Good-bye 2009 -- Hello Tomorrow

This is the time of year I look back and say, "I should have..., I wish I could have..., Why didn't I..."

Looking back on 2009, I actually accomplished more than in 2008. This year I wrote and took pics for The Times of Southwest Louisiana. One of my pictures actually made the cover. I've been able to get needed publicity for deserving artists, writers, and different organizations. Overall, I feel fairly satisfied with this year, though I didn't write a lot of fiction. I've been able to encourage and teach and I absolutely LOVE that--encouraging those who truly have talent and teaching/instructing on a casual level. I've learned a lot about myself.

But what do I want for 2010?

Arghhhh, I hate verbalizing goals, tossing them out there for all to see. That's the kiss of death. I hate--yes, HATE-- commitment, even though I never miss deadlines and will bust butt to meet them. I hesitate to obligate myself for some weird reason, but I've certainly done a lot of that this year. And that's what makes me wonder. . .

If I toss my goals out there for all to see (or at least the 24 of you who follow this pitiful semblance of a blog) will I be more likely to accomplish them?

Let's find out and see what happens.

In 2010 I want more of the same, but also I want to . . .

Rewrite Miranda's Mistake and In the Valley of Broken Dreams. Both novels are completed but I plan to revise/rewrite using Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake method--a program I bought and really like. I'll give each revision 6 months.

Do some freelancing--just a little--outside the regional market.

Completely outline the three nonfiction books I've started. No pressure here. I want to just sit down and devote some time to them; give each some serious thought.

For fun, do some beading. I'm always threatening to quit writing and go into jewelry-making. Well...I've taken the first step and joined a beading group.

And last, become a serious blogger. That's where YOU come in. What do I blog about?

I've noticed my favorite blogs are those that are organized with a specific schedule, like my friend Erica's at On The Write Path. That's what I want: ORGANIZATION!

So... give me some inspiration or advice. So far I have Monday Motivation which can be any little motivational tidbit including quotes and on Saturdays I'll revive my Louisiana Saturday Night--interviewing Louisiana authors. I'd like to blog about three or four days a week. I plan to cut back on the blog tours/reviewing except for special friends and books.

Suggestions, anyone? Come on, help me out here!

And the Winners are . . .

Last week I caught a cold, or something, and have been under the very rainy weather for several days. Bummer! I hardy ever get sick. Orange juice has never tasted so good.

In spite of sniffing, sneezing and coughing, popping Sudafed and Advil, I had a few assignments so I've dodged raindrops to make deadlines. This isn't fun. Louisiana weather is weird--hot one day, freezing the next. No wonder everyone is sick! Curling up with a good book is the only way to go during this kind of weather, and that's exactly what my two winners can do:

Congratulations to Sherry Ann Miller and Sherry Dale Rogers. I know they will enjoy Mistletoe and Murder by Florence Case.

Christmas Parties, Mistletoe and Murder

Bayou Writers' Group celebrated Christmas this past Saturday. Here are some of our members. We were really surprised when Santa made a surprise appearance. Believe me he looked like the real deal.
Don't we look great? We've just come through a successful conference and now we're looking at a new year. I pray 2010 is our best year yet--for fun, fellowship, writing and marketing our work.

If you ever find yourself heading to Lake Charles, Louisiana, let us know. We'd love to meet you for coffee or have you speak to us.



Now on another note, If you read my blog regularly, you know my writer friend, Florence Case from North Louisiana passed away awhile back. Her last book hit the stands a few weeks ago so I bought three copies: one for myself and two to give away. Some time ago, I interviewed Flo for my weekly Louisiana Saturday Night, interviews with Louisiana authors. I'm sharing Q&A #11 with you because so often, especially at the end of a year when we look back and see how little we've accomplished, we begin to doubt and wonder if we should try beading, photography or some other craft to satisfy our creative itch. Flo's answer is one for us to keep in mind.

11) What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?
Ask yourself if you're meant to be a writer. Signs? You try to quit, but you keep going back to writing. You keep envisioning scenarios about people and stories. Anything else you do for pleasure or work makes you feel incomplete.
And/or you have a background involving any or all of the following: You always had a book in your hands; you'll stay up really late to read a good story; English was one of your easiest subjects; you like to spin unique tall tales or embellish on things when you tell what you've been up to. You have opinions on lots of stuff and find people fascinating. If you see yourself anywhere in the above, and you have strong skills, you'll need perseverance. Don't worry about if the market is out there. Just keep writing.

To read the full interview with Florence, go HERE. And to read my tribute to this special lady, go HERE.

I couldn't think of a better Christmas give-away than Mistletoe and Murder. Leave a comment if you want your name dropped into Santa's Stocking. He'll be drawing two winners.

Conference Pictures - A Bridge to Publication

Many of you have heard me whining, bragging, complaining, worrying about our Bayou Writers' conference here in Lake Charles. Well. . . it's over. Hard to believe I've been extremely involved with two conferences and there's always something to learn. What you expect to happen probably won't. What you don't expect to happen, of course, will. I thought there would be all kinds of problems this year--not because of any one person, but because of the way we worked. We all had a job to do and we did our jobs, but this year it seemed we worked far more independently than we did last year. Whatever works, I guess.

My husband works construction. I've worked construction too, and I noticed right away that a construction project usually takes on the personality of the project manager. If he's one who likes to party and stay out all night, believe me, the entire project exemplifies that kind of behavior. A more conservative type personality will definitely have less problems.

I should have remembered that and worried less about this year's conference. Our conference coordinator has a quiet, laid-back demeanor and so did our conference. It was a sweet, lady-like conference with no glitches. The only time I truly panicked was when I looked at the schedule, my watch and the back door where food was supposed to be delivered. Shortly after my stomach dropped, the food arrived. :)

We had great speakers, a wonderful conference committee, the Beaumont Barnes & Noble drove over to sell writing books and our book room volunteers were perfect. Author Curt Iles who is also our TV spokesperson handled the sound-system. Now that's where all the pressure was! Curt did a super job. He was cool, calm, collected and very efficient. I have to brag, because I'm so very proud to be president of Bayou Writers' Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana for one more year. We're a great group.

Just look at our pictures. We had fun.

The Vampires are Coming! No, the Vampires are here!

As I write this, Twilight fans are going bonkers in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Yikes! There's a very cute Jacob (my daughter's fav) smiling at his screaming fans. Uh oh . . . tears are pooling in eyes and streaming down cheeks. Is this the profile of a girl who needs to sit down with a mom who has read Touched by a Vampire?

Last night, near midnight, a 26-year old friend stood in line for almost two hours to see New Moon, knowing she had to get up for work this morning. And my own 26-year old daughter is driving to a near-by town to see New Moon with a friend--and she can hardly wait. Let me point out that both of these young women are strong Christians. They read across the board--contemporary to classic, and they're avid movie-goers.

When I watch how excited everyone is about the Twilight series, when I see how concerned Christians are, and when I watch the media frenzy, I feel incredibly sad that we've come to this point, that we take our entertainment so seriously, that we're so influenced by it. I know it's not unlike the feelings and emotions my generation experienced when Elvis hit the big screen. What upsets me is that we've reached a point where we really do need to be educated about trends in general, not just vampire trends. So if your kiddo is drawn to vampires, you might want to call on Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones. This is a thorough Bible Study of sorts.

Faith and Fangs
What do you need to know about vampires? You may think that you don’t need to be educated about the vampire trends in media—especially the Twilight Saga—but your family is being bombarded with messages from books (Twilight, Wuthering Bites) to television (Vampire Diaries, True Blood) to movies (New Moon releases on November 20).
One of the most popular vampire outlets is the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. The second book New Moon is being made into a movie that hits theaters in November, so we want to make sure that you and your family are prepared to make the decision if you’ll go see it, and if you do see it to have thoughtful discussion about some hidden themes it holds.

You can see all the different options where to purchase Touched by a Vampire by clicking HERE.

EXAMINING TWILIGHT THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS
People around the world are asking the same question, enraptured with Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl’s relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his “good” side. But the Saga isn’t just another fantasy–it’s teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God’s plan for love?

Touched by a Vampire is the first book to investigate the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer’s Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.

Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and pop culture enthusiasts. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

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I confess: My kids grew up watching Salem's Lot, The Shining, and The Birds. We huddled around the TV and we were all scared together. While I'm really not a vampire fan, I couldn't resist seeing what Thirsty is all about. I've read a few Bateman books. Some leave me cold while others are wonderful. In all honesty, I haven't finished Thirsty, but only because my own deadlines have interfered with my reading schedule. I feel confident in saying this: Bateman is a storyteller. You won't be disappointed in her story. Bateman's writing in Thirsty is superior to anything else she's written. I believe she really had a passion for writing this book. I highly recommend Thirsty and suggest that Tracey Bateman is an author to watch.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

Summary:
There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

You can purchase Thirsty HERE.

These books were provided free for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

CFBA presents What The Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy

I didn't receive this book from the publisher soon enough to read it and by the time I did get it, I had moved on to other projects and deadlines. I loaned it to a friend to read until I can find time and here's what she emailed me this evening. This is an honest, from the heart assessment from a lady who knows her books!

"jess, About What the Bayou Saw, author Patti Lacy is GREAT! Julie Lessman is right. Lacy is a "blazing light on the horizon." She won me over at once with her vivid, anything-but-hackneyed phraseology and characterization. Is she on her way to stardom as a writer? I would say YES! In women's fiction, she's one of the best I've read this year, if not the best. I haven't finished reading the book yet, but I hated to put it down." ~Lena

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
What The Bayou Saw Kregel Publications (March 24, 2009)
by
Patti Lacy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Though Patti's only been writing since 2005, she thinks her latest profession of capturing stories on paper (or computer files) will stick awhile.

The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, draws on the memories of two young girls who refused to let segregation, a chain link fence, and a brutal rape come between them.

The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti's gray matter. A third book, My Name is Sheba, has been completed. Patti's WIP, Recapturing Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China's "One Child" policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.

Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, "All the Broken Pieces," at women's retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church.

Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they've dubbed a "Worchestershire Terrier" for her "little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed.

ABOUT THE BOOK


Segregation and a chain link fence separated twelve-year-old Sally Flowers from her best friend, Ella Ward. Yet a brutal assault bound them together. Forever. Thirty-eight years later, Sally, a middle-aged Midwestern instructor, dredges up childhood secrets long buried beneath the waters of a Louisiana bayou in order to help her student, who has also been raped. Fragments of spirituals, gospel songs, and images of a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans are woven into the story.


The past can't stay buried forever Rising author Patti Lacy's second novel exposes the life of Sally, set amid the shadows of prejudice in Louisiana.

Since leaving her home in the South, Sally Stevens has held the secrets of her past at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, has heard the truth about her childhood.

But when one of her students is violently raped, Sally's memories quickly bubble to the surface unbidden, like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally's story comes to light, the lies she's told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last, whatever the consequences.

If you would like to read the first chapter of What The Bayou Saw, go HERE

Take a look at the book trailer:

And The Winner Is . . .

I'm running behind schedule drawing a winner for Erica's book, The Bartered Bride. Our BWG conference is Saturday so every free moment is devoted to fine-tuning something. But today, I wrote names on snippets of paper and my daughter drew . . . NANCY!

Nancy and I have known each other for several years. She's a wonderful writer and amazingly creative. I'm thrilled that she's won Erica's book because Erica is a great writer too, and amazingly creative.

Congrats, Nancy! You will totaly enjoy The Bartered Bride. I guarantee.