2022: OWFI Conference

Posted on May 1, 2022 by peggylchambers

Last week was Enid Author Fest and this week is the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. conference. It’s conference time!

It seems like years (it has been) since we’ve been able to get together. The pandemic cut a notch out of our get-to-gathers for the last few years and I’m happy to be able to attend again. Virtual conferences just aren’t the same.

If you’re interested in joining us check out 2022 Registration — Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) and see what the excitement is about. There will be speakers from all over the country along with banquets and awards ceremonies. Old friends will get to see each other again and new friendships will be made.

I remember my first conference; I only went for the Saturday sessions. I drove down early and then home after the final speaker of the day. I had no idea how much I missed. But I was ready the next year. Now we drive to Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon and home after breakfast on Sunday morning. We attend both of the banquets and sit in on as many sessions as possible. I don’t want to miss a minute.

And this year there will be smaller celebrations taking place in a room designated for that purpose. The Enid Writers Club will celebrate their 100th anniversary (next January) with cake. Come by and join us. The Oklahoma Romance Writers will have an awards celebration also. There will be many things for many writers.

The conference always brings in editors, publishers, and agents who are available by appointment so the writers can pitch their work to them. I have gotten to know all my publishers at this conference, and I am happy to say those relationships have worked out beautifully. There will also be book sales by the author and a silent auction going on throughout the hotel.

Come check us out Friday and Saturday at the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City on Meridian Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Will Rogers Airport – Guest Reservations (close to Will Rogers airport).

What are you reading this week?

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2022: Author Fest!

Posted on April 24, 2022 by peggylchambers

It’s Author Fest time!

Each year for the past five or so, the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County has hosted an author fest. I’ve loved being a part of this group from the beginning and each year the library produces innovative ideas. You can interact with authors of all types, and you can always purchase a book from your favorite author.

It is National Poetry Month, and the library combined a love of poetry with all things literary. Many people donated an original poem to be combined into an anthology and available sometime after the festival. There was a typewriter (yes, a real typewriter) on sight and poetry on the fly was created just for you. I got one. It was great.

I met old friends and made some new ones. There were authors from all over the state at the festival and it was a wonderful time to catch up with friends from the past. I also met a lot of new people.

I always look forward to the Enid Author Fest and will continue to attend. I handed out a lot of fliers about the Enid Writers Club. There seemed to be a lot of interest from people of all occupations who would love to learn to write better. It is the 100th anniversary of our local club in January 2023 and we are starting the celebration early.

Literature speaks to all people as was evidenced by the wide variety of participants. Enid had several things to do yesterday with a barbeque cookoff and home show, but lots of readers came to the library also. We’ll do it again next year. Thank you Enid Public Library for your support.

What are you reading this week?

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2022: Easter!

Posted on April 17, 2022 by peggylchambers

Happy Easter!

Easter is time of renewal for spring and a holiday for Christians. Other religions also celebrate near the same time.

My Easter Lilies are up about three inches and will not bloom until summer. They don’t have a calendar, I guess. But the yard is greening up. If we weren’t in such a drought, it would do better. It is still cool but in Oklahoma that will come to a blazing halt very quickly.

I talked to my cousin in Texas, and they are having a fish fry—a staple for them at Easter. I heard our dinner might include lamb chops. But that’s not set in stone. I’m not cooking, other than the Deviled Eggs I’ll bring. We’ve been invited to our daughter’s house for dinner. I’m looking forward to seeing family and that is the main reason for being there.

Easter is the beginning of spring and warm weather. It is a time of renewal and plans to do things differently than last year. I’ll have a better lawn and I’ll get more exercise—maybe. I always make plans at New Years and Easter and other beginnings. There’s that unfinished novel or two that I need to get back to work on.

Whatever your plans for Easter and the beginning of warmer weather, I hope your plans include friends and family. Whether you are religious or not, and whether your celebration includes bunnies or crosses, have a good celebration and enjoy the season.

What are you reading this week?

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2022: Enid Author Fest

Posted on April 10, 2022 by peggylchambers

The Public Library of Enid and Garfield County is having the Enid Author Fest Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 1-5 pm.  Like a lot of things, it’s been two years since the last one and I’m looking forward to connecting with my fellow authors once again. 

According to Margo Holmes, Adult Programs and Development Coordinator:

Local author festivals provide an opportunity for authors to showcase their work while developing connections in the area, and the public learns about authors publishing right here in their neighborhood. Attendees can meet some of the top writing talents in the region, sample their work, and even take home an autographed book. 

Since our festival takes place in April this year and April is National Poetry Month we would like to incorporate a poetry contest that will take place all month, with winners announced at the festival. The submitted poetry will be published in a bound book and everyone who submits a poem will receive a free copy of the book. We will offer poetry on the spot, where poets with manual typewriters will create a custom poem for festivalgoers.

Come to the festival and check out the authors, get some personal poetry made just for you, and make connections with Oklahoma authors.  Come by my table and say “hi.” We’d love to see you.

What are you reading this week? Come pick up a new book at the Enid Author Fest in downtown Enid April 23, 2022, from 1-5.

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2022: Return to the Garden

Posted on April 3, 2022 by peggylchambers

It’s spring! I know because I worked on the lawn yesterday. Not really the lawn, but pots around the lawn. I made my maiden voyage to the greenhouse and spent the first of many fortunes. Like everything else, the prices have gone up. I filled some empty containers and wished them well. I hope we don’t have another freeze.

            I know it is spring when I can clean off the patio, set up the patio table, and put out Toucan Harry, the ceramic bird my mother brought back from Mexico many years ago. He graces my patio with hopes of great summer nights.

            Years ago, I rescued two galvanized trash cans destined for the dump and put flowers in them. I had visions of containers overflowing with wildflowers. I bought a large packet of seeds. They came up struggling and never progressed much further. I took care of them instead of leaving them in a meadow to fend for themselves. But in the mix of seeds the next year arrived Four O’clocks. I had to take pictures and ask what they were. They smelled wonderful. But they too didn’t fill the container as I had imagined. So, this year I planted Petunias around the emerging Four O’clocks. Maybe I can yet fill the containers as I imagined.

            I’ve cleaned out the herb garden and I see sprouts of various plants. The basil always takes over and has to be pulled so it won’t overshadow everything else. I got rid of a few weeds in the front flower garden and put Geraniums in the flowerpots that grace each side of the front door. We are planning some sod to fill in some holes that have developed in the grass. My husband just endured a second rotator cuff surgery and is not happy about being helpless in the garden for the growing season, but we will persevere.

            In between bouts in the garden, I am writing as usual. There’s always a story in my head just itching to get out. Welcome spring!

            What are you reading this week?

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2022: The Writer’s Block – LA Talk Radio

Posted on March 27, 2022 by peggylchambers

                The Writer’s Block, an online radio show affiliated with LA Talk Radio The Writer’s Block | LA Talk Radio, is once again on my horizon Thursday night, March 31, 2022, 8:00 pm CST. I’ve interviewed with these people several times and they’re starting to feel like family. Jim Christina, an author himself, is the radio host and I’ve even gotten to know his wife, Gerry Christina, an avid reader. Bobbie Jean Bell is the co-host, and she always makes you feel welcome.

            We’ll be discussing my latest books, Flatiron Death Grip and Blooming Greed. Two different genres and double the fun.

            I’ve interviewed with others, but this group reads and knows your books before you get there—so they’re prepared with the tough questions! Be on your toes.

            My husband was in radio for many years when we were young, and I have gained great respect for that ability to think on your feet—especially at my age. My brain cells aren’t what they used to be. Get it right the first time, there’s no going back.

            Their format now includes Skype and will not just be live audio but video later and podcast for when you want to go back and listen. We’ll find out if I have a face for radio.

            But the hour-long interview is fun and exhausting. Jim and Bobbie Jean sometimes ask the challenging questions that you hadn’t even thought about, but they never fail to ask, “what do you do about writer’s block?”

            Tune in on Thursday night, March 31, 2022, 8:00 pm CST, to The Writers’ Block The Writer’s Block | LA Talk Radio and listen to the interview. You can call in and ask questions if you like. They’ll give you the phone number. We’d love to hear from you.

            What are you reading this week?

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2022: Blooming Greed and Keystone Lake

Posted on March 20, 2022 by peggylchambers

                In January, my latest Keystone Lake novel, Blooming Greed, was released by The Wild Rose Press. Once again Erin is out solving crimes and some of my favorite characters are on the case. This time her neighbors are disappearing and the lake she’s known all her life is in trouble. The fishing is disappointing and lake levels are so high that prime lake front properties are flooded. Boating your favorite spots can be dangerous due to debris in the water.

            With the flooding of prime real estate, people are leaving after selling their weekend homes at rock bottom prices and property owners are beginning to notice. Could this be due to a family Erin has known all her life?

Erin Shipley grew up on Keystone Lake before moving to Tulsa and becoming an associate attorney. Now, she’s back, representing a client who is concerned about the flooding and property values around the lake. Properties underwater are being bought and sold for pennies on the dollar by someone called T & H Realty. When her friend’s uncle, Jeff, dies mysteriously on the lake, Erin wonders if it has anything to do with the real estate scam and launches an investigation. The dam is old and zebra mussels are clogging it, not allowing enough water to flow out. If the dam breaks, it will flood downtown Tulsa and areas around it. But that’s not the only danger…whoever killed Jeff isn’t finished with their diabolical plan, and Erin and those she loves are at risk from more than just a dam break.

            Check out Blooming Greed and see what’s happening on Keystone Lake to Erin and her friends.

What are you reading this week?

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2022: Flatiron Death Grip

Posted on March 13, 2022 by peggylchambers

Last fall my novel, Flatiron Death Grip was released by Airship 27 Productions. This novel has been on my mind for years culminating from four short stories gathered together into one novel with one goal for all the characters. I can say that was more difficult than I initially thought. But it was worth it, and it was fun!

Airship 27 pairs their authors with two artists: one for a cover and one for the inside illustrations. This gave me the opportunity to meet and work with two new and extremely talented people. It is so satisfying to see how someone else sees your art when they illustrate it using their art.

And then something even more exciting happened: Gabriella Saenz, the artist who illustrated the inside of the book, wanted to adapt it to a graphic novel. What?!? I’d written one, short, comic book. Writing novels are a world away from writing the script for a graphic novel and I was about to learn like I was drinking from a firehose. Yes, I wanted to do this. And we are.

I’m almost finished with the initial draft of the script. I don’t know what will need to be changed, but I can’t wait to see the final product. Gabs is fearless and talented and never had a question about whether we could do this. I, had to prove to myself it was possible. We are going to accomplish this project and I can’t wait to show it to you.

Here’s the blurb of the story. While you wait for the graphic novel, you can pick up a copy of the novel on Amazon.

Teasy patrolled the streets at night wearing her lime green F. U. tee shirt from Flatiron University where she wished she could have attended. Like so many people in her neighborhood she’s tired of the criminals like the Gray Wolf gang who’d taken over. Gangs had killed her family and friends and she wanted her neighborhood back. She had the tools to put an end to the criminal activity, but the air pollution in the city was getting worse by the minute. And Teasy and her new gang may have found an answer to that.

The Civil Rights Act had once more been amended, and now included all life forms: humans, werewolves, vampires, and the most hideous, zombies. And suddenly the world was full of them. But could they save the world before everyone choked to death on the pollution?

A fun romp through a world where fantasy becomes reality and the answer to the world’s problems could be sitting in an abandoned subway tunnel just waiting to be discovered.

                What are you reading this week?

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2022: Writing Great Descriptions

Posted on March 6, 2022 by peggylchambers

Stories don’t work without descriptions—the reader needs to experience what the character experiences.

The best way to write a great description is to close your eyes and envision the scene—lay out the scene in your mind before you write it

DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR CHARACTERS WOULD NOTICE—writing is an account of how people think—so be sure to think for your character

Use all the senses—seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing, and smelling

            He saw the trees as he walked down the street – colors, swaying in the breeze etc.

            He felt the rough bark on the tree or the cool shade of its branches

            He tasted the apple from the tree

            He heard the birds in the tree

            He smelled the apple in his hand

  • Have you provided enough details and descriptions so your readers can gain a complete and vivid perception?
  • Have you left out any minor but key details?
  • Have you used words that convey your emotion or perspective?
  • Are there any unnecessary details in your description?
  • Does each paragraph of your essay focus on one aspect of your description?
  • Are your paragraphs ordered in the most effective way?

To be sure it is descriptive ask yourself:

  • Does the story unfold in a way that helps the reader fully appreciate the subject? Do any paragraphs confuse more than describe?
  • Does the word choice and language involve the five senses and convey emotion and meaning?
  • Are there enough details to give the reader a complete picture?
  • Has a connection been made between the description and its meaning to the writer? Will the reader be able to identify with the conclusion?

Do not put all your descriptions into a lump–spread them out into back stories and make descriptions part of the active story

But the most important rules of writing is: “Learn the rules and then break them!” Remember it is your story and it is yours to create.

What are you reading and writing this week?

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2022: Putnam Six Book Signing – Blooming Greed!

Posted on February 27, 2022 by peggylchambers

I had a book signing at our local bookstore, Putnam Six, yesterday to launch the second in the Keystone Lake series, Blooming Greed. Chloe Fuksa and her bookstore are a great asset to our community. She opened her store a few years ago and runs it by herself. She kept things going during the height of the Pandemic by creating a website and selling books to her neighbors who were stuck inside. It is a place for community involvement and several book clubs meet there. Like I said, she is an asset.

The weather is finally warming up and the ice has melted. The sun shone and people ventured out again and who doesn’t need an enjoyable book now and then? A steady flow of book-buyers came and went. I bought one for a neighbor with an upcoming birthday and sold a few of my own.

Blooming Greed is set on Keystone Lake in eastern Oklahoma. It is the second mystery set in that location with the same main character, Erin, who is solving mysteries while growing up. In the first book, Blooming Justice, Erin was in college and helped bring a rapist to justice with the aid of her aunt, a lawyer in Tulsa.

In Blooming Greed, she has become a lawyer herself and is working in her aunt’s firm. This time in her hometown of Mannford, Oklahoma, her neighbors are dying and disappearing, and their properties are underwater. Was it because of the spring rains or was the dam not working as it should? Erin thought there was something preventing the dam from letting out enough water and Tulsa and surrounding communities might be in danger.

Pick up a copy of Blooming Greed and stop by Putnam Six when you’re in Enid. Chloe would love to see you.

What are you reading this week?

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