Write From the Soul

      Life has been hectic. Last Thursday I left with a carload of women writers to drive to Birmingham, AL for the regional SCBWI Fall conference. The other 3 women were all signed up for a day long writers' Intensive on Friday by the keynote speaker, Darcy Pattison. I didn't sign up for the workshop but since I'm no longer a driver, I take rides where I can find them. I was sharing a room with one of my other delightful writer friends, Doraine Bennett- who was also going to the writers' Intensive. So what, pray tell, did I do on that free Friday?


I sat out on the deck of the hotel and wrote. 

Then, I went to the movies. I rarely buy food at the movies but the smell of the popcorn grabbed me and wouldn't let go, so I caved and bought some. And of course, you can't eat popcorn without something to drink. Ten dollars later (yikes!) I was ready for the movie.


BUT........ I needed to carry popcorn and a drink with only one hand. Why you ask? Because the other hand was sweeping in front of me with the white cane I now use. A dilemma, indeed.


I went over to one of the theater staff (they all look like they're about 15 years old, don't they?) and asked for some help. A very nice young man graciously offered to carry both drink and corn for me. Walking down the hall, I commented on how dark the hallways were for people with vision issues. He said he'd tell the manager. At the theater door, he asked where I wanted to sit. When I explained I needed to sit in the very back, in order to see the entire screen, he suggested we take the elevator to the top floor and not walk up all the stadium seating rows. I hope he said that because of the vision, not because he thought I was too old to walk the steps!



Did you know there were elevators in movie theaters???? I didn't. 

Once in the theater, it was very dark so he helped me find the row and seat. I thanked him and he left. As I removed my sweater and visor, I made a discovery. I was still wearing my clip-on sunglasses!!!! No wonder the hallways and theater seemed so dark. (Geez, feel much like a dummy, Gail?) But what a polite young man not to mention the sunglasses to me :-)


Saturday was the conference day - one keynote speech, 4 break-out sessions previously chosen when we registered, lunch, panel Q & A on publishing, writing, querying, and autographing books purchased there by the conference speakers. We fit all that in between 8AM and 4 PM. Oh, and I had a professional critique on my MG book. This was all followed by a 3 hour ride back to Atlanta with a different driver and friend, Cathy Hall. 

We had lots to talk about while the beneficent Mr. Hall drove. (Hey, that's what Cathy likes to call him so who am I to argue!) You see, there's a writing contest prior to the fall and spring conferences. Winners are announced (surprise) at the conference itself. And...... Cathy won 1st place in MG and YA fiction! Woo Hoo! Very exciting. Not only did she win free tuition to the next conference and a free night at the hotel, she also was invited by the senior editor who read all the entries, to submit the complete manuscript for consideration. How awesome is that! You go Cathy!!


The rest of the hecticness- is that even a word?- finishes this weekend.


I'm off to Charleston for 4 days. I'm interviewing friends and family members of a wonderful, gentle-spirited man who was a blacksmith and artisan. I'm writing a picture book about him. Many of the wrought-iron gates, fences, railings, and grills made in Charleston were made by him. I plan to go around the town and photograph them.

Who says retirees are sedentary?

Write From the Soul

Last 5 days of my giveaway! Ask a friend to become a follower  Have them mention you and it means more points and more chances to win! I'm so excited that I've passed the 50 followers mark! So I've added another book prize, Newbery Honor Book, Savvy by Ingrid Law, and a few "just chocolate" winners. The more followers I have, the more giveaways I do:-) Hitting 100 will be awesome!

Write From The Soul

Oh. My. Gosh!  The blogosphere has the greatest people. I asked for your help inceasing my followers to 50 by June 4th and with 3 weeks to go, I'm at 48! [doing the happy dance by my computer, now fist pumping-so glad you can't really see me!]

Thank you new friends and long time friends (I hate calling people you already know 'old friends', especially because most of you are younger than me :-D ) I am so excited to see where I end up!

 Here are some reasons why new blogger friends are great to have:

•  You'll have more people entering your blog giveaways (and don't forget mine goes until June 4th. Find out about it here.
• You'll have more contests/giveaways to enter yourself and here's one from Tricia J. O'Brien and from The Alliterative Allomorph 
• Now that you have more blogger buddies, there will be more people to find and meet in person @ the SCBWI LA Summer Conference! I'm going, are you?
•  Something you post might actually help out another person, and as a former educator, I love that idea.
• Since bloggers usually reciprocate by following their followers' blogs, there's a wealth of, and I do mean humungous, opportunities to enjoy the creativity, talent, and knowledge of others (and maybe borrow a few ideas? Isn't that what friends do...share?)

So keep spreading the news for me, a little tweet, maybe a sidebar mention, I'm not greedy. Anything will do! 

Write From the Soul

Whew! I have been reading new blogs for awhile now. The eyes are tired but the brain is full of great ideas and inspiration from so many wonderful writers. It's like that feeling when you realize that someone you've met will become a friend- it's joyous and it makes you smile.

Now you may already know these cool people [ yes, I'm slow on these things...can I blame age???] but just in case you don't know them and aren't followers, please check out their blogs.

The World Is My Oyster   Lydia Kang
Adventures In Writing      Isabella Morgan
All I'm Saying                  Jana Hutcheson
Chocolate Reality            Steena Holmes
Seeing Creative               Stina Lindenblatt

These last 2 bloggers- by Steena and Stina, 2 writers with the same name, living in the same Canadian town- are having a contest until May 3rd. All you have to do is become a follower of both blogs, leave a comment, and maybe tweet about it or blog about it. Easy, right?


Can you say you met 5 great people in one day???

Write From The Soul

Okay, so I'm doing my typical, writerly thing, I'm blog reading. Have to keep up to speed with my blog-sisters and blog-brothers. Well, on of my favorite blogs to follow is Lisa and Laura Write-  2 real life sisters who write together. Now if you're a blog reader, you'll know that we are always trying to increase the number of followers we have (which basically means we want more people to read our blogs and we're willing to beg, pled, offer prizes, and a few more things to get readers to sign up as followers!) Lisa and Laura- known amongst bloggers as LiLa, have just hit 500 followers- a mega accomplishment in my book since I'm still trying to reach 50! In oder to celebrate, they are offering some wonderful prize packages, especially for people who enjoy reading YA books, love chocolate, and appreciate author swag!!! In order to be eligible for the prize drawing, you must:

• be one of their followers
• comment on their contest post
• blog or Tweet or Facebook about the contest- and earn an extra entry

Sooooooooo, I am now officially eligible because I loyally follow them- they are hilarious, commented, and have now blogged.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. The winners will be announced next Wed, April 14th!

P.S.  Here's the link to their blog post:

    http://lisa-laura.blogspot.com/2010/04/lilas-totally-epic-500-follower-contest.html