Blogathon 2007

The annual Blogathon is coming up July 28. This is a charity fund-raiser where bloggers write 48 blog posts within a 24-hour period.

No cheating by pre-posting with the date/time stamp, but you can plan your posts ahead of time. Some write fiction, others post about their respective charities. I thought it might be an interesting writing exercise as well as perhaps a way to promote Christian fiction on the web. Apparently this is a big worldwide event, even though I’d never heard about it until I stumbled across a link to it tonight.

Click HERE to read a Blog Herald article with tips on how to blog the Blogathon. The blogathon official site “opens” July 1, but the forum is open now if you want to browse through some of the prep talk. (http://blogathon.org)

Apparently, bloggers get sponsors to donate items for drawings during the blogathon and collect donations for their charities. I’ve never done this so I’m not sure how that works, but I guess the instructions will be posted when the site opens. Lorelle on WordPress (an excellent instructional site, BTW), has a lot of information about this event. Click HERE to read one of her posts about it. (She also wrote the Blog Herald article.)

I haven’t decided whether or not I plan to participate, but I thought I’d pass this along.

Coming Soon…

Guest bloggers on deck:

• July 18–Marlo Schalesky
• July 25–Louise Gouge
• August 1–Jennifer Devlin
• August 8–Sharon Dunn
• August 29–Vickie McDonough
• September 5–Camy Tang
• September 12–Laurie Alice Eakes
• October 31–Sue Dent

Contact me if you wish to be considered as a future guest.

Guest Blogger: Linda Windsor

Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a FREE copy of Linda’s new book: Wedding Bell Blues. (Drawing will be held Saturday, June 30–so HURRY!)

Maryland author Linda Windsor has written some twenty-nine historical and contemporary novels for both the secular and inspirational markets, but she is most noted for delivering “The LIFT of Laughter and Spirit” in her modern inspirational romances. A Christy finalist and winner of numerous industry awards, Linda has written for Kensington Publishing/NY, Multnomah Publishing/Random House, Barbour Publishing, Westbow Press/Thomas Nelson Publishing and is now contracted to launch Harper Collins’Avon Inspire contemporary romance line with The Piper Cove Chronicles.

Linda chose a local setting, basing the fictitious Piper Cove on nearby Ocean Pines & Berlin, MD. Its first book, WEDDING BELL BLUES, is due out in June 2007. In addition to writing and speaking across the country, Linda continues a local music and lay speaking ministry started by her and her late husband. She also works on home improvement projects on the 18th century-plus house that she and her husband began restoring in 1986 on an “as desperately needed”basis. Wallpaper and paint are definitely in her near future.

Here’s a special guest blog from Linda Windsor:

As I write this, I ache in places I didn’t know I had. I have shades of pale green, sunset orange, pirate blue and mermaid aqua in my hair, cuticles and on other various parts of my body. You see, when a daughter buys her first home and has marriage and a ready-made family in the near future, everything at mom’s home stops and mom dons whatever hat she can wear to make it a home for her little girl. I can see it now. The mother of the bride wore a rainbow of colors.

But, always the writer, my thoughts have been churning about Sweet Nothin’s, book three of my Piper Cove Chronicles—a series about four very different women, best friends who vowed to leave the sleepy seaside village in their dust straight from high school graduation and never return. Well, they did. But the town has changed and so have they. Still, at thirty-something, they’ve yet to find lasting love. There’s ambitious, control freak Alex; outspoken Harley-riding tomboy Ellen; shy and hopeless romantic Jan who always wants the kind of guy she shouldn’t have; and the sassy and somewhat spoiled heiress Sue Ann—all for one and one for all in life and love.

Wait. I’m ahead of myself. Book one of the series, Wedding Bell Blues, is coming out in July! Alex is planning the wedding of the season for her little sister and calls in her bosom buddies for the job. But when her ex-hubby shows up as the best man, Alex’s well-organized world turns upside down. Josh Turner left his teenaged bride for a successful career as a rock musician, never dreaming that an accident would end it, lead him to Christ and back to Piper Cove. The moment he sees Alex, he knows it’s time to right wrongs, even if it means putting up with her overbearing father, who played a major part in destroying their marriage. But will Alex see how he’s changed and forgive Josh? And who is the blackmailer bent on ruining the wedding and everyone’s chance at love?

I set the series in my home area at my favorite place—Ocean City, MD and its bayside. I have been going there for a lifetime and in all seasons to get my fill of serenity, renewal and inspiration. God’s ocean is all that to me. And the colorful small town characters are amalgamations of the many colorful people I know well, myself included. So jump into Wedding Bell Blues and meet them all. Smell the salt air and scent of Old Bay- spiced seafood cooking. Enjoy the friendship, love, laughter and dash of suspense.

Oh, and definitely take a sneak peek at Chapter One of Wedding Bell Blues on my website at www.LindaWindsor.com! I’ve redecorated the replica of my 18th century great room’s fireplace on the header for the summer season just for you. There are contests, too. And be sure to keep in touch for Ellen’s story—a denim-clad Cinderella on a Harley meets a sophisticated Prince Charming in his ‘Vette and love blooms for the sake of the hero’s little boy Pete. Um, did I mention the high tech espionage in said hero’s business? For Pete’s Sake will be out in January of 2008. And of course, the bosom buddies will all be there to help things along.

Okay, back to painting and thinking about Jan’s book—Sweet Nothin’s. Oh, my aching everything! Wish I was in Piper’s Cove.

Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail

One of the highlights of our trip for me was stumbling across a book titled Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail. We’d stopped by the Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho, to experience their interactive Oregon Trail exhibit.

Upon our arrival, the hostess led us to a wall of paintings by the talented artist, Gary Stone, who happens to be from Idaho. (He illustrates for Disney.)

Stone’s delightful works depict events recorded in diaries of those trudging the trail, and Stone painted each of the 40+ illustrations on site at actual trail locations from tales written in diaries. Plus, he has hidden within each scene his wife’s name (Bev) as well as other hidden items that make the book fun.

The book’s introduction and commentary were written by Stone’s wife, Bev, who writes a newspaper column on Idaho history. Together, this couple has produced a fine and fun project that any American history or trail buff would love to browse. Yes, it’s a bit pricey (I picked one up at the bookstore on sale for $45), but it’s well worth it!

There’s No Place Like Home!

We made it home safely last night at about 9 p.m. (central time). When time permits (hopefully this evening), I’ll upload some pics from the trip.

We had great weather, mild traffic, and probably less than 25 miles total road construction. We were VERY blessed! It was a great trip, and we were able to view some of the most beautiful country I’d ever seen.

Total mileage: 4575. Whew! It’s good to be home!

Day 9: Hurry Home!

Like day 1, today we’ll have a LONG drive home–over 700 miles are scheduled for this day. Add that to how tired we’ll be after our trip, and…well, I dread the drive already!

But, I’m sure by this time, we’ll be ready to get home, see the kids & the critters, and, of course, our beloved Arkansas. As beautiful as the other sites we plan to see on our trip are, I’m sure few compare to Petit Jean State Park, located just a few miles from our back yard.

I’m blessed to catch a glimpse of this beautiful mountain every morning on my drive to work.

Ah, home sweet home!

Day 8: Arches National Park

If our legs hold up, we hope to hike to view Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. After spending just over a half-day enjoying the awesome Utah scenery, we’ll have to head several hundred miles east before bedtime.

We have reservations near the Colorado/Kansas border. (What’s the speed limit in Colorado?)

Day 7: Lamar Valley, then off to Idaho

This morning’s plans include an early rise to (hopefully!) view the wildlife of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and Hoodoo Basin area. At the head of the Lamar Valley stands an assortment of bizarre volcanic hoodoos in a region an early park superintendent dubbed the Goblin Labyrinths.

It concerns me that most Internet references to these “secret” areas of Yellowstone include the words “back country” and/or “backpacking,” but I seem to remember reading somewhere that these awesome lava structures are accessible by road. Another finger-crossing item!

A replica of old Fort Hall stands in Idaho’s Shoshone territory, about 150 miles from our morning adventure. We plan to make a quick stop there and travel on to the Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier.

Three hundred miles more, and we’ll stop just short of the site of tomorrow’s tour: Arches National Park, located near I-70 in eastern Utah.

Day 6: Yellowstone’s Upper Loop

Day two of our Yellowstone tour will focus on the Upper Loop. This loop includes Mammoth Hot Springs, the giant Norris Geyser Basin, impressive rivers, and water falls. According to the tourist sites, this loop provides good opportunities to see wolves, bears, elk, moose, Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goats.

The difference between today and yesterday is that we do have an appointment–a horseback riding/wildlife viewing tour at a Gardiner, Montana, ranch overlooking Yellowstone. Following our evening ride, we’ll head back to the cabin for another night in the park.

Day 5: Yellowstone’s Lower Loop

We are well aware that our travels through Yellowstone will be akin to a pilot’s “touch and go” practices. With only two and a half days in the park, it will be impossible to see much, but we hope to hit the highlights (a.k.a.–tourist traps) during our visit.

The Lower Loop area contains the following features: Firehole Falls, Firehole Canyon, the Fountain Paint Pots, Firehole Lake Drive, Old Faithful Geyser, Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone Lake, the Lake Hotel, the Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (South Rim), Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Crystal Falls, and Gibbon Falls.

We plan to head out early and drive until something strikes our interest. We may spend the entire day at one site, or we may make the whole loop and see many or most of the above list. Today, we have no set itinerary–just the words: Lower Loop.