October 27, 2008

Research With My Sister

I mentioned before that I went on this last research trip with my sister, Gayle.  I usually go on these by myself, but she's my new official plotting partner and we both thought it would be really helpful if she went with me this time.  Before we left, she sent me an email saying she'd done "a little" research on the web about my topic and she had compiled a notebook for me.

Well, we get to the airport and she pulls out this GIANT 4" binder with tabs, highlights, notes and cross-references.  I couldn't believe it!  It was awesome, but not exactly what I would call a "little" research.  We laughed and laughed.  I had to get a picture of it (see the binder in the photo on the left).

This trip was particularly special because Gayle is leaving for England this week and won't be back for six months!  So, I was really glad to get this one-on-one time with her.  We got a lot of work done--she's an AMAZING researcher--and we also shared lots of laughes.  It was really great.

I can't tell you too much about the trip because the location and premise of the book is secret until I get it written (which takes me a year).  So, this is my 2010 historical (not the one that comes out this upcoming June).  It doesn't have a title, but here are some pics from it:

I always take carriage rides or wagon rides when I can so I can get a feel for what it was like:

This is Gayle and me.  After the girl took this picture, she said, "Are you two sisters?"  We laughed and that answered the question for us--our laughes are EXACTLY the same.  :)

posted by Deeanne on 10/27/2008 - 6 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

October 20, 2008

Cast Your Vote

The daughter who went to Italy (see previous two posts) is entering three of her photos in a contest.  She's narrowed it down from the 1000+ she took to the four below.  But none of us can decide which three she should enter.  What do you think?

The categories are Landscape and People.  She can enter a total of three and she has to come up with a title for them.  Here are the two People photos she is considering (right click on them and open in a new window to see a larger version):

Soldier:

Rosary:

Here are the two Landscape photos she is considering:

Seashore:

Lightning:

Which three do you think she should enter?  Any suggestions for titles?

posted by Deeanne on 10/20/2008 - 17 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

October 13, 2008

No Can Do

I was hoping to put together a slide show featuring a few photos my daughter took while she was in Italy for a Study Abroad program.  She took Art History and Digital Photography for college credit while she was there.  This was one of the photos she took for her Digital Photography class.  Is that so cool?  She didn't doctor the photo or anything.  She just managed to snap the picture right as the lightning struck.

I'm out of town right now researching my 2010 book and I just don't have the time it would take to cull through her photos and pick out my favorites (she took about 1700 pics!!!).  So, I will leave you with this one for now.  (If you right-click on it and open it in a new window, you can see a larger version of it.)

Anyhoo, I'll hopefully be back on track next week.

posted by Deeanne on 10/13/2008 - 7 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

October 06, 2008

A Little Piece of Italy

Our 21 yo went to Italy this summer to do a Study Abroad program.  She was there for the month of July and took Art History and Digital Photography.  When she returned in August, she had lots of adventures to tell us about.  She did so over a "real" Italian dinner she made us.  I'm ashamed to say I can't remember what the name of the dish was that we ate or the name of the dessert!  (A lot has happened between then and now.)

Anyway, here's some pictures of the big cooking experiement:

Dad cubes tomatoes.

Mom stirs the pot (literally, not figuratively!!).

Dinner is served!

It was yummy and quite an ambitious undertaking.  Next week I'll show you some of the pictures she took for her digital photography class.

posted by Deeanne on 10/06/2008 - 1 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

October 04, 2008

Bustles and Spurs

I'm participating in a new "group" blog with authors who write western-ish inspirationals.  We will be exploring a broad base of topics related to the old west. 

I will be posting something on the 4th of every month and today (Oct. 4) is my first post.  I discuss the proper etiquette for taking your gal out on a walk in 1898.  It's called "Manners Make the Man."

The guidelines I've posted are from the same etiquette book I used when writing the TROUBLE books, except for those, I learned the proper etiquette for bicycle riding.

Mosey on over to hear more.  We're at www.bustlesandspurs.com.

posted by Deeanne on 10/04/2008 - 3 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

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