While I was gone on my book signings, my Bella Lugosi Day Lillies decided to pop open.  Aren't they just gorgeous?  They're so huge and the color is spectacular, so I'm really enjoying them.

Also while I was gone..........Fay ended up dumping a huge amount of water on Cedar Key, with high winds.  But no major damage.  Palm fronds and branches littered yards and the streets, but I didn't see any trees down.  The closest it got to Cedar Key was about 40 miles north.  And now we wait and see what Gustav decides to do.

My book signings went very well and I managed to get all three independent book store owners to agree to read my manuscript and then give me a blurb in the Indie Bound newsletter that goes out to all indie shops across the country.  My publicist had told me to ask them.  I did.  And they very kindly agreed to do this for me.  The more exposure the better, so I was very happy.

I also popped into a yarn shop down in Venice, Florida.  Those of you that know me know I can't resist a knitting shop.  I bought some very nice yarn and am now making a scarf for my daughter.  But the best thing that happened was that I talked up SPINNING FORWARD to the owner of the yarn shop and she's offered to have a gathering of women for a wine and cheese and book signing event when my novel is released.  Needless to say, I was also pretty happy about that.

So it was an extremely beneficial networking trip for me getting things arranged for the release of SPINNING FORWARD.

The writers contest is moving along.  I now am just waiting on the return of some poems and then will send the final three poems out to judge number 3 and THAT will be the end of me sending out entries.  Now I'm just waiting to get all the scores back and then I'll be able to order the awards.  It was an adventure!  But I DO believe the end is now in sight.  And that is due to my fantastic judges!

And I can hardly believe it, but............FIVE weeks from today, I will be back in my beloved France!  We fly to Paris Sept. 29 and that sure is now approaching very fast.  All of the plans are in place and very soon I'll start to focus on the packing, getting cameras, cell phones, info, etc. all together. 

Are you watching the Democratic Convention?  I've been glued to the TV every night this week.  So join me here next time and I'll share my thoughts on it.

See you then...............