Words For The Journey

Last night was our monthly evening meeting of Words For The Journey. As usual, our speaker was wonderful. This month it was the delightful Michele Cushatt of Dynamic Communicators Workshops. Michele explained a wonderful method to outline speeches and books. My mind’s still reeling. Michele says DCW may host a one-day seminar this fall. Hope so. I’ll be there.

The next speaker (6/26/07) will be Linda Evans Shepherd, a nationally and internationally recognized speaker, the radio host of the nationally syndicated radio feature, Right to the Heart; a TV host and an award-winning, prolific author.

In July (7/31/07) our own Heather Diane Tipton will teach about blogs.

If you’re in the area, feel free to join us.

Cannoli

Mmmmm. Cannoli.

Just thinkin' about it.

CCWC

I just returned home from the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park, Colorado. If you ever have the opportunity to attend this conference, jump on it. Marlene Bagnull hosts a wonderful learning and networking event.

I had an amazing time. On my way to the mountains, I stopped at DIA to pick up author Angie Hunt to drive her to the conference. Angie’s been an inspiration to me for years, and has taught me at three different conferences. I jokingly say I’m a “Nangie U” graduate. The other half of Nangie is the delightful Nancy Rue. Both of these talented, gracious ladies have impacted my career in many positive ways. Angie surprised me with a gift to celebrate getting my book contract—a Levenger notepad. According to Angie, all writers should have something from Levenger. That’s the notepad in the photo.

The best part of the conference was getting to spend time with the lovely Jan Stob, my editor at Tyndale House. What a awesome time we had together.

The first thing I did when I arrived was go to the early bird workshop that Kathy Kovach and Paula Moldenhauer presented. They were great, and as an added bonus they performed a musical rendition of Ebony and Ivory with the words changed to Humor and Holiness. Even more, it was choreographed!! Priceless. We should have those girls perform more often.

It was wonderful to spend time with fellow writers, especially my CCWC roomies, Bonnie Doran and Lynette Horner. The Friday night ACFW meeting was awesome, and it was a pleasure to meet some new folks.

I attended a fiction clinic led by Dave Lambert and a continuing session about marketing presented by Teresa Evenson. Both were fantastic

I have a title!

Woo hoo! I finally have a title for my first women's fiction novel to be published by Tyndale House Publishers in February 2008.

Drum roll, please . . .

And the new title is . . .

Searching for Spice

Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith

If you’re looking for a delicious read, Tangerine’s your book. Third in her Shades of Style series, Tangerine is the story of Jean Guerra, one of the characters who inhabit the Garments of Praise fashion house.

Marilynn easily draws you into her story and makes you love her characters. Tangerine is a story about a failed marriage, second chances, the love of family and the importance of friends. Jean is renewing her relationship with God and is feeling her way through a maze of familial and friendship relationships. I just wish I could have parked my feet under Jean’s table and shared my heart with her.

The first two books, Pink and Jade chronicled the stories of Raya and Lily—I can’t wait for the fourth book to release and complete the circle by telling us the story of Chenille.

THE EVOLUTION OF TRASH RECEPTACLES

I’ve been thinking about garbage cans. Call me crazy. Anyway, we purchased a new one this week. It’s bigger than the previous one. And that one was bigger than the one before it.

I may be dating myself, but I remember when garbage cans were ALL round, metal, silver cans. The kind that dented when they were dropped, and made a lot of noise.

What do you suppose it says about our culture that the size of garbage cans continue to grow? Hmmm?

Just thinking.