News and Updates:

July 24, 2008: Consider this a July wrap-up/August pre-view. I usually try to post an update in this space at the beginning of each new month, but July snuck up behind me and then darted past. I'm just now catching up.

On June 30th I picked up Luke at DFW (first time to see him since September 26th!), and the next day the two of us plus my nephew crammed ourselves and our luggage into my Mini Cooper for a road trip to the Rocky Mountains. (More about that adventure here.) A few days after our return, George, Jacob, and Luke headed to Florida to visit George's dad, but George landed in the emergency room with an assortment of odd symptoms, apparently resulting from the fact this his post-Africa malaria medicine was actually battling malaria! (He's much better now.)

We have some fun stuff coming up in August, including our niece's wedding on the 9th, which I will be photographing. Look for upcoming samples on the photo page. For more about where I'll be in August and what trouble I'll be getting into, click the schedule link above.

I hope you're all staying cool and enjoying a relaxing summer. See you in September!

June 3: After I assist with VBS next week, I'll escape the Texas heat and travel to Seattle to enjoy ten days with Grace & Curtis in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile,  George is three days into his African adventure with Luke. At the end of the month they'll both return--Luke having completed a nine-month internship with World Venture. After a few weeks to rest and regroup, he'll head for Vancouver, BC, where he's registered to attend seminary at Regent College. That will be quite the change in climate and daily routine!

Things are moving along with Parting the Waters. I've approved a cover (I love it!) and am waiting to approve back-cover copy and proofread galleys. I'll let you know when I have a definite release date! In other news, I still love my camera (see photo page), blogging at The Master's Artist, and leading worship at EPC. There never seems to be a shortage of creative opportunity, and for this I am truly thankful.

May 3: Lots to celebrate this month! Our 29th Anniversary on the 5th, Grace and Curtis arriving on the 9th, Jacob's birthday on the 10th, Mother's Day on the 11th, Curtis' birthday on the 12th, Stuart and Anna's wedding on the 17th, and George's month-long adventure in Cote d'Ivoire beginning on the 31st. Then there are the usual May milestones that touch almost everyone--the end of a school year, graduation, recitals, and the like.

Sounds like a non-stop party to me. If you're in the neighborhood, drop by and join the fun.

April 17: Every spring the wisteria manages to surprise me. All year long I know its vines are snaking their way up through the trees, brown and unobtrusive. I know they're there, and I even remind myself from time to time. But I can't see them. Then one day in early April I wake up and the woods are exploding with lavender fireworks all the way up to the treetops. It takes my breath away.

God is kind of like wisteria sometimes, isn't He?

Wishing you a surprising spring.

March 20, 2008: I'm home, but my thoughts keep returning to Croatia, swirling around the people, places, and ideas I encountered there. For stories and pictures, check out my blog and photo page (links above). I leave again next Wednesday for the annual FDDDS+M (Father, Daughter, Daughter, Daughter, Son + Mom) Ski Trip with my family of origin. Looks like March will be characterized by my absence from Marshall! But it's nice to be home during this holy season of Easter.

He is risen! And we are redeemed! I know of no better news than that.  

February 1, 2008: What an exciting month ahead! I've got one more week of choreography rehearsals with the Marshall High School choir students before their Broadway Musical Revue, which is going to be a fabulous show. (You should come!) After that's over, I'll shift the bulk of my attention to preparations for Croatia. Just last week I found out what my role on the staff will be. Actually, I've been given two specific "jobs": help lead worship, and take pictures. Yes, you read that right. Can you believe it? How fun is that! They might as well have said, "We want you to be the chocolate taste tester. And, if you don't mind, we also need you to test all the pillows for nap-ability." Jobs schmobs! The past few days I've been getting to know the woman in charge of worship, and she's hilarious. So, I guess we'll be laughing a lot. Another one of my favorite things.

I realize this retreat is for the missionaries who will attend, but I sure am liking the ways I've been asked to serve them.

Luke has been in Cote d'Ivoire for four months now experiencing all kinds of adventures, and is still posting once a week to his blog. Grace and Curtis are happily married, settled into Gypsy Cottage, and are launching a new business (in addition to their band, JUBILEE). Jacob is precious, and George is still Prince Charming in a lab coat. Could a girl ask for more?

My next update will be mid-March after I return from Dubrovnik! Meanwhile, have a Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

January 5, 2008: Happy New Year! Ours got off to an interesting start. We were supposed to fly home from Colorado on Dec. 31, but we couldn't get to the Denver airport. I-70 closed due to white-out conditions, ice, 72 mph winds, and avalanche danger. So we hung out in Eagle Vail a couple more days, enduring the torture of a cozy condo and a breathtaking view of winter's wonderland. We finally arrived home Jan. 3, and the past few days I've been busy unpacking, plowing through mail, paying bills, organizing my files, taking down Christmas decorations--basically packing up '07 and making room for '08.

My jubilee is officially over, but the fun promises to go on. I'm about to sign a contract with WinePress Publishing Group to publish Parting the Waters, a development I'm very excited about. Stay tuned for more news on that front. Next week I begin working on choreography for a Broadway musical revue to be staged mid-February, and the first two weeks of March I'll be in Croatia helping staff retreats for 150 missionary women from the area. Check the blog from time to time to hear more.

I hope your new year is off to a glorious start. In the words of Rich Mullins, "Let mercy lead, and let love be the strength in your legs, and in every footprint that you leave, there'll be a drop of grace." Here's to mercy leading and drops of grace in our wake!

December 1, 2007: My house is a twinkling, cinnamon-scented wonderland. I love Christmas. The whole world is having a party, because Jesus was born and we can be set free. Now that's jubilee!

After a busy few weeks of holiday hoo-hah, we'll spend Christmas in Colorado with my parents, siblings, spouses, and kids. I'm so excited that Grace & Curtis are joining us! If Luke could come, too, my joy would be complete. At least there's a happy reason for his absence. Though we'll miss him, we have so much to be thankful for.

O, come let us adore Him! I wish you all the merriest of merries, my friends.

November 2, 2007: Two months of jubilee to go, and with the holiday season upon us, I'm sure I'll find lots of ways to pack them with celebration! Also, in light of turning 50, it seems appropriate that I've launched a major de-cluttering campaign at home. A person can accumulate a lot of junk in five decades--not that I still have my Barbie dolls or high-school homecoming mums--but I do have way too much pointless stuff. Thanks to my friend Jill's willingness to help me get started, I'm making steady progress, working my way through closets, drawers, and cabinets. It's really quite invigorating, once you gain a little momentum. (If anyone's in the market for ancient bathroom accessories or dried up jars of acrylic paints, let me know.) 

For those who'd like to keep up with Luke's African adventures, he's posting to a blog on Mondays.

Exciting writing news coming soon! Have a beautiful, bountiful Thanksgiving, everyone.

October 2, 2007: So! We made it to October. I survived my birthday, and the jubilee continues. The wedding was beautiful! (See the posts for Sept. 20 and 29 on the  photo page.) Grace and Curtis are happily married & settling into their new house. Oh, man. They are beyond adorable. Every time I think of them I smile.

Luke called to let us know he and all his luggage arrived safely in Torogo, Ivory Coast. He'll be living in a room at the dispensary until he's functional in French. Then he'll move into the village and live with an Ivorian man who also works at the dispensary. I can't wait to hear his stories! Meanwhile I'm plunging into a choreography project, mentoring the local MOPS group, and exploring my new role as president of Women in Ministry at our church. I'm also considering taking a rather drastic step in the writing realm. You'll know something when I do. Stay tuned!

September 1, 2007: The monumental month has finally arrived! Before September is over, three members of our family will cross life-changing thresholds, never to be the same. My big day comes first. On the 9th I'll scale the final face of jubilee mountain. In other words, I turn 50. (Of course, the last three months of 2007 are mine, too. It's a jubilee year, remember?) On the 15th Grace and Curtis will stand before God, family, and friends to promise love and faithfulness till death. Then, in honor of the awesome solemnity of their vows, we'll eat yummy food and dance our tootsies off. Four days after that, Luke will get on an airplane in Dallas and head to Cote d'Ivoire, where he'll work as a health intern with World Venture for at least a year. New place. New language (French). New friends. Same Jesus.

Exciting times! Please pray for us as we embark on these various adventures. And I hope you have a splendid September, too.

July 31, 2007: August should be a fun month for the Damoffs. We fly to Seattle on the 6th for JUBILEE's CD Release Party at The Triple Door. Then we'll spend the rest of the week bopping around town, helping Grace and Curtis with remaining wedding plans and enjoying the paradise that is the northwest coast in August. Grace and Curtis will accompany us back to Texas for a Reception/Dinner/Concert/Shower in their honor on the 11th. (They are providing the concert portion of the event. Woo hoo!)

Luke continues to prepare for a September departure to Cote d'Ivoire, Africa, where he will work as a health intern with World Venture for at least a year. Exciting times for our family on a variety of fronts! I'll post pictures, so be sure to stop back by. (Speaking of pictures, check out the photo page for shots from last month's adventures.)

Just Shy of July, 2007: I'm updating a couple of days early because we're about to hit the road. Tomorrow we head to Lufkin for a wedding, then it's off to Colorado for fun, fireworks, and ten refreshing days of cool mountain air. Next comes Ohio and the Damoff Family Reunion, a once-every-two-years gathering of George's Macedonian relations. Dancing, singing, stories, and don't forget the baklava! We'll return to Texas by way of Lexington, where we'll visit the fabulous Samson family. The weather man is predicting a hoedown. 

Lots of miles ahead! Hopefully lots of great memories, too.  Have a wonderful, safe Fourth of July, everyone.

June 1, 2007: "Ah, the lazy days of summer," she says, smacking her toothless gums together as she slowly rocks her chair. "Kinder reminds me of something. Let's see . . . Oh, yes. I remember, now. The lazy days of the rest of the year."

Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration. I still have my teeth. And I'm managing to find a few things to do. Grace and Curtis' wedding plans are coming along. And I've been helping Luke prepare to leave in the fall for his year-long stint in Cote d'Ivoire. And just yesterday I worked my fingers to the bone setting up a facebook page. If you have one, too, let's be friends!

She picks up the newspaper beside her chair, but the fat fly buzzes erratically off before she can swat him. "Oh, well," she mutters, taking a sip of lemonade. "Maybe he'll be back in the next hour or two. I'll just wait." She rocks slowly, listening to the creaking sound of the porch boards beneath her. "Ah. The lazy days of summer. Kinder reminds me of something . . ."

May 4, 2007: I just returned from a week in Seattle helping Grace and Curtis with wedding plans. Wow! What a great time. They are so adorable, I could stare at them all day and never get tired of it. I took 544 pictures over the course of a week. Here's a web album with shots of the lovebirds at Rosario Head where the ceremony will be held. Breathtaking beauty (the people and the place).

Tomorrow is George's and my 28th anniversary. The next day Luke graduates from Wheaton College. He's coming home next week to raise support for a midterm mission to Cote d'Ivoire. Jacob's birthday is May 10th and Curtis' is the 12th. Lots of celebration going on around here. If you're in the neighborhood, come join the party!

April 7, 2007: Fun news! Ten days after I wrote my last update, Curtis Romjue proposed to our daughter, Grace. They plan to be married on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean on September 15. You can read about Curtis' amazing proposal here. Also, in the past month I went skiing in Colorado and attended Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in California. Both trips were delightful. Time with family is precious, and I always enjoy hanging out with editors and other writers. I'm excited about several editors who expressed sincere interest in my writing projects. However, it's always a process, so I'm not holding my breath. I promise you'll be the first to know if any contracts result.

My next big writing project isn't so exciting. It involves a 1040 and Schedules A, B, C, et al. Unfortunately the deadline is looming, so I can't put it off any longer. The coming week will be Adventures in Tax Land. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow is Easter. The Lord is risen! Now that's something to get excited about.

March 8, 2007: Looks like I'm coming to my update a week late. And I'd been doing such a good job of staying on top of it, too. Oh, well . . .

March! (Hut, two, three, four, I left my wife and 49 kids to die of starvation without any gingerbread, did I do right, right, right by my country by golly I had a good job but I left, left, . . .) um, left my sanity somewhere around here. If you see it, please give it a cookie and send it home. Thanks.

Busy times. Full calendar. Deadlines looming. Like this afternoon, for example. I have to make an apple cobbler to take to our friends' house by 6:30. Sure, they're providing the rest of the meal, but still. It's a deadline. Pressure. A little sympathy about now would be appreciated. Or, if you prefer, forget the sympathy, go outside, and watch the world awaken from its winter slumber. I love this time of year. So much promise wrapped up in budding new life. It's spring and jubilee. Who could ask for more than that? (Okay, sure. A bit of that missing sanity would come in handy . . .)

Happy Spring! Party like I would. (And send pictures.)

February 2, 2007: Month two of Jeanne's Jubilee is off to a dandy start. Tonight is opening night for a 50s musical I've spent the past few weeks choreographing. Marshall High School choir students will twist and shout, hop and bop, and sing their way into the hearts of delighted audience members, while I sit back and enjoy the fruit of my (fun) labors. If you live in the area, come!

In other news Relief: A Quarterly Christian Expression will publish selections from Parting the Waters: Finding Beauty in Brokenness in their second edition coming out this month! I'm honored and excited to be counted among the talented and well-credentialed authors appearing in this issue.

Last month George gave me my first Jubilee present: a Nikon D40 camera! And this month he's adding a 18-200 mm lens to the mix. For a glimpse at some of my first photographic efforts, stop by the photo page. And as always, I welcome visits to my blog. When you stop by, leave a comment and let me know what's new with you.

January 1, 2007: Happy New Year! 2007 is the year of my personal Jubilee (i.e., I will turn 50--crazy, eh?), so I think the whole year should be a joyful celebration. We'll be kicking things off in style two days from now when Lisa and Gwynnie Samson come to town to research Lisa's next YA novel. Gwynnie's bringing her violin and dancing shoes--a girl after my own heart! (Hopefully somewhere between the jam sessions, laughing, and cutting the rug, Lisa will get some work done.)

I hope this first day of the year finds you filled with delightful anticipation of God's new mercies and good gifts. We may not know what the year holds, but He does, and He goes before us to prepare our way. Buckle your seatbelts, gang. 2006 is already fading in the rearview mirror. Wheeee . . .

December 3, 2006: Merry Christmas! If you travel, stay safe. If you shop, stay sane. May your days be filled with good food and meaningful conversation shared with people you love. And may the One whose coming we celebrate fill your heart with joyful anticipation. He is coming again!

Peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.

November 15, 2006: Well, the month is half over and I'm finally posting my update. Please don't hate me forever. Thanks.

The big fun news of the month is we're going to Seattle to spend Thanksgiving with Grace, Curtis, and Curtis' family! Lots to be thankful for in that picture. On the writing front, I've tweaked my novel proposal and opening chapters for resubmission to interested parties. I actually enjoy the writing and rewriting process, but I sure am glad we don't count on that income to keep the lights on and pantry stocked. The house remains warm, and the chocolate supply abundant. God is generous.

"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." 

Happy Thanksgiving! May your tongue find countless ways to write His praise.

October 5, 2006: We're back from our various sojournings. Could so much really happen in just one month? George and I had a wonderful time in Europe! I've almost finished chronicling our adventures on my blog (link above). To read it in order, scroll down to the entry titled "Hellooo" and work your way up. I've also chosen 30 pictures out of the hundreds we took and posted them on my photo page (link also above). I'm sure I'll be adding more, so check back.

On September 21st--two days after we flew back to Dallas--I joined some of the coolest people on the planet at the ACFW conference, reconnecting with some of my favorite writer pals. I also got to meet some awesome folks I'd known online for a long time, and we fell into easy conversation as though we'd always been face-to-face friends. It was a delightful, encouraging time.

I would have returned home on the 25th, but on the evening of the 22nd I received the sad news that George's mom had unexpectedly passed away. Sunday morning we flew to Florida to be with family and say good-bye. I've written some reflections about that time here and here.

Now it's time to get back in the writing and editing groove, and I'm eager to plunge in. Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and may He establish the works of our hands. Peace.

August 29, 2006: It's back-to-school time for lots of people, but we're not among them this year. We're playing hooky in a major way. Tomorrow George and I fly to Europe! Check the schedule if you're interested in specifics.

We'll come back with lots of pictures and stories. Meanwhile, enjoy your homework, gang. ;)

July 29, 2006: August may be the hottest month of the year, but I'm glad it's almost here. The first six days we'll bask in the beauty of Grace and Curtis, and the last day of the month will find the gorgeous Giorgio and me floating in a gondola through the canals of Venice. Hot diggidy!

Meanwhile I'm traveling to faraway lands without ever leaving the air-conditioned comfort of my desk chair. Don't you love the Internet? If you happen to be in the 'hood, drop by my blog and say howdy. Hope to see you soon!

June 30, 2006: I'm getting an update jump on July, which means the events on the schedule page won't be half over by the time I've posted it. Though I do try to update this space at least once a month, the real action is in the bloggerhood. And you, even you, can join the cyberfun by clicking here (or frolicking amongst the folks listed in the links, where I've added a few new faves). Also, for the month of July, I plan to post a new picture per day on my photo page--except for days when I'm out of town. So, stop by often and sample the digital goodness.

And in closing, I would be remiss if I didn't wish the lovely and talented Grace a very happy 23rd birthday today. I love you, Gracie!

June 18, 2006: Today is Father's Day, and my heart is full of gratitude. First, I'm thankful for my wise and gentle father and the countless ways he made my childhood safe and delightful. I can't imagine a more loving and supportive dad. Second, I'm thankful for the godly, hard-working, fun father of my children--the man whose love and devotion still amaze me after twenty-seven years of marriage. And finally, I'm thankful for my heavenly Father who never leaves or forsakes me, who takes my brokenness and creates beauty, and who works all things together for good. His mercies are new every morning, and every morning I cast myself upon them.

If your dad (or a dad you love) is close by, hug him. And have a happy summer, everyone! 

May 9, 2006: Tomorrow is Jacob's 25th birthday. We'll have presents, homemade pizza, and death-by-chocolate cake with a giant serving of gratitude (and vanilla ice cream) on the side.  So much to be thankful for. So, so much. May 23rd marks ten years since his accident. If you don't know Jacob's story, click the Publications link and read the first two chapters of Parting the Waters. 

Last Friday George and I celebrated our 27th anniversary with an exotic trip to . . . Well, if you're interested you can read about it here. Luke is home for ten days before returning to Wheaton for the summer, so I'm not trying to get a lot of work done this week. Just basking in his adorableness, marveling over his music, and trying to keep up with him in conversation. If Grace were here, my joy would be complete.

For all my die-hard fans (hi, Mom!), my May doings are posted in the schedule. See you again soon.

April 14, 2006: Two days ago I returned from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. I wrote a bit about that experience on my blog, if you're interested. Now I'm ready to plunge into the work at hand--tweaking A Girl With Wings to send to the editors who requested it, sorting and assimilating the good stuff that was said, and writing thank-you notes to the many people who made the conference a fantastic experience.

Check the schedule for upcoming events. I'd love to see you at one of them.

Have a blessed and beautiful Easter, friends. He is risen!

March 6, 2006: March is in like a . . . kitten? Winter may still have a few frosty tricks up its sleeve, but spring is doing its thing in East Texas. Makes me want to frolic! In a few days I'll be hugging my kids and basking in the beauty that is Seattle. Meanwhile, I'm editing my novel and critiquing a few others, preparing musical charts for Eustace Scrubb's Mount Hermon gig, blah-blah-blogging at The Master's Artist, 4:12LIVE, and in my livejournal, and doing my best to keep up with the people I love.

What 's new with you?

February 5, 2006: Nine more shopping days till Valentines. (hint: The darker the chocolate, the better!)

Fun news: I finished my novel, A Girl With Wings! Of course, by finished, I mean I got to the last page and typed "The End." Now I've placed it in the hands of some killer critiquers, and I'll no doubt be revising out the wazoo in the days ahead. But still. It feels good. AND I've settled on a working title for the sequel. Against the Wind. Characters, capers, and conflicts are cavorting in my head, dancing the Virginia Reel, and causing a general ruckus. As soon as I settle them down enough to sort them a bit, I'll plunge in and write.

She Loves Me, the ETBU musical I choreographed, hits the stage this week (see Schedule). It's going to be wonderful, so call and reserve your tickets today!

Fun stuff coming up: I'll talk about this more later, but I'm already excited about the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in April. I'll be team teaching a workshop on lyrical writing with Mick Silva, editor at WaterBrook. AND Eustace Scrubb is scheduled to play and lead worship. Hot diggidy.

Thanks for caring. And do come again, won't you?

January 15, 2006: Happy New Year (two weeks ago)! I'm not big on making new year's resolutions. Mostly I try to start each new day all year long with an attitude of expectant availability for whatever God may send my way. And already 2006 promises to provide all sorts of adventure. Now that the holidays are over, the decorations all put away, and the dust beginning to settle, I'm turning my attention back to A Girl With Wings. I may even finish it by February, and then the rewriting begins. But I'm an edit-as-you-go girl, so the revision process shouldn't be too painful.

I'm also busy attending rehearsals for "She Loves Me," a musical I'm choreographing for the ETBU theatre department. What fun! I get to work with a bunch of talented, cooperative, interesting college students and their terrific young director. Did I mention I love my life?

I hope your personal version of 2006 is off to a splendid start. Carpe diem! (And after you seize the day, you might want to make it a bologna sandwich--just so you don't come off as too pushy.)

December 4, 2005: We returned a few minutes ago from an elegant church dinner. Candles and greenery set a festive mood; a drama team performed a Max Lucado story; everyone joined in singing Christmas carols; and "Marge" showed up right in the big middle of it all. If you haven't met my alter ego, you can read a bit about her and tonight's performance here. She had tons o' fun, and, judging by the reactions, everyone else did, too.

Tomorrow morning it's back to the high school for one more week of rehearsals before they perform their Christmas show. Working with these awesome students is such a blast! They're precious, talented, and so appreciative. Between Christmas hoo-hah and choreography, I haven't done any novel writing the past few weeks. But that's okay. My story world will still be there when I return, beckoning me back to Seattle and into the lives of characters I've grown to love. Meanwhile I'm enjoying the people in my "real" life and this season of celebrating my Savior's birth. Merry Christmas, friends! Live well, and love lavishly. I'll check back in next year.

November 3, 2005: Welcome to fall. Texas temperatures are finally dropping from the sauna range to seasonally sassy. My favorite! Right now I'm in the creative phase of a new choreography project--listening to the music, letting it work its way from my ears to my feet. This is the most stressful-yet-exhilarating part of the process. There are always a few stubborn arrangements, and I wonder if I'll finish all the numbers by deadline. But somehow the moment inevitably arrives. Song and dance collide in perfect symbiosis, and all is right with the universe. Next week I start rehearsals, and it's all fun after that.

In writer news, I've completed 37 chapters (290 pages) of A Girl With Wings, and the finish line draws very near. Stay tuned!

October 12, 2005: The ACFW conference in Nashville was great, especially for the opportunities to meet and get to know all sorts of awesome writer types. (No swooning that required smelling salts, Dan, but lots of fascinating conversations.) Everyone should participate in one of Gayle Roper's fiction clinics. What's that you say? You're a plumber? Doesn't matter. Sign up for Gayle's clinic today, and you'll probably be published by tomorrow.

If you've ever visited Dave Long's Faith*in*Fiction site, I assure you his gang is as cool as you'd expect. Oh, and you should also know that Mike Snyder is my brother (separated at conception), and Eustace Scrubb rocked the Redeemer's Chapel in Franklin, TN. With utmost decorum, of course.

For upcoming events, check out the schedule link. And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

August 11, 2005: I feel like I've spent most of the summer on the road! But now I'm home and kicking the writing machine back in gear, goaded in part by the upcoming ACFW Writer's Conference in Nashville, TN. It's only a month away, and I'd love to be finished (or at least almost) with a decent draft of A Girl With Wings by then. We'll see. Either way I'll be talking it up to editors. I'll let you know if they swoon. ;)

The mystery CD mentioned below is still a work in progress. Meanwhile, our band has a name and a real, live, honest-to-goodness gig! (See schedule.) That's probably more than I should reveal at this point, but stay tuned. I hope to have lots more to say about that in the future.

I admit my updates here have been sporadic at best, but you can often find me frolicking in the bloggerhood just by clicking the magic link. Hope to see you there! :)

June 22, 2005: Summer time, and the living is busy! We had a fantastic time in Seattle for Grace's graduation on June 11 and baptism on June 12. I posted a few pics on the photo page and wrote a couple of stories (with more to come) in my blog. This weekend I'll be in Austin laying down some musical tracks for a mystery CD, which you will or will not hear more about in the future, depending on how the recording goes. (Pray it goes well, por favor. Gracias!) For more about our summer plans, click the schedule link.

In addition to The Master's Artist, I'm now contributing to another group blog called 4:12Live. This one is aimed at teens, and most of the participants write books specifically for that demographic. I think they invited me to the party because I still act like a monkey, er, I mean high-school student. Works for me. :)

If I don't make it back for an update before the 4th, Happy Birthday to the U.S. of A. And happy summer to you!

May 25, 2005: I've added some interesting links on my links page, so be sure to bop in there and surf a while. I've also updated the schedule page, in case anyone has been wondering what I plan to do with myself in the coming weeks. For all you photophiles out there, I started a new blog just for posting pictures. And, of course, I'm still writing A Girl With Wings. What an adventure! There's nothing quite like soaring into the wide, blue skies of imagination, buoyed by the hopes of characters who become so real you laugh with delight when their dreams come true. And when they cry, you taste salt.

Come ride the wind with me! Second to the right, and straight on till morning.

April 30, 2005:  May mayhem is upon us! Time for weddings (I'm playing and singing in one next weekend with more to come), graduations (my daughter receives her diploma from Seattle Pacific University--but that's actually in June), anniversaries (Cinco de Mayo marks 26 years for Jorge y yo!), and all sorts of other hoo-hah. Meanwhile, I'm writing. Yep. Gonna finish that novel, and it won't be long now. Then I'll send it to Deidre. Then she'll (hopefully) sell it. Then you'll buy it, and we'll all dance a celebratory jig. Until then, find something else to dance about. Any excuse will do.

Thanks for stopping by!

March 30, 2005:  All over town wisteria vines are dripping with lavender lace. Each azalea bush is trying to out-shout the next. Preferring a less garish approach, delicate dogwoods display a demure beauty, like a bride adorned for her husband. It's spring in East Texas, and I love it!

A week ago I returned from all my travels. For the third year in a row, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference proved a valuable investment of time and energy. Four more editors requested my Parting the Waters proposal. I attended the advanced and professional tracks, where I learned from publishing industry insiders, met some fun, new friends, and basically got my creative batteries recharged. Lots of other cool stuff happened, too. If you're interested, click here.

Deidre suggested I hold off on pitching A Girl With Wings. She read the first few chapters and liked it so much, she wants me to finish it, polish it up, and then place it in her hands to sell. She expects to be able to draw interest from "any number of major publishing houses." With a compliment like that, how can I complain about waiting? Once I finish the annual climb up Paperwork Mountain to pay homage to the IRS (ick), I'll dust off my Wings and dive back into the sky.

As always, I appreciate your interest. Thanks. And Happy Spring!

February 6, 2005: January is over. The "new" year has outgrown its infancy and is already a snot-nosed kid. I have a good excuse for not updating sooner, though. I spent the first month of '05 choreographing a Disney Revue for the local high school. If you're interested, you can read a bit about that delightful experience on my blog. Now I'm setting my face toward the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in March, where I plan to pitch my novel, A Girl With Wings. So far I've written 27 chapters (215 pages), and I'd love to finish it before the conference.

Meanwhile, Parting the Waters is still out with half a dozen publishers. If I hear anything, you'll be the first to know!

December 1, 2004: It's the holiday season (in case you were wondering), which means my attention will be more divided than usual. I have two choreography projects this month, lots of music stuff going on, shopping to do, parties to attend, and I still plan to stay on top of blogging and writing A Girl With Wings. I decorated the tree Saturday, and its lights are twinkling merrily like thousands of tiny stars nestled in evergreen. My kids will be home from college soon, bringing with them stories, laughter, and a parade of friends.

I wrote my Christmas card today. It's very random. I like it. If you don't get one and want one, send me an e-mail and I'll drop one in the mail. Merry Christmas!

October 21, 2004: I read my last update and laughed. So much for more frequent installments. I hate to admit to having no life and therefore no news, so I'll blame my absence here on my thrilling exploits elsewhere. Actually, there are some exciting developments. My online interaction with other writers and publishing industry insiders has expanded. To enter the conversation, check out the new additions to my "links" section. I also added a direct link in the masthead to my personal blog, where I do manage to update somewhat regularly. However, I make no apologies for the eclectic nature of the content. It's my venue for creative expression and intellectual *cough* inquiry. Enter at your own risk. You'll also find my musings at The Master's Artist every Thursday.

I'm now twenty-four chapters into writing A Girl With Wings. What a delight! Everyone should write fiction. I mean it. Why are you still reading this? Go write.

August 14, 2004: Summer vacation is ending. School starts this week. Life will return to "normal," and hopefully I will update around here more often. My trip to Seattle in June couldn't have been more fun and productive! I had a great time scouring the city, notebook and camera in hand, in search of the perfect settings for my novel characters' adventures. I found everything I was looking for and interviewed fascinating locals in the process. It's amazing what people will tell you when they hear you're writing a novel. Oh, and I picked a working title: A Girl With Wings. I'm excited about how it's all coming together.

Meanwhile, Parting the Waters is attracting interest, thanks to Deidre's hard work. Half a dozen publishers are looking at it now. I'm identifying marketing avenues, especially future speaking engagements. Dr. Carlile at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation read the manuscript and loved it. I spoke with her this week, and she is eager to connect me with brain injury organizations and ministries, where her wonderful reputation will go a long way in opening doors. Wow! Sometimes it feels like I'm just trying to keep all objects secured as the roller coaster climbs the next big hill . . .  Wheeeee!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and interest.

May 23, 2004: Now that Parting the Waters is finished and in the capable hands of my enthusiastic agent, Deidre Knight, I am embarking on a new adventure!  I'm writing a novel.  The story is based in Seattle, which means I'll be going there in about a month to do extensive research.  Seattle in June.  Pure torture.  ;o)    Ideas are brewing in my head faster than a Starbucks barista can churn out triple lattes.  This is going to be fun.  I'm stoked!

April 29, 2004: The author signing at Promise Christian Bookstore was great fun! Many thanks to everyone who came by. The store owner was pleased with the turn-out. They sold 40+ books. I enjoyed visiting with friends and meeting new people from our community.  Almost everyone who came by expressed their eagerness for the publication of Parting the Waters.  I'm putting the finishing touches on it now, and I plan to send the manuscript to Deidre next week. Then we'll have to wait and see what happens!  Keep praying! :o)

April 15, 2004: Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference (April 2-6) provided wonderful opportunities for sharpening the writing craft, meeting new friends, and reuniting with "old" friends from last year.  I enjoyed visiting with editors from several publishing houses, and appreciated their compliments on my writing and their warm responses to my proposal.  But the most exciting news of all!  Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency offered me representation.  Deidre is a respected literary agent with her finger on the publishing industry's pulse and strong ties in Hollywood.  Energetic, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, Deidre believes Parting the Waters has great potential as a film and a book. I'm currently working my way through the manuscript, strengthening images with film in mind.  To my delight, the story itself is coming alive in the process!

If you're wondering what happened to Ripples, the story is the same.  Only the name has changed.  Deidre and I brainstormed titles and settled on Parting the Waters: Finding Beauty in Brokenness.  Stay tuned!  I'll keep everyone posted.  Thanks for your interest and prayers.