Vol. 4 Number 9 Sept. 2004

A BIT LATE

Sorry, I have a perfectly valid excuse for getting the newsletter to you at the end of the month. An editor at Avalon has shown interest in my regency, MAKE BELIEVE CURATE, however, she wants it cut, and one whole character removed, so I'm madly tearing out "Edward Alvanley," the unlucky character, and slowly retyping the book. I can't just take out his name, all you electronic buffs. It's not just a matter of finding his name and deleting. I have to take even the whiff of his memory from any of the other characters' minds or mouths. So all other projects are on hold while I accomplish the rewrite.

Avalon publishes hard backs only, mostly for the national library market. I would certainly be honored to have a book published by them.

My local library, the Kendall-Whittier, ordered a regency novel, MARK OF THE EARL by Lois Carnell Alexander, for me. Lois is a longtime writer acquaintance from Oklahoma City and I wanted to examine her volume to see what I can expect in the way of design, binding, etc.

Avalon is not really looking for regency romances although they publish two every two months. What they're really wanting right now is Westerns. I am thrilled to my soul that they are considering my regency baby. Nest, I'll try them on THE SHERIFF RODE SIDESADDLE as soon as I'm further along with that particular novel.

Lois Carnell's book is really nicely done in the physical look and heft of the book, with an okay dust jacket printed in pink, blue and black, hard covers bound in a clear medium blue, and the whole thing is clearly printed on acid free paper. I found it to look both conservative and pleasing all around.

I will say that the author fell in love with street and sport cant (slang) of the era and used far more of the stuff than I used in MAKE BELIEVE CURATE.

LAST MONTH'S CONTEST DEADLINE

At least three people have informed me that I didn't note the deadline for my "Dream" contest. (Go to the newsletter archives on my website, to see the dream piece listed under August). They're right and I'm sorry for the oversight. I now set an October 28, 2004 deadline for your short submissions. If you haven't already sent in your interpretation of my dream you can still do that. Along with your interpretation or comment piece, please include your name, U.S. mailing address and your choice of book. Choose, SALLY, BARBARA, A STADIUM KIND OF LOVE, CONFESSING FOR MONEY or HOW TO WRITE AND SELL MAGAZINE ARTICLES, which I will mail to the top four winners via our beloved US mail. Anyway, I love the U.S. Post Office. They have made a living for me for many years.

BAD NEWS

My good pal, Jackie King, is in St. Francis Hospital. Some problem with her liver they think but they are still taking tests. I'm worried sick.

Recently Jackie and I attended a shower for Nancy Huff's newly married daughter. Here's a picture of us all in a row, Nancy, Peggy and Jackie.

Nancy Huff, Peggy and Jackie King

GOOD NEWS FOR DUSTY

He e-mails me that he has two books to do right away, both contracted, but only one has he yet even given a name. The other, he hasn't yet given a title, nor planned what it will be about.

He was really complaining of the problem put before him but I'm sorry. I couldn't dredge up even a particle of pity for a guy who is writing and selling eight novels so far this year. That kind of problem would appeal to any of the writers I know, bless his big old suffering heart. His little wife, Pat, is his ace in the hole. Hope he realizes that.

In the same e-mail, Dusty told me that an old cowboy friend wrote him that "the lady" (that's me, I believe) was right about the lovely short stories in Dusty's collection of short stories from AWOC, which is called, WALTZING WITH TUMBLEWEEDS.

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING

Lots of new books, good ones, given me by my writer pal, Norma Jane Boone. I really enjoyed the one called SARAH which gives us a look at the life of the Bibical character who was Abraham's wife. Well written, interesting point of view. Wish I'd written it. You can't give another writer a higher compliment than that! And, of course, just at this moment I'm surveying Carnell's MARK OF THE EARL. My favorite kind of romance, a Regency. Diane Moore tells me she hates regencies. That is not the way to get on the good side of a true-blue regency reader and writer. But I love her just the same. She is a poet. Poets are allowed more leeway than the rest of us scribblers.

I'm also laughing my way through Sharon Sala's second book in her series, THE AMEN TRAIL. I consider Sharon a friend even though we rarely see each other. We both belong to the Oklahoma City chapter of RWA, the OK Corral. She lives in Henrietta, Oklahoma, not so far away from my place in Tulsa. I may go visit her when I have a moment of time. (Don't worry Sharon, I never have time for "visiting.”) Saying I will visit her is akin to saying, "Y'all come back now." You are just being polite. She is amusing me endlessly with this book. I read the first one and laughed loudly at that one also.

SEX ("sex" in lower case would be better for those of you who hate for me to write this stuff?)

What can I say?

My love life has all been a very private, solitary affair so far. I even gave the nude portrait of myself painted when I was in my thirties, to a male admirer of the painting who is not a writer. He took the picture... begged for it, in fact, but he has never, in all the four years we've been platonic friends, ever said one word about wanting ME, unless this next line is an indication. Before he put the picture into his car to drive away he turned to look at me up on the porch and said, "I wish I'd known you then, Peggy." He then got into his car and drove away.

He would have been about fifteen years old at that time, I surmise. Would he have even looked at a 35-year-old woman at fifteen? Well, yes, perhaps he would have looked at a naked thirty five year old.

And Dusty didn't send a Logan book. Shoot.

BYE

Well, anyway, my love to all of you. See you in October.

Love Peggy