DeAnna Cameron's Blog, page 24

A new giveaway for February

What's red and gold and jingles all over?
The new hip scarf I'm giving away in the February contest over at DeAnnaCameron.com, of course!
To enter the contest, visit my Web site at http://www.deannacameron.com/ and follow the contest link.

I'll be choosing a name at random on Friday, February 26. There are more details on the contest page.

Don't miss this chance to shimmy like a raqs star :-)

Elizabeth Gilbert: On nurturing creativity

This is sorta long -- about 20 minutes -- but what Elizabeth Gilbert ("Eat, Pray, Love") has to say on the subject in this TED video is definitely worth your time. She has an interesting take on the nature of genius and creativity, and a new way to get it to work in your life.

What I learned: Don't leave home without a pen, and show up...

And I have to say a big thank-you to my OCC/RWA pal Laura Drake for directing me to it. Great find, Laura!

We're talking about creativity...

My friend and fellow blogger Penelope Przekop is doing an interview series on creativity. She's interviewing artists, actors, authors -- just to name a few. You can see my interview with her here: http://tinyurl.com/yl42y8c

But I would urge you to spend some time at her site. She's got lots of interesting things going on there.

Thank you, PNA Book Club!

I'd really like to thank the lovely ladies of the Pasadena Neighborhood Association Book Club in Wisconsin for inviting me to speak to them at their Wednesday night meeting. We spent about an hour and half together via speaker phone and I had a terrific time in their company.

We talked about the research that went into the story, the inspiration, character motivations, and so many aspects of the novel. I loved taking their wonderful and thoughtful questions. They are an amazing group that is r...

Saying goodbye to a Borders

I was driving by this Borders in Costa Mesa when I saw the place covered in yellow closing signs. What a blow! I didn't even know this one was scheduled to be cut. (I have heard of a few others in Orange County, unfortunately.)
And the store was not only closing, but this was its absolutely final day. So of course I had to stop in.
I went to my section first, ready to rescue any remaining copies of "The Belly Dancer." I was grateful to find others had already snatched them up. (Thank you...

And the winner is...

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest for this lovely "All the Pretty Snakes & Belly Dancers" 2010 calendar. Unfortunately I could only pick one winner, and that person was selected by my unbiased and incorruptable contest official (well, she could probably be bribed with a squeaky toy or anything with bright colors, but that didn't happen, honest!)


And the winner is:Nikki Hedrick
(insert applause, trumpets, mass hysteria)
Congratulations, Nikki! I'll be sending you an email message in ...

Avon Editor Esi Sogah and Literary Agent Laura Bradford Rocked My World

I haven't been able to make many OCC/RWA meetings since the munchkin was born, but I am so glad I was able to attend Saturday.

Not only was the excellent Esi Sogah, Avon editor extraordinaire, the main speaker, but because I was lucky enough to be standing in the right place at the right time while talking to her about the possible marketability of a manuscript I have in the works (it doesn't fall in Esi's genre, so it wasn't a pitch – just a question), I received some great (and encouraging!)...

Still in awe over Anne Tyler's intense revision process

I was just reading the excellent interview with Anne Tyler at BarnesandNoble.com, and was blown away by this:

BNR: How many drafts did you make of Noah's Compass? Was that more or less on par with the number of drafts you've made for other novels? Did any of your
books come relatively easy, from beginning conceit to finished product?

AT: It all depends on how you count, but I'd say the book took four
drafts. That's three longhand drafts before I entered it in the computer, and
then I copied the...

Starting the year with a great giveaway...

I am the owner of not one but two of these awesome "All the Pretty Snakes & Belly Dancers" 2010 calendars. So that means I have one to give away to one lucky contest winner. I know -- what a great way to start the new year, right?

To enter the contest, visit my Web site at http://www.deannacameron.com/ and follow the contest link.

I'll be choosing a name at random on Friday, January 15. There are more details on the contest page.

If you want to know more about the calendars, I wrote about them o...

A little inspiration ...

Who doesn't need some every now and then?