Getting the Skinny on Literary Agents

While at the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writer’s Conference, I picked up on some great websites for writers negotiating the labyrinth of the writing/publishing world.  Here are a few of the websites, as recommended by literary agent Michael Bourret:
Query Tracker (database of literary agents)
Preditors & Editors
Writer’s Market
Publishers Marketplace.com
With these sites, you can research literary agents, [...]

US to lift 1991 ban on Media Coverage of American flag-draped coffins

Check out this Washington Post article on the plan to lift the 1991 ban on media coverage of American flag draped coffins arriving from overseas at Dover Air Force Base.
My first instinct was to say, “Good for us.”  Despite the legions of US families touched by military service and the realities of war, I think [...]

On Alice Sebold

On Alice Sebold
She glides into the room
like a ghost wearing sandals,
a modern-day snow white
(skin as white as snow,
ebony black hair,
blood red lips…
you get the picture.)

Her humility is palpable,
her celebrity, obvious.

Carrying a pink nylon bag
which reminds me of parachute pants
and overnight camp toiletries
she approaches the podium with a story to tell,
a story much worse than the [...]

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writer’s Conference: Post #5

Well, that’s it.  My first-ever writer’s conference is over.
It was awesome.
Today ended with as big of a bang as the first day began.  After yet another wonderful series of excellent lectures and workshops, I finally had the opportunity to meet with Literary Agent Michael Bourret.  It really was lovely and, in sync with all the [...]

Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writer’s Conference, Post #4

While down here at this conference, I’ve started to make a very bold and, yes, probably very obvious link between my interest in writing and my work with expectant/new mothers through my childbirth preparation program, Pregnancy to Parenthood.
Just as a woman spends months (and years, sometimes) preparing for motherhood; growing the child within, cultivating her [...]