What a joy it has been to have book signings in the “old neighborhood” and have so many good friends and former parishioners drop in to buy my books and have them signed. Thanks to all of you. Saturday I will be at the Monticello Library (my daughter’s town) for a book signing, then on the 6th-8th of June we (Kelly, Kristin, and I with Stormy’s help) will have a book table at the Annual Conference for Indiana United Methodists at the Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Hope to see many friends and colleagues there. Sunday, June 9, I will have the privilege of preaching two services at Monticello United Methodist Church and signing books after. Thanks, Pastor Brian.

What is happening with Kathleen, Bernice and Lucille? These three friends from Road Trip Trio need to plan their next vacation. Where should they go? They are contemplating Italy because Lucille loved her first visit there many years ago and wants to return. Bernice would like to return to Ghana, West Africa because she and her deceased husband had a beautiful article in National Geographic on the scenery and architecture around Accra, the capital city. Kathleen just wants to get out of town. Where should they go this year for their annual road trip? Any suggestions?

I am pleased that my former district superintendent in the United Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Cindy Reynolds, agreed to write an endorsement for my first book. She wrote the following, which appears in the book:

 “Pastor Elle – In Heavenly Heels is a delightful book portraying the life of a clergywoman who is faced with the normal encounters of a pastor along with the unexpected twists of suspense and

romance. It is well written to keep the reader wondering what might happen next in the life of this pastor who encounters people at their best and at their worst. Although it is a fictional story,

I found it accurately demonstrates the variety of responsibilities and expectations people have of pastors and that pastors have of people. It is quite possible that you will see yourself in one of

the characters and most assuredly you will be able to name other people who fit one of the characters and find yourself laughing.”

~Reverend Dr. Cindy Reynolds, Assistant to the Bishop

of Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church

                I don’t know whether to say “this is so much fun” or “when does the fun begin”? I am looking forward to the book signings and have help getting those events set.  I look forward to seeing you at one or more of the events. Part of the books have arrived and are waiting for me at my daughter’s house in Monticello. Kelly and Kristin will be helping advertise and market, along with Tate Publishing who makes the process easier by providing book marks, cards, and posters.

                It seems real now. I suppose I should be doing some exercises to strengthen my muscles for carting all those books around. Or perhaps dragging the books around will give me the exercise! Release date for both books is July 23 or you can buy directly at the book signings before that.

Following is my schedule to date, with more to follow:

Sat., May 18  Java Jack’s/Pete & Freddy’s                                                        10-noon

                       Courthouse Coffee (East side of Warsaw)                                2-4 p.m.                

Wed., May 22 Rochester Fulton Co. Library   (book talk), Rochester, IN   6:30-7:30 P.M.    

Thur., May 23  Akron Public Library, Akron, IN                                              4-6 p.m.                

Sat. May 25    Downtown Courthouse Coffee, Warsaw, IN                           5-7 p.m.                

 Sat., June 1     Monticello Library, Monticello, IN                                          2-4 p.m.

 Thur-Sat   June 6-8   Indiana Annual Conference United Methodist Church

                              Indianapolis Convention Center                                         all day/three days                                                 

Sat., June 15             Mammaw’s Sweet Shoppe, 3803 State Route 26 E, Lafayette, IN            1-3pm

                I will be scheduled at Fort Wayne, Anderson, Muncie, LaPorte and Indianpolis after the release date.

Plans are moving along. I will soon be on my own ‘road trip’ to Indiana and then visiting around as I bring my two books, Road Trip Trio and Pastor Elle In Heavenly Heels for book signings and sales. My prayer is that when you read each book you will be pleased by being immersed in a fictional world for a while that will bring joy, tension, laughter and spiritual food.

    My plans to date are to be in Mentone on Saturday, May 18 from 10-12 a.m. at Java Jack’s and the neat bookstore next door. Then from 2-4 p.m. you will find me (with books and entourage) at the Courthouse Coffee shop on Frontage Rd. by the Carson’s department store. The next weekend I will be in the Warsaw area as well. From there I will travel to the Monticello area and have a couple of signings (TBA) before we go to Indiana Annual Conference from June 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center. You will find me with the other vendors and displays.

     I look forward to seeing many of my friends, family and former parishioners in May and June. Have you ever been to a book signing? Did you enjoy it? What do you expect there?

It is time to get back to the blog. I have spent so much time editing (multiple times) both books and now they are being printed. I will get the boxes of books I have purchased in a couple of weeks and plan to travel down to Indiana around the middle of May. My first book signing will take place in a special town. My last pastoral appointment was Mentone UMC. I will be across the street from the church at Java Jack’s and Pete & Freddy’s Pages a Plenty next door. On Saturday, May 18, from 10-12 a.m. I will be there with books to sell or bring in the books if you have already purchased them and I will sign them for you.

In the afternoon I will be at the Courthouse Coffee out by Carson’s from 2-4 p.m. Hope to see you one place or the other.

Wow. One of my new books, Road Trip Trio, is available for purchase from the publisher’s online bookstore today. Pastor Elle In Heavenly Heels will be available next week. This really is not a dream! Thanks be to God for the gift of putting words together. Thanks to my family and friends who have encouraged and helped me get to this point. This is an unimaginable high. Who could believe that a retired woman could publish two books at the same time. I am woman, hear me roar!!