Dec 31, 2006

GO! Our First Official Post

Welcome to ANWA's Founder & Friends, a group blog by members of American Night Writers Association (ANWA).

My name is Marsha Ward. I've been writing all my life, and decided to seek publication in the early 80s. I became a freelance writer while I continued to study and work on my fiction, in the process writing for four different LDS newspapers, and eventually working as editor on three of them. I amassed an incredible amount of published clips during that time, and became well-known in the LDS newspaper community. My brother told me an amusing story. He'd been enjoying what he termed a well-written piece and glanced up to see who wrote it. To his surprise, the article was authored by his sister, me.

I also wrote articles, short stories, and poetry for other newspapers and magazines, and finaled in, placed in, and won several contests. One of my poems, "My Mother's Bureau Drawer," took first place in three contests--two local and one national--in a two-year span of time.

My first two novels are The Man from Shenandoah and Ride to Raton. I'm polishing up the third in the trilogy: Trail of Storms, which should be out this coming spring. I'll let you know when and where it is available.

Besides being the founder of ANWA, I am a member of Western Writers of America and LDS Storymakers. I contributed to two nonfiction book collaborations: LDS Storymakers Publishing Secrets and LDS Storymakers Writing Secrets.

My family consists of four children and five grandchildren who are the light of my life. I've been a widow for eight years. I enjoy family, travel, giving talks about writing, and autographing books. One of my goals for the coming year is to sing a song each day. Another is to write at least 100 words a day.

I invite you to make comments on our blogs. Here's my question to you: Have you made resolutions or goals for the New Year? If so, what are they?

Dec 26, 2006

Set...

by Marsha Ward

Christmas is over, though the afterglow remains with us. I hope you all had a chance to be with your loved ones.

Our team is gathering, and on December 31, I will begin the dance.

Hmmm, why did I choose that word picture?

Perhaps it's because I've been spending time with family members, sharing joy and sorrow equally. Family time doesn't always mean smiles and hugs. Sometimes raw emotions come to the surface. I don't know why that happens at holidays, but the older I get, the more I notice it. I think I've missed my husband this year more than I've cared to admit, on this eighth Christmas that I've spent without him. Misfortunes that other family members are going through have added to the poignant air of this holiday.

I've attended a lot of dances, and the emotions of young girls at those gatherings are so conflicting: joy when a certain young man asks her to grace the floor with him, grief when he doesn't.

This life we experience is much like a dance, I suppose. Our emotions ebb and flow. Our experiences are varied. Sometimes we're light on our feet; sometimes we stumble and fall flat on our faces, with all our friends watching.

Come back on December 31 and share our adventures as we talk about Life, The Universe, and how we 14 writers fit into it all.

Dec 22, 2006

Ready...

We're assembling our blogging team, and they are busy setting up Google accounts so they can participate. They are also taking care of Christmas, and one lady has a daughter's wedding to pull off. Things are progressing nicely, if slowly.

Our first official post will be from me on December 31, so watch for it.

Marsha

Dec 15, 2006

Getting Started

by Marsha Ward

I am the founder of a 20-year-old group for LDS women writers, American Night Writers Association, or ANWA for short. Our members write for many purposes and for different audiences. Some of us enjoy writing in our journals. Several are published novelists or nonfiction book authors. Some are journalists. Others are freelancers. Many are just beginning their writing adventures or are actively working toward publication.

For some time, I've had the idea to do a group blog. I've invited several ANWA members to join me in voicing our ideas about life, the universe, and where we fit in the publishing world. It will take a bit of time to set up all the team members, so we will begin this new enterprise after the New Year comes. Watch for us!