Welcome to The VERB!

A new year, and another chance to evaluate where I’m going. What do I want to accomplish this year? Not long after I asked that, I stumbled upon this quote: “We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Hmm . . . so I may not live on the coast (yet) and see the ocean outside my window as I write (yet), but I have many things right here, right now that make my life happier and easier.

Take my computer nerd husband. (And by the way, that's a badge of honor, not an insult. This genius keeps up with all the latest electronic gadgets, and can snag a part, any part, in the blink of an eye and at a huge discount.) I mentioned over dinner one night how slow my PC had become, which made working on this ezine, in particular, a pain in my backside. I not only wanted to toss the old Hewlett-Packard out the window, I wanted to toss it out the window, set it on fire, and then shoot it. A few days later, hubby walked into my office, disconnected the old HP and carried her downstairs. There, he proceeded to gut her. When she returned, I didn't recognize her. What speed! What agility! And was that a DVD player? Ecstatic, I screamed with joy. But no one could hear me.

You see, downstairs in the wide open spaces of nerd-dom, hubby didn't notice the sound of the new fan. But back in its little niche, well, the Hewlett-Packard sounded like a 747. Suddenly I couldn't hear my phone ring, let alone talk on it. The cats bolted. The FAA surrounded the house. And even as I worked on this VERB, I swear I heard Eagles Don Henley shout, "I'm trying to sing over here!" But hey, I chose to appreciate what I had. I plugged in my earphones and continued to work, willing to tolerate the effects of a subsonic cruise speed of Mach 0.85 if it gave me a lightning quick computer.

Hubby, on the other hand, found a sleek fan that did its business in complete silence. He plans to install it after this issue goes out. So I'll have the best of two worlds: high speed computing and no jet engine. I intend to appreciate that every day.

HORN-TOOTIN' TIME
Feel free to send in writing news you'd like to share with our readers.

Michael Palmer's best seller The Fifth Vial has been released in paperback. This premium edition (taller, with larger, more readable print) also introduces Chapter 1 of his upcoming novel The First Patient. Request a personalized book plate here.

ReadingWriter Maggie Grinnell has released a book of her writings. Maggie's Scribblings contains poems, short stories and colorful graphics. Visit her website for ordering information.

ReadingWriter Nancy Myer announces Seton Hill University is seeking an author/speaker with good visibility and a publication record to be the keynote speaker for the Writing Popular Fiction conference on June 27, 28 and 29, 2008. The author/speaker should broaden the writers' knowledge on writing fiction. In addition they seek agents interested in presenting and hearing pitches from writers attending the conference.

Now in its seventh year of success, this conference is affiliated with the Masters in Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, an innovative program that continues to attract students from all over. Conference attendees include graduates of the program and many other interested writers. The genres the program covers are children and youth, science fiction and horror, romance, mystery and suspense.

Compensation to the author/speaker includes airfare, on-campus lodging, food and a $500 honorarium. Seton Hill hospitality abounds while visitors are with them. The conference continues to grow annually because they consistently offer good quality speakers. If interested, please drop me a line and I'll forward your info to Nancy.

And now, without further ado . . . turn the page.

Elizabeth Guy
Editor

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This issue 
was published 
under the musical 
influence of

EAGLES
Long Road Out Of Eden