furiously flung information! (and chocolate smudges)

Today I, your humble narrator, made a fool of herself with a hot fudge brownie sundae during the meeting.  Both my hips and my notebook paid for it, as I am working around a chocolate smudge forever on the page, and chocolate forever on my hips.  So be it.

Chaya, Leon and Sue, myself (Betty), and Jaimie were present, guided by Marsha Ward.  Lots of great information was tossed around today!  It's a shame you couldn't be there with us, but luckily for you, we're giving people.

To win an e-publishing package, detailing the how-to's and what-nots of publishing your work on Amazon Kindle and other e-readers, please visit Jaimie's blog at: blog.rvlifestyleexperts.com.  You'll find the link to the information, and if you leave a comment, you'll be entered to win the package.  Nice!

Ladies' Home Journal magazine is running an essay contest.  You could win $3,000 for sumbitting an essay on "personal growth - a term you can interpret as broadly as you like.  Whether you choose to write about a life lesson you learned the hard way or a challenge you managed (or perhaps failed) to meet, no topic is off-limits.... Essays will be judged chiefly on their emotional power, their originality, and the quality of their prose." -Ladies' Home Journal.

Please keep it between 1500 - 2500 words, typed, double spaced, and pages numbered.  Also include your name, address, and phone number on each page and send to:

Personal Essay Contest

Ladies' Home Journal

805 Third Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10017

The postmark can be no later than 13 December 2011.  For complete details, visit LHJ.com/essaycontest.

Book covers:

• The U.S Parks Service provides some public domain photos that aspiring writers can use for cover art.  Marsha herself has successfully used one of a beautiful mossy stream for the cover of her samplers.
• Deviantart.com also is a good source for book covers.
• At e-lance.com one can find artists for hire who will gladly design the book cover of your dreams.  Remember that cover art is basically more important than content (no matter how much that statement hurts).  If people aren't pulled in by the cover, they won't even stop to read the back.  Hook 'em, fisherman!

Marsha presented us with a fun writing assignment, penning thoughts about our favorite season.  Autumn seems to be the most popular, and we enjoyed hearing our unique writing styles, each of us nodding in agreement to imagery of colorful leaves, wood smoke, and crisp air.

Leon and Sue treated us to more of their surprising poetry, and even shared their favorites from William Blake and Emily Dickinson!

Without fail, we walk away from these meetings re-inspired to the craft, and ready to write.  Curious about the craft?  Published author?  We welcome all newcomers and encourage you to join us.  Our next meeting is 27 October 2011 at Scoops Ice Cream in Payson, AZ.  We'll be in the back room at 12 noon for an hour or so, if you want to drop by.  No fees!

"There are people who will always come up 

with reasons why you can't do what you want to do.  

Ignore them"