OCCUPY! LYNCHBURG

           The civil protests of the past few weeks, OCCUPY! WALL STREET, has given me pause to reflect on what my contribution should be regarding this national event.
           As a senior citizen, whose town has not initiated an "OCCUPY!" event, I decided to become an activist in my old age and speak out. And, who better to speak to the issue but one of the minorities that not only Wall Street and Corporate America has thrown under the bus, but our own representatives in Congress.
           I decided it was time to put support behind the people who are standing for justice, for equality, for the American dream--which for many citizens has become a nightmare.
           If your community isn't involved  in "OCCUPY!" then it is time to act individually.
           Choose to do the right thing--albeit a small thing--collectively we will be heard.
            Email, phone, write your senators and representatives in Washington and let them know that America is saying, "enough is enough."           
           Their email addresses can be accessed on-line. Phone and office addresses are in the phone book.
           Let's act as bravely as the men who risked treason in framing our Declaration of Independence and honor them and our current heroes "OCCUPYING" small towns and cities across America. LET'S SPEAK OUT!
          

A TIME FOR CARTWHEELS ???

     I just had a conversation with a writer in my critique group regarding our reactions when we received contracts for our debut novels. Apparently, we had under-reacted.

     Culled from her conversations with yet other published writers, we were supposed to do cartwheels, jump up and down or scream--all de rigueur for the newly initiated.

     While cartwheels may be suitable for writers under the age of 30, for us "seniors," even jumping up and down may be a bit too much on the physical side. That leaves screaming as our last option.

     My initial reaction, a scream, was more the type you see in cartoons, "EEEK!" Then I lapsed into the surreal realization  this had really happened to me.--sans cartwheels.

MY MUSINGS ON THE HAMPTON ROADS WRITERS' CONFERENCE

        Congrats! to the organizers of the Hampton Roads Writers' Conference I attended this past week in Virginia Beach, Va.  The HRW surely must be  filled with magicians as everything was done with what appeared to me (an attendee) as sleight-of- hand precision.
       The daily keynote speakers, NY Times Best Selling Author, Michael Palmer,  and Agent Marisa Corvisiero, respectively, were outstanding.
       Chuck Sambuchino of Writers' Digest Books and editor of the Guide to  Literary Agents gave us guidance and suggestions in a "pitch" session that went beyond cursory.
       The one-on-one pitch sessions, the 15 minute manuscript evaluation, the 10- line reading of your work and the one page reading evaluated and commented on by the prestigious panel was enlightening.
       I came away from the conference with a surreal feeling of confidence as each agent and author found my work--in the words of Michael Palmer--"quality writing."
      I made lots of new writing friends in the Hampton Roads area and have already been contacted by some of them who want to keep in touch. 
     This is one conference that will definitely be pencilled in on my calendar for next year.