Here We Go Again

Gustav isn't even in the Gulf of Mexico yet and our governor is planning to evacuate the city of New Orleans. If and that is a big IF Gustav comes here it will be late Monday night or Tuesday morning. Why do they feel they have to start evacuating Saturday? It probably won't even be in the Gulf by Saturday. It probably won't hit New Orleans. Why?!!
Yes, the very Saturday that Heather Graham's Writers for New Orleans Workshop will be in full swing. I look forward to this all year. I don't wish this on anyone else, I just wish it would die a peaceful death. But that's not going to happen because the Gulf waters are too warm to let that happen. It will grow just as Katrina did. Hopefully not as large and strong as Katrina, but it will grow.
You ask why this could cause problems with the workshop? Well, let me give you an example. For Katrina they started the evacuation on a work day. People left work, left home to pick up kids at school, left for wherever. What took my hubby on a normal day 45 mintues to drive ended up taking 6 hours. And that was just to get home. And they are talking about starting the contra flow on the highways. For those of you who don't know what that is, contra flow is where they stop all traffic coming into the city and all lanes are open for outgoing traffic. Why is that a problem for me? Well I don't live right in New Orleans, but in a subburb. And parking cost a fortune in the city, so hubby is/was going to take me into the city and drop me off then pick me up when the fun was over. Ooops. Can't get into the city!
I will lose my money, but I don't even care about that. I wanted a weekend with other writers. I wanted to learn from those who know much more than I. I wanted to mingle and play.
I'll wait until tonight to make a decision. I'll listen to the news and see what the Governor plans to do and when. Until then I'll just feel sorry for myself.

Today is a Total Loss

"Nobody cares much wheather you write or not. You just have to do it."
Natalie Goldberg


"A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it is to be God."
Sidney Sheldon

Can you tell I'm at a loss for words today? I've tried all morning to write. I've deleted every word I've written. The muse has abandoned me.

Think I'll go eat a gallon of Praline Ice Cream.

This and That

I've had one of those days. I've not stopped but acommplished very little of importance. I shipped off some books to Connie Perry so she and Heather Graham could use them as prizes in the gift baskets raffled off at the New Orleans Workshop. (August 29-31) The proceeded go to the Louisiana Library system. Do you want to donate 10 to 15 books to add to the baskets? I'm sure Heather would appreciate it. So would the library. You can get in touch with me and I'll e-mail you the info. I'm looking forward to the workshop. Going to be quite a line up of "stars" to give the talks. Let me give you a taste. On Saturday, August 30 the topics will be:Tales from the TrenchesExperienced authors share the most valuable lessons they've learned over the course of their careers--including what they wish they'd known in the early days.Satisfying Reader Expectation Book After BookDefining your "signiture" and delivering your experiences with every book--and delivering more "Wow" with each release.Pros and ConflictWhether you write romantic comedy or edgy, dark thrillers, cozy mysteries or urban fantasy--if there's no conflict, there's no story. Make it real, make it strong, make it hit your characters in the heart.Out of this World-BuildingWorld bulding isn't just for fantasy or sci-fi. Whether your books are set in 1810 Regency England or 2525 Outer Limits, the world in which your characters live enhance the action and pulls the reader into your story. What are the key elements that must populate your novel's world?Marketing Your MarketingYou have the fab website, the MySpace page, the blog and the book trailer. You need to get people to see them, build Internet traffic, etc. How do you reach beyond the established reader to find new readers in your target audience? (Blog ads, blog interviews, internet sales beyond the known reader sites, etc.)Balancing the Dream and the Day JobFace facts--most of us don't support ourselves solely with our writing. How do successful writers balance their different careers while bulding their writing career--and still have a life?Who? Kate Duffy, Leslie Wainger, Adam Wilson, Peggy Garcia (Senior publicist at TOR), Barbara Vey from PW, Mary Stella, Cathy Maxwell, F. Paul Wilson, Kathy Love, Erin McCarthy, and Helen Rosburg. There are more but I've ran out of brain space. That is just Saturday. Friday night is the party to end all parties. All inhabitations are left at the door. Dance partner? You don't need one. No one knows who is dancing with whom anyway.Sunday will be a calm breakfast with more talks and more topics. And no one will metion that you got up and danced on the tables the night before.I wish you could be there. It would be a weekend none of us would ever forget or live down. LOL