Autumn 2009 Mini-Tour Into Western North Carolina

Early 10 September, I set out from Raleigh in a rental car — didn’t want to put my poor, old Honda through the rigors of the Eastern Continental Divide again — and arrived in Boone, NC in good time for … Continue reading

Five Flights, Four Days: the Harriette Austin Writers Conference, 17-19 July 2009

During the Friday morning rush hour, the Metro was packed. Sardine cans. On my first attempt to climb into a car, the work-bound barbarians repelled boarders. The next train was just as stuffed, but I was darned if I was … Continue reading

Food, More Food, and an Interview

 Last Thursday night, I attended a booksigning at Quail Ridge Books for author Krista Davis. Her first book, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, has recently been released. She talked about writing her “food” cozies. Then she read a couple … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 1

Herein begins the four-day adventure of a mystery/suspense author in the World of Romance. Before I left Raleigh on Thursday 2 October to head for Norcross, GA (metro-Atlanta) and the Moonlight & Magnolias conference, I’d been forewarned that there was … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 2

For most writers on the get-published track, a huge hurdle is pitching a book concept and obtaining buy-in from an agent or editor. The art of pitching is so in-demand as a topic that writers conferences often provide attendees the … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 3

Saturday dawned early. Too early. What was amazing was how wide-awake and sensational Anna DeStefano looked while welcoming the crowd of hundreds during the continental breakfast. I’m a morning person, but I don’t look sensational in the morning, you know? … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 4

Sunday dawned even earlier than Saturday. Spirits at the continental breakfast were subdued, as if by then all attendees felt “rode hard and put away wet,” as the Southern saying goes. Nicki Salcedo ‘fessed up that she’d gone to bed … Continue reading

Colonial North Carolina Family Day

The North Carolina Museum of History presented the community with a taste of colonial times on Saturday 27 September. Over 2400 visitors that day learned period games, dancing, quilting and crafts such as butter churning, wood carving, and corn grinding. … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 1

I rolled out of Raleigh about 6:15 Thursday morning 11 September, expecting a 3.5 hour drive to Boone. Drizzle made an inauspicious traveling companion. More unwelcome was the thick fog that lowered over Highway 421 just west of Winston-Salem. In … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 2

Friday 12 September didn’t dawn bright and clear in Boone. That nasty fog still socked us in. Around 8:00 a.m., when I was ready to leave, Marcia got in her car and drove out ahead of me, like a pilot … Continue reading