The Evolution of my Writing Space

I've been talking about my new office, and lest you think I'm putting on airs let me tell you that I've paid my dues as far as writing spaces go.

When I decided to commit myself to really making a run at publication my darling husband set up a desk in the basement. Old desk, old PC, but it was under one of the few heat vents in our unfinished basement. The desk is piled with junk now, but you can see the calendar pages I taped to the concrete wall to make it more cheerful. When I was working there I kept a jacket and scarf nearby because it got pretty chilly down there in the cool months.
My daughter Liz says the random images on the wall looks like the scene in the movie when the cops finally track down the address of the mass murderer. Once a writer friend asked to see my writing space. When I took her down to the basement her comment was, "Wow. You must really want to write to do it down here." So true.

Then I got a laptop, and I no longer was relegated to the dim, cold basement. I would write in my living room sitting on a chair or this loveseat with a lap desk.

Most of my writing was done on the loveseat with a dog sitting beside me -- and sometimes inching her way on to my lap.


One year during the holidays I mixed things up and sat in a rocking chair to write.

See my laptop on the footstool in front of the chair? It was pleasant to sit next to the Christmas tree and enjoy the holiday fragrance.

On occasion I throw an old piece of particle board and an old suitcase over the bars of my treadmill to create my treadmill desk. Yes, writing in the basement. Again. At times.
When the weather permits, I work outside. This is a photo of an autumn day. I guess I'm stubborn about working outside -- even when it gets cool. I had two throws and a jack to keep me warm.
This year my outdoor office expanded when I got this Adirondack chair for Mother's Day. It is very comfortable.


Drum roll, please . . .

And now I've got a whole room to myself!

It's still a work in progress. I have more decorating to do, and I need to haul some of my books into the bookshelf. And look, it's a room without purple. (I've been on a purple kick for a few years now.) The walls are blue, it's the only blue in the house, but I want to feel like I'm riding a cloud in the sky. To compensate for the lack of royal purple, I selected gold, another shade of royalty. :)

I finally decided on a quote to use over the couch. It says, "You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club." ~Jack London.


I trust God will bless me lots and lots of words while I work in this office. It's wonderful to finally have a place for all my stuff.

And now, back to writing!!!

You gotta love this . . .

. . . especially if you're a writer or book lover. It's a library parking garage in Kansas City.


And check out this one, it's the Cardiff (UK) Central Library temporary building.

Redecorating!!

I'm excited about the project I'm working on now. No -- it's not a book (although I am writing a book).

As my DH (darling husband) says, "You haven't lost a daughter, you've gained a study." Ahhh, yes. That wise man knows how to ease my mama's heartache from the loss of my sweet girl going off and getting married. I'm getting a fresh, new, only-Megan's study.

This past weekend we bought furniture and scheduled new carpet installation. Yesterday I bought paint, a pretty pale blue. I'm also going to paint the ceiling blue. I want to feel like I'm riding on a cloud while I write.

I decided that instead of putting a picture over the couch I would put a quote or saying on the wall. I had planned on stenciling it, but I saw this product.

It's called Once upon a Wall, and it's vinyl letters you can put on the wall that looks like a stencil.

I've done some research, and have chosen a few writers' quotes to rotate, depending on my mood.

Which do you like best?

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
~Anton Chekhov

There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
~W. Somerset Maugham

Fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie.
~Stephen King

You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.
~Jack London

I've been busy

Sorry to be so neglectful of my blog. I've been gloriously busy. For the past several months we were planning my daughter's wedding. So much effort went into a day that passed much too quickly. The happy day was October 4th.

Please enjoy the photos and share our joy.

We were thrilled that friends and relatives traveled from NY to spend this time with us. They arrived on Friday morning, and we had al fresco lunch in my backyard.

We rented a 15-passenger van and packed it. My daughter Liz looks so happy to be joining the family onboard, doesn't she?

Here's the rehearsal. Kathleen and Scott were practicing their first kiss.

The rehearsal dinner was so much fun. Here's the happy couple with their grandparents.

I love this photo. Kathleen's bridesmaids were fussing with her gown, but she was intent on getting to her groom.

It had been windy in the afternoon, and my husband Carl and Pastor Jack prayed for the wind to calm. When Kathleen appeared, a gust of wind lifted her vail. She was quick to grab it and continue on to Scott.

As soon as her feet hit the grass, the winds died and were quiet for the ceremony.

It was a wonderful, sweet time. Here's a photo of the bride and her sister and cousin Jen.

AG (Aunt Grace) with Scott.

All the pretty girls.

2009 ACFW Conference

Wow. I've gone to the ACFW Conference every year since 2004, this was my 6th -- and best one yet! (The photo below is of the dessert at the banquet.)

I can't urge writers and wanna be writers enough to attend conferences. The education, the friendships, the opportunity to meet agents and editors, the fire it lights in your heart to write, write, write are compelling reasons to push yourself to go to a conference. Start a separate account and put a bit of money in it monthly. In a year you should have enough for a conference.

Each year there are more wonderful memories made.

The Donald Maass early bird workshop was worth the price of the entire conference. So much info and so much advice!

I attended a continuing session on screenwriting. It was taught by Rene Gutteridge. She was wonderful about sharing her knowledge and encouragement. Guess what I'm going to try to do now?

The workshops and chats were wonderful, too. It's fun to sit with friends and learn new things about the craft and the industry.

On Saturday I participated in a book signing with over 100 other authors. Thrilling!

On the right is a photo of me with the delightful and talented author Nicole Young.

I was thrilled to join other WordServe writers for a wonderful dinner at McCormick & Schmicks on Friday night. Fun!

I was so happy that my friend Donita K. Paul won the Mentor of the Year award. Here she is with her lovely daughter Evangeline. Donita was very surprised, it was so much fun to see her get this well-deserved honor.

My friend Danica Favorite-McDonald was a finalist in the Genesis Contest (for unpublished authors), she won runner up. I'm so proud of her. Her Husband joined her at the banquet.











Here's my friend Michele Cushatt (she writes beautifully and is a gifted speaker) and the 2009 conference photographer Pauline Fortuna of Fat Tuna Photography.


This is a photo of me with Angie Breidenbach (Mrs. Montana!). And yes, that's her crown I'm wearing.

Buying Books & Peaches

I bought some peaches the other day. Not headline-making news, but consider this, I knew that I had peaches at home in my fridge.

The reason for my impulse purchase was because the clerk at the store stopped me to tell me how delicious the peaches were. She said that she really looks forward to eating one when they’re this fresh and ripe. She made those peaches sound like the most delicious fruit on earth. I bought them because she hand sold them to me.

Having someone talk up a product adds perceived value to that product. Keep reading . . .

ACFW Conference Photographer

If you're one of the lucky authors who will be attending the ACFW Conference next month, consider updating your headshot at the conference. Pauline Fortuna of Fat Tuna Photography is offering ACFW authors a screaming deal.

Pauline's my photographer, and I can't say enough nice things about her and her high level of skill in capturing amazing images. She's a consummate pro, a delightful person, and a skilled imaging artist. A professional photographer can help you to put your "best face" forward. And let's face it, if you're over 30, you really need professional digital artwork for the portrait to look its best. For a long time I've preached the importance of presenting yourself in the most professional way with your marketing. Curious? Go here to read my blog posts on marketing. If you scroll down, you'll find tips on preparing for a portrait session and what to wear.

Don't think about it any longer -- schedule an appointment now. You don't want to miss this opportunity.

How do you get to know your characters?

Writers, how do you get to know your characters? Readers, can you tell how well an author knows their characters?

Having a thorough knowledge of your book’s characters is imperative in writing fiction. You have to be true to the character you’ve created for their world to be believable. Keep reading. . .

What authors and writers can learn on Twitter

Every writer knows that social networking is good for your career. I’ve had the pleasure of making new friends and acquaintances online who have been a great encouragement and have given me advice and insight.

There are some agents, editors, and writers who are active on Twitter who occasionally . . . Keep reading...

A delightful surprise

One of our local magazines, Search Parker, came in the mail yesterday. I was delighted and surprised to see a blurb for Out of Her Hands and a photo of the book's cover on the "book" page.


I love living in our community. It's a beautiful, caring place where individuals reach out to one another, and our local merchants truly care about their home area. Thanks, Pam Waid. You made my day.

Book Spines

The other day we discussed book covers and how they’re designed to intrigue readers enough to pick up the book and give it a chance.I read several industry blogs, one of them Michael Hyatt’s. If you don’t know, he’s the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. His recent post about the importance of listening to consumers, talks about market research and how to best use the spine of a book cover as a marketing tool.

Continue reading . . .

Book Covers

If you’re like most folks, you do judge a book by its cover. A book cover is designed to sell books, the goal is to intrigue you enough with the cover that you pick up the book and investigate what it’s about.

When a book cover entices me to pick it up off the shelf, I usually flip it over and read the back copy, and then open the book and read the first few sentences. For me the book has to have more than just an attractive cover to win me over.

The book covers shown have something in common. 

Keep reading . . .

Write Away Field Trip

Today I joined my Words For The Journey writing friends on our 3rd annual Write Away Field Trip to the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

It's a beautiful resort, and they are very welcoming to the dozen or so writers who take up residence on the patio and in the mezzanine to write for the day.

We all -- well, most of us -- spent the time there productively writing our novels, article, and non-fiction books. The sound of our keyboards clacking away was music to a writer's ears.

Above is Lucille, Kay, and Diane. This is the cool table. You can tell by the serious, writerly look on Robbie's face. From left to right: Michele, Heather, yours truly, and Robbie. And here's the social table with Denise and Jan. They were the chatty girls.
This is our 2009 group photo, but unfortunately it didn't occur to us to take the photo until after some of the ladies had gone home. Sorry, girls.

A novel’s first sentences

I’ll say it up front: I’m a real sucker for a good first sentence in a novel. I may read on if the sentence is ho-hum, but I’ll read more eagerly if the first sentence pulls me into the story.

Like many readers I’ll peruse the books on a shelf and pick up novels by authors I’ve previously enjoyed or select a book whose title or cover catches my eye. I’ll flip it over and read the back cover copy and then turn to the first page. Reading the first lines of a novel is like going out on a blind date, I don’t know what to expect, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised, swept off my feet, and fall madly in love.

Some people contend that the most difficult sentences to write in a novel are the first ones. After all, they are the hook that draws people in. My favorite first sentences are the ones that make me ask, “what??” —the lines that peak my curiosity and leave me panting for more. Please don’t give me a weather report or tell me what the character looks like. I want to read a provocative statement or a question that has me hungering for an answer.

Of course there are some first lines from bestselling authors that are so boring I want to toss the book across the room, but then because it was written by a bestselling author, I read on. After all, their books sell, and they could probably post their grocery list on the first page and people would read on. However, for the rest of us authors, we need to give our readers some lines that will keep them engaged.

Here are a few of my favorite first lines:

Keep reading . . .

Author Frank McCourt's legacy

Did you read Angela's Ashes? I did, and I loved it. I was sad to hear about author Frank McCourt's passing this past Sunday.

Frank McCourt, the schoolteacher turned late-blooming memoirist, died Sunday of cancer. He was 78.

McCourt was known for verbally spinning a great tale long before he even penned the words to his debut book, Angela’s Ashes.

Keep reading . . .

A day at the beach

We spent the day at Nickerson Beach on Long Island, NY. Here's 10 seconds of bliss.

Loveland Book Signing

Yesterday I traveled to Loveland, Colorado, to sign books at the Barnes & Noble at the Promenade Shops at Centerra.

What a lovely shopping mall, and what a great Barnes & Noble. Their hospitality is overwhelming.

The best part of the day was doing the signing with my friend Tina Forkner. Her second novel, Rose House, just came out this past May.

We had a great afternoon chatting with book lovers and discovering some new writers. It's always fun to talk about the business and encourage other writers.

We had a pleasant surprise when our friend and fellow author Kathy Kovach stopped in for a visit. She chatted with us for a bit and hung out in the cafe to work on her next book.

WFTJ Photo Day

Yesterday several of my Words For The Journey friends got together to support the five of us who were getting new headshots. We had a blast!

As you can see, a photo session is a group project with the WFTJ crew. In all there were about ten of us milling around enjoying each other's company.

Terri Michael is the model of the moment in the above photo. Darcie Gudger is holding the reflector, photographer extraordinaire Pauline Fortuna is coaching Terri, and Darcie's boy "Booger" is chatting with Lucille Zimmerman. That beautiful spot is O'Brien Park in downtown Parker.
Here Genevra Bonati's posing while we look on and encourage her smiles. I should have taken more photos to show the support we had. Several ladies who weren't getting their photo taken came along for moral support. This part of the session was held in my neighborhood, there were some attractive shady spots that made a good background.

If I weren't holding the reflector when Michele Cushatt was getting her photo taken I'd have a cool picture of her coming headfirst out of a twisty slide. Trust me, it's going to be a great headshot.

New outdoor workspace

The past few years I've enjoyed working outdoors during the nice weather. I would install myself on my chaise on the patio and work there until it's too cold to stay outside.

Now I'm thrilled to have a new outdoor workspace. I got an Adirondack chair for Mother's Day, and I have it nestled on the side of the yard alongside my Aspen clump.

It's very comfortable, and from noon-ish on it's in the shade, which is important because you can't see a computer screen if you're sitting in the sun.

My little Jack Russell Terrier, Bayle, thinks I should be ready to play at all times. Can you see two of her toys next to the chair? She keeps me company while I work.

It's not an oversized chair, and my lap desk sits comfortably on the arms, so working is a breeze.

I even have a nifty little table for my phones, water, etc.

It sure doesn't take much to make me happy. A comfy chair, a shady spot, the sounds of nature to listen to while I work.

Here's a photo of my little distracter, Bayle. If she could speak, she's be saying, "Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me! Play with me!

Thinking of the ACFW Conference

Can you believe it's nearly July? And before you know it, the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference will begin (September 17th - 20th). This year it will be held in Denver, my home area.

I can't wait for the conference to come to my hometown and to welcome all my friends to one of the best locations on earth.

In the next few weeks I'm going to be posting on the ACFW Conference blog. I'll be highlighting some dining options to suit most tastes and budgets. Are you familiar with yelp.com? It's a great site for reviews. You might want to go online to check out some of the choices that I'll list.

We'll discuss restaurants you can walk to as well as those a quick light rail ride away. The light rail is about a five minute walk from the hotel, and the fare is $2 each way/$1 each way for seniors. The fare box takes quarters or bills but returns change in dollar coins only.

Most of the meals are included in the conference fee, but Friday night's dinner is a fun break to get out and investigate what's around with new friends and old. There are also some great, close restaurants you can visit if you want to get away for breakfast or lunch.

Price range is a relative indication of cost. Some restaurants did not list prices online.

$ = Inexpensive

$$ = Moderate

$$$ = Pricey

$$$$ = Ultra High-End

The Lift, $$ located inside the Marriott, serves all-American cuisine (burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pasta, etc.). $10 - $20. They don't have a website but the Marriott promises to email me a menu that I will share with you.

There are several restaurants within walking distance from the Marriott. The hotel address is 4900 S. Syracuse St., 80237. Feel free to Google directions from the hotel the restaurants so that you'll have some context to where they are located and how to get there.

By the way, it's always easy to tell which direction you're heading in when you're in Denver. If the mountains are in front of you, you're heading west. If they're on your left, you're going north.

Darcy's Bistro & Pub is about .03 miles if you don't mind walking through parking lots to get there. Basically, it's due east of the hotel. Darcy's combines traditional Irish fare, such as corned beef and cabbage, with great steaks and fresh seafood, delicious tapas (Spanish small plates), salads and sandwiches. Reviews.

Garcia's Mexican Restaurant $$ is about .02 miles down the road from the hotel on the same street, located at 5050 S. Syracuse Street. There's no website, but here's the reviews on yelp.com.

Paradise Bakery $ is .01 miles south on Syracuse Street. They're a great option for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner. They stop serving soup, salad, and sandwiches at 3:00, and are bakery only from 3:00 to 4:00.

If you're willing to walk ½ mile, there's a strip mall at 8000 E. Belleview Ave. with several dining choices. From the hotel, walk south on S. Syracuse St. to Belleview. Cross Belleview and turn left (right). Continue walking about .02 miles and the strip mall's on your right.

The Original Pancake House $$ is open seven days a week with limited hours: 6a.m. to 2 p.m. It's very, very good if you're looking for breakfast food.

Bara Sushi $$$ The reviews on yelp rave about the bento box which is a lunch box with a little of this and a little of that. The biggest raves? The bento box is $10! Unfortunately their website looks like a work in progress, and the menu/prices are not listed.

Il Forniao $$-$$$ serves delicious Italian food. Their menu is online, and depending what you get (share a pizza?) the price varies.

Chipotle $ is a Colorado company known for gourmet burritos and tacos (no kidding!). The helpings are so large that you might want to share a meal with someone.

Erbert & Gerbert's Subs and Clubs $ serves sandwiches, soups, sides, and desserts.

Santoro's Pizzeria $ (303) 770-7428, is on 8101 E Belleview Avenue about .07 of a mile from the hotel. Walk south to Belleview and turn left. It is on the left side of the road about .01 mile off Belleview on a private lane.

The next ACFW Conference blog dining post will discuss restaurant options south at Park Meadows. Some may call it a shopping mall, but they refer to themselves as a retail resort.

Choosing the right word

As writers, we work with words the way a sculptor uses chisels, files, and hammers.

The words we choose and the way we arrange them determines our success, so choosing the exact word needed to convey an idea, emotion, characterization, or setting is crucial.

As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

All words carry connotations, both personally to the reader and also culturally to the society. Authors need to be conscious of the connotations of the language they select. Keep reading...

I'm Sorry

I’m sorry.

Why are those two little words so difficult for some people to say? I’ve been thinking about it lately, and then David Letterman’s offensive remarks and abysmal apology to the Palin family became news.

Apparently, Letterman’s succumbed to pressure and is finally trying to act like a decent man and really apologize. Although at this point I think he’s being PC rather than authentic, but then I’m a girl from New York.

Aside from Letterman, I’ve been thinking about the phony baloney “apologies” that are tossed about in public, mostly from politicians or media stars. To be honest, they make me gag.

The most egregious apology, in my humble opinion, is the, “If I hurt you, then I’m sorry.” Excuse me? Does anyone else see that for the rhetorical failure that it truly is? Saying, “If I blah, blah, then I’m sorry,” is not taking responsibility because the “if” gives the apologizer too much wiggle room and allows them to avoid ownership of the misdeed.

How about if I knock you down with a baseball bat and then when you’re on the ground I mash your face into the mud, and then later I say, “If I knocked you down with a baseball bat and then mashed your face into the mud, I’m sorry.”

Where’s the honor and integrity of admitting your mistake, owning up to it, and sincerely apologizing with heartfelt words? Where’s the offer to try to make the misdeed right?

Why can't people simply say, "I said/did blah, blah and I'm very sorry. How can I make it right?"

It’s a shame that our society is forgetting how to say, “I’m sorry.” It’s just a crying shame.

Rant over. Thanks for listening. Now please, go out and be kind to one another. And if need be, apologize. Really apologize.

*** I just watched the Letterman apology. Sorry, Dave. It didn't do it for me. His apology was based on the fact that the public misunderstood the joke. Give me a break! He simply needed to say, "I shouldn't have said that, and I'm sorry."

Letterman's gobbledegook uh, I mean, his words:
It’s the perception rather than the intent.’ It doesn’t make any difference what my intent was, it’s the perception. And, as they say about jokes, if you have to explain the joke, it’s not a very good joke. And I’m certainly – ” (audience applause) “– thank you. Well, my responsibility – I take full blame for that. I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke. It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault. That it was misunderstood.”