It's About Time!

Good grief, more than a week has passed since I last posted. I guess I need to start writing posts ahead of time so I can just copy them into my blog page.

There is news from Written World Communications! Our very first publication, Scattered Thoughts, is in print and available! Scattered Thoughts is a sample magazine that we put together to learn all the little things we needed to know about magazine publication. Each of us with Written World contributed a piece to the magazine.

I ordered some print copies to send to folks I thought would enjoy it. I am impressed with the talent within our company. Everyone brings their own unique abilities to WWC. I feel that, considering our physical distance from each other, we have done a great job of pulling a project together with many, many more to come.

This next month will see the launching of three magazines and one, possibly two, books. It is an exciting time and I would like to invite you to celebrate with us!

Starsongs is in the final stages of publication and I will let you know the day it goes into print.

In the meantime, come visit our website to take a look at Scattered Thoughts. Are you on Facebook? Join our Written World Communications page! I'll see you there!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Open doors

I have the highest respect for bloggers who can keep their readers up to date on all that goes on at conference. I've been home for four days and still trying to catch up on my sleep!

Even though I'm a few days late, I am bursting with news of the doors God has opened to me. First of all, I am now on faculty for both Marlene's Colorado Christian and Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conferences. It is surely the hand of God that has brought about this honor! He sure has led me down a different path than I envisioned. I pictured myself writing historical novels set in the 19th century. Now, here I am editing a children's magazine!

This venture has led me to contact with two other special people, Cindy Sproles and Eddie Jones, who host Christiandevotions.US, a Christian devotional site. They have launched a kids devotional site, and most recently, a teen site as well. DevoFest is in the planning stages for next June, an event that will instruct young people from all over the country about writing. I have been invited to pitch ideas to teach at this event.

I had numerous opportunities to network with editors of other magazines and pitch ideas for articles. Again, God takes us down new paths of exploration all the time. I was "never" going to write short work. I was "never" going to write non-fiction I was too committed to my novel to even think of it! Funny how God can change our minds when we open our hearts to His will.

I'm not sure what it is about me and conferences, but my rewarding experiences always seem to culminate in some form of disaster on the trip home. This time, another conferee on faculty and I had to prey on Marlene's good graces for a ride to the airport after our arranged ride forgot us. My flight was placed in a holding pattern over Dallas due to thunder storms. Actually, that wasn't such a bad thing for me. I'm one of those weird people who loves to fly in "turbulence".

The disaster hit when I got to my final destination airport with a two hour drive ahead of me. It was late, I was tired, and construction barred every route I was familiar with. Frustrated and frightened on a lonely road where my headlights reflected an infinite line of orange barrels, I pulled off and prayed for help. God provided it in the form of two young men who took pity on this disoriented old lady and led me to the Interstate.

I was so relieved to finally find myself navigating a road I knew! It broke my heart to discover, however, that I managed to record over the discussion a faculty member and I had about the manuscript a collaborator and I have been working on! After I dried my tears, I realized that I had witnessed the work of the enemy. He does his best to discourage us, make us stumble, and eventually give up.

More exciting news with Written World Communications. Stop by within the next couple of days and you'll hear all about it!

Thanks for reading my blog.

Moving On

My trip to the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference came right on the heels of our final good-bye to our son before he and his wife move to the UK for three years. Talk about a lot of emotion within a few hours!

Our visit with Jason was a wonderful family time for us and him. He and his sister reminisced about childhood antics (some mom had never heard about before!), played Monkey in the Middle with a balloon (brought lots of laughter from granddaughter Madi), went out to dinner, worshiped together in church and later attended a church picnic. shared lots of hugs and "I love yous".

I drove Jason to the airport since his flight was due to leave at 3:00 PM on Tuesday and I was scheduled to fly out of the same airport to Phili at 6:00 AM Wednesday. It gave us a couple of hours of special mother and son time together. These were my deepest hopes as I saw him disappear past the security area: we love him and Jaque always, we are proud of them, we wish them the best, we are excited for the adventures ahead of them, and most of all, God loves them!

My trip to the writer's conference transported me from thoughts of family to the world of writing and companionship with writers. I knew ahead of time that another conferee would be on my flight from Dallas to Phili. We were able to sit together, but were both so tired that we cat napped for most of the flight.

The lady who met us at the airport is a sweetheart. I had no idea what it would be like to drive in this city. Suffice it to say I'm so grateful I didn't have to be behind the wheel! The 95 degree heat had us all drooping like wilted daffodils by the time we arrived and settled in to our rooms.
I was fortunate in that my room-mate had arrived ahead of me and kicked on the air conditioner. Ah, it was like a slice of heaven to step into this cool room!

I'm at this conference on faculty, representing Written World Communications. I edit one of their magazines, Starsongs, which is targeted to young people ages 9-19 and contributed to by youth of the same age.My room-mate also works for Written World and we formed the beginning of what I expect will be a close friendship right away.

The conference is held at a Bible college and the rooms are typical dorm rooms. Remember that air conditioning I mentioned? Well, we had turned it down before going to bed, but I woke up during the night freezing! My roomie was sleeping so well that I didn't want to disturb her and I couldn't figure out how to adjust the AC in the dark. I froze until morning.

My first full day at conference was rewarding. I've talked to so many people, both in scheduled appointments and casual conversations with old acquaintances from previous conferences and new ones I just met. It is fun to be on the "other side" of the table, where writers pitched their manuscripts and ideas to me for Written World.

I had an opportunity to talk to an editor about a manuscript that I and an (as yet) undisclosed collaborator are working on. The input was encouraging, although we will need to have some discussion and refocus our direction a bit when I return home. Still, I'm excited about this project. I said I would never write non-fiction, but since this manuscript is non-fiction, I've learned to never say never.

As always, Marlene has stellar speakers to inspire us and make us think about what we are writing and Who we are writing for. This morning, we had Dr. John Perkins, who spoke about social injustice. Talk about a spellbinding speaker! Oh my, I could have listened to him all day.

This evening, a panel of other speakers joined Dr. Perkins and talked about different social injustice issues. Each addressed their passion, from human trafficking to assisting the poor in NYC. I was tired, but didn't want to leave the session because it was fascinating to listen to these folks explain how they and their organizations are making a difference in the world.

I had every intention of coming back to the dorm and going right to bed, but that never happens at conference! A small group of folks were gathered around in the common area, and of course, my roomie and I joined the discussion. It is such fun to share writing successes, opportunities, hopes, and dreams with other writers.

As I wind down before heading off to bed, my thoughts turn to the opportunities that await. Jason and Jaque will face theirs as they begin adventures in a foreign country. I again have the choice to accept the opportunities that come my way with this conference. I have a strong sense that this will be an exciting year in many ways.

Thanks for reading my blog.

The Right Direction

I was returning home on a two-lane road yesterday, observing the speed limit, when a car came up fast behind me. I watched him in the rear view mirror as he approached. So intent was I on him that I failed to see the oncoming car hurtling toward me in my line. Yeah, one of those drivers who think they can pass but don't allow enough room. I swerved out of his path just as he swung back into his correct lane.

How often do we rush through life, not paying attention to what's in front of us because we're too busy checking out what's behind us? I have done it many times, spent needless hours worrying about something I did a long time ago and wondering what the long range effects were to the people involved. Would I not be much more productive if I spent that time contemplating a strategy to embrace the future?

The driver who rushed to get ahead of me didn't get him any closer to his destination. He caught up to me on a double yellow line, and when we reached a dotted line, there were so many oncoming cars that he couldn't pass anyway.

The driver who took a chance and passed another driver put himself and others in danger. I, in the meantime, should have focused on the road ahead instead of someone else's actions behind me.

That's why windshields are located in front of the driver while rear view mirrors are in a place where a casual glance gives all the information we need. In the future, I'll remember to focus on what's ahead, enjoy the smooth road and watch for obstacles in my way!

Thanks for reading my blog!