1.31 :: Keynote address at GCLS
Written by KG MacGregor   
Monday, 31 January 2011 18:41

Egads, it's true! I've been invited to deliver the keynote address this year at the 7th annual convention of the Golden Crown Literary Society in Orlando. And of course I said yes. Who could turn down an honor like that? In fact, I spent a couple of days pretty high on the idea ... until it sank in that keynote address meant they expected *me* to write it. You see, work & I haven't exactly been companions of late. Since my back surgery last fall, I've been leisurely drafting my next book, enjoying (probably too much) the lack of a deadline, which meant there was no real pressure to produce anything. Call it a hiatus, a vacation, sick leave ... whatever. It suited my state of body & mind, but now -- something *very, very good* must be on paper by mid-morning on June 10th or 11th, the usual slot for the keynote. Breathe!

It's okay, I can do this. Virtually everything I do starts just like this -- with a blank screen. Wait, I need coffee. And just one quick game of Spider Solitaire. More of that big ... blank screen ... with a blinking cursor.  Hold on, let me check for updates on Facebook ... and the Bella Blog. Relax, I won't torture you with the entire process. One of us tortured is enough. Here's all you need to know:

The 7th Annual GCLS Convention  

June 9 – 12, 2011    •    Walt Disney Hilton Hotel, Orlando

Despite my malingering, I haven't been a total slug over these last few weeks. As I mentioned earlier, I really (honestly) am drafting my next book. As you may recall, I got hung up a couple of months ago when I realized the story I was trying to tell wasn't going anywhere interesting, and I was forced to walk away from the premise I had in mind. One of the characters, however, refused to be ignored, and she insists I keep after this until I find a way to tell her story. She will win, because they always do.

I've also been up to my eyeballs with some very exciting developments at the Stonewall Library & Archive (where I'm a member of the board of directors). I'll happily gush about that news as soon as we get through all the official steps -- in other words, after our press release. Good stuff.

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12.26 :: My Top 10 of '10
Written by KG MacGregor   
Thursday, 23 December 2010 19:10

Between losing my mom & having back surgery, 2010 was a pretty tough year. Still, sharing the Top 10 highlights has become something of a rite, so I went back through my blog & calendar in search of the peaks and found plenty of things to celebrate. Turns out life is good even when it isn't.

 

10. In August I had a wonderful chat with Robert Jaquay on his program MyQmunity Gay & Lesbian Book Talk. A former librarian, Robert is a gifted interviewer whose insightful questions actually taught me things about my own writing. You can listen here.

9. The annual Xena Con always makes my Top 10 list, and if you read through the Behind the Book section for the Shaken Series, you'll understand why. Yes, we're an odd lot; Lucy Lawless once called it "a goofy show for smart people" but the reverse might be just as true. Some of those smart goofballs (or goofy smartballs) have become my dearest friends.

8. I may not be bragging next year about new releases, so I need to make the most of my 2 new books from 2010: Photographs of Claudia & Mother Load: Book 4 in the Shaken Series. Thanks to all of you who came along for the ride with Leo & Claudia and the Kaklis clan, and especially those who took the time to drop me a note or post a review. The best reward of writing is knowing that my work resonates with readers.

7. I had the pleasure of moderating 2 panels at the 2nd Annual Gay & Lesbian Literary Arts Festival (GALLA) in Ft. Lauderdale, a 2-day event hosted by the Stonewall Library, Museum & Archives and ArtsUnited. Many thanks to Susan X Meagher, Lee Lynch, Jean Redmann & Ali Vali for making the trip to South Florida.

6. Stonewall Library figured very big for me in 2010, and no doubt will for years to come. I was very proud & honored last January to accept their invitation to join the Board of Directors.

5. Worth Every Step got shortlisted for the Lammys in the Women's Romance category alongside some stellar company. Congrats to Collette Moody for carrying off the hardware.

4. Small Packages (Dramatic Fiction) landed on the short list for the Golden Crown Literary Awards, and Worth Every Step won in the category of Traditional Contemporary Romance. Woot!

3. The Goldie Award capped a *spectacularly fun* GCLS conference in Orlando, where a number of our Bella Forum members gathered from all over the world. Most of them knew one another only through forum chats, but they left Orlando best friends. Seeing them bond so easily was really heartwarming ... it reminded me of that magical feeling I got from the Xenaverse.

2. For our 2nd Bella Y-Tour event (following up on our Denver trip in 2009), I lured Katherine Forrest, Karin Kallmaker, Dillon Watson & Amy Dawson Robertson to Ft. Lauderdale with the promise of good weather. I swear it was perfect until they brought storms & cold air with them. Undaunted, Carol Moran threw us a fabulous welcome party in a downpour at the New Moon Bar; the next day Jack Rutland put us to work on a Volunteer Day at Stonewall Library, Museum & Archives; and we polished off the weekend with a reading hosted by Katherine that turned out a nice crowd of longtime lesbian book fans. If only it had been warmer ...

1. The very best thing that happened to me in 2010 was the outpouring of support & compassion from this community as I weathered the year's adversity. I was beyond blessed by your kindness, whether it came in the form of a note, a comment, a pat on the back or a hug.

The very best to all in 2011.

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12.2 :: A friend in need
Written by KG MacGregor   
Thursday, 02 December 2010 17:07

Still shopping for that special lesbian fiction reader in your life? You know the one ... she gasps & clutches her chest if you crack the spine or dog-ear the pages on her precious "paperback friends." I have a few ideas that will deliver not only a unique gift, but the knowledge that you're helping someone in a time of dire need. My longtime friend & fellow Xenaverse author Nene Adams suffered a severe infection that resulted in a month-long hospital stay, several surgical procedures, and the eventual amputation of her foot. She is currently awaiting transfer to a rehab center several miles from her home in Sneek, The Netherlands. There are several hurdles she & her partner Corrie face before release from rehab: Their home must be prepped for wheelchair access, and they must secure the means to transport Nene to & from her physiotherapy. It's a long, hard road ahead, but friends can ease her journey.

Here's where the shopping part comes in: On her website, In Shadows, D Jordan Redhawk is hosting an auction that features more than 50 books -- some rare, many autographed -- along with other items of interest to sci-fi/fantasy fans. Our goal is to raise $4,000 for Nene's immediate needs, things that won't be covered by medical insurance, and that have to be in place before she can come home. I've offered an autographed set of the Shaken Series (all 4 books), and I'll pay shipping to anywhere in the world. The auction closes December 14th, and I promise to get the package out the next day so you'll have it in time for Santa.

Helping one another is a longstanding tradition of both the Xenaverse & the lesbian fiction community, and it's easily the very best thing about all of us. Please follow this link to bid on the auction items or simply make a donation to Nene's fund.

For those who have been following The Saga of My Aching Back, I want to share some very good news: I saw the surgeon on Monday; he said the fusion looked very good, and he gave the thumbs up to begin physical therapy & exercise.

My annual rite -- my Top 10 Highlights of the Year -- is coming soon.

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