This blog is looking a little dusty and I am pretty sure I just walked through a Skulltula web getting over here to say hello. Lake Writers started as a NaNoWriMoregional group in 2009, but evolved into much more than a group that gets together during the month of November for mutual insanity. Oh yes, we long ago decided to extend the party by meeting twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesdays in the Eustis Denny's at 6:30. Our fearless leader Elise has been taking care of this blog along with our other social media and event organizing stuffs alone for so long, but it is time we come in and help out. The plan is to rotate posting here around the group so we can all share our expertise and practice on you. *Insert evil laughter here* I am not sure exactly what each member has planned for you, but I'm going to flash you.
I'm sure this is the pink fairy girl I'm looking for because of the double sets of butterfly wings, one blue and one green. Even when they have four wings it's unusual for the sets to be different colors. They told me it would be a telltale sign I was tracking the right fairy. Always on the move from festival to festival she gave me the slip more often than any quarry has in longer than memory serves, but I still hadn't seen her pet.
It wasn't my idea to destroy it, but it was my job to get it done. A pack of food on her back and her bright blue eyes wide with ecstasy, I'm quite sure she's heading to find her beast. The caravan stayed in the bigger cities longer than a village giving me a better chance of shadowing her during her evening disappearance act. She has been moving swiftly for an hour or so into the heart of the Tangle Oak Forest. She must be getting close because her wings began to flap in agitation causing sparkle dust to shed. She stopped flying to her beloved beast a while back when a few close calls made her realize I had ways of tracking a flying fairy.
She practically ran the last few feet into a clearing. She wasn't being remotely cautious now as she flung her burden to the ground and spun on the spot searching the tree line. I readied a cold iron-tipped arrow. It shouldn't be necessary to slay the beast, but would offer me an insurance against her rage. Though she is little and fair, she has proven mighty. My instructions were to spare her if possible, but I can't collect a bounty if I don't make my way back to Fendale.
It's entrance was so silent I would have missed it if an invisible force hadn't drawn all my awareness to the beast. A huge grey wolf stood to the left side of the circle. I heard the pink fairy girl make a sharp inhale as she bounded into my field of view. I didn't look at her, I couldn't look at her, my gaze and mind were lost in the wolf's eyes. There was so much depth, like centuries of anguish stuffed into this poor creature. It was beautiful, terrible and wild.
The fairy girl slammed into the wolf and embraced it fiercely. Her expression was of someone who had just been dying of thirst taking the first drink from a secret oasis. She was quenched, she was home while holding this creature. I felt a fire or a dry ache build in me. Something asleep and long thought dead stirred painfully.
She pulled back with a smile and expectation etched on her face. No, don't do that! How could you let go? It needs touch, I have to hold it. I took a step forward, but froze as the wolf jumped up. It's not attacking, the eyes looked weary and sad not angry. The wolf's body shifted, changed and contorted. Where the wolf had been reared on its hind legs a moment ago a man with long dark hair and tribal markings now towered. He was appealing in a primal way, something about the wolf remained in his stance.
He moved to his fairy girl and enveloped her again, as his face split into a contented smile something ripped inside me. My fingers remembered my bow was knocked, but now I trained it on the fairy girl and prepared to eliminate her. He bent down and kissed her with such primal passion anyone watching would have recognized they were a voyeuristic intruder, but like bystanders during a disaster I couldn't force myself to look away. I lowered my bow sticking my arrow back in it's quiver, this was not a bounty I could collect and my reputation would suffer for it.
A sigh of longing escaped me as I turned to leave and that was quite enough. Before I could draw my next breath the feral man had released his beloved and prowled full tilt to face me. I was prey and should have been terrified, but was drawn to him. He turned his fierce eyes upon me and the painful thing stirring in me began clawing at my chest to escape. He leaned in studying me with an intensity that should have burned through flesh, I had his full attention. Suddenly, I felt that the center of this man's attention was a bad place to be.
Hello readers! It’s great you could join us today. Today’s feature is a guest post by children’s and inspirational author Rhonda Walker. She’ll be talking about her upcoming release Wesley Out West and her reading and writing journey.
So pour a cuppa and prop up your feet to enjoy the read. Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter contest at the bottom of the post for your chance to win a personalized autographed copy of Wesley Out West and a cute Wesley plushie!
Trials and joys of writing by Rhonda Walker
Willie Out West (2013, WestBow Press)was my first published children’s story. It was so well received that I am re-launching an updated version, Wesley Out West (2015, JLB Creatives Publishing) is in a smaller size and contains an educational supplement for parents and teachers. If you read Willie I know you will enjoy Wesley even more. The “Fun Facts” and photos of the real sea mammals are educational and enjoyable for children and adults alike. The book size is more comfortable for young children to hold and carry, and the response thus far is widely encouraging. Enjoy.
I always loved books. In seventh grade I walked every day to my little New Mexico town’s library, checking out the maximum number of books. I returned within a day, replacing those books with more. I also used my allowance to purchase every juvenile book of interest: the Hardy Boys and other popular series. I found Nancy Drew boring. During my eighth grade summer, Mother took me on a weekly trek (30-miles one way) from our mobile home in a New Mexico desert mining community into the town of Grants. There, I devoured all of the town library’s westerns (Kit Carson, etc.), mysteries (Ellery Queen, Perry Mason), and stories about Geronimo and other Native Americans.
I carried my love for reading to college and majored in English and elementary education. These classes opened a door to children’s literature that will never close. I read almost 300 children’s books in one semester. I thank God for blessing me with a passion for children’s literature, the desire to write children’s stories (there were so many bad books, I just knew I could write better), and the desire to develop whatever ability I possessed.
In 1976, I wrote two grammar stories which, amazingly, found their way into a textbook for first graders. However, I had little faith in my ability and gave up after one failed attempt to publish. I published two women’s inspirational articles and edited several women’s church newsletters during the succeeding years, but nothing else.
Years later I set out to discover why certain women of faith remained strong in spite of unbearable and continual trials in their lives. For two years, I interviewed women; thus was born my first book, “Beyond the Shadow is Tomorrow: Stories of Women of Faith,” published by WestBow Press in 2013. I encourage all Christian women looking for strength and encouragement to read this book. The book still brings great reviews from those seeking answers and encouragement while going through rough times, and it is still for sale through my web site or e-mail.
“Icing, Locusts & Life” is about to be released by JLB Creatives Publishing, and I am so excited. The reviews are already coming in on this inspirational book for men and women. I encourage readers to reach out and embrace the world and its wonders. Every day is icing on the cake of our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances or how hard it is raining. Every day I have a choice to make when I get out of bed (or even if I cannot get out of bed). It is how we choose the icing of our days, light or dark, which determines how we meet the locusts that visit the beautiful fields and gardens of life.
My life is challenging, fantastic, miracle filled, and troubled—sometimes all at once. There are memories of the blessings of family and friends mixed with my own success and failure. In spite of everything a long life can deliver, I find reason every day to be grateful that God provides abundant blessings. Even with the traumas of illness, embarrassing personal failures, and sadness beyond words, there is one thing that is good: I am still alive to see it dawn a better day.
I have more children’s stories on my desk, and my first novel is begun. No one knows tomorrow’s outcome, but today has been good. Tomorrow will be white icing, no matter what the day brings.
Be blessed. What color is your icing?
About Rhonda Walker
EVERY DAY IS ICING ON THE CAKE OF MY LIFE. It is challenging, fantastic, miracle filled, and troubled—sometimes all at once. There are memories of the blessings of family and friends, successes, and failure. I live daily in grateful awareness for a God who provides abundant blessings, especially during times of embarrassing failures.
I discovered my passion for reading early in life (right after the ark anchored on a mountain top.) In 1979, when my daughters were young, I returned to college. There, English and education professors taught me some needed writing basics and opened the door to children’s thinking. In truth, though, I began writing for myself in 1975, and my style was already developed. God blessed me with a passion for reading, the love of writing, and whatever ability I possess.
With training, skills, and God’s help, I fulfilled a long-held dream of writing stories for young readers. Several years ago, two of my grammar stories were published in a Scott Foresman textbook for first graders, and plans are under way to put those stories and others into a grammar series book. I write stories to encourage enjoyment and learning through reading.
Below is the first Lake County Region NaNoMail sent out. I will be posting them here to make sure everyone gets the news about what's happening in Lake County for NaNoWrimo 2015!
Hello Lake Wrimos!
It’s October! Time for cooler temps, carving pumpkins and prepping for NaNoWriMo! I just wanted to make sure to send you some important information about our Lake County Region and NaNoWriMo 2015.
The theme for 2015 is The NaNoWriMo Library! Graphics to style your Facebook and other social media will be available to download after the site wipe. Speaking of, the site wipe will take place on Monday, October 5th.
If there are any threads or information you want to write down or copy/paste from the forums do so within the next couple of days. Don’t forget to stop by our Region Forums. I have our region set with a few starter threads for us until after the wipe. Those threads are all marked with sticky notes and will not be erased. So, go ahead and introduce yourself and your novel, share your social media links, and more.
For those new to NaNo, the site wipe is when our marvelous NaNo Techs go in and reset the site and wipe the forums clean to make space for all the awesomeness to happen in 2015. Don’t worry, your profile and author info will be unaffected. Only a space to create your 2015 novel will be added.
There are a few dates to mark down on your calendar. One very important one!
October 13th Lake Writers Critique GroupThe new sister group to Lake Writers will be meeting on the 13th at the Hampton Inn in Mt. Dora, FL at 6:30pm. This group is a place to bring your work in progress for honest but gentle feedback.
October 14th Lake Writers Meet UpBring your writing gear to Crispers, in Eustis, FL at 6:30pm and join us in a NaNo Novel Planning Session! We’ll chat about our projects and ideas as we help each other get ready for the big event.
October 28th NaNoWriMo 2015 Kick-off Party!Join us for a fun gathering of fellow wrimos as we enjoy our last few days of sanity before the writing begins! The party will take place at Crispers in Eustis starting at 6:30pm. Since it’s close to Halloween come dressed in costume. (optional: you don’t have to if it’s not your thing, but it sure is a lot of fun!) This is where you’ll get your official 2015 NaNoWriMo Sticker and information packet for November.
November 2015 is going to be Noveltastic with all of you participating. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at our write-ins this year!
Just a quick sum up of all the important stuff until next NaNoMail!
October 5th Site Wipe
October 13th Lake Writers Critique Group
October 14th Lake Writers Meet Up and NaNo Novel Planning Session
October 28th NaNoWriMo 2015 Kick-off Party!
That’s all the news fit to print...this week. Happy Scribbles Wrimos!
Welcome new Wrimos and Welcome back to all those returning.
NaNoWriMo 2014 is close to beginning and promises to be the best year ever!
NaNoWriMo Kick-Off
Party 2014
It's time to board the Airship NaNoWriMo and begin our
journey to the Boundless Novel!
When is Kick-Off?
October 29th
What time?6:30pm (don't worry if you have to come a
little later we'll save you a seat! :)
Where is it?
Denny's in Eustis (16150 Us Highway 441, Eustis,
Florida32726
) We will be sitting where the large windows are at the front of the
restaurant. I'll try to have signs for the tables just look for those and I'll
be in costume :)
What will be
happening?
Wrimos talking about their books, writing plans for NaNo,
meeting new writerly friends, catching up with old writerly friends, getting
swag and more fun than your muse can handle! Since it's so close to Halloween
if you would like, come in costume! Dress as your main character or other maybe
a character from your favorite book or movie. Or just come as your writer self
:) That's what it's all about having fun as we celebrate the joy of writing!
I will be making NaNo 'kits' and swag and want to make sure
we've got enough to go around :)
Can't wait to see you all there!
Let me introduce myself so you know who this crazy person
sending you Regional emails is. ;-) My name is Elise VanCise your Municipal Liaison
(ML) for the USA::
LakeCounty::
Florida Region. I’ve been a NaNo participant for 8 years and ML for 5. I’m also
a published author and journalist. As you can tell words and writing are my
passion. I’m super excited to share that with all of you!
Don’t forget to visit the regional forums http://nanowrimo.org/forums/usa-florida-lake-county
and say hello in the instructions thread, RSVP for the Kick-Off Party, and just
have fun chatting with fellow LakeWrimos!
Happy NaNo Planning Wrimos! And Welcome to all those new to
NaNo and LakeCounty
this year. There’s just two more weeks
before the big moment when the clock ticks over to midnight and fingers start
to fly over the keyboards.
Before that happens we need to celebrate our dive into
noveldom with a party! The NaNoWriMo Lake Writers Kick-Off will be held at the
Eustis Denny’s (441) and begins at 6:30pm.
Come in costume as your favorite literary character or character from your
novel! (optional but most fun :)
Bring a friend or your family with you to this event so they
can celebrate. And get a good look before you go into crazy writer mode and
hide out in your writing space for the next 30days lol.
Be sure to RSVP even if you’re not sure about making it to
the party. We need to know how much space to claim at Denny’s and how many
writer kits to put together. You can
RSVP in two places:
Not to worry if you haven’t found the perfect plot or your
character hasn’t found the right personality yet. There’s plenty of time yet to
stock your snack drawer and program your coffee pot.
Hop on the forums and grab some ideas or post a dare for
your fellow LakeWrimos.
You can also find LakeWrimos
on our Facebook group LakeWriters
(http://www.facebook.com/groups/108700325883783/
)
I mentioned this in the last email but just to make sure our
new folks and anyone who might have missed it here is some information about
making sure you are HOMED in the USA:: Florida ::Lake County region.
During November, it's fun to compare USA
:: Florida
:: LakeCounty’s
progress against all the regions in the world, both in word count
and donations. Please show your pride in our region by making sure your
successes are included in our regional totals.
To do this, you need to join USA
:: Florida
::LakeCountyAND set USA
:: Florida :: Lake County as your Home Region.
If you have already joined our region, please check to make
sure you are homed here:
1. Choose Local Events from
the main menu and click Home Region.
2. You should automatically be
redirected to USA :: Florida :: Lake County and there will be
a house icon to the left of the region's name.
3. If you're somewhere else, you
haven't yet joined our region and made it your home.
If you haven't yet joined our region:
1. Choose Local Events from
the menu and click Find A Region.
2. Under Other Regions,
type our region name (or part of it) in the text box.
3. Locate our region under the text
box and click Join This Region.
If you have any questions or just want to say hi, don’t be
shy. Post in the forum, Lake Writers FB group, you can contact me by
NaNoMail my NaNo user name is flsandcastle, on Twitter, or PM me on
Facebook Elise VanCise https://www.facebook.com/fictionrulz
I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.
Each Wed a topic will be posted. You can post on that topic however you desire. Write an article, share an experience, write a flash fiction piece or apply it to a work in progress. Wherever the muse leads let your fingers follow.
To join the hop just add your blog home page to the Inlinkz list below and have your post up on your blog the day of the hop. If you would like to add the linky list to the bottom of your post just click HERE and grab the code for your blog.
Topic for Monday September 30th:
What do you write with
Talk about your favorite writing tools or software. Do you have some user tips to share on Word, Write Way or Scrivener? Do you write analog (good ole pen and paper) Have a favorite pen or notebook? Tell us all about what helps you bring your stories to life.
Each Wed a topic will be posted. You can post on that topic however you desire. Write an article, share an experience, write a flash fiction piece or apply it to a work in progress. Wherever the muse leads let your fingers follow.
To join the hop just add your blog home page to the Inlinkz list below and have your post up on your blog the day of the hop. If you would like to add the linky list to the bottom of your post just click HERE and grab the code for your blog.
Topic for Monday September 2nd: Labor Day heroes/heroines
