How to Make the MOST of your Writing Weekends: WORDfest 2019

WORDFEST.org

Saturday, March 23, 2019 -- a day spent with writers, bloggers, authors, playwrights, educational specialists -- in essence, a day to grow and learn as a writer.

Like most conferences, there were seminars designed to encourage growth of basic skills to the next level, those for writers who've been around the proverbial publishing block, ones to maximizing online presence and even specialty sessions for groups wanting to grow their membership.

Visual demographics leaned heavily toward the female gender, but there was a great blend of young and old. Writing isn't for the faint of heart and the smart-minded encourage their common writing sense and find like-minded folks. Writing is for the tenacious . For those who can stand the solitude. For those who are willing to toil.

I read so many blogs of young women -- and for those reading this, almost all of you will be younger -- who feel a calling, an undeniable urge and a thirst to write and more to share that writing.

in my typical Texas fashion, I tip my hat -- that's a Stetson, of course -- to you all for that bravery.

Writing is a bit like bull-riding.
Hang on, I haven't baked my brain in Texas sun.
The 8-second goal is always on the bull-rider's mind.
That buzzer + being on the back of the bull = SUCCESS.

But ladies and gents, if you believe that it's all about . . . or . . . ONLY about those 8 seconds, then you're not in your 'right-thinking-mind' as we say in Texas. Bull-riders are tremendous athletes who put in hours of grueling training, weeks on the circuit, bruises (in places that we won't mention) even broken bones. IT's hard work. Now, you're getting it. Just like writing is hard work. I will be the first to admit that I have NEVER broken a bone due to excessive writing so bull-riders still win that event.

My good Texas advice to all you youngsters -- and remember, you're all younger than I am . . . if you're serious about your writing: Find a group, a seminar, a critique partner and invest the time and effort to learn your craft then HONE your craft.

Writing Organization worth a look-see:

Romance Writers of America

Young Adult Romance Writers of America

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Sisters in Crime

Horror Writers Association

Writers' Guild of Great Britain



Time between conference seminars is meant for visiting the exhibitors; here's a list of a few of the participating groups at Word(Field) 2019 -- so named this year because it was a combination of WORDfest & the rescheduled WORDfield event. Hence, WORDfield 2019.

Long Star Literary Life

North Texas Chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association

Sisters in Crime

Writing Workshops Dallas

Happy writing to you all, and remember the 8-second rule: Stay in the Saddle and git it done!

Bluebonnet Ballerina by Carol Kilgore -- book review

Bluebonnet Ballerina is not your average cops and robbers’ type of suspense.

Readers can expect characters, both live and the ‘gently deceased’, to appear on the pages of Bluebonnet Ballerina. The cast includes ex-CIA, cops – active to reassigned, a best friend complete with her guiding spirit, a couple of love interests, and even a few decades-old ghosts thrown into the mix. The hard hitting world of human trafficking, guns for hire, and genuine bad guys are counterbalanced by a healthy – and much appreciated – dose of the ‘woo-woo’ factor.

Bluebonnet Ballerina is filled with: a plot that MAKES sense – always a pleasant surprise in a suspense novel; characters that are intelligent; and enough Texas scenery to bring the favored destination spot, San Antonio, to life. Through the eyes and exploits of Agent Gracie Hofner, readers can enjoy the city street-by-street. In addition, author Carol Kilgore’s veracity of law-enforcement and criminal investigation research guarantees realism on every page.

As Bluebonnet Ballerina winds down the roads of South Texas, readers will be shocked by a murder or two and the harsh reality of the dark web, but they will enjoy vivid scenes deep with sultry evening air, condensation on long-neck bottles, and breathing a little fire from spicy tacos.

Bluebonnet Ballerina is the second feature in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy. Author, Carol Kilgore, allows frighteningly accurate criminal situations to fully develop, and just like investigations in the real world, readers shouldn’t expect easy answers or for the varied plot lines to wrap up by story’s end.

Other K.M. Saint James book reviews:

A Warlock Under The Mistletoe by S.S. Bazinet

Tempting Mr. Townsend by Anna Campbell

Grey's Lady by Natasha Blackthorne

Giving a Heart of Lace: Sweet and Clean Regency Romance

I'm finished . . . I'm finished . . . doing that happy dance!

This weekend, I typed The End on my 92,000 romantic suspense. This baby has been awhile in birthing -- frankly, if I'd carried kids as long as it took me to finish this book, there would have only been one bouncing baby in my house.

That said, this manuscript has seen me through a tough loss: my father's year-long illness and passing, which seriously made me question whether I could ever finish this book. Then came my evolving literary skills: the dawn of my true Texas voice and the huge learning curve for any serious suspense plotter -- as in I bit off more intrigue than I knew how to write at the time. Months of research and cultivating the muse finally revealed the end.

Hopefully, those challenges will make these completed words on page all the sweeter. The accomplishment certainly made me do the happy dance around my desk early Saturday morning. Yes, it really was an early start -- 5:45am and I typed the last words at 10:07am (I had a NTRWA (writer's meeting) and I wasn't going one more month without being able to list the completion of my manuscript.) All of us need deadlines!

So, now the next tasks is to meld together the working synopsis with what's actual on page, get the book into the editor--agent rotation, and start on the next manuscript.

So help a gal out, please.

Here's is the first run at the teaser for Trickle of Lies. Tell me what works, what doesn't.

Someone murdered her best friend, and attorney Kyra Malone will have justice. Unfortunately, her evidence-gathering journey to drought ravaged West Texas has netted a ‘temporarily borrowed’ sports car she can’t explain, a husband she didn’t plan on, and an unstoppable killer on her tail.

Until the red-haired stranger shows up on his front porch, County Sheriff Boston Donavan – burned by his big-city, conniving ex-wife prized two things: honesty and his small town – now, he’s caught in a Trickle of Lies not of his making and a passel of bad guys set to destroy the peace.

It's beautiful here on my back porch -- cool morning temperatures, a Grackle or two cawing in the still air, and not a mosquito in sight. It really is the small things that make me happy.

Here's wishing you a great Monday.
Do drop by the porch again,
Until then,
~Sandra

First page

NTRWA is hosting a conference in a few months. As one of the early entrants, I've been given the opportunity to submit my first page -- for review -- to the great Maggie Lawson. She'll analyze -- probably to pieces -- the writing, then offer suggestions for making it better.

Okay, I'm a little nervous to have Maggie Lawson read anything I've penned to paper.

I'm posting it.

Tell me what you think. What works . . . what doesn't. This is actually the prologue tugged and tucked into one type-written page, so I may have deleted so much, it doesn't make sense. Let me know, please, before I'm read in front of a room full of conference goers, who collectively say, 'Huh?'

TRICKLE OF LIES

“So this is Hell,” Kyra Malone muttered to the circle of funeral vultures.

Not the literal type with flapping wings and scraggly beak – but dressed in their Polo basic black and pasted with simpering Botox smiles – the Austin elite was close enough to count for the bone-picking birds. Disgusted, Kyra turned from the flock’s annoying presence and toward the weeping pewter sky.

That one heavenward look was as close as she’d ever come to singing angels and golden streets. People who killed their best friends . . . or at least, got them killed wouldn’t be welcomed among harps and fluffy wings.

"Anna would want you to have this.”

The voice jerked Kyra back to the graveside and the older woman in front of her. Shrouded in mourning black and tears, her best friend's mother pressed a token into Kyra’s hand.

"A gift from her father. You should take it, now that she can't wear it . . . anymore."

The antique coin, surrounded by tiny diamonds, blinked up at Kyra. The cold metal seared her hand as forcefully as the suppressed tears scalded her throat. Long seconds ticked by into a harsh minute before she could force the words free.

“It's time for you to leave.” For an instant, she focused on the tiny, auburn-haired child nuzzled against the hem of her skirt. "You and Kendra must go now." The girl snuggled her delicate fingers inside Kyra's grip. It was a trusting touch. She released the child's hand -- she'd betrayed them all.

“I don’t like leaving you.” The older woman looked prepared to battle the point again. “Promise me, Kyra, not to do anything foolish. . .”

There wasn’t a need to say more. What she had planned for the men responsible would be considered rash on the best Sunday and blatant career suicide come any Monday morning. It didn’t matter. The moment Anna had been murdered they’d given her no choice. A debt was due, and she would make certain it was collected.

Bending, Kyra kissed the child then glanced between the faces of the two people she truly loved and did the only thing possible – she lied.

Sunday Muses . . .

On board with TWITTER. I needed to join in order to keep up with the kiddo at Texas A & M. Not specifically her, but the campus as a whole. After the Virginia Tech incident, A & M launched their Code Maroon alert program. Students, staff, employees and parents, who had emails on file, were notified of any emergency situation through text and email messages. This year A & M changed to TWITTER. Students still gets the emergency text, but parents must follow TWITTER.

So as I'm on TWITTER, if you want to follow me, just search my name, and then send a TWITTER alert to me. If you're already Tweeting, then watch for LoneStarMeander . . . yep, that's me. I'm not totally sure that short burps (and yes, that's the right word for it) about my day are exactly exciting, but I decided if I was on-board I might as well play the whole game. It is fun to keep up with some of my favorite authors (Rosemary Clements-Moore, Candy Havens, and Geralyn Dawson-- several tweet on and off during the day. It's kind of like living in their backpocket without being creepy about it.

Chapter 19 (TRICKLE OF LIES) is done and in the completed pile. I'm really pleased with the finished result. I had the basis of the chapter when I sat down yesterday, but so much needed to be filled out. The plot is turning very tight at this point so every revelation is massively important. Not to mention the internal turning points. Yes, I know that there are only 3 or so real turning points (excluding black moment) in each novel; however, there are a massive # of small internal turning points -- rising and falling points. To me as the action ratchet up another notch, then the TPs must happen quicker and with as much precision as possible. Surgical precision, if you will.


As this is more of a Sunday morning ramble, I'll digress onto my dreams last night. Lady Muse decided to visit about my completed chapter, which is totally OK, but she didn't show up as I drifted off to sleep. That lovely land where writers can still pry their eyes open and jot down the notes. Oh no, she showed up literally in my dreams, layers deep in REM sleep. Short of nightmares, I've never managed to extricate myself from REM for note-taking. I tried for 4 years in college and believe me, if I was going to master the technique it would have been then. So, I took the dog for a long walk, hoping to recapture any part of the dream. Unfortunately and fortunately, it's raining in Texas -- kinda all over the state, which is awesome considering our drought status. So despite my desire to drift along in oblivion while the doggy did her duty, I was too busy negotiating rivers of run-off and soggy shoes. Maybe I'll try a long hot shower after breakfast and see if any part of the dream comes back. Worst part -- is that the additions were really perfect. Even in sleep I can remember thinking, "That's exactly what I want to happen."

Happy Sunday all. It's cooler on the porch this morning. Perfect but for the Texas mosquitoes, which are hatching in the droves. I actually think they're feeding on my supply of OFF.
Until next time
~Sandra

Rosemary Clements-Moore

Here's to Absolutely Thrilling News!

Last week, Rosemary Clements-Moore won the most prestigious award, a RITA, given by romance writers from around the world. Romanace Writers of America (RWA to those who belong) selected HELL WEEK as a top finalist for the Young Adult category. This contest is judged by fellow romance writers and authors, a tough group to impress. Rosemary carried home the gold statue in honor of the accolades for her book, HELL WEEK. This is Rosemary's 2nd book in the series. Truly top honors for a great author.

Icing on the cake is that Rosemary's 3rd book, when released, wasn't even shelved by the big B & N. Yep, that's right. They, like everyone else, are cutting back and trimming corners. As a result, fewer new authors, and those who aren't 'list-best-selling' authors, are scoring actual floor space inside the brick and mortar bookstores. Being inside the industry means that we're all supposed to play nice, and while I understand cutting back -- don't we all -- as a newer author the fact that we can't command shelf space because a more established author needs 25 slots is not a happy thought.

So, here's kudos to Rosemary, who proved beyond a shadow that even if the big boys and girls in publishing aren't always willing to take a chance on the 'newbie', the reading public still is.

By the way if you want Rosemary's 3rd in the series, the one not stocked by B & N, you could order it directly from Amazon, OR head to your nearest bookstore and tell them to order your copy in. If enough readers demand to see great new authors on the shelves, book-sellers will listen.

Wow! If we could only get through to congress that easily. But that's totally another post.

If you're looking for a great summer read for yourself or your young adult reader, demand a copy of any of Rosemary's book in this series.

Happy reading.
Until I see you again at the porch.
~Sandra

Friends . . .

Many of you are working fast and furious for the upcoming RWA convention -- to all of you, I say 'Hats off and may this be a wonderfully successful conference.'

To my lovely critique partner, L.A. Mitchell, who is up for her second Golden Heart, may this year be truly golden and you walk away with the trophy (and more importantly, a publishing contract).

To critique partners Sherry A. Davis, (RWA National PRO Liaison and author of romantic comedy), Here Comes The Bribe, and Mary Karlik, fantasy and YA writer, may the publishing doors swing wide open for you at this conference.

Fellow critique partner, Delores, and I will be sitting this one out. However, we'd better get phone calls when all the good news starts pouring in.

Several months ago, Mary K.'s lovely daughter, Kate, married. Per typical Mary fashion she'd hired the photographer to snap pics of all the wedding antics. Here below are my lovely 'Flip-Flop' sisters, i.e. my critique partners.

It was loads of fun and some truly warm moments for old, er, mature friends to share. For those of us who write, critique partners become our sanity. With all those voices bouncing around inside our heads, it's mandatory to have voices on the outside -- voices of reason and understanding -- who keep we writers grounded.



If you're writing and you haven't found your inner circle for critiquing, I strongly urge you to seek out those who want to spend their days with fanny firmly planted to the writing chair. No one else truly understands this madness called writing.

Cheers for conference good news, and critique partners.

MY CPs new book

I posted about HERE COMES THE BRIBE, a great romatic comedy release by The Wild Rose Press from my CP, Sherry A. Davis.

The cover art is fabulous:

And the book blurb certainly gets it done: A single administrative assistant accepts her temporary boss’s offer to masquerade as his fiancée to keep his matchmaking grandmother out of his personal life and out of the way while he negotiates a high-profile merger for his family-owned company. In exchange, she’ll get the down payment for the loan she needs to keep her ex from selling her condo out from under her.
But neither of them counted on the lines blurring between real and pretend--or for the temporary arrangement to leave them both longing for something more permanent.

NOW: Sherry A. Davis has recieved another terrific review from The Night Owl Romance.
Click on the review, or click straight to Novel Words, Ms. Davis's blogsite for ways to purchase her tremendous book, HERE COMES THE BRIBE.

Congrats, Sherry, all the kudos are well-deserved for great writing.

10 . . 9 . . 8 . . 7, can you say LAUNCH?

Here I am in cyberspace!!! Again!!!

My website, SLFERGUSON is launched.

The building, and rebuilding of the pages, the tweaking until the site and I both screamed, the hunt for the perfect graphics, and the exploration of embedding music and links was certainly worth the effort.

Special thanks to my fabulous hubby who learned all things great and wonderful on how to ACTUALLY publish the website.

As I'm working on a seminar about self-promotion, the building of the website was great experience.

Would I say it was easy? Uh, definitely not.

But can the skill be learned? Absolutely so.

I love when you pop by my back porch for a visit, but do pop by my SLFERGUSON then let me know what you like (and okay, maybe what doesn't work for you).

What's this? Another Harm's Way review? Wahoo!

Scrolling through the Wild Rose Press marketing information I found a brand-new review for HARM'S WAY.
Okay, any review is great, but the book has been out for a year and it's still drawing attention so in MHO that's pretty over the top great.

Thanks Tammy at Fallen Angel for reading HARM'S WAY and finding it worth your time to review.

Read the whole 4 ANGEL review -- it only take a few minutes, -- just click here: HARM'S WAY FALLEN ANGEL REVIEW.

Summer Fun . . .

The NT Critique Gang

Pictured are: Sherry, LA Mitchell, Andrea, Jayliss, and Delores . . . I'm shooting the shots, so alas no me!

The NT Critique Gang + lovely Candace Havens (author of the Charmed & Dangerous series). This shot was taken at LA Mitchell's book-signing. So much fun to sit with tea & coffee, and great cookies -- thanks Georgette (master book-seller at Barnes & Nobles) and great friends. Pictured are Andrea Geist, Sherry Davis (release of HERE COMES THE BRIBE from The Wild Rose Press this Friday), Candace Havens (new release LIKE A CHARM is out now), Delores Shaffer, and Mary (Jayliss) Karlick (winner of the 2008 Sandy award for best Young Adult fiction) Again, I'm clicking away so don't expect to see me in any of these photos.

Fun, fun and more fun with friends and great writers. RoseMary Clements-Moore (PROM DATES FROM HELL) joined us as well, and lovely Georgette sat for a bit while overseeing the book-signing. Great vacation plans and discussions for the upcoming RWA National convention to be held in San Francisco last week of July; loads of writing insight, a little agent news and tons of laughter -- I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

Swing by my porch anytime. Rained here a bit last night -- okay, it was more of a summer deluge, so the temps are a little cooler and the humidity is way higher but the porch is always a lovely oasis and you're always welcome.

What are your summer plans?

Good news . . . no, wait, great NEWS!

This Friday, that's the 27th of June, one of my dearest writing buddies will release her first long contemporary from The Wild Rose Press.

HERE COMES THE BRIBE,
is a seriously funny romp between a too-busy, work-alcoholic, too-gorgeous-for-his-own-good boss who's totally in trouble with his family and his female assistant, who's saved him from drowning so many times it's become habit. When he once again dives into the deep end, it's up to this feisty heroine to keep him from going under for the third time. HERE COMES THE BRIBE is a great read at anytime of the day or night, and a perfect way to spend a little summer down time. Only don't expect to stay cool reading this great book, because the hero and heroine heat up the pages.

You can bet I'll be visiting The Wild Rose Press Friday morning to purchase my own e-book copy. The hardback version will follow later this year, and I'll be back to buy mine then. Oh yeah, I happen to know this author. Guess I'll just ask for my own autographed copy.

Can't wait to pop the cork on this cyber-celebration and read my own copy of HERE COMES THE BRIBE.

Sparkling Today

It's been awhile since I've consistently updated my blog . . . no longer.

I'm back!

Finished with the 3rd grade round of teaching and I'm back in the writing saddle again. It's a great fit, and I couldn't been happier than to listen to my characters fuss and complain.

So many things to discuss, so much has happened since last I was blogging everyday, but those are for another time.

Today, I'm over at Sparkle This! completing our second short story. A little time travel, a little historical, and a little contemporary all rolled together. Six contributing writers and a whole lot of fun.

You can follow the whole story if you start on this LINK. However that entry is the end of the story . . . so, don't cheat, just scroll all the way down and read from the beginning. Story begins at 'Turning'. If you have a few minutes, it's a fun read.

I'll be back tomorrow to tell you about my lastest read, what's next on my list, building a new backporch, the next story I've started, the broken dryer, meeting author Geralyn Dawson again and so much more.

Come on back to the porch, and sit awhile.

Until then,
~Sandra

Spring Break

Oh, I so wanted to bask in the sun this week . . . hey, I live in Texas, I should get to bask in March if I want. HOWEVER, mother nature had other plans and it rained, yep, we're talking real cats and dogs type of rain. Everyone from the middle of the nation on east has seen the effects I'm talking about.

Instead of sun basking, I've been cleaning. What drudgery, but after two sick kids there wasn't much choice. Do these kiddos not realize they're wasting my valuable sun basking time? Nope, probably not. But I did draw the limit after 12 loads of laundry. If ain't clean by now, too bad.

My other task this week has been writing -- and frankly, when my head is stuffed in the computer because I'm creating, it doesn't matter if it's raining, the kids are sick, or the timer is ringing on the dryer . . . it's all good. So, I'm pushing through hard and fast on Trickle of Lies, trying to get these characters to talk nicely to one another. It may just work. But it has to be finished. Two of my beta readers are asking almost every week when they'll get to see the finished draft. Time for stalling is over.

What did you do on your spring break?

Feel free to share.
Until then
~Sandra

Sparkle This!

Yep, it's my turn to Sparkle again.

I have another post on Sparkle This!

Do drop by and follow our story (Short Story #2)

Happy writing and reading.

Sandra

Sparkle This!

Want to see what I'm working on these days?

Pop over to Sparkle This!

A group of seven writers, moi included, are enmeshed in our latest short serial -- a rather twisted 'fish out of water' story -- where our modern-day heroine is transported back into regency time in order to solve a murder. There's a time-jumper, a fairy godmother, an evil stepfather, and a hunky hero.

Drop by and read any excerpt under Short Story #2 to follow along. Every few days another writer will post an addition to the story.

~Hope to see you there.
Sandra

Love Texas Style

Yahoo! Kick up your heels and set your lasso to pull in a great read.

Love Texas Style, an anthology written by twelve -- dare I say, yes, I do -- unbelievably talented North Texas Romance writers, is now available through the Wild Rose Press.

E-books are available at: The Wild Rose Press

Want your own autographed print version? Then check back here or at LA Mitchell's blog for the latest on book-signings.

Oh, and make sure to drop LA Mitchell (one of the greatest new writers of our times) a line and let her know how much you enjoyed her The Lost Highway in Love Texas Style.

Keeping up with the reading challenge

Here's what I'm reading this week.

One of my critique partners *Shannon Canard* is published in this collection of short stories. So, it's definitely been on my 'TBR' (to be read) list.

BTW Shannon, I read your story first. My only problem . . . I want more than the little tidbit from the short story. Can I have a full length, please?

In addition to this book being a great read, the proceeds go to benefit Women's Shelters. Great romance reading and for a great cause -- how cool is that?

Sparkling This!

Looking for me?

Try over at Sparkle This!

I've started a time-travel story. Lots of fun.

Happy reading.

Sparkle This

I'm tooling around at SPARKLE THIS! today.

Come by and see my time-travel entry on a series story.

Loads of fun!

Happy Writing,
~Sandra