Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Denton Poets’ Assembly last met on July 20th.  Members and guests read a Spoon River poem. These poems were fashioned after a style introduced by Edgar Lee Masters in his 1915, Spoon River Anthology.  During the July meeting, J. Paul Holcomb presented a lesson on writing poems in the ballad form. After his presentation, all present were given an opportunity to read a free choice poem.

During our next meeting on Saturday, August 17th  members will read their Ballad poems.

Please feel free to join us!

http://dentonpoetsassembly.weebly.com/1/post/2013/08/august-17th-denton-poets-assembly-meeting.html

Poetry Society of Texas logo

Notice to poets and lovers of poetry in Texas, you are welcome to attend the Poetry Society of Texas Summer conference. Membership in the Poetry Society is not required.

Announcing the 2013 Poetry Society of Texas Summer Conference, July 12 and 13th.
Refer to the following link for the event flyer and conference schedule of events:

Click here for more conference information.

Other WG2E Street Team Authors and I have joined together to participate in Brenda Novak’s Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research. We’re offering a Kindle Paperwhite ($119 value), pre-loaded with more than 40 ebooks – romance, suspense, young adult, fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and horror – there’s something here for everyone! There’s also a wall charger included for faster charging of your ereader. The total retail value is $259.

If you haven’t yet heard about Brenda Novak’s Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research, it’s a wonderful event in my opinion and for such a great cause. I myself have diabetes, so finding a cure would be a dream come true. Every year for the past few years, Brenda and her staff have put together a huge auction from May 1st through May 31st. Each year, there are more items to bid on. And each year, the items just get more awesome! They have raised an amazing cumulative total of $1.6 million. This year they’re hoping to surpass the $2 million mark.

There are items for writers such as website design, promo opportunities, agent and editor queries or critiques, author critiques, and conferences, etc. You can bid on sports memorabilia, handmade crafts, jewelry, spa items, vacation/getaway listings and more! You can check out what’s available here. Just click on the “browse” button and find some really cool stuff to bid on. You can also follow along on twitter and facebook to learn about the latest items up for bid.

Even though I’m a writer, I am a reader – first and always. So, I particularly enjoy the “For Readers” section. This year, I’m very proud to be part of a donated item in that section. Our WG2E Street Team donation of a Kindle Paperwhite preloaded with more than forty of our books and a wall charger will be available to bid on MAY 28TH ONLY. Click on that link and you can see all the authors who are participating and all the great ebooks that will come with the Kindle Paperwhite.

I’ve donated a copy of Closed Doors, a Trilogy, but there is much more as you can see below.

The WG2E Street Team Authors have joined together to offer a Kindle Paperwhite ($119 value), pre-loaded with more than 40 ebooks Action, romance, suspense, young adult, fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and horror. There’s something here for everyone! There’s also a wall charger included for faster charging of your ereader.

Included on the Kindle Paperwhite:

Contemporary Romances 

Reckless Nights in Rome (A Ludlow Hall Story) by CC MacKenzie
A Stormy Spring (A Ludlow Hall Story) by CC MacKenzie
Run Rosie Run (A Ludlow Hall Story) by CC MacKenzie
Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone
Game, Set, Match by Nana Malone
Sultry in Stilettos by Nana Malone
Mismatch by Nana Malone
Kiss Me, Dancer by Alicia and Roy Street
Love By Design by Liz Matis
Always Remember by Sheila Seabrook
A Valentine Challenge by Kiru Taye
Something to Live For by Natalie G. Owens
Everything to Lose by Natalie G. Owens
The Teacher’s Billionaire: The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 1 by Christina Tetreault
The Billionaire Playboy: The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 2 by Christina Tetreault
The Billionaire Princess: The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 3 by Christina Tetreault

Gothic Romance 
Dark Hero (Reluctant Heroes) by Lily Silver
Bright Scoundrel (Reluctant Heroes Book Two), by Lily Silver

Romantic Suspense 
Lost in Italy by Stacey Joy Netzel

Contemporary Western Romance
Chasin’ Mason by Stacey Joy Netzel

YA Paranormal Romance
Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno

Regency Romance 
An Exotic Heir by Meredith Bond

Historical Paranormal Romance 
Storm on the Horizon by Meredith Bond

Historical Romance
His Treasure by Kiru Taye

Paranormal Romance 
Big Trouble in China (The Vampyre Legal Chronicles – 1) by CC MacKenzie
Dirty Little Secrets (The Vampyre Legal Chronicles – 2) by CC MacKenzie
Reluctant Revenge, Novella by Xandra James
Eternity of Roses, by Natalie G. Owens

Action/Adventure/ Romance
The Seeds of Time by Faith Mortimer

Urban Fantasy Romance
The Vampire Code, Book 1 in the Fiscard Vampires Series by E.C. Adams

Epic Fantasy/SciFi/Romance
Sword of the Gods: The Chosen One by Anna Erishkigal
Inescapable, Eternelles Book 1 by Natalie G. Owens and Zee Monodee

Erotic Paranormal Romance 
The Blood Bar Chronicles, Book 2 – The Protectors, Anthology by Xandra James

Chick-Lit Humorous Mystery
Bootscootin’ and Cozy Cash Mystery Boxed Set by D.D. Scott

YA Paranormal
Neverlove by Angela Brown

Epic Fantasy/SciFi
Prince of Tyre by Anna Erishkigal

Humorous Mystery
The Cozy Cash Mysteries Boxed Set #1 by D.D. Scott Humorous Paranormal Mystery
The Stuck with a Series Boxed Set #1 by D.D. Scott and David Slegg

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Private Deception by Tamara Ward
Closed Doors, a Trilogy by Richard Weatherly
The Assassins’ Village by Faith Mortimer
Predator, A Courting Justice Novella by Rhonda Hopkins

SciFi/Horror
Apocalypstick by Gregory Carrico
Children of the Plague by Gregory Carrico

Horror/Paranormal
Tales From The Mist, Anthology by members of the WG2E Street Team

You can find out what the WG2E Street Team is up to at the following: beachbookblast.blogspot.com, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BeacBookBlast.

To enter the auction simply click here and follow the instructions. GOOD LUCK!

Reblog by Rich Weatherly

Tales from the Mist

I’ll be joining Rhonda and other local authors at the event described below. Come and join us.

I’m so excited! I’ll be doing my very first book signing Thursday night in Cleburne, TX from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. It will be at the Wright Plaza located at 115 S. Main St. 76033. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll stop by and say hello. I’ll have copies of TALES FROM THE MIST available. TFTM is a horror/paranormal anthology that includes my short story, The Consuming.

Link to the Local DFW Authors Book Signing Event

Denton Poets’ Assembly will meet at 10am on January 19th, 2013 at the Emily Fowler Central Library: 502 Oakland Street, Denton, Texas. Visitors are welcome!

Denton Poets’ Assembly members last met on December 15th. The group shared their writing assignment poems for a Christmas-themed Triolet after a lesson given in November by Paul Holcomb. Free choice poems were read during the December as well. Paul Holcomb presented a lesson on Blank Verse. Members will share their poem assignments in February.

We were honored to recognize T. Jervis of Oakpoint as the First Place Winner of the December Poetry Society of Texas monthly contest.

DPA members enjoyed our November brunch so much that we had a holiday themed brunch again during the December meeting. It was a great way to share snacks, food and poetry for our final 2012 meeting.

Annie Neugebauer will present a lesson on how to create a personal website in WordPress. This a great way for poet’s to share selected works with the public and poets everywhere!

Becca Hines updated DPA on the status of submissions for the  2013 “Merging Visions” collaborative show with VAST. These Exhibits will be set up at 3 Denton public libraries starting March 28^th, 2013.

Again, thanks to Annie Neugebauer, for updating the DPA website. Visitors and members are encouraged to use our Amazon link at the top of the page for all your shopping. A percentage of every purchase through this link goes to DPA funds. DPA website is http://dentonpoetsassembly.weebly.com/

Denton Poets’ Assembly meets on the third Saturday of the month, 10AM – Noon at the Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland Street, Denton, TX 76201. Free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit www.DentonPoetsAssembly.weebly.com.

Recently, Belinda Witzenhausen asked me to participate this Blog Hop. You can find Belinda’s Facebook, Twitter

NextBigThing
BlogHop

and Blog links below.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/belinda.mcgrath.witzenhausen

Twitter: @BWitzenhausen

Blog:  http://bwitzenhausen.wordpress.com

I’ve been asked to answer the following questions.

1: What is the working title of your book?

Closed Doors: Operation Pandemonium

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

Operation Pandemonium picks up where Toxic Situations ended about six month after the end of the previous title.

3: What genre does your book fall under?

Mystery and Suspense

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

For now I would say, Male lead – Rob Estes, as Craig Wells.

Male lead – Rob Estes, as Craig Wells

Female lead – Megan Fox, as Helen MacKenzie

Lily Collins, as Jennifer Wells

Lily Collins, as Jennifer Wells

One sentence synopsis of your book?

Craig Wells and his investigators will stop at nothing to recover a missing research capsule from a desperate criminal and prevent a Bird Flu pandemic the criminal intends to use.

6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

My current plan is to self-publish but I am open to working with an agent or small-publishing house.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I wrote the first draft of Operation Pandemonium during the NanoWriMo contest in November.

8: What other work of fiction would you compare this story to within your genre?

One of my reviewers compared Toxic Situations to a movie, The Departed or the series Law and Order. Operation Pandemonium should continue to fit this framework.

9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

The inspiration for this book and Toxic Situations was inspired by  a post by scientist and author, J.J. Brown. Information Sharing and Lethal Virus Research http://sciencerevolution.org/2012/02/08/information-sharing-and-lethal-virus-research/

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I had several reviewers who liked Toxic Situations but who wanted more. Operation Pandemonium has allowed me to develop characters with greater depth and intensity. While similar, Operation Pandemonium takes place in the continental US.
“Below you will find Authors, who will be joining me by blog, Next Thursday Do be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!!

My nominees for the Next Best Thing Blog Hop are:

1 Sandy Coelho, Author S.L. Coelho
2 Kirkus MacGowan,  Diapers, Bookmarks and Pipe Dreams
3 KJ Waters, Blondie in the Water
4 Thomas Drinkard, Pinnacle Writing
5 J.J. Collins, JJCollinsAuthor

Interview by Belinda Witzenhausen with Rich Weatherly

Back in August 2012, I was fortunate enough to have a Q & A with Indie author, Rich Weatherly after he released his début novella ~ “Closed Doors, A Trilogy”. Rich is an extremely talented writer who has an amazing ability to create interesting characters and craft compelling plots, while maintaining a high standard of writing which is in my opinion, the mark of a true storyteller. I always enjoy chatting with Rich, as he is always such an inspiring and interesting person. I  recently spoke with Rich about his experience with Indie Publishing and asked if he would mind doing a quick follow-up to share his thoughts on the process, and, being the generous person that he is, he agreed.

Belinda, thank you for asking me back to talk about my writing and publishing projects. It has been an amazing  journey. I appreciate the opportunity to give you this update.

It’s been a while since we did our first interview. Closed Doors, A Trilogy has been out for a while and at one point was an Amazon bestseller ~ Congratulations! Tell us a little about the journey so far, was it all that you expected?

Click here to continue with the interview on Belinda Witzenhausen’s site.

by Rich Weatherly

Family Patriarch and Pioneer

As we prepare for the big day, there is no better time to stop and reflect on how richly blessed we are. My earliest memories of Thanksgiving go back to my Great-Grandmother’s gathering on the lawn outside her house in Southeast Irving, Texas. We lived a block or so down Shady Grove Road from her place. It was a misty afternoon but that never dampened the spirits. It was a large gathering that included her brothers and at least one sister. I remember Uncle Dick and Uncle Lewis, Aunt Maude and their families. There were the Story, Bell, Weatherly, Houston and more other families than I can remember. The important thing is we were together having wonderful fellowship. Who would forget the food?

There were the old standby’s; turkey and dressing, ham, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, a host of casseroles and finally desserts. One could always expect pecan pies, lemon meringue pie, cakes galore and more.

Since then so many who left a rich legacy have gone on. Now we gather with our own families and grandchildren. This has been such a special year with the pending 50^th high school reunion and the opportunity to reconnect with classmates. There have been a host of poets and authors who have become social media friends. Being invited to join the Denton Poets’ Society was special and that led to becoming a member of the Poetry Society of Texas.

Thanksgiving is all about doing just that, giving thanks for all of these blessings. I think it is more about community and relationships than anything else. So one again, I want to wish everyone, you and yours a warm and blessed Thanksgiving Season in this Year of Our Lord 2012.

by Rich Weatherly

I was asked by Shelli Johnson (author of Small as a Mustard Seed) http://www.shellijohnson.com to take part in this Blog Hop, which started on the She Writes website http://www.shewrites.com/ a while back and is still going strong.

If you’re an author and I tagged you for this blog hop, your instructions are at the end of this post.

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:

Beware of the sounds of the night.

1. What is the working title of your book? The book title might be subject to change but for now it is Operation Pandemonium.

2. Where did the idea come from for the book? Like my novella Toxic Situations, this book  was inspired by  a post by scientist and author, J.J. Brown. Information Sharing and Lethal Virus Research. 

 3. What genre does your book fall under? Mystery and Suspense

 4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Male lead – Rob Estes, Female lead – Megan Fox

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? In a race against time, haunted by a legacy of vengeance Craig Wells and his investigators will stop at nothing to recover a missing researching capsule from a desperate criminal and prevent a Bird Flu pandemic.

  6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I haven’t made a final decision, probably self-publish or work with a small publishing house.

 7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I started developing plans for my wip in August but didn’t not start working on my manuscript until the first of November.

 8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? One of my reviewers compared my writing to a movie, The Departed or the series Law and Order.

 9. Who or What inspired you to write this book? This is basically the same as question 2. Like its prequel “Toxic Situations”, this novel was inspired by  a post by scientist and author, J.J. Brown. Information Sharing and Lethal Virus Research

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? In Operation Pandemonium I expand on character development. Suspense is based on the potential for an act of terror that could occur at any moment. A mystery must be solved to avert disaster.

***

So if you’re an author and I tagged you for this Next Big Thing Blog Hop, read on. Here’s how it works….

Rules of The Next Big Thing

Use this format for your post. Include an introduction to your interview post and a link to the person who tagged you for participation. Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress). Include some pictures if possible. Tag at least one and up to five other writers/bloggers by sending them an email and then add their links to the end of your interview post. Their answers should go up the week after.

Your blog post would need to be up between November 12th and the 16th . If you are on She Writes, you put the post up there too. Your blog post should be labeled: The Next Big Thing Blog Hop.

Here is the author I’m tagging:

Alle Wells

Marta Moran Bishop

Kirkus MacGowan