2014 Trip to Monterey, California

I spent the last week of October in Monterey, California, on a business trip and absolutely loved it! But I'm getting ahead of myself...

My Air Canada flight to Calgary for the first leg of the trip was a prop job which was a bit disconcerting as the propeller was in line with the seat in front of me so it was right there every time I looked out my window. I noticed the guy in front of me covered his window after several minutes of flight. What I found fascinating was that the propeller blades seemed to curve and separate in the photos when I couldn't even see them moving in the air.

I took this photo with my iPhone shortly after take-off. At the time, I didn't know what was below until I spent some time on Google Earth later at home, and matched it up with their version:

Buffalo Pound Lake from the air, Oct 2014

Google Earth view of Buffalo Pound Lake, captured 5/6/2014

After changing flights in Calgary, I continued on to San Francisco. The clouds cleared and the day brightened, yet I was unprepared to see other aircraft in the skies above Nevada. The first one shot behind us and I noticed it in the 4 o'clock position heading northwest. And although the next one was at 3 o'clock by the time we passed over its vapor trail, it had me looking out for more of them. It must have been a regular occurrence for no one else seemed to notice, but it sure got me excited.

Aircraft and vapor trail over Nevada passing too close for my comfort,
taken Oct 26, 2014 with an iPhone

We landed at San Franciscso Airport (SFO) where my author friend, Sarah Sundin, picked me up and then along with another friend, we headed out for the 2 hr drive to Monterey. I was there for the Books & Such Literary Management Retreat which was being hosted at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, right on the infamous Cannery Row.

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa spanning Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, Oct 2014

As you can see in the above photo, the hotel spans both sides of Cannery Row and the rooms are cheaper here facing inland, but I didn't travel all that way to look at an urban setting, and had paid a bit more for a room with an ocean view, and am so glad I did because it was worth it!

My Monterey Plaza Hotel room facing Northeast, Oct 2014

The most incredible thing I found while in Monterey is that they leave their doors open all day and into the night, and their windows have no screens, and they don't have any flies! I was blessed to have a room 2 floors above the small hotel beach where the kayaks were kept and my roomie and I left the window open all night so we could hear the sound of the surf pounding the sand as well as the sea otters, sea lions, and bird. And not a single insect entered the room.

And this is where my room was located - so close to the bird population roosting on the old cannery, and where I was staring down at the surf and kayakers and not the plaza where all the people were sitting...

Monterey Plaza Hotel facing east, Oct 2014

Monterey Plaza Hotel w/my room marked

Sunrise, Monterey, CA, Oct 27, 2014

Monterey Plaza Hotel Coffee Shop's outdoor seating, Oct 28, 2014

Sunset, Monterey, CA, Oct 29, 2014

Sea Lions sunning on Coast Guard Pier, Monterey, CA

Surfer practicing near Kayak Launch with big wave coming

Sunrise as I packed for home, Oct 30, 2014

Sunset at Denver Airport, Oct 30, 2014

On takeoff somewhere over the Denver area.

Nelson was waiting for me in Regina where the temperature was just a few degrees above freezing. It was nice to be home, but I can't wait to visit Monterey once more.

Thanks for coming along on this virtual trip. Did any of these pics strike a chord with you?

It Just Got Better and Better

Since my last post, the conference just got better and better. The agent I went to see in the Friday night agent chat is interested in my historical novel, Emma's Outlaw. This is the same story the editor at lunch in my last post is interested in, so I'm very glad I'm taking time to do a recon in Wyoming to lend authenticity to Emma's journey. However, that's tomorrow since I'm still in Colorado.


I didn't have time to blog yesterday on Sat but the conference is over now. I'm sitting in the hotel lobby and want to download these photos before I hit the road in case I don't have internet service tonight.

Friday night after the Harp and Bowl worship session, I joined the Seekers for their nightly get together.

Starting at the back row, left to right: Julie Lessman, Cheryl Wyatt, Audra Harders, Janet Dean, Mary Connealy, Camy Tang, Tina M. Russo and Pam Hillman. Front row: (L to R) Cara Slaughter, Debby Giusti, Ruth Logan Herne, Sandra Leesmith and Missy Tippens. Missing from photo are Myra Johnson and Glynna Kaye

I call these gals the Steeple Hill Knitting Club. They knit everywhere including during workshops. From left to right are Danica Favorite (eHarlequin Steeple Hill board host)and Love Inspired authors Allie Pleiter and Camy Tang.

After the workshops ended on Saturday afternoon, the authors took their places for the book signing. Here are some of the Love Inspired authors. From left to right starting at the front row: Marta Perry (seated), Mary Connealy, Janet Dean, Missy Tippens, Debby Giusti. And the back row left to right: Tina Russo, Glynna Kaye, Seeker pal Lisa Jordan and Sandra Leesmith.

Here's one with me and two special Love Inspired authors: Margaret Daley on the left and Cheryl Wyatt on the right.

After the booksigning, everyone got gussied up for the ACFW banquet. Here are some of the Inkies from the new Inkwell Inspirations blog. By the way - head over there for daily prizes as well as grand opening prizes to be given away at the end of October.

Left to right starting at the back row: D'Ann Mateer, Jennifer AlLee, Debra E Marvin and me, Anita Mae Draper. Front row (L to R) Connie Marquise, Gwen Stewart and Lisa Richardson.

Inky Lisa Richardson was runner up in the Historical Romance category of the 2009 ACFW Genesis contest for unpublished writers.

Here I am with a special friend, Seeker Julie Lessman who won the much deserved Book of the Year award for A Passion Most Pure.

The Awards banquet dessert was this double chocolate layered mousse with edible ACFW sign.

And that's it for the 2009 ACFW conference. I'm shutting down my laptop now and heading north searching for the ruts that show where the pioneers travelled along the Oregon trail.

Good News, Bad News & God News in Denver

This was a bad day-good day for me in Denver. I've been suffering from lack of sleep but actually slept for 4 hrs in a stretch last night. That was good news.

More good news was the Steeple Hill breakfast. I brought Gwen, my critique partner and roomie and we shared an enjoyable buffet with Margaret Daley, Missy Tippins, Cheryl Wyatt, Ginny Aiken, Laurie Kingery, Danica Favorite and Camy Tang. Unfortunately my camera batteries were dead and I didn't get photos. Eeep!

After breakfast, I had a 'God' moment. It started when I realized I didn't feel like attending the morning session I'd signed up for because I would have to leave part way to make my agent appointment. Margaret Daley said she didn't mind if I went in and out of hers since everyone else was going to be going for appts as well.

I needed to run off some papers in the business centre and by the time I finished, the morning sessions had started. I decided I should do some praying before my appt so I headed to the prayer room. But, a funny thing happened when I got there. I 'felt' like I shouldn't be there but should check at the registration desk to see if I was needed.

So, I turned around and headed there. I was about to take the short cut past some classrooms but again, I 'felt' like I should take the long way through the lobby. I did. When I got to the reg'n desk, I told Michelle whom I'd worked with as a volunteer yesterday that I 'felt' like I should check to see if I was needed. Holding a handheld radio, she gave me a funny look and said she had the perfect job for me. I said I'd take it. She spoke in the radio, said she was sending a volunteer down and directed me to the ballroom where all our meals are eaten. As soon as I walked in, a lady at the back started waving her arms. Turns out 3 publishers sent about 1500 books for free distribution and it was decided by the higher-ups to tie a string around them - 2 to a pak. The 2 ladies there were so thankful I'd shown up! Now here's a confirmation that it was a 'God' thing . . . I took the short cut this time and guess what . . . I passed the classroom where Margaret Daley was teaching. So, if I had taken that route instead of going the long way, I would have just stopped in and not gone on to the registration desk. And those ladies wouldn't have had my willing hands for that hour.

For the past year, I've deliberated on whether I need an agent at this stage of my writing journey. I thought I might so I made an agent appt. But today, at the appt, the agent said I wasn't ready for one and to keep in touch. Still, it was a downer.

Lunch followed. It was one of the special ones where an agent, editor or successful author sat at each table and you had a chance to pitch to them. I wandered around unsure where I should sit. I didn't feel compelled to sit anywear. I passed friends. I even sat at one table but got up and left because it didn't 'feel' right. And then as I passed this one editor's table, I decided to sit. When the meal was over, the editor started around the table asking each of us what we were working on. When it was my turn, I handed over my one-sheet for OUTLAW. She actually read the whole thing, smiling in a couple places. When she finished it, she said it was only 70,000 words and they like 90-100,000. I made the stretching motion and said I could make it longer. She grinned and said good. Then she said it was exactly what they were looking for and to contact her after the conference to request their onesheet/guidelines. Not only was this thrilling, but it sure felt like another 'God-thing'. :)

Anyway, I still have one more session tonight before the Harp and Bowl Worship session so I'm closing off now. God is so good.

Denver Update: Thurs

I started working the reg'n desk at 7 am and stayed there most of the day. So many people to greet. It was fantastic putting 3D images to facebook photos.

The highlight of my day was when I finally met Gwen, my critique partner of 2 yrs. :D

We sat for our first large session (540 of us) for supper. Debbie Macomber then gave the keynote address. She's a terrific speaker and yes, I cried when she choked up. Her speech was on her writing journey. It was great! So inspiring.

9 pm saw me at the Steeple Hill chat. Then, I scurried down here to the lobby to post this.

Breakfast tomorrow is with the Steeple Hill authors and on-line friends who go on the www.eharlequin.com Steeple Hill boards.

My agent appt is tomorrow morning at 11:30. Yikes!

Since we must be seated by 7:30 for breakfast, I'm heading up to bed now. More updates when I get the chance.

I'm in Denver, Colorado!

I made it to Denver to attend the ACFW conference.

I'm blogging over at Prairie Chicks Write Romance today and I just uploaded a whole bunch of pictures of my adventure so far.

But in case you don't make it over there, here are a couple more:

Here's a land formation that's possibly broken apart:

There were only a couple hills like this one which looked like it had some kind of formation on top and then it toppled. It may be a small hill, but those are huge, beautifully shaped pieces.

Here's a draw similar to the kind my heroine and her captors will spend the night in so no one can spot their fire:

And that's it for now. Go to http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com if you want to see some more.

Heading to Denver!

It's Monday morning and I'm a-headin' for Denver very shortly.

At this point, I'm not sure of my itinerary because I'm doing recon for my books enroute but one thing I can tell ya ... I'm headin' south!

Perfecting timing, too because the plumber just walked in. He's going to get that leak fixed that caused all the trouble in the living room. (See earlier blogs if you dare, ha!)

Okay, this is my last act before I close up my Mini and pack it up.

I'll be reporting live from Stateside tonight...