Rainy Days and Mondays

For the last ten years I've loved rainy days. And Mondays. So because today is what most folks call a foul-weather day, I decided to put rain pictures in this blog post. And yes, I know it isn't Monday, but heck, I can't have everything.

The dreary picture below was taken from inside our car as we drove across Bogue Sound in North Carolina. I like the depth in the individual raindrops on the car window.



In the picture below, you can almost see automobile headlights through the rear view mirror.



The windshield wipers had cleaned the windshield a second before I snapped this picture as we drove across Bogue Sound to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.



I took this picture of the deck this morning through the sliding glass door. The white spot is from the camera's flash.


I like the way the rain drops cling to the porch screens. Earlier I sat in one of the rockers and listened to the rain.



What could be more fitting than a picture of a rainbow taken through a rain-drenched window?

Cruising with the Eclectic Book Club

A couple of months ago, Carolyn Hart called to tell me that the Eclectic Book Club had read my first novel, Secrets at Spawning Run, and wanted me to join them for a book discussion on the Virginia Dare. I felt honored that they read my book, and was delighted they invited me to join them. A few days before the event, Eclectic member Mary Jane Morgan called to give me the boarding time and other details.

The Virginia Dare

Yesterday, October 14, King (my stuffed black Lab complete with red collar) and I joined 21 delightful Eclectic ladies and three other book club girls for a luncheon cruise on the Virginia Dare. Also on board were two tour bus loads of folks, some of whom were from a senior center, and other miscellaneous people. The book club ladies were absolutely delightful. I enjoyed getting to know them, although I hope they will forgive me if I can't remember all their names.

After a good meal, Lake Writers buddy Marion Higgins and I walked to the bar area where Marion was handed a microphone. After a great introduction (I am so lucky to have friends who give wonderful introductions--see the previous blog post), Marion turned the mike over to me. I read a little from Secrets at Spawning Run and from my second novel, Secrets at Sweetwater Cove.

I really liked being with these nice ladies, the food was very good, and cruising on the Virginia Dare again was lots of fun. However, I would not advise any group the size of ours to try to have a discussion in that type of setting. One woman--not from our group--at the table closest to me started telling me that I had said enough. And that was after I read one short paragraph! I ignored her for five minutes, but then decided that it wasn't fair to her for me to keep speaking. After all, she paid for a luncheon cruise, not to hear a murder mystery author read and speak. So even though other non-book club people were enjoying my talk, I quickly wrapped it up and returned to my seat.

I've cruised on the Virginia Dare several times, always loved it. Unfortunately, yesterday was cold and wet. Even though the cruise was still fun, I wish we had had a nice, sunny day. Luckily we were on the lower deck, which is glassed in and out of the wind. I didn't notice if the upper deck was now enclosed or not. It was not enclosed in the above picture that I took two years ago from our boat. But I did enjoy myself, and would love to talk with these nice gals again sometime in a place more conducive to a good discussion.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Virginia Dare, she is a faux paddlewheel boat, a reproduction of the boats that used to travel our Southern rivers such as the Mississippi. She was built in Lacrosse, Wisconsin in 1989, is 63 feet long, 20 feet wide, and can accommodate 112 people for a seated meal or 135 for a sightseeing cruise.

So Much Fun!

I had so much fun speaking and signing books at the Westlake Library on Tuesday, October 13! Thanks to the library's fine organizer Claudia Nagel, and to friends telling friends, lots of people attended. Lake Writer buddies Bruce Ray, Betsy Ashton, Becky Mushko, Claudia Condiff, Phyllis Conrad, and Karen Wrigley came to support me. And there were other folks I knew, too. I even met a lady who first saw my book on my daughter-in-law's mother's coffee table in Blacksburg!

After a fantastic introduction by Betsy Ashton, I was revved up and ready to talk and read. I could not have asked for a better audience! They asked great questions and laughed at my goofy spiels about researching material for my books, i.e. stuffing bodies in porta-potties.

Yep, this was a fun evening. Many thanks to all who came: to Betsy for her introduction, to Marilyn Amerson, Claudia Nagel, and Kellyann Gordon from Westlake Library, and to Shirley and John Yates (Friends of the Library) for providing refreshments.

Lake Writers Sign Books

Six of us authors from the Lake Writers group enjoyed ourselves at The General Store in Moneta, Virginia, on October 10th. We sold and signed books, talked and laughed with customers and each other, and feasted on yummy snacks provided by The General Store. Several folks I know stopped by to shop and chat. Some bought books.

Becky Mushko (standing), me, Tad Parker, Curtis Nester, and Marion
Higgins. Rodney Franklin, one of the authors, is not pictured.

Lake Writer buddy Karen Wrigley took the picture. We all had so much fun that Vicki and Rita (co-owners of The General Store) invited us to do a repeat performance on November 21st. Yay!

One of the highlights for me was meeting talented artist Shelley Koopman. I love her paintings, which are available for purchase at The General Store.

Git on My Camel Named Clyde, and Ride . . .

His name was Ty, not Clyde. But when I saw him standing in the lot with two other camels and a sign saying "Camel Rides," I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity. Hubby Ron looked at me like I'd lost my mind. So did Ron's two brothers and their wives.

Will I be sorry if I don't? I asked myself. I mean, how often will I have the opportunity to ride a CAMEL? It's not like when I was a child waiting in line with the other neighborhood kids to ride Mr. Pony Man's pony, get my picture taken, beg my mom to fork over a few dollars. This was a real, honest-to-goodness, live CAMEL!

Ron and me riding Ty

Five minutes later I mounted Ty and sat in front of his one hump. Hubby climbed on behind the hump. Before we started, I "talked" to Ty. His ears perked up. He turned his head around to get a better look at me. I remembered what my animal communicator friend Karen Wrigley wrote about a wise camel she once met. (Karen's book, Beyond Woofs and Whinnies, will be published and available for purchase in two or three months. I read the first proof book. It's really good. Be sure to get a copy.)

Of course, we weren't allowed to ride unassisted, even though I never doubted that Ty would behave himself. Chris, one of the attendants, led Ty around a ring for a ride no longer than the ones Mr. Pony Man used to give. And I loved it! It wasn't exactly comfortable, but if we'd had time I'd have gone around again. And then I'd have traded places with Ron and gone around a third time!

Chris leading Ty

After dismounting, I stroked Ty's neck and the thick hair on top of his head. I got the impression he enjoyed it, liked having a customer tell him how special he was, liked that a tourist cared about him. And I did care about him. I still do.

Ron dismounting. You can't see me; I'm talking to Ty.

So are you wondering where I was when I met Ty? My husband, his brothers and sisters-in-law and I were vacationing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a week. We'd heard about the musical performance "The Miracle," which depicts Christ's life, crucifixion and resurrection. Live camels and a donkey were part of this incredible performance. My favorite camel was, of course, Ty.

Moneta/SML Community Market

The first time I ate lamb was after my husband and I were engaged. I joined his parents, his two brothers and their dates, for a Christmas dinner. My future mother-in-law served lamb. I had no clue that the mint jelly was intended to eat with the lamb. I put it on my home-made crescent roll.

I know better now. And tomorrow morning I'll head over to the Moneta/SML Community Market to buy fresh lamb. Willie Morris of Springwood Farm will be there with lamb for us to sample and buy. I can hardly wait. I'll also stop by the Wright Brothers beef booth.

If you've never been to the Moneta/SML Community Market located on Rt. 122 next to Resurrection Catholic Church, you should come. Besides beef and lamb, vendors will be selling fresh produce and different kinds of crafts. Hope to see you there.

Klunk

Klunk. I cringed when I heard the sound. I pushed myself away from my computer and walked outside to check. Sure enough, a bird had hit my office window. This time the victim was a male hummingbird. I frowned, walked closer. His tail feathers quivered slightly.

Maybe there's a chance, I thought, remembering that my usual rescue attempt hadn't worked for a pileated woodpecker two months ago. I fetched a basket from the screen porch, took it outside and covered the hummer. I left the basket there for an hour, then lifted it.

I heard the whir of hummer's wings in the basket, and a moment later he flew out and straight up to a tree branch. I smiled, watched hummer fly to the feeder, then I came inside the house.

A female hummer at my bird feeder last month.

I don't know why putting a basket or cardboard box over downed birds usually works, but it does. Wish it had worked for the pileated woodpecker. I looked up pileated woodpeckers in one of my bird books and learned that they usually mate for life. That makes his death even sadder. I hope his wife found another mate.

White After Labor Day?

Funny how things happen. Fellow Lake Writer Becky Mushko met Lynn Dudley, president of the Piedmont Writers Group, while they waited in line at a funeral! Lynn asked Becky to speak to her writers group--Becky did--and Becky mentioned my name to Lynn. Then Lynn saw me on Hal Hubener's "Cover to Cover" TV show, e-mailed me and asked if I would speak at her writers group. I agreed. I'm so glad I did.

On August 25th, my husband and I drove to the Piedmont Art Museum in Martinsville, Virginia, to speak to the Piedmont Writers Group. I like talking to book lovers and fellow writers. And I love to sell books. But I reallly enjoy meeting the people who come to the talks and signings. And the ladies I talked with that evening were a lot of fun. A couple write poetry, some write mysteries, others essays and short stories, and one is writing a cookbook. Margaret Adkins had published Echoes, a book about her life. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Piedmont Writers Group

We talked about cramming bodies in porta-potties, keeping time lines straight, and the need to tie up all loose threads at the end of a book. We discussed other stuff, too, such as writing conferences and workshops, finding agents and publishers, the pros and cons of self-publishing, and the need for writers to join good writers groups.

In front of Macon Bookshop in Lynchburg

On Sunday, August 30th, I traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia, where I signed books from 1:00-3:00 at Macon Bookshop, which is a block away from Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman's College). Students from the college poured into the book store to purchase text books. Most spent upwards of $200.00 each and didn't have any money left to buy my books. But I did sell a few, and bought what looks like a great book on bookkeeping. My husband, our two sons and their families stopped by. Son Ronny bought an interesting-looking book about the canals on the James River. He promised to let me read it.

Four of my grandchildren with me at Macon Bookshop

Perhaps you noticed in the pictures that I was wearing the same outfit at both events. Perhaps you are asking why. The reason is because every Southern gal just knows that you don't wear white pants or white linen jackets after Labor Day! Don't ask me why, you just don't! And I really like my white linen jacket and want to wear it every chance I get before Labor Day. I bet I could wear it to bed and my husband wouldn't tell anybody. Hmmm. That's an idea.

Another Book Signing

On Saturday, August 15, I signed books with Tad Parker, a YA author, at Kitty's Little Book Shoppe in Moneta. The crowds were not huge, but I sold some books, chatted with some nice folks, and got to know Tad better. The book shop is located on 122 in Bedford County. If you are in the area and need some books, drop by. Kitty's Little Book Shoppe is packed with new and used books.

Tad is a new member of Lake Writers and, in my opinion, a good writer. He has some good ideas about marketing. The title of his book is Jerry McAllister and the Slaves of the Tellusian Underground, Book One. Says Tad, "The book is a lively, believable fantasy for children in fourth, fifth and sixth grades." You can read more about Tad Parker and his book on his web site.

After leaving Kitty's, I hurried home, fixed a quick supper for Ron and me, and we drove over to Hickory Hill Winery and Vineyard for their last Sunset Saturday of the season. We bought a glass of wine, relaxed in our folding chairs, and enjoyed live music. Except for paddling in my kayak, Hickory Hill's Sunset Saturdays are my most relaxing times in the summer. If you've never stopped at Hickory Hill, you've missed tasting good wine and meeting some really nice people.

First Book Signing

On Saturday, August 1, I joined Curtis Nester, Jim Morrison, and Bob VandeLinde at The General Store for a book signing--the first signing with my newly released novel Secrets at Sweetwater Cove. We had fun, met a lot of nice folks, and sold books--lots of books! That's us pictured below.

My first book signing with my first novel, Secrets at Spawning Run, was also held at The General Store. When book #1 was published, going into shops and hawking my wares terrified me. When a junior in high school, we juniors had to go door to door to sell magazine subscriptions to raise money for our class. That also terrified me. I remember knocking on doors and saying, "You don't want to buy a magazine, do you?"

Well, when you publish a book, especially a POD (print-on-demand) book, you must market your book if you want any sales. If not for writer buddies Becky Mushko and Karen Wrigley, that first signing at The General Store in 2005 may not have occurred. The first shop I entered tongue-tied me and I hurried out. After that fiasco, Becky and Karen aimed me at The General Store. Becky pulled me while Karen literally pushed from behind until I was inside. Rita and Vicki, owners of The General Store, agreed to take a few of my books. Ever since that day, the folks at The General Store have been great friends.

Above is a picture of King, a stuffed black Lab I bought at The General Store. King goes to book signings and talks with me.

If you've never shopped there, you've missed something special. The store is located at 213 Scruggs Road, Hardy, VA 24121, phone 540-721-3009. Stop by. You'll be glad you did.

* * *

My second book signing will be August 15 from 1:00 to 4:00 at Kitty's Little Book Shoppe located on 11858 Moneta Road (Rt. 122), Moneta, phone 540-297-7740. Both novels, Secrets at Spawning Run and Secrets at Sweetwater Cove, will be available for purchase. Tad Parker, another local writer, will be there with his new book Jerry McAllister and the Slaves of the Tellusian Underground, Book One. And Kitty will serve refreshments, so come fill up on culinary delights and good books!