Hi, y’all! How have you been?

Me? Oh, goodness… lots and lots of ups and downs in my life – everything from a marriage (What was I thinking?????!!!!) to an up-and-coming divorce to a ginormous move from Missouri to Texas to my new job at the Post Office (I am SO excited!)  to my very own home that I have been blessed with and am in the midst of remodeling to teaming up with the fantabulous Author Mysti Reutlinger to write a series of books and SO much more!

I have continued to blog off and on at Healing With Juices, including sharing a bit about my journey from Missouri to Texas.

Y’all, I am soooooooooooo glad to be blogging here again!!!

Let me tell you: I am beyond ecstatic that Writing the Cyber Highway is back up and running! If you’ve been missing me (maybe just *thismuch*? – ‘cause I certainly have missed you!!!!) it is because a while back, I accidentally deleted this blog. I was so afraid that it was forever gone – but thanks to Rebecca Laffar-Smith (Tech Support), this blog is alive and well. Phew!

I actually cried when I deleted this blog. I thought I was deleting something else (an old site I didn’t want anymore) but this was attached to it somehow and it just vanished.

My heart has been broken because this was my first blog ever. I didn’t write a lot on here for the past few years – but it was always here waiting for me, just my cozy little corner of the web where I can plop down, kick off my shoes, and just pour out my heart.

Over the years, I have met some of the most amazing people via this very blog – including Rebecca!

Although I am a writer, I simply cannot even find the words to express how I feel about this pit stop along the cyber highway. I have shared my heart, my fears, my dreams, my goals, and so much more.

Over the years, the comments and emails you all have sent me have touched my heart SO deeply and always, always made me smile. It would never, ever fail… that just as I was ready to throw up my hands and call it quits and give up writing, I would come to my computer and sit down in tears and lo and behold, I would find an encouraging comment and/or email from one – or several – of you! It is my passion and love for writing and all of the love and encouragement that each of you have give me, that has truly kept me coming back to the drawing writing board every time.

A HUGE thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of this community over the years – and to (genius!) Rebecca for saving my sentimental home here on the web!!! I am forever grateful!!!

I highly recommend Rebecca’s services – I promise you won’t be disappointed!

You can contact Rebecca here with your Tech needs,  and see a few testimonials of her Tech Services here.

So… how have you all been? Are you still writing the cyber highway? Are you writing from another part of the world than when our paths last crossed? Come on, let’s talk!

Today was an exciting day: I left the comfort and solitude of Amish country and went into the city for a fun time at the Missouri Literary Festival, in Springfield.

Yours Truly!

There were quite a few author’s booths (even though this was the last day of the festival) and look who I found right away….

A 13-year-old Author!

Views of HAMMONS FIELD

Look What I Found!!!

Books, Books, Books!

Networking

I met new people, passed out business cards, and had a fun time. It’s always nice to step away from the computer and interact with other writers in person. I know it’s something a lot of us simply detest (’cause we want to be at home, writing!) but it truly is an amazing experience and can bring so much inspiration – and new friends. Also, it was pretty chilly out there but it was a good day!

More of Yours Truly!

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

I talked to several authors. The most of ‘em are self-published. Their books seemed like they were written well, had nice cover designs, etc., and appeared very professional!

I also went and listened to an author (who just happens to be published by a traditional publisher) and their opinion was very low of self-published books. I actually thought this person was a poor speaker. It was really, really boring and nothing was learned! Nothing. Seriously. I always try to find the positive and share it, but this was not an uplifting, encouraging speaker who had instruction for the audience. I was disappointed. Thank goodness that speech was free – I’d have been upset if I would have had to pay for it!

Anyway, I feel like books can be self-published in a respectable, polished manner. Just because it’s self-published doesn’t mean it has to be bad. It doesn’t mean you can’t hire an editor, ya know? Do you disagree? Agree? What’s your opinion of self-published vs. traditional?

In case you’re just tuning in, all 3 parts of the interview are posted over at WRA (Rebecca Laffar-Smith picked my brain).

1. On Social Networking Success
2. On The Business of Blogging
3. On Writing Habits and Courage
   

Also, my latest article is live at WRA: Writers Are Superheroes

Is this your first time to visit Writing the Cyber Highway? Be sure to subscribe to my Feed or by e-mail. In the next couple of posts, I’ll be sharing photos and details about my visit to an old-fashioned festival where I dressed up as a pioneer woman (bonnet and all!) and also had the amazing opportunity to meet an Editor and an Editor-In-Chief. Eeek! (It’s coming, I promise!)

Hi, y’all! Gosh, the cyber highway has been pretty quiet lately without me, hasn’t it? Sorry about that! I’m going to try to pop in a lot more often over here. In case you didn’t catch my previous post, please go read it. You’ll see that I’ve been quite the busy gal lately. LOTS of exciting stuff is happening in my writing life. Eeeek!

I thought I’d share with you that I’ve been interviewed by Rebecca Laffar-Smith, of The Writer’s Round-About. This is a three-part interview. So far, parts one and two have been published.

Part One: On Social Networking Success

Part Two: On The Business of Blogging

I’m also a contributing writer at WRA now. Click here to read my articles. More of my work will be showing up there, so be sure to subscribe to WRA so you won’t miss anything!

Also, I’m reviewing something that’s VERY helpful to writers and bloggers. I’m excited that the company has agreed to sponsor a contest and the prize is pretty neat, in my opinion. I’m tickled pink to be able to offer this prize to one lucky reader in an upcoming contest, so be sure to stop by my stretch of the highway in the near future to find out what it is and read my review!

As always, keep writing the cyber highway. Follow your heart, your dreams, and take care!