Authentic Romantic Historical Fiction

Tag: Payson Book Festival

Last week at retreat was fun!

Last week

I went to a writers retreat last week that is sponsored by a group I started thirty-odd years ago. They have it at a huge, gorgeous cabin in the woods in eastern Arizona.

Thirty-seven other brilliant writers were there, all women, all super nice. We always bring snacks to share. The goodies covered an entire counter in the kitchen. Such a multitude of yummies! As always, we had plenty of chocolate to stoke our brains. This year, however, I noticed a trend toward healthy snacks.

One thing that could have affected us badly was a fire burning in the Tonto National Forest southwest of our location. The fire caused a lot of smoke in the air, so several of us stayed indoors to limit our exposure to polluted air. The smoke did create some spectacular sunsets, though, and a pretty odd-looking sun.

Last week's hazy sky and odd sun

The sun last week in Eastern Arizona

Work in Progress

I did a fair amount of research for my work in progress (WIP), which features Mrs. Charity Bingham from the Owen Family Saga novel Trail of Storms. I reorganized what I had previously written, and added several thousand words, as well. This so-far untitled work is a romantic story for the Shenandoah Neighbors line that I hope you’ll love.

I’m excited about continuing work on it, but I’m slightly impeded by a task I need to complete for the Payson Book Festival.

Payson Book Festival

That event is coming up on Saturday, July 20, in the ballroom of the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, on Highway 87 at the south side of Payson, Arizona.

The Book Festival is a family-friendly event that runs from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., featuring 90 authors, a bookstore, the Story Monster, lots of kids’ activities, and presentations and entertainment from featured authors in two side rooms.

Where to find me

I’ll be at Table 45 on the west side of the ballroom. Come visit me and take a look at the books at my table (also in the bookstore). They will be on sale at event prices you don’t want to miss.

See you there!

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Busy Weekend

I’ve been tied up with choir practice for a special church event that takes place twice a year. This weekend, we finished practices and sang.

LDS congregations are geographically based. They are called “wards” or “branches,” depending on the number of members therein. I live within a branch. Several congregations are grouped into an entity called a “stake.” A stake is similar in concept to a Catholic diocese. My stake is the Payson Arizona Stake.

Twice a year, members forego holding the usual weekly worship services and instead, attend “stake conference,” where we have a Saturday evening and a Sunday morning meeting. We listen to talks from our local leaders as well as from visitors from the mission and temple that pertain to us. We are in the Scottsdale Arizona Mission, and the Mesa Arizona Temple district. From time to time, we have visiting authorities from church headquarters in Utah.

A temporary stake choir made up of volunteers sings at each of the general meetings. That’s what I participated in. Our director is an excellent musician, as is our accompanist. It was a real joy for me to sing with all those who joined the choir.

I traveled the 20 miles to Payson on both days. Then today I attended a luncheon in town to thank the volunteers who worked so hard to to bring off the Payson Book Festival. We had a great time.

Left to right: Connie Cockrell, Payson Book Festival Director, and Marie Fasano, Volunteer Coordinator.

Some of the Payson Book Festival volunteers.

More volunteers.

I don’t mind the travel time for such good causes.

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Payson Book Festival

BookFest Ad 061016I’m participating in the Payson Book Festival this Saturday. Come up to the cool pines of Payson, Arizona and bring your kids to this family-friendly event. It’s FREE! Except for food and snacks, and of course, a multitude of books to purchase from nearly 100 authors, in every genre and for every age group, fiction and non fiction alike.

It will be at Gila Community College, 210 N Mud Springs Road(north off Highway 260, opposite the Ranger Station) from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Come and go, or stick around for talks, kids classes, and music.

My novels will be in the Bookstore, and I’ll be in the courtyard at Table 14. See you there!

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