Frantic about eating too many holiday foods? Never fear—Janice Taylor is here!

Holidays are always a time to fuss about weight gain. At my house we do, anyway. Janice Taylor will help you out this time of year with her Christmas Diet plan. Read details here:

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And don’t forget to sign up for free at Our Lady of Weightloss for your Kick in the Tuss Club emails to help you stay svelte this winter. I love Janice Taylor, Our Lady’s Spokesperson On Earth. She’s a hilarious writer and artist, as well as an inspiring weightloss coach—what more could you ask for? Visit her at http://www.ourladyofweightloss.com/

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday

Once again, Americans gather around the table to give thanks in what has its roots in the ancient Harvest Festival tradition. Family, friends, and food—about as good as life gets.

Writer’s Retreat with Jennifer Louden

Jennifer Louden

Louden is another writer and coach that has inspired me over the past several years. And she’s holding her Luscious, Nurturing Get Your Writing Done While Laughing Your Butt Off and Maybe Crying a Little Too Writer’s Retreat in 2009. Sign up and pay in full by November 30, 2008 on her 46th birthday and you’ll get a FREE hour of coaching. The retreat is in Taos, New Mexico Sunday, July 26 through Saturday August 1, 2009. I am REALLY tempted by this! I have a number of her books and she has had a huge impact on how I live my life as well as keeping me writing. Besides, how can anyone resist a workshop with that title! See her web site for more information at http://www.comfortqueen.com/workshops-retreats/writers_spa

Recently read: Randy Wayne White’s The Man Who Invented Florida

I enjoy this series with marine biologist Doc Ford, which takes place in the watery Gulf Coast area of southern Florida. In this one, Ford’s eccentric old uncle takes center stage along with his Indian buddy and some other geriatric pals. Three men are missing, large amounts of money and land are at stake, and the press is beating a trail to the dying coastal village where Uncle Tucker has big plans. Oh, and did I mention there is a love interest? Fun and light reading, but I don’t agree with other reviewers that White is comparable to Carl Hiaasen—White’s eccentric characters seem much more forced, and I have never laughed out loud like I have with Hiaasen.

Today is . . .

Crimson streaks with golden bursts of pride and the ring of chimes, not to be sipped but to be gulped with gusto like a Falstaffian reveler. Tasting of mulled cider and vanilla, with the counterpoint of marching feet, bedecked with bittersweet and birch logs, crackling with the season of ice shards striking bare wood, ringed with cardinals and white pine.

See September 21, 2008 for the genesis of my “today is . . . ” postings.

Literature fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts

NEA Literature Fellowships: 40 Years of Supporting American Writers. You can order through the NEA web site (see link below).

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a government agency designed to support arts of all kinds. It funds the arts in all 50 states and in all venues, from rural areas to inner cities to military bases. Most of its grants require the applicant to be an organization (like a school or nonprofit agency). However, it does have individual literature fellowships for published creative writers and translators. Creative Writing Fellowships are up to $25,000 to help recipients write, research, travel and other activities. Translation Project Fellowships are $12,000 or $25,000 and help recipients with translations of work into English. Visit the NEA’s Writers’ Corner for more information at http://www.nea.gov/features/writers/index.html

Books!

Another site for book lovers includes not only rare books and current books, but also keeps an up-to-date NY Times best seller list available, and offers suggestions for every taste and interest with categories like large print and “featured today.” See http://www.abebooks.com/ In the Rare Book Room, you can not only see prices on recent sales (George Bernard Shaw’s typewriter sold for $7,979 and Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea sold for $6,000), but you can learn how to care for old books, join their reading communities and forums, and do some of your own book selling.