LATE AGAIN

Well, yes. I'm writing this on the last day of 2003 but undoubtedly you'll be reading it in 2004. Guess that means I must pull up my socks and resolve for the new year to do better. Get that newsletter out by mid-month, Peggy Lou! Okay? That's it. That's my resolution. I know I'm much more apt to stick to this one than I am to go with my usual pledge... to lose weight.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON

The whole of December sped by on greased rails. The older I get, the greasier grow the rails. Life is fun though. I'm still having a good time even though I'm eschewing sex, other than what I get from Dusty Richards' books...and yes, can you believe it, I've had offers, even recently. I'm just having a more cerebral type amusement these days.

My pal, Jackie King, invites me to share almost every gathering with her and her family. One of her golden giant children, John, is visiting her from Austin, Texas, now. I always think of him as amber eyed, even though his mother swears his eyes are blue. Sharing your big sparkling amber eyed, blue eyed, children and grandchildren is a great way of showing friendship.

Jackie isn't the only one who invites me home, of course. Deborah Camp, author of more than 45 published novels, and her mom, invited me for black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, but Jackie had gotten to me first.

LUCK AND MONEY

Folks from other parts of the country may not realize that black-eyed peas are a requirement for all Okies on New Year's Day. They bring luck, even better, they bring money! My daddy used to say, "One dollar for each black-eyed pea eaten, hon." Hope Daddy was right because I have a huge pot of black-eyes cooking on the stove right now for consumption on that first day of 2004.

WORD MEANINGS

Sometimes you know the meanings of the words as you read and talk; that is, you're aware of the meaning of the word. Take the word, "totter." I've read it all my life and my mind saw a character making unsteady walking movements.

Of course, that is the correct meaning but in recent weeks I have come to a deeper understanding of the word, i.e., a blood, bone and sinew realization of what the word means. I've experienced "tottering." You can't beat that for a real in-depth knowledge of what a word truly means in every nuance.

I might as well come right out and tell you...I've been tottering around. That word now has strong meaning for me. And I've finally bought a cane. I haven't used it yet, but I will see if that little wooden stick makes a difference in my "get-along" as Ms. Hazel called it, starting in 2004.

CONTEST STILL

I can't believe it! Not a single person named BARBARA, first, middle or last name, has reported in to me so they could receive their review copies of my new book, Barbara, The Story of a UFO Investigator. Or is it that all the Barbara's out there spit on the idea of reading my book?

Anyway, let's let this contest ride. All you Barbara's send in a partial copy of your library card, voter registration, birth certificate or whatever (Just enough to prove your name is Barbara) with your US Postal address and I'll still send you my new book. Some people say it's a good read.

Diane Moore, a poet in Tulsa, has been especially complimentary. Of course, you subscribers understand that a writer loves comments from fans almost as much as she loves the money she gets from the book.

I can happily report that, as of last night, BARBARA is still second on the AWOC publishing house top ten best seller list. Yay!

TULSA NIGHTWRITERS

Not only do we have well known author, Charles Sasser as president of the group, Jackie King is the new Vice President. She is doing a great job getting speakers for us. The January speaker will be that big, mean, writing machine, Dusty Richards from Springdale, Arkansas.

Dusty has written and sold eight (yes, that's 8) novels in 2003 and he is going to tell us how he did it as well as explain how we can do the same thing in 2004 if we follow in his huge footsteps.

WELCOME STRANGERS AND FRIENDS

Anyone within a hundred mile radius of Tulsa should plan to make the trip to hear this guy. He's a helluva talker as well as being the fastest writer in the West. Nora Roberts is Dusty's only rival, one supposes. She has sixteen novels coming out in 2004 but eight of them are reissues.

WHEN AND WHERE

Dusty will be enlightening us at the Allee Beth Martin East Regional Library at 29th Street and Garnett Road on January 20. Our meetings start at 7:00 pm with very little business (only hello from the president then welcome newcomers and member brags) then Brad Smith will introduce the big man and we'll be off on a journey of discovery as to how Dusty did it and how we too, can do it. Come one, come all. No charge, of course, but we'll let you join up with us if you wish to fork over $35.

Jackie has done us a real favor for January and she promises Teresa Miller for the February 17 meeting. Huzzahs all around.

TRIP TO THE ORIENT

I've a stack of novels set in various countries in Asia. Yesterday I went to Vietnam. Isn't the magic of reading truly wonderful? I reread SONG OF THE BUFFALO BOY by Sherry Garland, from Harcourt Brace & Company. Sherry and I exchanged books at the Rice University Conference in 1995 where we were both speakers. Her BUFFALO BOY has had several awards including the Rita for best young adult romance from RWA. I traded her my PARADISE FOUND, which is set in the Philippines. Both books can transport you from everyday life in your hometown to wholly different and fascinating worlds on the other side of the globe.

GRATITUDE

Thanks Ms. Hazel for helping me learn to read so many years ago. Life is worth living with a book in one's hands.

2004

See you in January, my friends, for sure. Maybe I'll have a sale to report by then. AWOC editor, Dan Case has asked me for a new book, WRITING THE NONFICTION BOOK, but no contract has been signed as yet.

Anyway, I'll be racking up dollars tomorrow via the consumption of black-eyed peas.

Love Peggy