A great big hello to everyone. Hope your summer is going gloriously, your writing is inspired and life is looking up.

The two books I've been working on are coming along well. Raised in the Boston Mountains: Ozark Meals and Memories is wrapped up deliciously. The recipes collected from the pages of my mother's cook book plus plenty of other Ozark cooks are scrumptious, for the most part. Let me know if you like the squirrel pie or head cheese. Many meals can be made today and enjoyed by those of you who like to cook from scratch. The stories about life in the Ozarks years ago are delightful, as are the sayings.

As for the second book, The Boston Mountains: Lost in the Ozarks, it's not quite finished, but well on the way. And believe me, I've been lost so much researching this book it's a wonder I'm home to write this newsletter. For updates on my wandering, check out my two blogs: http://vbrotherton.blogspot.com and http://veldabrotherton.blogspot.com

I know you'll enjoy coming along with me. Leave a comment or become a follower of the blogs so you'll know when I add something. My schedule is to write blogs every Monday. Once in a while I'm lost out in the woods somewhere and can't get it done on time. Both books are scheduled to be published in early 2010, but I'll keep you posted.

FALL WORKSHOP SCHEDULED:

Mark your calendars for September 26, 2009. I know you won't want to miss this workshop to be held at Ozark Folkways between Mt. Gayler and Winslow on Highway 71. More specific details will follow as we put it together, but I promise you'll go away ready to write or finish that book or story or article.

Whether you've attended one of my workshops or this is your first, you'll be able to start writing within the first hour and go home with enough information to finish what you started. We'll begin at 9 a.m. and finish by 3:30 or 4. We'll work on creating fiction or nonfiction from stories of your past. Those fascinating characters you all know and love from your family stories make marvelous characters for your writing. We'll cover everything from characterizations to settings, dialogue, plotting, point of view and best of all how to get your story written so readers won't be able to put it down.

As always, the cost is $25 for the full day and lunch is on your own. Most of us like to go to Grandma's, but if you want to brown-bag it, that's fine. You can go with us and order a piece of her delicious pie or some larruping sweet tea. To register call 479-634-3791 or write me at my email address: vebrotherton@gmail.com

Well, have to get back to wandering those backwoods. I shall return . . . I hope.

See you all soon. Keep writing and enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Best ever, Velda