Tons of News

Wonder what I do now that I am retired from teaching?

Time for catch up and preview of writing and speaking activities.

This has been some of my September and October so far.

I attended the Moonlight and Magnolias Conference in Atlanta at the beginning of the month.  Met wonderful writers, heard Julia Quinn speak again, won multiple fabulous gift bags, and got two requests for full of my book Mirror Images. 

I also visited Savannah with my husband and came up with an idea for a YA series.  I am taking an on-line class about how to write a series that has been quite helpful. 

I have attended a writing retreat, club meetings, and critiques and am going to a conference this weekend for children and MG and YA authors.  This will be a new venue to explore.  I have judged a couple of writing contests and contacted numerous editors to send entries on to them.

I also have helped out former co-workers with contest judging and planning units and lessons.  And I found a way to put lessons on line and receive money for them.

I also have been speaking as a storytime reader at the local library and am scheduled to do a reading for my grandson's after school program and act a pioneer storyteller for our school on November 2.  Coming up with a pioneer costume for that one.  I have tried not to have clothes like that in the past.  At readings sometimes I just read books or poems, or I sing (sorry, it is bad) or  I use puppets, and I usually write some type of audience participation event.  I also have written plays and readers theaters too.

Tomorrow I will be at the Holden Library from 5:30-7:00 giving a program on "What it takes to be a writer."  I will talk about the different genres, how to write books, and ways to be published. 

On Thursday, I will be facilitating a discussion on the novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" at 7:00 at the Holden Library.

On November 1 and 27 I am available from 4:30-7:00 to discuss novel writing and tips at the Holden Library in honor of Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month.)  People of all ages are invited to utilize the library to meet the word count challenges of the national program.

I have even managed to write and edit during this time.