Northeast Texas Writers' Conference 2011

April was a busy, exciting month with NETWO's (Northeast Texas Writers' Organization) annual writers conference May 29 - 30. Frank Carden from Las Cruces, New Mexico, was our Short Story winner with his story Iwo. Heath Dollar from Haslet, Texas, placed second followed by Elaine Pietsch from Ringgold, Louisianna, taking third place. Gail Reed from Mt. Vernon, Texas, placed fourth. There were several honorable mentions. At right above, I am giving Mr. Carden his first place award. Seated at left is New York agent Kathleen Ortiz.


This was NETWO's 25th conference. Camp Shiloh Retreat on Lake Bob Sandlin near Pittsburg, Texas was the place to be April 28 and 29th. Nine notable authors, agents, and publishers spoke explaining how they work, what they need in submissions, and why they need it in the format described on their web site and in their handouts. One on one visits with publishers and agents were made available. I can't begin to describe in this short blog the idea generating power the weekend turned out to be. For further information and pictures check out NETWO's website at http://www.netwo.org/

More later. Take care of each other.

UGLIES and PRETTIES by Westerfeld

A young teenage friend recommended the following two books as excellent reads. Both are by Scott Westerfeld.


UGLIES

The first, Uglies, starts off slow, but the plot thickens, drawing the reader into a complicated social situation. Somehow, the earth's population has been convinced that all of societies problems are a result of people's desire to be beautiful. At age of sixteen, everyone automatically undergoes an operation that converts their natural shaped face and body into a prescribed "beautiful" image. Unbeknownst to the patient, the operation also changes their brain and way of thinking.

What happens if someone does not want the operation? Who controls all these bubbly, beautiful people? Can Tally escape the "Specials", those beautiful but cold hearted enforcers who control the artificial world in which both the Uglies and Pretties live? You must read UGLIES to find out.

PRETTIES

After reading UGLIES, I rushed to the library for a copy of PRETTIES. I had to find out if Tally could break the hold the "Specials" had on everybody. I was not disappointed in Westerfeld's masterful discription of a small but determined group of individuals bucking the system. But the cost of being different is high. It takes courage, cunning, and a strong will to survive in this world where beauty is the main goal of all but a few individual thinkers.

UGLIES
Teen to adult interests
ISBN-13:978-0-689-86538-1

PRETTIES
Teen to adult interests
ISBN-13:978-0-689-86539-8


Both books can be purhasd at your favorite book store or from Amazon.

I've been traveling, visiting schools with my mini writing workshop as well as visiting relatives in central and south Texas. On highway 16 between Fredericksburg and Kerrville, we saw an eye catching sculpture made of car parts. We turned around and went back for pictures.

My sister and I visited an aunt in Kerrville over the weekend. I visited a 4th and 5th grade in Center Point sharing writing tips and a bit about my books: Dragons for Kris, Dragon Hatchling, and Second Chance. The children were so polite and attentive. They made my day.

Wednesday we were in Mission, Texas, helping a cousin celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary. That was a great party.

Thursday I visited a school in Donna, Texas, speaking with 4th graders. They were excited and full of questions. We had a great time. Afterwards we headed to Houston and spent the night with another cousin.

The Houston cousin is into genealogy. We discussed various stories in the book my sister and I wrote about our family, starting with our great grandparents. I urge everyone to collect the funny stories, stories about work, family vacations, etc and record them. Also record important health information that children and grandchildren might want someday. Such a book is a keepsake that no one else can claim. Every family is different.

Until later - stay well.

Galand

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo is both inspiring and reassuring to those of us who may believe with our brain but wonder in our hearts about just what Heaven is like. Todd Burpo tells the story of
his young son's near death experience, and who and what the boy saw in Heaven.

The families scary search for medical help when their son became ill will pull at the heart of any parent. The miraculous answer to their and others prayers will deepen your faith, confirming what you have been taught since childhood.

Heaven is for Real is an inspiring read for teens and adults. Small

children will enjoy having portions of Colton's memories of Heaven

read to them.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo can be purchased at your favorite bookstores or downloaded to your Kindle. Heaven is for Real will make a lovely gift for those you love.

heroes for my son

heroes for my son

by brad Meltzer

heroes for my son is a must for teachers, counselors, and youth leaders of every description. heroes for my son is a collection of fifty-two very short biographies of ordinary people who made incredible changes in our world. The heroes, spanning time and continents, include the famous and those not so well known. Mahatma Gandhi, Frederick Douglass, Miep Gies, Eleanor Roosevelt, Neil Armstrong, John Lennon, Amelia Earhart, Dr. Seus, are just a few of the heroes Brad Meltzer wrote about, men and women he wanted his son to look up to.

heroes for my son is perfect for short motivational talks, group discussions, and a starting place for research projects for history and civics.

Published by HarperCollins Publishers

heroes for my son can be purchases from Amazon, Hastings Book Stores, and most other book outlets.

ISBN 978-0-06-190528-5

You Can Do It!
by Tony Dungy


Tony Dungy, former NFL player and coach of the 2006 World Champions, the Indianapolis Colts, has written a beautifully illustrated book encouraging young children to set big goals, believe in themselves, and trust God to lead them through life.

You Can Do it! is the story of Tony Dungy's family describing, in story form, how his parents encouraged him and his brother and sisters to be anything they dreamed of being. This twenty-four page book is appropriate for children of any age but especially those four years to third or fourth graders.




You Can Do It! is a Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection.

Published by LITTLE SIMON INSPIRATIONS an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division.

ISBN 13:978-1-4169-5461-3

College of the Ozarks

I recently attended a writers' workshop in Branson, Missouri. The meeting was held on the College of the the Ozarks' campus. It's other name is Hard Work U.

College of the Ozarks! All I can say is WOW! The campus is immaculate and beautiful but what impressed me the most was that every student there is working their way through school. EVERYONE. If a student qualifies grade wise and can't afford college tuition, he or she can attend College of the Ozarks and work their way through.

I spoke with two young men as I was out taking pictures. One was majoring in English, the other in computer science. They explained the college offers 40 some odd degrees including: pre-engineering, premed, pre- veterinary courses as well as business management, agriculture, computer sciences, and on and on.

The young men explained that some students work in the school laundry where all the campus laundry is processed. As I walked around campus I saw students washing windows, picking up trash on the parking lot, and working in the campus restaurant.

Campus restaurant is not nearly adequate as a description for this eating place. Plush, high class, luxurious, down right swanky would be a little closer to the truth. Students, dressed in white coats, took reservations, waited tables, and no doubt, did the food preparations, all a part of the Culinary Arts degree and or the Hotel and Restaurant Management degrees offered by the college.

I asked about the beautiful, rock faced buildings and learned the students did all the construction under the guidance of the engineering and buildings department. Talk about hands on educations, the College of the Ozarks is the place to go.

For students and families hard pressed for cash, college is not out of reach for those truly wanting to get that higher level of education. Drop by their web site http://www.cofo.edu/ and get an eye full.