Boot Camp isn't for Sissies. :)

Hi Everyone!

I just got back from my second writers' conference in a week.

WOW! It was a lot of fun and s-o-o-o informative. I haven't taken so many notes since high school. :) I started this second writer's conference with a 6 hour boot camp on Thursday May 5, 2011.

I drew the nicest instructor, published author, Kathi Oram Peterson. I bought her book, The Stone Traveler and look forward to reading it soon. When she signed the book for me, yesterday (Friday) she told me several things she had liked about the book I brought to boot camp.

Her encouragement and kind words were well received by this boot campee. Please check out her blog at: http://www.kathiswritingnook.com.  She has some wonderful tips on giving and taking critiques, things every writer should know and do. Let her know I sent you. :)

It's Been A GREAT Day!

I met with the publisher today. :) I offered her a couple of very unique ideas for marketing strategies and she liked them. :) Now if she reads TROUBLE BLOWS WEST and loves it, we may have more great days. :)

Thanks again everyone for your support. She was impressed that I had so many followers so quickly. :) I can only say again that you guys are to awesome for words.:)

She has this link. So let her know what you honestly think--provided you like my story--:)

You know what Mom always says: If you can't say anything nice...make something up. Just kidding...:)...well...sorta.

Wheee! Come along and follow me!

The last few weeks have been an interesting roller coaster ride of emotion. I entered a national writing competition, the Amazon Break Through Novel Award contest, with the sole purpose of showing a nay-sayer that ‘yes I CAN write a decent query letter,’ and beat out 4000 other people with that same pitch. 

A month later, my excerpt in the same contest beat out 750 other entries, including four of my friends. Sorry, guys. :(  I wanted all five of us to go forward together. When I read the critiques from the two Amazon reviewers who advanced me to Round 3, I was given hope that my dream of becoming a published author might come to fruition. 

I was booted out of the contest, April 26th, 2011, but I have no complaints. I finished in the top 250 out of 5000 original entrants. That’s the top 5%! I now have hope and confidence to pursue my dream. Please come along with me. It’ll be a wild ride, but eventually, I plan to reach that destination.

Welcome To My Blog!

Welcome to my Blog!  Thanks for finding me. :)

I am starting this blog to document my journey from unknown wanna-be writer to hopefully one day successful, published author. I have several friends taking the same journey and hope we can support one another along the way.

I am the mother of many children and happily married to my best friend for 26 years. I recently found a saying by Scott Hamilton: The only disability in life is a bad attitude. I am making this my new motto. Please follow along with me as I start my internet journey.

Laugh lots, love much, write on!