HAPPY SPRING!
Thanks for stopping by and visiting my site. I hope you'll find some interesting things here. And feel free to drop me an email via my Contact page if you do! For now, here's a bit of what's been keeping me busy . . .
I just got back from my first PennWriters Conference, held this year at the Eden Resort in Lancaster, PA. I met some wonderful editors, agents and writers there and really charged my battery! I'm off to work on a rewrite, but here's a bit of fun news:
This Labor Day weekend, I will be attending a Gunsmoke reunion in Dodge City, Kansas. At the invitation of Jim Johnson from the Dodge City Trail of Fame, I will be reading a few of my Gunsmoke novelty rhymes at the event, which this time 'round celebrates Burt Reynolds' character, Quint Asper and Louie Pheeters, played by the late James Nusser. Fans of the show can meet actors Buck Taylor, Morgan Woodward and Bruce Boxleitner, as well as author Ben Costello (Gunsmoke: An American Institution), among others. I've got a poem in Ben's amazing coffee table book. It's called "Festus Speak."
I guess I'd better get working on those new poems soon!
Meantime, my newest story for children, Brady and the Bully, is available online at StoriesThatLift.com. We're hoping to have a hard copy and e-book of Brady soon, but for now, I'd really love it if you'd check out the site, read my story and rate it if you like it. There are lots of entertaining reads on StoriesThatLift, so check it out. Thanks so much!
If you're looking for a laugh, my friend Mike (possibly the best traveling companion and an amazing writer), shares a popular humor column at the Washington Observer-Reporter. Here's a link to some of his best columns, and you can rate his work, as well: http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/buzzstory/05-15-2010-buzzelli-hello-celebrity. Mike joined me at the PennWriters conference, and my GPS, now named Emma, is the subject of Mike's next column!
I hope you will check out my Bookshelf page. I've got kids' books, a book for the beach - and, there is a fun new title available. It's another rhyming children's book, Mom Can't Cook! , and it's only available here on my website. Note: a portion of the profits from Mom Can't Cook! will be donated to a service organization for the benefit of promoting healthy self-esteem in young girls.
It's important to me that my books for children entertain without preaching and feature topical, timely themes. Some of these themes include diversity, the dangers of bullying and the importance of treating each other kindly. I worked with Pittsburgh illustrator Jessica Kennedy on the Mom picture book (inspired in part by my own lackluster culinary skills). Below is Jessica's cover - I can't believe how lucky I am to have her charming illustrations to enhance my story! Visit Jess @ http://www.JessLKennedy.com.
Finally, a big thank you to those of you who have been hounding me for a new mystery. I will be working on my new romantic thriller during the summer months. It's a cruise ship suspense novel called My Bonny Lies.
Take care. I hope to see you soon!
Sandy