Where did February go? Every day, every week, every month seems to pass too quickly. Age, I expect. Remember when the days seemed endless and full of possibilities...or even boredom because there was nothing to do? I am filled with joy and certainly no boredom these days when I realize there is nothing special I must do.

Although you could have had my book, A STADIUM KIND OF LOVE as a download for the past couple of months, now you can get a bound copy, a real book from AWOC.COM, Box 2819, Denton, TX 76202. (To order by mail, send check or MO for $9.95 plus $4.95 S&H to this address or go to AWOCBooks.com) This is the book I wrote while seated in the center of the big bookstore, Media Play. I had a lot of fun writing it, hope some of you have fun reading the thing. It's a short romance novel. AWOC Books put it in quite a cute pink cartoon type cover. I love the look of the book in my favorite shade of pink, known as hot pink years ago. Is that shade of pink still called "hot?"

I dedicated the book to the people at Media Play who were so friendly and helpful. I still don't understand why that store closed. It seemed to be doing a land office business every time I was there and I went there six days a week for two months and two weeks. No Sundays, of course. Didn't want to rub Ms. Hazel the wrong way by working on the Lord's day.

Do you have questions for me?

I know, I know. Have you finished the confessions book yet, Peggy? No. And, yes, you can still guess the finish date. I am more than half way through that tome, working on Chapter 12 today and look toward having 18 chapters in the book.

What about your Filipino bug, Peggy? Gone but not really forgotten. I'm still walking like a 90 year old. If you have advice for me I'd be glad to hear it. I should be swinging down the lane with no aches and pains but I' shuffling very slowly, wishing for one ot those little gyro scooters...what are they called? Two wheels and a handle to hold onto as you travel standing on the platform. Fast and easy, I understand.

I thought of one of those scooters when I was reading (rereading) Merline Lovelace's book, SOMEWHERE IN TIME. I've read it three times now and I never, or hardly ever, read books twice. Her modern heroine rode in a chariot and her description of how that felt made me think that perhaps standing on that little machine with its engine under your feet? Between your legs? Somewhere, at any rate, must be much like riding in a chariot without the horsey smell.

Merline's book has just been reissued by her publisher. What a wonderful thing! I would love to send her a thank you note for the great fun of traveling through time with her girl (for the third time) but cannot find Merline's address anywhere in my house. If any of you, my faithful subscribers, have Merline's mailing address please let me know. Fan mail is important to writers. Email is great, of course, but mail from the US Postal Service seems to carry so much more weight, don't you think?

Another question... Am I yet an heiress, via my ex? NO. Not yet. I must go and see my attorney, Lawyer/Writer Susan Atherton, next week to see if I can get that bit of money headed my way.

Dusty Richards, Radine Nehring and Velda Brotherton, are tossing a free (Yes, I said FREE) writer's conference on the fifteenth of this month at the Jones Community Center in Springdale, Arkansas, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. I'll be speaking midday.

Now, JoEtta and Vickie and all you other good Christian women reading this: Don't get your panties in a wad. I did not choose the topic title for my session. They are calling it SELL THE DAMNED THING. Now, my dears, you can lay that title onto the originators (probably Dusty) of the FREE conference, probably because I'm a bit of a smart mouth, I'd suppose, but I really did not offer that title. I hardly ever say Damn, unless I see torpedoes coming toward me...as in "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

All of us who are speaking are working gratis, although Pat and Dusty are giving me houseroom so I can ride to Springdale the day before the conference starts. Jackie King has very kindly offered to drive me to Dusty and Pat's house and they are putting both of us up in one of their spare bedrooms. What pals I have!

I'd think writers would be traveling to the FREE one-day conference in vans and SUV's and trucks in huge numbers, packed in with their sandwiches and soft drinks. What a bargain! A free writing conference in the beautiful Ozarks. Hope there will be room for all those who do show. Oklahomans should be streaming down the turnpike toward Springdale.

The only thing that makes me unhappy about the whole thing in Arkansas is that I will miss hearing Mary Ann Kerl speaking on "Plotting the Young Adult Mystery" for the Oklahoma Mystery Writers Group at the Sizzlin Steak at 21st and Sheridan in Tulsa. That will be free also to you folks who want to hear Mary Ann tell how to plan your young adult novel. Starts at 12:30 if you want to eat. Mary Ann will be speaking at 1:00 pm and she will sign her YA mystery for those who want to buy one.

On the first of June, I'll be speaking in Poteau for the folks down that way. They are holding an afternoon and evening workshop featuring moi. Not free but pretty inexpensive, I understand. This workshop is sponsored by the Green Country Ruff Riters. Paula Gorgas (918) 647-9988, can give you more details.

I love traveling down to LeFlore County. I find it mysterious and passing strange. Anything could happen there, it seems. I always feel as though I should tread lightly when I'm there. Low-lying fog seems to be common to the area and I know it hasn't been blown out over the fields and roads by a special effects fog machine. There is something odd about the place and, of course, I love odd.

I've got to set a book there. Something eerie.

Have I told you I love hearing from all of you? A writer friend and former student of several years ago, surfaced recently. Krystle Franklin. She tells me she's selling movie options right and left. I was thrilled to hear what she is doing now in her writing career and also about her family.

So friends, cousins, Virginia Torres, Carolyn Leonard, Tony LoPresti and all you other folks who haven't contacted me in awhile...email or US mail or telephone me. Billy Letts, where are you these days? And Raymona Anderson, are spooks still shuffling about in your house at Slapout? (Yes, friends, Raymona lives in Slapout, Oklahoma with ghosts.)

Love to all. See you in April. Maybe. Probably. I hope.

Peggy