I had a great time reading for Stoneboat Magazine today. 
The folks up in Sheboygan sure know how to put on a literary gathering! 
Be sure to check out William Jensen's excellent short story, "Camino Real," 
which appears in their spring issue: (Spring 2014). 
And here's me reading a sample of my novel:

Laurie Scheer and company pulled off another fabulous conference this year with the UW-Madison Writers' Institute. I especially enjoyed hearing from Nathan Bransford, Jane Friedman, Roy Hoffman, and Dale Kushner. Excellent agent panels from Rachel Stout, Laura Biagi, Elizabeth Kracht, and others. Definitely check this one out if you're a writer who's curious about what goes on behind the scenes in publishing, or if you just want to rub elbows with some smart, encouraging people who happen to care a whole lot about books.  
 

"The final dying sounds of their dress rehearsal left the Laurel Players with nothing to do but stand there, silent and helpless, blinking out over the footlights of an empty auditorium." -from Revolutionary Road, which has one of the greatest opening chapters of any modern novel I can think of; well worth the read if you have the chance. Also, here's an excellent biography of the man by Blake Bailey. Happy Birthday, Mr. Yates!

Haven't tried it myself yet, but it looks like fun.

Saw this sign posted in a store. Very Madison. 
I liked the "be pushed in a stroller" option.   

Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013

"Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all."

First real snow in Madison this morning. It didn't seem to slow anyone down. Buses were running, and most of the roads and sidewalks were clear by the time I left at eight o'clock. Unlike in Texas, where entire cities shut down when it drops below 32 degrees! 

This year's LWC}NYC was a hit. Excellent panels and great advice all around. For writers looking for agents or wanting more knowledge about the publishing world, this conference is a must. I particularly enjoyed hearing from Rob Spillman, Ted Thompson, Said Sayrafiezadeh, and Rachel Shukert. Look forward to checking out their work! 

It's November, and that means NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) 
is underway! Here's some inspiration from the Bard and the leaves in Madison: 

"That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold…"