Rooting for the Little Guy to Win

I remember when I was single, longing for some guy I thought the sun and moon rose on to notice me. That's part of what my story Translations is about, but only part. Most times, I write about characters dealt a lousy deck of cards looking for a way out or just looking and not knowing what it is they're searching for. Somewhere along the line they come across something that changes how they think or perceive their world. Often I take my character from being insignificant to significant in some way. Maybe only in their own eyes, or through a distorted lens, and they might not get what they thought they wanted.

Are those the types of stories you enjoy reading? Not all of my stories are set in outer space. Neither Plantgirl, nor Translations is. Small Graces shares that same search by the main character who ends up finding something she didn't know she wanted. There are links at the sidebar to download these stories from Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and iTunes, and they aren't going to cost you any money. They're all free. Short and free. So, they won't take up much of your time either.

Translations covers this same theme of searching and not always getting what was wanted. Nora is desperately in love with Mitchell Allen. He's trapped inside a tomb. She's trapped by Mitchell's brilliance. She gets a small taste of what she wants, but only a taste, and not exactly the one she was looking for..

Last Thursday, I read my story Translations at an event sponsored by my local writers guild. It was my best reading ever. I met new friends and talked to old ones about my new decisions. A local fellowship of other authors is a great thing. A safe environment to learn to read to an audience is another great thing. I am doubly fortunate in that my local library and writers group both provide opportunities.

The story I have coming out this fall is similar. Leda has to overcome obstacles to get what she wants. Some are physical, some are mental and emotional. I hired an editor last week. Semper Audacia, a space opera novelette, will be my next release. Here's the cover I've been working on.

Here's the trailer, made by my wonderful friend, Kimberly Nicole. She's very talented and I'm very grateful to have her on my team.



I'd like to repay all you wonderful people who have supported me in this endeavor, and I'd like to say thanks with a special offer on Semper. There's one of two ways to get it. Either leave your email in the comments, or send me your email at mpaxauthor@gmail.com.

I'd also like to pay the rocking writing community back by helping you get the word out about you, your blog, your website, your story and/or your book. For more details, hit on the 'Guest Post' tab above.

You Guys Rock!

First off, I have to say how much you all rock! Really! A thousand times thank you for all the shared enthusiam on my first yes.

Special thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for the shoutout on his blog about it over the weekend.

So yes, I got my first yes. Which leaked out on Friday. It was supposed to post today, but I suspect the war between my printer and Windows 7 got in the way and blogger did not get the 'scheduled at' message before HP rebooted my computer. :-O I won't go into how idiotic a reboot is when you are in the middle of the help instructions for resolving an issue. Yeah, if the computer reboots, the instructions disappear. Really HP! Did you test your instructions? I don't think so.

Anyway, The Tumbas will be published in an anthology. I will certainly let you know when it comes out and all the other gory details as soon as I know them. You can find out more about the story here: http://www.mpaxauthor.com/biblio.php?storyid=37

Just so I wouldn't go getting a swelled head, the universe sent me a rejection a few hours later. No matter. I keep at it. Another yes will creep in somewhere. Eventually. Never surrender, never give up. Otherwise, you'll never get that occassional yes. And they are wonderful.

I read Recycled on Sunday at open mic. A nice contrast. Recycled is the shortest story I ever wrote and The Tumbas is the longest. The crowd was bigger than usual, about 80 people and I had an off day. I was more nervous than usual for some reason. I got through it. Got a few nice words from folks afterward. Said they thought my writing was beautiful. We all have off days. You just keep going. And I still got applause and a few friends in the audience. So, it wasn't bad. Just not as good as I've done.

Got my short story submitted yesterday for a local contest, titled A Calling Home. It's basically my love letter to Central Oregon. I imagined being back in Portland and yearning to return here. If we move, I will be grieving for this place. Still have no idea about that. Limbo sucks.

My new time management schedule is going pretty well -- until I hit the glitch with the printer drivers on Friday. I did not schedule in 'computer frustration from hell'. Yet I hit my goal for revisions on novel#2 last week. So setting goals is working out. This week I am reworking the start of the first novel and continuing with revisions on the second novel. Hope my head doesn't explode. So far, so good. I set a 2 hour time limit for one then switch. 2 hours for the second. Then I have to get onto other things. Like queries and cyberspace and research and feedback. I like to sneak a workout in, too.

How's your week shaping up? Discover any secret weapons for managing a busy life? Writing career?

There was clamor for a party on Friday. Any suggestions?

Universe's Most Distant Object

The universe's most distant object. From NASA and Hubble. Cool!



This video is a zoom into the Hubble Space Telescope infrared Ultra Deep Field, first taken in 2009. It is a very small patch of sky in the southern constellation Fornax. The zoom centers on the farthest identified object in the field. The object, possibly a galaxy, looks red because its light has been stretched by the expansion of the universe. Credit: NASA/ESA/G. Bacon, STScI (no audio)

So, I return to normal life this week. Last week I got caught up in revising my first novel. I decided on the spur of the moment to enter ABNA. I did not make the cut off. General fiction closed about 5 minutes before I entered. That's OK. It motivated me to revise my first novel and get it done a helluva lot quicker than I would have without such a tight deadline. Now it's ready to go back out into the agent gristmill. So, I'm getting queries together. Every time I send one, it will be like entering a contest.

Anything that motivates me to get something done is worth the effort. If only I could find such a thing to motivate me to move faster on my second novel revisions. I decided I have to set weekly goals and get better about time management. This time to the novel. This time to short stories. This time to queries / submissions. This time for editing. This time for cyberspace. My goal this week is to edit the next chapter.


Thank goodness I love writing.

This coming Sunday is 2nd Sunday at the Bend Public Library. Ellen Waterston is the author of note. Program begins at 2:00 p.m. I'll be reading "Recycled" if there is open mic. You can find out more about this piece of flash fiction on my website: http://www.mpaxauthor.com/biblio.php?storyid=36


So, that's what I've been up to. How about you? What have you got going on?

Update

I will be back next week ... sort of. I have a lot to catch up on. Then there is a holiday. Been touching base with some of you here and there.

Haven't gotten any writing done. Some snippets on the trip out here. Maybe some on the way back. Planes and airports are rather dull. Although, great places to people watch.

Hope all is well with everybody. What have you been up to? Any progress to crow about?

Paulann Petersen and Showing Blue Moons

It was a very lovely literary weekend here in Bend, OR. Thanks to the hard work of the folks who put on The Nature of Words  literary festival. This was the 6th year for the event and my third year attending.

The first year, I attended a class given by Ursula K. Le Guinn. Wonderful as she confirmed my suspicion that I am indeed a writer. Last year I attended a workshop with Jane Kirkpatrick on history, research and writing, which was a real pleasure. History and research are fun for me. She is a fabulous lady who I enjoyed meeting and learning from. I also attended 2nd Sunday for the first time ever last year. I chickened out on reading last November, but went back in the following months and got over my lack of courage.

This year I attended a workshop with Hilary Jordon on showing not telling - more on that in a bit. And I attended 2nd Sunday. We were graced by Paulann Peterson, Oregon's poet laureate, reading. Wow. What a treat to hear her read. Want to open your mind and soul? Read some of her work and if you get the chance, hear her read. Her stuff on cosmology really spoke to me. Shocker, huh?

All my practice all these months paid off as I read my best ever in front of the biggest audience ever. I read my unpublished flash fiction piece, Blue Moon. It's a fantasy about a woman in France weaving for her lost love. Yes, under a blue moon. I may have mangled some of the French I infused into the piece, but I had the pacing down, inunciation, volume and inflection. FYI a blue moon is a second full moon in the same month. It happens about every 2.5-3 years.

Poetry is a great exercise in showing not telling. Honest. I don't write it much in its pure form any more, but I sure do draw from it in the revision process of my writing. It's a way of describing something in a non-straightforward way. It's a way of painting a portrait and character which invests the reader into the tale.

So here's a couple of exercises to connect yourself with your characters on a deeper level. What you end up using in your final work is up to you.

1.  What are three adjectives that most define your character? [One phyisical attribute and 2 traits]. Describe your character without ever using those adjectives or any others. Draw a portrait of your character that conveys those traits without ever saying them.

2.  Describe your character's room / office / personal space. Again using three adjectives that describe your character. How can you use your character's space to define those attributes without ever saying them? Pretend you are an outside observer who has never met your character. Draw no conclusions about your room or character in the description.

When your character confronts something powerful in which he/she should have a powerful reaction, what a perfect place to show and not tell. To immerse your reader into the character's world and emotions.

It's a powerful tool in the writer's arsenal. A great one to practice and perfect.

How was your weekend? How are your goals coming along?

Show Me a Blue Moon

This weekend is the Nature of Words literary conference here in Bend. I'm signed up for a workshop Saturday morning on showing not telling. I think I get this concept, but it never hurts to keep an open mind and keep learning. It's given by novelist Hilary Jordan.

2nd Sunday is the first Sunday this month to coincide with Nature of Words. I'll be reading Blue Moon in front of a larger crowd than usual. The 2nd Sunday program starts at 11:00 a.m. Bend Public Library in the Brooks Room.

For more on Blue Moon, see: http://www.mpaxauthor.com/biblio.php?storyid=31

What are your plans this weekend?

How about a screen capture to caption for your entertainment pleasure?

"Wilma, I love chicken. I'm obsessed with chicken."

"I know, dahling."

The Dark Side of Shadow

Today, my flash fiction, The Dark Side of Shadow, is featured on Nomar Knight's blog Knight Chills http://knightchills.blogspot.com/2010/10/dark-side-of-shadow-by-m-pax.html

Go check out another free read from moi.

The Company of Writers

This past weekend was busy, but it was also wonderful. Connecting with other writers is the best way to keep my confidence and perspective in tact. It is comforting to know I am not alone.

Neither are you. If you don't have a posse of writer friends [or others reaching for the same goal as you] to talk to, go find some. Only another writer can commiserate on rejection and the frustration of the road to publication. Another writer, who has succeeded on novel #9, is encouraging to another floundering writer like me.

I think it's important to have a plan to keep myself moving forward. Always. When I get a rejection, I send out 2-3 more submissions. And I have my next project lined up. I make sure it's something I'm enthusiastic about. I've been out and about doing research for the novel after this. I keep myself going. So much easier to do when there are others around me who have been where I am and succeeded, or are still where I am and we muddle about together.

Attend workshops, join a writers group, get a critique group together. All of these things are invaluable. They help keep me grounded, encouraged and supported. My reading at the library is also a big boon to me. It's a way to get my work out there while I wait for my break. Wait is the wrong word. Work. While I work for my break. It is certainly a lot of work.

I keep my mind open to learning and improving. No matter how good I may already be, there's always room for improvement. Most times, I'm not aware as to where I need improvement. I only have a vague sense I do. So, I go out and learn and sometimes I hit upon, 'Aha'.

Literary Harvest on Friday night was wonderful. It is a great thing to help nurture other talent and there is nothing like hearing an author read their own work. You get to hear the cadence and rhythm that isn't always picked up on right away when reading. Congrats to the winners. Lindy Jacobs, the Guild's events director, did a fantastic job of putting the event together. We had it at Hitchcock Auditorium this year at the college campus.

Saturday was the workshop given by our keynote speaker from Friday night, Elizabeth Lyon. It was way more than I expected. So much better. So, thanks to Elizabeth for giving me a few more pieces to make my writing all the better. It really was a fantastic and informative workshop. Rich in marvelous nuggets to help writers at any level.

If you have the chance to take a workshop from Elizabeth, I highly recommend it. If not, reading her books is a good substitute. I usually learn best in a lecture type setting.

We all met for dinner Saturday night - Guild friends and new literary friends - and had a marvelous night with good conversation and great company. Lots of talk about writing and books. Then lots of storytelling from our lives. Great fun.

Great timing as I have started revision on my second novel. Now I see I have more prep work to do. It gets me all excited to now have more tools in my arsenal to do the piece justice. Keeps me moving forward. I am not a patient gal - my husband will tell ya. So, I am prone to fits of frustration. Being active in the writing community and planning for these pushes forward are essential to keep me moving.

So, get out there and get involved. Enrich your life. It will enrich your writing or whatever your aim is. The most important thing is to keep an open mind in order to keep growing. And, to be quite stubborn - never give up.

How do you keep yourself moving forward?

Hole in the Ground

Well, my PC is still not connecting to the internet. Plus, the husband unit has been on vacay. So, we've been out and about.

First off - Happy Birthday Husband!

Yesterday I baked his birthday apple pie. He prefers pie to cake.

It's a big weekend of literary events. The Guild's annual event, Literary Harvest, is tonight. Tomorrow is an all-day workshop.

Hole in the Ground is an old volcanic crater. Because there is little rain on this side of the Cascades, it did not form a lake like Crater Lake. It was a great hike. We didn't see another soul.

Steep Trail

A mile across

To my left

To my right

At the bottom

Wouldn't be a photo journal from me without
pics of plantlife

Took the trail thru the foret back up

A burnt tree & a bleeding tree intertwined

Back at the top

Awesome!

I'm going to start today with the awesomeness of my friend, Loretta. She graciously created the most fantastic art for one of my stories, Stopover at the Backworlds' Edge. My imagination created a world to which stock art would not do. So, I am very grateful to Loretta for taking this on and giving me something as fantastic as the story. Stopover is one of my favorite pieces. Take a gander at the fantastic art. http://lorettasjourney.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-425-determined-toon.html

She also graced me last week with a friendship award, which I will pass on to my video genius and back to Loretta. Not only does Nicole/Raven create awesome videos for me, she never complains about the rambling e-mails I send her. When I get stuck in the process, I write her e-mails that go on and on. Often, by the end of the e-mail, I work out my own problem. I send them to her anyway. Sometimes I don't work out the issue and she helps me out. She's been through all the reincarnations of my first novel, all of my short stories and the second novel. She's heard my musings on the third and fourth novel ideas. I e-mail her my work everyday. She acts as a 2nd, 3rd and 4th backup in case this computer commits suicide by setting itself on fire like the last one. I lost my entire hard drive except for my writing. Phew! She's as much a sci-fi head as me, which is how we met. A very talented and invaluable friend.

Loretta, too, has been an awesome friend. Not only for making the awesome artwork, but for being supportive and encouraging as well. In this profession of mine, the more support the better.

It's awesome friends that make a great day. I am honored to be surrounded by so many amazing people with amazing talent. Say what you will about the internets, I've met some wonderful people in cyberspace. I am grateful for Loretta and Video Gal and the rest of you in my life.

I did read Under the Moon on Sunday. It went very well. Met more people. They seemed to really enjoy the story, which makes me happy. I'm glad to get the learning curve out of the way on this aspect of an author's life.

Evil Dead the musical was hysterical. As long as zombies are singing and dancing, they're OK. We had a good time. I was one row away from the splatter zone, so got splattered. They pretty much got the whole audience in the last act. I recommend it. Highly amusing and ... different. We were all definitely entertained.

I've begun the spit and polish on my second novel. I wrote up the character goals, motivations and conflicts over the weekend. I'm really excited to get back into the story and mold my sorry ashtray into a masterpiece vase [pronouncing voz]. That's how I think of writing. I throw down the clay and mold and form it until it's pretty.

Evil Dead Under the Moon

This Sunday, I will be reading "Under the Moon" at the Bend Public Library, 2:00 p.m. For more information on this short story, see: http://www.mpaxauthor.com/biblio.php?storyid=32

The featured author this Sunday is Denise Fainberg. She has lived in the Northwest since 1988. A freelance, writer, her work has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Spiritual Life, and other publications. When she’s not traveling, she teaches foreign languages at Central Oregon Community College. She lives in Bend and is the author of Oregon: An Explorer’s Guide, and most recently, Washington: An Explorer’s Guide.

For more information: http://www.deschuteslibrary.org/2ndsunday/

Welwyn Wilton Katz is holding an online workshop. She is an award-winning, highly acclaimed author writing for young people. For more on Welwyn and her workshop see: http://blog.booksbywelwyn.ca/2010/10/you-want-me-to-read-your-writing.html#comments

I've been teasing my husband that I'm going out with my boyfriends tonight. For a 'thank you' for our dedication over the summer, the observatory is taking us to dinner and a show. The Evil Dead. I told them I hate zombies, but I suppose that if it's in the Thriller vein, I can handle it. I'm sure it will be fun.

Next week is a huge, big literary week. The Guild's annual special event, Literary Harvest, is next Friday. Saturday is the revision workshop with Elizabeth Lyon. See, http://centraloregonwriters.blogspot.com/

Diane Hammond is reading at the library on Thursday night and I'd like to go. She gave a wonderful presentation to the Guild about a year ago. From her I learned there are levels of rejection.

There's a critique group meeting on the 18th. Guild meeting on the 25th. Ursula K. Le Guin is reading at Camalli's on October 29th. Critique group meets again November 1. I have a workshop with Nature of Words on Saturday, Nov. 6th then I'm reading at the library again on November 7th. Saturday, November 13th is the sci-fi convention in Portland, Orycon32, and I'm signed up with a writers workshop for it with one other amateur and two professional sci-fi writers. Critique group again on the 15th. Then another Guld meeting on November 19th.

What have you got going on? To all of you unpublished and seeking, keep going and learning. Keep reaching out to people. Knowledge is your best offense.

Less Busy? Bwa ha ha!

Thought with PMO now over until May, I might get more time. Ha! I must quit believing everything I tell myself.

Last Thursday, Paty Jager presented a great workshop on character goal, conflict and motivation. A lovely and talented author and it was an awesome, informative workshop. I learned a lot . I learned a lot in the workshop she gave on pitching last spring. Currently, I am reading her recent release, Spirit of the Mountain. I love how she mixes history into the story. I'm a real sucker for history and mythology. This one has both. Quite delicious.

I am co-chairing a workshop on October 16th presented by the well-known Elizabeth Lyon with Paty. This workshop is sponsored by Central Oregon Writers Guild. The workshop is here in Bend, OR. If you're interested, space is limited. Registration can be found on the Guild's blog. Click on Elizabeth's picture on the sidebar and the application will come up for you to print. Link to the Guild's blog below.

The night before is the big annaul Guild event, Literary Harvest. It is the writing contest I participated in last year. This year, I'm more behind the scenes. So, it was not proper to enter. I'll be there October 15th to cheer on this year's crop of winners. Interested in going? See: http://centraloregonwriters.blogspot.com for more info. We're at the Hitchcock auditorium at the college campus in Bend this year. We're moving up. More entries and more prestige. One of the prizes is a scholarship to attend the Nature of Words conference in November. Also here in Bend. Ellen Waterston is one of the co-founders of Nature of Words. I've been going the last few years. The first year I went to a lecture given by Ursula K. LeGuin. Last year I attended a workshop with Jane Kirkpatrick. This year I'm attending a workshop given by Hilary Jordan.

On Wednesday night, I went to a local independent bookstore - Camalli's - for Ellen Waterston's book launch, Where the Crooked River Rises. Since she was instrumental in getting me to Willamette Writers this past August to pitch my first novel, it was a must on my calendar. Whenever I feel a little glum about the rejection-love, I recall how she told me not to take no for an answer and believed I have the talent to make it. Remembering that talk always makes me feel better.

I have more workshops coming up and a sci-fi convention. I will be reading at Second Sundays, too. So a busy autumn it is.

How about you? What have you planned to keep your dreams alive? Any stories of encouragement to share? Remember my favorite motto from the great Jason Nesmith: Never give up! Never surrender!

Voyages

I'm blogging on my website today http://www.mpaxauthor.com/

Discovery. I wrote about space exploration, the ongoing exploratory missions of NASA and an upcoming mission to Jupiter launching next summer.

http://mpaxauthor.com/discovery.php

Writers Desk. An article on accomplishing writing a novel or any other dream. The secret is to keep at it on a consistent basis. For more go to  http://mpaxauthor.com/writersdesk.php


Under M. Pax Works you'll notice eight new short story titles. Yes, over the last month, I've written eight stories. http://mpaxauthor.com/bodyofwork.php



Second Sunday

Second Sunday turned 6. A wonderful program put on by local poets, which has enriched my life and gives me an opportunity to read. I happily attended. Open mic did happen, so I read a new story, Exposed. It needs a little more work, but most of it is where it should be. It's in the hopper with my critique group for next Monday.

Steps into the Beyond

How's your week going? Mine is going along all right. It's been dreary and chilly a lot over this way. Reminds me a lot of Portland. I think it's time to put the A/C away for the year. Heaters have been kicking on in the evenings and kitties and humans are both glad to have the influx of warmth. If the weather doesn't improve, it's going to be a miserable weekend up at the observatory. It's our last nights with moon out of the way, so I'd love to get some viewing in.

Writing is going well. I have one more half-written story to finish up then I want to do some serious edits to a finished story. No word on anything. Nothing about short stories. Nothing about novels.

I'm still reading novel#2. The novice writing makes me cringe and has me itching to get at it, but I'm forcing myself to be patient. It's important to just read and immerse myself back in the world I created. Yet I dream about editing. I fix sentences in my sleep. Maybe that's why sleep has been hard to come by this week.

Started on research for the next book, too. I'm not sure which of the two ideas I'm going with yet. I'm reading Weird Oregon, Physics of the Impossible, books on places of power and spirituality, books on Stonehenge and places like it, and I'm reading a steampunk novel. I have another sci-fi novel using Stonehenge to read when done with the steampunk. Since the sci-fi novel teeters on an idea I'm toying with, I should read what someone else wrote. Weird Oregon is giving me great fodder for novel#3. It even includes alien encounters near Millican where I plan on setting novel#3. Excellent. And now I have the ghost of Kent, too [see Tuesday's post]. I wish I could write both novels at the same time, but that would not work out well.

This Sunday is Second Sunday at the Bend Public Library. It's their 6th birthday. The program begins at 2:00 p.m. If there is open mic, I will be reading a new story, 'Exposed', set here in Central Oregon. If not, I will just enjoy their celebration and save the story for October. This program has become invaluable to me for reaching a live audience, winning fans, practicing reading aloud in a friendly atmosphere and meeting other writers. My reading aloud has already improved.

Are there pockets of opportunity where you live? What are they? If you're not taking advantage of their existence already, you should get at it.

So how are things progressing for you? Last fall I implemented my 'get out there and get visible' campaign. It has been very rewarding. Step by step, I keep building. Even if you have nothing to sell/show yet, you should get out there and let people know you're out there. There's a learning curve to a lot of things and I think it's best to get that curve out of the way. Be ready to rumble. When your time comes, be ready.

If you need help in getting started, I'd be happy to help. We can talk about ideas for getting out there and getting ready. I dare you to plan and implement one step.

So tell me, what are your plans and what are you going to do?

Night Sky Guides

Saturday the volunteers of Pine Mountain Observatory were featured in The Bulletin, Bend's local newspaper.

You can read the full article here:
https://circulation.bendbulletin.com/publicus2/html/login?CSProduct=BUONLINE&CSAuthReq=1283628674:473401945029793:557187C34B869B111F1C7ACC6E62A06F&CSTargetURL=http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/login&AID=20100904/NEWS01/9040316

Here's my buddy Eric looking through the 24.

Oh no! It's the ghost of Kent!

We were called 'The Stars of Pine Mountain' and mostly talked about our love of what we do. I'm kind of disturbed they printed my actual age and the way my statements 'says her husband knows that she will be busy ever weend in the summer. "It's a little like therapy."' Has my husband teasing me about needing therapy from him. :-O He knows I did not say those things together or mean it that way, but I am never going to hear the end of it.

I am happy they added in how I'm a science fiction writer. Too bad I couldn't sneak in my website URL. Although, my husband passes it out a lot. He goes to Borders and tell folks they should check out a local writer. That's sweet.

Moongirl

Wednesday night I took this pic of the moon. It was tough as it was too dark to get a decent shot once the moon got high enough to see. It was really this color - well, actually it was redder. I was using my 4" Meade, which broke so that it won't stay still once it's aimed. So I had to hold the telescope and the camera as still as possible. Finally got one decent shot once I put the moon filter on. Took about 50 takes. Thank the Universe for the invention of digital cameras.

The 8" is up at the observatory, so I'll probably get some moon shots tonight. The moon will be just past full, so it's going to be bright. It's cool here - only about 70 - so I better get the thermals ready. Hope my cold doesn't try to sneek back, but I have a feeling it will. Maybe I'll take a preventative zicam before I go.

Hurt my left shoulder blade on Wednesday, so have been taking a lot of Advil, too. Apparently, my carefulness with the kickass workouts was not careful enough. Pushups are off the menu again for awhile. Siiiigh.

It's been really smoky here. Can smell fire in the air. I guess there's a wildfire on the Warm Springs Reservation and farmers have been burning their fields. Adds up to a hazy mess.

The reading of Plantgirl last night went well. Folks were talking about needing some Miracle Gro in their shoes. Mmmmmhmmmm. Me, too. I think I finally got reading slower down. Folks noticed my improvement. Practice at Second Sundays is paying off. It's also a lot of fun. Second Sundays is an enthusiastic crowd which sizzles with electricity.

I leave you for the weekend with a photo to caption. Have a great one!

Me hidey good

Plantgirl Revisited

This Thursday night, I'll be reading Plantgirl. COCC Redmond Campus, 2048 SE College Loop, Building 1 Room 122, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Thursday August 26, 2010. The meeting is free and everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy an evening of creative and innovative story telling.

You can also enjoy Plantgirl by visiting my website http://www.mpaxauthor.com/. It will be listed under M Pax Works as a free read.

They Might Be Giants

Saturday night these enormous thumps woke me up as they rattled down the hallway. Literally, rattling. I could not only hear the noise, I could feel it. Worse yet, they entered the room next to mine. Everything was a loud, reverberating whomp. How could anybody be that loud? What the frick were they doing? So, I said to my huband, I figured they had to be giants.

He laughed. "So, you thought, the only possible way people could be so loud," he said, "was if they might be giants."

OK, yeah, geeky 80's band humor.

My trip to Portland to attend the Willamette Writers conference was a great success. You can read more on my website - http://www.mpaxauthor.com/ - under NEWS select 'The Scoop'. I met a lot of great people, armed myself with more knowledge and did all right.

I'm busy with putting queries and submissions together this week. So, yay!

Here's some photos I took.

Lighting in the hotel rooms was not the best. So those of you from the old blog can see I've been behaving myself.

It was cold and rainy in Portland when I left Sunday morning. If I were staying in Portland, I would have rethought the shorts and T-shirt I had on in favor of jeans & a sweatshirt. Since I was returning to the sunnyside of the Cascades, I left the shorts on.

Oh sun! It was much warmer once the sun came out. Mount Hood and some views while I was driving.