Up to Date, at Last

Lots of Exciting Things Going on these days. January and February are always busy months for me.

January consisted of several trips down to Quartzsite, Arizona for the Reader's Oasis Book Fair hosted by book store owner and entertainer Paul Winer. Met so many interesting folks and sold lots of books.

February I moderated three classes during the annual Lake Havasu City Spring Frenzy. I had full classes for Novel Writing, Short Story Writing and Journaling. Had lots of fun and again met so many interesting people and future writers.

Our local writer's group The Lake Havasu City Writers Group hosted a booth at the annual Havasu Winterfest weekend downtown. Met some new readers and had the thrill of folks dropping by to tell me they enjoyed one of my books so much, they wanted to buy another!!

A new monthly author's event was initiated last fall at The Book Exchange, our local used book store here in Lake Havasu City. Anywhere from 6 to 15 authors set up tables on the second Saturday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm for the opportunity to chat with potential readers dropping by to pick up some reading material. One of the incentives for the readers is the chance to win a $25 gift certificate just by talking to at least five authors. We're finding more and more folks are turning out with each passing Saturday.

As for my writing, despite the hectic schedule, I've completed book six of my Farrell family saga that started with my first novel After the War, Before the Peace. And, I've started on the seventh and final book of the series about someone from the Farrell clan venturing out into space.

I reckon I've rattled on long enough now. When I experience these busy times and so much of my energy must be spent on marketing my name and novels to the public, I find that I come dangerously close to losing focus on the love of my life - writing. So, I'll sign off with this little gem from Albert Einstein. "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.