1/17/12– Does age slow one? Probably.  I'm only a week older than when I sent the last blog into cyberspace, but my usual Monday send escaped before I could nail it down.

I have a wonderful email this morning from a "satisfied" reader about my Iron Grip memoir.  This woman is a friend of a friend.  Her message (abbreviated)  "I read until 2 a.m.  and got up at 6 this morning to finish the book.. . ."  This was after she had borrowed the book from a friend who purchased one and lent her the copy.  She also took it to her book club and several in the goup have ordered their own copies.  Of course, this "makes my day." Meanwhile, a professional reviewer in California is sending her review to a long list of organizations and publications that we hope will want the book.   Belatedly, though the book is listed in Amazon, it moves down and down their list unless it receives approval comments from readers.  So the call is out.  If you have read the book–or want to read it–let me know. A brief review on Amazon will be appreciated.

Meanwhile for your lst of "writing things to do" here are some possibilities.  Another call out from Chicken Soup For the Soul:  This title is "The Power of Positive"  ("101 inspirational stories about changing your life through positive thinking.") See:www.chickensoup.com

Central Coast Branch of California Writers Club Contest:  $250 (first prizes) will go to two winners in prose and to two in poetry.  see: http://centralcoastwriters.org/images/2012_CWC_CONTEST_RULES_Final.pdf

The Raleigh Review seeks short fiction (1200 words max) and four to five poems.  Pays $10 per accepted title.  This is a literary magazine.  see: www.raleighreview.org/Submission_Guidelines.html

I'll try to be on time next week.  Willma