Catherine Dougherty's Blog, page 15

NaNoWriMo (with a twist)

As many of you already know, November is National Novel Writing Month and that means it’s almost time for the annual NaNoWriMo challenge. Hundreds of thousands of people of all ages will strive to write a 50,000 word novel (or at least 50,000 words of one) in 30 days.

I took the challenge for the first time in 2011 and was successful in meeting the word count. As a result, I completed a large portion of my first draft for in Woolen Bikinis, the sequel to in Polyester Pajamas. I also adopted a good daily writing habit.

That’s why I was eager to participate for the second time in 2012. I blogged about it and couldn’t wait for the challenge to begin. However, I didn’t do so well. My other obligations and an illness got in the way. Oh well, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but . . .

I’m not a quitter!  I’m going to attempt it again next month. I need to re-adopt that regular daily writing routine because the next novel in the Jean and Rosie series depends on it. Wish me luck and, better yet, join me. Find out more about NaNoWriMo and how you can sign up HERE.

While you’re at it, also check out the new exciting challenge organized by Grammarly called GrammoWriMo. It’s NaNoWriMo with a twist. I recently found out about it and signed up right away. Many other writers of all levels are signing up as well. Each will contribute 800 words to one novel and at the end of the NanoWriMo challenge, Grammarly is aiming to publish a book written by the largest amount of authors ever!

If you’d like to be a part of this very first GrammoWriMo project, read this BLOG POST for more details. The opportunity is only open until October 25th, so don’t delay.

November is just around the corner. C’mon, let’s write a book together!

October in New England

I especially love October in New England. Fairs, festivals, apple picking and spectacular fall foliage. Octoberfest celebrations with German music, beer, bratwurst and sauerbraten. Apple cider and sugared cider donuts!

If you’ve never visited New England this time of year, you must! (Put it on your bucket list!)

Here are a few photos taken these past few days while traveling throughout New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

Simply beautiful, huh?

Meet the Characters Blogfest

Discover new authors and meet their characters. Find great new books to read. Enter to win books and ebooks. It’s happening all month long with something new every day.

Check it out HERE!!

GET IT FREE ON KINDLE

Three days only: Monday, September 30th – Wednesday, October 2nd

Enjoy a free copy of in Woolen Bikinis, the 2nd novel in the Jean and Rosie series.

If you haven’t yet read in Polyester Pajamas, the first book in the series, you’ll want to check that one out also (the Kindle version is only $3.99), but this one can still be enjoyed on its own.

Be sure to get your free copy HERE (during the above-mentioned dates only) and tell all of your friends to download it also. The more downloads, the more exposure, and the more Amazon will promote it afterwards.

(Yeah, it’s a promotional thing, but everyone wins and I know you’re going to like it!)

Maybe, but then again . . .

Recently, the New Hampshire Writers’ Project posted a list of new books released by their members. Since I’m a member of NHWP, in Woolen Bikinis was one of them.

It was a big thing for me to see my book and name listed, especially right under the name of Ruth Doan MacDougall.

As some of you may know, Ruth Doan MacDougall and her novel The Cheerleader (first in a series) are mentioned in both of my books. What you may not know is that when I read The Cheerleader many years ago, she became my inspiration. I wanted to be just like her–a published author from New Hampshire who had written a novel series set in the Lakes Region (NH). I even wrote this in my journal at the time.

And, although it has taken years, my wish has come true! The first two books in the Jean and Rosie series have been published and the third is in the works. Will the next one be the last one for these characters?  Maybe . . . but then again, maybe not!

To see the NHWP list, click HERE.

People are still buying books (not just ebooks)!

There may be some bookstores closing these days, but there are also some expanding.

This past week, Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, NH moved into a new, much larger store only steps away from their former location. I went there today to drop off some books and was amazed at how spacious and inviting it was.

It was also filled with people buying books and other great items.

 

If you’re ever in Concord area, be sure to check this place out. And, while you’re at it, check out my novels, clearly visible in the NH Authors section.

I’m looking forward to my upcoming event at this new Gibson’s location. It’s scheduled for Thursday, November 7th at 7 pm.  If you live in the area, please come and bring a friend–there’s plenty of room and I promise to entertain you!

Click HERE to read the Gibson’s Bookstore new newsletter.

REALLY?

Today I saw, not one, but three of these designated signs in a grocery store parking lot and couldn’t believe it! I mean, really?

I’m all for handicapped parking, but some parking lots even have designated spots these days for Employee of the Week (or Month), Parents with Infants, and now… NOW THIS!

Don’t get me wrong, I know it can be difficult to walk when you’re nine months pregnant—been there, done that—but I still don’t believe in special parking spaces for expectant mothers.

This sign doesn’t say they have to be full-term either, just expectant. That could mean women who haven’t gained an ounce because they’re only, let’s say, less than two months pregnant. Should they have a special parking space?

And how about expectant dads?  Maybe they should complain about not having a space of their own? I mean it does say expectant MOTHER on this sign. Isn’t that discriminatory?

And, no kidding, what’s next? (You know it’ll be something.) People with Pets? Most Loyal Customer? People Who Complain the Most?

People Who No Longer Believe in EXERCISE?

Unique Road Signs

Every weekend, my husband and I travel an average of 200 miles throughout New England on sightseeing excursions.

We drive along back roads mostly with a few stops along the way—a place to eat, a bookstore to browse through. Sometimes we take a walk in a quaint little town. But, even with these stops, there are still many hours spent sitting in the car. Since my husband prefers to do the driving, this leaves me for long stretches of time in the passenger seat.

So what do I do to keep from getting bored or falling asleep?

Well, sometimes I knit, although I haven’t done so lately. I’ll get back to knitting in the colder months.

And we spend a lot of quality time together sharing our thoughts on various subjects. (He does most of the talking. I do most of the listening.)

I’m continuously thinking of my book characters, too—it’s like writing in my head. I work through what they’re going to do next in the current novel I’m working on. Right now, it’s Book 3 in the Jean & Rosie series.

Of course, we also do plenty of sightseeing. We’ve come across some interesting sights in the 20+ years we’ve been taking these road trips. Here’s a few of the unique road signs we’ve seen. (One will look familiar to some of you Lakes Region locals.)

Meet the Authors

Today, I participated in at a “Meet The Authors” event at Annie’s Book Stop in Laconia, NH, with Jim Novak, author of the memoir Ora’s Boy. (What a great picture of us, don’t you think?)

Before my first novel in Polyester Pajamas was published last year, I bought Jim’s book and enjoyed reading it. The story of his life growing up in the Lakes Region (NH) impacted me so much that I wrote a blog post about it (A Child’s Survival – April 19, 2012). I hadn’t yet met him when I did this.

Months later, when he found out I was also a Lakes Region author, he sent me an email and we’ve kept in touch since. He’s read both of my books and has a blurb on the back of my second novel in Woolen Bikinis. We also recently did a television interview together.

It was a great time today and I hope that the two of us can do more joint author events in the future.

If you haven’t read his memoir yet, you should check it. It’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and, of course, at Annie’s Book Stop in Laconia.

My Favorite Things

I woke up yesterday morning thinking about how, when I was a kid, I would whittle the paint off of #2 pencils, revealing the natural wood underneath. It brought back memories of writing with one of these.

Then, later on, when my husband and I were taking a Sunday drive, I noticed a big model sailboat displayed in someone’s bay window. It reminded me of a Golden Book I used to own—a story about Chip and Dale secretly taking Donald Duck’s model sailboat off his mantle and going for a sailing adventure. As a child, I read it over and over again.

(Yes, this is a picture of the cover of the book. I found it on Ebay last night.)

It’s kind of funny how long ago memories can unexpectedly creep up, even memories that are over 40 years old. But I’m still wondering why these particular ones came to me on the very same day.

Hmmm . . . pencils and books. Hmmm . . . writing and reading.

Guess it makes perfect sense after all! Writing and reading are important, especially to an author.

Yes, these are (still) a few of my favorite things. (Hey, remember that song?)