Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 228

Just Enjoy the Pretty

by Barb on the chilly Maine coast

Hi Gang. I’m off to Monhegan Island overnight. (Don’t worry. I’ll take plenty of pictures and tell you all about it.)

Like most Americans, I’ve had a severe case of weltschmerz since last week. So since I previously brought up my daughter’s wedding, I’m going to leave you with some pretty photos to contemplate. Look at the families and the friends. Look at the children. Look at the love. And be hopeful.

All photos by the amazing Abby Lorenz.

Filed under: Barb's posts Tagged: #idodonius, 111 Main Catering, Abby Lorenz Photography, Amy Kuschel Lennon, Daisies and Pearls, portland maine, the portland company, wedding

Top Five Tips to Help An Author by guest Julie Moffett

Welcome guest, Julie Moffett! Leave a comment to win one of two copies of the ebook No Money Down!

My Top 5 List:  How to Help Your Favorite Author

Hi, everyone! I’m Julie Moffett, author of the geeky Lexi Carmichael mystery series. The 8th book in the series, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, released Monday, July 4th. Yay! A big thank you to Sherry for inviting me to guest post. I’m so honored and excited to meet all of you!

So, introductions aside, the topic of my blog today is how to help your favorite author. I started thinking about this because one of the most common questions I’m asked by readers is, “Why don’t you put more books out a year?”

People are often surprised to discover I hold down a full-time job in addition to writing (and single parenthood). Here’s a big surprise — writing isn’t always a lucrative business. Most mid-list writers are struggling artists. I have several friends who are considering giving up writing altogether because there is often little to no financial return for their time and effort investment. That always makes me sad. But, here’s the GOOD news! That doesn’t have to happen. There are ways YOU can help your favorite authors keep writing.

There are lots of reasons I could list, but I’ve chosen five ways you can help your favorite authors keep writing and maybe even take a shot of making a career of producing the novels you enjoy. So, without further ado, here is the list.

Buy the Book. Sounds simple and it is. Each book you buy helps the author increase his/her sales record and be better positioned for producing future books.

Buy the Book as a Gift. Books are the perfect gift. Seriously!! Besides, if you ask nicely, most authors will happily provide a bookmark or bookplate so you can give an autographed book. Pretty cool, right?!? There are also ways to sign e-books. Just shoot a quick note to your favorite author to find out if he/she knows how to do it. (I do!!)

Recommend the Book. Word of mouth is a great way to help your favorite authors get recognized by others. You can recommend it to your neighbors, friends and family. Or you can recommend the book by liking it, tagging it, suggesting it or writing a review on Amazon.com, GoodReads, BarnesandNoble.com and a zillion other sites and online bookstores. Blog about it! You get the idea.

Review the Book. Although this is mentioned in #3, it deserves an entire section of its own. If you have a blog, a Facebook account, a Twitter handle or belong to LinkedIn, tell others what you like about the book and/or the author in your own words. Share your thoughts about the books on your social media platform. If you liked the book, a few kind words can make a world of difference. It can be an entire blog post or it can be a few words. It doesn’t matter. Just get the word out. In today’s world, algorithms drive sales. Reviews create the algorithms. The more reviews, the more publicity. The more publicity, the more people see the book. The more people see the book, the bigger the sales. Simple math. All you’ve got to do is write the review.

Let the Author Know You Like the Books. Most authors have websites. Many have social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Honestly, it isn’t hard these days to track down your favorite author. Don’t assume they are inundated with constant praise and encouragement from the public at large. The truth is that most writers operate in a vacuum. Half the time we’re convinced our stuff is crap. If you enjoyed a novel, please take a minute and let your favorite author know. It can be just a sentence or two letting them know how much you liked the book or the characters. I can tell you from personal experience that one positive fan letter can energize me for a loooooong time. That is, perhaps, the best gift of all you can give a writer.

So, did I miss anything? Please let me know. For commenting, I’ll draw two names to win a free e-copy of NO MONEY DOWN! Go!!

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Bio:  Julie Moffett is a bestselling author and writes in the genres of mystery, historical romance and paranormal romance. She has won numerous awards, including the 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the prestigious 2014 HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a 2016 and 2014 HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author, the 2016 Award of Excellence, a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books of 2002, and the 2011 EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Daphne du Maurier Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her book A Double-Edged Blade was an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Novel.

Julie is a military brat (Air Force) and has traveled extensively. Her more exciting exploits include attending high school in Okinawa, Japan; backpacking around Europe and Scandinavia for several months; a year-long college graduate study in Warsaw, Poland; and a wonderful trip to Scotland and Ireland where she fell in love with castles, kilts and brogues.

Julie has a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Language from Colorado College, a M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an M.Ed from Liberty University. She has worked as a proposal writer, journalist, teacher, librarian and researcher. Julie speaks Russian and Polish and has two sons.

Visit Julie’s website at: www.juliemoffett.com
 Follow Julie on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieMoffettAuthor
 Twitter: @JMoffettAuthor 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/julie_moffett/

Filed under: Guest posts Tagged: How To Help An Author, Julie Moffett, military brat, No Money Down, No Strings Attached, Top Five List

It’s All In My Head

I am very close (next week close) to the deadline on Chime and Punishment, the third book in my Clock Shop Mystery series. Book two, Clock and Dagger, is coming out next month, so I am starting to think about the launch, and how I am going to promote the book. A friend at work read Just Killing Time on his vacation last week. “Is she going to end up with Ben?” was the first question he asked this morning. I couldn’t answer, though I had answers. Actually, a couple of different answers, depending on which books have been read in the series.

Fred would like to be Bezel if there is ever a movie

Busy times, but also a bit of a lull as I wait for readers to give me feedback on Chime and Punishment and wait for my copies of Clock and Dagger to arrive. (My editor sent me one of her copies. Fred likes the cover.) Time for the characters to take over. Right now, Ruth Clagan and the gang–the Reed family, Ada and Mac Clark, handsome Ben, Chief Paisley, Aunt Flo–they’re all real. Real to me, at least, these days. I eat a cookie and wonder if Moira should serve it at the Sleeping Latte. I see steam punk earrings, and think “Ruth would like these.” In both cases, and the half dozen others that happen every day, I need to remind myself that neither Ruth nor Moira are real.

As a reader, I am used to characters coming off the page, and being part of my psyche while I am immersed in a book. I love reading a new book in a series, revisiting old friends. I’ve often wondered how authors keep characters fresh. I don’t know that I have any answers in that regard, but I do know that characters move into a part of your brain and never really leave.

But I’ve never had this experience before, probably because I’ve never written three books in a series before. The characters have opinions on the edits. They’re all fighting for page time. It is like having a Shakespeare repertory company who do a play a year. Same people, different stories. Best not to forget if you are doing Loves Labor Lost or Hamlet. Best not to talk about the plot of Chime and Punishment while trying to get folks interested in Clock and Dagger.

Friends who write multiple series, I don’t know how you do it without having inadvertent character crossovers (which could actually be sort of fun). Though I will confess, a minor character who had a featured role in one scene has taken up residence in my imagination. She wants her own story. This is a good, albeit complicated, problem to have.

Dear readers, what books or characters have taken over your imagination? Writer friends, do you characters move in?

Filed under: Julie's posts, Uncategorized Tagged: Clock and Dagger, Clock Shop Mystery Series, J.A. Hennrikus, Julianne Holmes, Just Killing Time

Wicked Wednesday – What’s in Your Character’s Purse?

We’ve been talking a lot about our characters lately, and what makes them who they are. Well, what says more than what’s in your purse (or messenger bag, or backpack, or whatever else they carry with them constantly?)

So Wickeds, what’s in your main character’s favorite bag that they absolutely can’t live without?

Barb: When Julia Snowden left Manhattan, she also left behind the laptop bag and crossbody purse that went with her life in venture capital. Since she’s landed back in Maine, she’s carried a canvas Snowden Family Clambake tote. Sometimes it contains clues Julia’s investigating, like a blowup of a photo from her phone, or a copy of an old insurance report. Other times, it’s more mundane stuff, like Snowden Family Clambake brochures or her mom’s mail fetched from the Post Office. The tote bag also holds her nylon wallet, sunblock or chapstick depending on the season, a bundle of covered rubber bands to pull back her hair if she’s on a boat or around food prep, and her smartphone, which works pretty well in Maine, except where it doesn’t.

Liz: Stan Connor is always prepared. It comes from her life in corporate America. These days she’s still a sucker for a high-end bag, but she usually leaves that behind unless she’s going somewhere fancy. When she’s running around town solving murders or collecting organic ingredients for her recipes, she’s usually got a tote bag with her that can easily hold her emergency dog and cat treats, notebooks where she collects ideas for recipes and jots down her on the spot ideas for new flavors and ingredients and random veggies she happens upon at a farmers’ market. Her staples include a makeup bag with her favorite Urban Decay eyeliner and mascara, hair ties, and travel dog water bowls. She also carries emergency information about her pets in her wallet too, with her bank card and license. Her cell phone is usually in her pocket, though, just in case she runs out without her bag in a huge hurry.

Edith: Cam Flaherty carries an Otis-Rein messenger bag with crows stenciled on it. Inside she has keys, chapstick, a nail file, and farm business cards, plus her smart phone, pens, a comb for her short hair and a slim wallet with necessary cards, license, and money. Robbie

Jordan likes her red Baggallini because of all the pockets – and it has room for a couple of emergency granola bars, too. And while Rose Carroll’s midwifery satchel isn’t exactly a purse, it carries all the supplies she needs for attending births: herbs, her Pinard horn, tape measure, scissors and cord-tying string, a stoppered bottle of carbolic acid, a few other pieces of equipment – plus her knitting and some dried fruit for energy at long labors.

Jessie: Ruby Proulx lives in Old Orchard in 1898 so her satin reticule would not be large enough for today’s needs. When she fled Canada for her aunt Honoria’s hotel in Old Orchard, Maine she had a few dollars, a photograph of her mother and a deck of tarot cards in her small satin reticule. Even after Ruby grows accustumed to her new life she kept using the same small purse or others that are like it. Her aunt has credit at all the local shops and Ruby generally has purchases added to the Hotel Belden’s account so she has little need to carry cash. Since respectable women of the day did not make a habit of wearing makeup, or at least never admitted to doing so, Ruby doesn’t carry any cosmetics either.

Sherry: What a fun question! Sarah loves red purses (she calls them that instead of a pocketbook like most of the residents of Ellington) and it has to be a big one because she has to carry a lot of stuff. She’d never be caught without a big tape measure because who knows when you are going to find that perfect thing at a yard sale that may or may not fit in your house. She probably has a notebook and paper for sketching out room designs. Her phone for keeping notes on. Tissues (she’s allergic to cats), lipstick, and a wallet. On occasion she’s been known to carry a screw driver and hammer around just in case she has to take something apart to fit in her Suburban.

Julie: Chief Jeff Paisley referred to Ruth as a hipster Mary Poppins, because of the bag she carries, and the fact that anything she needs gets pulled out of it. The bag itself is a cross body messenger bag. She’s glad that steampunk is popular, because it has cogs and wheels all over it. Ruth loves her large Moleskin notebooks, which she uses to sketch ideas, and make lists. She’s inherited the notebook habit from her grandfather. In addition to notebooks, she has pencils, erasers, lip gloss, tons of tools to tame her hair, straws, a small toolkit, a magnifying glass, a flashlight. And, of course, her cellphone and a wallet.

Readers, what’s a staple in your bag or favorite carryall?

Filed under: Wicked Wednesday Tagged: bag, characters, cozy, fiction, maine, mystery, old orchard beach, pocketbook, purse, red purse, reticule, writing

Cheryl Hollon on her first year as an author

Liz here – so thrilled to welcome my longtime pal Cheryl Hollon to the blog. Cheryl’s series, the Webb’s Glass Shop Mysteries, launched last year and has been super successful. Today she’s going to tell us all about her first year as a published author. Take it away, Cheryl!

It’s been an exciting first year as an author! 

I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. It was almost exactly one year ago that I appeared here with my very first blog – EVER! My first book, Pane and Suffering, was released on September 28, 2016, and now I have a series of three books publishsed. Amazing! The second book in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery Series, Shards of Murder, released on February 23, 2016, and now the third, Cracked to Death, is here.

So many wonderful things have happened, but the one thing that has remained constant and true – mystery authors and readers are angels. The discovery that readers truly enjoy visiting Webb’s Glass Shop in St. Petersburg, FL has been an unexpected delight.

Each book in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery Series highlights a particular skill within the broad category of glass art. Savannah Webb will teach and participate in each skill area exploring and expanding her knowledge of the craft, along with her assistant, Amanda Blake. As a subject matter expert consulting with the St. Petersburg Police Department, her close associations within the art community and the unusually keen observation skills of her apprentice, Jacob Underwood, combine to solve crimes. Edward Morris, boyfriend and the British owner of the pub next door, fills out the investigation posse with more than moral support accompanied by coffee and scones. The craft topics for the third book in the series are recycling, reusing, and upcycling glass.

The cover art for Cracked to Death (Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery #3) is filled with wonderful items made from recycled bottles that have been fired in a kiln. After that they can be used to make cheese trays, clocks, wind chimes, or wall hangings. My favorite reuse trick with a beer bottle is to make a spoon rest. I have several in the kitchen and they definitely help keep drips off the stove and countertops. The beer bottles are easily cleaned in the dishwasher, so I have several.

My husband, George and I have a glass studio in a freestanding cottage behind our house and we enjoy making promotional gifts for my blog tours. For this book, I will be giving away all sorts of bottles.

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You can read more about Savannah in Cracked to Death, the third book in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mysteries, published by Kensington Books. Available at your favorite book vendor on June 28, 2016.

About Cracked to Death:

When a treasure hunt leads to deadly plunder, it’s up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb and her trusty investigative posse to map out the true motives of a killer . . .

It’s the dog days of summer in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Webb’s Glass Shop proprietor Savannah Webb has an eco-friendly plan to help locals escape the heat–a recyclable bottle-crafting workshop taught by reticent store manager Amanda Blake. Turns out, the class is a bigger smash than expected, thanks in part to a pair of staggeringly old bottles brought in by snorkeler Martin Lane . . .

Linked to a storied pirate shipwreck, the relics definitely pique Savannah’s interest. But intrigue turns to shock when Martin’s lifeless body washes ashore the next morning, another glass artifact tucked in his dive bag. With cell phone records connecting Amanda to the drowning, Savannah must voyage through uncharted territory to exonerate her colleague and capture the twisted criminal behind Martin’s death . . .

Meet the author:

Cheryl Hollon writes full time after she left an engineering career designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind the house, Cheryl and her husband George design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass and painted glass artworks. You can visit Cheryl and her books at

http://www.cherylhollon.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Hollon-Writer/357992230995844

http://www.twitter.com/cherylhollon

Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl – and here’s to many more years as a published author! Readers, leave Cheryl a comment and congratulate her on surviving her first published year. 

Filed under: Guest posts Tagged: art, Cheryl Hollon, Cracked to Death, glass, Webb's Glass Shop Mysteries

The Fourth of July

Sheila here. Today we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, when the American colonies took the first formal step in separating themselves from England.

Picture a group of men, all formally dressed, locking into a relatively small room in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, with the windows nailed shut so nobody outside could overhear what they were planning. It’s a wonder they didn’t all pass out from the heat. But they came up with one of the most significant single documents in modern history.

That gathering doesn’t lend itself to great art. But! We in Massachusetts have a work of art that defines our concept of patriotism: the Minute Man statue that stands by the river in Concord, designed by Daniel Chester French. Yes, I know—it represents an event that took place a year earlier, on the 18th (or 19th) of April in 1775, but it conveys the same message, in a more personal way. It’s the ordinary man, standing up against a one of the major powers of the world as it was then—and winning.

Photo by Dave Pape [Public Doman], via Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Chester French is well known now (and his statue of Lincoln in Washington DC is magnificent), but when he created the Minute Man, he was just starting out. In a fictionalized biography written by his daughter Margaret, called Journey into Fame, published in 1947, the author reports that Daniel’s first sculpture was a carving of a frog wearing trousers, made from a turnip. Unfortunately for the history of art, this youthful work did not survive. But it did convince his family of his talent, and his father purchased a quantity of clay at an art supply store in Boston and presented it to his youngest son, and the rest is history.

It is astonishing now to think that the Minute Man statue was Daniel’s first commission. He was 23 at the time. In 1872 the town of Concord appointed a committee to plan for a monument for the Centennial of the famous battle, and provided $1,000 through a bequest from a local resident. The committee asked Daniel to make a model, which he began in his studio in Boston in April 1873. The model was approved and he was officially awarded the commission in November. (The fact that family friend Ralph Waldo Emerson was on the committee may have helped.)

The statue was unveiled on April 19th, 1875, and the dedication was attended by President Ulysses Grant, as well as Emerson and James Russell Lowell.  Strange to say, French was NOT present at the unveiling, and was in fact in Italy.

The statue depicts a modest farmer, who is at the point of abandoning his plow and taking up his musket, to respond to the call to arms. The statue has become the iconic image of the Revolution, or at least our romanticized version of it. Even though the statue is a single figure, it embodies the conflict between the simple colonists who really wanted nothing more than to go on with their farming and raising families and so on, and the larger, better equipped and better trained English forces (who in their arrogance thought they could squash that puny rebellion in the colonies and go on collecting taxes from them).

So we’re celebrating the triumph of the ordinary people over a powerful antagonist they had little hope of beating—but they did. As a long-time genealogist, I can count at least thirteen ancestors from Massachusetts who took part in the Revolution in some way. They weren’t heroes—in fact, family legend says that one of those heard the alarm for the Battle at Concord said, “forget it—I’ve got to finish plowing.” How American that sounds: I’ll defend my new country against all odds, but let me get my crop planted first–my family needs to eat!

But here we are, 240 years later, still going strong. Happy Independence Day!

 

Filed under: independence day, Sheila's Posts, Uncategorized Tagged: sheila connolly

Ready Anything Good Lately?

Jessie: Sitting in a salty breeze on the coast of Maine.

 

It finally feels like summer on here at the seaside. The roses are blooming, as is the lavendar. The smell of charcoal from nearby grills floats on the wind accompanied by the melody from ice cream trucks passing through the neighborhood.

And what is more emblematic of summer than a great beach read? I’ve been enjoying a bunch of them myself lately and thought I’d give a shout out to a few.

I’ve  just finished up Death Comes to Kurland Hall, the third in the Kurland St. Mary series by Catherine Lloyd. I’ve read the other two and found this one to be worht the wait. The setting and the cast of characters make me feel as though I’ve taken a trip back in time to an idyllic village in England.

I also devoured the first Veronica Speedwell mystery, A Curious Beginning, by Deanna Raybourn that I bought at Malice Domestic in May. Her self-sufficient heroine and her search for her roots made for a rollicking adventure just right for taking to the beach.

Night Shift,the third in the Midnight Texas series, by Charlaine Harris read like a visit with old friends. That is if your old friends have paranormal abilities and are inclined to have trouble seek them out.

And lastly, Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts was a joy. Filled with secrets, families torn apart and join anew, small town life and big hearts, it made for a perfect companion whilst sitting on the sand.

Currently I am enjoying Black Irish by Stephan Talty. I plan to travel later in the summer to the Buffalo area and his setting there feels timely for me. Next up on my list is Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard.

So readers, do you have anything you’d recommend tucked into your beach bag? Any books you read every summer? Any that remind you of summer in the depths of winter? I’d love to hear your list!

Filed under: Beach Reads, Jessie's posts, Uncategorized Tagged: beach reads, billie letts, Catherine Lloyd, Charlaine Harris, Deanna Raybourn, Elmore Leonard, Jessica Estevao, Jessie Crockett, old orchard beach, Stephan Talty

A Little Bit of Woo-Woo In My Life

Jane/Susannah/Sadie here, having watched her baby graduate high school last week and wondering where the time went…

Kim’s post last week about her photo organizing, Liz’s post about her vision boards, and the fact that my son started a new job before he heads off to Boston for college in the fall, have all got me thinking. Now, I’m the kind of person who always has projects in various states of completion: knitting projects, sewing projects, painting, redecorating (although, I’m not sure you can call it “redecorating” if you never really decorated in the first place), genealogy (which never ends, but generates a lot of paperwork and electronic files), recipes, old tax returns, and of course, photographs.

Sending my son off into the world is coinciding with my finishing the last book in my contract. And it’s all got me thinking that it’s time to do some serious preparation if I want new things to enter this new era of my life. The same way uncontained water will enter any space it has access to, or cold air rushes in to displace warm air if given the chance, new things enter your space when you make space for them.

I have had this principle work many times, sometimes with conscious effort and sometimes with no thought at all. It’s so simple, and it works for everyone, but you need to keep an open mind because the outcome may not be exactly what you envisioned. All you have to do is start clearing physical and mental space.

Clean your closet and take a load of seldom-used clothes to the Goodwill. Take an honest look at your pantry, and donate any unexpired food you know you will never use to the food bank. If you know you’ll never reread a book, donate it (and its sisters and brothers) to the library book sale. Evaluate your tchotchkes and throw or give some away. Reorganize your junk drawer. The key is, you must actually get the stuff out of your house. If your intent is to donate it somewhere, you must actually complete the task and deliver the donation to its intended recipient. The larger the volume of stuff you take out, the more important or impressive the new thing that will come in becomes.

Just as good as clearing physical space is clearing mental space. Everyone has things they procrastinate on–I probably have more things than most of you, as I am the queen of avoidance, LOL! Perhaps you dread going to the dentist–make an appointment and show up for it. Do you have an old project that makes you feel guilty every time you look at it because you never finished it? Do it, or officially abandon it and get it out of your house if you can. Is there an old friend you’ve been meaning to call, but just keep putting it off until you have more time? Make the call now. Is there something you’re afraid of, like public speaking? Take some action and try out a Toastmasters meeting. Been meaning to renew your passport, but just haven’t bothered because you don’t have international travel planned? Do it now anyway.

If you can combine both–clearing physical and mental space–the effects will be magnified. I did this a few years ago, and I got an agent and a book contract within the space of a week and a half. I’ve advised other friends to try it, and they’ve had book deals come through as well. Sometimes you’ll get an unexpected check in the mail. Sometimes an old friend you’ve been missing will call you to go to lunch. Sometimes the exact expensive handbag you’ve been Jonesing for will go on clearance and be eligible for free shipping.

Just this week, I scheduled a very long overdue hair appointment (do NOT look at my roots right now) and dealt with some paperwork I’d been avoiding, and bam! A new opportunity presented itself, one that I’d forgotten I’d put myself in the running for (if it pans out, I’ll tell you the details, I promise). Two phone calls that totalled about five minutes was all it took to shake that opportunity loose.

I have a feeling that when Kim finally completes her photo project, something fresh will enter her life. And you vision board kids? Look at your vision boards every day, but get rid of some life clutter and see how much faster the stuff you want–or something even better–appears.

If you try this, let me know what happens. Do you have any woo-woo in your life?

 

 

Filed under: Jane's posts, Sadie's Posts, Susannah's posts, Uncategorized Tagged: Book contracts, graduation, projects, woo-woo

Wicked Wednesday: Memories of the Wicked Retreat

Last weekend, the Wickeds held our 5th annual retreat.

Tell us, Wickeds, what is your best memory of the weekend?

Liz: Jeez, how can we pick just one? This retreat is the highlight of my year. The company,

the location, the friendship – it’s all amazing. This year, I had the luxury of taking two long walks on the beach, which is one of my favorite things to do EVER (next to sitting on the beach, of course). That was awesome. But sitting on Jessie’s porch with everyone, talking, laughing, eating – being together – was perfect.

Edith: Echoing what Liz said. The collected  inspiration and ideas of this group are pretty amazing. I also loved my three long beach walks, during which new plot ideas arose. And since I always rise early, even if I stay up until 1:30 AM talking (which happened both nights – and the rest of them kept going after I went to bed!), I had two quiet mornings writing new words at the kitchen table, so it was a personally productive weekend, too.

Julie: Jessie’s garden is stunning, and has a wonderful table that is conducive to work, eating, and laughter. Sitting at that table, in that setting, with these people. A tonic. I also loved the two beach walks I did, and the brainstorming. The Wickeds are six very different women, with very different personalities. We don’t always sing from the same song book, but we always support each other in our music making.

Edith: I love that, Julie – our different song books AND our mutual support for music making.

Sherry: Being back in New England is always a treat and a reminder of why I set my books there. I love it so much — from the lobster rolls to the accents to the quirky shops. I loved our meals out on Jessie’s lovely patio and our conversations until the wee hours of the morning. Talking about the plot for book five was so helpful. Jessie is such a gracious hostess and makes all her hard work to accommodate us look so effortless. (I took the photo as I flew over Portland!)

Barb: You know how all TV shows are essentially about groups of friends (or families or colleagues) and you always think that’s what I want. I was sort of startled to realize during the retreat, I have that. We live in four different states, and as Julie says, we don’t always agree. We all practice the same art, but we have different strengths and weaknesses and we approach our work in differing ways. But my Wicked sisters are all generous and kind and smart and funny, so it just works. We “talk” all the time, but getting together physically, especially with great weather, great food, in a great location, is the icing on the cake.

Jessie: I look forward to the retreat all year. One of the things that always strikes me is how lucky a thing it is to make new friends when one is an adult. It is truly a blessing and one I am grateful for more with each passing year. Writing the blog together has made those friendships possible. Spending time together makes them strong. I hope all our readers are involved in groups and communities that provide the same sort of easy understanding and fun.

Readers: You can tell we’re still all aglow from our experiences last weekend. Do you have a group of friends who are creative and fun? Tell us about them.

Filed under: Wicked Wednesday Tagged: beach house, beach walks, community, inspiration, maine, New England, ocean, old orchard beach, plotting, Talking all night

Why You Need a Vision Board

By Liz, still adjusting to real life after a fabulous Wicked retreat….

As you may have heard, the Wickeds held our annual retreat this past weekend. You’ll get the skinny tomorrow when we post our favorite memories, but one of the topics that came up was vision boards–who does them, who loves them, who’s never heard of them. Since I’m in the “I love them” camp, I figured I’d do a post about why we all should use them.

I first learned about vision boards from watching The Secret years ago, and the concept intrigued me. The idea is to put a visual depiction of anything you want to bring into your life in a place where you can look at it multiple times each day. By seeing a picture–literally–of what you want to achieve, accomplish, acquire, etc., you’re focusing on what brings you joy. And when you focus on those things, you bring them to life even faster.

Now, before you write the concept off as too woo-woo, remember–you still have to take action on your dreams. Simply putting up a picture of yourself next to the words “Famous movie star” won’t work if you never go to auditions or take an acting class or do something else to get noticed. But if you’re visualizing AND taking steps to make your dreams come true, you can’t go wrong.

Your board can include pictures from magazines, words, phrases, affirmations, photos–anything that makes you happy, inspires you, or motivates you. Here’s an example of one of mine:

This is a household vision board, so there’s lots of different stuff on it related to writing, houses, beaches, cars, flat abs…you get the idea. I’m happy to report I’m the proud owner of the black VW Jetta in the top right corner.

I’m due to create a new one, as this one hasn’t been updated in more than a year. Some of these things don’t apply anymore, but many still do. But it’s nice to start from scratch and create some new experiences in your life.

One of the things I’ve struggled with is, how many different boards do you need? Should I do one for writing, one for my day job, one for my personal life? Or does it work better if everything is in one place? I don’t think there’s any right answer. Every area of life overlaps, after all, so there’s a benefit to combining visions. But smaller, more targeted boards could be the right choice for someone else.

However you structure your board, the important thing is to have one. In fact, we Wickeds have already put this on our agenda for next year’s retreat. So head out to your favorite store and grab some magazines, poster boards, scissors and glue and get visualizing!

Readers, have you ever used a vision board? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Filed under: Liz's posts Tagged: manifesting, The Secret, vision boards