Montana: A Visual Splendor

Unique statue in Helena, MT

Hubby and I and the two dogs made a big circle this past weekend through Idaho, Montana, back through Idaho, down the east side of Washington and back into Oregon. The only thing that would have made the trip better- more time.

We did the 1600 mile trip in 3 1/2 days spending one full day in Lakeside, MT with my cousin and her husband.

First we delivered farm equipment in Three Forks, Montana. This area is interesting.  The large "valley" is bordered with distant mountains. The area is rolling hills, tall grass, and grain fields. We were a bit disappointed to see small cul de sacs of houses sitting in the middle of fields. They looked out of place.

Looking out across the fields at Three Forks

From there we went north along the west side of Yellowstone National Park. We kept our gazes on the sides of the road but all we saw were a couple of squirrels. after the park, we saw bison and mountain goats at a drive through safari place.  A little farther along, I looked down a meadow and spotted a dozen elk.

West side of Yellowstone

I spotted a place call Island Lodge on Seeley Lake. I think it would make a great place for a writing retreat.;)   

We made it to my cousin's place in Lakeside, Montana about 7 PM.  The next day they took us to Kalispell and Whitefish. We had lunch at Craggy Range Bar & Grill. It had a great atmosphere and good food. I also checked in with local book stores to see if they would be willing for me to do a signing in the future.

Whitefish City Park at the lake

From there we drove through the countryside and back to Flathead Lake. The lake is beautiful and peaceful.

Our trip back home took us thorugh the area in Idaho where I set my fictional ski resort in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series. I've been wanting to see the area again. From there we went to Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, Tri-cities and down 395 home.

Mikey was bored

It was a fun trip we plan to make again but when we have more time to check things out and take a couple of highways that will take us to more remote places.

Have you been on a trip to explore a part of the country where you live lately?

Reflections on a Booksigning

Saturday's book signing would have been a wasted day had I been the soul author.
I woke at 3:45 am and drove the three hours to Portland. Luckily the pass had only a few spots of ice and it was actually warmer on the mountain than it had been here in the high desert. I arrived at Minnette Meador's at 7:30. Hanna Rhys Barnes arrived around 8:00. We loaded into Minnette's van and her husband drove us the three hours to Bellevue, WA with a stop for lunch since our signing started at noon.

Lisa Hendrix met us there. I love the fact there are book stores out there who are willing to do these types of signings. But this is my second signing in a row where there wasn't a poster at the door that announced there were authors in the store signing and reading. I'm making a note to start bringing a large poster with me that I can set up at the front of stores when I am signing. I think that would attract more attention.

As stated before we talked about ourselves and books and then read from a book. We had six people listening and two were store employees. One gentleman and I started talking. He knew the area where I grew up, the foundry where my brother started out, and some people. It was that connection that made him buy a book. And the wonderful Lesa Dragon who we'd all met at the Emerald City conference came by and bought one of each of our books. And that was all we sold in three hours. A weekend when we and the store thought they'd be booming there were more employees in the store than customers.

And the event was publicized because two people said they read about the event in the paper. But I am becoming a firm believer in the need for a poster at the door. Which will be one of my New Year's goals. To produce a foam board poster that I can change the day and time on for each event.

As an author what do you think helps your signings? As a reader what do you like about book signings? What don't you like?

I hope you all had a happy family filled Thanksgiving.

Friday Five- thoughts of the week

I know lame- but as I kept running over this week in my head, I thought, this has been an awesome week even though I've not written as many words as I'd like.

So my list of five thoughts about this week.

1) I was on our local TV morning talk show on Tuesday. While I can't look at the monitor while I'm speaking while on camera, I do feel comfortable with the host and she makes me feel like a New York Times author with her confidence in my writing and her excitement for my writing.

2) I was also on a blog talk radio show on Tuesday night. I'd been apprehensive because of an hour long talk show I did earlier in the year. But this host had me call in early, we discussed how things would happen, and it was a lot of fun and something I will definitely do again. You can click here to listen to the inter view: Canned laughter and Coffee.

3)I stopped in to see if there was anything I needed to do for the book signing tonight at a new book store in my town. They were enthusiastic and said people had already been in asking about the signing. That made my day. I knew my best friend would be there for sure, but to have other people asking- is an elation that is hard to explain.

4) This week I hit the not so much saggy middle syndrome with my WIP but more the YIKES this story is hurdling to the end and I still have X number of pages I have to write! I instant messaged a critique partner and we hammered out another scene or two that makes sense and adds to the conflict. Trusted critique partners are invaluable!

5) My next contracted book with the Wild Rose Press, "Miner in Petticoats" was sent to a final reader to catch any typos and punctuation missed. She wrote to me and said, "I loved it!" I'm waiting to see what reviewers think because I have a character of another nationality and I gave her a heavy accent in the dialogue. But she wouldn't be who she is if I cut back on the accent- so to have my 'first' reader love it and not say anything about the dialogue- I'm busting buttons today.

So did something good happen to you this week? If so please share. I'd love to
hear.

Oh, and today is the release in print of "Outlaw in Petticoats"- hence the book signing tonight and tomorrow!