Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Saturday, December 25, 2010
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11:03 PM
Some of you may know that my son Ian and I made a mad dash to Dallas and back last week. My sister and her husband adopted four children and the court date came up too late for us to fly. So I picked Ian up at college and off we drove, making it in only 2 days. The following day was the big adoption, with a party our family threw for them on their return. We left to come back to Florida on Friday morning and made it safely home last Saturday night (late!). Getting ready for Christmas after that trip has been a bit of a challenge, but we managed to pull off most of the things that had to get done.
However, I could not have missed the adoption party for my new niece and nephews!!! They are the best bunch of kids and I couldn't be happier for the entire family! It certainly brought home the true meaning of Christmas to my family and me: Love.
I hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Friday, December 17, 2010
on
9:10 AM
I woke up this morning to a wonderful Christmas treat as my son and I are getting ready to drive back to Florida from Texas. Lynn aka Red Adept reviewed ANGEL BE GOOD on her fabulous blog this morning. If you're a Kindle user and you don't subscribe to her blog, you should! It's a great source for information on eBooks with thoughtfully written reviews as well. Click here to link to her site. Here's a little snippet from her review:
" It made for a fun, easy read, which is just what I want in a holiday novel."
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
on
8:00 AM
I'm excited to announce that for the month of December, the Kindle version of ANGEL BE GOOD will be on sale for only $0.99!
Miracles still happen in modern day New York when "Scrooge" (Nathaniel Danvers) meets "Heaven Can Wait" (Daphne), who has been sent to give him one last chance at redemption. ANGEL BE GOOD captures the essence of the classic Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and offers a touch of humor and romance. A perfect holiday feel-good read.
"This is without a doubt one of the sweetest renditions of "A Christmas Carol" I've ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every page. " --Kathy Boswell, Managing Editor, The Best Reviews
Melissa Simpson reviews some of the Romance novels available at the James City County and Williamsburg Libraries. My book Hot Flash is one of the books she discusses :)
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Saturday, November 20, 2010
on
10:00 AM
The Tampa Area Romance Authors (TARA) meeting on Saturday was awesome. Our special guest was Brenda Chin, Senior Editor of Harlequin Blaze. Pictured above are Brenda Chin with Betina Krahn. Pictured below are Brenda Chin with Wendi Darlin.
I previously posted that I had compiled some of my writing articles and workshops into an eBook. Several people complained that I didn't give enough pertinent information about the book, so here's a link to more info.
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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10:51 AM
I've been meaning to post about my recent research trip to Independence, KS during the Neewollah Festival. Alfie Thompson graciously allowed me to stay with her family and took me to the Grand Parade. We had a wonderful time!
I wanted to share some of the photos I took.
Queen Neelah's float.
I thought these horses and stage coach were a true highlight of the parade.
Pictured below are Judy & Lance Stanislaus, owners of Uncle Jack's Bar & Grill in Independence. They were kind enough to feed us a wonderful and delicious breakfast the morning of the Grand Parade.
Uncle Jack's is a special place. Even the Ladies' Room offers something unique by way of door handles :)
Another highlight of my day was stopping by Bette & Phil's Hallmark store. It was fun meeting everyone there!
I had such a great time in Kansas -- I can't wait for my next visit!
Today is the official release date of my Confessions Collection, Volume 1!
Some of you may know I used to write confessions for the confessions market. I decided it would be fun to combine a few of my confessions into one volume of short stories. This anthology includes three fun stories: My Husband Calls Me Mama Scrooge!, My Doctor Demanded Sex, and A Math Curse Almost Ruined My Life!
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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11:03 AM
Last night was the launch of C.L. Wilson's CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME, the 5th and final book in her epic fantasy Tairen Soul series and a multi-author book signing at the Carrollwood Tampa Barnes and Noble.
I signed copies of DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN. Also participating were Julie Leto, Kimberly Llewellyn, Linnea Sinclair, and Jamie Rush/Tina Wainscott.
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Monday, October 25, 2010
on
7:45 PM
I had a fabulous time participating in this year's Festival of Reading! The weather was perfect, the setting was idyllic and I think everyone had a great time talking books, books, books :)
I thought I'd share a few photos from the Festival, taken by fellow author, Kimberly Llewellyn, who graciously shared them.
Below is a photo of the fabulous and wonderful Piper Castillo who escorted me around the Festival and introduced me during my seminar. Piper is a St Pete Times Staff Writer.
The next two photos are from the Author Reception held at the beautiful St Pete Times' historic Tramor.
Pictured below, from left to right are Deborah Sharp (author), Sharon Wynne (St Pete Times staff member), Kathy Carmichael, and Kimberly Llewellyn (author).
The wonderful Lori Gaudreau of the St Pete Times is pictured below (in red) in front of the historic Williams House, a beautiful feature of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. It was simply a pleasure meeting Lori. She coordinated all of the authors exceptionally well.
I hope to follow up tomorrow with more photos of this fun event. I truly appreciate being invited to participate by the Times and, as you can see, had a fantastic time!
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Sunday, October 24, 2010
on
11:54 AM
ANGEL BE GOOD by Kathy Carmichael
Miracles still happen in modern day New York when “Scrooge” (Nathaniel Danvers) meets “Heaven Can Wait” (Daphne), who has been sent to give him one last chance at redemption. ANGEL BE GOOD captures the essence of the classic Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol" and offers a touch of humor and romance. A perfect holiday feel-good read.
"ANGEL BE GOOD is another heartwarming and funny tale from romance's latest and ever-so-talented romantic comedy author. Kathy Carmichael makes you laugh and makes you cry and always leaves you satisfied." --Trish Jensen, bestselling author of Stuck With You
"This is without a doubt one of the sweetest renditions of "A Christmas Carol" I've ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every page. " --Kathy Boswell, Managing Editor, The Best Reviews
"...ANGEL BE GOOD is a read to fill your heart with warmth, and is filled with emotional scenes that have you laughing as well as bring tears to your eyes. Don't miss the inspirational message hidden between the lines of this romantic comedy." --Carol Carter, Reviewer, Romance Reviews Today
Come join local Florida authors for fun and festivities as they sign their latest releases at the Carrollwood B&N in Tampa, FL.
Attending authors include:
NY Times & USA Today bestselling author, C.L. Wilson, signing CROWN OF CRYSTAL FLAME, the 5th and final book in her epic fantasy Tairen Soul series.
NY Times bestselling author, Julie Leto will be signing HARD TO HOLD, the launch title for HCI Books new True Vows series of Reality-based™ Romances.
Kathy Carmichael will be signing DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN which received a Booklist Starred Review
Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review and Rita Award winner, Linnea Sinclair will be signing REBELS AND LOVERS, the 4th book in her Dock Five Universe series. NT Times bestselling author, Tina Wainscott/Jaime Rush signing TOUCHING DARKNESS, the latest in her The Offspring: Sexy…dangerous…outcasts, series. Kimberly Llewellyn will be signing her nonfiction book, I WANT TO BE AN AUTHOR: NOW WHAT?
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Popular lecturer on the craft and business of writing, award-winning author Kathy Carmichael has compiled many of her workshops and articles in this first volume of her Fast, Easy, Painless series. A number of these articles appear on her website, but new material includes: Turning your Talents into Income, Characterization and Viewpoint, helpful information about searching for a literary agent, and more.
Featuring a Foreword by Vicki Hinze, Who's Who in the World recipient (author and educator) and award-winning author of ONE WAY TO WRITE A NOVEL and FORGET ME NOT.
Workshops and articles included in Volume 1:
Writing Craft Strengthening Your Manuscript for Contests (and Editors!) Recipe for Writing Characterization and Viewpoint How to Improve Story Dialogue How to Give Your Reader that Ah! Ending Considering Tickling a few Funny Bones? Writing Humor Recommended Reading List Business of Writing Warm Up Your Pitch (Writing the Story Blurb) In-person Pitching Tips Query Letter Basics Turning Your Talents into Income Tips for Finding a Literary Agent Characteristics of Bad Agents Recommended Websites Motivational Banish the Unpublished Writer Blues The Writer's Voyage A Writer’s Life: Hurry Up and Wait
"Clear, concise, and easy to follow. Kathy Carmichael's writing articles will streamline the process toward getting published." ~ Kimberly Llewellyn Award-winning author
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Monday, October 18, 2010
on
10:42 AM
I'll be discussing and signing copies of DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN at the St Pete Times Festival of Reading on Saturday, Oct 23 at 10:00. Admission is free.
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Monday, September 6, 2010
on
11:42 AM
Having a lovely Labor Day with family. Ian's home from college and we've been enjoying having him here. Lots of grilling on the barbecue, chatting and general fun :)
Speaking of fun, I found this cool badge thing about the upcoming Cleveland Street Books & Wine Festival, so thought I'd try it out :) Okay, I tried it and it didn't quite work :/ But at least the link is there
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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7:36 PM
I'm very excited to be participating in the first Clearwater Book & Wine Festival on September 11, 2010. I'll be talking about my books and holding a Q&A session on writing topics, followed by a booksigning. It should be lots of fun. Admittance is FREE!! My appearance is scheduled at the Station Square Park stage at 6:30 p.m. Please stop by!
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
on
11:26 AM
From now until August 17th, a lot of mystery novels are on sale at B&N. I was pleasantly happy to find that my cozy mystery, DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN, is among those discounted 45%. Click here to link to the sale. Click here to link to DIARY.
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Saturday, July 17, 2010
on
9:46 AM
Oh, I received some delightful news yesterday. HOT FLASH is a finalist in the Georgia Romance Writers 2010 Maggie Awards!
Comedy is such an odd bird. It seems that either you totally get it, or you don't get it at all. In this case obviously the judges got it which makes me very happy :)
This contest is very special to me. The first conference I ever attended was GRW's Moonlight and Magnolia's conference. I vividly recall sitting at the awards luncheon and hearing the names of the Maggie finalists called and then the winners were announced. I always wanted to enter the Maggie's and was finally able to do so with HOT FLASH. I have a feeling of going full circle and it's lovely -- KC
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Thursday, June 24, 2010
on
6:09 PM
For those who like old cemeteries, here's a couple of photos of the Lynch Cemetery in Albany, Texas. One was taken four years ago and the other was taken on my recent visit.
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
on
8:58 PM
I recently returned from an awesome research trip to Albany, Texas. Terri (my sister) and I had a wonderful time further exploring the area. Our great-great grandfather (Judge John Cornelius Lynch) settled here before it became the county seat and was ultimately named Albany :) Pictured above is the current day ranch that used to be the Lynch Ranch. Our father actually lived here when he was young.
Over the course of the next month, I'll post more of our photos from the trip. And soon, PUPPY PHOTOS!
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Both of us believe in to-do lists, but we wanted so much more and couldn't find it on the market. We sat down after a conference a couple of weeks ago and worked out what we needed. We brainstormed inspiring thoughts to keep us pointed toward success. And while our Success Journal is great for writers, it's also great for anyone else, too!
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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10:57 PM
It's been a wild and crazy week! Ian came home from college for a few days and then Andrew came home yesterday. While here, he purchased his first new car!
I really enjoyed the joy ride with him this morning :)
The 2010 Silken Sands Conference was wonderful. Beautiful beach setting, wonderful workshops and great people! Pictured above are Karen Rose, Barbara Vey and Kathy Carmichael.
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Friday, March 12, 2010
on
11:57 PM
I'll be signing copies of Diary of a Confessions Queen today at the Carrollwood Barnes & Noble, 11802 Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL from 2:30 till 4:00, along with other TARA authors including:
Debut author Erica Ridley, Jeanie London, Virginia Henley, Joan Johnston, Susan Kearney, Betina Krahn, C.L. Wilson, Ann Jacobs and Roxanne St. Claire!
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
on
11:43 AM
I was really excited to learn that HOT FLASH is a finalist in the 2010 New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award! I'm visiting family in Texas right now and it was especially fun to share the news with them :)
Here's the complete list of finalists:
Finalists are listed in alphabetical order. ***NEC Member
Short Contemporary Finalists Colorado Christmas – CC Coburn Healing the Boss’s Heart – Valerie Hansen Meant To Be – Donna Marie Rogers
Long Contemporary Finalists Hope Street – Judith Arnold*** Hot Flash – Kathy Carmichael Spinning Forward – Terri DuLong Historical Finalists If He’s Sinful – Hannah Howell*** Confederate Rose – Susan Macatee Wickedly Ever After – Michelle Marcos Romantic Suspense Finalists Operation Sheba – Misty Evans No Alibi – Valerie Hansen More Than Great Riches – Jan Washburn Erotica Finalists – (this category had a tie in one of placements – hence the four finalists) Illegal Moves – Dalton Diaz***/Samantha Cayto*** Adored – Tina Donahue Do You Trust Me – Desiree Holt Past Lies – Shayla Kerstan Future/Fantasy/Time Travel/Paranormal Finalists A Highlander of Her Own – Melissa Mayhue Desire Untamed – Pamela Palmer Ghost of A Chance – Judi Phillips***
Winners and the second and third place entries will be announced and awards presented at our 2010 Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference on March 26-27,2010. So be sure to join us at the conference to congratulate the winners. Valerie Harris Bean Pot Contest Coordinator
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Thursday, February 18, 2010
on
10:10 AM
I'm going to be presenting a free and open to the public workshop about how to earn income with your writing at the Safety Harbor Library on Feb 20th (this Saturday) at 2:00 pm. For more information, click here. I'd love to see you there!
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
on
8:08 AM
Come join me tonight at Mo's Book Buzz. It's sure to be tons of fun! We'll be talking about my new book, old books, making the switch from romance to mystery, and basically whatever anyone brings up :) It's Q&A format, with lots of discussion about life and writing and what actor would play the perfect Ranger in the upcoming Stephanie Plum movie. Chat starts at 9:00pm Eastern. This is the direct link to the chatroom. Click on the drop down box where it says Room: and choose Mo's Book Buzz.
I'll be giving away an autographed copy of Diary of a Confessions Queen to one lucky chatter!
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
on
8:30 AM
I'm feeling especially blessed today. Julianne Draper, the Tampa Books Examiner, has written an awesome review for Diary of a Confessions Queen.Click here to read it.
Also, I came across this blog post recently and thought it was worth posting about it. It's written by Sara Baker on the American Fuji blog. Click here to read it. It's about how readers can help writers.
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Thursday, February 11, 2010
on
10:55 AM
I just learned that the Seattle Writing Careers Examiner is running one of my articles today :) It's about choosing the right POV for your story. Click here to read the article.
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
on
7:32 PM
Come join me tomorrow (Feb 11th) at Sleuth's Ink for a discussion about pitching and querying editors and agents :) Your questions are welcome! -- KC
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Curious about how authors go about researching real locations for their books? Visit NovelThoughts where I'm guest blogging today about the on-location research I did for Diary of a Confessions Queen. Plus comment on the article at NovelThoughts in order to be entered into the drawing for an autographed copy of the book! -- KC
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Monday, February 8, 2010
on
1:08 PM
Today Vicki Hinze features DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN on Chapter1Zone.com. I'm tickled pink! Please stop by to read an excerpt and enter the contest to win an autographed copy! -- KC
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Saturday, February 6, 2010
on
3:13 PM
I just found a lovely review for Diary on the Bookloons.com website. Here's a snippet:
Diary of a Confessions Queen is a good mix of humour and mystery. Filled with crazy characters, it is action packed and at times a laugh out loud read. ~ Joan Burton, Bookloons.com
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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8:27 AM
Just a quick note to let folks know I'm blogging on Magical Musings today. My topic is what to do while you're waiting to hear back from an agent or editor. Please stop by! I'm happy to answer writing related questions! This is a great site. If you haven't visited before, you'll find lots of interesting and useful information there.
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Monday, February 1, 2010
on
12:32 PM
Today is an especially exciting day for me.
Diary of a Confessions Queen is officially released today! Yay! Here's a short blurb:
Confessions writer Amy Crosby has put her life on hold for the last seven years after the disappearance of her husband, Dan. In writing for "True Lies Magazine," guilt-ridden Amy takes on the abilities her fictional characters confess to, such as the time she thought she was psychic after researching clairvoyants. With fatalistic acceptance of the craziness in her life, she uses humor to cope; but when the home Dan bought for them is about to be foreclosed, her only answer is his having him declared legally dead and using his life insurance policy. Her home is safe--that is, until she receives a blackmail note. Equal parts mystery and humor, this novel is sure to keep readers guessing--and laughing--until the end.
I'm running a new contest on Fresh Fiction for a copy of Diary and a $25 pre-paid VISA card. Click here to enter.
And, last but not least, the radio play / action interview about Diary of a Confessions Queen starts airing today at 3:00 pm. It'll run throughout the month. Click here to listen!
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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1:56 PM
I’m really excited about a fun project the folks at Medallion Press and I have been cooking up. And now I can tell everyone about it! I would very much appreciate it if you would share this with others.
Medallion Press on Blog Talk Radio will be airing a radio play / action interview based on Diary of a Confessions Queen all month, starting February 1st! We had a blast doing the various character parts and most especially, the sound effects! Here’s the link (but wait until Feb 1st)!
From Medallion Press:
We’re excited for the start of another one-of-a-kind Medallion offering. It’s EXCITING! It’s UNIQUE! And it’ll CHANGE the way you LISTEN to interviews forever!
It’s the ACTION INTERVIEW, and you can only hear it on MEDALLION PRESS RADIO!
On February 1, listen to our one-of-a-kind ACTION INTERVIEW with author Kathy Carmichael as we use locations, sound effects, and characters from her book Diary of a Confessions Queen to completely transform your listening experience. It’s MORE than just an interview; it’s an exciting experience that will draw you into the fictional world of Kathy’s newest release. We’re not just going to TELL you what the book is about. Instead, you’ll EXPERIENCE what the book is about and get a greater feel for the comedy and suspense you can expect when you read Diary of a Confessions Queen.
Reviews:
Booklist Starred Review: "... Carmichael (Hot Flash, 2009) has created a thrilling whodunit in her trademark sassy, breezy style. Readers will enjoy her unique blend of humor and suspense." ~ Shelley Mosley, Booklist
"Sprightly humor and eccentric characters invigorate this chick lit cozy from romance writer Carmichael (Hot Flash)." ~ Publishers Weekly
“Mystery fans who enjoy bright women working through their problems and solving crimes along the way will love Amy. Carmichael (Hot Flash) knows how to deliver a zinger of a tale with plenty of action.” ~ Library Journal
"This is a story for readers who love layers of kick-ass humor in a cozy mystery. It’s a winner for Carmichael and her distinctive style." ~ Wil A. Emerson, Crime and Suspense Magazine
“Kathy Carmichael writes the most intriguing, funny, wonderful books.” ~ Kathy Boswell, Fresh Fiction
“Fans will enjoy the antics of a heroine who plays the roles of her true confession characters and the cop fixated on her.” ~ Harriet Klausner, MidwestBookReview.com
Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Sunday, January 24, 2010
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2:50 PM
Pictured above is me at my local library, holding the Booklist Romance Top 10 List which featured my last book, Hot Flash. I'm having some serious love for Booklist!
The great folks at Medallion Press sent me a copy of the advanced review from the American Library Association's Booklist magazine, for Diary of a Confessions Queen. I'm so thrilled they gave it a Starred Review!
Here's a small excerpt from the review (since it's an advanced review, the final version might change slightly).
Carmichael (Hot Flash, 2009) has created a thrilling whodunit in her trademark sassy, breezy style. Readers will enjoy her unique blend of humor and suspense. — Shelley Mosley
Diary of a Confessions Queen is my first mystery novel and to say I was worried about how it would be received is an understatement. Especially since it's a comedic mystery! These positive reviews have lightened my heart and this one from Shelley Mosley has made it soar.
All of those negative tapes in my head about "what was I thinking?" have dissipated. So I guess it's time to get back to work on another mystery :) :) -- KC (who is exceedingly grateful)
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Posted by Kathy Carmichael
Saturday, January 23, 2010
on
7:48 PM
Color me delighted! Sabrina Marino of Fresh Fiction had this to say about Diary of a Confessions Queen:
DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN is a hilarious mystery full of zany characters. Amy Crosby has a quirky sense of humor and her mother-in-law is quite entertaining. Kathy Carmichael assuredly has a winner of a humorous mystery with this one.
ALA - BOOKLIST named HOT FLASH one of Top 10 Romances for 2009! I'm an author and the main thing you should know is that I spend way too much time daydreaming. My daydreams are mostly about fictional characters, but I also spend considerable time thinking about my Scottish husband, two sons, RWA, and where I mislaid my reading glasses.
Queen Neelah's float.
I hope to follow up tomorrow with more photos of this fun event. I truly appreciate being invited to participate by the Times and, as you can see, had a fantastic time!
