Oh the dreaded self-promotion...Yes, it's something that you must take part in when you write a book and hope to sell it. But, saying that doesn't seem to make it any easier. I have written four books and finally with the release of my latest book (obviously in the mood for a party)I decided that we would have a book launch party. The first thing to do would be to call up my best friend - who not only lives to plan parties but plans parties to live! She immediately had some great ideas for the party and almost made me forget the fact that it would be about promoting my book! It sounded like it would be a lot of fun! There were some hiccups in the planning - the date had to be changed a few times, the location had to be changed a few times, there was a bit of an issue with the ordered treats -- but for the most part, planning the party was fairly easy for us (of course, when I say "us" I totally mean "her" - because she did the majority of the work!!) The difficulty for me came when I realized (only hours before the party) that...oh ya, I would have to promote my book at this party.uhhgg.
So, the nervousness set in! While loading up the car, my husband very patiently put up with all of my moods and sarcasm - he knew how I felt about self-promotion. The plan was that I would sell and sign copies of the book at the party...but several times during that short drive to the party, I suggested to my husband that we not bring the books and we just enjoy the night. He laughed - telling me that people were expecting the book and wanted copies, blah, blah, blah...and he was right (of course.) But it's really difficult to wrap your head around that. It always feels like people are just "doing you a favour". I suppose the more times you do this, the easier it gets and it doesn't hurt to believe yourself that what you've written is actually worth buying. The party was a huge success and my favorite part was connecting with all of my friends that came out to support me. And the thought definitely occurred to me that I would do the same for any one of them...and then it hit me! That's the whole point - whether they are buying the book because they genuinely want to read it - or they are supporting you, does it really matter? Would it matter to me? Absolutely not. I would buy a book that a friend of mine had written if it was on the topic of algebra (and if you know anything about me whatsoever, you know that says a lot!!) The idea is people will want to buy your book because it is supporting you and something that you've acheived that is important to you. For this I am truly grateful...that I have friends and family that will buy a picturebook (when they have no young children of their own or don't know of any!!) - just to support me.
So thank you.

I am happy to be blogging about this...and yet at the same time, sad. I'm sad that I can't reach more people. I was given a CD as a gift. I was thankful and promised myself that I would eventually get around to listening to it. A week or so passed and finally I popped it into my car en route to grocery shopping. When I finally got to the grocery store, I sat in my car and waited for the CD to completely finish before getting out of my car. I loved it, to put it mildly. The CD is self-titled Graham Greer. I am a writer -- so I've always been drawn more to great songwriting than a good strong beat. But this had both! The songwriting really is outstanding, though. It's been a really long time since I've been impressed with a CD in it's entirety. Usually there are a couple of good songs....but I find myself skipping from song to song. This CD isn't like that - I found myself listening and re-listening to each and every song.
Treat yourself to this gem of a CD - Graham Greer. You're gonna love it!

I will now take this opportunity to promote my newest book which will be released in October. Shoe Shopping with...Dad? is the story of Izzy who has a shoe shopping trip planned with her mom. Plans change and she goes shoe shopping with Dad. Dad has no idea of what he's in store for. Izzy tries all different types of shoes trying to find the perfect pair. Does she succeed? One thing's for certain...shoe shopping takes a lot longer than Dad had planned!
Get your copy in October...

How true. I am in the middle of producing our next book. Tormenting process really...The more I check my emails, the longer everything seems to take. This is the first book that we've done that is on somewhat of a schedule. I am trying to plan a book launch (or release party, if you will) for this book - so I really need to know when I will have the books - so that I can book the venue. The whole thing is just stressing me out. It got me thinking...why is it that when you have no expectations, deadlines, schedule - things tend to go off without a hitch. Yet, the minute you throw a date out there - it jinxes everything? In order to properly plan for a book release - I firmly believe it would be immensely helpful to already have the books. Yes...months ahead. Let them sit in your warehouse collecting dust - but at least you know that you have them all ready to go when you need them. It takes the stress right out of it! Publicists, agents, etc. might disagree with me on this...but, feeling the stress that I am right here today - that's my solution for next time around!

Every time I turn on the tele I find a new makeover show. If not a full show dedicated to some one's transformation - at least portions of a show dedicated to some one's transformation. From the long awaited removal of her mullet, to helping a hoarder once again find the counter top in his kitchen...all the same underlying theme. It really is possible to get yourself out of a rut with a little bit of help and belief in yourself. And I'm not gonna lie to you....I often find myself caught up in the excitement of it all! So, I'm in a bit of a rut - and I've decided that I will try to apply some of the principles that I've learned from makeover television - to my own makeover. It is not, however, a makeover to change my hair or clothing nor is it a makeover to help me sort through the massive mess in my shed. It is a makeover for my writing! So my journey begins... First, I've noticed that in most cases it takes someone else to point out that you have a problem. So, I take one of my worst reviews (and there have been a few...) and I use this as my launching pad for what will be a new me! One of the critiques is my grammar (for which there is no excuse and I am terribly ashamed of). I take a look at my writing and try to find my grammatical errors. I am sure that I won't be successful at this (since I didn't notice them in the first place) - but then as I really read over and over, I am amazed to see the errors!! Like someone telling me that I need porcelain veneers to make my smile look half-decent - I do my best to correct my grammar in my previous work. It can't change what has already gone to print - but it feels great, nonetheless. So, one by one I go through the review and I edit my work. I am amazed at how this process is working! I really am beginning to feel a transformation!
So, what is it about this makeover mania that we all find so appealing? I am sure it is that we can all relate on some level to wanting to change the things about yourself that you're not satisfied with. Be it your hair, your job or, in my case, your writing - it really can get you out of a rut.
So, I challenge you to find where you might be needed a bit of a makeover of your own. How might it change your writing or your second grade bowl cut - the possibilities are endless...

Just getting back from BookExpo America 2009 in NYC...Just as it was two years ago when we attended, it was well worth the trip. I agree with some of the other bloggers - attendance was down. But the vibe was good. I have to say, though, just before leaving I decided to take a look at the BEA blog and there was a posting about how it has been the show organizer's goal for quite some time now to "weed out the riff-raff, ie. unpublished authors"...Wow. What do you say to that? I couldn't help but feel like I was part of the group that they were trying to "weed out" - except no one told me that when they were accepting my (very hefty) booth fee payment. Let me just say, for the record, that the "riff-raff" just so happens to be what makes BEA come alive. The most interesting section of the entire show is, without a doubt, Writer's Row. Maybe they don't all have best sellers....but they are always approachable and will make for some of the best conversations you will have during the entire weekend. I have heard over and over again that you shouldn't pay the money to get a booth a BEA if you are self-published, independently published, or if you have a single tite, etc..etc. I disagree. If you have it in your budget to have a booth - then have a booth. From year to year, people will recognize your name/booth. They will comment on what you're doing - they will, in some cases, even look for your booth to see what is new. Make an effort to meet the people in booths around yours. I have met people at previous shows that I am still in contact with via email today. In fact, I met someone at BEA 2007 who, at the time, was quite jaded by the industry and the lack of interest in her book. I loved her book. So much so that when I returned home I ordered ten copies of the book to pass on to people that I know. This year, she found me at BEA. She came rushing to my booth to let me know that her latest book was chosen as Book of the Year - Gold for Foreword Magazine. I was so excited for her! She came by my booth to thank me for my support. There are many reasons why it was worth it to have a booth a BEA this year. But if for no other reason than seeing the excitement and success of a fellow author, it would have been worth it just for that. Congratulations Jana Laiz on your new novel "Weeping Under This Same Moon".
Looking forward to BEA 2010 - and yes, I'll have a booth.

After having decided to give-up my full time job, I finally have some free time again - not much, but some. So, I decided that I would go to visit a friend for her birthday. Her home is about a three hour drive from mine - so, scheduling a visit to her place hasn't been possible in quite some time. In fact, she reminded me that it had been an entire year since I was at her house last. That didn't surprise me - considering it was approximately one year ago that I took on the full time position. I planned to leave bright and early as soon as I got my kids on the school bus. The night before leaving, I decided to give her a call - just to make sure everything was still a go. That night she told me that she decided to do something different for her birthday this year - and that she signed us up to volunteer with the Lion's Club in her hometown to assist a group of mentally challenged adults play BINGO. I have to admit, a couple of years ago I would have definitely come up with some excuse, any excuse, to not have gone. My dad now resides in a nursing home and suffers from dementia - so, I feel a lot more capable now of doing this then I would have then. So, I agreed and let her know that I was looking forward to it. She, on the other hand, was a little nervous about it. And if I'm being completely truthful - I was a little nervous too. When I got to her house she suggested that we meet this group of Lions at the nearest coffee shop so that we could follow them. I couldn't understand why - "can't you just find out where the BINGO hall is?" I asked. Then she dropped the bomb - "no,no - we're not going to the BINGO hall - we're going to the Psychiatric Hospital." There are no keys on my keyboard that can describe what I was feeling in that moment. How the heck was I going to get out of this now? Her nervousness was now more understandable. "Why did you volunteer for this?" I asked. Her answer was simple, really. "No one else would." Fair enough... We met the group at the coffee shop and followed them to the hospital. I was surprised - the hospital was HUGE - a little unsettling actually - that they would need such a massive facility - or that there were that many people in need of that facility. On the drive into the hospital the first person I spotted walked along the roadside wearing a full-blown ballroom gown. I grimaced at my friend - what have I gotten myself into...
I'm not gonna lie - there were lots of scary people inside. I was trying my best not to make eye contact for the first while. The staff were very friendly and did their best to show us the ropes. I had some interesting encounters. There was one lady that came up to me with her BINGO card - she was sure she had a BINGO. She was ear-to-ear covered in chocolate. She must have been snacking on a treat while playing and she had chocolate all over. When she handed me her card - my hands were now covered with chocolate - there wasn't a single spot for me to hold the card that wasn't covered in chocolate! I also had a gentelman ask me if I could recommend a good cologne...
Despite all of the nervousness leading up to the day, I was so thankful to have been a part of it. It was one of those things that completely took me out of my comfort zone. I had no way of preparing myself for that day and for me - this is not a regular occurance. In fact, those of you who know me really well know that I have been known to make up "little scripts" before making a phonecall!! I kidd you not! So, being taken completely out of my zone was....liberating! Playing BINGO with this group of people made them incredibly happy. We left there with many thank you's from the staff - but more importantly - from the patients.
I am not a member of the Lion's Club - and it is a three hour drive from my home. Despite this, I found myself volunteering to do this again in the Fall. And, crazy as it seems, I'm looking forward to it! Volunteering can give you amazing experiences to write about. I encourage you to get out there and volunteer - consider it "inspiration" for you and "a helping hand" for someone else who may really need it.

I have a new love in my life. It's the iPod!! Yes...to most of you, this is not "new" at all. In fact some would ask "who doesn't have an iPod?" Well, I just recently was handed-down my son's old iPod. At first, I downloaded a couple of songs - then I realized that it had enough memory to download almost all of the songs that we have on our computer!! So, I did just that - I downloaded all of the songs that were on our computer. For the first little while, I don't think I actually listened to one song all the way through - but I was so excited to flip through song-by-song. All of this great music that I forgot we even had, was sitting here all this time! I was spending a fair bit of time flipping through - when a thought occurred to me...I have been trying really hard to find a reason to get back on the treadmill. This was the perfect reason! I could walk and flip through song-by-song. So, this is what I did. I killed one hour walking on the treadmill being my own personal DJ. Now, I'm not gonna lie. At first it took some coordination to not get my hands tangled in the speaker wires and send my poor new little friend flying across the room. But once I got the hang of it, it was super easy to walk for that hour while listening to some tunes! This was my first bit of inspiration I got from my iPod. As days went on further - I found myself actually listening to the songs all the way through. I was amazed at some of the lyrics. Even though I knew the lyrics (always singing along) - I wasn't really "listening" to them. But when I finally did - it was truly inspiring. There are some songs that read better than any novel I've read. They tell a complete story from beginning to end. I would imagine that story would be different for each listener. For example: Bridge Over Troubled Water - after my third attempt of trying to listen to the complete song without blubbering like a fool, I imagined that the song might be written by a friend-for a friend who was going through the devastating effects of cancer treatments. The kind of friend who's gonna be there and not fear the awkward moments or ever use the excuse "I can't bear to see them that way". The kind of friend that, in the middle of the worst day of your life, can still manage at some moment to bring a smile to your face. Now I really couldn't manage to get through the song without balling!!
When you're in need of some inspiration, try re-listening to some of your favourite songs. Try imagining who or what they might be written about. You might just be surprised how it can change what you will write for that day.

I haven't blogged since July 28, 2008...I'm not even going to try to apologize for it. There's no excuse for it - other than I just lost touch. Keeping in touch isn't always easy. You get all wrapped up in day to day life - the next thing you know, a whole year has gone by! Quite some time ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Facebook. I was annoyed to be completely honest. As soon as I registered (as per her request) I started getting "invitations" - from people I hardly knew back in my school days to be my friends. This annoyed me because, unlike a lot of people, I have no desire whatsoever to relive my high school years. Some of these people weren't even friends of mine back then! And there was one other issue - living out in the sticks (as I do) - I did not (until about a month ago) have access to high-speed internet. So, you can only imagine how frustrating it was to even log onto Facebook! I almost never got passed the home page. So, needless to say - I stayed away from Facebook for quite some time. Until one day I got a message from a friend that I went to elementary school with. I have tried to find her before - having no luck (which I found out was as a result of me changing her last name over the years!!) So now - thanks to Facebook - I had this opportunity to reconnect with her. I loved it. And then, more emails came from other friends that I really missed. And then I started answering some of those "invitations" that I was receiving from people that I'm ashamed to say I didn't really like all that much - which I now realize was as a result of me not making any effort to really get to know them at all - or them me - but that's neither here nor there. The point is - now we've grown up and reconnected and I am really enjoying it. So I finally decided that I would add to my profile what it is that I do. I attached the cover shots of the books that I've written onto my profile. I am finding that many people had no idea that I am a writer - but even more interesting - I'm finding many people that did know and that own and enjoy my books with their families. So, this whole "Facebook" thing - brought on a change of thought pattern for me. Anyone who knows me really well will know that if I see someone in the shopping centre that I've gone to school with and don't know really well (or sometimes do know really well, even) I will likely try my hardest to find the nearest hole to crawl into. Yes... I will make myself invisible and/or pretend that I didn't even notice or see them. I'm not sure why I do this - but I do. So I decided that I wasn't going to do this anymore. The day I reconnected with my old elementary friend - I decided from that point on that when I saw someone that I know from my past, I would always smile and make an attempt to have a chit-chat. It is amazing how different if feels to approach my day this way! Now, I can't say how I'll feel about it on my "ugly" days... you know - those days where you quickly run out of the house without brushing your hair (or teeth!!) and you will inevitably run into every guy from high school that you wanted to date but who didn't know you existed! I can't promise on my ugly days that I'll be rushing to meet you in the mall - I'll work on it....

I apologize for my absence over the last...two months! I was feeling very uninspired, quite frankly. But, I am happy to report that I have a new thought for my blog! I'm feeling old... That may not sound like good news. However, it gives me a topic. Feeling very old and worn out one day, I decided it might be a good time for me to write. I didn't have the time - very hectic life lately - yet, I decided to make myself. The most extraordinary thing happened! That day in my writing, I recreated myself as this young and vibrant, successful woman! Now, I should have known this was possible - afterall, how good does it feel to submerse yourself in a good book when you're feeling down-and-out? How nice is it to throw yourself into someone else's world, someone else's words? Well, the same goes for writing! What I wrote won't pay the bills - it probably won't ever be read by anyone else - in fact, I didn't intend for it to be read when I wrote it! But what it did was remind me how even when there's nothing to write about - there's always something to write about. And how you can choose your mood by what you write! When it's cold - you can choose to be hot. When you're stressed - you can choose to be chilled. What a concept!! The next time you're feeling anxious or slightly depressed or (heaven forbid) writer's blocked - try recreating yourself in what you write. Whenever you're feeling old, write yourself into a jr. novel and relive your preteen years!! You might want to grow up faster than you think!!

I am very disappointed to be reporting that I will not be attending BEA in LA this year. For those of you that have the money and/or time to attend - but you haven't made a decision yet - DO IT! What you gain by attending this trade show is more than you can imagine. I had no idea what to expect when attending BEA for this first time in New York. I had goals - but I wasn't prepared to be meeting my goals within the first couple of hours of the show - still having the rest of the weekend! I had to keep making new goals! I learned so much about business - and the consumer. In my case, a wealth of information was provided to me while I waited in line for a signed copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (which, by the way, ended up being my son's all time favorite book!) I had the opportunity to speak with several children's librarians. All in one place, right there ready and willing to answer any questions that I had - and did I have questions!! Not only as a publisher but as a writer... I asked what they look for when choosing books, I asked what types of books are really exciting to them upon release, I asked them what makes a classic a classic...Unfortunately, (I thought at first..) the line-up was quite long. Obviously, librarians were excited about this book. It turned out to be the best wait ever - with a wealth of information that money can't buy!! I made contacts at BEA with people in the industry that I just simply would not have the opportunity to meet. I am still in contact with many of them (via email) today, in fact. It was very difficult for me to make the decision not the attend this year. With the release of two new titles just around the corner - it just wasn't feasible. Now, had the two new titles been ready to release at BEA - there would have been no decision to make. I will be attending next year in New York - without a doubt. In fact, BEA 2008 hasn't begun and I'm already anticipating BEA 2009!! For those of you attending - set your goals and let one of those goals be to meet as many new people as you can. Accept the business cards - and contact those people when you return home. For those of you trying to decide whether or not you should attend - what are you waiting for, get packing!!!

It's days like these that I feel so lucky to be a writer! It's raining outside - almost every person I know is at work. And I am too - except, I am in the comfort of my living room, sitting in front of a fire, with my laptop on - well, my lap! And my dog Henry at my feet. I couldn't feel luckier at this moment in time. This is really what I've waited my whole life for - to be able to choose this as a Monday! Sure, there are times when deadlines interfere and writer's block takes its toll - but to have this moment....It really makes me realize that I need to schedule more of these days into my life. Weekends are never like this - there's always so much to do with the family. This is the kind of day that inspires me to write! I think of the choices that we make. I had a choice this morning of 1)doing exactly what I'm doing, 2)accompanying my husband on a car test driving, 3)run meaningless errands - that I can just as easily, in fact more easily do on a sunny day! Sounds like a no brainer, right? It would surprise you how many people would choose to do the errands. And why? Well, so that they won't have to do them later - and they can do this (lounging in front of a fire) later... except - for many of them, later never comes. There always seems to be another errand to fill its place!
Do yourselves a favour... make it an errand to sit in front of a fire, with a good book or movie, or your laptop...every chance you get. Isn't that what we work so hard to be able to do?

I haven't had time to blog recently. I have been dealing with a very unfortunate family crisis. My dad, at the very young age of 64, has been diagnosed with Semantic Dementia. For those of you that don't know what that means, it is similar to Alzheimer's disease - in some ways. But, one of the main traits of semantic dementia is - the loss of word meaning. We noticed something terribly wrong when my dad began to talk complete nonsense. Yet - by the look on his face, in his mind, he was making complete sense. It is frightening really. It got me thinking again about writing. I can't imagine losing the meaning of words. One of the specialists that I spoke to regarding my dad's condition described it to me in simple terms. She said "Picture someone picking you up and dropping you off in the middle of Saudi Arabia. You don't speak the language, therefore - no one understands you, you can't understand any of them, and you're afraid." He experiences a lot of frustration and panic - that explains that! So we've been told time and time again to "use it or lose it". Challenge your mind - to ward off things like Alzheimer's. I think of my dad - a younger man. He was a musician. He spent the better part of every day in song. Now - he no longer has meaning to many words. Will he eventually lose the ability to sing? Probably so - as this like other forms of dementia - is progressive.

Every day that you sit down to write - think of it as a gift - a gift that could be taken away from you - say.. tomorrow! Will it then seem like less of a chore? Will it reignite a passion inside you for writing? Tell yourself everyday - that this could be your last day to write. You might just be surprised at just how much you have to say!

Very recently a good friend of mine lost her job. Well actually - it didn't "fall out of her pocket" - she was let go. Fired. The reason was not unusual. She worked for someone who was insecure and therefore, was intimidated by her confidence. As expected, she received many supportive emails from friends and colleagues assuring her that his decision was unfounded and that she's better off. There was one email, though, that caught my eye - and hers. It was about the experiences that you have to go through in your life in order to find what it is that you truly were meant to be doing. Sometimes that means working for an *@#$ and sometimes that means being fired. But it can also mean taking a risk to pursue your dream. As a writer, I can tell you that it is not a 9-5 job. Unfortunately, I cannot program myself to do my most meaningful writing between the hours of 9am and 5pm. In fact, sometimes it's 1am! Therefore, in order for me to "really" pursue my dream - it is necessary for me to be a "starving" writer (at least for now - hopefully not forever!). I make sacrifices in order to do this - I don't drive a "fancy" car, I have never spent a day at a "spa" - in fact, I have been told that if I don't soon take care of my eyebrows I'll be mistaken for Bert from Sesame Street! But I am taking this risk in order to pursue my dream of becoming a full time writer. Not everyone needs to do this - but for me, it is so. I really believe that you can't catch the next train - if you don't get off of the one you're on! You don't need to be fired - to know that you belong somewhere else doing something else. You might just find that your risk pays off. I think we really owe it to ourselves to pursue what makes us truly happy in terms of what we choose to do for (on average) 40 hours per week. If you are spending your best hours in a day, working for someone else - helping them to pursue their dream - ask yourself why their dream is more important than your dream.
Turns out - being fired was the best thing that could have happened for my friend. It has given her the push she really needed to pursue her dream. I would imagine that the term "let go" - means just that. That you are free to do now what you were meant to do. "Thank you insecure, chauvinist, control freak boss of mine! This was the first nice thing that you've done for me!"

As a publisher, I am always telling people to write often. Even if you don't have time, make time to write for at least 15 minutes a day - it will almost always end up being more... But what I neglected to mention is - as a writer, you also have to make time to READ. That is the writer's continued education, so-to-speak. If you don't read - your style will never evolve - your vocabulary will never enhance and your train of thought will never leave one track! I have heard many-a-writer say "I'm not really a big reader.." This puzzles me. I don't think you're working at your highest potential - unless you're a "big reader". If you are a writer either fulltime or part time - you need to continously hone your craft. I really believe that one of the best ways you can do this is by READING. So, as I advised to write for at least 15 minutes everyday - I am now ammending that to include reading for at least 15 minutes a day. Choose different materials - so you will begin to appreciate different writing styles. You'd be surprised what you'll take away when you begin "book"ing time to read!

So, we are in the midst of getting two new titles ready for release this summer. Both books are in the final stages of design and layout. One thing that we always get "hung up on" is the title of the book. There wasn't any extra thought given to the title of the first book that we produced. It just was what it was. The title was written as part of the book - when it was "conceived" - so to speak. When our second book was released, it was only then that we realized the importance of the title. Even though we didn't put anymore thought into that title than the first - this title seemed to grab the audience on it's own. Even though we want the reader to appreciate the book in it's entirety - we forget that in order for them to be interested in it enough to turn the cover and look inside - there must be something that entices them to do so. This can be difficult - if you've chosen your title - and it really doesn't "grab" anyone - letting go and changing that part of the book can be a challenge. This is when it is a good time to get input from those around you. Sometimes a fresh idea for a title can come from someone reading the book for the first time. The title of a book can determine whether or not it will be glanced at or simply passed by. You must remember - often times all the buyer has to go on is a title and a small picture when making a decision on whether or not to purchase. This is where the title speaks VOLUMES. You can take this blog two ways: be sure lots of thought goes into planning the title for your book AND don't pass by a book simply because the title didn't grab you - you might have to dig a little bit because we don't all get it right the first time around!

Yes, I am back from vacation. In one way, I am happy to be back to my home and my dog - afterall, a hotel room gets "crowded" after 10 days - hell, after two!!! But in another way - I am oh-so sad.... I come back to the "bleak" of winter. Middle of March, still tonnes of snow on the ground - how do we cope? It inspired me to write about post "anything" blues.... Whilst on vacation, I read a book - a fairly lengthy novel - which was good and I liked it very much. But - the minute I had completed it, I was sad... I felt like I shouldn't have rushed through it, or that it should've been longer - or that how am I going to ever find another book as good - along these same lines - to continue this feeling? I felt the same about my vacation. These good feelings, how can I maintain them when I'm back at home? How can I recreate this vacation, somehow, into my everyday life? The short answer, of course, is - you can't. But - I should know by now that I will read another novel that will give me good feelings, maybe different, but it will be good. And there will be other vacations and even in my everyday life - there will be good moments - many. Like enjoying a morning coffee with my husband. Or enjoying the view - all of the snow outdoors - from my office window - knowing that I will be inside for the day enjoying a warm fire and a cup of tea while a type away on my laptop. So, find your "vacation" moments in your everyday life. Maybe rediscover them - because it may not be "walking on the beach" - but it may be cuddling up in your favorite duvet! Perhaps the novel that you are writing - filled with your "vacation" moments - will someday be the novel that leaves the reader wanting more and suffering from a case of "post novel blues".

Yes, that is written in all caps in order to emphasize my excitment! If you are lucky enough to experience the winters that we do - here in Ontario, Canada - then you would better understand why even the mere thought of a vacation sends me into "lock-jaw" with a smile!! Last night the temperature dropped to a lovely -29 degrees celsius (no, that's not a typo!!!) The thing I miss most about summer is colour. Everything in my outside environment these days is some shade of grey. Ground to sky - it's all the same!! I miss the green of grass and the blue of sky - and of course all of the beautiful colours of nature in between! So - we have planned a couple of weeks in sunny Florida. I have managed to keep it all top secret from my kids - until the day we leave - which is a lot more difficult than it sounds - trust me!! And with the excitement of a vacation - comes the excitement of all of the writing and reading I am going to do when I'm gone!! I have picked up the thickest book I could find at the library - and a travel journal. I have never kept a travel journal on any vacation I have taken before - but this time - it is a must. We sometimes chat about prior vacations - and year after year the memories fade - and the stories change - or are incomplete. Therefore, I am determined this year to record our experiences at the end of each day so we will remember. I encourage everyone to 1. TAKE VACATIONS and 2. KEEP A TRAVEL JOURNAL when you do. Who knows what kind of a Bestseller could be made out of your trip??!!!

It is truly amazing to me how incredible you feel when you rid yourself of a mess that's been a monkey on your back! Whether it's the top of your desk or a mess in your closet or heck even old food in your fridge - it is a huge feeling of accomplishment when you are able to organize it and let it all go! What many of us don't always realize, is the open space you create in your mind when you let go of the clutter on your desk. Personally, when I am able to organize an area in my space that has become cluttered - or no longer functional - I am able to concentrate more on my writing and less on the mess. You wouldn't think that same feeling would apply to your refrigerator - but again, it is not that the space itself is needed for you to write - it is the space the mess occupies in your mind that leaves you with less space for your creativity to flow. Try this.... the next time you are experiencing a "writer's block" - try organizing a mess in your space. Be it your desktop or closet - something that has been a battle for you for some time. You might just be surprised at how that organization in your space - actually creates organization with your thoughts - allowing you to break free of your block and continue with your writing project. Give it a try - you might just be surprised!

Yesterday evening I was invited to attend a meeting with a group of women (affectionately know as the "Henscratchers"). If you hadn't guessed, it is a group of writers that, much to my surprise, have been together for over five years! Composed of all different types of writers, it was definitely a group of women dedicated to their craft of writing. Although the meeting was informal and "laid-back", which is exactly how they prefer it, from what I've been told - it was clearly a professional group with a common goal - to share and learn. They are a group of ten (with only a couple absent). I am aware that there were a number of retired teachers as part of the group - which explains the "note-takers and non- note-takers"!!! Some of these writers are actually able to pursue their writing without the use of email or internet!!!! Can you even imagine!! I asked myself on the drive home - what makes this group work - how does this group manage to stay together for five years now? As busy as life gets, I can't manage to commit to very much - let alone five years to a writing group! The plan was that I was to come to the meeting and speak about my company Pipsqueak Publishing, the choices that I've made as a publisher and writer - and so on... However, the outcome of the meeting, which may surprise the group, was that I was there to LEARN. I am continuously trying to find ways of being more "dedicated" to my writing. It's a busy world - family, obligations, laundry!!! How do you allow yourself that bit of time everyday to hone your craft? I don't know if they realize it - but these women have achieved just that! They may not write every single day - and they may occasionally scribble something last minute - just to prove they've come prepared for the meeting - but for FIVE years they have managed to be true to this group and make an effort for what they feel they do well (even the ones that won't admit it to themselves!!) That, to me, is dedication to your writing. Unfortunately for you, there are no vacancies at the Henscratchers table! They prefer to be a tight group of ten. I am encouraging you, though, to find your fellow Henscratchers, Scribblers, Pen-Players, whatever the name may be - and dedicate yourself to a group that shares your passion. What you will learn, besides great baking and laundry tips (of course!) - might be just what you need to turn your dream into a reality! Thank you Henscratchers!