What a weekend!

This past weekend was probably the best weekend I've had in a long time. My husband and I spent the weekend camping with his family. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Although, I must admit, even though I prepared for it, I froze when trying to sleep Friday night. I'm a seasoned camper and normally rough it when camping, but this time I didn't want to be cold. I took my electric blanket and you know what? I was still cold. Dumb me, didn't put a blanket on top of the electric one to hold the heat in. Brrrrr

We had one whole camping area of the park reserved just for us. I think we had six tents of various shapes and sizes up. The campground was right next to a beautiful lake. My husband loves to fish and caught several, but he's a catch-and-release kind of fisherman, so he didn't keep them. I tried my hand at a little fishing, too. I bought a new rod and reel the last time we went camping, but never got to try it out. This time I did, but probably should have just left it home. I got a few bites, but didn't catch any fish.

It was just fun getting to visit with family that we don't get to see often and a few young nieces and nephews that I hadn't met. We all keep in touch via Facebook, but getting to spend so much time together in person was a treat. We stayed up until 2 am just talking around the campfire one night. Some family members that couldn't camp came to visit for a while and we even had some friends stop by to chat.


And, the food, oh - my - gosh the food we fixed was wonderful. Our first night for supper, we had beef kabobs, deer meat, and sweet potatoes, all fixed over the fire. The second night was more deer meat (the best I've ever tasted. Thank you, Josh), hamburgers, hot dogs, and chili. Breakfast on both days was bacon and eggs.

But, the best part of the whole weekend was my daughter and her husband surprising everyone by driving up from Mississippi. It's so great spending time with family and friends. We plan on making this an annual event for our family and I can't wait until next year.

Carol

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe has always been my favorite author. For a couple years in college, I majored in English and whenever the topic of favorite authors came up, I said Poe was mine. You wouldn't believe the odd looks that I received. But, why not Poe? Even through his addiction to alcohol and possible mental illness, his short stories and poems were superb.

This past weekend I tried to write a Poe-like story to submit to an anthology. Finding it very difficult, I completed about a page and a half. I need no more than 10,000 words and have until the end of this month to finish it. Writing in first-person is not something I do very often. It's going to be a slow process of trying to get inside of Poe's head to write this story. After all, I'm not an alcoholic and I don't think I have a mental illness, although there may be some that think otherwise.

Wish me luck.
Carol

9-11 Tribute

Publicity Photos

I'm getting some publicity photos taken this weekend and I'm a bit nervous about it. I'm usually the person on the back side of the camera, not the front. Alas, I can't put it off any longer. Most of the pictures you find of me on blogs or social network sites are years old. What I wouldn't do to look like Julia Roberts in my photos. Unfortunately, I won't have a hairdresser, makeup artist, or wardrobe person. It will be all me.

I'm have full faith in the photographer and she promised she has some great ideas for author photos. The weather has cooled so maybe my makeup won't be melting down my face. I'm hoping for no wind so I don't have to use hairspray. I hate hairspray. And, sunshine, I really need sunshine on Saturday.

My last worry is clothes. I need to pick out three outfits and I have no idea what to wear. Four days and counting. I better go rummage through my closet and see if I can pull out some magic. Wish me luck and I'll be posting the results when I get the finished product.

Carol

Big Annoucement

I'm excited to announce that I have signed a contract with Secret Cravings Publishing to release by second novel, Saved by the Sheriff. The tentative release date will be January 2012.

Saved by the Sheriff is a romantic suspense that takes place in southern Indiana. New York City writer, Jaime Wilson wants the Assistant Editor job at Real Mystery Magazine. In order to get it, she has to write a kick-ass story and what could be better than a 30-year old unsolved murder in a small town.

When Jaime visit Royal, Indiana to investigate, she soon finds that someone in the town doesn't want the mystery solved and she becomes a target. After an arrest for trespassing and then an attempt on her life, Sheriff Ben Hunter lets her stay at his place where he can keep an eye on her while she continues to work on her story.

She didn't count on falling in love with the sheriff and he didn't think he would have to work so hard to keep her safe. When she finally finishes her story, she has to make her choice of staying with Ben or taking the new job in New York.

My first novel, Love, Lies & Deceit is still available on amazon.com as a Kindle download or in other formats on the Red Rose Publishing web site.

It's still hard to believe that my dream of becoming a published author is coming true. With hard work and a little luck, dreams can come true.

Carol