"I've Got Company!" The Summer Guest Blog Series

Just a quick note to tell you that I'm lining up guests to visit my blog on Fridays from August 5th to 26th.
I'm calling these guest blogs: "I've Got Company!" The Summer Guest Blog Series

I promise to introduce you to some interesting people who are in some way connected to writing and the book biz.

I'm keeping the names of my guests a secret for now, but stayed tuned, I'll be posting the calendar very soon.

I hope you drop by every Friday in August, cuz I'll be having company and I'd love for you to be there, too!

Another step in the editing of Deathly Quiet

Line edits done and now Deathly Quiet is on its way to be formatted. Thanks to Christine Speakman and Ellee Braun, both wonderful MuseItUp editors, who helped me take my gothic-style, dark piece of fiction to another level.

When I joined the online writing group at Kelley Armstrong's website, I never knew just how much I'd learn there. Honestly, I was nervous when I offered up my first monthly piece for critiquing but I'm happy I overcame my anxiety to participate because it was the beginning of an invaluable experience.

Thanks to other writers reading and critiquing my pieces it was less of a shock when Christine and Ellee began editing my work. Although, the process was different - with comment bubbles and tracking notes - having seen my work "red-penned" by OWG members,I felt more confident in my communications with my editors. It made the process easier for this "newbie".

Every day I learn something new in this business of telling stories. I'm happy to absorb all I can to better hone my skills. As a singer, I vocalize and interpret new songs to stretch those musical muscles, as a writer, I read and write, and read some more.

The next book I plan to read is entitled "Sin and Syntax" by Constance Hale. Ellee suggested it. I'll be sure to pick it up on my next visit to Chapters.

Update on Deathly Quiet edits....

Well, I survived the weekend in North Hatley. We tweaked the show, worked in our new cast member (who is perfect in the role of Fifi) and I now have the French script by my bedside table. I'll be going over it every night until we perform in New York City in October!

Right after I got back from the Piggery, I began my first round of edits for Deathly Quiet, my short-story being published November 1st 2011 with MuseItUp.

My content editor is Christine I. Speakman and she's wonderful! With her guidance, she's helping me take Moira's story to another level. I couldn't be more pleased! Every comment she made, every suggestion she offered and every bit of advice she shared was right on the money. Applying the edits was a wonderful exercise that had me revisiting my research notes and referring to online sources to ensure all the details were correct for the time period. I'm loving how things are going!

After this next round, the story is sent to the Line editor. I have yet to meet her but I'm looking forward to working with her as well.

I wonder which artist MuseItUp will assign to design the cover art? I guess I'll know soon enough.

Right now, I'm in the mood for a little paranormal romance, so I'm be dusting off a file on my laptop entitled "The Guardian of Secrets". I've just submitted the first chapter to my online writing group. I'm looking forward to their critiques, they're always so helpful and a great way to kick-start my muse!

Hopefully, I'll have a novel-length story ready to submit in September!

The Piggery Theatre Weekend

Yes, me and the rest of the cast of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical", along with our director, musical director and choreographer are heading out to The Piggery Theatre in the picturesque town of North Hatley, one of the jewels of the Eastern Townships, to revisit the show and work in a new cast member.

Three full days dedicated to script, score, dance moves and a new set concept, tailored for our presentation of "Ma Femme, Ma Blonde et Ma Roulotte" the French version of this funny musical, at NYMF - the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

I'm so looking forward to this workshop/retreat. What a great way to spend a holiday weekend. Lots of creativity and lots of fun. The only thing missing will be my family - who would totally love this kind of thing - then again, I'll be too busy to "vacation" with them anyway. So, I'll leave them to enjoy the many Canada Day celebrations happening where we live on the South Shore of Montreal.

That said, tomorrow I'll crawl back into Jeannie Garstecki's skin and have some fun with the trailer "trash" from Stark, Florida as we get ready for the big trip to the city that never sleeps - New York, New York!!

Great Indie Summer Read Giveaway!

I don't know about you, but I'm already out of books to read and we're only June 25th!!

While I'm waiting for Kelley Armstrong's SPELLBOUND to come out August 2nd (here in Canada) I thought I'd round up some books to fill up all that down time I'm planning for the next couple of months (yeah right - my daughters already have their social calendars filled for the summer and I'm doing all the chauffeuring!:) but I'll squeeze in some reading!!)

Because my obsession with books can be costly, one of the ways I plan to do this is by entering contests. Here's one that's exciting.

The Indie Summer Giveaway is on at Coffeemugged

There are over 100 books up for grabs over the next month.

Yes, 100!

If you like to read - head over and enter!

Now that I've passed on the info, time for me to get some editing done on my own stories!

The End is Near....

No, not "The End", the end of the school year!

On June 23rd, my youngest daughter Megan graduates from elementary school. She's thrilled about it because she's so ready to move on to high school (aka Middle School) I am too, both for her and for me. Because when Megan graduates, so do I.

After ten years of volunteering with the PPO (Parents' Participation organization), the end of my time at Terry Fox School is done. Our team will be serving up a Hot Dog lunch that day and it'll be the last time I stuff a bun in that kitchen!

There's a part of me that feels like I accomplished something that makes me proud and happy - having taken an active part in helping my children's elementary school.

Then, there's a part of me that feels sad. I'll miss all the wonderful friends I've made and students I interacted with while being involved in fundraising, school trips, concerts, musicals, plays, sharing Turkey Dinners with the whole school at Christmas, Lunches with Santa, monthly dances, and one of my favourite activities - directing the school choir. I only did that for a few years but what fun we had - especially when we visited the seniors' residences AND when we recorded a CD in a professional studio. All the kids in the graduating class this year were part of that choir. Actually, when I think about it, they were in Kindergarten when they joined. Wow...

Speaking of Graduates, once again this year I have the pleasure of preparing them to sing a few songs for the Grad. Here are the songs they'll be singing:

"Here's to the Future" - from a musical we did several years ago called "Dig It"

"Today I'm Gonna Try and Change the World" - a simple yet powerful song written by Johnny Reid.

And last but not least, and maybe even a tad surprising is "Firework" by Katy Perry - with choreography - oh, yeah! A positive and empowering song about letting one's individuality and talents shine.

Those kids are going to knock their parents' socks off! :)

I've gained so much from being part of my three daughters' journey through elementary school - experience, knowledge, friendship - are but three things that come to mind, yet there's so much more. The memories shared are priceless. I'm so happy that I stuck with it.

People ask what I'll be doing with all my "free" time. Does a mom (or dad) really ever have free time?? I think to myself and smile.

I simply answer, "I'm going to write."

Thanks for the memories Terry Fox School and community. It's been a blast!

My daughter Emily Murphy - published.

What a proud and emotional moment to be handed a copy of PROJECT CLOVE - Centennial Regional High School Anthology, a book that is so much more than just a book. It's an emotional out-pouring of thoughts and ideas, memories and truths from teens aged 13 - 18 who are reaching out with their words in the hopes of changing lives.

Emily's "I Can't Put a Title to This" is a piece of Slam Poetry that describes a friendship from it's hopeful start to it's startling end and is part of the collection.

The Anthology is a testament that young people really do care about the world, about their families and about their place in this every-changing universe. The world may be evolving in a way that sometimes feels like we can't keep up, especially with technology and the demands of our fragile world, but this collection reminds us that our children, however intelligent and independant, still need guidance, understanding, positive role models and most importantly, love and acceptance.

The anthology was made possible by Youth Fusion Jeunesse in association with Centennial High School and Concordia University.

The book launch is tomorrow night and I most certainly will be there!

Congratulations Emily, I'm very proud of you.