Booking Through Thursday

Live and In-Person October 11, 2007
Filed under: Wordpress — --Deb @ 1:01 am

I said in August, when we talked about fan mail, that I planned on expanding that to live meetings when the time was right. Well, that time is now!

Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? Gotten their autograph?
Yes, Hollis Gillespie and yes more than once and yes she signed the books. My favorite signing with her was at a small coffee shop in Midtown where she signed my book "To a fellow writer slut, good luck with your writing". The title of that book of course was "Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories" so it was apropos.

How about an author you felt only so-so about, but got their autograph anyway? Like, say, at a book-signing a friend dragged you to?

I bought Alice Hoffman's book "Skylight Confessions" at a book signing and talk at The Margaret Mitchell House because she was such an interesting speaker, she talked a lot about her writing process instead of just the book. I like to hear about any artist's process of creation. I can read the book on my own but I can't get inside the author's or artist's head without them allowing it. I had read another of her books years before "Here on Earth" which was subsequently made into a movie. It wasn't all that great and at the event, that title seemed to be the least liked by everyone so I do eventually plan to read "Incantation" as I would like to read more of her mystical writing that the audience seemed to really love about her stuff.

How about stumbling across a book signing or reading and being so captivated, you bought the book?

I've never stumbled across a book signing but did buy a book by an author I'd never heard of at a literary festival because he was so interesting. It was called "The Every Boy" and the author is Dane Adams Shapiro. He was just so darned likeable I had to support his craft.

Another Manic Monday Theme: Track
Rules for Manic Monday: use the word track or tracksin a post. Anyway you want. Just have FUN with it!

Growing up in New Mexico in the foothills of the mountains, I loved to wander through the desert searching for animal tracks. I was never sure what had been there before me. I recognized the slithering trail left by a snake. I always noticed my cat's paw prints. He, like me, loved to wander about looking for life. Scorpions, lizards, tarantulas, wild rabbits and many more critters were all part of my life in the desert. Some were dangerous and I was repeatedly told to stay away from for fear of getting stung or bitten with venemous results. This didn't stop me from being curious and wanting to see these dangerous things up close. I think it made it more exciting to know they could kill and would with the slightest bit of provocation.
Animal tracks to this day bring a feeling of gratitude. I'm grateful that they are still here on earth, that they haven't been totally destroyed. I am honored we are allowed in their space, their home, they certainly aren't honored to be in ours.

Weekend Wordsmith

Mountains
MOUNTAINS ~ Do you live in the mountains? Or perhaps you have a mountain of laundry? This twilight photo shows Lookout Mountain and the southern part of Chattanooga.

I was born in New Mexico with several mountain towns surrounding my hometown, Cloudcroft, Highrolls, & Ruidosa. As I get older, the memories of driving up to the Apple or Cherry festivals, taking hayrides through the pine trees, chopping wood for the fireplace, building a campfire and so many more, mean the world to me. I miss the view of the mountains and the feeling of safety being surrounded by their looming presence. I miss the smell of a campfire, of pine needles and fresh, crisp mountain air. I have family in Denver and plan on living in Colorado at some point in my life. Its the only place that I can say brings tears to my eyes the minute I get out of the airport and see the Rockies.

Sunday Scribblings

sorry -- no scribble this week!



no scribble

no dribble on the end of a pen

no sighs

no cries from deep in my chest

no second

guessing which direction to take

the freedom

of permission to stop

to listen

to watch

to be

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Sixty Three

Appetizer: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?
5ish -this year I turned 40 which I was dreading all year long but once it came, it wasn't so bad. Over the years, I have started to dislike celebrating holidays of any sort and I'm trying to figure out why. One reason is that I hate consumerism and buying things just because its a holiday or for no apparent need. Another reason might be that when a big deal is made leading up to anything, it usually doesn't live up to my expectations so I'm a little disappointed. Wow, I sound like such a scrooge but just trying to be honest and evaluate my intentions....

Soup: What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of?
Liar

Salad: Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like?
Ocasionally, they are brown with a little bit of a leapord print that is barely noticeable.

Main Course: If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it?
My mother, Junanne Peck

Dessert: Name a beverage that you enjoy.
A tall Breve Vanilla Latte

Booking Thru Thursday

Do you have “issues” with too much profanity or overly explicit (ahem) “romantic” scenes in books? Or do you take them in stride? Have issues like these ever caused you to close a book? Or do you go looking for more exactly like them? (grin)

I don't have an issue with "romantic" scenes or profanity but when it comes to acts of violence, rape or torture, I have a hard time with reading it especially before going to sleep as I will have nightmares. I put the "Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini down when it came to a brutal sexual scene that wasn't really explicit but you knew what was happening. Eventually I picked it back up and finished it. I felt that if a book could make me feel like I was there and have that strong of an emotional response, it was worth completing. I'm glad I did as it redeemed itself by the end. I guess if there is profanity and sex just to provide shock value, I can live without it.

Ten on Tuesday

10 Television Shows You'd Like to Have (or Have already) on DVD
1. Weeds
2. The L Word
3. Six Feet Under
4. Thirty Something
5. Once & Again
6. My So Called Life
7. Sex in the City
8. House
9. Cold Case
10. Ally McBeal

[Next week: 10 Things that Worry You]