Kicking off the New Year!

Hello all!  Happy New Year- a bit belatedly.  I've been working hard on a creative project and haven't made time to blog for a while.  Just wanted to check in and let you know what's in store for me this year.  I have just had the pleasure of interviewing author Natalie Goldberg for Creativity Portal, and am in the process of  writing it up.  It should go live in early February, with a follow-up a couple weeks later.  I'm so excited! 

In the meantime, here's a treat for my followers- some fabulous new photos to inspire your pen!

Bright Blooms Are Blossoming in My Creative Garden!

Bright Blooms on a Dreary Day

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Here's what's blossoming in my creative garden...

In this season of grey skies and chilly nights, it's especially important to keep the soul-fires burning bright.
That's why I picked today as the perfect time to post guest blogger Joy Paley's article about seeking enlightenment in the Nevada desert.  Link to my Guest Starring page to read about Joy Paley's journey in Desert Drive. 

Nevada Desert Temple with Labyrinth

Photograph by Joy Paley

I recently interviewed folk artist Tina Verduzco for my exclusive Creativity Portal interview series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts."  Her story is truly amazing- and check out her art!  You can connect with Tina directly at http://www.casadelunasea.com/ .

Fabulous Folk Art by Tina Verduzco

Remembering Water Fairies, By Tina Verduzco

I slowly shuffled into the café and poured myself into a corner booth. I placed my sandy feet on the bench across from me. Swearing under my breath, damn! My feet were already swollen and it wasn’t even 9:00!

Old Dan appeared and wordlessly sat my order down. I chuckled to myself as I poured hot milk into my coffee and stirred in cinnamon from a bottle he placed in front of me. Remembering Old Dan when he was Young Dan. Forty or so years ago, back when his father Old Dan ran this place and Young Dan ran to keep up.

I heard the door open and turned to see three young girls walk in. Breathtaking children I thought. No, not really children but their age was difficult to guess. They wore bikini tops and long flowey hippy skirts. Grains of sand clung to their arms and bangles shimmered and clanged on their wrists. Their long red tresses cascaded down their backs. Sisters it appeared. All alike in willowy stature. The tallest walked to the bar and asked for a glass of water with two lemon slices. Old Dan seemed to be caught up in their intrigue and stumbled to get her request. The other sisters giggled and stole sugar packets from the table.

Water Fairies I thought to myself but shook my head at a silly old woman’s musing. As she finished her water the taller sister reached for a few coins to leave on the table, but Old Dan refused the money and pushed it back into her perfectly formed hand. “It was my pleasure Miss”. She flashed a brilliant and knowing smile as she signaled the others to go. She caught my eye or was it my stunned look of possible recognition? As she floated by she winked at me and lifted up her skirt. In that glaring Florida morning sun I swore I saw not bare feet but a splash of emerald green. A tear slid down my face as I remember a wish I once confided to a water fairy, something about growing old, in a small sea side town.

Author's Note:  If you enjoyed this story, please see my upcoming interview with Tina Verduzco on Creativity Portal, to be published in November.  For more information about Water and Wine Fairies and Tina's artwork, visit http://www.casadelunasea.com/.

What's Brewing in My Creative Cauldron?

As summer segues into autumn, I've been enraptured by the sights and smells of the changing seasons.  Woodsmoke and rain, falling leaves, thunderstorms, crimson and golden aspen leaves... this is my favorite time of year, I think.  Jack-o-lanterns are already peeking out at me from my neighbor's porches, and it's starting to get cold again at night.  Time to break out the flannel sheets and cozy up...

I am preparing to participate in National Novel Writing Month in November, and will be giving a talk on Monday about plotting your nanonovel.  In other creative news, I'm working on edits for a novella and new interviews for Creativity Portal and Edible San Juan Mountains.  I'm writing a few new stories, expanding my professional blogging services to include creativity consultations, and trying to keep up with my blogs! 

I recently took a day-trip with my man to check out the fall colors, and I got some great photos.  I'll be sharing those with you soon.  I'd love to see your best fall photos!  Share them with me at stealingplums@yahoo.com - I'll publish my favorites on my Guest Starring page!

Stormy Weather...

New Poetry Page!

Fabulous news for poetry lovers!  I have decided to add a new feature to Stealing Plums.  My new Poetry page, Taking Dictation From the Muses, just went live today!  I've already posted one poem, "Waxing to Full," and will be adding more content soon. 

If you'd like to see your poetry or prose featured on Stealing Plums, or my sister blog, Addictive Fiction, please send queries to me at stealingplums@yahoo.com.

Chaco Canyon Photos and Poetry Now Online at Words and Images by Cynthia

Chaco Canyon Love Song, a poem originally published in the anthology, Eternal Portraits, is debuting online at Words and Images by Cynthia.  It will be accompanied by several photographs taken during a recent expedition to Chaco Canyon, a few hours south of my home in Durango.  Words and Images by Cynthia is one of my favorite sources for inspiration online, and is published by writer and photographer Cynthia Staples. 

Here's a sneak peek- one of my favorite photos from Chaco Canyon...

Doorways into the Past

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

"Seven Ways to Grow Your Writers' Group" Goes Live!

Great news, readers!  My newest article for Chuck Sambuchino's Guide to Literary Agents blog was published today.  This article is the second piece in a short series on writers' groups I'm creating for this blog.  It's a fantastic resource for writers, and I highly recommend subscribing to this feed. 

My newest article, Seven Ways to Grow Your Writers' Group, outlines seven great strategies for finding new members.  The next piece in this series will cover different aspects of making a group critique session a success.  These articles are inspired by my experiences as the founder and facilitator of Wild Women Writing.

In Other Creative News...

Chuck Sambuchino, writer and editor for Writer's Digest Books, recently released his newest creation, "How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack."  We'll be dishing the dirt about those despicable little devils next month, in an interview for my exclusive Creativity Portal series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts."  Stay tuned!