Signing Near Kansas City

Literary datebook | May 31 - Kansas City Star

ROMANCE BOOK LOVERS’ AUTHOR SIGNING:
Cheryl St.John, Julie Miller, Bobbi Smith and Mary Connealy
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
June 6
Dog Eared Half-Price Books
3623 S. Noland
Independence
www.dogearedhalf-pricebooks.com
(816-833-8889)

Paper and Pens for Students in Rwanda

CLICK HERE to see the smiling faces as Dean passes out notebooks and pens to the children in Bisaate! What a blessing to take paart is something so amazing.

We take our lives for granted, and I'm grateful for every reminder to be more apprecative. Heartland Writers Group bought each other's used books **LOL** to contribute to this project!

JUNE ONLINE CLASS: ONCE MORE WITH FEELING

**PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED***

JUNE ONLINE CLASS: ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
Getting Your Book on Keeper Shelves

DATE: June 1 - 30
INSTRUCTOR: CHERYL ST.JOHN
COST: $25.
REGISTRATION VIA PAYPAL: http://cheryl-stjohn-workshop.blogspot.com/
REGISTRATION OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLASS DESCRIPTION:
We all have favorite books, and for most of us there are a special few that hold places in our hearts. What writer doesn’t want to be able to write stories that will connect so vividly with readers that their books will become favorites? How does a writer go about writing a book like that? How do you connect with the readers on such an emotional level that they buy in for the duration of the story and root for your characters? By making them feel the story. By putting them in the time and place, by winning their trust, and making them believe that the outcome is important. What your story people say and do are not what hooks the reader. How your characters react is what engages and endears your reader.

Cheryl St.John is the award-winning author of more than thirty historical and contemporary novels for Harlequin and Silhouette Books. One thing all reviewers and readers agree on regarding her work is the degree of emotion. Words like heart-warming, emotional depth, touches your soul, tugs your heart all over the map, endearing characters and on my keeper shelf are commonly used to describe her work.

Cheryl believes techniques of writing can be learned and offers this workshop to share methods used to inject tone and communicate senses and feelings. She will reveal what she believes is the most important job we have as writers and give practical, applicable suggestions on the many ways you can convey emotion in your stories.

Cheryl will share a checklist of ways to make sure your book is one readers will want on their keeper shelf. Mark your calendars for this workshop and prepare by getting out a favorite book and reminding yourself why it’s a keeper.

INSTUCTOR BIO:
Cheryl’s achievements include over thirty published books in both contemporary and historical genres. She has received multiple Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and three RITA nominations. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real life situations.” She has taught writing on local and national levels, and is in demand as a motivational speaker.

Cheryl’s June release, THE PREACHER’S WIFE, a Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical, will be in stores any day.

FORMAT:
The class will be conducted via subscription to a private yahoogroup. Two lessons per week, followed by questions and answers. Each lesson will include one brief assignment pertaining to the participant’s current work in progress. Entire archived class will be available for one week after the ending date.


JULY CLASS: KEEPING UP YOUR SPIRITS AFTER REJECTION

Many of you are bloggers

Great tips on blogging

10 Ways to Make Yourself (and everyone around you) Miserable

Have you been miserable lately? Got the hump, feeling down, worrying, stressing? Whatever’s got you down – swine flu, the credit crunch, the weather, a busy time at work -- you might as well milk it for all it’s worth. Here’s how to make yourself (and everyone around you) feel completely and utterly miserable.

(And don’t tell me you don’t want to be miserable. I’m pretty sure you’re already doing at least a few of the things on this list...)


READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE

PHOTO FRIDAY

Are you weary of butterflies yet? I'm a stalker. LOL

Cool Stuff: Garden Gloves

It's no secret that I love to grow beautiful flowers and putter in the garden--as long as the weather's not too hot. I always wear gloves, and gloves wear out so darned fast! I found these awesome gloves and wanted to share the source with you. Everything at this site is made specifically for women--with women's hands in mind--and they made of durable, yet breathable fabrics. And they're pretty, to boot!

To shop for garden gloves, hats, bags, and even tools, click here: Women's Work

Romance novels offer comfort in down economy

Romance novels offer comfort in down economy
Genre provides cheap way to escape, is a good coping mechanism, many say

Another one:
Romance novel sales booming in tough ecomony

The Accidental Lawman, Jill Marie Landis

THE ACCIDENTAL LAWMAN
June 2009
Harlequin
ISBN-13:978-0-373-78652-7
$6.99 U.S. $6.99 CAN

Not five minutes in a one-horse Texas town, and Hank Larson foils a bank robbery. No matter that one of the bandits tripped right over Hank's dusty boots. Suddenly the newcomer is hailed a hero and anointed sheriff. Hank came to Glory to report crime in the newspaper--not stop it himself. But everyone thinks the Lord led him there to save the day. Everyone except the town's beautiful healer, Amelia Hawthorne. The robber who got away was her nineteen-year-old brother. And it's Hank's job to bring the guy in.

Hank knows all about losing family. And he slowly sets about restoring Amelia's shaky faith. But doing what's right might mean breaking her heart...and his own.

ORDER FROM AMAZON!


Jill Marie Landis is the NYT extended and USA Today bestselling author of
over twenty novels. She's the winner of the RWA Rita Award, the Golden Heart and
Golden Medallion and a seven time Rita Finalist. She lives in Hawaii with her husband
where she spends her days writing when she's not sunning or dancing the hula.

Guest Blogging at The Pink Heart Society

Hey, I'm the guest blogger at The Pink Heart Society today as week two of my blog tour rolls along. Stop over!

Make sure you stop back tomorrow to read about Jill Marie Landis's new book!
She's with me tomorrow and at Petticoats and Pistols on Saturday.

Recent Visitors

Here's where recent visitrs to this blog came from:

Location Time
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 18:21:21 -0500
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Tue, 26 May 2009 18:12:19 -0500
Birmingham, AL, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 17:28:28 -0500
Vancouver, WA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 17:08:36 -0500
Prague, Czech Republic Tue, 26 May 2009 16:38:27 -0500
Toronto, ON, Canada Tue, 26 May 2009 14:59:06 -0500
Slough, United Kingdom Tue, 26 May 2009 14:53:21 -0500
Sterling, VA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 14:50:03 -0500
Madison, WI, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 14:24:52 -0500
Simpsonville, SC, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 14:12:27 -0500
Mcdonough, GA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:46:43 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:39:55 -0500
Johannesburg, South Africa Tue, 26 May 2009 13:32:50 -0500
Brevard, NC, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:20:31 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:13:01 -0500
Church Point, LA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:02:10 -0500
Dekalb, IL, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:55:22 -0500
Pearland, TX, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:32:25 -0500
Fond Du Lac, WI, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:29:06 -0500
Oakland, CA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:10:45 -0500
Irving, TX, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 11:55:38 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 11:52:21 -0500
Somerset, NJ, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 11:02:22 -0500
Pirkkala, Finland Tue, 26 May 2009 10:24:18 -0500
Castro Valley, CA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 09:28:19 -0500
Arima, Trinidad and Tobago Tue, 26 May 2009 09:14:51 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 08:45:11 -0500
Toronto, ON, Canada Tue, 26 May 2009 08:27:49 -0500
Montague, MI, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 08:13:53 -0500
Lincoln, NE, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 07:34:37 -0500
Singapore, Singapore Tue, 26 May 2009 06:30:46 -0500
Aarhus, Denmark Tue, 26 May 2009 05:02:16 -0500
Little Rock, AR, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 01:19:20 -0500
Sugar Land, TX, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 23:35:40 -0500
Scottsdale, AZ, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 21:50:43 -0500
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 21:08:20 -0500
Coats, NC, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 20:58:49 -0500
Atlanta, GA, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 20:33:46 -0500
Spokane, MO, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 19:51:20 -0500
Las Vegas, NV, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 19:35:50 -0500
Dayton, OH, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 19:13:29 -0500
Antigo, WI, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 18:58:54 -0500
Toronto, ON, Canada Mon, 25 May 2009 18:27:04 -0500
Omaha, NE, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 18:22:39 -0500

Kraft Coupons

CLICK HERE FOR DOLLAR OFF COUPONS ON KRAFT ITEMS LIKE MAYONNAISE< DRESSING & CHEESE--PRACTICAL EVERYDAY GROCERIES!

READER'S CORNER: Stephanie

This week's featured reader is Stephanie.
She has been married to her husband James for seven years. James and Stephanie have one daughter, Kayley. They adopted their adorable little girl domestically in Colorado in 2006. The couple is excited to be on an adoption waiting list again.


Kayley will turn three in July. Of course mom thinks she's smart as a whip!
James is a family medicine doctor at the tail-end of his residency. Stephanie says it's been a long seven years, but totally worth it.

Stephanie stays busy volunteering with her local Families Supporting Adoption group and her daughter's preschool. She's a a stay-at-home mom who loves to unwind by reading. She has a full bookshelf of Harlequin Historicals and Steeple Hills. Stephanie said: "My favorites (aside from YOU-duh) are Carolyn Davidson, Elizabeth Lane, Victoria Bylin and Ana Seymour."

Good taste in authors, Stephanie! LOL

Stephanie's other favorite pastime is blogging. she has always wanted to write, but doesn't think she's very good at it. She claims she prefers to research and then moves onto other topics, instead of stopping and writing about them. She's a life-long learner.
Stephanie loves to travel and learn about history. She recently visited Tombstone and toured the old, and purportedly haunted, Birdcage Theatre and 1880s brothel. Photos are on her blog.

The family is excited to be on an adoption wait list again and welcomes you to visit:
http://www.jamesstephaniekayley.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogging at Bustles and Spurs

It's still week one of my blog tour --
I'm guest blogging at Bustles and Spurs today!

Stop on over and chat!

PHOTO FRIDAY

A black swallowtail on a zinnia in my back yard.

FOR WRITERS: Be Mean to Your Story People

I was putting together my lesson this week, and decided to share a snippet.

Being mean to my characters was really difficult for me when I first started writing. We like these people we're creating, and we tend to resist making their lives miserable. But, you know what? Sometimes being mean is exactly what it takes. Make their situation so unbearable that you don't know how it will be resolved. If you have trouble planning a solution for a good outcome, so will your character—and your reader will definitely be in suspense.


Think BIG when planning how to make life miserable for your characters.

These problems have to be sustained through the entire book. Many a rejection letter has read, "Not enough conflict to carry the book."


It's not that we have to write stories about extraordinary characters every time, but rather that we must create stories about ordinary people who face extraordinary circumstances. That's what makes readers identify.

How Did I Get Started Writing?

I'm blogging at Petticoats and Pistols today, and it's a revealing tell-all about my first attempts at writing. I'm always asked how I got started, and this is the ultimate answer. A never before seen pic, too, so don't miss it!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR MAGIC CARPET RIDE TO WILDFLOWER JUNCTION!

Man spends 30 years building model of Herod's Temple

Brick by brick, tiny figure by tiny figure, Alec Garrard has painstakingly worked for 30 years on an astonishing recreation of Herod's Temple.

But despite spending all that time and effort the retired farmer believes he won't finish it in his lifetime as he keeps finding things to add to it.

In contrast, legend has it that the original construction of the entire complex lasted only three years, although historians believe it took far longer.

It was his fascination for religion and buildings which first started Alec on the Biblical project which now measures 20ft by 12ft and is housed in a seperate building in his garden.

His version is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts from the British Museum have come to view it.



Go see more amazing photos:
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

BLOG TOUR KICK-OFF!

Blog Tour!

THIS WEEK:

Tomorrow - May 21: Petticoats and Pistols
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

May 23: Bustles and Spurs
Saturday - http://bustlesandspurs.blogspot.com/

READER'S CORNER: Penney

I'm excited to share the first READER'S CORNER post with you this morning! Meet Penney and her adorable daughters. Penney is teaching them to crochet, and they have made some awesome things, including clothes for their Brat dolls. How fun is that?

Kira goes to a Math & Science Academy and Heather will soon be starting high school.



Penney and her daughters call their parakeets budgies. She claims they are monsters because they talk up a storm. They make burping sounds, thanks to her girls. The blue and white one is Jack. He belongs to Kira. The yellow and green budgie is Penney's. His name is Darvos. The grayish blue one is George. He was being beaten up by older birds at a pet store, so Penney rescued him. He makes beautiful canary sounds.



Thanks for sharing with us, Penney. All of your babies are beautiful, birds and girls alike. LOL