Ready, Set, Go!

What’s going?

My blog! It’s not exactly going anywhere, but it’s gotten a major facelift. My daughter Hanna designed the new header, and I’ve updated the theme and tweaked it good. (Thanks for your help, Mar!) This style more reflects the contemporary novels I’m writing these days, but don’t worry. The ‘Running Girl’ fantasy theme hasn’t been deleted, just hidden. Maybe someday I’ll get to bring her back!

What else is going?

Me! Headed east toward conference on Monday.

I’ll be pitching Domino’s Game, book one of my proposed Green Acres series, at ACFW conference next week. Here’s what the story is about:

Josephine Shaw and three college friends resolve to educate the residents of (fictional) Galena Landing, Idaho, on the benefits of locally grown organics, despite their neighbors’ addiction to convenience foods. But Zachary Nemesek, temporarily next door until his dad recovers enough to run his own farm again, becomes an instant adversary when he pollutes the field along their shared fence with agricultural chemicals.

Amid rogue mice, sick cattle, corporate organics, and a meddlesome pup named Domino, can this junk-food-loving city boy and determined environmentalist find common ground?

Printed and in my carry-on: one-sheets for both the novel and the series, several copies of the one-page synopsis, one copy of the first chapter, and a small stack of business cards.

Needed to do: practice my verbal pitch, review the names, photos, and credentials of the various agents and editors who might be interested in such a story. That seems a bit daunting because, as far as I know, this is not an existing genre, so it’s hard to know whose interest might be piqued. Also tuck in one-sheets and synopsis from Majai’s Fury, a completed fantasy novel.

Also needed to do: figure out what else I need to pack and remember for eight days away from home! Nope, the conference isn’t eight days long. Monday is my ‘travel east’ day, and my sister who lives near Milwaukee will meet me that night. Thursday we’ll travel south and hook up with my crit buddy Nicole O’Dell. She and I will drive in to Indianapolis at or before the crack of dawn on Friday–the conference early bird starts at 8:00 am! Friday through Sunday are jam-packed with conference, then Monday is my ‘travel west’ day. Back to work and whatever normal life is on Tuesday the 21st.

I’ve got my ‘green bites’ scheduled for the next two Mondays, as well as Wednesday’s book review, so my blog will move along as per normal. I might even get a post up for next Friday’s writing bite. Watch for a conference review the week after.

Wow, I’m tired already, just thinking of such busy, people-filled times. If you care to do so, please pray for me. I do want to present myself and my manuscript professionally, but mostly I want God to use me in whatever way he desires.