Writers' Tip: Make a writing goal list by January first and hang it over your work station. Keep a copy of it in another location where you'll see it on a daily basis--just as a reminder. (My "other" location is on top of my sock drawer.)

At the top of my list: Finish the nonfiction book I just sold by deadline.
Number two on my list: Write, submit, and have accepted another picture book.

Usually, my goal list has four or five items on it. I rarely achieve them all, but the list serves as a constant little nudge to be working toward achieving them.

Happy New Year, all!

Another year bites the dust--almost. Gathered with friends--Sylvia, Nancy, Joan, Jim...artists all--for an early year end luncheon at Cafe a la C'art in Tucson. Joan had extra cause to celebrate: three paintings sold while out of town over Christmas. Yahoo! Sylvia is a playwright; Nancy, a fabric artist; Jim works in metal mostly, and I, of course, sculpt with words. It was a grand way to usher out 2007 and look forward to 2008. As for New Year's Eve itself, it will likely be a quiet one at home as I hesitate to be out on the roads--especially with my eyesight. The retina reattachment in my sighted eye doesn't seem to have taken, so the first two weeks of '08 will be blurry and spent at one specialist or another having things re-reattached, stitched together, and/or fabricated anew. The blind eye is as healthy as ever; it just doesn't see. Once upon a time way back when, I remember wishing for the day when I'd be old. Well, as I rapidly approach that milestone, let me just say it isn't what it's cracked up to be--although I guess it beats the alternative, to paraphrase many.

It's not Oprah, Larry King, or even Maury (Thank goodness!), but it is good news. I received word the other day that I'll be taping a 5 to 10 minute interview about We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin with Bill Buckmaster of "Arizona Illustrated." The program airs at 6:30 P.M. weeknights on KUAT, the Southern Arizona PBS affiliate. We'll be taping on 3 January for a broadcast on Monday, 21 January, which also just happens to be MLK Day. I've alerted local booksellers, so maybe if I stop in at a Borders or B&N around that time frame I might be able to find a copy out in public.

My shopping is done. I baked scones (my special recipe) for local neighbors. Now all we need to do is survive the day and make it through to New Year's Eve.

Last Monday I met with my writers' group, the Blind Orphan Ponies (or BOP, for short). The core group consists of Helen Foster James (who shared news of a new award and newer book contract), Paul Brewer (with a new joke book), Kathleen Krull (with F&Gs of her book, Fartiste! [co-written with husband Paul Brewer]), Jean Ferris (an amazing YA author), Pam Muñoz Ryan (with tales of NCTE), and moi (although, I don't get to as many BOP lunches as I'd like since giving up San Diego for Tucson). The company was grand; the Delmar restaurant was a bust. Really, we should have had a clue when we discovered only four other people in the entire place. Now it's home, prepping for Christmas, slipping out of the country, and going to Alabama in the new year to research a book project.

Happy Holidays!