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!

Is this your first time to visit Writing the Cyber Highway? Be sure to subscribe to my Feed or by e-mail. Lots of exciting stuff is coming up–including more contests!!

News

Although I’ve been scarce around this blog, I have been super busy literally writing the cyber highway: I’ve been contributing to WRA (Writer’s Round-About). My latest post there is How to Find the Courage to Sell Yourself. Things have also been going pretty fast and furious on my health blog, Healing with (Raw) Juices. I’ve been helping my mom set up at outdoor markets (old-fashioned bonnet and pioneer dress included!). And I’ve been anxiously awaiting my latest story in print: Soap & Running Water. This story is dear to my heart. It’s printed in Rural Missouri (www.ruralmissouri.org).

I realize you can’t see the words but I’ve taken a photo of the page so you can see how it looks printed in Rural Missouri. I’m really excited about this story. I’ve personally bought soap, lotions, and salves from Judy Riggs for the past few years. Her products are the best quality I’ve found in my searches for handcrafted bath and body products. They’re natural, handcrafted with love, and are just amazing. Her soaps lather up more than any other handcrafted soap I’ve found and her lotions are creamy (not greasy at all) and all of her products smell just divine. The soy candles she makes are eco-friendly and have the most delicious scents. Her herbal salves are absolutely healing to the skin, too! She also makes unscented products for anyone with allergies, or who are sensitive to smells. I have one word for Judy’s products: luxurious!

Judy was a fabulous subject to write about. She’s so kind and her passion shines through beautifully in everything her hands touch. I’m so honored to be the first freelance writer to share Judy Riggs and her business, Riggs Creations (www.riggscreations.org), with the world. Thanks, Judy!

Isn’t she so pretty in her Indian dress, with her Indian braids?! That’s her mortal and pestle in her hands that she uses to grind the herbs she adds to her products!

Judy Riggs, of Riggs Creations

Judy Riggs’ soaps are also available at Oldies and Goodies in Doniphan, Missouri, at 201 North Lafayette Street. They’re open 7 days a week (Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday & Monday, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.) You can call them: (573) 996-4247.

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!)

The Contest Has Ended

What an awesome contest! Thanks so much for all the wonderful entries. I truly wish I had enough copies of Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing to send each and every one of you a copy–but I don’t.

I know you’re all super excited to find out who won, so I’ll get right to it. I used Random.org to randomly select the winners. Speaking of which…

And the Winners Are

Winner #1 is comment #26, which is Rebecca Laffar-Smith!

Here’s what Rebecca said in her comment:

26.  Rebecca Laffar-Smith Says:

June 4th, 2009 at 1:45 am

“Grammar! It’s a frightful word to be honest. I’ve fudged my way through the ins and outs but don’t really know the ‘rules’. Thankfully, very few people do know all the rules so it’s not so hard to get by in day to day writing but when we’re submitting to the harsh eye of an editor every grammar goof is a glaring admittance of ignorance. Have you tried learning from style guides? I am brain dead in ten seconds. It would be nice to have a resource that makes learning Grammar light, easy, and fun.”

Winner #2 is comment #1, which is Lori from Green Gigs!

Here’s what Lori said in her comment:

1. Lori Says:

June 3rd, 2009 at 10:23 pm edit

“Two words: science major – that is why I could use this book! I love the passive voice, “quick” and “light-hearted” are my type of tips!”

Lucky ladies, contact me with your mailing addresses and I’ll get Mignon Fogarty’s fun words of wisdom in the mail to you!

Thank you to everyone who entered, and especially to Richard Rhorer and Mignon Fogarty for making this contest possible!!

See that puddle?

I feel like that puddle could be the product of my tears, tears that are falling all along the cyber highway…

Is this a sad post? No. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! I mentioned before that EagleHawk was interviewing me on his blog. I directed you to parts one and two. Well, now part three is live. And, well, I’m speechless! I’m so touched and honored by his words… Thank you, EagleHawk!!!

Also, right before part three of that post went live, I found out another cyber pal had written about me too! Is this my day, or what?! Plaid Earthworm shared her thoughts about me and my writing. Thanks, Beth!!!

Oh, and don’t forget about the Grammar Girl contest! You have until Saturday, June 13th at 9 p.m. to get all your entries in. Good luck!

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!

Photo Credit: Snap

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!

What kind of blogger are you?

The New York Times (@nytimes)recently published a piece called Blogs Falling in an Empty Forest by Douglas Quenua. (Thank you to Maria Schneider aka @MariaSchneider on Twitter for tweeting that link!) This article really made me think. Sometimes, in the still of the night as I tap away at my keyboard sharing my heart and soul with you, I forget just how many of you there are! Of course, if I were to dwell on that fact, I may never blog again!

So, I began to ask myself questions. Maybe you should ask yourself, too.

• How do you feel about being so public?

• Would you jump to do a TV or radio interview?

• How much do you share?

• Are you comfortable with what you share online?

• Have you received any interview offers?

So, how does blogging affect you?

Is it just a way for you to share photos and fun news with your family and friends or do you, like  Nancy Sun (@nancysun on Twitter) who is featured in Quenua’s New York Times article, fantasize about landing a book deal? Is being part of your growing blog community enough for you, or do you crave more? Have you even thought about it? Are you just blogging along, clueless to the fact that Oprah or The New York Times could be watching you? Could love you? Could want more of you? It’s sort of a scary thought, isn’t it?

I am starting to receive more requests for interviews or to answer questions and be used as a reference for health or juicing topics on my health site. Not long ago, I was contacted to be a reference in a magazine article about the benefits of juice fasting. When it comes out, I’ll share it. And Lori and Green Gigs profiled contacted me to kick off her Green Job Hunter profiles. Most recently, I’ve been asked to do a three-part interview over at EagleHawk. Parts one and two are up so far. To be honest, it was a little nerve-wracking being on the opposite end of the interview! (So far my interview experiences have been awesome, though!)

I think, as bloggers, we need to seriously consider exactly what we expect in return from blogging. You may not even realize that you’re truly captivating, totally mesmerizing, unbelievably lovable to the world who reads you!!

So, what do you think? Did you read Quenua’s article? Would you agree to do an interview for TV or radio? What about a book deal? Do you put photos of yourself on your blog(s)? How do you feel about being recognized by readers while you’re out and about? It’s a lot to consider, people! Spill the beans. I want to hear your thoughts!

Oh, and don’t forget about the Grammar Girl contest! You have until Saturday, June 13th at 9 p.m. to get all your entries in. Good luck!

Photo Credit: blakespot

First, I’d like to send out a special thank you to Richard Rhorer and Mignon Fogarty for sponsoring this contest.

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!

“My philosophy is that learning about language should be fun. I’m not in this for the thrill of running a metaphorical red pen through e-mail messages or blog posts. Although writing badly is like dressing in lime skorts and an orange plaid sweater-people notice-publicly correcting a stranger’s writing is as rude as asking someone with a fashion problem “Did you think that looked good when you got dressed this morning?” I would do neither. Instead, I hope to raise the waters of good writing by distributing quick and dirty tips as widely as possible.”-Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl

And she’s definitely accomplishing that!

I love the fun way Mignon Fogarty explains difficult English grammar and usage rules. The cartoon examples are fun, too! You don’t have to be a writer to want to improve your grammar. Maybe you’re in college or high school, or maybe you just want to write perfect e-mails to your co-workers or persnickety friends and family. Whatever reason you have for wanting to learn the ins and outs of English, now’s your chance to do just that! I’m excited to offer a contest with Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing as the prize. Wait, not only does one reader get the chance to win-two of you are going to have the opportunity to win this awesome book!

No, you aren’t seeing double!

Two of you will each win a copy of Grammar Girl’s book!

Mignon Fogarty shares her knowledge of the English language in a light-hearted, down-to-earth way all of us can learn from.

From the bright, cheerful cover to the fun and easy-to-understand grammar and usage tips to the oh-so-cute cartoons of Squiggly and Aardvark, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing is a book that should be on everyone’s bookshelf-even if you aren’t a writer or blogger!

A peek inside:

Learning from Aardvark…

You may find it odd that an adult English grammar reference book has cartoon illustrations sprinkled throughout its pages, but you’ll understand once Fogarty explains:  “I get flashes of crazy memory tricks, funny phrases, and cartoons where Aardvark (a blue aardvark) and Squiggly (a yellow snail) go on grammar adventures, and I love to share them all with you.” (Isn’t it so nice of her to share with us?!)

Keep up with Grammar Girl

Grammar Girl speeds the cyber highway sharing grammar and usage tips and can be found at the following locations:

• On Twitter: @GrammarGirl
• Subscribe to her daily tip newsletter.
• Visit Grammar Girl’s site and listen to the podcast!

I love the cover design!

I have an endless thirst for knowledge. I love learning, and as a writer and blogger, I especially love honing my craft. I adore writing reference books. Some of you may remember last year I won a contest myself: a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate. You better believe I used every last penny of it on reference books to enhance my writing career. And this is one reason I’m so excited for you, my readers, to have the opportunity to expand your own reference library!

Have a Kindle? You can get a Kindle version of Grammar Girl, too!

Oh, and did I mention Mignon Fogarty is only Oprah’s favorite grammar gal?!

Contest Rules

You’re allowed FIVE entries for this contest:

Note: Please leave a comment for each thing you do (tweet, plurk, etc.) because each comment will be counted as a number when I enter the total number of comments at Random.org once the contest ends. Thanks!

1. Leave a comment sharing why you’d benefit from owning a copy of Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. (DO NOT just say “thanks for the contest” or something like that-I do not publish those type of comments because they seem like spam and aren’t fair to the other contestants who leave a thoughtful, genuine answer.)
2. Do you use Twitter? Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name.
3. Share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. (The pingback will be counted as your third entry.) If you don’t see your pingback, just contact me and let me know. It may have gone to spam for some reason.
4. Add Writing the Cyber Highway to your favorites on Technoratori. Comment to let me know, with a link to your technoratori profile to show you added us.
5. Do you Plurk? Share this contest on Plurk and then leave the Plurk page URL in the comments. That will count as your fifth (and last) entry.

NOTE: ANYONE can enter this contest. You DO NOT have to be in the United States. Oh, and I’ll be using Random.org to choose the winners.

Contest ends Saturday, June 13th, at 9 p.m. (Central Time) so you have 10 days to get all your entries in. Have fun trying to win!

Warning: This post isn’t my normal inspiring, motivating, uplifting kind of post–it’s pretty depressing in fact so if you’d rather not feel sad, you might want to skip along the cyber highway and wait to read my next post….

Wow. Time flies by so fast….

Where I’ve Been

I haven’t forgotten about the contest I told you about– honestly. Circumstances beyond my control have kept my focus away from blogging lately. I mentioned in my last post that I’ve recently lost two cousins (only in their thirties). Well, since that posting, I’ve lost a third cousin (only 28). Major shocker. I grew up with two of these cousins and was around them all the time, so they were more than just a “cousin” or “relative”, they were extremely special to me.

I went to school with the cousin who was 32. He just didn’t wake up one morning. It was his heart. The 36-year-old cousin lost his life in a car accident, and the 28-year-old cousin who just passed away also lost her life in a car accident. She was like a little sister to me. She was so special and we were so much alike. I’ve been devastated and have been at a total loss for blog posts. I haven’t even been writing/blogging for editors/clients since she passed away. I’ve taken some time to try to absorb all of this. I mean, one death is one thing, but two? That was hard enough. And then a third one? And for her to be such a beautiful, special soul? That’s when I realized I had to step away from the page and just let it sit there blank. The Muse–and my creative inspiration–has taken a flying leap and deserted me. But that’s okay for now. I am relishing the quiet moments. I need them. I crave them. I am using these quiet moments to find strength, hope, and healing. I’m using them to find renewal and to fill back up on the energy I need so I can move forward. This has all been so exhausting, it’s unreal. The bad news, the services, seeing my family members and even my cousins’ friends hurting so badly, missing their loved ones so much…. And realizing I’ll never see my cousins again–not on holidays, not on family visits, and there’ll be no more opportunities to send a birthday card….

Life, Death, and What Comes After

I won’t pretend to be a genius and concoct fancy images of the after life for you to figure out. Those of you who have followed me from the beginning of this blog and who have become close to me along the cyber highway and my freelance journey know that I am a Christian. No, I don’t say it in every blog post or on every social media site. I don’t try to force my beliefs on others and I have found that even those of you who don’t believe in God at all respect me (and my walk with God) because of that. Am I ashamed? No. And those of you who know me, know that too. Some people (okay, a lot of people) disagree with me on that. They think I should shout from the rooftops that I’m a Christian. I firmly believe what my Grandmother always taught me: actions speak louder than words. I can say I’m something until I lose my voice, but if I show what I am by my actions, then you’ll know without a doubt. Simple, eh?

So, anyway… I do believe there is life after death but the life after death I’m referring to here is on this side of the world. I’m talking about those of us who are left here to pick up the pieces and to wonder why: Why did they have to die so young? Why couldn’t they have lived and why couldn’t have God taken someone else? Someone who did horrible things and who was a horrible person who hurt people? But He didn’t. He took my cousins. All of them had children. Now their children are minus a parent.

What to Do?

Sometimes there just aren’t any answers. Sometimes we have to leave it at that. We don’t know everything….

So, what do we do? What can we do? We can wake up each morning as the sun kisses our face or the rain pelts the window or the dark clouds hover over our homes and be truly thankful in our hearts that we are alive and can gobble up all the goodness that day will bring! Don’t think there’ll be any goodness in a new day? Then be the person who brings goodness to the world!

Love your family and friends as if there were no tomorrow. Remember: tomorrow may never come for some of us. We aren’t guaranteed to wake up when we go to sleep, or to make it to our destination alive when we hop in our car–or someone else’s–and drive away.

Don’t take the people you love for granted. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today: let them know how much you appreciate them, tell them you love them instead of just assuming they already know it, buy them a beautiful (or even silly) card “just because”, make time for your loved ones–even if you don’t think you can.

There are definitely potholes in the roads of life. Nevermind them. Stop to smell the roses and enjoy the journey as best you can. Cherish every moment that you breathe. Live so that you won’t have regrets. Forgive and forget–even if it hurts. Love yourself enough to love those around you. Don’t wait until it’s too late and you can’t…

I leave you with this thought: life is a book.

Be sure to subscribe to Writing the Cyber Highway’s 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-In-Chief and an Editor. Eeek! I’ll also be posting that contest I’ve been telling you about, so keep up with me on the cyber highway!

Photo Credit: wowacom

Where have I been?

Hi, y’all! I can’t believe how quickly time flies by! Seriously, I cannot believe it has been 4 weeks since I last posted here. Sheesh! Anyone miss me??

So, here’s what has been going on. In the past couple of months, I’ve had two deaths in the family (both cousins in their thirties) and I almost lost my dad as well. I’ve also been writing, writing, writing. My assignments are increasing (both with a byline and my ghostwriting/blogging) so things have been busy.

Most of you also know I have another blog – Healing with (Raw) Juices – and I’m honored to have various health companies sponsoring contests that I’m able to host. You’ll continue to see those from now on!!

I’m a Green Job Hunter!

But what I truly wanted to share with you today is that Lori, from Green Gigs, has profiled me as a Green Job Hunter on her blog. See the screenshot? Yep, that’s me! Eeek! How exciting, eh? (I think so!)

Never heard of Green Gigs?

Are you serious? You  have to check it out now: visit Green Gigs. Go ahead, I’ll wait…. Did  you see it? Isn’t it amazing?! Be sure to subscribe and check in every day so you can find eco-friendly jobs. It’s a great place to visit. I just applied to a gig and it looks promising!

Feelings of gratitude for Green Gigs

I was genuinely excited when Lori contacted me and asked me if I’d like to kick off her Green Job Hunter profiles. I think her idea for this category is phenomenal and so is she. With a passion for the environment and for her readers, Lori goes out of her way to bring us eco-friendly job listings. Thank you, Lori. You’re the bestest “green gal” ever!

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming for you….

Contest on the Cyber Highway

I’m so excited to be able to bring a contest to you! In the next few days I’ll be publishing a post with a prize a lot of my writing/blogging pals have been longing to get their hands on. I know some of you have yet to break down and buy this one and that’s why I’m even more excited that not only will there be one winner–but two! So, two of you will win this fantabulous prize!! I can’t wait to see who wins. I know you’ll be excited when the contest post is live. I sure am excited to be involved!!

Be sure to subscribe to Writing the Cyber Highway’s Feed or by e-mail, so you won’t miss upcoming posts and updates. Look for writing tips, inspiration, news from my own writing life, as well as interviews with amazing and inspiring folks–and CONTESTS are coming soon!!!

When I first started this blog, it was my desire to blaze a trail along the cyber highway. Well, that’s happening now! Eeek!!!

I’m swiping the following quote I saw on Steve’s blog (My Wife QUIT Her Job) because I think it fits perfectly with this post–and Steve’s a nice guy.

“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” – Reggie (Reginald Joseph) Leach

I love this quote because it shows that success isn’t going to just land in our lap, we have to go after it. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing! I told Steve sometimes I feel like I have set myself on fire!

I thought you might enjoy an update on my writing adventures, what I’ve been up to, and how things are going.

So… here it is:

• I’m now a contributing writer for RawPeople.com. You can see the articles I’ve written for them so far on my article page. (It’s such a blessing to be a part of this amazing team!!)
• I’ve sold a story to Rural Missouri that is due out sometime in the next few months: Someday Soap
• I have a story coming out in Pure Inspiration magazine, Summer edition. It’s about a beautiful experience I had when I was only five.
• I’ve also been ghostwriting and ghostblogging…
• I’ve been working super hard on my health site: HealingwithJuices.com
• I have a (second) success story coming out in Writers Weekly (I’ll update when that’s published).
• Two of my articles are featured in Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader.
• And… I’m now living on an Amish farm (!!)

I had also promised to update you on my Mom’s website and blog. She’s still working on adding things and getting it the way she wants and getting more articles up, but her website is HillbillyHeavenHerbs.com and her blog is HillbillyHeavenHerbs.com/Blog. Have fun!

Be sure to subscribe to Writing the Cyber Highway’s Feed or by e-mail, so you won’t miss upcoming posts and updates. Look for writing tips, inspiration, news from my own writing life, as well as interviews with amazing and inspiring folks–and CONTESTS are coming soon!!!