TRAVELING LETTERS

I adore mind travel.

—Seeing the world through books, photos, letters, other eras, talking to real-live people.

Oh, I'd love traveling the world in actual physicality, but since that's not my reality, I'll travel by mind.

One of my favorite ways to mind travel is through old letters. Ah, the fascination of seeing places through someone else's eyes. A century ago, the twenties, the thirties, anytime. 

And besides the places, oh, I love people. I really love people.

I've been reading through a cache of letters written by a girl named Eloise in the 50's. She's from the states —traveling, and going to school in Paris. Here she is—

"We ate lunch and dinner in two famous old restaurants—one, the Red Ox, a favorite of students. It had rough wooden tables, carved with initials, dark beamed ceilings. Walls covered with pictures of former students and old china and glass, and signs in several languages, obviously stolen by students and hung in the inn."

"That evening we went for a gondola ride with two gentlemen from New Orleans we had met on the plane— an attorney, who knew a man that Avery knows, and a younger man, a friend of his son. They are on a combination pleasure-business trip. The business is to buy a gorilla in Africa for the New Orleans zoo."

"The captain of our plane, a tall Norwegian, had a black mustache and beard and all the women wanted to take his picture when we landed."

Thanks, Eloise! It'd be grand to chat in person one day.

Until then, Au Revoir!

MIND TRAVEL—SIGNING OUT. 

     —For the next two-point-five seconds anyway.

THE ADVENTURES OF A CHAIR

Writing chair, writing chair, 

Wherefore art thou, writing chair?

Oh hello, are you talking to me? Looking for a chair? Well, I'm just the person to answer. After all, it is my chair to which you refer. 

Cozy up to the fire and I'll tell you the tale . . . 

Once upon a time my Prince Charming Husband bought me a writing chair. A writing chair! Of plum and plumpness. Of adequate length should I swoon. A plum spot for penning tales.

Then seven fortnights ago, Charming Husband asked a startling question— "What if we put your writing chair by the fireplace for the winter?"

What?! That's genius, dear husband! Genius! 

So hefting my chair in one hand above his head, my true love transported said chair near the cozy flames. (Okay, so it wasn't one-handed, but splendidly heroic all the same.)

The following day, I scooted my chair flush against the hearth, as close to the flames as I could possibly get, and I've been concocting my stories happily ever after. (Except for the times I fell asleep—then the only things I concocted were those little Z's above my head.)

Find yourself a cozy writing spot today! 

Write a book, take a nap, dream a dream, write the scene. 

What can you make out of LLEY?

VALLEY, O'MALLEY, DILLEY, DALLEY, GALLEY
Whoo fun! I can make this say whatever I want. Add some letters, rearrange em, cut one out. Ooh, ooh—more letters down there on that truck bed. Ah, the possibilities.

I snapped this as the light turned green and I was supposed to be turning left. But I hurried. Quick. Before the car behind me even thought about being irked. 

Yes, I am a zealous photographer of random, intriguing stuff.

And how interesting that I spotted this on my way to my Primer group at LDStorymakers Writer's Conference where we brainstormed the rearranging, adding in, poofing away of letters in our stories, putting us on our way to building better books! 

I loved our group! We became great friends, and Amber Argyle was a spectacular mentor! She was so excited and positive about our books and gave us incredible help. If you ever get a chance to work with Amber, RUN to sign up as if your life depends on it—because it does!

POSITIVELY PHANTASTIC PRIMERS!

So I'm going to pile some nifty words, some plot twists, some character quirks on the back of my story truck and I'm off on a marvelous ride! Have you ever jumped on the back of a boot camp or primer truck? How was your ride?

Storymaker Magic

I'M A STORY MAKER & I LOVE IT! 

So having a blast at the LDStorymakers Conference was easy— 

Leaving was hard. 
Only one other car on the parking level when I left.

Taking the elevator IN from the parking palace—exhilerating.

Riding it OUT—excruciating.

Makes me think of Amber Argyle's captivating class when she said a flaw in the magic could be good and bad. The magic of that elevator lost its coolness when it ushered me away from friendly agents & editors, fascinating presentations, and amazing writer friends.

But you know what I think?—if life hands you a flaw in the magic, 

DON'T PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

(Take a guess at what brilliant thing I was saying right there. 

Hey, I was tired!)

LIGHTS! COVER! ACTION!

I FOUND MYSELF!


On the cover of a 1963 Archie Comic book I discovered at the Second Chance Antique Shop.


Look! Read it for yourself! Read the word bubble— 

See, see?! And I do love movies.


HEY! I just realized something—My name's on the cover of a book! I'm on the cover! My name's in lights! I'm on the cover! 


Ce-le-brate good times, come on!

Window Ghosts

What a fascinating pastime it is to window shop at old and mind-mystifying buildings. 


I love the possible puzzles.
The imaginings of what happened there once upon a time.
The relics with a story to tell.
The thrill of wandering ghosts.


A few days ago, I lounged on the dentist's chair in the Office of Oral Ornateness. Smack in front of me, a large picture window framed a century-plus-twelve-years-old building—now a theatre for play performances. 

And it mesmerized me. 
The chimneys and railings and vent in the attic.
And the windows.


I was sure there must be a ghost cavorting around inside and if I kept a steely eye on the windows, I would surely spy one. 


So while I watched, I sketched the shivery building. 

And pondering the wisps of folks long gone, I studied the open slats in the attic, the rows of windows—one of them missing the wooden cross bars (a story begging to be told), the basement windows encased in stones and brickwork, the railing that appeared to descend into the realm of the basement. 

And I'm sure a ghost or two traveled past the windows, anxious to tell me their stories, to send vibrations of themselves into the wonderings of someone like me. 

So to all my ghostly friends out there

who whisper your riveting tales—

A thousand thanks.

And a smile.

Applause For The Neighborhood Book Club!

Well, hello Blog.
   Right back atcha.
Boy, did I miss you.
   Right back atcha.
Hope you had fun while I accomplished stuff.
   Right back atcha.
Hey! Is this a recording? You're not even there are you? Get back here blog & quit messin' around!


Ahem.
Gallivanting blog back in place. Story ready. Photos snapped.
Here we go!

THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOOK CLUB

What a time I had on Thursday, March 1st— the scene of the book club's review of my adult mystery. 

Several months ago, my sister, Jinni had the fantastic idea for her book club to read my book. What an opportunity. What a chance for feedback from readers I didn't know. 

I'll tell you, it was scary and exhilerating all at once thinking of what they might say. But most of all, I felt blessed to be the recipient of vital feedback for my story.

The night of the meeting, my sis treated my to a divinely delicious dinner before the book club rendezvous. So I arrived fabulously fortified and ready to go!

And guess what? Those ladies were amazing! Gracious, fun, helpful—I was with friends who graced me with great feedback.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, WONDERFUL LADIES! 

Your help & friendliness mean more than I can say. 

AND HERE THEY ARE!

My sister, Jinni is sitting on the arm of the sofa next to me. And let me tell you, she's phenomenal! We had the best time that evening & the next day!

Also, I want you to know about the people who didn't get to be in the photo: the lady who manned the camera, a couple of people who had to leave early, one super-enthusiastic gal who stopped by the next morning, and others who said they wished they could've been there. I'm thankful for them all.

And Oh My Word!—listen to this! Sarah, the awesome lady with the blonde hair and blue shirt in the back row, noshed at a Chinese restaurant during the month she was reading my book and found a marvelous fortune in her fortune cookie. She amazingly and kindly gave it to my sister to give to me!

AND HERE'S THE FORTUNE—

Thank you, Sarah!

So to THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOOK CLUB, I salute you 

& award you the prestigious 

Finest Book Club To Ever Read My Book Award. 

Congratulations!

And a humongous thank you to My Marvelous Sis 

for making this happen for me!

YOU ROCK!

Brain Lightning

Step right up, folks!
Take a gander at my 

BRAINICUS IMAGINO MACHINE!

You won't believe your eyes!

TA-DA!

My 11 year old daughter had the brilliant idea to hang a light bulb from the ceiling above my writing area. 

Magnificent! Commendable! Ingenious!

So I rubber-banded fishing line to the base and suspended it from my ceiling by an immensely helpful thumbtack. And thrill of all thrills, the next morning before plunging into my story, I stood beneath my Inspiration Station! Yes! A thousand volts of ideaicity shocked my brain and traveled to my quivering fingers. I immediately grasped my favorite writing pen and penned away! 

You've GOT to try this! 

For a limited time, I will be bestowing my plans for the 

BRAINICUS IMAGINO MACHINE 

on wishful pals, after which time, I shall secure a patent and charge the extraordinarily marvelous sum of $999,999,999 for one of these beauties. 

OH LIGHT, 

HOW YOU 

INVIGORATE THE BULB 

AND ME

WITH THE SAME 

FLABBERGASTING GLOW.

Knowledge Aflame

I'M A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE KNOWLEDGE EXPLORER'S GUILD!

I love unearthing gems of information through talking to people, reading, attending conferences, joining museum tours, and on and on and on.

Here's the scene of the last treasure hunt I went on.
   — Actual rooms at LTUE where I found an immense stash of knowledge!

Doesn't it just give you thrills? 

To think of the vast store of knowledge just out there waiting for us to discover it—now that's a thrilling adventure. — And one of the reasons I love LTUE so much. Such a variety and depth of classes, you can't help but learn scads! 

Among my favorites are the student presentations on papers they've written, and classes that are worlds away from what I write. I find the best sparks there! —Here's a great example— 

Last year at LTUE, at the last class of the day, there wasn't a class I was especially interested in, so I attended one titled Lovecraft. I figured even though I didn't write romance, I could learn something. 

   I settled in, the presenters spoke, and WHAT DID THEY JUST SAY?! Lovecraft is a horror writer?! Seriously? Lovecraft?! Unbelievable! 

   I almost left the class since I don't write or read horror, but I stayed for that spark, remember. And I'm so glad I did. The panel wasn't anything like I thought it would be, and I took a page and a half of notes. AND—I used a spark of an idea from the class in my current novel! Yes! 

So in your knowledge expeditions, don't push away the places that look odd, despicable, boring—dig for the sparks! 

Oh, and I have to tell you— 

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRESENTERS IS CLINT JOHNSON. 

He's brilliant! If you ever get a chance to attend one of his classes, run! And be ready to catch all the sparks. At his presentation on Voice & Style last year at the League of Utah Writers Conference, he urged us to do something we'd never done before, something we'd never had any desire to do. 

Like say, you've never had an inkling to watch a demolition derby—GO DO IT! It'll enrich your life, your writing, and your understanding and enjoyment of the people around you. 

Here's Clint's website—jump on over and say hey!

And go do something, read something, listen to something you've never thought of before.

AND WATCH THE SPARKS FLY!

LATOOIE!

YEP, THAT'S WHAT I CALL MY FAVORITE WRITER'S CON EVER SINCE MY DAUGHTER DUBBED IT SO! 


THAT'S LTUE! 

LIFE, THE UNIVERSE & EVERYTHING

WRITER'S CONFERENCE!

Behold, the glorious poster & registration directions!

This week I'll be posting about why I love LATOOIE so much. 

And to start out with—TA-DA! 

Clips of my LATOOIE Pals! 

ROLL 'EM!

SCREECH! HALT! URCH! 

(How are you supposed to spell urch anyway? You know, where you swerve to a sudden stop, feet smoking!) 

THE MUSTACHE BANDIT STRUCK! 

ARGH! 

LATOOIE PALS—

TAKE 2

ROLL 'EM!

MY DAUGHTER, DANICA!

CURSES! MUSTACHED AGAIN! 

OKAY, SO AHEM, THE MUSTACHIOED VICTIM 

IN EACH PHOTO WOULD BE ME. 

(Grumble, just you wait, you vile Mustache Bandit!)

RRRGH! ON WITH THE SHOW!— 

MY SON DEREK!

(He had to leave a day early and I 

failed to get a picture of him with me. Blast!) 

CHANTELE SEDGWICK, KATIE DODGE, & RUTH JOSSE!

BONNIE GWYN JOHNSON!

SHELLY BROWN, MELANIE FOWLER, & J. A. BENNETT!

DAVID POWERS KING!

ANGIE LOFTHOUSE!

JAMES DUCKETT!

ROBIN WEEKS!

ROSE KRUGER!

BRODI ASHTON!

ELANA JOHNSON!

PEGGY EDDLEMAN & ERIN SUMMERILL!

ABBY FOWERS/LEIGH COVINGTON & DONNA KING WEAVER!

ELIZABETH MUELLER!

J. D. RAISOR!

AND OH! THERE ARE SO MANY MORE MARVELOUS FRIENDS I WISH LIKE CRAZY I COULD'VE SNAPPED A PICTURE OF! — 

SHALLEE McARTHUR, JOSIE KILPACK, JENNI JAMES, LISA MANGUM, LESLI MUIR LYTLE, KAREN HOOVER, BRANDI & JESSICA RUSH, CLINT JOHNSON, TRISTI PINKSTON, BREE DESPAIN & MANY OTHERS!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR MAKING LATOOIE MARVELOUS! 

AND NOW, FOR THAT WILY BANDIT— 

( CALM DOWN, WILL YA. I REPLACED THE BULLETS IN THIS HERE PISTOL WITH A  GRAPPLING HOOK TO SNATCH THE INFERNAL MARKER OUT OF THE MUSTACHE BANDIT'S HAND! CHARGE!)

(AND I PROMISE, THERE'S NOT EVEN ONE BULLET LEFT!)