YIPPEE! AN AUSSIE INVASION!

What a wonderful and hectic weekend this has been. My online friend Susan Horsnell and her husband Robert arrived Thursday from Australia. In addition to their other trip goals, Susan hoped to meet several western historical authors and see Texas firsthand. To help welcome them, Hero and I hosted a little get together Sunday. Several authors and their spouses came to meet Susan in person after knowing her online for several years.

Susan Horsnell (in white) shows Hebby Roman
and Kirsten Osbourne something on her laptop

In addition to moi, writers included Susan Horsnell, Kirsten Osbourne, Carra Copelin, Lyn Horner, Brenda Chitwood, and Hebby Roman. In addition to Hero, husbands included Robert, Keith, Jerry, Ken, and Luis.

Carra Copelin's hubby Jerry and Robert Horsnell at table. Kirsten Osbourne's husband Keith in dark red shirt in the corner is talking to Luis Roman (behind Jerry).

You can image my excitement.  Hero and I used to give huge dinner parties, but we have so-o-o lost the knack. Panic! Darling Daughter 2 came to help out. Eventually we realized these are friends who are not going to be super critical as long as there’s enough to eat and lots of laughter. 

You can’t get a group of writers together and not have talking and laughing. Not possible. You may have heard the din from where you are.

Carra Copelin and Lyn Horner with me
standing behind Lyn

You may wonder why Susan writes Texas-set historical romances when she lives in Australia. Why not? Many Americans write English Regencies or English-set mysteries. Besides, those of us who love the Old West can’t help ourselves. Another besides, Susan also writes books set in Australia. We simply have to tell our stories. 

Hero and Luis Roman

There are a lot of similarities between the Australian frontier and the Old West of the United States. Perhaps that’s why writing stories set in Texas came natural to Susan. (She also writes erotica as Lacey Roberts and those are set anywhere.)

Darling Daughter 2 and Hero

Susan is a retired nurse and, as such, has worked in a variety of interesting jobs. She’s very knowledgeable and adept at discussing medicine. Robert is a retired Commodore from the Royal Australian Navy, which means he’s only one step from an Admiral. Sounds impressive, but he’s a very down-to-earth guy who’s a good conversationalist.  

Carra Copelin, Lyn Horner, and Brenda Chitwood

In addition to her writing, Susan hosts the free website and blog, Easychair Book Shop at http://easychairbookshop.com Susan demonstrates her nurturing ability by promoting other authors work on her site. Stop by and check out the site if you haven’t already done so.

Hmmm. Masked bandit is wearing the same shirt as Brenda. 

During their visit, we had great plans for touring Fort Worth, but snow and ice played havoc with those plans. Sadly, Susan and Robert are leaving Tuesday to head for Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans. They’ll return here the 16^th for several nights before boarding their plane to return home.

Susan forefront in white. Behind her, left to right, Lyn Horner in green, Carra Copelin in flowered top, Brenda Chitwood, Hebby Roman in black and burgundy, Kirsten Osbourne in turquoise print, and (sadly) me, in a flowing tunic that makes me look the size of a house. So much for wearing a knit tunic to be comfortable!

Hero and I count ourselves very fortunate to have Susan and Robert visit. Wish you could have been here too! Next time we’ll save a bowl of chili and some cornbread for you.

RECHARGING

Monday will be my 700th post on this blog. Be sure to return then to help with my celebration and sign up for giveaways!

Each of us has work-related stresses. Although I love writing, occasionally I need to refill my well. What do I do? I meet with my three amazing critique partners: Geri Foster, Carra Copelin, and Brenda Daniels.

Geri Foster

We do more than critique each other’s work. We make suggestions, talk about marketing, discuss the new changes in social media, and laugh a lot. Yes, meeting with these women is group therapy.

Brenda Daniels

Other writers understand that hearing voices in one’s head is not necessarily a sign of madness. Okay, maybe a little madness, but we are allowed in public. And we only harm people in our books. So far.

Maybe you don’t write, but you do something that requires your concentration and sometimes causes you stress. So what do you do? I have a suggestion—meet with friends.

Psychologists say that the camaraderie and laughter of meeting with other like-minded individuals creates the same endorphins that runners experience in a “runner’s high.” What’s better, those endorphins from getting together with others hang around for up to three days. Yep. Goofing off with friends is beneficial to your mental health!

Carra Copelin

And there’s no major plan required. Call a friend and go to lunch or dinner. Join a book club, Bible study, bridge or bunco group—whatever appeals to you. Even if you enjoy the solitary pursuits of knitting, crochet, quilting, scrapbooking, gardening and so forth, join a group centered around those activities.

Even if—as I do—you enjoy time alone, occasionally meeting with others to exchange ideas boosts your morale and broadens your outlook. Not all of us are extroverts, but we must force ourselves to get up and get out of our routine. For me, this means venturing out of the comfort of my pink writing cave. But—my psyche protests—I love it here. So, I have to get tough with myself and make myself leave the security of the place where I’m most comfortable.

Today is critique day. I submitted my pages earlier in the week and have read and commented on my critique partners’ submissions. They’re good writers, by the way. Even the one who’s not yet published has great story ideas. I’ve printed out their pages and have them in my handy tote bag ready to walk out the door.

We meet at a local restaurant. The staff there know we like to sit in the front corner and that we’ll be there a while, but we tip well to make up for tying up the table. When I leave the restaurant, I’ll be recharged and ready to jump back into my writing.

What do you do to recharge?   

Thanks for stopping by!