NaNoWriMo

For those of you unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, it is the National Novel Writing Month.

Novemeber each year is the month. Beginning tomorrow I will be participating in this encouraging endeavour.

The goal = To write a complete novel of 50,000 words during the month of November.

My goal = To add 50,000 words to my current work-in-progress, The Moon Has No Light.

Can I do this?

We shall see. Stay posted for weekly updates on word count.

Oh, yea, I'm open to any kind of encouragement, prayers, etc. You name it. I'll need all the help I can get to press through and DO IT!

The fun begins tomorrow!!!

Snowfall on Meeker

We were blanketed with snow on Sunday morning. Here are a few

pictures.

Our snow covered home!

Housing Development

ONE STEP CLOSER!

Here are the latest pictures of our house.

Well, soon to be house...

The basement walls are up! Yay!

Stay tuned for more housing developments as they happen.

Writer Motivation - Aspens in Autumn

We got our first snowfall here on Saturday night. The night of Meeker High's Homecoming Dance.

Last Sunday, my daughter and I drove to Trapper's Lake to view the colors of the changing trees. Here are a few of the pictures I took.

Enjoy!

Recently, this fella, along with two of his equally endowed buddies, came into town and grazed on our neighbor's lawn.

Along the Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway. My Favorite drive...well, one of my favorite.

Keep Writing. God has called YOU for "such a time as this."

Writer Motivation - A Writer's Conference

I've spent the past week polishing my proposal for Legacy of Grace to send to agents and editors I met at the ACFW Conference.

It's been a productive week, I've finished a Novella, White Christmas and will spend next week working to type THE END on a cozy mystery I started over a year ago.

There' something about attending a writer's conference that gets those creative juices flowing to complete those unfinished projects.

Once the cozy is complete, I'll return to my women's fiction work in progress, The Moon Has No Light.

Here are a few more pictures from the conference.

This is the awesome Mentor Group 4. I've been blessed to be part of this group for the past 3 years. I attribute much of my growth as a writer to these wonderful writers.

Me, Mary Davis (Our Marvelous Mentor), and Jan Warren

This year a sweet generous lady asked me to room with her. I'd met her at last year's conference and immediately loved her. She's pictured below on the right, Carrie Turansky.

Also in the picture is another writer I had the privlege to meet this year, Vickie McDonough.

Vickie McDonough and Carrie Turansky

My dear friend, who always makes me feel so special--Rebecca Yauger. I even got to meet her hubby!

Here's me and Becky at the awards banquet.

Deborah Vogts and I met a couple of years ago, but this year we were able to spent some time together. I thank God that we did. I got to see what a sweetheart she really is and how she has such a passion for her writing.

Deb and I at the awards banquet.

Here I am with my sweet friend Heather Diane Tiption. Seems retreats and writer's conference are the only time we see each other, but amazingly, we always pick up right where we left off.

I'm glad to see she's coming into her own. Way to Go, Heather.

I had such a wonderful time in fellowship with great writer friends. Although tired, I came home thankful that God has placed me on this incredible journey...Had he not, I wouldn't have met the terrific people He's placed in my path!

ACFW Conference

Recently, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas, TX.
Spending three days with over 400 writers was both exhausting and exhilarating!

I managed to attend a few workshops and picked up a great new writing tips and techniques. But the fellowship with writer friends was priceless.

Saturday evening's award banquet was as exciting as promised. I enjoyed watching my friend and critique partner receive the Mentor of the Year award and another critique partner win 1st place in the Contemporary Category of the Genesis Contest!

Congratulations Linda Kozar – Mentor of the Year (on the Right)

Congratulations Jennifer Griffith (on left)–First Place Contemporary Fiction for Gumbo Ya Ya.

Here's a complete list of winners:

Contemporary Romance (includes romantic comedy)

3rd place: Jennifer Hudson Taylor, By His Plan

2nd place: Jennifer Lynn Cary, On The Court

1st place: Audra Harders, Rough Ride



Historical Romance


3rd place: Audra Harders, Precious Possessions


2nd place: Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Promised Blessings


1st place: Pam Hillman, Stealing Jake's Heart





Romantic Suspense


3rd place: Suzan Robertson, The Circle Game


2nd place: Dineen Miller, Manna Reign


1st place: Marci J. Burke, Shadow of Doubt



Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Allegory


3rd place: Rebecca Grabill, Out of Darkness


2nd place: Chris Mikesell, Revival


1st place: Sally A. Apokedak, The Kisses of an Enemy



Historical Fiction


3rd place: Marcia Gruver, Love Never Fails AND Yvonne Anderson, Mom's Mirror


2nd place: Tina Helmuth, Hidden Snares


1st place: Carla Stewart, A Dandelion Day





Young Adult


3rd place: Sally Apokedak, Prisoners of the Throne


2nd place: Linda Fulkerson, The Rod of Schmazel


1st place: Rachael Phillips, Song of the Orphan Train



Contemporary Fiction


3rd place: Myra Johnson, Pearl of Great Price


2nd place: Angie Poole, Gravehopping With Myrna


1st place: Jennifer Griffith, Gumbo Ya Ya





Women's Fiction


3rd place: Kathleen Sprout, The Choice


2nd place: Ane Mulligan, When the Wind Blows


1st place: Kristine Pratt, Identity Theft



Mystery/Suspense/Thriller


3rd place: Janet Rubin, Beneath the Steeple


2nd place: Gina Holmes, Deception Burning


1st place: Jane Robertson, Curst Be the Tie



Chick/Mom/Hen/Lady Lit


3rd place: Jenness Walker and Tracy Bowen, Bliss


2nd place: Georgiana Daniels, Honey Do Inc.


1st place: Carrie Padgett, Oh Shop It

Congratulations to all the Winners!!!





A special note to those that entered and did not win: You are winners also. It takes courage to send your words for someone else to judge. I hope you've reviewed the critiques and found amazing ways to improve your work.





Keep pressing for improvement. God calls us to give Him our best. From there He takes care of the rest...