Friends and Writers

One of the great advantages of being a writer in the 21st century is we have myriad ways to socialize and network with other writers. The computer and the availability of the Internet allows us to communicate with family, friends and like-minded people from all over the globe. Amazing to be sure.

I'd like to introduce a fellow writer who fits into all three of those categories for me. He is family, a friend, and a fiction writer. How lucky am I?

Dell Smith writes short stories and novels of contemporary fiction. And without sounding too bias -- he's a damn good writer! His most recent completed manuscript is A Little Disappeared. He, too, is in search of a literary agent to help launch his publishing career. You can check him out at http://www.dellsmith.com/

Good luck, Dell! :)

Hope and Romance

As an unpublished writer, my desire is to be published. I work hard at my writing; learning and honing my craft, however it's equally important to know and understand the complex world of publishing. My goal is to have my contemporary romance manuscript, Summer Light, contracted and published by a top publisher in the industry. I've set my sites high, however, there are a variety of other opportunities in the world of book publishing.

There are the well-known New York publishers, smaller presses, vanity presses, e-publishing, self-publishing and everything in between.

According to the Romance Writers of America, romance fiction generated approximately $1.375 billion in sales in 2007! Wow.

That said, the competition is more intense than ever. RWA has a membership of around 10,000. That's plenty of romance happening. :) With the invention of word processing and the ease of computers, it's possible for anyone to sit down and pound out a novel. But the writer must know the basics of good writing and how to tell a compelling story.

I believe I've written a solid story filled with passion, hope, and romance. :)

Wish me luck!

First Year Anniversary

It's hard to believe it has been a whole year since I started my blog. I have enjoyed learning the intricacies of posting on the world wide web for all to read and enjoy. I'd like to say a special thank you to my sister-in-law, Liz, for helping me with negotiating through the world of blogs. :) She has her own blog http://www.madeinlowell.blogspot.com/ where she showcases and sells her beautiful handmade jewelry and other wonderful pieces. Check her out!

Thank you, Liz.

I continue to work on my contemporary romance manuscripts with the hopes of publishing someday soon. :) My first novel is called Summer Light.

My two works-in-progress are Island Moon and Storms in Winter.

Check back for some fun stuff coming very soon. Thanks for your support! :)

Autumn Begins

In central Florida, the beginning of fall is a time for celebration with lower temperatures and less humidity. Finally the days are cooling off just a bit, and the snow birds are beginning to trickle back to the sub-tropical climate.

Being from New England and never liking the cold weather, fall was always a tough time for me. I loved the brisk air, the vibrant colors of the leaves, and the anticipation of the coming holidays, but the shorter days and the long cold nights were not always easy.

Now living in Florida I miss all that I loved in New England, and actually wish I could see the soft falling snow again. There is nothing more beautiful than white snow against a backdrop of a stark blue sky and evergreen trees.

The best part of being a writer is to be able to choose any setting and fill it with compelling, believable characters. I'm planning my third book to take place during the winter months in Massachusetts....I guess I'll have to move back.

Will I ever be content? Call me crazy! :)

Wonderful Weekend

I had a fantastic, relaxing, inspirational weekend at our TARA retreat! What could be better than being among fellow romance writers? We spent our time writing, plotting, and critiquing. As well as chatting, drinking, eating, and shopping. :) We also enjoyed the entertaining and wonderfully romantic movie, Ever After.

We stayed at the Lido Beach Holiday Inn overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico complete with amazing sunsets in a dazzling array of scarlet, indigo, and pink.

Thanks to Vicki Lane, Jean Mason and to many of the Tampa Area Romance Authors for allowing us to enjoy such a beautiful weekend! :)

Writing Retreat

This coming weekend I'm heading off to a writing retreat in Sarasota, FL sponsored by the Tampa Area Romance Authors. I'm looking forward to a couple of days of relaxing, eating, drinking, socializing, critiquing and hopefully....writing. :)

I will be taking my laptop -- an old fashioned spiral notebook with lined pages -- and sitting by the pool, or on the beach, or in my hotel room....writing. No writing on the computer this weekend. It will be interesting to see how many of my fellow TARA members at the retreat will have electronic writing devices.

Happy Writing!

Movie Fun

I love movies!

I love a great movie just as I love a great novel. Of course, as we know, what one person loves another might not. We all have books and movies we love, like, don't like, and hate. That's what makes the world so fascinating.

Recently, I watched the movie Nim's Island. I loved it! It was refreshingly original and lots of fun. How can you go wrong with Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, and Abigail Breslin in the cast? The movie is at times a cross between Home Alone and Romancing the Stone, but alot more fun.

Nim's Island is about a father and his eleven-year-old daughter who live alone on an island paradise in the middle of nowhere. The father, Jack (Gerard Butler) is a research scientist. Nim and Jack -- and a lively group of pets, including a pelican named Galileo, a sea lion named Selkie, and a giant lizard named Fred -- live an idyllic life on the island, until one day Jack goes off to sea and doesn't return. Nim (Abigail Breslin) reaches out to her favorite author, Alex Rover (Jodie Foster) who writes adventure stories. They start with conversations via email. (Yes they have the Internet on their island -- through solar power, of course) :)

Nim asks Alex Rover to help because her father is missing. Unbeknownst to Nim, Alex Rover is a woman and an agoraphobic, obsessive compulsive, and never leaves her San Francisco apartment. Jodie Foster plays Alex Rover with perfect quirky, comedic style. She truly is one of the best American actresses around today. Gerard Butler plays a dual role as Nim's quiet, studious father, and as Alex Rover's fictional adventurer character. Some of the best scenes are between Jodie Foster and Gerard Butler as she's traveling to the island to help Nim, and carries on real conversations with the fictional adventurer. Fun.

This is one of those rare films to be enjoyed by the whole family with elements of humor, adventure, suspense and romance. :)

Maybe you will enjoy it too?


On the bottom of the blog page is a list of some of my favorite movies.