NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month!

and in honor of this unusual month, Nadine Collier and I are offering a FREE download of our book Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle! during Thanksgiving week from November 25-November 29!

We would like to thank all who have already purchased our fun and insightful collaborative effort and all who have taken time to post reviews on Amazon. Your support means more to us than you know, and reminds us that Thanksgiving is not just about turkey. Please share this special giveaway with those who may appreciate it!
 

Every year since October 25, 2012, when I first considered participating in NaNoWriMo, I have attempted to write 50,000 words in the 30 days of November. It's an insane challenge, and I'll credit Stephanie Spong, author of her debut novel Toru: Wayfarer Returns with introducing me to this organization and its goal to help writers push past excuses of perfectionism (and other things) to knock out a huge chunk of writing. 

Partly because Stephanie was going to participate in 2012 (and my competitive spirit kicked in) and partly because I wanted to be "a writer," I committed to setting up my NaNoWriMo profile as Ruby Malone that year and seeing what I could do with a year's worth of journal entries I'd kept during my first year of teaching six years earlier. I wrote 50,201 words in November 2012 and in March of 2013, completed my first draft of "Miss?"

I was "a writer."

This month, although I may not reach the goal of writing 50,000 words, I'm delighted with how the first book in my new series is unfolding. As with characters and scenes in my Waterwight series, my new characters are suggesting directions I hadn't anticipated, and I'm taking time to explore each scene. 

I'd like to thank Stephanie for motivating me to participate in this crazy challenge and suggest to anyone out there with stories bouncing around in your brains, pop into the NaNoWriMo site and see how it might help you get them out of your noggin and onto pages!

If you would like autographed copies of any of my books, please email me in response to this newsletter and I'll make it happen!

 Please tell two friends (or more) about this newsletter! And if you ever have read and enjoyed any of my books, would you post a quickie review on Amazon?

The 30-day NaNoWriMo challenge is ON, and I'll be (mostly) OFF of social media except for emails as I continue to work on book #12! Wish me luck!

Until next month, stay well, wash your hands, be respectful of others, and PLEASE post some positive reviews for authors of books you've enjoyed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

:)

• November 1-December 31: Craft Literary has a Creative nonfiction contest ongoing for works  up to 6,000 words! $20 reading fee. Prize money and more! Click the link for complete information, and good luck to all who enter!
• November 27 from 3-6 p.m. Linda Ditchkus will be available at The Book Haven in Salida with her Sasquatch Series for personalized autographs!
• November 10: The Denver Womens Leadership Summit kicked off this year, and there are many upcoming events you (or someone you know?) may be interested in! Check out DenverWomenLeaders.org for more information. Events from now through April 2021 are on the following web dates from 2-3 pm ET for an hour each (again all recorded for you to watch at your convenience as well):
  - Nov.10, Dec 1, Jan 11, Feb 8, Mar 8, Apr 12 2021
• December 1: NEW Submission Deadline for "Messages from the Hidden Lake" publication by Friends of the Alamosa Public Library. For more info on this contest (publication, esteem, and cash prizes!), go to: Messages from the Hidden Lake. Please share this link with with writers, artists, and photographers, and submit your work in any number of categories soon. Best of luck to those who submit!
• December 3 from 6-7 p.m. Award-winning author Helen Starbuck will host a Facebook launch party for her new book Finding Alex! Use this link to join the fun: www.facebook.com/helensstarbuck 
• December 5 from 2-5 p.m. at The Book Haven in Salida: I will be available with all of my books for personalized autographs! Get all of your holiday shopping done in one afternoon while supporting this wonderful local bookstore!!! 
• December 12 from 3-6 p.m. at The Book Haven in Salida: Debut author Cary Unkelbach will have her new book Heartbreak Kennel: The True Story of Max and His Breeder available for personalized autographs and I will join her! Rumor has it she may also bring her sweet companion! Gifts galore at the wonderful local book store.
• January 21, 2021: Annual Deadline for The Eric Hoffer Book Award. Check out this prestigious award opportunity and see if your completed work might qualify for submission! Best of luck to all!

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AUTOGRAPHED BOOK MAKE GREAT GIFTS!
(contact me if you'd like a personalized autograph of any of my books)

• Ann Parker's MORTAL MUSIC (the 7th book in her award-winning Silver Rush historical mystery series) won the Silver EVVY Award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association in the Mystery category! If you enjoy 1880s historical fiction, you will eat up this engaging series with characters you'll grow to love! Also, Ann will be doing some special book giveaways through her upcoming newsletters with books autographed by the authors! Sign up for Ann's newsletter on her website at annparker.net . . . and good luck!
• Our new book--Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle--is available in Kindle and paperback now, and we're waiting on Amazon to approve the audiobook files for it! Please share with anyone who enjoys puzzling and self-help books with healthy doses of humor and if you enjoy it, would you please post a quick review on Amazon? Reviews are soooo important to indie authors (like me)! Thank you!
• Chaffee County Writers Exchange (CCWE) membership is only $20/year, and the benefits are truly worthwhile! Check out their site and consider joining. I'm the new Membership Chairperson this year, so let me know if you have any questions!
• You might consider joining Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA), a wonderful organization with resources to help writers and authors at every stage of their professional development.
• Do you have Colorado-related essays? Think about subscribing and submitting to Colorado Central Magazine !

Have you checked out my weekly podcast Alligator Preserves lately? There are unique short stories and interviews and insights galore! I hope you'll subscribe!