Spring is Here!

Don't you just love it. Spring has finally come and with it all the exciting special days. Get ready for a Fiesta with Cinco de Mayo followed closely by Mothers' Day.

Blessings, Nita

Happy Easter

May your Easter be Blessed and Joyful.

Wishing Barack and Michelle Obama All the Best!

President-elect Barack Obama: "Anything is possible in America. Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure — that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time."

On January 20, 2009, he will become the 44th President of the United States of America. He will have to deal with a severe economic crisis and two wars (just to name a couple of problems he will face). Please join me in wishing Barack and Michelle Obama all the best in the coming months and years.

National Association of Freelance Writers Teleclass

www.NAFW.net Announcements: Teleclass Updates

Space is available for the July teleclass, Writing for the Web. Writing for the Web is very different from writing for print; if you are looking to add writing Internet copy to your repertoire, this class is a must. Join us at 8 pm ET for a live, 60 minute web-hosted seminar with plenty of time for questions and answers. Sign up on the site.

Meanwhile, the next teleclass will be Getting Started in Freelance Writing, scheduled for Wednesday, August 20th at 8 pm ET.

For a limited time, all classes will be offered to everyone at the member rate of $24.95 per class (the same low price as membership). You might consider joining the National Association of Freelance Writers and adding this as your paid class with membership.

Great April Reads

I just got back from the Silken Sands Conference in Pensacola Beach. Wow, am I pumped! It was great! Of course I'm reading some great books. One is "A Lady's Secret" by Jo Beverley. If you get a minute, visit her on her blog. http://jobeverley.blogspot.com/ Congratulations to her for that #14 on the NYT Bestseller list.

Isn't the cover wonderful? Trust me, the book is gooooooood!

I discovered a very interesting and funny writer through a handout at the conference. The book is coming out in July 08 -- "Accidental Demon Slayer" and I won't spoil it for you by giving away any of its super humor. However, one line really hit my funny bone when the heroine says, "There's a demon in my dog!" Can't wait to get it. The author is Angie Fox and you will be seeing a lot about her when this book hits the stands.

Happy Reading and Remember ~~ Believe, we must! ~~

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy January!

It's that joyous time of the year for many residents of the Gulf Coast. So, enjoy the parades and everything that goes along with the festivities. I hope you have a safe and happy Mardi Gras.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Only a few days left before Thanksgiving. So let the Holidays begin!

Check out my "Thanksgiving at Magnolia Hill" story (free fiction) on Magnolia Magic Magazine. If you didn't read "Christmas at Magnolia Hill," I recommend you read that first.

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful, fulfilling (and filling) Thanksgiving.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite Non-Holiday. I'm sure many of you agree. I celebrated by sending myself a card and I'd like to share it with you. Just click on the link below for some scary fun.

Halloween Fun!

If that doesn't work, here's a link you can copy and paste:

http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=447399060&m=8112&source=ag992

Amazing Writers -- Amazing Women (and Men)!

I have to rant a little about the writers who belong to the Gulf Coast Romance Writers. Although the chapter is probably one of the smallest in Romance Writers of America(R), you would never know it. They act like the chapter and the writers who belong to it are Really Big Stuff!

Well, I think they're Absolutely Right! I'll bet they have the highest percentage of published writers of any chapter. There are 12 published authors and only about 30 members. That ain't bad hay, as one would say back in my native Southern Illinois. They have so few members that when it's time for their Silken Sands Conference, everyone has to pitch in and do something.

If you've never visited their website, the link is on the right side of my blog page. Do yourself a favor and visit. Better yet, join 'em.

Do Your Part to Promote Breast Cancer Awareness

I came across the National Breast Cancer Foundation site quite by accident. Yes, I look ashamed because, like so many others, I don't always do the things women should to prevent this treatable, but sometimes deadly, condition. One thing I can do is CLICK ONCE A DAY and help fund free mammograms for women who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford them. Simply go to the website and create a bookmark on your desktop. Then, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Pink Ribbon Challenge. There are other ads that support the organization if you are interested.

If you don't want to copy and paste the url below, I've added a link at the right side of the page.

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

November is NaNoWriMo

FROM THE WEBSITE:

"What is NaNoWriMo?

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30."

This is writing that emphasizes QUANTITY over quality. Plenty of time after you have that critical first draft to revise, rewrite -- you know, fill plot holes and flesh out characters and other elements.

The website has forums and I joined the US--Atlanta group. I'm hoping we'll be able to get a weekly writers meeting going at one of the local bookstores.

I hope you'll join me and thousands of writers for this exciting challenge.

http://www.nanowrimo.org

Beginning a New Writing Project

Writers know this: When a new character starts talking to you, they won't give up until you give in and tell their story. Ariadne (Deedy) Cross told me that she had enrolled in graduate studies, and as a result had received a grant to catalogue a private library. I was excited for her. I was even more excited when she told me where the library was located -- Crete!

Since Deedy has never been far from her home in Pine Mountain, Missouri, she couldn't resist the adventure--and neither could I. But rather than have her story begin at the university, I started it with her arrival in Crete where she meets her new boss, Jason Storonysius (a Chris Hansen look-alike)(Yummy)!

I'm hoping the meter at the left of the page goes up by leaps and bounds. Join me -- better yet -- get your own meter and let me check on your progress as we go along.

Happy Writing, Nita

Blogging for the American Cancer Institute

I'm the community rep for the American Institute for Cancer Research fund drive. Every year the AICR sends me a package of 20 letters and 40 envelopes to send out to the neighbors in hopes of getting donations. With the postal rate hikes, this costs a minimum of $18.80 (yes, I have to put return postage on the envelopes, too).

Now that I've said everything about the cost, I'll say something about the return on investment. Some years, it's very good--like 3 to 1. Last year, not so good. I went into the hole, but rather than send nothing to the ACI, I just dug a little deeper and sent them $20 of my own money. I felt it was well worth the investment of my time and the small amount of money I was able to donate.

If you're interested in seeing what they have on their site, I've posted a link below. Donate if you can. Many thanks, Nita

The American Institute for Cancer Research is the cancer charity that fosters research on diet and cancer prevention and educates the public about the results.
http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer

2008 SILKEN SANDS CONFERENCE

Oct 31 is the deadline for Early Bird Special Registration for the Silken Sands Conference in Pensacola, FL, (April 11-13, 2008)

Sugar-white sandy beaches, warm Florida sunshine and even warmer Southernhospitality are waiting for you!

Hosted by the Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America®, theconference will be April 11-13, 2008, in Pensacola Beach, FL

Registration is now open! Get an early-bird rate of $125 until Oct. 31.(After Oct 31, 2007, regular fee $145, late fee after March 10, 2008, $165)Registration does not include hotel room.
Check http://www.gccrwa.com/ for registration form, hotel information, and thecurrent list of attending editors and agents and workshop presenters.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Sherrilyn KenyonKICKOFF SPEAKER: Catherine Mann
APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE WITH EDITORS AND AGENTS

Join us for workshops on Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday, editorand agent panel discussion Friday evening, raffles, booksigning, critiquesand more. Fee includes Friday night reception, continental breakfasts, lunch, Saturday night banquet.

Special Presentation: Free to the first 50 to register, a 2-hour hands-onworkshop Friday afternoon by Dianna Love Snell and Mary Buckham: “Break IntoFiction" - Power Openings and Power Pacing.

Visit the conference page at: http://www.gccrwa.com/ for more detailsor follow the informal discussion at 2008 Silken Sands Conference Atthe Beach. http://silkensands.blogspot.com/

If it's Tuesday

Welcome to my spot. I'm amazed I can spend three hours on the web -- email -- tweaking web pages -- putting up this new blog -- When I should be writing. Honestly, it's more fun to do other things sometimes. Hope I see you on the Silken Sands Blogspot hosted by one of my friends in the Gulf Coast Romance Writers chapter.