One-armed photos, blizzards, Bingo and Christ is born!

How do you like that title? They are all relevant, I promise.

Is is truly only four days until Christmas? The older I get the more I'm amazed at how quickly time appears to pass. I do know time doesn't actually go faster, though to millions of children across the world this week will creep as slowly as traffic in a blizzard.

Speaking of blizzards, my sympathies to all who've suffered because of the massive snow storm that crippled the nation this last weekend. I have never flown during this part of the year (though if I ever want to see Christmas in New England and New York--a personal wish of mine--I'm going to have to brave it someday) so I can only imagine the nightmare. The worse weather I've experienced was a thunderstorm in Houston that caused our plane divert to San Antonio. We sat on the tarmac for seven hours. Lucky for us the plane was only half full, I'd brought lots of snacks and books and there were about fifteen passengers on board who were flight attendants in training! Once we got to Houston, it was a nightmare. We were on our way to Washington DC. We'd left the OC at 7 am and eventually arrived in DC at 2 am. Though we were exhausted, it was incredible flying into an Reagan International Airport with the Capitol and other buildings lit up. I'll never forget the sight. So, those of you who are still in the midst of it, take heart. You'll have exciting stories to tell someday of the Great Blizzard of 2009. You were there! (Take photos!)

We will be having an intimate Christmas this year. It will be me, Allen, my dad and my friend, Katsy Chappell (I based a character on her in my new book so you'll read about her fictional counterpart in May). Katsy's an actress and stand-up comic so I'm sure we'll have a great time. (She's been in hundreds of productions, but one of her most famous parts is playing the best friend to Jamie Lee Curtis' character in "True Lies"). And, of course, Mr. Boo will be there. I'd invite Katsy's kitty, Bingo, but not sure she and Boo would have the proper, peace-filled Christmas spirit (at least I know Boo wouldn't--he doesn't like cats, though doesn't seem to know exactly why). So I'm sending a gift home to Bingo.

Whatever you all have planned for Christmas and Hanukkah, I hope you will make some wonderful memories (don't forget to take pictures!). I'm in the process of scrapbooking my forty years of Christmas photos and have gotten them (finally!) divided by decades. What it's brought home to me is how we often take too many pictures of the same things. I wish I had photos of the first apartments Allen and I lived in, the gifts we gave each other (and those we received), the food we made (I do have a photo of desserts the one year my sister and I made 18 different kinds), even what our favorite shopping center decorations looked like (so many have been torn down). So, be creative in your photographs. Think about what you might want to see about these days twenty years from now. It truly is history you are recording.

And don't forget those one-armed photos! When I had a Christmas dinner with my friends, Beebs and Millee, we took photos of ourselves that turned out darn good! And when Allen and I went to a Bill Engvall show in Las Vegas, rather than pay $35.00 for one of their photos, we did it ourselves. It took a few times, but turned out great (I may post these later when I can find someone to show me how to do it). So, don't forget those one-armed photos! The person with the longest arm is usually the best option :)

And, for me, I'm most grateful that God was gracious and loving enough to send His Son to the world so that we might have eternal life. Hallelujah, Christ is born!

With fondness and the hope that you all have a prosperous and healthy 2010,

Earlene p.s. See, I did get all the elements of my title in this post!

Deep Breaths Need to be Taken

Less than twenty-four hours until T-day! I know a lot of you are probably frantically rushing around making that special cornbread-sausage dressing, pumpkin chiffon pie and green bean casserole (How does that Rachael Ray chick actually get all this done in an hour? Oh, that's right, she has helpers). If I could I'd drop by your house and offer to peel potatoes. Really, I would. Now, take a deep breath...there, feel better? Think of those great turkey sandwiches you'll get to eat on Friday! I like mine with white bread, Miracle Whip (lots of it as my thighs can attest) with a side of BBQ potato chips (leftover dressing is good too).

But, no leftovers for me this year. It's going to be a quiet Thanksgiving with just me, Allen and my dad. We're taking Daddy to a restaurant because even a couple of hours at my house can make him nervous these days. He doesn't like to get too far away from his assisted living home. He loves going out to eat though. Then Allen and I will head home where I have to work! Yep, on Thanksgiving. The copy edited manuscript arrived (via computer) and it's due by December first. Then I'll be able to really get back to writing Spider Web (which is already behind--story of my life since 1992). The next time I'll see State Fair it'll be a bound galley (that's the one they send out to bookstores and reviewers).

There's not much else to report which is why I haven't blogged. I write. I rewrite. I deal with promotion stuff. I clean house (well, not that often). I walk my dog (or take him to daycare) I eat (way too often--a bag of marshmallows has been my downfall today). Over the next four days when I'm not writing I'm going to attempt to scrapbook my Christmas photos. All of them. Since I'm not planning on decorating much this year, I decided that would be a good project. I have managed to cull most of them out of my 36 (or more) years of photos. It was surprising and sad how few I have of my and Allen's first five or six years of marriage. Or the three years we dated. We were poor, grant you that, but why didn't we take at least a roll of twelve for each Christmas? Answer: We were young, lived in the moment and it didn't occur to us we'd want a record of those moments later in life. (Or that we'd ever be old!) If today's generation is too photographed, I'd say my generation didn't take enough of our early years. Ah, well, that's what memories are for, right?

Hope you make (and take photos of!) lots of wonderful Thanksgiving memories. I'm most thankful for your support all these years.

Happy Turkey (and all the trimmings) Trails, Earlene

Kindles, Facebook and The Saddlemaker's Wife Sequel

One of the things that's great about this newsletter/blog is I can answer questions that people send me. Here are three that have come up more than once. If you have a question, please email me and I'll answer it when I can!

Why aren't you on Facebook?

To be honest, time. I know lots of people who belong to Facebook and from what I can gather, it takes a bit of work to keep up on your Facebook page. I can barely get my books written, my filing done, my dog brushed and my husband fed. I just can't add one more thing to my life. For now, this blog will have to do in keeping people up on what I'm doing. The time I suspect I'd end up spending on Facebook, I'd probably be better off organizing my forty years of photos!

Do you have a Kindle? Do you like it? What do you think about e-books?

I initially wasn't thrilled about e-books. I love the feel and smell and look of "real" books. When my agent and my webmaster both bought Kindles and LOVED them, well, I began to think about buying one.

Both my agent and webmaster are women who love books and reading. So I bought a Kindle. (And, yes, it was before the price went down, which annoys me, but that's life). I'll never like e-books as well as physical ones. But it does have its place, I think. I admit getting a book you want to read in 60 seconds is quite amazing and for traveling, well, I have forty books on my Kindle and it weighs about the same as a paperback book. You can't beat that with a stick. Will it be good for authors? I'm not sure as I'm not real clear how we get paid for the books downloaded (which, from what I hear, is only about 3 or 4% sold at this point).

I don't think we can avoid the fact it is likely the future of books. I suspect it won't overtake "real" books for a while, but this next generation is being raised on reading things on screens, so I'm guessing it won't bother them as much as me. But, I still buy my favorite authors in hardback real books. I've found I mostly buy paperbacks and non-fiction on e-book. I don't know why that is.

Are you really going to write the sequel to The Saddlemaker's Wife?

Yes, I signed another two book contract that will start after State Fair. I'm working on another Benni Harper book right now (Spider Web). When I finish that (my publisher wanted two Benni books in a row), then I'll write the sequel to The Saddlemaker's Wife.

Do I know what it will be about? Well, when you read TSW prologue you know that Ruby eventually comes back to Cardinal. What you don't know is what happened, how long it took and what her relationship is with the people there. That is, of course, what the sequel will be about. At the end of TSW she is going to Nashville to help her sick brother. That seems a logical place for the sequel to start, but I can't promise that is what will happen...because I don't know what will happen until I write it! How's that for being vague?

I'm off to Manhattan (Kansas, that is!). Allen, unfortunately, has to stay home and tend to the homefires (and the dog). If you're in Manhattan on Friday, I'll be talking and signing books at the Manhattan Public Library at 3:30. Come see me in the Little Apple!

Happy Trails, Earlene

State Fair on its way!

I finished the final rewrite of STATE FAIR on Wednesday.  Back in the day (in the 90's and early 2ooo's) I actually printed out my manuscript, wrapped it up with big ole rubber bands and sent it FedEx to my editor.  She'd write her comments on it, then send it back.  Same with copy editor (editor who checks English, spelling, repetition, etc).  On the day I'd send the first draft (first draft that I let editor see--actually by that time I've rewritten it a few times) I'd drive to FedEx, then take myself to lunch to celebrate, maybe go shopping.  Now, I send the manuscript via attachment on my computer and hit send.  Somehow, it's not the same thing.  Kind of a letdown.  But, you can't stop progress.  It does allow me to work on it up to the last minute that it's due!  

So, it's off.  What happens after this is my editor, Kate, reads it again.  Then it's handed off to a copy-editor and then back to me.  I can make some changes at this point (though I haven't learned the program on how to do that yet), then it's off to typeset.  After typeset it comes back to me one more time.  At this point I can only make tiny changes as it's expensive to make huge changes. Then all the other things that publishers do to ready a book for readers takes place. Sales, marketing, art department, publicity...all of them are doing their thing.  I'm told I will be going on a book tour this year, though I don't know where yet.  Also, the cover is done and I'll be posting it soon on my website, so stay tuned.  It's a real knockout.  I just love it.  I'm planning a couple of neat contests with cool prizes.  They'll be on the website soon.  I just have to pull all that stuff together, send it to Tina and then, in between her REAL job of teaching middle school English, she'll put it on the website.

Right now, I'm enjoying the few days off from writing (though I confess, I wrote the first two sentences of SPIDER WEB today).  This weekend I'm going to the Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, Nevada, with my friend, Bunny Brown.  A weekend of horses, ranchers and all things western. My kind of holiday!  Who knows, it might be a great setting for a fictional murder...

Happy Trails, Earlene

Back Onshore

I'm back from my New England quilting "Cruise for a Cure." A great time was had by all (I hope! I certainly had a wonderful time). Am desperately trying to finish rewrite of "State Fair" which is due September 24. But here are some highlights of my time at sea with a hugely talented and fun bunch of quilters!

1. LAX - Never Again. I'm a native South Cal girl. I should have known better. Sticking with the Duke (aka John Wayne airport)

2. Baltimore, MD - hot, muggy, beautiful National aquarium (loved the jellyfish exhibit), Lewis African-American museum very moving, delicious Greek dinner at The Black Olive with friends, Sue and Paul, and oh, those Berger cookies!

3. Cruise ship - floating city with shopping mall--Vegas buffet, two pools, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Seattle's Best coffee and fresh towels every day folded in the shapes of monkeys, lobsters, gekkos and puppies--what's not to like?

4. Portland, ME - day with Tina and Tom who drove in from New Hampsire--lighthouse tour, first time at Tim Horton's (Canadians will understand), fresh lobster roll--Yum!

5. Bar Harbor, ME - still hot and sticky, cute town, bought sea glass necklace from artist in the park and a quilt wallhanging of a moose, another lobster roll bites the dust

6. Saint John, New Brunswick - exciting Farmer's Market, cool and lovely park where we met a family with a corgi named Tully (had to stop and fawn)--missing Boo! Lobster roll numero tres (sensing a trend)

7. Halifax, Nova Scotia - bus tour of town with tea at historical Halifax Club (me), tall ship adventure (Allen), still hot and over-the-top muggy (thank you, Hurricane Bill), but view of city from Citadel is incredible (no lobster roll today--I felt bereft)

8. Various days at sea - gave some talks, answered some questions, signed some books - loved hanging out in the "Singing in the Rain" lounge outside the conference rooms where quilters took classes. Example of exchange--Me to quilters, "Aren't you done with that quilt yet?" Quilters to me, "Aren't you done with that book yet?" (Touche--I tried to work on "State Fair" but kept falling asleep--not because it's boring, but because the ship's library chairs were so comfortable!)

9. Boston--Allen and I took two hour tour of city highlights ending up in Quincy Marketplace--lobster roll number four (more than a trend...an obsession!)

Once we returned to Baltimore it was a quick trip to the airport, but a long trip back home. We stepped across our threshold at 11 p.m. Picked up Mr. Boo the next day. He was hysterically happy (so were we!) He spent first day home methodically sleeping in all his special spots around the house. Allen and I sat down at the table and waited for dinner to be served. When we finally realized the cruise was over, I ordered us a pizza. Real life resumed. Still waiting for lobster roll number five.

Off to Antarctica...

Why do I always pack as if I am going to someplace where there are no drugstores? Honestly, the ship will have band-aids (though maybe not SpongeBob ones like I have). I dread the night before a trip. I always wonder why I just don't book a red-eye. I want to get on the road NOW! (Oh, I remember why I don't. You arrive at something like six a.m. in the morning, too early to check into your hotel so you are bleary-eyed and wandering the streets of a strange city). I will heave a big sigh of relief when we finally are in our stateroom and don't have to unpack for 9 days.

One thing I'm really excited about is seeing my friends, Tina and Tom Davis (aka beloved webmasters) in Portland! We'll get to spend the whole day together and since Tina and I don't get to see each other often, we're both jazzed. So, who knows, I may get the opening scene to my next book! (She's given me three already...) I'll let you know...

Happy Trails (and Ocean Waves), Earlene

Panic in Vacation Park

So, about two weeks ago I was thinking about my upcoming vacation (sort of half work-half vacation as I'm a speaker on a quilter's cruise through New England and Nova Scotia)when it suddenly occurred to me--I need to lose twenty pounds! Dang. Don't you hate that? Honestly, I've known about this cruise for two years and actually have been thinking about losing the twenty pounds for that whole two years. If intentions and contemplation gets a person points (Weight Watchers!) then I'd look like Gywenth Paltrow. At any rate, my solution was that I wasn't going to eat anything sweet for twenty days. Then I'd (hopefully) lose a few pounds and be ready for those buffets. It lasted exactly...a day and a half (and last night I bought ice cream). I blame the ice cream on my friend Jo-Ann Mapson, who called me and described in detail the Dove bars she'd just bought. Luckily, my clothes are all stretchy, so I'll just have to try to make myself use the gym on the ship (yeah, that's gonna happen).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the cruise, though I'll miss my Boo-dog (The Big Dog--aka Allen--is going with me). I know it's going to be a blast because, after all, it's quilters! How can it not be fun? Other than fretting about my weight (which, I admit, I don't do for long) all is well. I talked to my editor about "State Fair" and there's a bit of rewriting to do (the ending needs work--not surprised there as I kind of rushed it). I'll even probably work on it while I'm on the ship. For those who asked, "State Fair" comes out in May 2010. They are working on the cover right now and as soon as I see it, I'll post it on the website. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

Happy Trails, Earlene

p.s. Even if I didn't lose that weight, I have achieved one healthy goal. I'm down to one or two sodas a week. I now drink ice tea (not a misspelling, that's how Southerners say it). I miss my sodas, but I'm sure my kidneys are happier.