Smart Girls Read #Romance

What does The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel have to do with my granddaughter? Learn about "word pictures" on today's Smart Girls Read Romance blog post.

Link HERE.

Puyallup Herald Article

Here's a photo of the talented members of my Puyallup, Washington, writing group. Reporter Allison Needles of The Puyallup Herald interviewed us at Starbucks - our regular meeting place. The article highlights our upcoming book signing on Saturday, November 12, as part of the Enumclaw Wine Walk. 

Here's the link to the complete article: Puyallup Herald article

Writing Retreat at Buck Creek - #SaturdaySnapshots

Have you ever been completely off the grid? Recently, I spent several days at Buck Creek with my Puyallup, Washington, writing group. We had an amazing weekend with no cell phone coverage, no internet access, delicious meals, hiking, and lots and lots of talking and writing in a comfortable lodge in the middle of the woods.

[Click on photos to enlarge.]

Our group came to Buck Creek to write, but we also wanted to enjoy the area's natural beauty. When we asked the facility's management for advice on walks or hikes, they recommended a nearby trail. Here's where we walked. 

        

Although our hike ended up being longer than we'd anticipated, and at one point, we thought we might be lost, we talked to a couple of other hikers and found our way. Now we have an entertaining story to tell about our trek through the woods.

This facility has been around for many years as a religious camp. Originally called Berachah at Buck Creek, it has recently been purchased by a different organization and is now named Black Diamond Camp at Rainier. [LINK]


Creekside Cabin (where we were housed) can accommodate up to twenty people, and each of us had our own bedroom.

The new owners have upgraded the facilities with new bunks and comfy mattresses. They have even more improvements in the works. 

 

The attentive staff took care of us very well. Retreat Coordinator Katy (black shirt) and chef Amanda, along with A.J. and Josh, served sumptuous meals, answered our questions, and made sure our retreat was everything we'd hoped for. If you ever need a facility for a family reunion or other gathering, I highly recommend Black Diamond Camp at Rainier. This would be a great place to stay if you're a skier because it's close to the Crystal Mountain ski area.

Here we are! 

Left to right:

Kathy Guimond - Has completed one novel (a historical family saga) and is working on its sequel. 

Sandra Nachlinger (me!)- Author of two romance novels. (Links to my two novels are shown above.)

Kelly Marshall - Author of two murder mysteries (with another one in the works), one post-apocalyptic novel, one sweet romance. [Website link]

Pam Johnson - Co-Author of The Jelly Jar Project, a book of money saving tips. Contributor to God Answers Prayers: Military Edition anthology. [Amazon Link]

FYI: I wrote about last summer's retreat at Buck Creek on the Smart Girls Read Romance blog HERE.

Click on the + or - sign to zoom in or out of the map.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

Dialogue - Smart Girls Read Romance

I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today, blogging about how much fun it can be to write dialogue.

Come on over and say "hi!"

Here's the link:
Dialogue, Y'all

The Lie That Tells A Truth - The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings on Friday

   When my husband and I lived in Miami, I attended the Miami International Book Fair every year, and more than once I heard John Dufresne speak. What a great teacher he is! I wish I could have taken his classes at Florida International University. But at least I have a copy (autographed) of his book on writing. 
   Not only do I enjoy Dufresne's laid-back writing style, I appreciate the exercises he includes. At the end of the book is a chapter dealing with grammar, usage, punctuation, and mechanics - the craft of writing. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to write.

Genre: Nonfiction / Writing

Book Length: 298 Pages

Amazon Link: The Lie That Tells A Truth

Author Website: John Dufresne, Author

Book Beginning:

[There's an introduction, but I'm beginning with the first chapter]
Getting in Shape
     You wouldn't be here if you didn't want to write, so let's write. We'll chat later. Get out your pen and paper or fire up the computer. Pour yourself a coffee. Unplug the phone. Once you start, you can't stop. Give yourself a half hour. Relax. Don't think too much. You're starting a journey, and you don't know where you're going. But you do know you're going someplace you haven't been before. Take ten minutes for each exercise. Here we go.

The Friday 56 (from Page 56 in my hardback book):
Remember that our figures of speech, our metaphors, our way of looking at the world all come to some degree from our jobs. What a farmer thinks of the landscape may be different from what a miner thinks, a developer, a factory worker.

Synopsis (from Amazon):
     Finally, a truly creative―and hilarious―guide to creative writing, full of encouragement and sound advice. Provocative and reassuring, nurturing and wise, The Lie That Tells a Truth is essential to writers in general, fiction writers in particular, beginning writers, serious writers, and anyone facing a blank page.
     John Dufresne, teacher and the acclaimed author of Love Warps the Mind a Little and Deep in the Shade of Paradise, demystifies the writing process. Drawing upon the wisdom of literature's great craftsmen, Dufresne's lucid essays and diverse exercises initiate the reader into the tools, processes, and techniques of writing: inventing compelling characters, developing a voice, creating a sense of place, editing your own words. Where do great ideas come from? How do we recognize them? How can language capture them? In his signature comic voice, Dufresne answers these questions and more in chapters such as "Writing Around the Block," "Plottery," and "The Art of Abbreviation." Dufresne demystifies the writing process, showing that while the idea of writing may be overwhelming, the act of writing is simplicity itself.

Want more? Here's a TED talk by John Dufresne.

                

Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56.
Click HERE to connect to other Book Beginnings posts (sponsored by Rose City Reads) 
Click HERE to join other Friday 56 bloggers (sponsored by Freda's Voice)

Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

Facebook: sandy.nachlinger

"Are We There Yet?" - Smart Girls Read Romance

I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today for my once-a-month blog post. This time I'm writing about my self-publishing experience with Bluebonnets for Elly.

Stop by and say "hi." Here's the link:
"Are We There Yet?"

Throw Rocks at Them!

I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today, blogging about "Love Your Characters ... But Not Too Much." What's that? It's all about authors creating problems for their hero and heroine. 

Here's the link: Sandy's March Blog Post

I'd love for you to stop by and leave a comment.

Where Did You Get That Idea?

I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today, blogging about where the idea came from for I.O.U. SEX. Stop by and say "hi."

Here's the link: Smart Girls Read Romance

#Writing Retreat - Smart Girls Read Romance

Check out my once-a-month post at Smart Girls Read Romance. Today's topic is this summer's writing retreat at Mount Rainier National Park... complete with photos.

Here's the link: Writing Retreat

TEXAS ROOTS

I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today with pictures from my recent trip to Grayson County, Texas. Stop by to see the setting for BLUEBONNETS FOR ELLY - cows, cafes, and more.

Here's the link:

Texas Roots by Sandra Nachlinger

Camp Berachah at Buck Creek - Saturday Snapshots

I didn't post last Saturday because I was enjoying a weekend in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest near Mount Rainier National Park. My writing group took advantage of a retreat at Camp Berachah at Buck Creek and had a great time (and did a lot of writing and brainstorming too). I'm ready to escape there again!
[click on photos to enlarge]

I took lots of pictures, but I think this one gives
the best "feel" of the camp's setting.
Tall trees, rustic cabins, peace and quiet.

Here's our cabin. Buck Creek provided soothing
background music and was just a short walk away.

Our rooms were austere but comfortable
enough. We brought our own linens and a few snacks, 
but sumptuous meals were provided by the camp's hosts.

Trails right outside our door led to the
creek -- a great place to sit, enjoy nature,
and brainstorm new plot ideas.

The writing group is comprised of authors who write mysteries, romance, historical family sagas, fantasy, memoir, and more. We all found inspiration during our Buck Creek retreat and came away with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below. 

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate 

for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. 

Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Smart Phones, Writing Research, and Romance

I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today, blogging about my first encounter with a smart phone and research for my work-in-progress. Stop by and say "hi!"

Princess & Smart Phones

Smart Girls Read Romance

Smart Girls Read Romance - And Play Dress-Up!

Just a note to let you know that I've been invited to join the wonderful writers on the Smart Girls Read Romance blog. In my first post (today!) I write about how much fun it is to "dress" characters when writing fiction. 

I hope you'll stop by and say "hi!" Here's the link: Playing Dress-Up

Now on Bloglovin'

I've just signed up for the Bloglovin' group and a post is required to "claim my blog" there. So here it is!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12361871/?claim=nntu39mgefs">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

If you're already a follower of my blog, thank you! If not, why not click on the badge on the right and join in?

Thanks!

Research and Writing

What happens when someone drowns? Do they turn blue? Do they float or sink? How do you go about having a missing person declared dead? Research is an important part of a writer's job, and even romance authors need answers to those kinds of questions! 

To find out more, check out my guest post on Smart Girls Read Romance.
(HERE)

What's Your Excuse?

Christina Cole asks: 

When you should be writing and you’re not, 

what’s your usual excuse?

Here's my answer and I'm sticking to it:
Author Quick Chat