Living in the Heart of Virginia

On March 10, Tab O'Neal interviewed me on his TV show, Living in the Heart of Virginia (ABC, Channel 13 in Lynchburg, VA), that airs from 12:30 to 1:00 each week day, Monday through Friday. For four minutes we discussed the importance of writers' groups, i.e. Lake Writers, and talked about my two novels and writing. I read the first two paragraphs from my second book, Secrets at Sweetwater Cove.

So what was this experience like? Terrifying! And fascinating and educational. The staff at ABC and WSET's Channel 13 could not have been nicer or more professional. Tab O'Neal was relaxed, but cognizant of everything happening around him, and a true Southern gentleman all at the same time. Behind the scenes, camera men, producers, planners, people all busy with their jobs, talked and moved about as needed, usually quickly.

I knew that because of the bright lights I would need to apply more makeup, so before leaving home that morning, I caked on the eyeliner, mascara, blush and lipstick. I felt like a woman of ill repute when I left the house. I hoped no one would see me. As I waited to take my seat on the stage, I almost wiped it off. So glad I didn't! When I saw myself on TV, I looked like I had no makeup on! I looked like death! And old!

To view the video, click below. And if you watch it and respond, please be kind. Warning: it takes a couple minutes to load, and is 4 minutes long.

Such Fun!

Sometimes things are such fun that you just want to jump up and down and yell "Yahoo!" for everybody to hear. I almost did that at The Bluebird Bakery and Grill on February 27th.

At 6:00 that evening, fellow writers Karen Wrigley (see my blog dated 2/15/10 for review of Beyond Woofs and Whinnnies), Becky Mushko (see blog dated 12/5/09 for review of Ferradiddledumday), and I met at The Bluebird for an "Ask the Authors" event, a first for the eatery and for us. With a fire roaring in the fireplace and surrounded by nice folks, we three gals discussed our books and answered questions from the crowd of friends, family, and strangers.

Me, Karen, Becky
All Photos by Ron Roseveare

Some of the folks who attended. Note the goodies on the right.

Me, Karen and Becky at table. Note fireplace, which brought welcomed warmth on a cold night.

Owned and operated by really nice people (the Greene family), The Bluebird Bakery and Grill is a great place to go for coffee and pastry, lunch, and even dinner. Located at 1123 Celebration Avenue in Moneta, Virginia, The Bluebird is open Mondays through Saturdays. I think their chili is delicious; my husband and son liked the barbecue sandwich, and I've heard several people rave about the ribs.

This coming Saturday night (March 6th), families are invited to bring their children with them to The Bluebird. While the parents eat a scrumptious meal, some of the staff will entertain the children by reading to them. So if you want a fun, inexpensive family night out, don't miss this opportunity.

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.

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 wake! Lynn asked Becky to speak to her writers group. Becky did, and 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 25^th, 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 really 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 wrote poetry, some mysteries, some essays, some 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 a writers group.

Outside Macon Bookshop in Lynchburg

On Sunday, August 30^th, 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 College). Students from the college poured into the book store to purchase text books. Most spent upwards of $200.00 each on texts 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.

Four of my 12 grandchildren and 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.