Double Feature: Not Your Mother's Book Signing at STL Books

 Last week I was among two dozen local writers who participated in a a double Not Your Mother's Book signing at STL Books in Kirkwood, MO. The signing featured contributors from NYMB: On Being a Mom, which several writing friends and I have a stories in, and NYMB: On Family, which several of my writing friends have stories in.

My good friend and High Hill Press CEO Lou Turner picked me up and drove me and another good friend Marcia Gaye to the event in Lou's luxurious Lincoln, which did just about everything except drive itself.

Several of my writing friends have already blogged about the gala. I'm a bit late chiming in, but I wanted to post these photos in case you missed the report anywhere else.

The first shot is of the generous and gracious STL Books owner Robin Theiss kicking off the festivities, while NYMB editors Dianna Graveman and Linda O'Connell look on.

Contributor Jenny Beatrice reads her
sweet story about her daughter.

Sioux Roslawski reads her
hilarious tale about her son.

Dianna and Linda relax
after the event.

I snapped this photo from Lou's
SUV. After hiking a few blocks
to the parking lot, my feet were screaming.
It was a long night, but lots of fun!

Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Mom Is Out -- and I'm In It!

Yesterday on the front porch I did a happy dance (actually it was more of a stumble) as I carried into the house the box of my contributor copies of NYMB: On Being a Mom.

The Publishing Syndicate book, edited by Dahlynn McKowen, Ken McKowen, and Dianna Graveman, has 64 stories by moms about raising their families.

While I haven't read all the stories, many of those I did read were laugh-out-loud funny. Others were warm and humorous in a sweet kind of way. The cover depicts the sassy, yet humorous, tone of the stories in book--and the candid snapshots inside are great!

Julie, Erik, and me

On page 57 you'll find my true story, "A Hairy Situation," about a shopping adventure my sister Kathleen and I took with our sons while our daughters were in school.

Let's just say my towheaded, blue-eyed, four-year-old son, Walt (Erik), made the trip memorable.

You can find this photo of my daughter Julie, son Erik, and me on page 60 of the anthology.

Next month, just in time for Mother's Day, several local contributors, including editor Dianna Graveman and yours truly, will be signing copies of the anthology at a sponsored event.

If you can't make it to the signing and would like to purchase a copy signed by me, send an e-mail to dvolkenannt (at) charter.net and I'll provide details.

I'm In! Not Your Mother's Book . . . On Being a Mom

I'm so excited! I got my official "Congratulations" e-mail last night.

My story, "A Hairy Situation," will be among the 65 stories in Not Your Mother's Book . . . On Being a Mom, from Publishing Syndicate.

Don't you just love the cover--on the left?

The book, edited by Dahlynn McKowen, Ken McKowen, and Dianna Graveman,  is on fast-track for publication.The nationwide release date is April 8, 2014.

What's also exciting is that I've read posts from some of my writing friends on Facebook who also have stories in the anthology!

After I get my contributor copies I will have a giveaway here on my blog, so stay tuned.

Call for Submissions: Not Your Mother's Book: On Senior Moments and Last Call: On Being a Mom and On Family

The Publishing Syndicate's Not Your Mother's Book organization has announced a call out for a new anthology: "On Senior Moments." The editors are looking for submissions from writers of (ahem) a certain age or one who can write about things that happened "from age 50 and up. Baby Boomers and beyond."

Now, there's a subject near and dear to my over-50 heart.

Suggested topics to write about "as an older person" include (along with my comments):

Working on your “bucket list” (Hmm. Need to think about that one.)
Embarrassing moments (I've got lots of those.)
Memory lapses/mind not working like it used to (Yep.)
Technology challenges (Heck, yeah!)
Midlife crisis moments (Check.)
The Big 5-0, 6-0, 7-0 and beyond (I'm in the middle of this one.)
Second careers or volunteering (Let me think about that.)
Surprising body changes (I didn't know they accepted horror stories.)
School reunions (Let's not go there.)
Trying to do the things you once did, but no longer can (What was that, again? I forgot what you said.)
Traveling (Just got back from vacation, so maybe.)
Taking care of aging parents (may dedicate a chapter to this topic) (Should be interesting.)

Visit the NYMB website for complete guidelines.

While you're there, check out the NYMB other submission opportunities.

Here are two with short deadlines that are edited by two of my writing friends who are actively seeking submissions:

On Being a Mom, edited by Dianna Graveman. The deadline of August 1 is quickly approaching. Read about Dianna and what she looking for in submissions.

On Family, edited by Linda O'Connell. The deadline for On Family is also August 1. Read about Linda and what she is looking for submissions On Family here.

Several of my writing friends have been published in the NYMB anthologies and have good things to say about their experiences, so fire up those laptops, writers!