David H...and getting out of Dodge

American Idol
You know, I thought it was a possibility that David H would go, but I really thought it would be Kristy. Elementary Girl cried for the third straight week (Thankfully, she doesn't know about the controversy surrounding him.) Anyway, I'd forgotten about The Tears. The name Will Makar (season 5) still coaxes a sniffle from now-Teen Daughter. Okay, so maybe that's an exaggeration, but back then that elimination brought out buckets full of watery tears, and I'll never forget it (We'll never let her forget it, either. Lol)

Question of the day: What did you think about Kristy's rendition of Eight Days a Week? I thought it was too fast, but kind of funky. I didn't hate it, yet knew everybody else would. I'm weird that way. So do you agree with the judges--or with me?

***

I'm headed up to Mt. Hermon tomorrow for a nearly week-long writer's conference. Redwoods, lush sage hills, crazy writers makin' up stories in the Central Lounge after midnight...ahh, can't wait. Many moons ago, Mt. Hermon didn't even have cell phone access. Now, they've got wi-fi, which means I can post all the dirt amiable stories about some of your favorite authors ;), right from the conference grounds.

Onward ho!

Writer of the Year...

went to my good (end cap) buddy, Sharon Hinck! Tonight was awards and autographs at Mt. H and Sharon won the top prize--how cool is that? Congrats, my friend! You deserve it.

After the final night's session, we headed over to the dining hall for a booksigning and brownies, the perfect atmosphere for buying Chocolate Beach, lol. A few actually did too :)

Tomorrow: closing workshops and session followed by lunch. Then home again, home again (jiggity jig!) Just in time for this week's Idol performances...

Until then--peace!

Hello from Mt. Hermon!

It's like I've gone from one great family gathering to another. My brother Mikey and his beautiful bride, Rita, were happily married last night, so this a.m. I headed to the Santa Cruz area to catch up with the Mt. Hermon writer's conference. Got here about 10:30, after way too much coffee, and immediately caught up with writing-buds Sharon Hinck and Camy Tang and Patti Hill.

I've been attending this conference for years, usually fretting through the whole thing hoping not to have spinach stuck in my teeth while pitching an idea to an editor. Thank God for the friends God has brought me along the way. Like Erica Faraone who I haven't seen in ten years but who I've email prayed with many times (she sang beautifully tonight, btw). And Barbara Curtis, who I've admired ever since my first conference when I found out that the mother of 12 sells hundreds of articles a year (she's blogging tonight too, btw). Then there's Kathryn Cushman, a new Bethany House author and friend who lives just a half hour from me, and who saved me from the effects of too much onions for lunch with a Listerine tab (thanks, Katie!) Also got re-aqcuainted with Jenn Doucette. Haven't read her work yet, but I hear that her books are funny. After having dinner with her tonight, I so get that. And did I mention that Becky Miller and I yakked by the side of the road for nearly an hour tonight?

Learned a few things about writing too, but I'm too pooped at the moment to remember exactly what. I'll make notes next time and get back to ya...:-)

Tomorrow's Palm Sunday--God Bless!