Monday, June 30, 2008


Write and Write, and then Write Some More


Of all the deepening places, the ocean speaks to me the most. An ocean with no land visible on the horizon, where the water surges to my feet and recedes gently, where I can see the sun rise and set on a sunny warm day, splashing a swath of colors across the blue sky and vapory clouds at gloaming.

The sight of the ocean brings me peace as no other. I can feel the breath whooshing out of me from the depths of my being at the first glimpse. Everything inside me slows down, even the very blood flows slower. I am not thinking of anything, nor feel compelled to do so. I simply exist, effortlessly drinking in every detail.

What makes the ocean such a deepening place for me? It's the waves. The sight of them; the sound of them. The continuous waxing and waning without a lull. That ceaseless effort that is rewarded by the high tides capturing victory.

Writing a book is like that, whether it's the first manuscript or the twentieth book. The effort, the efort, and then comes the high tide or the accomplishment of an even higher tide, and the writer has reached farther than they've ever done before. Genius is as genius does. It's the aspiration and the hard work with intention that makes the difference between flourishing and floundering, thriving and languishing, succeeding and stagnating.

Call Stories of first sales to publishing houses are filled with the number of years writers wrote before becoming published authors. Imagine, how poorer our reading world would be if their stories had remained in boxes under their beds or in their memories. These writers kept faith in their talents and their desire to write, and then they wrote. They idenified places, events, everyday objects that allowed them to focus on who they were and what they wanted to be, and they wrote. They published ten books, and they wrote.

Effort without pause. Page after page. Story after story. Book after book.

Over To YouOver to you, my friends. What are your deepening places? Would going over there to do your writing help with your motivation and your creative output?

Friday, June 27, 2008


RWA National 2008 Schedule


Wednesday, July 30, 2008
7:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00 a.m. Librarians' Day Breakfast (sponsored by William Morrow/Avon)
8:30 a.m. Chapter Leadership Seminar (formerly Chapter Presidents' Retreat)
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Librarians' Day Event
12:00 p.m. Chapter Leadership Luncheon
1:00-2:30 p.m. Librarians and Booksellers' Luncheon
2:30-5:00 p.m. Librarians and Booksellers' Networking Event
5:30-7:30 p.m. "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing
8:00-9:00 p.m. First Timer's Orientation (tentative)

Thursday, July 31, 2008
7:30 a.m Registration Opens
8:30 a.m. Opening Session with motivational speaker Theresa Behenna
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Annual General Meeting
12:15-2:00 p.m Keynote Luncheon featuring Victoria Alexander
2:00 p.m. PAN Retreat, PRO Retreat, Workshops
8:00 p.m. Midnight Moonlight Madness Bazaar

Friday, August 1, 2008
7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Workshops, Editor/Agent Appointments
12:15-2:00 p.m. Awards Luncheon featuring Connie Brockway
3:00 p.m. RITA and Golden Heart Finalist Reception

Saturday, August 2, 2008
7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m Workshops, Editor/Agent Appointments
8:00-10:00 p.m 2008 RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony

The detailed Workshop Schedule is available on the RWA Conference Site.

Monday, June 9, 2008


Excuses...Excuses...and the Royal Ascot


Car AccidentI have nothing but excuses why I can't get a simple blog up. First there was health. Then there was travel. Then there was prolonged health. Then there were visitors. Today, there was The Accident. We're safe and well; car's in the shop; no one's hurt; our pocket-book got lighter; car insurance got heftier; husband's rather worried, but he was brilliant at managing everything and everybody today. Blog post has been delayed yet again. (Now to figure how to get myself to the chapter meeting Tuesday evening.) And keeping in line with how my life's been the past few weeks, I didn't final at the Royal Ascot, my very first contest. More to go.

Royal Ascot Finalists have been announced. (w00t! to doglady!)

Hot and Wild (Paranormal, Erotic, etc.) Regency
Angels At Almack's (Paranormal) by Cathryn Leming
The Raven's Heart (Paranormal) by Pamela Bolton-Holifield
Bluebeard's Hunger (Paranormal) by Lori Phibin
Final Round Judge: Hilary Sares, Kensington Books

Regency Historical
Defensive Measures by Alyssa Fernandez
Defiant by Elizabeth Baldwin
The Changing Light of Dawn by Joanne Lockyer
Final Round Judge: Tessa Woodward, Avon HarperCollins Publishers

Sweet and Mild (Traditional, Inspirational, Young Adult, etc.) Regency
Rakes & Radishes (Traditional) by Susan Newman
To Love a Lady (Traditional) by Marjorie Allen
Merlin's Hideaway (Young Adult) by Lavinia Klein
Final Round Judge: Lindsey McGurk, Samhain Publishing

Winners will be announced at the Beau Monde Soiree in San Francisco on July 30, 2008.