Weekends are great!
I've
had a fantastic weekend.
Friday
my son's teacher emailed me with the nicest news. I have a wonderful, mature and polite seventh grader! (No, she didn't say
we had to meet at my earliest convenience, but she made my day!)
Saturday
night I received a call from the Indiana RW. My first novel finaled in Indiana's Golden Oppotunity Contest!
Sunday
kept the good new rolling. A submission I made for a holiday anthology was accepted! 'Sempre' will be included in Highland
Press's Holiday in the Heart anthology and will be in stores this holiday season!
I'll
keep you updated on when you can pick up a copy.
I'm so
blessed!
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Status: Published
09/05/06 @ 10:40:47 am by admin (admin, level:10)
Categories: Announcements [A]
How Fabulous is New Orleans!
OMG!
I’ve
just had the most delicious sundae in ages. It actually rivaled the Friendly’s sundaes I used to walk three miles each way
for when I was in high school.
Served
up at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’s French Quarters
on September 1st-3rd, Heather Graham’s Writers for New Orleans Workshop was delectable. Being a starving artist waiting for
the big meal ticket, I want to share a taste with you.
Heather
was the ice cream. I would like to say vanilla, but the truth is it was chocolate. Rich, flavorful and decadent chocolate,
which became more addictive as the weekend went on.
While
visiting New Orleans a few months ago, Heather saw the need
for tourists to return and help rebuild the city. By hosting the workshop and importing revenue to the area- Heather did just
that. Approximately 125 people attended, bringing with them spending power and support.
Master
sundae creator, Connie Perry, did an excellent job scooping each ball of ice cream and building the workshop a layer at a
time. She was the boss of all, and with valuable help from family and friends, like Kate Walker, organized a wonderful treat.
It is important to note, even though I don’t know the names of the ‘family’, their presence and support was felt all weekend
long. From the set-up, to the dinner theatre, it could not be done without them.
Talented
authors oozed hot fudge tastefully over the creamy concoction expressing opinions and advice on the sticky business of romance
writing. Graciously being available and willing to help others in the bowl, these authors are very special indeed. I give
them much credit and sincere thanks for sharing from the heart.
What
made the fudge so great is that not only did I meet the authors, but I also really got to know some. Impromptu and off schedule
happenings such as, Cherry’s career plan and plotting, Brenda’s chat at the carrousel, Christine’s care at dinner, and Kathy’s
and Erin’s guidance on Bourbon Street, spoke directly to little ol’ me.
In alphabetical
order, the panel authors (whose names I think I can spell) were Cherry Adair, Kristi Ahlers, Toni Andrews, Christine Feehan,
Heather Graham, Brenda Joyce, Deborah LeBlanc, Kathy Love, Erin McCarthy, Kathleen Pickering, Alexandra Solokoff, Sally Schoeneweiss
and Harvey Stanbrough. If I missed someone, it isn’t that I don’t appreciate you; it truly is that I can’t spell names well.
Now what’s
a sundae without the whip cream to bring it all together? The Supreme Kate Duffy of Kensington was the editor for the job.
Approachable and willing to answer questions, from the simplest to the most complicated time would allow, Kate imparted words
of wisdom and encouragement to the writers with great care and love. Hearing what makes an editor want your work is invaluable
for an author, especially for an unpublished one as myself. Thank you.
Booksellers,
Molly Bolden and Kay Levine of Bent Pages, and the one and only Jo Carol of Romantic Times candidly presented colorful sprinkles
adding the reader’s voice and relaying the industry trends. What good is a writer, or even an editor/publisher without the
bookseller to guide the reader to us and us to the reader? Thank you for doing it so well and in such an entertaining manner.
I cannot
express in simple words how great the workshop was, so I compare it to one of my favorite things in the world... a hot fudge
sundae. Perhaps it has such a positive effect because its intent was altruistic in giving to others, to help the beautiful
people of New Orleans rebuild their city.
For fear
that it might get too big and lose its charm; I whisper the fact that Heather is considering making this an annual event.
Something I will gladly return to next year.
Oh, the
cherry!!! When I returned home and sat at my computer, I read an email from Debra Calloway from the Ticket to Write Contest
of Red River Romance. Both my manuscripts, The Greek Rule and The Summer Deal, finaled in their series category and are currently
in the mail to Susan Litman of Harlequin. Cross your fingers, toes and any body parts you can for me.
Still
flying high from New Orleans!
Aleka
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Status: Published
08/26/06 @ 03:39:50 pm by admin (admin, level:10)
Categories: Announcements [A]
Ready to launch!
My birthday
is quickly approaching, and since I will soon be another year older, I figured it was time to get myself in gear and have
something to show for all my efforts.
Last
September I was very fortunate to be presented with the opportunity to write! No, I'm not talking about writing a local feature
for the local paper, or writing the history of the church for the newsletter. I mean I was able to actually expend my energies
and write a novel.
Well
all these years I was complaining that I just didn't have the time. Now I have the time, but I'm chasing the craft!
Please
stay posted and see if I ever catch up!
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Status: Published
08/26/06 @ 02:33:14 pm by admin (admin, level:10)
Categories: Announcements [A]
First Post
This
is my first post. Welcome to my website.
