News, Invitation, Contest, Courses

We interrupt your normal Wednesday routine with some fun news and announcements!

No, I haven't lost my mind, but after reading this post, some people may wonder...

I just signed up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It will be my first time, although I've wanted to do it in previous years and just never had the courage. This year, I'm gonna do it!

I invite all of you to join me! It will be fun! It doesn't cost anything, unless you choose to donate something to the NaNoWriMo organization, and the comraderie of thousands working so diligently to write 50,000 words in 30 days is tremendous.

If you decide to participate, let us know in the comments. I may write a follow-up post with all the Pixels participating! Your prayers for all participants (and their families) are greatly appreciated.


Now for some other quickie news - we're having a contest over at my Examiner page this week in recognition of Great Books Week. Just answer the question posted each day (5 questions, 5 days), and you'll be entered to win a prize pack of five great books. (List of books tbd.)

Oh - and while you're reading - two more bits of news. WIES Workshops is offering a writing course especially for young authors ages 10-15. Reach for the Stars! starts Monday, October 12th, so if you know of any youngsters who might be interested, there's still time to register!

Then, the following Monday, a course for writing devotionals begins. This awesome course is taught by prolific writer Jeanette Hanscome. Registration for this course is also open now.

Fun Friday!

I normally don't do these kinds of posts, but I needed a little break, so I decided to play. This is one of those "Get to Know Me" tag games, and I was tagged by Nicole over at Nicole's Writing Space. (If you haven't visited her, go check out her site - she's doing NaNoWriMo, and has some great tips for partipants, and lots of other tips for writers too!)

First, these are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Facts About Tracy:

1) I love - LOVE - to fly fish, and learned to use a flyrod by the time I was 5 years old. But I've never fished for trout - I've fished only in lakes in the South. (Bream are my absolute favorite fish - to catch and to eat.)

2) I signed my first book contract this week! Yaay! It's a travel book and will release next year.

3) I hate the winter time change. I wish it could stay the summer time change all year round. I've even written my Congressmen asking them to make it law - many times!

4) Critters seem to like me - beautiful, funky-looking squirrels in my yard entertain me daily, lizards like to come inside and visit, and even an armadillo stopped by for awhile this summer (thankfully he stayed outside.)

5) I think ocean water - real ocean water, not the fake stuff or the Sonic soft drink - is healing to our bodies, and I can never visit the ocean enough to satisfy!

6) I don't currently own a car. But we're thinking about getting me one. Maybe. (They're just too expensive.)

7) My two sons had a difficult upbringing, and I'm partially to blame. It's taken me years to use that word "partially" instead of "totally" but I eventually got there. Now my sons have reached adulthood and they are making smart, good choices for themselves, and for their lives and I am so incredibly proud and grateful to God for getting us all to this point. I'm also thankful to be friends with them - that's a rare gift, and I definitely don't take it for granted.

Now comes the fun part - tagging 7 more people!

Debra Ullrick - Christian Romance Writer

Rosebug Hive 40

Joy in the Mornings

Cheryl W - Life with Cheryl - Roll Tide, Woman, Roll Tide!

Roderick - Christian Life & Lessons

Christianity with Tracey

Christian Parenting