Terry Odell's Blog, page 313

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all moms, aunts, grandmothers, and everyone who does the "mom" thing!

Friday Field Trip - Tucson, Arizona

A few years back, the Adult Literacy League sent me to the national literacy conference in Tucson, Arizona. I had the pleasure of hooking up with an on-line crit partner (who, rumor has it, will be providing some of his own shots for a future field trip) for a day before the conference, and he showed me some of the sights. I think there's something beautiful in the stark desert landscape.Keep

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 6

House/Move recap. We're starting to order major stuff—to the point that we're asking for higher credit limits on our credit cards. One headache: One of my cards that was due to expire didn't make it. For security reasons, they're issuing a new card with a new number. I dread having to figure out all the places that have my card on file where automatic purchases will be rejected. But, of course,

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 5

Thanks to Amanda for her delightful post yesterday. I'm sure we can all relate at some level. And (which seems normal for me), Publisher's Weekly was updating its website, so it's quite possible you weren't able to get over to Barbara Vey's Blog. Such is life. I updated it when I got the new URL, but if you missed it, it's here. Before I move on with another workshop recap, I decided I'd share an

Looking for the Blue Danube

Today I'm especially pleased to welcome author Amanda Flower to Terry's Place. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the guest scheduled for today was unable to make it, and Amanda stepped in at the last minute, with a post I know you'll enjoy. As writers, we work with words. What happens when they fail to communicate? And while Amanda is here at Terry's Place, I'm over at "Beyond Her Book", Barbara

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 4

What I'm reading: Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, June 2010First – the moving update. (To go straight to the Pikes Peak recap, click the "keep reading" link below.)Movers showed up with our stuff Friday morning. Although we got rid of (we thought) most of our stuff before leaving Florida, there were an awful lot of boxes and other bits and pieces. Hubster ran the checklist, and for most boxes, it

Friday Field Trip - Spring!

As I sit here watching snow flurries outside my window, I thought I'd share share some cheerier pictures of spring flowers. Thanks to Mom for sending them. Enjoy! Keep Reading...Have a great weekend, everyone. I'll be back Monday with more craft tips and other tidbits from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference. And I hope to have some happy moving news as well.

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 3

What I'm reading: The Player's Proposal, by Angie DanielsQuick apology - we were without Internet for a good chunk of the day, and I'm making sure I get this post up in case it goes out again. That means I don't have time for any illustrations. Sorry.Moving progress. We went to the Post Office yesterday, where we were told our mailbox keys would be ready. No curbside delivery here, so we'll have

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2

Thanks to Ann for giving us that insight into setting. I've got mixed feelings myself—the hardest book to write was Nowhere to Hide, my July release from The Wild Rose Press, because it was set in Orlando, where I'd been living, and I was being very careful to get all the details right. Making stuff up, while maintaining the flavor of a locale, seems to be my favorite approach.First, a quick

Using Your Hometown to Set the Mood

Join me in welcoming Ann Ambrosio who shares her love for setting as character in writing. Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Terry. The location of your story can set the mood and I like to "feel" the place before I write about it. I grew up in the Saratoga Springs, New York area and naturally place much emotion there; that's why I like to have Saratoga as a setting for a story. I'd like to