Tomorrow’s Guest Blogger

I’m introducing another Northern Colorado writer tomorrow. Deborah Hardy enjoyed many happy years of marriage with her husband Bryan before he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. During Bryan’s illness, Debbie kept friends and family up-to-date by e-mail, ending each note with a word of hope or encouragement, even in the darkest hours.

Many reported that those words caused them to make positive changes in their lives, repair relationships, accomplish goals, and improve their attitudes. She continues to offer hope and encouragement through speaking and her blogs, Stepping Through Cancer and Stepping Through Life. Debbie’s first book, Stepping Through Cancer: A Guide for the Journey, a manual for cancer caregivers, is scheduled for release soon from Higher Life Publishing.

Debbie’s post is about researching and writing, One Step at a Time.

Contest to Win Books by Julia Spencer-Fleming

If you haven’t already done so, head on over to Minotaur Books, where the publisher is giving three readers a chance to win all six books in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series by Julia Spencer-Fleming plus an advanced reading copy of the seventh, One Was a Soldier, scheduled to be published this April. You have until March 1st, 2011 to enter.

Julia has a website with more information about her and her excellent mystery series.

Arlee Bird’s 2011 A to Z April Challenge at tossing it out blog

As of yesterday, there were 201 bloggers signed up for the A to Z Challenge. If you haven’t jumped into the pool yet, why not read more about the challenge and at least think about.

Come on. Sign up. I know you want to.

What I’m Reading

I just finished the delightful amateur sleuth mystery by Mary Kennedy, Dead Air: A Talk Radio Mystery. I enjoyed it so much I added Reel Murder and Stay Tuned for Murder to my TBR list.

For a change of pace, I’m now reading Brad Thor‘s latest thriller. The Athena Project. This book is heavy on woman power, which is great. I like seeing modern female warriors in fast-paced thrillers.

A Blog Post for Procrastinating Writers

I saw this post tweeted by author/blogger friend Elizabeth Spann Craig (who also writes as Riley Adams). The post is so good, I’m linking to it as well. It’s called It’s Time To Finish Your Book: 9 Productivity Tips for Writers and is from write to done: unmissable articles on writing.

My Friday (Oops, I Mean Thursday) Guest Appearance at Meanderings and Muses

I’ll be out and about again Thursday (even though I had written it on my calendar on Friday). Kaye Barley graciously invited me to be her guest, and I’ll be chatting about my messy office, the new addition to my household (Katrina Katie Kitten), and how I manage to work under these conditions. I’ll have the permalink up here tomorrow.

I hope you’ll stop by and visit Kaye’s blog often. She has a great list of guests on a variety of topics, and the whole 2011 lineup is available in her blog’s sidebar. You won’t be disappointed.