A Summer of Firsts

My summer is going to be mind-blowing busy, but in a positive way.

Every year, when the temperatures in Phoenix begin to inch over the 100 degree mark, my husband and I flee to Northern Arizona. In mid-May we take our tribe of dogs, cats, plants, and sometimes our son, and move into our cabin in Munds Park, a tiny alpine town thirty minutes south of Flagstaff. The 6800' altitude keeps the thermometer at 80 to 90-degrees max--low enough to hike the national forest in our backyard every morning, and sleep with the windows open at night when it cools down.

Unfortunately, I won't get much cabin time this summer.

First up is Phoenix ComiCon, May 25-28. I'll be there every day in the Wikked Writers booths (we have AA 1300-1330). Arizona friends, the lineup this year is spectacular. I'm going to find a way to sneak out to see Jim Butcher, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Terry Brooks, and maybe play a little Quidditch.

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Author Jim Butcher writes the Dresden Files series with "Wizard For Hire" Harry Dresden. Must reads for all paranormal and fantasy fans!


Plus, Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, is a guest speaker. This is the perfect time to visit with her before I head off to Scotland to see all the sites from her series in person. If you've read her books or seen the Starz mini-series, I'm sure you love her characters Jamie Frasier and Claire Randall Frasier.
Picture Paul and I are taking an Outlander tour to start our vacation in Scotland (July), so I'm going to re-read the series before we leave (and probably take one book with me on vacation since it looks like laptops and other electronics will no longer be allowed on planes (damn!). Right on the heels of ComiCon, I'll be participating in the Desert Dreams Writers Conference. Held in Phoenix June 1-4, the conference includes "Meet The Authors" speed-dating style, so you can decide which authors to visit with at break-out sessions, and also who you'd like to sit with at dinner. It's a lot of fun and I encourage you to go to get your tickets now. I'm also excited about this one because I'm a finalist in the Diamonds in the Desert contest and winners will be announced at the conference dinner.

So, it looks like my time at the cabin will consist of three weeks in June, then home to the Valley of the Sun to figure out how to pack for a 15-day tour where we stay in a different place every other day. If you've done such a vacation tour...HELP!

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Published on May 19, 2017 18:56
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