Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wednesday Scramble

The Winner of Monday's Giveaway

Jenny of Choice City Native blog won my copy of The Ledge by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan. I hope she finds it as exciting and as touching as I did.


Tomorrow's Guest Blogger

Kelly Irvin is the author of A Deadly Wilderness and the upcoming release, No Child of Mine, both published by Five Star. Her blog post, Writing Tasty Scenes, talks about using the five senses to bring our stories to life for the reader.


Katie Kitten is Fine Again

I'll never figure this kitty out. I keep telling her that my kitchen floor really is not clean enough to eat off of, but she does it anyway. Luckily her latest upset only lasted two days.


I'm Heading for the Ranch on Friday

We'll be hanging out in the bunkhouse at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch this weekend, writing our little hearts out...when we're not eating or drinking coffee, walking around taking pictures, or just soaking up the solitude.

We have a little social time, but this retreat is mostly (and strictly enforced) quiet writing time. Some of us work in our rooms, some on the porches or balconies, or even sitting on the bridge over the river.

My goal is to do a detailed outline of the novel I'm going to write during NaNoWriMo. If I complete that task, I'll work on the two short stories I started and never finished.

Babbles from Scott Eagan

Scott is the literary agent with Greyhaus Literary Agency, which represents romance and women's fiction. His post yesterday, Why Harlequin IS the Place To Be, is a fine reference for a fine publishing company. If you write in these genres, or are thinking about making the shift in the future, you'll find Scott's blog very helpful.


Remember that 30-Day Challenge to Clean Up My Office?

I failed. I failed miserably. I'm taking up the same challenge again in the hope I can create a beautiful and tidy work space before I begin NaNoWriMo on November 1st. I've already taken the "before" photos...hopefully I'll be able to take "after" pictures in my lifetime.


What I'm Reading

I just started Foreign Body by Robin Cook, a thriller about medical tourism in India.

It's pretty hard to decide what to read next at my house since I have way too many books on hand. Unfortunately, our annual Friends of the Library book sale is scheduled for the second weekend in October. There are so many books the sale is held at the mall. The last two hours on Sunday is a bag sale -- we pay $5.00 for a paper grocery bag and fill it up with as many hardbacks and paperbacks as we can. Irresistible! I'll be there.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pat - So glad to hear that Katie Kitten is doing well :-). And congratulations to Jenny on winning The Ledge. I'll look forward to Kelly Irvin's visit tomorrow and in the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy your writing retreat; it sounds wonderful.

Dean K Miller said...

I'll honk the horn and wave as I drive by Sylvan Dale on Saturday afternoon. Fishing trip with a friend planned. Maybe next year I'll join ya'll at the Ranch!

Enjoy!

Elspeth Futcher said...

That's what I need - a writing retreat with strictly enforced writing times.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Margot, Dean, and Elspeth -- I'm always amazed at how much I accomplish at the retreat. I highly recommend weekends like this (even if you plan your own private retreat at home with no TV and no phone and no Internet) to kick start a new project or re-energize one that's got you stuck.

Jenny said...

Thank you, Pat! I can't wait to read The Ledge. Have a great time at the retreat.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Enjoy your retreat and glad Katie is better.