Monday, November 26, 2012

Author Interview: Carol V. Weishampel


by Sylvia Ney

Carol V. Weishampel, Ed.D. is a retired public school art and reading teacher, and a retired Christian school administrator. She holds a BFA from the University of Southern Mississippi, MA from Stephen F. Austin State University and Ed. D. from University of Houston.

Weishampel is the mother of twelve grown children (ten adopted) which she reared as a single parent. At age 60, she fulfilled a life-long dream and challenge to drive her motor home to Alaska where she volunteers at Christian youth camps and churches. Summer, 2012, she completed her sixth road trip.

While traveling, she writes. Her non-fiction travel journal, Grandmas’ Ultimate Road Trip, a novel, Venture in Faith, and an illustrated children’s book, Loon’s Necklace, are set in Alaska. She has published three additional non-fiction books, a second novel, and has been published in numerous anthologies and periodicals.

Weishampel speaks at pregnancy centers and high schools on parenting. She also speaks on volunteering, the writing process, and journaling to leave a legacy. She is a member of Bayou Writers and Texas Gulf Coast Writers and IWA. When not traveling Weishampel lives in Beaumont. You can find her at grandmas-on-the-go.blogspot.com and carol-weishampel.blogspot.com

1) How did you develop an interest in writing? I taught Jr. High and High School art for many years then moved to an elementary school where I taught art and reading for at risk students. I was fortunate to take training with the New Jersey Writing Project, a national program, and became a writing trainer. I discovered that writing was as challenging and satisfying as art. Writing became a passion.

2) Please tell us a little about your blogs. My blog address, grandmas-on-the-go.blogspot, or carol-weishampel.blogspot.com were set up for my first volunteer missions trip to Alaska in 2002. I blog while I travel sharing sights and experiences with notes on writing. When not on the road, I blog writing tips.

3) What do you do when you have writer's block? If writing doesn't flow, I dabble. I check my list of other creative activities I'd like to start (or finish!) and get involved with another project. Often while my mind is off writing, I can hear new thoughts. I keep note pads and pens handy.

4) Have you submitted anything? I've had several non-fiction books published and two novels. Some were traditionally published with financial input. One was self published and one published on line. I've had several articles and editorials published.

5) Are you part of a critique group or writer's guild? I belong to two writers' groups and have been a part of several critique groups.

6) Have you ever attended a writer's conference? I've attended many writer's conferences and retreats and have presented at several. Each conference is unique and worth the expense and time.

7) When working on your current MS did you complete an outline first or did you just start writing? I work from rough out-lines. I create segments of the plot or character descriptions and work detail in later. I print out chapters, organize in a notebook and reread making notes for additions and corrections.

8) Would you care to share your opening paragraph (hook) with us? Following is the opening hook of Venture in Faith:

"What was that?" I screamed clenching the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip. "That screetch. Why the car horns?" My heart pounded in my ears.

"You....," the RV salesman sputtered, his hands braced against the dashboard. Sweat popped out on his forehead. His voice strained as if talking to a child, "Ms. Gray. You pulled into the right lane. You forced a Volkswagen onto the shoulder."

"You told me to," I countered and jerked the wheel to the left. Heat crept up my face. My heart still raced.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

2012 BWG Contest Winners

Members-Only Contest Winners, From Left to right: Chris Baldauf, Marsha Kushner, Sylvia Ney, Angie Dilmore, Marcia Dutton, Beth Savoie, Beverly Martin and Linda Todd.

Fiction Winners:
1st place - Angie Dilmore for Stella Bella & Her Mishmashed Shoes
2nd place - Sylvia Ney for Lights Out
3rd place Tie - Linda Todd for The Concert and Beth Savoie for Not A Dog

Nonfiction Winners:
1st place - Sylvia Ney for Homegrown Love
2nd place Tie - Marcia Dutton for The Unceasing Energy Within and Beverly Martin for Murphy's Law and Me

Poetry Winners:
1st place - Chris Baldauf for Gone South
2nd place tie - Linda Todd for Arlington and Angie Dilmore for Bella Luna
3rd place - Beth Savoie for Twilight Reunion

On the Wall:
Richard Going

Young Writer's Contest:
1st place - Kayla Haugen for Forbidden
2nd place - Kayla Haugen for Challenger

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Friday, November 9, 2012

Conference Update


The Bayou Writers Group conference is tomorrow at UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH on Patrick Street in Lake Charles, LA 70605.

If you have not registered yet, you are still welcome to attend. The registration fee at the door is $50.

NOTICE: There has been a change to our list of scheduled speakers. Deborah LeBlanc has cancelled for medical reasons. However, Jessica Ferguson has agreed to fill LeBlanc's time slot. Ferguson will be speaking on The Power of the Made Up Mind. She is a multipublished author of both fiction and nonfiction. You can learn more about her at her blog: http://jessyferguson.blogspot.com/

For a complete conference schedule, see here.

"On The Wall" contest submission are due as well. For more information, see here.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

First Friday Reading Series CANCELLED

The First Friday Reading Series has been cancelled indefinitely.

The Porch is closing down for good next week. They aren’t able to have a consistent audience for our readings. At this time, they are unable to dedicate man hours and promotional resources to a reading series.

This means that Bayou Writers Group readers for December and January have been cancelled as well.

We'll announce if we decide to move it to another location or re-vamp it.

Friday, November 2, 2012

KPLC Midday Report

Sherry Perkins and Sylvia Ney were on KPLC at 11:30 today to advertise BWG and the Conference. Blogger will not currently allow the video to be uploaded, but here is a link if you would like to watch it. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bayou-Writers-Group/117232148306009?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/photo.php?v=489823071052289





Thursday, November 1, 2012

Brooks Sherman – Literary Agent

Brooks Sherman, a Literary Agent, will take 10 minute pitches at the 2012 BWG conference. Get there early to sign up for a time slot.

He will also lead an interactive session on how to land, keep, and work with an agent.

For more information on him: http://www.bayouwritersgroup.blogspot.com/p/2012-bridge-to-publication.html.

For a conference schedule: http://www.bayouwritersgroup.blogspot.com/p/bwg-conference-schedule-for-november-10.html

For a conference registration form: http://www.bayouwritersgroup.blogspot.com/p/2012-conference-registration-form.html