Flashwords!

It's Flashwords time again??  Wow, a year goes by pretty fast.  I'll be scribbling like crazy for the next few days trying to write a whole story in 150 words.  I'll have to use 10 out of a list of words from the titles of books written by Joseph Finder, our guest speaker.  Flashwords is something I look forward to every year at CrimeBake.  I love the challenge.  The top three stories will be read at the conference.  The prospect of having a story read in front of all those people is so exciting.

CrimeBake is coming up very soon.  November 9 - 11.  It's a nice opportunity to meet new people and to get together with old friends.  My friend, Karen, will be there and it's always such a pleasure to see her.  We met in an online writing class about six years ago and have managed a meeting about once a year since then.  Looking forward to it.  I'll drive up with my friend, Margo.  We met a little over a year ago when we signed on to go to Seascape, a writing retreat in CT, and have also been friends ever since.

Life is Good.

Kenny and I ran over to Barnes & Noble yesterday to see Hank Phillippi Ryan at her book signing for "The Other Woman."  I'd heard great things about it and couldn't wait to pick it up.  Of course, she was her usual lovely self, and, upon learning of my Guppy status, gave me a big hug.  I have to say that when Hank is talking with you, she has that knack for making you feel as though you're the only person in the room.  I've met her several times and have always come away with that feeling.  Thanks, Hank!

Success on the Cape

Thank God we had a rainy week end on Cape Cod, because the grounds were so beautiful we may not have gotten anything done otherwise.  We had a terrific room with two bedrooms, two televisions, a fridge, ironing board, and breakfast with gorgeous views.  The bathroom was huge, immaculate and had a great shower.  Mmm mmm! 

I'm pretty sure we accomplished what we set out to, at least I did.  I learned how to use a flash-drive (Thanks, Margo) and I also learned that I know nothing!  We completed a class from a writing magazine and applied what we learned to each of our manuscripts, point-by-point.  That was very beneficial, so glad we did that.  I'd like to go back, but I'd set aside one day to enjoy the resort. 

When I got home, I submitted "Listen And You Shall Hear" for critique at Crime Bake.  I'd like to start sending it out, so I thought that was the smartest thing to do.

This picture cracks me up! Lol!

FEED ME!

Margo and I are leaving for the Cape tomorrow, it's 11:00 and I'm still not packed!  Yikes!  I had today off and everything.  I did accomplish quite a bit though, and met with my critique group at 6:00. 

They think that CRUISING TO A MURDER sounds like my best bet, so that's what I'm going with.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute for everything.

I'm hoping this week-end proves to be a productive one.  I have to submit my ms by October 1st.  Oh, man, I'm going to have to work my butt off!  I'll be sure to begin each day with a meditation and some yoga.  I'm thinking we probably shouldn't have gotten the ocean view??

Pedal to the metal.   Butt in chair.    Eyes front.   



Switching Gears!

Rosie's going on the back burner. Bummer, I know, but I need to finish Gina's story. It really is the one that haunts me, and, anyone who knows me keeps asking, "So, how's that Gina story coming along?" So, I've decided to shop this story at Crime Bake this year. The first few chapters have to be in by Oct 1 in order to be critiqued by a published author.

Here's a little synopsis. Let me know what you think!

THE SEDUCTION OF INTENT is a story about two young women; Gina Maria Baldini and Margo Adams, born only months apart, in the same city, in the same hospital. That, however, is where the similarity ends...for now.

When she is ten years old, Gina's childhood comes to an abrupt end when her beloved father dies in a fiery car crash on his way home from work and her mother becomes lost in her grief, leaving Gina to fend for herself and take on the role of caretaker. She has very few friends throughout her childhood and only one, Bonnie, does she trust enough to bring home. Bonnie comes from a similar background and they become best friends.

At thirty-two years old, Gina commits murder after the stress in her life becomes such that her mind has a break with reality. She has no memory of the actual murder, only of the events leading up to and after the crime.

In contrast, Margo, also an only child, has a storybook childhood surrounded by a doting family. As the center of attention, she's always been a little self-centered, although her family does its best to keep her grounded. She's a journalist assigned to write a story about women who kill and is sent to a state mental institution to begin a series of interviews with Gina. In her effort to get a sensational, real-life murder story, however, Margo is a little over-zealous in her approach to Gina and is asked to leave. Gina is intrigued with Margo though, and eventually invites her back.

Margo, who is in denial about her own relationship with her fiancee, learns some of life's greatest lessons through Gina. Only then is she able to let go of a dream that wasn't originally her to begin with.

Workshop Weekend

Had a very busy week-end! My friend, Margo, and I drove to Dedham to attend a full day workshop with New York Agent and author of Writing The Breakout Novel, Donald Maass. There were about fifty sisters-in-crime in attendance from all six of the New England states and it was nice to see the familiar faces from Crime Bake. It was such a treat to see my friend, Karen, from Long Island. I only stayed one night, but wished I had reserved the room for two nights, because Karen and I didn't really have enough time to visit. The workshop was terrific, although it felt a little long by 2:30. (Another reason I was wishing I'd reserved the room for two nights).

After dinner on Friday evening, Margo, Karen and I did some brainstorming in a quiet area of the Hotel that Karen had found. It was so good - for all of us. We all took a great new idea home with us and Karen did a line item critique for Margo. You're the best, Karen!

I haven't yet learned to post photos from my computer, so I couldn't put them all up. I didn't even want the two I did post, where they landed. I was trying to get them at the bottom of this post. Lisa!!!!! Help!!!!!!

My Eyes Are Bigger Than My Stomach

I've bitten off more than I can chew! I'm so stressed out. Two writing classes and an all-day workshop with a MASTER is turning out to be a nightmare for me. First, I signed up for a Margie Lawson course, which is very interactive, so I have another person counting on me for my input. Oh, the pressure! The class is wonderful, but I'm really short on time.

This coming week-end is the Donald Maass workshop for SinC, so I'll be gone all week-end. I'll have to bring my laptop and play catch-up Friday night, after dinner. Maybe. I'll be with two good friends, so it might be a pretty late night. Oh, but wait! Two days before the workshop my class with Writer's Digest University begins. Yikes! I don't have time to work. Oh, right, I've become accustomed to eating.

Lesson learned.