Wreader Fun

I went to Dallas, Texas in Sept and although I didn't see much of the city itself, I really enjoyed my trip to the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference. I'm posting a day-by-day diary of my trip over on my writing blog and so far, have posted these days: - Going to Dallas : Travelling from Regina to Dallas and my first impressions - ACFW Dallas Wed : Meeting author friends and venturing away from the hotel The following photos are different from the ones over on my Woven Under Western Skies writing blog , but if you want to see pics of the conference itself and my author friends, you should check it out. Dawn breaks at 6:22 am Sep 19th, 2012 at the DFW airport in Dallas, TX.   Looking toward Dallas from my 8th floor room in the DFW Hyatt Regency.   Using the 700mm zoom on my Nikon Coolpix P500 camera, brings the Dallas skyline closer.   Anita Mae Draper standing in front of the Love & War in Texas restaurant in Grapevine, Texas, Sept 21, ...

I'm blogging about my recent research trip at the Inkwell today under the title, Research Trip: Trails of 1885 Part 1 . Here's a hint about my trip: And if you're a member of the Draper and/or Nelson families, you may be interested in my Author Memories post 100 Year Old Postcards where I show one postcard addressed to Noah Draper and 2 to Ethel Isabell Nelson, all in chronological order so you see what they're doing before they marry. I also discuss how I'm using this information for genealological purposes.

Last week I was in St Louis, Missouri at the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. As usual, the conference ended on Sunday morning with a worship session which included the ACFW choir. Rachael Phillips, the 2011 ACFW Choir Director said, "They are a wonderful, gifted group, and I love working with them. I send them music and mp3 files beforehand, which they rehearse on their own, and in four/five crazy conference practices wedged in between classes and appointments, these singers from all over the country blend their diverse talents and spirits into a single voice of praise. SO proud of them!" So there I was in the back corner of the room with my little Lumix camera. Because I was so far away, the faces in the choir are barely discernable. And the video is shaky since I didn't have a tripod. However, the music is a beautiful outpouring of the spirit. I hope you can look past the inadequacies - perhaps just close your eyes - and receive the blessing of the...

So after being in my cave for most of the summer - not counting the 2 wks I took off for travel - I finally finished my new manuscript. A day later, Nelson came back from the city with this beautiful bouquet and said it was for completing my book. The new novel is set in 1888 in the North-WestTerritories of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan (now the Province of Saskatchewan) and my hero is a North West Mounted Police corporal. I really enjoyed writing this story. There'll be more info posted on my new website on my research and books pages as well as my Woven Under Western Skies blog.

I've created a website for my writing career which has necessitated the need to split this blog into two: one for writing and one for family. This blog is now incorporated into the new website. (I'm working on the tabs to convert weebly to blogger.) To celebrate my new website and re-defined blogs, I'm giving away a prize package. The rules are listed at the top of the right column of this blog. Where it says, 'this site' that means my whole new website . Check my WELCOME PRIZE GIVEAWAY post for a photo of the prize and a list of contents. Hope you enjoy your visit. :)

JJ and I drove to Fort Walsh National Historic Site in the Cypress Hills on the Saskachewan side of the border shared with Alberta. Our visit was two fold: research for my Mountie story, and to see if I could find a Mountie to use for promotional purposes with my story. The Cypress Hills are the highest land elevation east of the Rocky Mountains. (I can't remember at the moment if the Laurentians in Quebec are higher.) Fort Walsh was part of the Old Forts Trail which ran from Fort Benton, Montana up to Edmonton, Alberta and other places. To get to Fort Walsh, we had to go down this hill, across the valley, and up a steep, winding road. This road with hairpin turns is so steep, you're advised to unhook your trailer/camper and leave it in a designated parking area for that purpose. Once you get to the top of the hills, you cross the wide plateau you see at the top of this photo. After several kilometres, you find the visitor's centre with the actual fort down...