On 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.

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.

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).

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.

I'm working on The Cattle Singer. 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.

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!

Happy Trails, Earlene

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...:)

Speaking of Spider Web

It was great seeing a lot of you out at Bears Quilt Shop on Sunday for the launch of Spider Web. 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!)

It's hard for me to talk about Spider Web 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 Spider Web sounded and I just had a hunch it would be an easy title to fit a story around.

Of course, when I sat down in front of that blank (computer) page, I thought, okay, what in the world is this story going to be about? 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.

In State Fair 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 Spider Web, 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.

So, that's just a small part of what I go into when I talk about the writing of Spider Web. 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.

Thanks so much to all of you who are buying and reading Spider Web. 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.

I gotta get back to work now. Take care and Happy Trails until we meet again,

Earlene

And 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 real letters using cursive writing! Talk about old school...

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!)

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.

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...

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 not sorry I don't have to fly!

Happy Trails, Earlene

Link to Facebook Fan Page

Thanks 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.

So, here's the link: http//:www.facebook.com/pages/Earlene-Fowler/199826060040726

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!

Happy Facebook Trails, Earlene

p.s. My book launch party will be at Bears on May 1st. Food, fun and prizes! Everyone is welcome!

Facebook - 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.

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.

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 :))

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.

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 real 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.

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!

By the way, I forgot to tell you all the title of the sequel to The Saddlemaker's Wife.

The Cattle Singer. More on that later. Back to work now!

Happy Trails, Earlene

Finally 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 doesn't happen? Writing. 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.

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 like 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 likes a person gets rather than friends. Probably because there's no limit on likes.

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 dog's life?)

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!

Looking forward to seeing some of you in May!

Happy Pollen-filled Trails, Earlene

Book Tour Dates and Swinging the Machete

First, I want to thank the nine women who took up the challenge and sent me detailed lists of the errors in State Fair. 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!

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 The Saddlemaker's Wife 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 Spider Web 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?

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?

I read this paragraph in a book by one of my favorite authors, Philip Yancey. (This particular book is called Reaching for the Invisible God).

"When I begin a book, I take up a machete and start hacking my way through the jungle, not to clear a trail for others, but rather to find a path through for myself. Will anyone follow? Have I lost my way? I never know the answers to those questions as I write; I just keep swinging the machete."

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?

Happy Trails, Earlene