THE PHOEBE NEEDLES CENTER

I like everything about The Phoebe Needles Center in Callaway, Virginia, so when I was invited to speak there on May 10th, I was thrilled. And the fact that I would be in the company of two other authors whom I admire--Becky Mushko and Dan Smith--made it even better. We were the May program for the Center for Lifelong Learning for adults 55 and over which focuses on education and fellowship.

Located in a "you-can't-get-there-from-here" place, I discovered that it's fairly simple when you travel with Becky, who knew an easy way. Dan followed Becky and me from the Rocky Mount Wal-Mart to Route 40 past Ferrum College where we turned onto Turner's Creek Road and drove straight--well, uh, "crooked" is probably a better word--to Phoebe Needles. I was driving, so I couldn't take pictures or gawk a lot. Becky snapped this one and others. If my hubby were not allergic to hay, which is the reason we had to give up our horses, this would be a place I'd like to live. And, folks, it's for sale!


It's worth visiting Phoebe Needles for numerous reasons. The drive along the twisting ribbon of road provides you with gorgeous scenery, and the lunch served at the Center is always delicious. To me, however, the best part about attending their monthly programs is the people you meet. I liked re-connecting with The Rev. John Heck (Executive Director of Phoebe Needles), people I met when I spoke there in 2009, and meeting nice new folks.



The huge room above is arranged for dining in the rear, and a program area in the front. By the time our "Four Writers: Four Viewpoints" program (although only three writers came) began, only a few seats were left. The kitchen is to the right, and there are large porches to the left and end of the building.

Dan read from his memoir Burning the Furniture and his children's book Saving Homer.

Becky ready from her recent novel Stuck and from Ferradiddledumday, an Appalachian version of Rumplestiltskin. Because Phoebe Needles attendees had heard me read from my first novel, Secrets at Spawning Run, in April 2009, this time I read only from Secrets at Sweetwater Cove, my second novel in the "Secrets" series. We could not have asked for a better audience! They were attentive, interested, and asked excellent questions.

Before we left, John Heck showed Becky and me what used to be the Episcopal School's bathrooms. They were outdoors, and you had to walk down steps to a small, dark, creepy area. The daily use "contents" ran out a pipe onto the ground. Yuck. All the plumbing was removed years ago, the bathrooms converted to storage areas.

John Heck at the bottom of the steps.

I'm surprised that the next photo even came out because of the absolute darkness below. Guess I have a better flash on my camera than I realized. Anyhow, after seeing these creepy areas, plots started running through my head.


I took the below picture of a local farm from the porch at the Center. I could live here, too, if hubby weren't allergic to hay. I'd want horses, lots of horses, but horses eat hay, so. . . .



If you're interested in the programs offered, click on Phoebe Needles. You'll be glad you did.

STUCK

Hooray! Becky Mushko's latest novel Stuck is out and available for purchase. I love this book, have read several drafts. But there's something so exciting about a newly-published book that after holding the two copies I bought for granddaughters, I sat down and read it again. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. Again.


A middle-grade story, this book is one any 10 to 12-year-old girl will enjoy. In Stuck, the reader will sympathize with Jacie when her mother dies, cheer Jacie when she stands up to a bully, rejoice with her at horse camp. And perhaps the reader will see that pouting is, well, ugly, that all step-mothers aren't wicked, and that working through hardships brings happiness. And a surprise . . . .

Nope, I'm not going to spoil it for you. But if you're just about to have a fit to read it, you can buy Stuck from Cedar Creek Publishing, Amazon.com, and bookstores. You'll be glad you did.

Becky talking about Stuck to a group at Westlake Library.

Speaking to the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women

I love to talk about my books and writing, so I was delighted when the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women invited me to speak at their October 13th meeting held in the community room at the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op on Grandin Road. I enjoyed being there.

First we lunched on sandwiches and salads provided by the Happy Belly Deli located in the Co-op. Delicious! I sat in on their business meeting, which gave me a deeper understanding of these artsy and creative women. These ladies were smart, fun, and understood me and my passion for writing. After all, they have their creative passions, too.

I had never been to the Co-op before, but was fascinated at the items I saw there and hope to go back to shop.

If you'd like to read what Dana Bailey wrote about the event, click on the Roanoke Times Back Cover blog.

Speaking at Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library

Friends of the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library invited me to speak at the library on the evening of June 17th. Friend and fellow Lake Writer Phyllis Conrad gave me a fantastic introduction, an intro that made writing Secrets at Spawning Run and Secrets at Sweetwater Cove even more worthwhile. Phyllis has promised to do the same for my third novel, now in progress.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Walker

I talked about where ideas come from, the importance of research, keeping time lines straight, publishing, and the actual writing process. This was a good audience. They laughed, asked lots of questions, gave me intriguing ideas, and encouraged me to keep writing mysteries that take

Photo courtesy of Ron Roseveare

place at Smith Mountain Lake. I chatted with old friends, made new ones. I enjoyed myself tremendously. I continue to be amazed at the folks who come to listen to me. And I so appreciate them.

46th Shenandoah Antiques Expo

Sometimes I get really excited about something I'll be doing in the future. Well, okay, those who know me well know that I often get excited about, well, just about anything. I especially love antiques. I appreciate the expert craftsman who has lovingly created a piece of beauty. I love that extra glow, the patina in those old cherry, walnut, and mahogany pieces. Old paintings seem to bring me into them, and I imagine all kinds of stories. The picture below was painted in 1865 by the Scotsman A. Perigal. I first remember seeing it at my grandmother's house when I was a little girl, and when boredom set in, I'd sit and stare at the painting, lose myself in it. I think that was when I started writing, only I didn't know I was writing. And now writing is a big part of my life.


When I eventually inherited this painting, there were holes in it, and the painting was in terrible shape. I couldn't stand to lose it. I found a lady who restored the painting and the gold-leaf frame. She was expensive, but I have not regretted it one bit.

And guess what? On Saturday, May 1, 2010, I'll be surrounded by antiques! And I'll be selling my two novels, Secrets at Spawning Run and Secrets at Sweetwater Cove. And my darling daughter Christine will be with me. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Can you blame me?

Christine and I will be at the three-day 46TH SHENANDOAH ANTIQUES EXPO in Fishersville, Virginia, signing books and salivating over antiques. I just might bring home a found treasure or two. The show will be April 30, May 1 & 2. Christine and I will be there on May 1 from 9-12. For more info, check their website. The cost is $5.00 per day, except Friday when the charge of $10 will cover admission for all three days.

If you're an antique buff, you won't want to miss this show. And if you happen to come on Saturday, May 1, Christine and I will be in the Main Expo Hall to meet people and autograph copies of my novels. Hope to see you there.

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.

I'm Back!

I know I haven't blogged since February. It wasn't because I didn't have anything to say. I did. I always do. Determined to finish my second book and mail it to my publisher, I forced all other thoughts out of my head. I did, however, take time to join Marion Higgins, Jim Morrison and Becky Mushko at Phoebe Needles--a delightful conference center in Franklin County--for a writing presentation. We had fun, enjoyed a gourmet lunch, met really nice folks and a handsome Brittany Spaniel. Yeah, I like dogs.

But guess what! I mailed my second novel, Secrets at Sweetwater Cove, to my publisher on May 2 at 9:31 a.m.! I'm scheduled to be on Hal Hubener's "Cover to Cover" cable TV show on July 14. Maybe my book will be published by then.

So what have I done since May 2? First, I walked around patting myself on the back. Then I tried to get my office organized. No luck. Then on May 11, Jim Morrison, Becky Mushko, Rodney Franklin and I spoke on "The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing" at the main Roanoke Library. The picture below shows us in the background. So many more folks came that library personnel had to lug in lots more chairs!


From May 18-24, hubby Ron and I vacationed at Atlantic Beach, NC. I grew up in Greenville, NC (Ron moved there in the 9th grade), only a couple of hours from Atlantic Beach. It was great being back on old stompin' grounds. The beach has changed a lot since those days. What used to be miles of undeveloped land and sand dunes is now thick with beach houses, condominiums and businesses. But we had a great time, visited with Anne and Katherine (friends since elementary school) and my brother Mack and his wife Susan, and feasted all week on fresh seafood.

Four years ago, high school friends Kathryn and Bobby introduced me to the Big Oak Drive-In. Their shrimp burgers are to die for! They have oyster burgers, too, and I'm sure I'd like them. Ron wanted to lunch there every day, but that didn't happen. While we were standing there studying the menu, I heard a voice say, "Sally Ross?" (That's me, at least it was until I got married.) I looked at "the voice" and--surprise!--saw Clara Faye and Nannie Sue, both high school classmates. Anyhow, if you go to Atlantic Beach, drive down Salterpath Road. After a few miles, you'll see the Big Oak Drive-In on your left. Try it. You'll like it. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll see Clara Faye and Nannie Sue.


I have lots more to tell you, but angry storm clouds are closing in and I'm ready to shut down. Will be back later.

New Bookcase

I never intended to move books today. After all the nagging from my Lake Writer friend and published author of several books Becky Mushko, I figured I’d start my blog. (Becky has nagged me for months. “It’s easy,” she said. “Just do it.”) Instead, this morning I walked Angus the dog, folded three loads of laundry, read e-mail, cleaned the kitchen, and washed a load of sheets and a load of towels. Not together, mind you. Sheets don’t take nearly as long to dry as towels, and I’m a good steward of energy. And I googled blogs of other folks I know and admire, i.e. Becky, Fred First, Fran Nielsen, Colleen Redman, Jack Rupert.

But last week hubby Ron and I acquired two large, just-right-for that-spot bookcases from our neighbor Grace. And after my third cup of Maxwell House this morning, I noticed the bookcases were not full. Horrors. Whatever would my ten grandchildren think? And there was space to put books presently residing for eons on shelves in The Closet. Two and two make four . . .

Stuffed in The Closet I discovered a book I bought when I was in the 12^th grade in Greenville, North Carolina. I’d not thought about it for years. W. Frank Landing was my 12^th grade English teacher, and he wrote a book, War Cry of the South, about the adventures of Confederates during the building of the iron-clad “Albemarle.” War Cry of the South was required reading in his class. Today I tried to google Mr. Landing. No success. I’m, well, 39 years old? Not really, but my mother always said—and I will never forget her words—“A woman who will tell her age will tell anything.” That would make Mr. Landing how old? I wish I’d been able to tell Mr. Landing what his class did for me, and that as an author I realize and appreciate what he went through in getting his book published.

Other books I discovered/rescued from the dank innards of The Closet were California, A Romantic Story for Young People by J. Walker McSpadden, illustrated by Howard L. Hastings, copyright 1926 by J.H. Sears & Co., Incorporated; Camille by Alexandre Dumas, Fils, by The Modern Library New York; Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (one of my favorite authors), copyright1935 by Whitman Publishing Company, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious, published by Dell Publishing Company, Inc. by arrangement with the original publisher of the work Julian Messner, NC, 1956. In what my daughter Christine calls “Grandmother Books,” I also found a 1972 paperback of Daphne du Maurier’s My Cousin Rachel, Mary Stewart’s 1973 The Hollow Hills, and several hardbacks by Southern writer Inglis Fletcher.

I want to curl up in a corner and re-read these unearthed treasures, but I need to work on my second mystery novel. And company will arrive this weekend, so beds have to be made and the house cleaned.

Hey, this is kind of fun. Maybe Becky was right.