Volume 4 Number 5 May 2004

THE OWFI CONFERENCE WAS PACKED

Even though the conference felt a bit strange in some ways, the time there was fun. I was inspired. And I learned something. You can ask my editor Dan Case about that. Next year I will go to the meeting unburdened by books. I didn’t sell any anyway, so in 2005, I’m carrying no books with me. Free and unfettered is what I plan for next time.

THE AUTOGRAPH PARTY AT OWFI WAS ALSO PACKED

You remember, in last month’s newsletter I talked about that completely gorgeous man I met at the UFO conference in Eureka Springs? (If not, feel free to go to my newsletter section and click on April 2004)

Well, five days after I returned home from Arkansas, he called me. Yeah, the young, magnificent creature called me. Of course, he wasn’t expressing love nor interest nor even a desire for sex-with-an-older-woman. He was strictly business, I must admit. But talking to him called his gorgeousness up in my mind so when I sat for the (useless) signing session at OWFI, I told Paula Gorgas, from the Green Country Ruff Riters of Poteau, about meeting a man who put every other man at the UFO conference in the shade. I described him to her in detail.

She seemed a bit bored, but Paula is usually polite, so she at least pretended to listen. Afterward, very soon afterward, she left. I stayed but just to observe my fellow writers and passersby.

Tulsa NightWriter, Donna Le came along and took my picture displaying my book, BARBARA.

Then Pat Byrdsong, editor of True Confessions magazine, came by and chatted awhile. She was carrying my book, CONFESSING FOR MONEY. (Nope, she hadn’t purchased it from me.) Anyway, I asked, “Pat, would you like me to sign your book?”

“Yes,” she said and I did.

I also gave her the Prologue and Epilogue for SALLY, which thrilled her. She had chosen to take that historical novel back to New York after the 2003 conference. My editors at Hard Shell Word Factory apparently felt the two pieces were useless so they chopped off both Prologue and Epilogue. I’d brought typed copies of each with me to hand out to anyone buying SALLY. (Of course, no one bought a copy of SALLY so I handed the two typed pieces to Pat, which pleased her.) She asked me to hold off revising CONFESSING FOR MONEY until July. It seems the dust of new ownership of the confessions magazines will have mostly settled by then and I can go through my book and make the changes and revisions as necessary.

BACK TO MR. GORGEOUS

You thought I’d forgotten the looker from Eureka Springs? Well, no, but he had receded to the back area of my mind. I find there is a lot of “back area” in my head these days.

Something happened to bring him racing to the forefront of my medulla oblongata or whatever part it is which shows you’re still conscious and able to think.

Paula had apparently not been bored. She had reported everything I said to her fellow Green Country Ruff Riter, Teresa Harrington, who is an accomplished artist who calls herself “Okie Artist.” in her Poteau based graphic arts business.

After the Saturday night banquet, Paula and Teresa approached me near the door to the crowded hallway and Paula announced that Teresa had done something for me.

THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY SOMETHING!

Teresa had worked several hours Saturday afternoon to do her first ever watercolor caricature. Moi! Yes, of me.

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL

While Paula had been acting bored she had been taking in every word and then repeated my conversation to Teresa, word-for-word, because Teresa had added a “dream” Mr. Gorgeous standing behind me, his body arising from a book called “Peggy Fielding’s Adventures At The UFO Conference,” correct hair and eye color and all.

Oh my!

I was thrilled!
Overwhelmed!
Astounded!
Stunned!
Driven mad with joy!

The clever Paula furnished the description and the extremely talented Teresa, put it all on a huge sheet of drawing paper. Poteau is, you know, just a hotbed of creativity.

I was awfully careful bringing my drawing home in Jackie King’s car. Jackie was thrilled with the wonderful creation also. Right away, I took it to the framer on south Harvard. Avenue, close to that UFO vortex which I told you about in an earlier newsletter. Very soon now, Paula’s words demonstrated through Teresa’s art will be hanging in my house.

WHERE OKIE ARTIST’S WORK WILL HANG

Normally, I put drawings, paintings and photographs of myself into my bedroom. Somehow I can’t bring myself to put myself on public display because that seems so massively egotistical, but THIS time, I am going to put my watercolor caricature on the wall in my living room. Over the mantel. For at least six months or maybe longer. I’m still blown away by such a generous gift from that good girl, Teresa Harrington.

CONFESSIONS CLASS

TNW members who come to the free confessions class I hold in my living room will be able to get the full benefit of the colorful new drawing hanging above my fireplace. I’ll try to report on their comments next month.

BEST BOOK OF THIS MONTH’S WORTH OF READING

I reread Elmore Leonard’s 52 PICKUP and enjoyed it just as much this time as I did years ago. Oh, that Elmore guy. Maybe not as pretty as His Honor The Gorgeous Creature at Eureka Springs…but I think I could love Leonard. His words seduce me every time.

SEX?

Only mental. I fell in love during one early morning (early for me) dream. I knew he was younger but I also knew we would “make it” without fail. Of course, at the crucial moment, a life insurance salesperson wakened me from that lovely happening. So in the ever-running tape of etheric dreams, that love scene is no doubt still blazing along, full speed ahead. It’s just that I’m not there.

WHAT NEXT?

Jackie King and I are going to Missouri for The Sleuth’s Ink Mystery Conference. Sounds like fun. I’ll let you know how it goes. If the conference is a flop it still won’t be wasted time. Jackie is always fun to be with, and she doesn’t talk to me until after 10:00 in the morning.

BETTER STOP NOW

I wanted to talk about Debby Camp and Dorothy Garlock, who will be signing at Steve’s on June 9th at 7 pm. Also about Norma Jane Boone and Mary Ann Kerl and Fate Magazine here but I‘ll save all of that for a later date.

Hugs to all of you. I’ll be working on revising books already published and trying to sell books already written but not yet sold. Those of you with a direct line to Heaven, people such as Vickie McDonough or Joetta Street or Mary Dally (author of bestselling nonfiction book MARRIED TO A PRIEST which she wrote in my class) pray for me. The rest of you hope for the best, please.

Love