Nutshell 2005

2005 was terrific for me as a writer. My knees healed and I was very active in writing and in book promotion. Most importantly, I finished my new historical adventure novel and Eakin accepted it for publication. The working title is "Exiled!" That may change before publication. Keep checking this website.

My promotion efforts were varied and a lot of fun. I made presentations in ten Springfield elementary schools and one middle school. I also visited the after-school program at Mt. Vernon Middle School and spoke to a third grade in Rogersville. The largest and most exciting of all was my invitation to be a part of this year's Children's Lit Festival at Drury University. I made presentations to four large groups of children from all over the Ozarks, autographed books in the evening and networked with all the other invited writers.

My adult presentations included a wonderful day in Columbia with the Missouri Association of School Librarians' fall conference. Not only did I present "Gone to Texas" and talk about it, I also shared the first chapter of "Exiled!". The teachers who attended were very responsive.

Other groups to which I spoke in 2005 include: A Saturday workshop with the Missouri chapter of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in the St. Louis area, the Springfield Writers Guild, and the local AAUW.

I had a booth at the 2005 Women's Expo here in Greene County, did two book signings and was featured in The Community Free Press, a local bi-weekly newspaper. This pulication also published one of my poems. Finally, in December, the Springfield News-Leader ran a Christmas story of mine on Christmas Day -- "A Simple Christmas." It was my first short story. Wes Wilson, a nationally - known graphic artist and his son drew terrific illustrations.

All in all, it was a very good year and 2006 promises to be as good or better.