When I'm Feeling Angry

Workshops are almost always interesting. Jory Sherman's workshop June25th on ebooks was informative and challenging. As an author I'm interested in promoting my books, obviously. I usually do this offering my mini writing workshop for fourth through sixth grade students in schools. According to Mr. Sherman and other speakers I've heard, the future in book sales will be through Kindle, Ipods and that sort of technology. It's a new world folks.

The workshop was in Winnsboro, Texas, at a book and gift shop called, Winnsboro Emporium. They have a little bit of everything: collector books, new books, paintings, pottery, jewelry, etc. I found two books I had to have for our grand daughter. When I'm Feeling Angry by Trace Moroney is a paper back picture book suitable for children two and older. The author points out that we all get angry sometimes and that it is okay to be angry. It is how we handle our anger that is important.

When I'm feeling Angry is one of a series of books on feelings published by The Five Mile Press. Some of the other titles deal with being scared, or lonely, hurt, etc. Trace Moroney's web site is http://www.tracemoroney.com/ This series of books is very good.

Smackover, Arkansas

Smackover, what a name! I would love to have been born in

Smackover. Just think of the fun Smackover citizens have when they are out of state. "And where are you from?" an elderly lady might ask a twelve year old girl. "Why, I'm from Smackover, Arkansas, ma'am."

A couple weeks ago my sister and I, plus our indulgent husbands, visited the oil museum in Smackover. I got some good pictures and information for my new novel, the sequal to Second Chance. The ladies at the museum were so helpful and willing to share information.

To give you an idea of how tall that derrick is, take a close look at the lady standing at the end of the walk. That's me. The horizonal beam just above the shed behind me is called a walking beam. It has something to do with pumping the oil, I believe.
Visitors will find a wonderful collection of figures, artifacts,

diagrams, and pictures explaining the oil boom in Smackover

during the late 1930s.

There is a lovely wooded area for picnics and lots to see. It is well worth scheduling at least a half day visiting the museum and surrounding area if you are anywhere near Magnolia or Smackover, Arkansas.
More later. Stay cool.

Magnolia, Arkansas

I didn't retire to sit home and do housework. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I met my sister and her husband in Magnolia, Arkansas. We stayed at Lake Columbia County Park. It was beautiful and so well kept. The host went out of his way to welcome and accomidate all the visitors.



After setting up our trailers side by side we set out to explore the area starting with the city of Magnolia. Wow! From the truck we saw some truely impressive murals on the sides of many buildings.

After visiting a few shops the men grew tired of our exploring, asking endless questions, and examining all the interesting things in shop after shop featuring iron work, glassware, antiques, clothes, beautiful crochet items, and food. The men discovered some of the best homemade pickles we had ever eaten. We bought four jars, one for ourselves and one for friends. After their treasure find, the men were ready for a nap. Jo and I returned to the city and continued our exploration on our own. We helped close a couple of shops. One even opened up for us when they learned we would be leaving the next day.

When the shops finally closed we retired to the camp ground and the dinner our husbands had prepared. The next day we went to Smackover, Arkansas. More about Smackover next time.

Second Chance on Kindle

Hay everyone,
I'm excited. Second Chance in now available on Kindle. I was browsing through some book on Amazon and on a whim typed in Galand Nuchols. Wow! there flashed up all three of my books and Second Chance in now on Kindle. Weeeee!

Habitat Women's Build 2011

For over a week women came in teams of two to eight

or nine helping Habitat partners to paint, calk, or frame three houses in Mount Pleasant. There were teachers, office workers, nurses, a ranch manager, secretries ... well, ladies from every line of work you can imagine. They welded paint brushes, slung hammers, and toted wood making a huge difference in construction progress in just six days. Everyone was impressed.

On Saturday Habitat hosted a Bar B Q and silent auction. Again, ladies from the community brought in salads, vegetable dishes, and desserts galore. All was held on the Presbyterian Church;s parking lot just outside the Habitat office.

Along with the Bar B Q was a silent auction. Community businesses were generous and donated over 30 items including such items as: an airplane ride, hair cuts, lamps, cutlery sets, dinners out, candles ... there were just too many items to name.

Mount Pleasant Habitat is building their web site. You might be interested in checking it out.

mphabitat@hotmail.com

Mt. Pleasant is a good place to live.

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.