tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53806588025644172352024-03-08T00:58:25.409-08:00Earlene FowlerA blog for fans of author Earlene FowlerEarlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-53731345803108739552013-06-12T11:25:00.002-07:002013-06-12T11:30:07.991-07:00Just Sayin' Howdy (and asking for your help!)So...howdy! Things have been quiet around my house these days. And that is definitely not a bad thing. I've been cleaning and weeding through possessions (Why do I own <i>twelve</i> nail clippers? Because it was always the thing I forgot to pack when I was going on book tour every year). I've also been reading a lot, traveling with friends, writing letters, doing crafts (still scrapbooking our 2005 Alaska cruise!), actually making healthy food for Allen and me. Just living life, like the rest of you. Boo had an operation a few months ago when they found a large tumor hooked to his jugular vein. Fortunately, it wasn't malignant. It sure was scary for a few days though. <br />
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I recently went on a trip with a friend to Lake County, California, where we drove the quilt trail. There were thirty-eight quilts painted on barns, wineries, bbq restaurant, stores, Lake County Fairgrounds, even a ladder company! We found all of them but ONE! It was great fun. There's nothing like girlfriend vacations. I have a few more planned over the next year. When Allen and I drove back to North Carolina to visit his baby sister last year and we dropped down into Mississippi for a chance to mark things off our bucket lists--Oxford and Jackson, Mississippi for me and Vicksburg Battleground for Allen--it killed me that there were so many other places we had to drive past and not visit. But Allen only had two weeks vacation. We're looking forward to the day (God willing, six years) when Allen doesn't have to work 50-60 hours a week and we can experience more of this great country (Niagra Falls, here I come!). Keep your guest room ready and put on the coffee...I may drop by!<br />
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To answer your question (I know you're wondering). I'm still not writing right now. I'm really just waiting on God to point me in the direction I'm meant to go. I have a few characters treading softly inside my head, but nothing concrete yet. I promise, when I write again, you all will be the first to know. I still carry a notebook with me and take notes...so there is something going on up there! Just not sure what...<br />
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So, how can I use your help? I received an email from my editor telling me that the paperback for <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley</i> will be coming out in January 2014. I have a small window of opportunity to correct any mistakes (Dale Evans' horse is named <i>Buttermilk, not Buttercup! </i>Brain hiccup...honestly I did know that). If you have any corrections, please send them to me via my website email or Facebook by July 8th. I'm also rereading it to attempt to catch any errors. But it's often hard to find your own mistakes. Thanks in advance for any help! (By the way, if anyone knows what page it is where Dale's horse is talked about, please let me know...don't want to miss it twice!)<br />
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Hope you all have a wonderful summer filled <i>only</i> with swimming at the beach or lake, numerous barbecues with friends and family, long walks with your dogs, reading delicious books with your cat curled up in your lap and lots and lots of s'mores! (I recently found Moonpie coffee in my local World Market store...not as good as real Moonpies, but definitely less fattening). Have fun and keep away from mosquitos! <br />
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Happy Summertime Trails, EarleneEarlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-68750275223775808352012-12-17T12:30:00.000-08:002012-12-17T12:30:45.071-08:00What Did One Snowman Say to the Other?"Hey, I smell carrots, too!"<br />
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Okay, silly winter joke. Just read it in Reader's Digest and thought it'd be a great one to pass on (if you follow me on Facebook, you've seen it already). It's cute, clean and, most importantly, <i>easy to remember!</i> That's a plus this time of year for most of us who have these magic "to-do" lists that never, ever seem to get shorter.<br />
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All is well here in the Fowler household. Allen and I returned a few weeks ago from a 2 1/2 week road trip to North Carolina (visiting his baby sister who lives on Lake Norman) and to go on a long anticipated trip to Mississippi where we went to Oxford, saw Rowan Oaks, William Faulkner's house, down to Jackson where I toured Eudora Welty's house and to Vicksburg, where we spent a whole day in the battlefield looking at monuments, contemplating the effects of the Civil War. We drove back up Highway 61 and ate at Abe's Barbecue in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It is at the crossroads of Highways 61/49 where it is rumored that the "blues was born." We drove from California and it was a long, fun and something exhausting trip. You forget how vast and varied our beautiful country is until you hit the road and actually inch across it. The weather was a bit disappointing as we were hoping (and packed) for colder weather. It was unseasonably warm throughout our trip to the tune of twenty degrees higher than normal! We encountered South California weather (70's) everywhere we went. We finally had to buy some short sleeve T-shirts because it became so warm. I couldn't resist and bought two Piggly-Wiggly T-shirts (my favorite grocery store simply because it makes me laugh and I like saying "I'm going to the Pig"). Great trip, but we were glad to come home and see Boo. He vacationed in luxury at the place where he attends daycare two days a week. But even he was glad to sleep in his own bed.<br />
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So, now I'm gearing up for Christmas, which will be a quiet one for me and Allen. And I'm getting ready for the launch of <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley </i>on December 29th. All my signings are set so check them out under "appearances" on my website. Since publishers have cut completely back on promotion for mid-list writers, this is all on my own dime, so I'm only going to signing in Southern California, Central California Coast, Scottsdale, Arizona and a trip to Bishop, California (because the book is set in that area). If you are craving a signed book, you can contact any of these bookstores or quilt stores and I'm sure they'd be glad to sell you one! Wish I could travel all around the country and see you all...but those extravagant days are over. I was initially published (1994) during a "sweet spot" in publishing history, back in the 90's and early 2000's when publishers sent many, many authors on book tour. Now, unless you are a huge name, they no longer do so. Still, I'm thankful for all the times I spent on the road and met so many of you. Great, great memories. Someday, I'm going to scrapbook all the photos I took.<br />
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If you are so inclined, as of December 29, 2012, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley</i>, will be for sale and I'd appreciate you buying it in whatever form best suits your needs. The winners of my last contest for the two signed books and Cardinal Valley totes have been announced. I'll do another contest soon. There were 1071 entries so your chances of winning in my contests are pretty good!<br />
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I pray that you all have a blessed Christmas, had a wonderful Hanukkah and a safe and healthy New Year. Thank you so much for all your good wishes, your support and your faithfulness through the years. I count you, my fans and readers, as one of God's greatest blessings in my life.<br />
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With love, EarleneEarlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-65951806272963831262012-09-27T10:26:00.000-07:002012-09-27T10:35:52.069-07:00There's A New Contest in Town...Just a quick shout out to all my faithful readers...new contest! Free stuff! Yay! All you have to do is go to my website homepage and click on the bar that says "contest." There will be four winners. I'm giving away two signed hardcover editions of <b><i>The Saddlemaker's Wife</i></b> and two special "Lone Pine Cafe, Cardinal, California" tote bags. Take a chance! Trust me, you have better odds than if you buy a lottery ticket.<br />
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I'm working on the "loose galleys" of <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley. </i>It's the last time I can make changes before the book comes out. Next to seeing the cover for the first time, this is my favorite part of the publishing cycle. It's the first time I see my book typeset...it actually <i>looks</i> like a book now and not a manuscript. As I told you earlier, the publication date is December 31, 2012. The first signing will be at Mystery Ink in Huntington Beach on December 29th. The rest of my signings will obviously be in January. I'm still arranging signings and will post the information on my website in the next few weeks. <br />
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Other than that, I'm here in South California waiting, waiting, waiting for this long heat wave to end. We had a few days of cooler weather, but another heat wave is expected tomorrow. Anyone who wants to send some cool, autumn weather our way...we'll take it! I'm looking forward to drinking hot cocoa and making chili. Right now, all that sounds good is ice water. All the Halloween decorations in the stores just looks wrong with all this hot weather! I even saw a store that already had Christmas stuff out! Do you think someday advertisers and stores will promote so early that they'll actually be right on time with holidays? (Think about it :))<br />
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Happy (and hopefully) cooler trails, Earlene<br />
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<br />Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-21060324883677302772012-08-31T08:45:00.000-07:002012-08-31T08:45:53.709-07:00A Long Hot SummerHow do you like my new blog design? When I was visiting Tina (beloved webmaster) in Washington, she and I spent a fun hour changing the background and font to give my blog a fresh, new look. We had a lot of backgrounds to choose from and, for some reason, we both liked the birds. And the background matched my dog's coloring in the new photo, so there you go. <br />
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It's been a long, hot, humid summer here in South California. Every night Dallas Raines (my favorite weather guy...yes, I think that's his real name) promises cooler weather is coming. So far, his predictions have not come true. Then again, compared to many other places in the country (like those in the path of Hurricane Isaac), what I've had to live with isn't that bad. Still, it's caused me to do everything slower, including this blog. I can't believe it's almost September! It was only when people started contacting me about booksignings that I realized the summer was almost over. <br />
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I'm in the process of setting up signings for <b style="font-style: italic;">The Road to Cardinal Valley. </b>The publication date is December 31, 2012, so most of the signings will be in January and February 2013. Since the whole tour is on my dime now, I cannot go as many places. I'll be doing my normal Southern California signings (though not as many as, sadly, some bookstores such as <i>Mysteries To Die For </i>in Thousand Oaks, have closed). I'm also scheduled to do a couple of signings in San Luis Obispo County. I will likely go to Arizona and, hopefully, Bishop, California (where the book is set). As soon as the details are set, I'll post them on my website and send out another quick blog.<br />
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I'm also having another contest. I'll be giving away two hardback copies of <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Saddlemaker's Wife</i>,<br />
plus some other stuff I'll think up. Tina and I will get that up within the next week. <br />
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So, this has been a weird summer for me, not just because of the weather. For the first time in twenty years I have not been working on a book. <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley</i> is the last book I have on contract with Berkley-Penguin and it's been a mutual decision (that is, I didn't ask for a new contract and they didn't beg for one) that I will not be writing another book in the foreseeable future. To be honest, with publishing in the midst of so many radical changes (e-books taking over, advances to most authors slashed to what they were making twenty years ago, bookstores closing everywhere, less and less people buying fiction), I was ready to take a break. Even if all of these changes weren't happening, with what has happened in <i style="font-weight: bold;">my</i> life these last few years, I probably would have taken a sabbatical anyway. I've written 19 books in 20 years (counting this latest one and the <i>Benni Harper Quilt Album</i>) and I was ready for my brain to rest, for the well to refill. <br />
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Will I ever write again? Oh, I'm sure I will. Will I write more Benni Harper books? I'm not sure. In some ways, I feel I've said everything I have to say with those characters. But, I also know that my career is in God's Hands, always has been, so if I'm meant to write more books--either Benni Harper books or other novels, the way will be made for me. Here is the philosophy I've always lived by concerning my writing career. <br />
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<b>"If is shall please God that I write more books, blessed be He. If it shall not please Him, again, blessed be He. Perhaps it will be the most wholesome thing for my soul that I lose both fame and skill lest I were to fall into that evil disease vainglory." C. S. Lewis</b><br />
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If it's good enough for C. S. Lewis, it's good enough for me! I'll continue to keep you all updated on what I'm doing through my blog and I'm semi-active on my Facebook pages (I have both a personal one and a fan page--I talk more on my fan page). Believe me, if I write something, after my agent, you all will be the first to know!<br />
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Thanks to all of you for your continued support both with your emails and messages and also through buying my books. I'll send out another email next week when Tina and I get the contest set up.<br />
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Happy Trails (hopefully through cool autumn breezes), EarleneEarlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-8235010516537858492012-06-20T10:48:00.000-07:002012-06-20T10:51:50.737-07:00The Road to Cardinal ValleyJust wanted to let you all know that the cover to my newest book, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley</i>, is now up on my website for your viewing pleasure! It's very colorful and has a lot going on in it. That could be the perfect way to describe this book, so the cover is appropriate. I sent my publisher photos of the area and towns in the Eastern Sierra Nevada part of California. So I think they took aspects of my fictional town of Cardinal from the real towns of Bishop, Lone Pine, Independence and Big Pine. One thing on the cover that pleased me the most was they showed the bookstore, <i>The Novel Experience</i>. Those of you familiar with California's Central Coast and the city of San Luis Obispo (aka San Celina) know that <i>The Novel Experience</i> was an actual bookstore. The name was first used by the mother of my friend, Christine Hill. Her mother owned an antique and collectible bookstore. She eventually had to close the store due to health problems. When Christine and Jim bought Bookland (a local bookstore where Christine worked), they changed the name to <i>The Novel Experience.</i> I signed there from the time my first book came out. Christine and Jim were very generous and open to a scared, new writer and I will never forget their kindness. Since then, Christine has become one of my dearest, most cherished friends. Sadly, like so many small independent bookstores, they had to close their doors. I'm so thrilled their store can "live on" in my books and on this particular cover. The publication date for this book is December 31st, 2012. Yeah, I know, weird pub date. I'll be doing a few signings, though all on the West Coast. More on that in later posts.<br />
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So, I'm in the process of going through my office, purging and weeding books, papers, excess office supplies and way, way too many knick-knacks. I'm actually switching my guest room and office. It's liberating to move rooms and furniture, trying to see old things in new ways. I saw an article in a magazine about redecorating your house by simply moving furniture, pictures and using what you already have. I'm eying the living room next, though Boo's perch at the window (on a footstool) is sort of the "focal point" of the room. Hard to change everything without disturbing his spot (which, as dog and cat owners know, you can never do without paying a price). Anyway, it's fun to try to look at your living space in a different way. And I have saved way too many emails. The recycle center will be getting a lot of paper in the next few weeks. <br />
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In my next few blogs I'll talk more about the plot of <b><i>The Road to Cardinal Valley. </i></b> I seem to be averaging one blog every two months. I'll try to up it to one a month, but I'm truly a pathetic blogger. I've been invited to blog on other writer's sites and I told some I would...once I got around to doing my own blog! This new world of being in contact every single minute is a bit daunting to me. I am somewhat staying current on Facebook. I post a couple of times a week, though I fear what I talk about is a bit inane. Seriously, I started writing fiction because I didn't <i>have</i> an exciting life! And if there are too many fun things going on in my life...I find it hard to write. Maybe I'm just weird. But, if you like my books, you're the same kind of weird. We can start a club!<br />
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On that final, nutty note, I have a request for you. My agent asked me to announce (and essentially beg) for people to pre-order my book on Amazon. Apparently, one of the way they decide who to promote is who gets a lot of pre-orders. So, if you normally order from them (and maybe Barnes & Noble is the same way, I'm not sure), and are so inclined, I'd be grateful. <br />
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I'm going to visit Tina (beloved webmaster) in July and we're going to dream up a cool contest to promote this book. I'm guessing we'll have it up by August.<br />
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It's almost summer! Hope yours will be filled with good friends, good food and, of course, good books!<br />
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Happy Trails, Earlene<br />
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<br />Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-66953833135281390752012-05-01T12:25:00.000-07:002012-05-01T12:25:35.668-07:00May DazeOkay, that was the most clever title I could think up. That seems to be the way my brain is going these days. Not unusual, I know. I think that one of the things that we often do when going through major life changes is not giving ourselves grace, letting our minds and bodies learn to accept (for want of a more original term) the "new normal." So, I'm giving myself some grace and not expecting myself to come up with a fresh and superlative blog title. I <i>have</i> been in a bit of a daze these last few months.<br />
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Speaking of titles, we finally have one for the sequel to <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife.</i> It will be called <i><b>The Road to Cardinal Valley.</b> </i>It was difficult coming up with a title to this book. My editor, agent and I tried many combinations of words; I searched throughout the book looking for key words and this was a title we all finally agreed on. It's not my favorite title (hard to beat those quilt patterns), but it does reflect what the book is about. <br />
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I thought a lot about how I wanted to begin this book. If you remember <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife</i> ended with Ruby going to Nashville to help her sick brother. I started <i><b>The Road to Cardinal Valley</b> </i>with a prologue from a new character's point-of-view--Ruby's mother. Then chapter one is from Ruby's point-of-view and she is driving into Cardinal again, this time a year later with her brother at her side. Though <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife</i> had a criminal suspense element to it, this book is different. There is no crime except for the emotional ones that people too often inflict on one another. It will be published under Berklely Prime Crime despite there being no elements of mystery to the plot. That wasn't my choice, but that of my publisher. They felt it would make it easier for my readers to find it. Just wanted to let you all know that. Writers really have very little say about where and how their books are marketed. I hope you all enjoy finding out what happened to the characters in <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife. </i>As the publication date <b>(January 2013)</b> comes closer, I'll write more blogs about the book itself and tell you a little about what inspired the plot.<br />
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Right now, I wanted to let you know that the paperback edition of <b><i>Spider Web</i> </b>will be out in a few days. It's official publication date is May 4, but you might be able to find it in bookstores now. I know some of you wait until the paperback comes out to buy it, so I wanted to give you a heads up.<br />
As of right now, I don't have a contract for more Benni Harper books. That is not to say there will never be another one, but sales are way down and that is the single thing that means anything to publishers. Ebooks have changed publishing forever and everyone is still waiting for the dust to settle, to see what will eventually happen. As changes happen, I'll try to keep you informed. I just read an article today that said sales of dedicated ebook readers are way, way down. People are buying the tablets instead! (I admit, I have both a Kindle and a Kindle Fire). So, it'll be interesting to see what happens. All I can assure you is that writers will still write and the good ones (mostly) will be published. How is still up for grabs, I guess.<br />
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The rest of my life is going along just fine. I finished the final, final rewrite of <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Road to Cardinal Valley</i>. They've sent me some preliminary ideas for covers and I've liked them. As soon as I get the real cover, I'll have Tina put it up on the website. I've got some trips planned, not promotion trips, but actual trips...so, who knows, maybe an idea for a novel will come from one of them. <br />
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Hope you all are looking forward to a wonderful summer. Right now things are in "June gloom" mode here in Orange County. Every year it gets like this in May and June (cloudy and cool) and every year we are surprised :) I love this kind of weather which is why Allen and I are thinking about retiring (years from now) in the Pacific Northwest.<br />
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Happy Trails, <br />
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Earlene<br />
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<br />Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-44569625791463051132012-02-24T19:42:00.007-08:002012-02-24T20:37:06.347-08:00Happy Trails Until We Meet AgainThe weather on the day of Daddy's funeral was perfect up in the high desert. Cool, breezy, blue, blue sky and cotton ball clouds. We were blessed because the weather "over the grade" can be unpredictable as we'd found out many times in the years my parents lived up there. <div><br /></div><div>The memorial started off with two representatives from the Navy. One played <i>Taps</i> on the bugle. Then they both folded the flag and presented it to my older sister, Mary. When I heard the words "from a grateful nation," I cried. He and so many other veterans...we are so grateful for the sacrifices they made. <div><br /></div><div>When Daddy came with us years ago to plan his memorial, we'd agreed we wanted live music. We'd had a wonderful singer at Mama's funeral 19 years ago and it was something we always talked about. The mortuary director (I'm not sure what his position is called, so forgive me if I said it wrong) said there isn't much of a call for live music these days. Also, we were having a graveside service so that made it more difficult. We requested that the musician play the three songs sung at Mama's funeral--<i>The Old Rugged Cross, How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. </i> The only person the director knew was a local guitarist whom he said had a beautiful voice. Well, the guy came with his guitar and a small amp and beautiful voice doesn't even come close to it. He was so good and inspired us so much that we ended up singing with him as he sung Daddy to Glory. My cousin, Jimmie Lee Webb, preached Daddy's funeral sermon and many of us stood up and talked about Daddy. We ended the funeral with the song <i>I'll Fly Away.</i> By that time we were all singing loud and clapping. I hope Daddy, Mama and Uncle Jimmie (Jimmie Lee's dad and my mother's youngest brother) could look down from heaven and see us. It was like an old-fashioned revival singing. The only thing that was missing was the potluck "dinner on the grounds." </div></div><div><br /></div><div>So, life goes on. I have good days and bad days. It's the same for Allen and my sisters. You all know what it's like to lose someone you love. That old cliche "the new normal" is the reality. My deepest gratitude to all of you who have written me. I've received over five hundred emails and I've read every one of them. Your words of wisdom and support have been so helpful and healing. I am overwhelmed by your kindness and compassion. Thank you.</div><div><br /></div><div>On a lighter note, my editor and I have finally settled on the title for my new book (sequel to <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife</i>)--<i>The Road to Cardinal Valley. </i>Once you read the book, you'll see why it is a very apt title. The road Ruby McGavin drives into Cardinal on is both physical and emotional.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I called this post <i>Happy Trails Until We Meet Again. </i>I meant it to refer to Daddy, but it also can apply to you all. I have a few speaking engagements this year despite not having a new book out (except the paperback for <i>Spider Web</i> which comes out in May). So, check out the appearances section of my website and see if I near you! And until then...Happiest of Trails to all of us! </div><div><br /></div><div>Earlene</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-55777627784539777452012-02-02T23:47:00.000-08:002012-02-03T00:14:43.250-08:00Long Day's Journey into Light!Dear Friends,<div><br /></div><div>I know many of you have followed my journey with my father and his dementia through my blog posts. So I wanted to share with you that my father, Earl Worley, passed away yesterday of congestive heart failure. He was taken into emergency on January 31 and we were in the emergency room for ten hours. When we finally got a room, we were blessed to not have a room mate. God knew what He was doing because it was a long, hard night. My dad struggled with the spiritual desire to leave this earth and be with the Lord and his physical desire to stay on this earth. He truly fought the good fight. During the night there were moments of clarity where he said things that showed us the man he'd been before the dementia stole him. As we always knew, he was still there deep inside. My older sister, Mary, and I were given the gift of being able to help him through that struggle. He was never alone during that long night, one of us was always at his side holding his hand, rubbing his feet, quoting Scripture, talking about Mama, telling him it was okay to go. He would take the oxygen that was keeping him alive, then push it away in anger. Daddy was tough, a real fighter and he fought until the very end. </div><div><br /></div><div>He seemed to rally when morning arrived and my sister and I decided it was going to be another long haul. So we divided the time with Mary taking days and me taking nights. I left about 9:30 am to go home and shower, change clothes, rest a bit, come back in the evening and spend the night. But at around 2:15 pm on Feb 1st, Daddy said "enough." Mary was with him when he died, holding his hand, telling him it was okay to leave. It took me twenty minutes to get back to the hospital, but the long day's journey had ended for my dad and he had walked into the Light. I believe with all my heart the first person he saw was Jesus and the second was my mom, whom he loved and missed for the last 19 years. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was an honor to be able to share his last night on earth. I thank the Lord for that. He will have a military funeral because he was very proud of serving in the Navy. Godspeed and Happy Trails, Daddy. I will see you and Mama and both grandmas again someday. I want my first meal in heaven to be Grandma Webb's peach cobbler and Grandma Worley's fudge.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to all of you who have read my blogs, supported me, prayed for me and encouraged me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Love, Earlene</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-91899612351664597502011-12-20T10:50:00.000-08:002011-12-20T11:19:23.193-08:00Just WorkingI titled my blog with those simple words because that's what I've been doing! The sequel to The Saddlemaker's Wife is my next book and I'm <i>this close</i> to finishing. It was originally due January 1st (what was I thinking when I signed that contract?) and it was obvious a few months ago I wouldn't make that deadline. I asked my publisher for a month's extension, so now it's due February 1st. So, between getting ready for Christmas and just the general hassle of day-t0-day life, I've been working on this book. I will make my deadline, but barely. The end is in sight, kind of like the Rocky Mountains when you are driving across the eastern Colorado prairie! <div><br /></div><div>There's no title yet so I call it "The Sequel." I was using <i>The Cattle Singer</i>, but my publisher didn't like the title so, after a few other suggestions that we couldn't agree on, we mutually decided to wait until the manuscript was finished before settling on a title. It's weird to be working on an untitled book. That never happens with Benni Harper books, of course. That's one of the beauties of naming your books after quilts--easy titles! No idea when "The Sequel" is coming out, but likely in 2012. As soon as I find out, I'll announce it on the website, on Facebook and send another blog entry. I am having fun with Facebook. I'm on it for five or ten minutes a day, so it's not as time-consuming as I'd anticipated. If you haven't made the "jump" yet, don't be afraid. You can control the time (and amount of information) you put on it. And I've met some great people on my author page. I ask a lot of silly questions (like who is your celebrity crush--mine is Harry Connick Jr.). It's fun to see how people answer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not much else is going on here. Life is pretty day-to-day. Daddy is doing great physically though mentally he loses a little more every day. The unpredictability of dementia is often heartbreaking, but also interesting (the writer in me, I guess). He hasn't known my and my older sister's names for a while (though we see him every week), but he does know Mary Edith as "his daughter" and I'm "her sister." (As in, "Is your sister going to visit me this week?") You can see him struggle to figure things out and I think that is exhausting. Christmas is hard for him. All the strange, new things (like decorations) and people. He likes things to stay exactly the same. That's what makes him feel safe. We're doing our best to achieve that for him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Allen and Boo are doing great. We're having a quiet Christmas since my sister's kids (and their little ones) are all elsewhere. Only adults this year for Christmas dinner. Just isn't the same without hyper-excited kids running around, but better for Daddy. Mary Edith is making my mom's potato salad (to go with honeybaked ham) and I'm making a carrot cake--her and Allen's favorite. I bought her and her husband a cross made of driftwood for their new pool area (under construction), but don't tell her! </div><div><br /></div><div>Today is Hanukkah, so I wish all my Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah. And may God bless you with a peaceful Christmas and a healthy, safe New Year. I pray that 2012 is a year filled with wisdom, friendship and hope for you all. </div><div><br /></div><div>With my love and gratitude, Earlene</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-61821653337437707422011-09-13T09:01:00.001-07:002011-09-13T09:24:28.248-07:00Stumbling Toward FallI cannot believe it was July 22 the last time I wrote! I'm beginning to sound like my grandmother when I can't help but repeatedly say, "Where did all that time go?" <div><br /></div><div>It felt like I was glued to the television weather channels this summer watching all the crazy storms and earthquakes everywhere in the world. We just went through a weird cycle ourselves here in SoCal (though nothing dangerous like much of the rest of the country). It was very, very hot--in the 100's even at the coast, which is odd for us. This last Saturday I woke to thunder and lightning and a downpour! Then it was as muggy as the Florida Keys. The thunder threw Boo for a loop. We have gotten it occasionally in the seven years we've owned him, but it's never bothered him since it was usually so far away. Our rare thunder sounds very much like the fireworks at Disneyland (ten miles from us) so he was used to the sound. But this thunder shook our windows and he'd run up to the door barking thinking someone was trying to get in. <div><br /></div><div>My heart goes out to the parts of our country who really suffered with weather catastrophes this summer. Here's hoping and praying that autumn will be filled with good, cool, DRY weather (except in Texas where they desperately need rain) and no more earthquakes or hurricanes. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been stumbling toward finishing this latest book--The Cattle Singer. I'm still not entirely sure that will be the title. I might even change it to The Cattle Singers as there are actually two people in the book who fit the description of those people who can sing to herds of cattle and keep them calm. I've been reading and watching all the crazy stuff going on in publishing, including the closing of Borders. I was published in 1992 so I've been in this business during a very unique time. We're watching a paradigm shift and it's both interesting and somewhat dismaying. Will "real" books survive? Will mid-list writers like me have a career in this business? Will they <i>really</i> stop teaching cursive writing in school? </div><div><br /></div><div>This will not change. People will tell stories. And people will want to hear stories. How that happens is anyone's guess, but stories will continue as long as people are on this earth. </div><div><br /></div><div>I asked recently on my Facebook page what books people loved that they liked to reread. I gave a few of mine (Cakewalk by Lee Smith; The Novel by James Michener; In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason; During the Reign of the Queen of Persia by Joan Chase...I could go on for pages). What people posted gladdened my heart because people had so many and varied books they loved enough to reread. For a writer, that is the ultimate compliment...not that someone would <i>read</i> your book (though we do love that), but that someone finds it worthy enough to <i>reread.</i> When you do that you are giving the writer your most precious commodity--Time. So, thank you to all who've reread my books. And thanks to the writers who've written the books I love to reread. </div><div><br /></div><div>Onward to Fall--hot cocoa, chili with cheddar cheese, chicken pot pie, peach cobbler and good books to read on a crisp, cool day. Yeehaw Autumn!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene</div></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-12651665563224017562011-07-22T08:24:00.001-07:002011-07-22T09:10:18.913-07:00It's Summertime and the weather is Crazy!Hey everyone!<div><br /></div><div><b><i>Wow </i></b>is all I can say about the heat all of you in 35 states are experiencing this summer. My coolest sympathy! If I could, I'd have you all come out and stay in my guest room. We've been lucky so far here in SoCal (as the weather people on TV call us). No heat wave so far, but I have a feeling we're not out of the woods. Our time is coming (usually in September along with the wild fires). </div><div><br /></div><div>It's been the end of May since I last wrote. I looked at the calendar today and realized that July was on its way to being over! Honestly, I haven't been just laying around eating grapes and reading (doesn't that sound lovely? though I'd make it chocolate-dipped grapes) After spending most of May and some of June promoting <i>Spider Web</i>, I had to get ready for vacation. Normally, Allen and I take winter vacations. We like not having to make hotel reservations, the cooler weather (different for us and I occasionally get to wear my red and brown wool Pendleton jacket I bought at the Seattle Airport in 1995) and we like saving his vacations for the end of the year to give us something to look forward to. Also, since 1994 I've always been on book tour during late spring and early summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, this year was special. In June, I finally kept my promise to long time fan and friend, Sally Parker, in Burlington, Colorado, and drove out to visit her. She's a rancher who came to one of my Denver signings years ago (her daughter, Robbie, was about 7 or 8 when they made the long drive from Idalia to Denver...Robbie is now a sophomore in college). Sally and I started corresponding and after many invitations, I decided to visit her in Eastern Colorado. Had a wonderful time seeing how ranchers and work in eastern Colorado live. I spoke and signed at the Wray Quilt Festival, did a presentation at the Burlington Library, rode the Burlington Carousel (twice!), worked some cattle, saw all the family's ranches, and spent a lot of time laughing with Sally and Brett and their kids, Robbie and Reed. We drove home through Amarillo and caught a little of that heat that you all are feeling. Then when I got home, had to ready my house for new carpeting and flooring that we ordered before we left. It was put in last week and now my baby sister from Connecticut is coming for ten days! (It's Debra's 30th anniversary and I'm actually taking charge of her 15 year old youngest daughter while Debra and hubby go on 2nd honeymoon).</div><div><br /></div><div>Once that's done, yes, I'll finally get back to writing on <i>The Cattle Singer</i>! That January deadline looms. Though I love all the visiting and traveling, I'm kind of like my dog, Boo. I miss having a regular schedule and I miss writing. I've left Lucas in a precarious scene and I need to get back and see what will happen! This book is very clear in my head. I have been doing a lot of background reading, which is fun research. I recently read a biography of Tammy Wynette (yes, it's kind of research, you'll see why when you read the book). Her life was interesting and troubling. And, there's a bit of a mystery about how she died which made her life particularly tragic. I've not been reading much fiction this last month, mostly non-fiction. I tend to go in phases. Right now I'm reading a book called "The Ride of our Lives" by Mike Leonard. He took his kids and his elderly parents on a cross country trip in two RV's. It's funny and easy to read. And I happened to buy it in big print...which I love! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, I'm fine, Allen's fine and Boo is fine (skin problems <i>finally</i> resolved--it was food allergies to corn and wheat). Daddy is holding steady. We'll all go visit him when my sister is here, but he doesn't know any of us so we don't bring him to family dinners any more. We've discovered they agitate him because he thinks he's in a group of strangers. All he can think about is "going home." I've often wondered what is "home" in his head. With dementia, you just never know. </div><div><br /></div><div>One last thing: <i><b>Crowdsourcing</b></i>. It's a new word (told to me by my agent) and it means asking a crowd, usually digital, for help with a problem. I received notice from my publisher that the corrections for <i>Spider Web</i> paperback edition need to be in by September 15th. So, if any of you are so inclined, please send me any mistakes you found so the paperback can be as close to perfect as possible! Thanks so much!</div><div><br /></div><div>Drink lots of liquids, stay in the shade (reading a good book!) and remember that during heat extreme times like these, ice cream is considered a Necessary Food Group! Autumn is just around the corner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy and (Hopefully) Cooler Trails, Earlene</div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-91081542773049312492011-05-27T10:23:00.001-07:002011-05-27T11:04:43.522-07:00On the Road Again (and again and again...)Well, I've not been on the road as much with this book. As I said in earlier posts, my publisher didn't pay for a book tour this year so I've been only doing booksignings in California and Arizona. I will be doing a few signings in Colorado in June. I'm visiting my dear friends, Sally and Brett, at their ranch in Idalia, Colorado. That's why I'll be speaking and signing at the Quilts of the Plains Quilt Show in Wray, Colorado and speaking at the Burlington Colorado library. Check out the dates and times on my website under appearances. Years ago, Sally and her daughter, Robbie, drove hundreds of miles to come to one of my Denver signings. I think Robbie was seven or so. Robbie is now in college! Watching the children of my fans grow up has been such a wonderful, fun thing for me. Drop by if you happen to be near Eastern Colorado in June.<div><br /></div><div>Signings have been a lot of fun, as they always are with you all. On my Facebook page we've been posting the photographs fans are taking. It's under Spider Web Booksignings 2011. I have to admit this about Facebook...it's a lot easier to get things up than on a website. If you join Facebook, you can keep all your information private, but still have access to looking at other people's pages (my fan page is open to anyone...my personal page you just have to "friend" me--but most of what I'm doing is on the fan page). So, don't be afraid to try. I was reluctant, but now am okay with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I'll not desert you here on my website! I know that everyone doesn't have the time or inclination to go on Facebook. Shoot, I still send out snail mail postcards (though only to the places where I'm physically going to sign--too expensive now to send to everyone on my list).</div><div><br /></div><div>Not much going on here in SoCal. Spring is here (and pollen, pollen everywhere). Everyone in the Fowler household, including Boo, is taking antihistamines. I've been watching with dismay and shock at what tornadoes have been doing to Alabama, Missouri and the rest of the South and Midwest. Here's hoping and praying the worst is over. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm working on <i>The Cattle Singer</i>. It's been great reconnecting with these characters, and I'll admit, since it's not a mystery novel, I'm so glad I don't have to kill anyone! Other than that, life goes on. Daddy's relatively stable. I visit him once a week and though he doesn't always know me, he says he's happy. We love the place where he is living. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you all are doing fine. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and take a few moments out of your weekend to remember our veterans--past and present--and if you get a chance, thank them for their service. God bless America! </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene </div><div><br /></div><div>p.s. Will get the photos for new contest up this weekend, I promise! I have to take them, then send them to Tina. I just need to get organized...:)</div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-13674328213534660042011-05-02T09:34:00.000-07:002011-05-02T10:28:36.017-07:00Speaking of Spider WebIt was great seeing a lot of you out at Bears Quilt Shop on Sunday for the launch of <i>Spider Web.</i> I'm looking forward over the next month or so of seeing more Benni Harper fans as I sign around California and Arizona. For those of you who can't make it to one of my talks, I thought I'd tell a little about Spider Web here. I wish I could do a ten-week cross-country book tour, but this will have to do (actually a book tour like that would likely make me crazy!)<div><br /></div><div>It's hard for me to talk about <i>Spider Web</i> in great detail because the things I want to discuss would give away too much of the story! So, I'm trying to choose my words and subjects carefully. With this book--the fifteenth in my series--I chose the title before I had a story. (I've done it both ways--have a story, then chose the title and vice-versa). I liked the way <i>Spider Web</i> sounded and I just had a hunch it would be an easy title to fit a story around. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, when I sat down in front of that blank (computer) page, I thought, <i>okay, what in the world is this story going to be about?</i> In a long running series like mine, it starts to become difficult to write a book that doesn't sound exactly like the last one. With plot-oriented series (or series where the mood is lighter, that is, the author really isn't concerned about their characters growing or seeming real) the writer depends on the mechanics of the plot or a clever way of killing someone to carry the story. Since my books have always been character-driven rather than plot-driven, that just doesn't work for me. I also didn't want my characters to have the same old problems throughout the series. Seriously, how many times can Benni and Gabe fight about her getting involved in dangerous situations? Though a reader's willing "suspension of disbelief," is practically a genre requirement, I do want my characters to seem like believable people. So, I've attempted to move them forward and change their problems. </div><div><br /></div><div>In <i>State Fair</i> I deliberately wrote it so that Benni and Gabe weren't arguing. I did it just to give them some relief! (Some of you didn't like that--you like their arguing!) In <i>Spider Web</i>, they aren't arguing, but there is tension because of outside stress that sets off Gabe's PTSD. When my father had his fall a few years ago and was in the hospital, some medication they gave caused him to have terrifying hallucinations. Some of his experiences with WWII came to the surface (as well as the time his father, an alcoholic, locked him in a dark root cellar). That started me thinking about PTSD, how it never truly goes away no matter how many years pass, no matter how much a person seems to have their life together. And it can be the smallest thing that sets it off. So I started studying PTSD. Then I started thinking about Gabe and what would set off PTSD for him. At the time, a local city here in California had their police being targeted by an unknown assailant (with bombs). I thought about how devastated Gabe would be if his officers were being stalked. That's how plots start for me. Something touches me and I start researching it and before I know it, it works its way into a book.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, that's just a small part of what I go into when I talk about the writing of <i>Spider Web.</i> I'll try to tell a little bit more about how I write my books as I continue these blogs throughout the year for people who aren't able to come to my signings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks so much to all of you who are buying and reading <i>Spider Web.</i> If you have any questions, please feel free to email me on my website or find me on Facebook. I'll answer the questions there and also on this blog. Facebook has ended up not being as time-consuming as I worried it would be (though it is tempting to stay on there and chat! It's like the big ole church potlucks I remember as a kid). Just one more way to communicate. Not a bad thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I gotta get back to work now. Take care and Happy Trails until we meet again,</div><div><br /></div><div>Earlene</div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-88927608918097571672011-04-05T22:53:00.000-07:002011-04-05T23:16:35.987-07:00And the Blog Goes On...I just wanted to send a letter to tell all ya'll who aren't on Facebook to not worry, I'll continue to blog on my website. It's been an interesting few days on FB. It's more immediate than a blog, but I can see where it's easy to get in trouble because you say things so quickly and they don't always come out how you mean. So, just another way to communicate and I'm a firm believer in that. Shoot, I still send <i>real</i> letters using <i>cursive</i> writing! Talk about old school...<div><br /></div><div>I'm busy trying to get a postcard mailing out (That's for people who signed up years ago on my mailing list which is slowly dissipating as I don't ask for snail mail addresses any longer). Many authors don't even do postcard mailings any more. It's expensive, but I like doing it. There's something calming about putting labels on thousands of postcards (and it gives me a good excuse to watch junk TV!)</div><div><br /></div><div>I finally got my tax receipts divided. Only have to add them up now. Then Allen does out taxes with Turbo Tax. We're usually not this late, but I don't usually travel in March like I did this year. Which, by the way, the quilt cruise was marvelous. Met a bunch of great ladies, as quilters always are, ate too much (buffets! hurray!) and bought the cruise ship's book on how to make towel animals. Maybe I'll even try it sometime (I've tried origami and failed miserably...towel animals seem to be a kind of towel origami). Still, it's fun to look at them. The scorpion looks particularly cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>Went to Fresno last Friday night and Saturday for a quick trip to the Mennonite Relief Quilt Auction and Sale. Wow! If you ever get a chance to go to one (they are all around the country) don't miss it. Lots of cool quilts to buy and bid on, giant rummage sale, incredible food booths (tried zwieback--a type of Mennonite roll--Yum!) and pie, pie, pie! Though my friend, Jo Ellen Heil, and I didn't stay for the Friday night concert, we heard it was Barry McGuire! Shades of the sixties! Will I use it in a book? Who knows...</div><div><br /></div><div>Rain coming to South California at the end of this week. I'm not sad as I haven't gotten my fill. I swear I could live in Oregon and be so totally happy! Spring is coming, though it looks to be a stormy one for lots of the country. Though I'm sorry I'm not getting to see my fans across the country since I'm not going on a long book tour, I have to admit, between the planes' skin flying off and the crazy storms...I'm <i>not</i> sorry I don't have to fly!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene</div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-65071194325236289112011-03-31T21:24:00.000-07:002011-03-31T21:42:16.567-07:00Link to Facebook Fan PageThanks to Vivs at Bears Quilt Shop in Garden Grove I can give you a link that will take you to my real fan page. Though I appreciate you all "liking" the Wikipedia page, it doesn't place you on a list where when I post on my fan page, it goes to your mailbox. The Wikipedia page (the one without my photo) is a community page that I have no control over or ability to post to.<br /><br />So, here's the link: http//:www.facebook.com/pages/Earlene-Fowler/199826060040726<div><br /></div><div>Thanks! I'll be announcing the winners of the contest April 15th and putting up another contest on that day. The next contest prizes have to do with Spider Web and are really special! </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Facebook Trails, Earlene </div><div><br /></div><div>p.s. My book launch party will be at Bears on May 1st. Food, fun and prizes! Everyone is welcome! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-63658131121550709602011-03-31T09:14:00.000-07:002011-03-31T09:24:57.268-07:00Facebook - Phase II (And title of new book!)Okay, this has gotten complicated which is what I was afraid was going to happen! Arggg! Bear with me, folks.<div><br /></div><div>There is a Facebook page that has my name on it--no picture. I think that's one that Facebook put up on their own. It's just my Wikipedia information. I don't have any control over that and, though I think my publisher looks at it, they'd be more interested in my "real" fan page.</div><div><br /></div><div>I set up a personal account which I need to do the chat, but there is no "like" button on there. I'm getting "friends" which is okay, except my publisher doesn't care about that so much because Facebook has a limit of 5000 "friends" and so it really doesn't show a true count of who might be interested in your "product." (The product would be me and my books :))</div><div><br /></div><div>Some people have had trouble finding my fan page with the laughing picture, but some people have found it so there must be a way. Maybe scroll down and look at all the Earlene Fowler's (there are six, I think). I know it's on there because some people have found it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the "like" count for my Wikipedia page has gone up so I know some of you found that. Hope you all can find the <i>real</i> fan page now. I won't monitor the fan page every day (have another administrator doing that), but I will be posting on it to keep you updated.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you "friend" me, I'll accept, but like I said, I won't be currently posting on my personal Facebook page at least until I get further on this new book. Thanks so much for taking the time to help me on this new venture!</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, I forgot to tell you all the title of the sequel to <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife.</i> </div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Cattle Singer. </i>More on that later. Back to work now!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene</div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-35772209364641728992011-03-30T22:50:00.001-07:002011-03-30T23:26:42.372-07:00Finally on Facebook (sort of)Okay, my agent and publisher "encouraged" me get on Facebook (as in, for cryin' out loud, Earlene, will you stumble into the 21st century, already!) Actually, they were nicer than that and have been very understanding about my reluctance to dive into social media. I'm going to be doing a Facebook chat in May so, apparently, I needed an account to do that. That's where the "sort of" comes in. I'll be honest, I can't really chat with people. Why? Well, as many of you know, I LOVE to talk and there's nothing I love better than talking to you all. But, if I spend time on Facebook chatting with folks, guess what <i>doesn't </i>happen? <i>Writing.</i> So I'm dipping my toe in with great hesitation. I will let you know the time of the chat when it is finalized. And I will occasionally throw in a comment, but I will continue to mostly communicate via this blog. I like the fact that only you all see it, rather than the whole world. But, I guess I need to get over that. It is a new world, for sure. <div><br /></div><div>So, can you all do me a favor? I'd really appreciate those of you on Facebook to go to my fan page (the one with the photo where I'm laughing...this photo was done by an incredible photographer, Sharon Kay, and was the LAST picture of our session...that's why I'm happy!) Anyway, if you do "like" me, can you please hit the <i><b>like </b></i>button? My publisher is probably going to be checking this page out and it makes me look good. They'll look at this one rather than my personal one. I think they're more concerned about how many <b><i>likes</i></b> a person gets rather than <i>friends.</i> Probably because there's no limit on <b><i>likes.</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>What else is happening? Well, I'm trying to divide receipts for taxes (It's almost April? Say what?) and trying to write. I went on the quilt cruise to Mexico a few weeks ago and met a bunch of wonderful quilters. We all had a fun time getting to know each other. The buffets were fabulous, as was the wonderful service on Holland America. Allen and I both keep waiting for someone to bring us clean towels and make our bed. But, alas, back on dry land we have to fend for ourselves (though it occurred to me that Boo gets that kind of excellent service all the time--meals, clean beds, massages...wait a minute, what's this baloney about a <i>dog's life?</i>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Other than that, everyone is fine though Allen and I are sneezing our heads off. Wonderful to have so much rain, but now we're paying for it with a super-sized allergy season. I did hear on the news that our governor officially declared the drought is over. A glass of cold water for everyone!</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking forward to seeing some of you in May! </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Pollen-filled Trails, Earlene</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-78899606763864120742011-03-06T22:55:00.000-08:002011-03-06T23:38:47.929-08:00Book Tour Dates and Swinging the Machete<div>First, I want to thank the nine women who took up the challenge and sent me detailed lists of the errors in <i>State Fair</i>. I wrote you all individually, but wanted to say thanks again. According to my agent, what you all did was called "crowdsourcing." Wow, are we with it or what? I just call it getting by with a little help from my friends! What was amazing is that each woman found many of the same errors, but also unique ones that no one else caught. No one person caught every error (and, likely, there are a few we all missed). Still, the paperback should be the most correct book in the series! </div><div><br /></div><div>My book signing schedule is now on my website. Just check on the homepage under "appearances." As you'll see, I'm only going to Arizona, Southern California and the Central Coast. My publisher decided not to send me on book tour this year, so I'm doing this on my own. Times are pretty hard in publishing. If you've been listening to NPR or reading any of the news magazines, online or on paper, you probably have heard the rumblings. Borders going into Chapter 11 is serious stuff and the ebook phenomenon has really shaken up the industry. Where do I stand? Right now, I'm working on the sequel to <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife </i>and that's the last book on this particular contract. I have no idea what will happen after that. Though I try to keep up with what is happening in publishing, mostly I just try to write my pages every day and live my life. I only know for sure that <i>Spider Web</i> comes out in May and the book I'm working on now will possibly come out in 2013. If any of you can come out to a book signing and buy a book, well, I'll be real grateful. Can you believe this is the 15th Benni Harper book?</div><div><br /></div><div>Daddy is finally settled into his new assisted living home. We moved him right after Thanksgiving and the adjustment wasn't as smooth as we hoped. But the people who own the homes were wonderful and worked with us. Daddy's finally feeling safe and good again. There were also many doctor's appointments which, thankfully, are almost done. I'm a little behind on my writing, but have faith I will catch up. It was surprisingly easy for me to get back into the minds of Lucas and Ruby. Like when I write about San Celina, writing about Cardinal felt like going back home. I have a working title which I'll announce on my next blog...because I haven't even told my editor yet! Allen's doing good and so is Boo. He'll be seven in April (Boo, not Allen). What happen to my little puppy? </div><div><br /></div><div>I read this paragraph in a book by one of my favorite authors, Philip Yancey. (This particular book is called <i>Reaching for the Invisible God).</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"When I begin a book, I take up a machete and start hacking my way through the jungle, </i><i>not to clear a trail for others, but rather to find a path through for myself. Will anyone follow? </i><i>Have I lost my way? I never know the answers to those questions as I write; I just keep swinging the machete." </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>So, that's what I've been doing these last few months...with my father, my life and my writing. Just swinging that machete, trying to find my way. Really, that's all any of us can do, isn't it? </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-54384819576410217072011-01-07T11:36:00.000-08:002011-01-07T11:45:43.895-08:00State Fair Corrections ClarificationOkay, I failed as a communicator because many of you have emailed me confused about my last blog about the corrections for <i>State Fair. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I have the page proofs, but am not sending them to anyone (my publisher wouldn't care for that). What I meant is if you saw any errors in your hardcover editor of </span>State Fair<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and you'd like them corrected for the </span>paperback edition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> (which comes out in May 2011), I can incorporate them into the page proofs sent to me by my publisher </span>if</i> you send them to me before January 21, 2011. (Preferably way before...I'll probably send them the night of 2oth). Thanks! </div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I hope that clears up any confusion. Mea culpa! (In my defense, I'm having a new staircase and banister being built this week and I'm trying to work with nail guns and saws going on in the next room. Boo is at doggie daycare...lucky him!) </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Happy Trails, Earlene</span></i></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-25155476231027504572011-01-05T12:26:00.000-08:002011-01-05T12:33:42.462-08:00State Fair Corrections--Here's Your Chance!A really quick note! Seriously. Just received the page proofs for the paperback version of <i>State Fair</i>, the book that caused so much consternation. Here's your chance to get those corrections done! Send them to me and I'll work them in (keep in mind, I can only do actual corrections, no rewriting). I'll be reading it to try and find the mistakes also, but thought I'd give you English majors a chance! I do have a few emails where people gave me the page and line where mistakes were found, so that helps. I have to turn them in by January 21 (my page proofs for <i>Spider Web</i> are due Jan 14).<div><br /></div><div>Thanks for your help! Earlene</div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-89524284003976989472011-01-03T17:08:00.000-08:002011-01-03T17:33:05.943-08:00New Year, New Cover, New Contest!Happy New Year! Just a quick note (short blog...a nog?) to let you know that the cover for <i>SPIDER WEB </i>(pub date May 3, 2011) is up on my website along with the cover copy from the front of the book. It'll give you a little idea of the plot. Also, there's a new contest, a chance to win a San Celina Police Department cap. I just had a bunch more made. There'll be three people who will win, but I'll give more away in later contests. This contest runs until April 15th (we need something to look forward to on that day). Then I've got some cool stuff relating to <i>SPIDER WEB</i> that I'll have as prizes for another contest. Good luck and hope you all in the Midwest, South and East aren't suffering too much from this rain California is sending across the US. We received 12 inches in 6 days here in Orange County...a record for me and I'm a native Southern Californian! Luckily, storm drainage is great where I live (not too close to either the ocean or the foothills) so no damage except an unhappy dog (Boo hates the rain). <div><br /></div><div>Take care and drive safely! Earlene </div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-15854322215756359732010-12-15T23:59:00.000-08:002010-12-16T00:39:13.305-08:00Where have I been?Okay, when I got a phone call from my friend, Katsy, asking me if she'd been dropped from my blog list, I knew I'd gone too long between postings. (I assured her she hadn't been). I did promise you all from the beginning I wouldn't bug you too much, so I've kept my promise. I see the last posting was September 15th. I guess it was from that moment that my life went a little bit loony-tunes. I won't go into graphic (boring) detail but it involved: <div><br /></div><div>1) Spider Web being a heck of a book to write and rewrite and rewrite... </div><div>2) Allen's vacation--we took all three weeks in October and December </div><div>3) Thanksgiving was at my house this year for the first time in I don't know how long (fun, but exhausting) </div><div>4) Time-consuming canine skin problems involving baths, creams, vet visits, more baths, etc.</div><div>5) And to top it off, during Thanksgiving weekend my sister and I decided to move my dad to another assisted living home, one we felt was much better for him.<div><br /></div><div>I'm happy to say that Spider Web is DONE, really <i>done</i>, and it in typesetting phase right now. We had fun on vacation visiting my niece in Coos Bay, Oregon in October and going to Bishop, California and National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada in December (research for sequel to Saddlemaker's Wife, which I'm getting ready to start). Thanksgiving was fun and the leftover turkey and ham heavenly. Boo's skin is almost back to normal (some kind of allergies) and Daddy's happy in his new home where he has a window that looks out on the front yard and he can see everything that is going on in the neighborhood (our family is notoriously nosy--both parents--so I come by it honestly). He had four doctor appointments in less than a month, but they are all done now. Whew! All that's left is Christmas and that will be a very calm one this year. Thanksgiving was our big hoedown. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so behind on everything that Amazon beat me in posting the cover to Spider Web. Check it out if you have time. It's a very striking cover and I like it a lot. It'll be up on the website soon. I need to write a short blurb about it (next on my "to do" list!). Besides, I wanted to wait until Tina (beloved webmaster) was on Christmas vacation so I didn't overload her with work. There'll also be another contest. I had some more San Celina Police Department hats made so I think I'll give away four of them. I'll send another quick newsletter when we get that set up, so you can enter and maybe win one. I'll try to get it up before the end of the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, that's it. Just wanted to say howdy and let you know I am still here, diligently writing, and trying to live my life. Spider Web is a special book to me. I dedicated part of it to the men and women of our military because one of the plots has to do with Gabe and his service in Vietnam. I send warm Christmas (and late Hanukkah) greetings to all of you who are serving in the military, especially those overseas. Thank you for your dedication, your bravery and your service. </div><div><br /></div><div>And a Merry Christmas and peaceful, blessed New Year to everyone else. Drive safely and stay warm. If I could, I'd box up some of this unseasonable California sunshine and send it out to all of you stuck in that Arctic freeze. But, don't feel too bad, our sunny weather is ending as of tomorrow night. Between you and me, I'm glad. It's Christmas, for cryin' out loud! A little cool weather is welcome (but you all can keep the black ice). </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene<br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-59024726146215347162010-09-15T10:24:00.000-07:002010-09-15T11:41:53.937-07:00Finishing and Beginning AgainLast week I finished the final rewrite of <i>Spider Web.</i> Over Labor Day weekend I dumped about fifty pages and added fifty more because there was a plot point that didn't feel right...so I changed it. The book will now make a second trip my editor as well as to the copy editor. I'll get to read it one more time and make small changes according to the editor's queries (or mistakes I find upon rereading). Then it is off to typeset, printing and finally, publication in May 2011. So, before I "begin again" on my next book, I've been trying to organize my life. Big question--who snuck into my house while I was sleeping and left all this junk? It is amazing the amount of <i>stuff</i> that accumulates while I have my head down writing. <div><br /></div><div>So, before I start the sequel to <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife, </i>I'm trying to weed through books, papers, general junk and make room to work more comfortably. Actually, I find that while I clean I am thinking about the new book, about Ruby, Lucas, Birch, Bobby and Ely, what they might be doing, where to start the book, what new characters might show up. What do I know for sure? </div><div><br /></div><div>First, that I need to reread it to remind myself of the details (I wrote it in 2005!). One thing I know for sure (almost) is that I'll explore the thread about Ruby's missing mother. That was something that was never answered in the book and has always left me curious (I often don't know myself why I put those small mysteries in my stories). This will be an interesting test of my abilities because I didn't write this book with the intention of writing a sequel. What still amazes me (and confirms the unpredictability of life) is that <i>The Saddlemaker's Wife </i>sold better than <i>any</i> of my books and I didn't plan on a sequel. <i>Love Mercy</i> has had the worst sales and I planned on it being a trilogy, so I had a story line that arched over three books (and will, sadly, likely never be written--sales are <b>everything</b> in publishing, especially these days). But, I trust God that all things will be as they should be. I try to live my writing life according to some very good advice by one of my favorite writers.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"If it shall please God that I write more books, blessed be He. If it shall not please Him, again blessed be He. Perhaps it will be the most wholesome thing for my soul that I lose both fame and skill lest I were to fall into that evil disease vainglory."</i> C.S. Lewis</div><div><br /></div><div>I did have some fun over the summer. I flew back East to visit my baby sister, Debra, in Connecticut. She and I drove to Mystic, Connecticut for a girl's weekend away. She ended up getting a cold, but we still had fun, especially laying around our hotel room and talking late into the night. Spent some quality time with my nieces, Sam and Jen. Sam starts high school this year and Jen just graduated college and landed a job at the same college she just graduated from...so she's back at school, but as an adult now. Then I drove to New Hampshire to spend time with Tina (aka beloved webmaster) where we shopped, ate, talked and laughed. One of the fun things we did was go to the Vermont Country Store, a place I'd ordered countless things from over the years. It was fun seeing it in person. The store looks tiny from the front, but goes waaay back! I could have poked around it for two days and not seen everything. It is just like their great catalogs.</div><div><br /></div><div>All is well in the Fowler household. Allen's still taking his mandolin lessons from Andy Rau (my former banjo teacher--alas, I've not continued my lessons...no time); Boo is doing good despite a rough six months of stomach and skin issues that are clearing up; Daddy is stable and happy in his assisted living home. I turned fifty-six this year! It's hard to believe that I started the Benni books in 1992. She was 34 and I was 38. She's turning 40 in <i>Spider Web.</i> I remember 40! I can't believe I'm now older than Gabe. </div><div><br /></div><div>I only have one more speaking engagement this year. I'll be at the Mission Viejo Reader's Festival on September 25th. It looks like it will be a fun day with lots of activities for all ages. Come on out if you have time. More details on my appearances page.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-70167374220351149632010-08-17T22:32:00.000-07:002010-08-17T22:59:34.037-07:00Come see The Big Laugh (and Katsy!)This is a quick shout out to anyone who lives in the Central Coast or Central Valley area of California (or anywhere else, for that matter, depending on how far you want to travel). <div><br /></div><div>Come see The Big Laugh Premiere Event on August 28, 2010 at The Paso Robles Event Center, Mid-State Fairgrounds, Paso Robles, California! Five hilarious comics will entertain folks...and one of them is my friend, Katsy Chappell! (She is the person I based the character of Katsy on in <i>State Fair).</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be signing books before and after the comedy show. You can read more about it and the other comedians performing on <b>www.thebiglaugh.net</b>. Tickets can also be bought on line or at the door. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just a warning, it is billed as an <i><b>over 21</b></i> event, though the producer assured me that the comedy isn't "blue." The only comedian I've actually seen is my friend, Katsy Chappell. I know you're gonna love her! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, if you need a fun date night on Saturday, August 28, come on out to the fairgrounds, chat with me, see where I set <i>State Fair</i> and meet one of my characters! Be prepared to LAUGH! </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Trails, Earlene</div><div><br /></div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380658802564417235.post-15609779947478512082010-08-12T10:50:00.000-07:002010-08-12T11:20:10.519-07:00To Angst or not to Angst...Whenever a new book in my Benni Harper series comes out, I always receive letters about Benni and Gabe's relationship. Because I'm trying to portray a believable relationship and marriage, some of the story lines have Gabe and Benni in conflict, some (i.e. <i>State Fair</i>), have them, mostly, getting along.<div><br /></div><div>So, half the letter writers complain that Benni and Gabe seem to fight all the time and often ask--"Will they ever learn to get along?" The other half moan, "When will you get back to the emotionally complex dilemmas that we love about their relationship?"</div><div><br /></div><div>You can see my own dilemma.</div><div><br /></div><div>The truth is that I have never actually planned in advance how their relationship will flow. Like real life (and I've been married 37 years so I know this from personal experience) you just never know what is going to happen between two people--spouses, friends, siblings, parents and children. So much depends on the circumstances we find ourselves in, right? Well, it's pretty much the same thing in writing. Yes, I am in complete control...to some degree. But since my characters do have distinct personalities and histories, all of that comes into play with each book. It's all a chain that makes up their lives. And, of course, what happens to me affects what I write. To those of you who have read <i>Love Mercy</i>, you know that the fact that my own father has Alzheimer's affected how I wrote that book.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, to angst or not to angst. I really don't know what Benni and Gabe are going to go through until I start the story. What I hope and expect from my readers is to remember that that each book is a part of a whole. A series is really just one long book. In a way, series writers are trying to mimic life. So, behind every corner is a surprise. Kind of like real life. Maybe, that's what makes each book (and day) so unique and precious. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Summertime Trails, Earlene </div><div><br /></div><div>p.s. One last comment about my last two posts. Some of you wondered why I was so upset about comments about the errors in <i>State Fair. </i> If you read between the lines (and many of you did and mentioned it), it wasn't just the comments about that particular book. My letter represented what I felt about 16 or so years of people's negative comments. The comments about <i>State Fair</i> were the proverbial straw on the camel's back. Nuff said 'bout it now. </div><div><br /></div><div>p.p.s In <i>Spider Web</i>, which comes out in May 2011, the readers who love the angst between Gabe and Benni will be very happy...I promise!</div>Earlene Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844652437338041135noreply@blogger.com