Anthologies

Last fall, I was published in my first anthology! It was exciting. My poem entitled "A Country Drive" appears in ECHOES OF THE OZARKS, Vol. VI, published by High Hill Press. This anthology features a great selection of Ozarks' stories and poems written mainly by authors from Missouri and Arkansas. It's a great read. Check it out. If you'd like an autographed copy, let me know. They're just $10.

Do you read anthologies? I've always enjoyed them. What better way to sample several authors' work at once. If you're a writer, I encourage you to submit to anthologies. If you're a reader, then, by all means, please read them.

Reminder: The Storm Country Anthology to benefit the Joplin school libraries has a deadline of July 15. Google for more info.

What is your experience with anthologies? Do you read them? Have you been published in any?

Writing About Cowboys

I must admit I've never written about cowboys but all girls love cowboys, don't they? The rugged, handsome features. The strong, beautiful horse. The sexy boots. The big hat. The gorgeous scenery. The sprawling ranch. Those tight jeans.

Okay. Enough about that. You get the picture. I've thought of another book idea and it involves cowboys (non-fiction). I need your help. What comes to mind when you think of cowboys/cowgirls? Cowboy hats? Horses? Oval belt buckles? Buffalo? Country music?

Please chime in and give me a good cowboy vocabulary from which to work. I'll wordsmith the cowboy slang and let you know how it goes. Thanks!

Writers Helping Joplin Tornado Victims

Unless you've been living in a cave, you know about the total devastation our neighbors in Joplin experienced via a massive F-5 tornado in May. Many volunteers are helping in a variety of ways. Personally, I can't wait to go there and help however I can, donate clothes and shoes (when families have a home to put them in), give cash and more.

In the meantime, here's a way that writers can help! The Joplin Writers' Guild and the Missouri Writers' Guild are putting together a Storm Country Anthology containing short stories and poems. NOTE: Participating writers must be from the Midwest.

Writers may submit a short story or essay about any type of Midwestern storm. Fiction, non-fiction or poetry is accepted. Proceeds from the book sales will go to the Joplin school system to buy books for the libraries damaged by the tornado.

Submission guidelines:

Your story should include storms and severe weather in the Midwest, including tornadoes, floods, snow, ice, and wind.

Must be an original work of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Maximum of three submissions per author/poet

Fiction - Any genre up to 1,500 words

Poetry - Up to 30 lines per poem

Nonfiction - Features, essays, memoirs up to 1,500 words

Deadline: July 15, 2011

Submit your typed Word document in 12-point Times New Roman and include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address on the first page of each submission.

For prose, use a three-space paragraph indention and a double-spaced manuscript. For poetry, submit a single-spaced manuscript.

Note: Number the pages and proofread carefully. Author retains all rights.
Include a third-person author bio (75 words max) and e-mail to joplinwritersguild@yahoo.com or snail mail to: Claudia Mundell,
1815 River Street, Carthage, Missouri 64836

Questions? Please e-mail joplinwritersguild@yahoo.com

Swimming With Sharks

Ah, you might say, "Sure, you're swimming with sharks. You're a writer. Writers deal with all kinds of sharks of the human kind--publishers, editors, agents, critique groups, reviewers, other writers, right?" Well, yes, Probably. Definitely.

But I really, truly swam with sharks!!! Three couples recently toured the Exumas in the Bahamas via a chartered cruise, the Alexandra Bear. We had an amazing vacation, enjoyed warm, sunny weather, terrific food, clear, turquoise water and SHARKS!

My two good friends, Bruny and Linda, and I were brave enough (or dumb enough) to swim with nurse sharks. The guys kidded us, said we were crazy and they should have taken out bigger insurance policies. But did they dip their toes in the shark-infested water? No. They did not. Instead, they stood on the dry dock and took pictures and videos.

Now, you know why I've been remiss and haven't posted in awhile. Instead, I've been swimming with sharks. How about you? What's the craziest thing you've ever done on vacation?

What Are You Working On?

I know several of my readers well since they're writer friends or family members, but some of you are new here. I thought it would be fun to fill each other in on our current projects. So, what are you working on both professionally and personally?

I'm working on a huge surprise birthday bash for hubby (I'd tell you the theme and more details, but with my luck, he'd read my blog for once. Doubtful--but you can never be too careful with a surprise party.)

Professionally, I've just started to query agents for my debut novel, THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS, a work of women's fiction set in the Midwest with four professional women who have chaotic lives, ridiculous family members and impossible situations. A normal day, right?!!

I'm almost half finished with the sequel to COCONUTS and two-thirds finished with a romantic suspense, yet to be titled, which is set on a college campus.

I've got a cookbook cooking and two ideas for non-fiction books simmering. There just aren't enough hours in the day, are there?

Finally, I've completed two children's picture books and may have an announcement soon! Fingers and toes crossed. I have more picture books drafted and waiting patiently in the wings.

How about you? What are you working on?

Your Ideal Book Cover

Let's keep dreaming. There's so much rejection in writing that we need to stay positive and visualize good outcomes. So...I thought it would be fun if we imagined our perfect book cover. If you could select your cover, how would it appear? (And if you already have the cover of your dreams, what does it look like?)

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Pink cover with cute girls holding wine glasses or shopping bags
Black cover with blood dripping down
Purple cover with vampires and spooks in scary trees
A damsel in distress with a hulky guy
An older woman wearing a fur coat, a huge diamond, with a younger man
An older couple in rocking chairs
A gorgeous beach scene
A breathtaking mountain scene
An ominous storm
Fast cars and a sexy couple
A yacht or sailboat with a beautiful sunset
Cute babies, adorable animals or yummy food
A haunted house
Cozy fireplace, quilt and a cat
A big-city skyline with airplanes, traffic and mobs of people
A farm or ranch scene
Young couple with a stroller

My women's fiction novel would have four women sitting around a table drinking cocktails, holding leopard print menus, laughing, with tall palm trees in the background. And they'd all be wearing heels and dressed to the nines. (The hippie parents and cop might be in the background.)

My second novel, a romantic suspense, would have a university logo, show an evil, cunning professor, and a beautiful, unknowing woman with college buildings or students in the background set on a gorgeous, green campus.

Okay, it's your turn. The possibilities are endless! What would your ideal cover look like? By the way, I know the artists decide on covers, but we can still dream, right?

Go Ahead. Dream.

You did it. One of the biggest accomplishments (if not the biggest) of your life came true. Your novel is published! You got the call months/years earlier from an agent or editor, did the requisite editing--revising your novel a hundred times--then played the not-so-patient waiting game.

Now, you're holding your book in your own hands (or reading it as an ebook). I've been published in several mediums (print, television, an anthology, online poetry, and six-word memoir book) but I'm still waiting for the day when I publish my first novel.

How would you respond after all the blood, sweat and tears actually came to fruition? Use just four words, please. I'll go first:

I'm having heart palpitations.
I can't believe it.
Oh, my God. Breathe.
I really did it.
A dream come true.
The best day ever.
I knew I could.
How should I celebrate?
Wish I could change...

Okay, your turn. Tell us in just four words what you said (or will say) when your novel is published. Go ahead. Dream.