A little help from my friends...

I don't often write about my passion--writing--on this blog, although that's what its original purpose was to be. It's too easy to veer off on subjects that, without a doubt, influence my writing, but don't refer directly to the craft of writing.

However, today's entry will address a very important aspect of writing--the invaluable assistance, advice, and encouragement given to me by my writing friends. I wouldn't even be on this blog today if it weren't for the expertise and generosity of Bonnie Calhoun, technological genius. She helped guide through the seemingly impossible task of accessing my blogs after obtaining a second email address. Thanks, Bonnie, for your untiring help.

There are many others who have helped me along the way--far too many to mention by name--but without whose guidance I would still be in the starting block. From teaching, mentoring, editing, critiquing, encouraging and advising to hands-on technical assistance and pulling-my-fat-from-the-fire rescues, my writing friends are just as much a part of any success I might find as I am.

Of course, we know the true Author of any writing success--our Heavenly Father, without Whom none of us would know what we're doing or see any of the fruit of our work. He and He alone deserves the praise when we do well, but there are many wonderful folks out there who serve as His helpers!

I've been blessed with friends and colleagues who are as eager to help others as they are to find a home for their own work. I'm particularly fortunate to be a part of Terry Burns' client group (Terry's our agent extraordinaire from Hartline Literary Agency) and I've found so much more than a random group of writers who share an agent. We laugh, cry, lend a helping hand, congratulate, empathize, encourage, advise, and share praises, pain, and prayer.

Just a few years ago (and I'm dating myself here), writing was a solitary job. Submissions were made by snail mail; answers came the same way. Unless you knew someone personally and lived within driving distance of them, sharing writing experiences, critiquing, or even taking classes were difficult at best, impossible at worst. The advent of computers (wonder of wonders!) and then the Internet, complete with e-mail, changed all that. (Of course, they brought their own set of problems to the situation--see second paragraph above.)

I'm glad I happened to live during the transition from solitary writing to family-style writing. Not only has my writing improved, but my sanity's been maintained and my computer remains in one piece. (Thanks again, Bonnie!) Thanks, also, to everyone who's helped me along the way. I couldn't have done it without you.

Until the next time...

Bless her sweet heart...

... Linda Glaz has featured me and both installments of  my Laramie on the Lam series (Laramie and the Law and Laramie and the Land of Liberty) on her writer's blog at http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com/

Linda is a talented writer and editor whose blog is a wealth of information for aspiring writers (as well as those other "normal" folks out there). She's hilarious, creative, wonderfully helpful and I guarantee you, she'll have books falling off the shelves any day now.

Without the kindness and encouragement of people like Linda (thank you, Linda!), I wouldn't have my agent, Terry Burns, nor would I have my completed adult manuscript in his hands. For that matter, I wouldn't be having half as much success with my Laramie series without the publicity and kind words her blog post have generated.

Surely, God knew what He was doing when He put people like Linda Glaz in my path! Thank You, Lord.

Until the next time...

Regal Round-Up

Talk about magnificent. This was taken in the parking lot of the VFW Hall in Eagle River, Alaska. Each winter while the rivers are frozen over and fish are hard to come by, a kind woman feeds wild eagles on Sunday mornings. She begins passing out pieces of fish at 10:30 a.m. and precisely at 10:25 a.m., the eagles begin arriving. Don't ask me how they know; I guess nature has a way of relaying important information like this when it needs to.

My son-in-law, Ron, and I visited a week ago yesterday. This lone eagle stood watch over the parking lot, and eventually, someone came out from the building and informed us that the eagle lady would not be coming that morning. Apparently, the river had thawed enough to allow the eagles to fend for themselves. My question for him was "How do the eagles know not to come?" He shrugged and grinned. "Beats me." When I asked him how many had arrived the week before, he said, "About a hundred." Can you imagine seeing a hundred of these magnificent creatures gathering from all directions, down the from the snow-covered mountains to a humble gravel parking lot on the edge of a small town-- swooping, snatching, gliding on the currents to accept the gift of food during the cold Alaskan winter?

Evidently, the memo hadn't reached this eagle and he stood on his tree branch for close to an hour while we snapped pictures and waited for the lady, her fish pieces, and the other eagles to arrive. When they didn't, we left and I imagine he did shortly thereafter.

But for a little while, I shared a moment in time with one of God's most regal creations, both of us hopeful; both of us waiting and watching. We have one more winter here in Alaska before we leave for parts unknown, and you can bet your bottom dollar (and all the fish you can eat) that I'll be there every single chance I get for a chance to witness the regal round-up.

Until the next time...

Pretty in pink...

The mountains here on Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, are beautiful any time of day or night, all year long. But when I looked outside the other night to see the setting sun painting the snow-covered peaks a pretty pastel pink, I had to take pictures. To add to the grandeur, the moon was almost full and its gauzy, fragile beauty added a touch of elegance to the scene.

Granted, it's not always spectacularly beautiful up here. (Notice how I never post dreary shots of foggy skies or rainy days?) But on any given day, there is something of beauty to celebrate no matter where we are. The Lord has filled our world with objects of incredible beauty--some are magnificent and hard to miss, others are tiny to the point of being nearly invisible. But since He took the time to create each and every one of them, shouldn't we take the time to look for them, to admire His handiwork, and thank Him for thinking of us long before we ever came to be?

Until the next time...

Living in the moment

I've spent the last few days marketing my new story, Laramie and the Law. Somewhere in there, it dawned on me that I'd better start thinking about working on the third installment. (The second will be published on April 1, 2011.) I've become caught up in the neverending game of the "done" and the "yet to be done."

Life is like that sometimes. We get so caught up in something in our past (or looking to the future) that we forget to live in the moment. This morning I woke up and noticed the glorious sunshine the Lord has seen fit to bless us with for the last several days. The snow-covered mountain peaks are etched against the startlingly blue skies, the snow covers the ground like a huge white blanket, and the icicles that melt during the day magically re-form overnight as the slow process of thawing out for another year progresses.

In a few weeks, this will be gone. Yes, I'll love the warmer temps, the green grass, and springtime flowers. But I shouldn't lose sight of the beauty that God is giving me this very moment. I have lots of "yesterday moments," and plenty of "tomorrow moments"--but I have only one "right this minute" moment. I need to savor each and every one of them.

Until the next time...

Laramie and the Law now available!

It's here!

Laramie and the Law, the first installment of my six-part series  (Laramie on the Lam), published by Echelon Press is now available for Nook download at http://barnesandnoble.com/. It's a steal at a mere $.99 per download! It will also soon be available (at the same low price) on Amazon for Kindles and other e-readers, through apps on the iPhone, and at other online outlets, as well.

Laramie and the Law was written for kids between the ages of 8 and 11, but younger ones would love to get in on the adventure--especially if Mom or Dad or an older sibling reads it to them.

The second installment, Laramie and the Land of Liberty, will be available for download on April 1, 2011. Follow Laramie Wyoming and his best friend, Maestro the black lab, as they solve mysteries  and dodge the bad guys while they travel across the United States in a motorhome from one cool place to another.

It all starts with a bank robbery in his hometown of Laramie, Wyoming. Read more about it here:

You know you're in trouble when you see your picture on the front page of the newspaper and discover you're wanted by the local police for robbing a bank—all because you were just trying to be polite!

Laramie Wyoming always (well, most of the time) does what his mother tells him to. But what happens when an unsuspecting sixth grader holds open the door for three men leaving the bank?

The police accuse him of robbing it. What kind of a deal is that?

The next thing Laramie knows, his mother is ready to scalp him, the police are hot on his trail, his dad's going to blow his top when he gets home, and he and his dog Maestro are holed up in the tree house. Oh, and there's the $30,000 in his backpack he didn't have the day before. Worst of all, the robbers want it back.

Life gets complicated for Laramie Wyoming of Laramie, Wyoming, and he's got a lot to do if he wants to clear his name, get the police off his back, avoid the bank robbers, and ever see the inside of his house again.


I'd be tickled if you'd take a look and pass this information along to anyone you know who has kids who love wholesome adventure, faithful dogs, and mysteries just waiting to be solved!

Until the next time...

Good times, goodbyes, and new beginnings!

It's nearing that time again--the day I'll be boarding another plane back to Alaska. I've had a good, long run here in Kentucky, though, and I've loved every minute of it. I arrived on September 10th and my flight leaves on February 6th. Five months! And although I'll always be grateful for these special months spent in the company of my daughter and her husband and my three precious grandsons, it's time for me to let them have their house back to themselves.

I was able to share Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (and all the preparation and celebrations those occasions entail) with my family down here. The day before I leave, we'll be celebrating my middle grandson's 8th birthday, so we'll be ending the visit with another memorable occasion. I hope I've been a healthy, happy, nurturing, and inspirational influence on my grandchildren during this visit, as well as a help to Dennae and Richie. I appreciate their putting up with me for all this time and hope I'll be welcome to visit again! I love you guys.

Then in June, I'll be heading to Michigan in time for the birth of my 5th grandson! My oldest child and his wife are expecting their second child--and it's a boy! He'll be joining his big brother who will be four in August. Good times! And there will be news from Alaska soon... stay tuned for further developments.

Finally, I'm excited to announce that the first installment of my six-part children's series for Echelon Press will be published on March 1st! I've been asked to keep a lid on the details, but soon....

Until the next time...