​This week I attended the craft fair in Wellston, Oklahoma held at the Assembly of God Church. The day started out good except I had to leave early due to sickness . However, the craft fair was a success. I enjoyed visiting with all the great customers. Many children were in attendance at the craft fair with their parents just enjoying the fun day. Children make you feel young again with their great smiles. It was also good to see parents coming to the table telling me how their child really loves reading . I was so happy to hear this since reading is so important. It was good to hear that many children were going to the library and reading at home . Some parents were even reading at home with their children. To be better in reading, one has to practice just like you would riding a bike or any new adventure.
 
I have heard it said many times, “Practice makes Perfect”. I agree with this statement. I will endeavor to make it my mission to encourage literacy .
 
On to take a break from book events to switching roles as an Oklahoma Commissioner hosting a booth for the Clan McRae  for the upcoming Oklahoma Highland Festival at Choctaw Creek Park in Choctaw, Oklahoma October 11-13th. This is always a fun and interactive event with lots of vendors, athletic events, celebrations, clan events, and much much more for adults and children to participate in.
 
Next event on my agenda after that weekend is going to Brace Books in Ponca City , Oklahoma October 19th, 2024 for reading to children and a book signing table. This was one of the stores selling “Nicoli Picoli” that was in the Top 10 Children’s Fiction Book with lots of sells in March 2024 as reported to Tulsa World  by this store and other independent bookstores in Oklahoma.
 
Stay tuned for Book 11 which will be released this month.

​It was a wonderful time participating in a book signing event at Full Circle Bookstore on Saturday, 21 Sept. 2024. Eight other authors and I came together from 3-5 p.m. to a Meet and Greet with book sales and marketing.
 
The amazing collaboration we had together in between our conversations with readers was great. Many authors that were there have been at other events in the past with me at this event as well as other venues.
 
At the very end of the event, I had the opportunity to be in a photo with other Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. members which was posted on the O.W.F.I. website. It was so impressive to have so many of us author members to be at the event together.
 
I got crazy with my pickle hat on which apparently ended up a little lopsided on my head. I was promoting, “Nicoli Picoli”

I am on to my next adventures next week at a vendor event at Friday Nights in the Park in Choctaw, OK at Choctaw Creek Park from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday to a United Methodist Church of Choctaw, OK for a craft show.
 
 The life of an author is remarkably busy but rewarding. You too can go on this journey with me as I progress daily.
 
Stay tuned for the next blog. Feel free to tell me what you think.

​I have been called a “social butterfly.” This is true since I enjoy talking to people. As a child, dad would always give me a pack of bubblegum to keep me occupied from talking while traveling long distance in the car. Now, you see how Babbling Betty came into the picture when Babbling Betty was traveling in a car. The situation was the same. Check out the book to see more.
 
It was so bad in first grade, I had to repeat it again for talking too much. This is why I did not graduate with my cousin, which I would have liked to. I think if there was a “talkers anonymous,” I would get into trouble for talking too much about my talking problem.
 
When I go out shopping, I get in trouble with the spouse for talking to everyone I know from past work or other friends and acquaintances. I have never been an introvert but an extrovert to the extreme. So, I would travel around the store to socialize with everyone in which I was burning up time to shop with the spouse.
 
Being so active in all the organizations I have been in, my opportunities for talking have been vast. This is why it is good that I am an author.
 
As a children’s book author, I spend a lot of time talking to children, venues, conferences, reading online, and many other ways virtually. I love to talk about reading, books I have read, books I have written, upcoming venues, and even some previews of upcoming books.
 
I think talking is as much a part of promoting the books you write as is creating flyers and ads. Today, we use electronics to do some talking and social media, but I think person to person contact is the best. Do not get me wrong. I do use social media to advertise and even get online to read a book or do a virtual author visit to classes.
 
These days, it seems that personal contacts are limited. We need more relationships and contacts to be less texting and talking to each other.
 
Tell me what you think. 

​It was a busy day, Friday, Sept. 6th, 2024, as I was nervously awaiting my turn to read two upcoming unpublished manuscripts that I wrote for a competition held at my local Veteran’s Administration Hospital. The competition was called, “The National VA Creative Arts Festival.” This competition was for the local level.
 
Winners go on to the national level competition with results to come out at the end of the year from participants who entered across the national VA Hospitals and Clinics.
 
I happened to be competing in the Creative Writing Division. There are other divisions such as the Art Division, Dance Division, Drama Division, and the Music Division.
 
During the local competition, I entered two categories of the Creative Writing Division – Humor and Short, Short Stories. The story I read first was in Humor then Short, Short Stories.
 
The story I read in Humor was about my son’s boys. I had hoped that my son would be able to attend the competition so that he could hear me read the story that would someday be published.
 
As I approached the microphone, I realized I was being videotaped as well. I just focused on my reading and the audience paying no attention to the camera as anxiety might start in. When I looked in the audience, I saw my son also taping me which I thought was impressive. This made me feel not so nervous. I happened to be the eighth person up and the 14th person up to perform my task of reading my stories.
 
I could now wipe my brow from sweat and nervousness; the contest is done for the day. I waited in anticipation of the announcement of the winners.
 
I was happy to have won two first place ribbons in Categories: Humor and Short, Short Stories. Now, the stories go on to national to be judged.
 
 
Now I am off to Choctaw Creek Park in Choctaw, OK to set up an author table at the Pepper Festival held from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. To say I was super exhausted is an understatement.
 
Nevertheless, this is the life of an author on the move!

​I am happy once again this second year to be participating locally in the Creative Writing Division Competition of the National VA Creative Arts Festival to be held at the Oklahoma City, OK Veteran’s Administration Hospital. I will be reading two manuscripts which I am excited to be reading for an audience.
 
This contest is for the National VA Creative Arts Festival. Winners of the event go on to the national level.
 
Competition is in the air as many Veterans will be participating in divisions for Art, Dance, Drama, Creative Writing, and Music.

​https://department.va.gov/veteran-sports/national-veterans-creative-arts-festival/