Vocal Expressions

  Today, I attended the Bay To Ocean Writers Conference at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, MD with my writers group. Despite the fog, this was a road trip we were looking forward to. By the time we checked in, got our goody bags filled with almost everything literature, we scattered in many directions in search of writing sessions that peaked our interest.   I attended the morning sessions dealing with writing thrillers and how the plot thickens. Then right after lunch and some networking, I attended the afternoon sessions relating to 10 things to do between finishing and publishing, 7 things to know  before signing a contract, and revision in fiction. All great stuff.  I can't wait to see the line up for next year!    

Today, I along with others attended the first meeting of the Book Club Consortium at the South Bowie Library. This event was hosted by Sharon Lucas of The Reading Divas Book Club. The premise behind this consortium is to bring book clubs together to exchange information about events, offer support to each other and to AA authors. Another goal is to build a directory of central information, including meeting dates and frequency, and reading lists. I'm looking forward to networking with the book clubs, fellow authors and book lovers!

Last week I attended the Love Is Murder Conference in Chicago and boy was it chilly. My flight was delayed so many times that I lost count and tried not to miss getting on the flight when it was actually time to board. Anyway, although I was exhausted by time I checked in, I was excited and ready to embrace all the conference had to offer. Some of the panel discusssions I attended Friday - Sunday included but was not limited to the following: Guns and Shooting If You're Not Paranoid, You're Not Paying Attention Where is the Money? Forensic Accounting  The CSI Effect Digging for Dirt - Experrt Researchers Unearth Their Process Romantic Suspended Disbelief: Making High Stress, Murder, Brushes with Death and No Spa Days Mix with Plausible Love Stories (* I had no choice to attend this one, as I was on the panel with Evelyn Cullet, Nancy Sweetland, Karen Syed, and Bob Mayer). Ingredients for Success - Writing About Sex in the Post "Grey" Environment (Fellow writer