One-Month Countdown

Yesterday started the one-month countdown to the release of Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure. I’m excited about this and I hope you are too. I’m planning to attend several events this summer, including Books in Bloom (in Eureka Springs, Arkansas), the Arkansas Writer’s Conference (in North Little Rock) and the Mississippi Book Festival (in Jackson). Smaller events are also being planned. I’m also taking Bill’s to the northeast when I go on vacation to Connecticut to see Mark Twain’s house, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s house, Noah Webster’s house, and Irving Washington’s house in New York. The touring of the author homes will not be official meet and greets. However, I hope to get inspiration from these wonderful authors. Maybe even convince the gift shop to sell my book. Looking forward to meeting you at each of my official appearances.

My second book, which is not a sequel, continues to move along to its climax. My critique group is wonderful. Their ideas to expand certain scenes will be in the second draft. I also have new things my characters need to do to round them out a little more. Telling their story is great fun. I hope you have a glorious time writing your character’s story as I do mine.

Finally, a couple of Louisiana anniversaries to note. History doesn’t write itself, but here is what man recorded happening on these dates.

• March 20, 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom’s Cabin
• March 21, 1861, Louisiana joins the Confederate States of America
• March 24, 1840, Calcasieu Parish is formed. At the time it was the largest in the state, it was also the least populated
• March 31, 1807, St. John the Baptist parish created. It is one of the original 19 Louisiana parishes.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I’m reading book three of the Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael series, Monk’s Hood. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.