Wow! This is already the month of September (hurricanes).
Hope each of you is safe, along with your pets, homes, and belongings.
October Novel Retreat
Now is the time to concentrate on your novel. The first Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novel Retreat was so successful and in demand, we’re gearing up for the second one coming up soon—October 5-9, 2008. Will be held in the new Mountain Laurel Hotel at Ridgecrest/LifeWay Conference Center (Requirements are that you’ve attended a writers conference “somewhere” and have a novel in progress.) (www.lifeway.com/novelretreat)
We'll have a great learning, writing, relaxing time:
Some Old Goats
Hey, I’m talking about the white-haired ones that aren’t wearing clothes! I went with a group to the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC. What a treat for a writer, seeing wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling book shelves full of books in almost every room. That must have been inspiration enough for Sandburg to type out his writings with two fingers on portable typewriters. Flash wasn’t allowed, and my pictures taken in dimly lit rooms didn’t show up, but I snapped a few of the goats at the goat farm, started by Mrs. Sandburg when they lived there.
Other Opportunities for Writers:
Wanna be a Movie Star?
If you want to learn how to write TV & film scripts, learn how to be interviewed, or just learn how to write scenes and characters the way they do for movies, or get a movie trailer made, come to the Gideon Media Arts Festival next June 31-May 4, 2009. www.lifeway.com/gideonmediaarts and/or www.gideonfilmfestival.com. Check out their great CONTEST for published novelists.
Let's Get Personal
What a great surprise. Recently, Heartsong readers voted me #3 favorite author, voted A Bride Idea #5 favorite historical, and A Bride Idea #1 best book cover.
More Personal
Can’t resist sharing this. My nine-year-old grandson, Simon, won his first Tennis Trophy in a tournament. He wants to be a pro…and has a good start.
Happy to Report
1. I’m writing three historical Hawaiian novels for Heartsong. Finished the first one, Aloha Love, and busy on the second. I may have to go there for research! Ah, the perils of a writer, eh?
2. Schoolhouse Brides, a novella collection by four of us authors, has been translated and accepted by a German publisher. It’s also in a large print, hardcover edition published by Thorndike.
Soon to be Released
Three of my North Carolina novels have been put into a Barbour collection called North Carolina Weddings, to be released this Fall.
More Opportunities for You
This past May I had planned/directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years. I have now released that into the capable hands of Alton Gansky. I’ll be concentrating on the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novel Retreat and co-directing with Ann Tatlock the Honored Authors section of the Gideon Media Arts Festival, and the Novel Contest.
Gideon Published Novelist Contest—Entry Fee $30
For full-time attendees (except HA's) who have one or more novels published in 2006, 2007, or 2008. Any genre. Deadline is March 15, 2009. You may enter more than one novel but each entry must be accompanied by a $30 check made out to GIDEON FILM FESTIVAL. The author of the winning novel will receive the GIDEON PUBLISHED NOVEL AWARD at the banquet, and be eligible for entry into the HA's program in 2010, and receive $200 cash prize. Send entries to Yvonne Lehman, 102 Corbett Lane, Black Mountain NC 28711. All classes are open to all attendees other than those specified for the HA's. www.gideonfilmfestival.com or www.lifeway.com/gideonmediaarts.
Future Plans
I’m seriously considering planning a Mystery/Suspense Retreat at Halloween in 2009. The format will be similar to the Novel Retreat. If that interests you, let me know. YLehman@bellsouth.net.
Blessings,
Yvonne
www.yvonnelehman.com
ylehman@bellsouth.net
www.lifeway.com/novelretreat
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