003 as an online community consulting company.  They began making videos in 2007, their first – RSS in Plain English.  Using paper cut-outs, they teach the raw basics of technology, money, and society.  A most helpful source.

So, what is the World Wide Web?   Here’s Lee LeFever’s explanation.  (Click in center to start video. Be sure to turn up your volume.)

As writers, we research.  We need easy-to-understand sources that can quickly teach us a little bit about a lot of things.  To that end, we scour children’s reference books and search travel blogs.  We attend retreats and conferences, and interview detectives.  We peruse websites for valuable links.

But along with needed background information on specific topics, how can we learn a little about the technology available, without spending excessive hours of valuable writing time?   Common Craft’s technology videos give quick explanations about new tools.

Search Common Craft’s website or on You Tube for other simple videos.   And, if you need a laugh and don’t mind a bit of gore, blood not Al, check out their Zombies in Plain English.  It’s a hoot!

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Of Conferences & Courage

Last weekend I sat in the golden glow of a hotel meeting room in Green Bay, Wisconsin.   Along with 90 or so fellow writers, I listened intently WisRWA Write Touch June 5-7 2009 004as agents and editors revealed market trends and what they, as publishing professionals, were looking for from authors.  The workshop was part of the grand celebration of WisRWA’s 25th Anniversary.

It started Friday. Registration in the Radisson’s comfortable lobby let us greet old friends and chat with new.  Later, in our first workshop, ever-helpful Publisher Raelene Gorlinsky presented When Bad Covers Happen to Good People – an informative and amusing behind-the-scenes look at book covers.  The evening ended with a gourmet dessert reception.  Amid chocolate fountains and luscious desserts we visited, ate, drank, and visited some more.

Saturday. An early breakfast buffet and general meeting were followed by the Agent/Editor Q & A Panel.  Mid-morning, Karen Tabke spoke on It’s Just Business, Don’t Take it Personal. Following Karen’s talk, Executive Editor Birgit Davis-Todd presented Diamond Opportunities–Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Writing for Harlequin.  Throughout the day, authors pitched their books in 10-minute private appointments with attending editors and agents.

Noon lunch was a delicious Slice of Italy. Contest winners for The Write Touch and Fab 5 were announced.  First Sale roses were presented to six WisRWA members who sold their first book since last year’s conference.  WisRWA Write Touch June 5-7 2009 025A special rose was given to WisRWA’s Golden Heart finalist Virginia McCullough.  Special recognition was also given to the five wonderful women who organized this celebratory conference – Donna Kowalczyk, Stacey Netzel, Barbara Raffin, Gini Athey, and Lori Kriescher (see picture).  And, in a heartfelt presentation, Shirley Cayer and Conference Chair Donna Kowalkczyk presented two 2008 Chapter Service Awards – to Mary Jo Scheibl (aka Casey Clifford) and to Sandra Turriff (aka Meg Hennessy).  Both Mary Jo and Sandy had also received roses for their first sales.  What a day!

The afternoon session began with WisRWA’s Got Talent III.  Author Shari Anton read attendees’ first pages while Hilary Sares and agent Laurie McLean WisRWA Write Touch June 5-7 2009 052gave incredibly insightful one-minute critiques.  Author Trish Milburn followed with her workshop Making Your Setting Come Alive. A late afternoon Literacy Book Signing gave us a chance to chat with authors and purchase personally autographed books, including those by best-selling author Sherrilyn Kenyon. (See picture.) At the 25th Anniversary plated dinner, Sherrilyn gave a heartrending Keynote Address that had us both crying and laughing.

Sunday. Following another satisfying breakfast buffet, Ann Voss Peterson spoke on A Word Nerd’s Guide to Pacing.    Barbara Raffin’s workshop, The Story is in the Details showed how critical details are in every aspect of our writing.  Lori Devoti presented the last workshop – Get Where You Want to Go–Setting Goals to Keep You on Track, a most important wrap-up to the weekend.

For the past week, as I returned to my real life – home, family, day job – I’ve been pondering.  I’ve come to realize that it takes raw courage to write a book then strive for publication.  Courage to bare your soul as the authors did in WisRWA’s Got Talent.  Courage to meet face-to-face with an editor to pitch one’s book.  Courage to submit that work for publication, and probable rejection.  Then to do it again and again and again.

Last weekend I was privileged to meet with fellow authors in all stages of their careers, from those writing the first chapter of a first book to a NY Times Bestselling Author whose books are read world wide.   Each one shelters a courageous soul. ∞

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First Meeting

The bones of the house are the same. The color is different; it was white when I lived there. Jackson Street 1 I remember a well-tended lawn with shrubs in front, all neatly trimmed.  An affordable residence for two young women on their own.

The second floor apartment on the right side included a living room, a kitchen, one bedroom, and a bath.  Across the hall was another tenant, one we never saw.  Our elderly landlords lived downstairs.  They provided us with a refrigerator, and heat through cast-iron radiators – when they were at home.  We furnished the rooms with two used metal-framed beds, an old oak kitchen table and, for living room relaxation, bucket seats pulled from a junked MG.

December 26, 5:30 pm – After a long day at work, I keyed open our front door.  I wore a rust-colored corduroy dress and heavy wool coat.   I first saw him with a book in his hands, leaning back in the MG’s bucket seat on the living room floor.  As I entered the room, he looked up.  “Hello,” he said.  I returned his greeting.   Much later he would tell me his first sight of me was my legs.

He was a friend of my roommate’s fiancé, a college student, visiting him for a few days.  We saw each other a lot that weekend.  A week or so later he called me from Milwaukee.  We talked for over an hour.  We began dating, often long distance through real letters and phone calls.  No emails then.  Our reunions were magic.

I lived in that upstairs apartment for a short six months yet it brought many changes in my life.  It was where I first really listened to Simon & Garfunkel, and came to love the creative genius of Bob Dylan.  It was where I first read Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings.  It was where I met my one true love. 

→ Where did you meet your love? ∞