Wednesday, July 22, 2015

First Annual Payson Book Festival

Yes, the first annual Payson Book Festival takes place on Saturday, this Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Gila Community College, 201 N. Mud Springs Road, Payson, ARIZONA (because other states have a Payson, too).

2015-PBF-Logo-with-Event-datetime_smlI will be at Table 46 in Room 403 throughout the day, except when I am giving my presentation, “Literacy Begins at Home: Build Reading into Family Activities,” from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 401.

All of my Owen Family Saga novels will be in the Bookstore in Room 402 for your purchase. I'll be happy to sign and personalize your books.

Here’s a map of the layout:



Come meet over 60 authors from Arizona who will be on hand to talk to you about their books. Their work represents many genres, including children's books; mystery, western, fantasy, and romance fiction; and non fiction. Entertainment and food vendors are a part of the fun.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday! Please tell your friends about this family-friendly event.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Sample Saturday - Something Fresh

Here's something fresh and new, written early this morning:
~~~

"You needn't think to spend your entire life mourning for that Owen boy."

Ella Ruth Allen Owen hunched over the black bonnet she held on her lap with whitened thumbs and first fingers.

"I simply cannot allow it. Black makes your skin appear so sallow."

What does the color of my complexion matter? Ella Ruth thought as her mother continued to express her cutting opinion. Ben is gone. Dead. I'd gladly join him if I could do so.

It hardly seemed possible that six months had passed since that dreadful day on which Roderick and Julia Owen had paid her a visit and given her the awful news. Ben dead at Waynesboro!

She put a hand to her forehead. "Mama, please stop.  My head aches so. I cannot go with you today." With that, she got to her feet and stumbled out of the parlor, blinking back tears of rage.

When she was safely behind the locked door of the strange bedroom she doubted would ever feel like home, she threw the bonnet to the floor and collapsed into tears.

Her maid Lula, having entered through the unlocked dressing room door, found her there, crumpled atop the bedspread, an hour later.

"There, there, Miss Ella Ruth. Your mama, she's gone off on her visits. Let me turn down the covers and bring you a nice cold cloth for your head."
~~~

That's all for now. Buy a book. Read a book. How about Gone for a Soldier. (Links to other vendors on the "Books" tab at the top of the page.)

See you next week!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Payson Book Festival

I’m excited about the first annual Payson Book Festival, coming up on July 25. As well as giving a short presentation in Room 401 at 11:00 a.m. on “Literacy Begins at Home: Build Reading into Family Activities,” I'll be at Table 46 in Room 403, where I’ll autograph my novels for you to purchase. The Festival will have lots of free family-oriented activities, including the chance to meet and talk with 60 authors from around Arizona, who write in many genres. Workshops, kids’ activities, entertainment, and door prizes will be part of the fun. Food vendors will also be there.

Come up to cool Rim Country for a Saturday full of great activities for your family on July 25, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Payson Book Festival will be held at Gila Community College, 201 N. Mud Springs Road, just off Highway 260 in Payson, Arizona.

Here’s a radio interview on June 5 that I did with KRIM-FM’s host Phanie. Learn about how I began writing, how the Owen Family Saga evolved, and the Payson Book Festival’s roots.

Friday, July 10, 2015

No Sample Saturday this week

Due to a death in the family, there is no Sample Saturday this weekend.  I hope to have something next week.

Thank you for understanding.

~Marsha

Saturday, July 04, 2015

Sample Saturday & Fourth of July

Fourth of July. Celebrate safely. Remember why we have this holiday.

I'm going to start writing and see what comes out of my fingers.
~~~

Alex clicked his tongue at the horse and flipped the lines on its rump. It started off, pulling the buggy into a jerky progress down the lane.

He looked sideways at Ella Ruth. She sat stiffly on the seat, hands clasped so tightly together that he could see the white skin stretched over her knuckles.

"You don't need to go," he said. "If you'd rather not--"

"Mama would be mortified if I didn't attend," she whispered. She glanced in his direction, although she didn't meet his eyes before she faced forward again.

This was a bad idea. He clenched his teeth to prevent a reply he would regret. Only recently had the girl begun to wear deep lavender-colored attire instead of black. Against her wishes. How he ached to take her into his arms and give her comfort. That wasn't possible. Not now. Not yet. He had to bide his time until Ella Ruth came to know him better, to trust him.

That's going to take a long time, boy, he told himself. Working side by side at the surgery doesn't mean she'll forgive Yankees any time soon.

Ella Ruth cleared her throat as they turned into the road. He looked at her, expecting her to say something, but nothing came.

They rode in silence toward Charlottesville, toward the celebration of American Independence the city fathers had reluctantly approved, after much discussion, which was faithfully reported in the newspaper.


"My mother does love me, you know." Ella Ruth finally spoke her mind. "She wants me to be in society again."

Even if it's Yankee society, Alex thought. He wondered why her parents were so desperate to get her to see people other than patients that they allowed her to be seen in public in the company of the Yankee doctor. The Yankee military doctor.

Thank the Lord for whatever bent their minds in that direction.

"Mama says I've pined long enough." Ella Ruth bent her head and picked at one of the pleats in her skirt.

Something in the brokenness of her voice and her carriage told him she hadn't yet mourned long enough, hadn't finished grieving for her dead husband.

Alex looked at the roof of the buggy overhead. I'm sorry you're not here, Ben Owen. I mean to take good care of her in your absence. But only when she'll let me.

~~~

Okay, that's enough of that. Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Buy a book. Read a book.
marshaward.com
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