2007-08-04 - Summer Highs:
The Year of the Conferences continues, with the latest stop being in Seattle last weekend for the Pacific Northwest Writers' Association Summer Conference where Patchwork was a finalist in the Adult Genre Fiction category. It was another fantastic opportunity to share the story with a new audience and to meet a great group of people.
Special thanks to:
- Sharon Roe, for great conversation;
- Warren and Jiji Maierhoffer, for dinner and new friends;
- Heija Nunn, for letting me crash the Seattle group;
- Vic Monchego, for a new appreciation of poetry;
- Jeremy Greenberg, for laughs;
- Boyd Morrison, for crazy coincidences.
Thanks, also, to Richelle Mead, Kat Richardson, Colin Fox, Scott Hoffman and Jim McCarthy for fun conversation and laughter into the wee hours. I look forward to seeing all of you again soon.
Next stop, Denver.
2007-06-17 - Whirlwind Tour and New Award:
I'm finally home after nearly 2 weeks of travel, and what a time it's been. An unexpected trip to Ohio to visit with family was immediately followed by Albany and the Historical Novel Society's 2nd North American Conference. There, I had the chance to meet with some outstanding writers and new friends including Lynka Adams, Christine Blevins, Bernard Cornwell, Diana Gabaldon, Doug Jacobson, Mark Seidl, Christine Trent and a host of others. I also appreciate the time of agents Irene Goodman and Jessica Regel, editor Jackie Swift and publisher Tamara Mazzei. My thanks to the volunteers, panelists, agents, editors and fellow-writers for helping to make this such a memorable event.
After returning from Albany, I learned that Patchwork had been awarded First Place in the National Writers Association novel contest. The NWA Conference conflicted with my trip to Albany, but I'd like to thank Executive Director Sandy Whelchel, Editor/Judge Paula L. Silici and all the others involved in the competition and conference for their work to promote and recognize new writers.
Finally, I've just returned from Austin and the Writers' League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference. Patchwork did not win the prize for Historical/Western Manuscript, but I'm pleased to have been in the company of the winner, Paul Boor, who also took home the award for best Thriller/Action Adventure. My gratitude to WLT Executive Director John Pipkin, the staff and volunteers, agents, editors and panelists who contributed to this most valuable event. In particular, Agents/Editors Daniel Conaway, Robert Guinsler, Patrick LoBrutto, BJ Robbins, and Andrea Somberg were most generous of their time and insights. Panelists/authors David Liss, Karen MacInerney, Dominic Smith and David Marion Wilkinson provided a great deal of encouragement and practical advice. It was my pleasure to meet fellow writers Janet Ahmed Doleh, Rob Edwards, Lisa Kelly, Joanne King, Clarke Straughan, Linda D. Tuininga and Dorothy Wiley. And my most sincere appreciation goes out to the 'Dallas Bunch': Jack Dickson, Robert Gombash, Pamela T. Hammonds, Joan Mora and Seth Skorkowsky; to Cathy Mallet, and the Houstonelles Liz and Laura--Thanks for the company and laughter.
2007-05-26 - Patchwork honored:
Not yet halfway into the Year of the Conferences, Patchwork has again been honored, this time as a finalist Historical/Western novel in the 2007 Manuscript Contest hosted by the Writers' League of Texas. The five finalists will have their manuscripts judged by an acquiring agent, with the winner announced at the WLoT Conference in June. Only 2 weeks 'til Albany and 3 weeks 'til Austin. Stay tuned!
2007-04-15 - Patchwork wins award:
The Taxman cometh, but so does Conference season. Fresh out of the gate, Patchwork was awarded second place for Novels at the Sandhills Writers Conference in March. My sincere thanks to the staff, faculty, volunteers and fellow writers in Augusta for getting the Conference Tour started off on the right foot. The end of Spring will find us in Albany and Austin, with a host of other contests and submittals in between. Check back for results.
2007-01-25 - It's a new year, with new energy! I've finished a major rewrite of Patchwork, cutting 160,000 words down to around 94,000 (Yeesh!) and stepping up the pace quite a bit. A new round of agent and competition submittals now begins. Stay tuned....
2006-09-23 - We're up and running! The web site is (obviously) now on-line. Thanks for dropping in, and come back for future updates.
