November Reading Group

The discussion has begun - come join us!

Our selection for November is Preserving Cleo by Women Writing the West member, Jo Brew. The discussion will begin on November 15 and you can join us here.

About the book:

Cleo is the smart and social young wife of a traditional family farmer. Unable to survive in the isolated and limited role she's allowed, she rebels in a silent voice that's heard by her whole family. She wants it all: a challenging future, the man she loves and a tightly knit family. Getting it all won't be easy - the odds are stacked against her.

You can order the book direct from the author's website by clicking here.

To read more of Jo's writing, stop by the Cresswell Chronicle to read her columns.

Another Blog Book Tour

WWW member, Susan Wittig Albert, has a few book tours under her belt. Last week she embarked on her first virtual book tour for the fourth in her Cottage Tales Myteries of Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Hawthorn House.

Fellow WWW member, Dani Greer, will host a blog stop for the author on November 14th to talk about Beatrix's marketing savvy, her relationship with her editor and publishing house, and how a modern author creates a new story.... and picks supporting artwork....when writing about a legend. Visit Blog Book Tours to read this fascinating interview.

You may enter the book drawing any time between Nov. 14 and noon on Nov. 17, when we'll draw three winners. Your name will be automatically entered for the grand prize drawing. Go here to enter.

Author Biography

Susan Wittig Albert is the author of Spanish Dagger, (April, 2007, hardcover), Bleeding Hearts (April, 2007, paperback - a recent Willa Award finalist), and the China Bayles' Book of Days. She has written fourteen other China Bayles novels, and more than a dozen short stories. She is also the author of two non-fiction books: Writing From Life: Telling Your Soul's Story and Work of Her Own: A Woman's Guide to Success off the Career Track.

A former English professor and university administrator, Ms. Albert has been writing full-time since 1985. She and her husband Bill Albert have written over 60 novels for children and young adults, including books in the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. Writing under the pseudonym of Robin Paige, the Alberts are also the co-authors of twelve Victorian mysteries, the latest of which is titled Death on the Lizard. They live in rural Texas with a varying assortment of dogs, cats, ducks, geese, cows, and sheep. Ms. Albert is a founder and past president of the Story Circle Network, a non-profit organization created to help women explore their life stories.

If you are curious about creating your own Blog Book Tour, Susan has put together a fun and fascinating tour with varying blog stops. Click here for the entire schedule.

Member news from Mara Purl and Donis Casey

Members Mara Purl and Donis Casey "met" through the Women Writing the West members' Yahoo! Group, and planned a joint book signing for their new books, both of which happen to be third in a series.

They met in person for the first time at the conference in Colorado Springs, and a week later did their event at Denver's famed Tattered Cover Book Store. Through discussions about their work and books, they discovered common themes which they shared with a rapt audience in Denver. Expanding on their theme "Western women writing western women's lives," they discussed a range of topics from intensive research to the key role of intuition in their female characters' lives, and from carefully structuring their plots to allowing for serendipitous inspiration.

Donis Casey's first novel "The Old Buzzard Had It Coming" recently won the Arizona Book Award.

Mara Purl's first novel "What the Heart Knows" won the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award and the USA Book News Finalist Award. Both authors are at work on the fourth books in their respective series, and plan to do future events together.

What does women writing the West mean to me?

By V. June Collins

As I reflect—

Women Writing the West, remind me of “Ranch Neighbors,”
Basically, ready and willing to lend us each a helping hand.

Often, survival of the west was under trying conditions.
The importance of Good Neighbors, was well understood—
Nurtured to-do unto others— as you wish to be done by!

Our Western way of life, held Good Neighbors, in priority—
Necessity matured, and was passed down, for generations.

Embedded, “The Lights of the West,” shine down on us,
Strengthened by a feel and need, to help one another—
While in all sincerity, “Western Neighbors” still require us
To be.—The best we can be!