Reconnecting with Friend & Colleague Clara Gillow Clark

This morning I reconnected with children's author, Clara Gillow Clark on Facebook and discovered her web site and blog as well.  I met Clara when we taught workshops at the Highlights/Glens Falls School District multigenerational conference at Lake George, NY.  I participated in four or five of these conferences before they were discontinued.  Clara was there as well.

I particularly related to Clara because she began writing stories based on her family history, something that has fascinated me since I've found many interesting ancestors in my family, too.  Annie's Choice was Clara's first book and somewhat reminded me of my mom's story and a short story I'd written in 8th grade (a copy of which I still have).

Then Clara followed these with Nellie Bishop  and Willie and the Rattlesnake King, all of which I have in my library.  Now I've discovered Clara has written Hill Hawk Hattie, Hattie On Her Way and Secrets of Greymoor.  I must read these, too.

Mary Emma Allen's Children's Anthology Reviewed

It's so exciting when an author discovers a glowing review to a book, a review they hadn't known about. This morning, while searching the Internet for other material, I discovered the review of my children's anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery at BookReview.com.

The reviewer seemed to grasp what I was trying to accomplish with my book and "hit the nail on its head:"

The stories are from the heart and home, reflecting an understanding of children and childhood in a way that reaches out to children and lets them feel connected to the stories.

I also discovered that the book is available on Amazon. A friend said she'd carry it on her site, too.

Writers Build Upon Their Published Books

Writers are taught to "get the most mileage from the material they research and write. When we write a book, can we write others in the same vein or related to it? You'll even find this in the children's book writing field.

When I discovered the children's story book, The Quiltmaker's Gift, I didn't realize there were related books with quilt patterns and suggestions. In researching an answer for a reader's question about this book, I discovered more and wrote about them in Follow-up Books for the Quiltmaker's Gift.

You may want to check out these books:
The Quiltmaker's Gift
Quilts From the Quiltmaker's Gift
More Quilts From the Quiltmaker's Gift

How can you expand upon the books you write, whether they're for children or adults, fiction or non-fiction. Put on your thinking cap!

Mary Emma Allen Published in Eternally Yours Anthology

Potpourri writer, Mary Emma Allen has stories featured in the new release, Eternally Yours, an anthology of poetry, light essays, devotions and meditations, edited by Mary Ellen Grisham and published by Xulon Press.

Featuring some of the best Christian writers on the Internet, this book represents work that has appeared in the Eternal Ink E-zine since it’s inception in 1999.

In addition, Mary gives presentations and teaches workshops at schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, and for other groups. Some of her talks include topics such as Alzheimer's and caregiving, quilt history and quiltmaking, New Hampshire history, and writing.

I was pleased when Ms. Grisham selected some of my stories for inclusion in this anthology. It's exciting to encourage and inspire others with my writing.

Achieve Your Dreams - Judi Moreo's Virtual Book Tour '08

Repeat this passage: "Every step I take brings me closer to the realization of my dreams” until you understand its powerful message. (from Judi Moreo's You Are More Than Enough Achievement Journal)

Writing this Achieve Your Dreams post for Judi Moreo's Virtual Book Tour '08 seems to fall right in line with previous posts on my blogs the past week or so:

* Writing & Blogging Goals for 2008, here on Potpourri of Writing for The Blog Writing Project: 78 Blogging Goals for 2008, at Daily Blog Tips.

*Goals for my children's writing, Specific Children's Book Writing Goals for 2008, published on Tales of a Children's Author.

* I've also posted something on my Home Biz Notes blog,suggesting you Enjoy the Journey as you pursue your dreams.

So what are my dreams for the coming year?

*I still want my castle where I can write in the tower and have secret rooms to discover with the grandchildren.
*I want to do more speaking to Alzheimer's caregivers.
*Teaching workshops and sharing my stories with children comes in there, too.

How do we go about achieving our dreams?

*Focusing
*Doing instead of simply dreaming
*Believing (Repeating: "Every step I take brings me closer to the realization of my dreams.")
*Setting a plan of action
*Get input whenever we feel we're going off track.

Then: GO FOR IT!

Judi's Tour Page: http://www.virtualbooktoursforauthors.blogspot.com/

(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen