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Wheeeeee, whee, whee!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Carefully check out all the baskets…
Buy a bunch of tickets…Dave’s arm length is best…
Place tickets in bags for baskets you hope to win….
Win baskets to take home.
Conference!!!!!!!!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve almost finished packing. Going through my check list. Wine packed? Yes. Corkscrew packed? Yes. Chocolate packed? Yes. Okay, that takes care of the important things…
I hope all my friends will keep an eye on The Curmudgeon while I’m gone.
See you all Monday! I’m out of here!
Posted in Pennwriters conference
Tags: Author, Bones, Doggoned, Fiction, Multiple Sclerosis, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
The PW Conference nears
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As this week dwindles and next week grows nearer, my excitement mounts. I can’t wait to get to Lancaster for the Pennwriters conference!
I can’t wait, I can’t wait, I can’t wait. I’m worse than a kid on Christmas eve now.
If you are a writer and you want to try a conference, I say come to PW’s! Check out our site at http://www.pennwriters.org All the information about the conference is there for you to read at your leisure.
Posted in Pennwriters conference
Tags: Author, books, Doggoned, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
Getting antsy for the PW conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My conference room-mate and I reserved our room back in January. I paid my conference fees last month. Why isn’t it May?
Because I haven’t planned my basket donations yet? Gee, I really need to do that. The title for this years conference is A Writer’s Map. A theme basket could be in order….any ideas?
I have a pile of books to put in baskets again this year. Most are mysteries but there are several writing books too. Hmm, I need to start getting into basket creation mode.
You all have a good one!
PW Con Sunday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sunday rolled around all too soon, because not only I was up until 4:30 a.m., but also because it will be another long year before I will see many of my Pennwriters friends. The last day always makes me sad.
I slept through the alarm clock while my roommate showered and dressed. She said she had to shake me hard before I woke up. I didn’t hear the alarm at all but she says she heard it while she was in the shower. Can you say, dead to the world?
Dave banged on our door and we went down for breakfast—I do love the hotel’s breakfast buffet.
From 9:15 to 10:15, we had our choice of five different sessions. In addition, from 10:30 to 11:30, there were four more offerings. Oh, what to do what to do…. Getting more coffee came to mind. After the third cup, I knew I’d embarrass myself by falling asleep in a session and most likely falling off my chair when I did. I opted for the hospitality suite and schmoozing with people.
If I had not gone to bed at all, I probably would’ve made it to two sessions and been able to hold my own in a coherent conversation. An hour and a half of sleep makes for a foggy brain. Five cups of coffee began to wake it in time for the drawing of the baskets. I brought home three this year.
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
PW Con Saturday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Up at six again, this time it was a bit tougher for me to crawl out of bed. This getting up in the morning is for the birds, not me. However, after Dave banged on our door I dragged myself downstairs to load up on FOOD. Getting up early in the morning makes me VERY hungry and I eat like a farmhand. I couldn’t fit more on my plate and believe me I tried.
My first session was under the Genre Know-How track. Researching the police with Kathleen George, her techniques on interviewing police and other professionals for research were very interesting.
My next session was in the Improve Your Craft track; your life is poetry with Timons Esaias. I love Tim’s sessions and always try to go to one if I can. He makes me THINK and WORK. This is not something that has come easy to me lately. Thank you for jump-starting my brain Tim, I needed it.
The Keynote lunch came next. Jonathan Maberry gave a dynamic and inspiring speech. He managed to fire up even the most jaded Pennwriters. Kudos Jonathan!
Two more sessions followed, The Geography of a Novel with Kristin Bair O’Keeffe and Acting for Writers with Kathryn Miller Haines &Kathleen George. None of the sessions disappointed.
After those sessions came plenty of fun networking and socializing at the Book signing and tea followed by the cocktail party. I wore a dress and heels, which lasted about two hours for me, and then my feet began to scream in agony. I limped to the elevators with Dave’s help, waved bye-bye, and went to my room to change. A little while later, I reappeared in jeans, new T-shirt, and my happy feet were back in flip-flops. Party time!
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jonathan Maberry, Kathleen George, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
PW Con Friday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Up by six in the morning, breakfast buffet, some socializing with friends and then my roommate and I hit the hospitality suite around eight to go over the day’s schedule. So many sessions to choose from and we were like kids set loose in the candy store.
My first session of the day was Jonathan Maberry’s “Writing Fight & Action Scenes.” I had a blast and it was only nine fifteen in the morning. Thank you, Jonathan for providing me with a great wake up session.
The next session I made a mistake and throughout the entire hour, I wished I’d gone to CJ Lyon’s session instead. Hey, sometimes you hit a home run and other times you strike out.
Ramona DeFelice Long’s session on Shaping Story Arcs was quite a draw.
The last session of the day for me was Balancing Dialogue and Narrative with Terry Friedman.
Those of us not attending the keynote dinner went out and had some kickass steaks and drinks for half the cost of the dinner.
Afterwards many of us congregated in the lobby to schmooze…. Over time, the crowd thinned down to me, the night owl. I wandered up to my room.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Jonathan Maberry, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
PW Con 2011 Thursday’s arrival
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The drive from our area to Pittsburgh is very long. I’m sure I drove my roommate crazy with the “are we there yet” routine but it helped keep me sane. Okay, my reasonable facsimile of sane. I hadn’t slept the night before because had I gone to bed I would’ve only had one or two hours of sleep before we left anyway.
You have no idea how happy we were when we sighted the hotel. For those of us not used to ‘big city living,’ driving into Pittsburgh is literal hell. I am so glad I wasn’t the one behind the wheel.
We checked in and the bellhop unloaded our car. I think he was surprised at the amount of stuff we brought along and the ten baskets took up a lot of room. (He almost went back for a second cart.) We tip well so he had no complaints when he settled us in our room. He left smiling. We called our husbands to let them know we arrived safely.
As soon as we freshened up, we went to the lobby to watch for other arrivals. Hungry, we ordered an appetizer to tide us over until dinner. (Fair warning, do not order their nachos they were awful. However, they made up for it later at dinner by treating us to a free appetizer.)
As each member of ‘the rowdy bunch’ arrived, there was much hugging and kidding around. When everyone had checked in and freshened up, we all trooped into the restaurant for an excellent dinner.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Time to get ready
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I am counting the hours until the Pennwriters Conference. I picked out sessions that I want to attend. I’ve begun packing. My snack stash is ready. Business cards are printed, as are envelopes for housekeeping tips, and manuscripts I will work on are ready to print. I have lists to go over as I load my stuff into my roommate’s car so I don’t forget anything. It’s only Monday and I KNOW the next few days will crawl by.
Isn’t it Thursday?
I pity my roommate since I know I’m going to be that child in the car who says, “Are we there yet?”
I hope no one warns her. Last time she did mention duct tape…
OMG the conference is almost here and my hair is a mess!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I had to beg for an appointment to get my hair cut in time for the Pennwriters conference. I meant to call and get it cut months ago. Time got away from me. I meant to make an appointment with my stylist a couple of weeks ago but things got hectic, and I forgot until the next time my hair was driving me crazy.
With the weather getting warmer, and my hair long and thick enough to make me pay in sweat, I couldn’t stand it any more. The wooly cap had to go.
This time I left sticky notes all over my computer, the bathroom mirror, and the coffee pot to remind me to call yesterday. Yes, if I hadn’t done that, I probably would’ve forgotten AGAIN. My brain hasn’t been functioning well for the last couple of months.
I called right after I had my first cup of coffee. They had no openings. ACK! My stylist is the only one I trust to make this mass of frizz look good. I begged and pleaded. I explained I needed this unruly mop cut and under control for the writers conference. Although it is true, I didn’t want to use it, I am ashamed to say that I even played the death in the family card.
The day before I leave for the conference my stylist will cut my hair. PHEW!
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Writers’ bait
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I promised to tell you what we used for writers’ bait. Although Jackie’s guesses were good, she didn’t come close.
Writers’ bait has been a running joke with a few of us for a couple of years. It started one year when we were sitting in another hotel lobby. I put something on the table in front of us. It wasn’t long before more and more people joined us. It seems I found a weakness.
What is it that few people can resist? What was in almost every basket at the Chinese auction?
Throughout the weekend, six bags of Dove Dark Chocolate and three bags of Hershey Dark Bliss candy disappeared. Not only did the night shift hotel staff enjoy the nightly treats I handed out, but all the writers who sat with us did too.
There’s magic in chocolate, my dears.
Posted in Food, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
PW conference in the cheap seats
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It was cheaper to go out to dinner than to pay for the banquet at the conference. Don’t get me wrong, I often attend the banquets but this year I wasn’t sure how much money I would have so when I sent in my registration I skipped all the extras. I share the hotel room, which cuts that cost in half. Even at half price, it isn’t cheap to stay for four days.
The costume party was fun when I attended one two years ago, but I skipped that too, again it was the money.
A small group of us went to the conference on the cheap. We got our entertainment watching the boys and girls go into their prom. They were adorable. The gowns were lovely and the tuxedos looked a lot better than the ones I remember did back in the day. Some of the lads even wore tails. It brought back many memories of the three proms I’d attended. The best arrival was the couple that came in an antique car. For me, the only thing that could’ve topped that would’ve been a fancy horse drawn carriage.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
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