Top Dog Press submission

I answered a call for submissions to a e-publisher, Top Dog Press, which publishes (on line only) The Shadow Sacrament. It's not for everyone, but I have a new story that fits their needs rather well, I think. It's the Ephanie story, where I give the details of David Smith's heritage (his father is the Greek god, Hephaestus). I actually wrote it as part of David's back story, thinking that it might end up as part of the David/Mark story I'm working on, not thinking it would find a market on its own. It'll be a while before I hear from Top Dog, but I've got my fingers crossed.

Conway Creative Writers

I'm so glad I joined the Conway Creative Writers group. The group is made up of a variety of writers, and they all are so supportive, even though we each write very different genres/styles. I read the first part of my (longish) short story, "Handfast" today, and will continue with it over the next 3 weeks. [The complete story, in its original (Highlander) version, is on Chez Emma.] We now have a website, though it's still under construction, and I look forward to watching it grow.

Upcoming contests

Well, I've got two entries ready for the Arkansas Writers Conference contests. There are still several I want to enter, and I've got until the end of April (though that will be here before I know it!) What's strange is that these stories are nothing like my usual -- G-rated, even mainstream-ish. Where they came from I have no idea, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth (or a channelled story in the verbs....).

Not much of an entry today — I haven't been doing much this week (James is home for Spring Break). I'll have to get busy and either write something new or find something suitable to read at the Writers Group this Friday.

Weekend at a Monastery

Subiaco Abbey and Academy is located in west-central Arkansas, just south of the Arkansas River, near Mount Magazine. It's a Benedictine monastery, and the monks produce peanut brittle to die for and an excellent hot sauce ("Monk Sauce"). The Academy is all boys, college prep, grades 9-12. There's also a retreat facility.

James and I arrived just before sunset, but missed dinner. He joined the other boys watching a movie while I drove to the nearest town (5 miles away) for Taco Bell for us both. While he ate and watched the movie I got settled in the Coury House (the retreat facility). My room was much like many hotel/motel rooms I've stayed in: twin beds, a sofa and easy chair, a built-in desk/vanity, a small bathroom (stall shower only), and wire coat hangers in a small open wardrobe. A lovely view of the athletic fields and the valley beyond, towards the Arkansas River. No telephone. No television. No clock. No radio. A Bible.

I met James as the movie let out and turned him over to one of the Blue Arrow boys, the students who were acting as hosts and guides for us. He took James to the dorm entrance and informed me I could not accompany them to the 4th floor. So I said good night and returned to the Coury House.

There I met another mother there on her own (her husband and daughter were to come on Saturday, as was my husband). We shared a cup of coffee and discovered that we both teach in public schools, and that we had much more in common. Helene teaches art at Hall High in Little Rock, and lives near the Governor's mansion.

Helene returned to her room (to work on her taxes, as she was seeing her accountant on Monday), and I went back to my room, washed my hair, and knit for a while. It was VERY QUIET.

Since I'm accustomed to sleeping 4 am to noon, it was difficult to sleep more regular hours, but I managed to doze on and off from about 2 until 7. Breakfast was simple, cereal, juice and coffee, then we met for a brief welcome and broke into groups for our tours. There were about 8 families there, some just one parent and son, some with both parents and siblings (one only 2 months old).

We toured the campus, including the athletic center we skipped on our brief visit in February, had mock classes in biology, literature, and geography before lunch. Then it was touring dorm rooms (dorms are all the same, no matter which school) and the Abbey museum before a wonderful concert from the Jazz Ensemble and an informal performance-cum-rehersal of the school chorus.

The boys were taken off on an excursion to see some of the outlying features -- some of the places they go for camping and hikes while the parents got some time off. I took my knitting to the Coury lounge and met another of the parents, Steve from Katy, Texas, a metalurgical engineer. Soon it was time for the parents' Q&A with the Dean of Men and the Academic Services Advisor (who was also the geography teacher we had met earlier). Having been through sending a son away to school, not much was new for me, though Subiaco seems to be much more proactive about keeping the boys on task academically. Stuart arrived just before the end of the session and we went right to dinner.

Delicious pork chops with mashed potatoes, broccoli and a salad bar, a slice of cheese pizza (an appetizer?) and yeast rolls to die for -- I threw away the too dry chocolate cake and had an extra roll for desert.

We talked with Ellen, a pharmacist from outside Tulsa, and Steve for about an hour in the lobby, then returned to our room. Stuart tried to access the wireless internet (not ok in the rooms, it seems, he would have to go back to the lounge), but he had music on the computer, so it wasn't so quiet as I knit before taking a shower and going to bed.

I slept a bit better Saturday night, but Stuart's alarm woke me up earlier than I would have liked. After breakfast the boys were taken off for the exam (more of a placement exam than an entrance exam; average or better grades are expected) and we had a formal interview with Mrs. Kiefer, the Academic Services Advisor/geography teacher.

It's been a long time since I attended a Catholic Mass, and I was welcomed by the first hymn -- "Amazing Grace." The school doesn not require that the students be Catholic, and quite a few of the boys didn't go up for communion, so I presume that's the non-RC contingent. As there is a fair number of international students (most of them Asian) there are non-Christian students as well. Though the boys all take religion class, it's presented more as a history/anthropology course than a catechism. After lunch (they do feed the boys well) we packed up, checked out, and drove home (Stuart did stick around for a while to take pictures, to no one's surprise).

James seems pretty positive about the school, and though he's not ready to make a commitment, he does want us to proceed with the application paperwork and all. I think it would be a good environment for him, and a better education than he could get at Vilonia (they offer a wider range of AP courses, if nothing else).

Now I need a couple days to recover after 2 days of walking and stair climbing... more time on my feet than I've spent in a long time.

Away for the weekend

I'm off to nearby Subiaco for the weekend. It's time for son James to decide if he wants to stay in public school or go away to school as his older brother did. Subiaco is a Benedictine monastery and school that is highly rated as a college prep academy. It should do James worlds of good, as it's been hard to motivate him.

Before leaving for Subiaco though, I'm off to my second meeting of the Conway Creative Writers group. I've got a possible entry for the AWC contest to read; we'll see how they like it.

Daffodils and old friends

Today was the day to visit the largest daffodil field (anywhere, I think) at Wye Mountain, Arkansas. It's about 7 acres, all planted in daffodils -- and they're all blooming this time of year.

The SF group from Little Rock tries to have an away mission to the daffodils each year, and today I met Margaret, Robert, and Mary there. To our surprise, we ran into the former chairs of Roc*Kon, Ann & Leonard Wilson, along with Ann's sister and mom. It was a beautiful day, and we sat at a picnic table and chatted until it started clouding up about 5ish.

The drive back to Conway (going the opposite direction as those from Little Rock) was lovely, too. The view off Wye Mountain across to Toad Suck (yes, there really is a Toad Suck, AR) was beautiful -- the dogwood is starting to bloom and the Bradford pear trees look like white cotton candy on a stick. I passed the St. Boniface Catholic Church (Margaret couldn't remember the name) which was built about 120 years ago and is the epitome of the classic country church, though being RC instead of Baptist, it does have some gothic elements the other churches in the area seem to lack.

I seem to be getting the hang of this blogger thing -- with any luck I may even post every day or so...

Joined a new group

Today I joined a new writing group, the Conway Creative Writers. It's a small group, some published, some not, but from what I heard today, all talented. I don't think they're the right audience for most of my stories, but I do have some that aren't too explicit.

I've also been busy re-doing my conventions website. It used to be on free sites, but I decided that since I'm paying for web space, I should use it. Most of the photos are a couple years old, but the site describes conventions and conferences I've attended since 2000. I apologize if any of the links don't work; I had to work from downloads from the old site, as I can't get to my old computer's files. The new site is www.cons.emkaygraphics.biz.

My friend Carys Weldon is holding a contest on her blog this month -- you have to find where she's been and posted (with extra points if you post there yourself). She hasn't been here yet, but I'm expecting her any day now! Check out her website and blog at www.carysweldon.com.

Today is my daughter's 20th birthday -- I'm down to one teenager for the first time in 6 years... and only 6 more years to go until he's out of his teens as well. Yeah, I know, having 3 kids spread over nearly 12 years makes for a long haul as a mommy... most women my age are grandmothers and emptynesters already. That's what I get for having a baby at (almost) 40.

I've got the weekend to myself -- my mom is at my sister's, and hubby & son are off Boy Scout Camp-o-ree-ing -- so it's me and the cat until Sunday. Somehow, I don't think I'll mind....

Things to do instead of writing

I've been playing around with my new website (otherwise known as NOT writing), changing colors and layouts. All feedback will be greatly appreciated!

I've decided which of the AR Writers Conference contests to enter; now I just have to WRITE. I was glad to hear from Jennifer DeCamillo (aka Carys Weldon) that she'll be coming to Little Rock in June.

I'm still waiting for the galleys for Slash & Burn. It'll be my first chance to read the other stories in the book. It should come soon, as Deborah (the editor) wants to be able to release it in April, which is next month now.