Crafting Words and Wares

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“Do what you can with what you have, where you are” ~ Theodore Roosevelt 

Here in our own little center of the Writers universe in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Steamboat Writers Group ww.steamboatwritersgroup.com  has grown since early this fall. Perhaps people have decided the time to tell their story is now. 

Holidays in the Rockies” is a featured event this weekend, in town. Artisans, craftsmen (and women), and other “creatives,” including local authors, will be gathered and selling their wares. Support those who work with great entrepreneurial spirit in cottage industries and in the independent publishing industry, too. 

Members of our meet-up group, SHe Writes Steamboat, an affiliate of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipacatalog.com will be selling and signing books. We will be located at Booth #l at the Bud Werner Library from 9am to 4pm. Some of our gifted writers such as Kathy Cunningham Guler, Dawn V Obrecht, Susan Mead, Karen Gilroy and Jo Hardesty Lauter will be there to introduce you to their books and to greet you. Ali Boehm will be in attendance with her brother’s book “Louie’s Saxophone” too. Stop by the Steamboat Art Depot across the street. Our member Mary Kurtz will be selling her books and her photographic note cards at the second locale for the event. 

Have plans and unable to attend? You’ll get a second chance. Join Karen Gilroy at the Bud Werner Library on Wednesday evening the 14th at 6:30pm. She will be giving a presentation based on her book “Discovering the Healer Within.” The following evening, on Thursday, December 15th at 6pm Mary Kurtz will be introducing her book. It is of great regional interest here in Routt County and the surrounds. Mary’s book is “ At Home in the Elk River Valley: Reflections on Family, Place and the West.” 

Literature will be available for those who are considering telling their stories in the New Year. The mission of SHe Writes Steamboat is to support independent publishers and to foster independent publishing success. 

See you on Saturday, December 10th! 

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Character Analysis

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Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It’s not hard. Character is doing whats right, when nobody is looking” ~Unknown

Yesterday’s blog Gardens Heaven Scent made me think back to a time some years ago when I would hold annual perennial plant swaps in my gardens in Vermont. I’d get out my best china and linen, make fancy finger foods and entertain with a beautiful garden party. I’d invite the gals over to nosh. Some would come dressed in their durable gardening clothes, and others would arrive in their floppy garden hats and finery, appropriate for a high-noon English tea.

What fun we used to have!  Ironically, many of the attendees were book enthusiasts, too. Sharing opinions and thoughts of “characters in the garden” came easily and it was all part of the fulfilling day. We’d discuss:

  • What the reaction of others was to the overall scene.
  • Which personalities had conflicts with their neighbors
  • How figures underwent change through seasons.
  • Which characters ran around spreading their seeds
  • Star performers vs. minor role players.
  • Which cast of characters maintained their uprightness no matter what
  • Weaknesses and strengths in bit players.
  • What elements contributed to the fate of individual players
  • Villains vs. heroes

Gardeners never run out of things to talk about. Swapping talk of the trade is as fulfilling as the act of gardening itself.

As I write this blog, I am about to head off to discuss another of my passions –  growing the garden of independent publishing. Our meet-up group She Writes Steamboat is helping others who want to grow books . We are having a garden party of sorts. Before I go, I’ll leave you with some food for thought. http://bit.ly/oIkV2g

Making her Debut

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Our aspirations are our possibilities” ~ Samuel Johnson 

Happy Flag Day, everyone! 

Next Tuesday, a week from today, the arrival of Summer will be sharing the day with another debutante in town. Her name is She Writes Steamboat. This new meet-up group has been organized to provide networking opportunity for independent writers and publishers, filmmakers and musicians. Providing support and fostering independent publishing success is the goal. 

Steamboat Springs is a good a place as any for www.SheWrites.com to make an introduction. The town has a great number of women who love to read, write and create! People arrive at this gateway to Routt County for all different reasons and from a variety of places all over the country and the world. Some come seeking refuge from their extraordinary lives elsewhere and others are simply looking for a fulfilling existence in a small town community of diverse, well-educated and energetic people. 

The pathways that have led people to this resort mountain town are as varied as the people themselves. Each person seems to have a unique story of their current life or of times elsewhere. In this community there are bountiful tales to tell of women living purposeful and faithful lives. 

This is an open, friendly community, and today on this Flag Day, I will hang a banner on this website to welcome anyone who wants to learn more about the fast growing and dynamic industry of independent publishing. Women wishing to move in a positive direction to bring personal fulfillment, career advancement and increased visibility for themselves and their businesses are encouraged to attend. 

 Author Mary Kurtz will be sharing her newly published book  At Home in the Elk River Valley: Reflections on Family, Place and the West at our first She Writes Steamboat meet-up event!  Join us at the Bud Werner Library www.steamboatlibrary.com on Tuesday, June 21st at 4pm to celebrate with Mary and other members of She Writes Steamboat!

Spread the word and bring a friend!

Steamboat!

 

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e-Conomies. What Does it All Mean?

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I look for what needs to be done. After all, that’s how the universe designs itself.” ~ Buckminster Fuller

e-Commerce, e-Books, e-Publishing, e-Marketing. http://rww.to/aiuHxb. You’ve heard the terms a lot lately, haven’t you? But what does it all mean? It means entertaining new ways of doing things! 

Let’s face it – our economy needs a kick in the pants! We need independent spirited folks to take ideas and run with them. Brain power, our most available resource, surrounds us everywhere. It is not located in any one place. We need people who are tired of sitting around waiting for something to happen, to make things happen! 

Right here in Steamboat Springs,CO there is a group of people who want to have their say, they want to be heard, and they want to be seen. Right now! They are not willing to play the game of waiting on someone else to create their future for them, or not! 

She Writes Steamboat is a newly-formed meet-up group that will come together for the first time at 4 pm on June 21st at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. www.steamboatlibrary.org.   Independent publishing is one economy that is on the fast track and it is gaining momentum every day. Business people, non-profit organizations, parents, teachers, children and very ordinary folks with unique stories to tell are pumped. Internet and media technologies have changed so greatly over the past 10 years anyone can jump on the train and tell their story, inform, educate and inspire others through all independent film, music or books. Entertain that thought! 

Further, the internet has provided a way for independent publishers to become visible all over the world! Are you ready to share your voice? Join Us @ She Writes Steamboat – click here http://on.fb.me/lbnPms.

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