A to Z Spotlight

Quote of the Day:  Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed. Buddha

Today, I am being featured on the Blogging from A to Z Blog by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The A to Z Blog Challenge happens in April. Bloggers are challenged to write a post a day in April, excluding Sundays, using each letter of the alphabet. In 2011, I used a word a day associated with the theatre, and my sister challenged me to use a name for each letter. I didn't quite make the name challenge, but came close. Alex asked me about my posts from the 2012 challenge.

I love blogging from

To

.

 

If you are a blogger, or ever thought of blogging, I'd recommend doing the A to Z challenge. It's a great way to challenge yourself to write every day, enhance your writing skills, spark your creativity, and meet other bloggers. You gain followers really fast, and it's like a big blog party. My friends and family told me they liked it because they knew I'd have a new post every day. That made me feel good. Click over to the Blogging from A to Z blog to read my interview and find out what I might use for my theme in 2013. (I reserve the right to change my mind. However, after the interview, I started taking notes for my next theme.)

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

And, Happy Halloween!

 

Journaling Prompt:  What would you use for the A to Z challenge in 2013? Do you understand the salt part of the Buddha quote?

Writer-Mama-Pal Interview

Quote of the Day: It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. - E.B. White at the end of Charlotte's Web

My best writer-mama-pal is Roxane Salonen. She has two picture books published and numerous articles in local magazines. She's also started hosting a radio show once a week (or there abouts), has written her memoir, is starting a novel, and continues to write short stories for the children's market. She's married and has five children, preschool-8th grade. She's a busy, and very self-motivated, writer-mama. She's a night writer, and I am impressed with what she can accomplish in the dark of night, and then in the light of day with family and life.

We traveled together in the fall of 2006 to Washington state where she was promoting her pictures books and reconnecting with friends she'd made while living there several years ago. I tagged along to carry books, to help with her youngest who traveled with us, to see the sights, and to visit my little sister Joy. Here we are in Seattle.

Last spring, the Red River of the North got out of control in the Fargo-Moorhead area, so I said, "Just come over here, where's there's heart-space, there's floor-space." She and her five children joined me and my four sons to form quite the gathering at the kitchen table. Picture large pots of spaghetti, and a banana bread that disappeared as soon as the knife made the first slice through. The kids played video games, and built giant snowmen, and we made memories.

Today, my writer-mama-pal has interviewed ME and posted it on her blog. Please, go to Peace Garden Mama to read about our great writer relationship, my journey as a writer, and see how the seeds of encouragement can blossom into something beautiful.

Journaling Prompt: Who encourages you on your journey?