Online Conference Newbies

The online conference is the only conference you don't have to leaveyour home for.

The best part is its FREE.

This year we are doing something different. We are hosting it on ablog. If you're a blogger you know how much fun they are. If you're never blogged. Its a piece of cake. Most of it is reading. However we will have panel discussions with guests on different topics. This is your chance to ask those millions of questions floating in your head. The panels will check the site through out the day and answer your questions.

There will be workshops for new writers and advance writers. Discussions on writing and the business of writing. There will be door prizes for those who participate in the panels and discussions.

We have a Reader’s Day with some fun panel discussions.

Did I mention its FREE.

You can invite your friends. Tell them to stop by and check it out.

If you have writer friends who want to participate or donate a prize. Have them contact me - sormag@yahoo.com

They have up to Friday to get on the schedule. I will accept donations up to the week before the conference.

To keep the cost low, I'm asking those who donate to let me know what they want to donate and I'll send them the winners names after the conference.

Bookmark or make it your favorite so you don’t miss it:

http://sormag.blogspot.com


Online Conference – October 23 – 29, 2005 – Open 24/7

This is the link to the one I did in 2003.
http://www.sormag.com/conference.html

Tell your friends everyone is welcome.

Tentative Schedule - Online Conference

(In Red Guest Are Still Needed)

Day One – October 23, 2005 --Writing For The Lord

PANEL: Christian Anthologies
Dena Dyer, Mary Griffith, Sabra Robinson, Jacquelin Thomas

PANEL: Breaking Into The Christian Market
Mary Griffith, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Jacquelin Thomas, Cheri Paris Edwards

WORKSHOP: Fresh Ideas - Deartra Boone

DISCUSSION: How do we get our faith-based books to the big screen


Day Two - October 24, 2005 --New Writers

DISCUSSION: Writing Your Memoirs

WORKSHOP: Scene & Structure - Yolonda J. Greggs

WORKSHOP: Character Development - Deatra King Bey, Barbara Scott

PANEL: "Christian Dating: talk about it, read about it, write about it?"
(Janice Robinson, Tia Mccollors NEED GUESTS)

PANEL: Are you ready for submitting?
(Cindy Appel, Lindsay Murdock, NEED GUEST)

WRITING CLINIC – Critique of writing – Query Letter/1st chapter
(Ann Clay, Wayne Jordan, A. C. Artist, Leah Mullin, Barbara Scott, Maxine E. Thompson, Lindsay Murdock, Michelle Monkou NEED Critquers)

PANEL: Magazine Writing
(Barbara A Custer, Kathryn Lay Need Guest)


Day Three – October 25, 2005 --Reader’s Day

PANEL: Men In Fiction
Wayne Jordan, J.J. Murray,Varian Johnson, R. Barri Flowers, Vincent Alexander, Edwardo Jackson

PANEL: Hair and Beauty Tips for Today's Woman
(Cheryl Talley Moss, Tia Williams NEED GUEST)

PANEL: Online Book Clubs
( LaShaunda C. Hoffman - SORMAG Book Club, Marina Woods-Good Girls Book Club, Tee C. Royal-RAW Sistaz Book Club

PANEL: Reader Sites
(Wayne Jordan - Color of Romance, Cydney Rax - Book Remarks NEED SITES)

Day Four – October 26, 2005 --Advance Writers


DISCUSSION: Fast Writing/BIAW

DISCUSSION: Writer's Associations: How to choose the one right for you.

WORKSHOP: Confession Writing - Pat Byrdsong

PANEL: Meet The Editor
Stacy Boyd - Harlequin, Krista Stroever - Steeple Hill, Karen Thomas - Dafina Books( NEED GUESTS)

PANEL: Editing
( Deatri King Bey, Dyanne Davis, Dr. Bob Rich, Lindsay Murdock,NEED GUEST)

WORKSHOP: How to create or perfect 'pitch lines' to editors and or agents?
(NEED GUEST)

PANEL: Hot Genres – Chick Lit, Erotica, Young Adult, Urban Fiction, Paranormal & Mystery
(Need Guests) Michelle Buckley, Eduardo Jackson – Chick Lit –
G. Miki Hayden - Mystery
Monica Jackson - Paranormal
Celise Downs - Young Adult
Sandra E. Harris

Day Five – October 27, 2005--Self Publishing

DISCUSSION: E Books-the pros, the cons, the successes

PANEL: POD vs Subsidy Vs True Self publishing
Shelia M. Goss, Celise Downs , Vanessa Davis Griggs, Cheril N. Clarke, Gena Garrison, Teressa Leath

DISCUSSION Teaching writing in your community-the pros, the cons, and how to
get started

DISCUSSION: Organizing and leading productive writer's groups

PANEL: PR Pizzaz
Michelle Buckley, LaShaunda Hoffman, Belinda Williams, Pam Perry

PANEL: Writing Non-Fiction - (Dr Bob Rich, NEED GUESTS)

PANEL: Ghostwriting
(NEED GUESTS)

WORKSHOP - The A, B, Cs of Plotting
Michelle Monkou


Day Six – October 28, 2005 --The Business Of Writing

PANEL: I got the call now what?
(Shirley Hailstock, Sophfronia Scott Need Guest)

PANEL: Working With an Agent
(Bettye Griffin, Sophfronia Scott Need, Dara Girard.com Guests)

PANEL: Tips to stay disciplined
Stacy Hawkins Adams, Sophfronia Scott, Electa Rome Parks, Michelle Monkou, Lori Soard


Day Seven – October 29, 2005 -- Promotion

PANEL: Internet Marketing For Writers
Sylvia Hubbard, LaShaunda Hoffman, Tanya Bates, Sheila Goss, Vanessa Davis Griggs

PANEL: Magazine Promotion
James Lisbon, AMAG, LaShaunda Hoffman -SORMAG , Shunda Leigh- Booking Matters

WORKSHOP: Marketing – James Lisbon

WORKSHOP: Press Releases - Can you write one yourself? – Shelia M. Goss

PANEL: Is Blogging Good For Writers
Shelia M. Goss, Monica Jackson (Need Guests)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A GUEST CONTACT - sormag@yahoo.com

SORMAG's ONLINE CONFERENCE

Have you attended one of our online conference?

You don't know what you're missing.

I'm planning the next one.

Would you like to be a part of the conference?

We need guests. Do you have a topic that is of interest to readers and writers?

We need doorprizes. Would you like to donate something?

If so, contact me at sormag@yahoo.com

Did you miss 2003's conference - http://www.sormag.com/conference.html

Waiting for You - Janice Sims

Chapter One


Erica Bryant looked around the crowded room for her escort, Hubert. She smiled when

she thought of his name in English. In French, it was pronounced, Hugh-bare. The

French language made everything sound sexier.


Her lower lip protruded a bit when she didn’t see him. Leave it to Hubert to abandon

her in a room full of strangers. She’d been in Paris less than four hours. Luckily, she’d

slept on the plane so she wasn’t tired after traveling from northern California to France.

She was excited, though. After two years of beseeching her father to allow her to go to

Burgundy and train under Sobran Lafon, Hubert’s father, she was here! Burgundy

was known as a region whose land produced the best Pinot Noir grapes in the world.

Hence, its reputation for making superior red wines.


Presently, Erica’s family, the Bryants of Glen Ellen, California, in Sonoma

Valley, were premier makers of Sauvignon Blanche and Chardonnay, white wines.

However their land also had the potential to nurture the Pinot Noir grape, and Erica

wanted to get the best instructions possible before embarking on their new enterprise

of making the rich red wine. It made good business sense.


Winemaking was in Erica’s blood. When she was born her father sneaked a bottle

of Bryant Winery Chardonnay into the hospital room where Erica lay in her mother’s

arms and put a drop between the newborn’s lips for good luck. By the time she was five,

she was piggybacking on the tractor with her dad while he worked in the vineyards.

It wasn’t surprising that she’d majored in enology, the scientific study of wine, at UC

Davis and thrived on all of the analytical work required to be a good winemaker such as

monitoring yeast cultures, the care and maintenance of the barrels, and fermentation of

the wine. Today, at twenty-seven, she was a lab rat to the core. She would not rest

until she’d come up with the best formulation to make wines for discriminating palates.

That’s why she was at this intimate wine-tasting hosted by the Etienne Roumier

Winery. In her opinion, they made the best Pinot Noir in the world. She had

heard the astounding rumor that the winery had Pinot Noir vines on its domaine, or

property, that were over a hundred years old. She meant to see those vines before she

left Burgundy.


The event was relaxed, with tables set up around the room in the ballroom of one

of Paris’s grand hotels. There was a different vintage from Etienne Roumier’s cellars at

each table where individual waiters graciously served the guests. Erica was standing at

one of the tables being poured one of the younger Pinot Noirs. She smiled at the waiter.

“Merci,” she said, her French not even close to being perfect. However, she could

manage in a pinch. The waiter returned her smile and his dark eyes swept appreciatively

over her shapely form. She pretended not to notice and turned away.


Secretly, she was pleased that he thought she looked attractive in her short pale-

yellow dress. It was springtime in Paris and she felt very festive in it. Her new short

hairstyle made her do a double-take every time she passed a mirror. For years she’d

worn her black tresses long, and in braids. But she’d wanted something different for

her three-month stay in France; so Estelle, her stylist, had relaxed her thick hair

and cut it in a layered ‘do that required very little upkeep. She could finger-comb

it in a rush.


Erica patiently allowed the wine to sit a few minutes so that sediments would have time

to settle at the bottom of the glass. There was a tall black in his mid-thirties standing

too close behind her, muttering to himself.


Curious, Erica strained to hear what he is saying. “This tastes like swill,” he grumbled

in French. She was pretty sure she had conjugated her verbs correctly, and had

understood what he’d said. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, not daring

to look at him directly for fear he’d try to strike up a conversation with her. Although

he had declared the wine was more suitable for porcine consumption than human, he

continued to drink it with relish.


Erica swirled her wine around in the glass, contemplating its color. She brought the

glass to her nose. It had a nice, fruity bouquet. She continued to monitor the strange

man with her peripheral vision. He stopped at a nearby table and was served another

glass of red wine. She observed as he swirled the wine around in his glass as she’d done

and brought it to his nose to sniff. He wrinkled his nose in distaste, then looked directly

into her eyes and smiled at her. Erica nervously smiled back, lowered her gaze, and

moved further away from him. He followed her.


The hairs stood up on the back of her neck. Where was Hubert when she needed him?

Was she going to have to handle this creep on her own?


He murmured something else in French, and she realized he was talking to himself.

She walked a few feet away from him, gaining more personal space. She was wary of

people who talked to themselves in public, they might be unhinged. When he didn’t

follow her she breathed a sigh of relief, and finally brought the wineglass to her lips.

He slipped up behind her. “I could make better wine than this in my basement!”

This time he spoke in perfect English.


Erica nearly choked on the wine. Sputtering, she gazed up at him, irritated. He

merely smiled and peered down at her with such an innocent _expression in his thickly-

lashed, dark brown puppy-dog eyes that she suddenly forgot the rejoinder she had on the

tip of her tongue. He reminded her of someone. Whom, she didn’t know, but his eyes

were very familiar to her. He was good-looking in a disheveled way. His charcoal-

gray striped suit hung well on him, his white silk shirt open at the neck, and he had

stubble. While the trend for men nowadays was neat cuffs with cufflinks, he wore no

jewelry. She liked that. She also liked how his wavy black hair was shorn close

to his head. And the long, sharp-tipped sideburns he wore were sexy.


She glanced down the length of his body. Nice muscles under those clothes, she

thought. Too bad he’s a nut!


Finding her voice, she said, “So, you know what swill tastes like?”


“No, thank God. But it can’t taste any worse than this. It’ll turn into vinegar within

a year in the barrel,” he stated as he stood there slowly rubbing his unshaven chin.

That was too much! She was a winemaker and they were a superstitious bunch. How

dare he make dire predictions for the life of this wine? She took another sip and rolled

it around on her tongue. It was full-bodied, sweet, but not too sweet, with a nutty after-
taste. It was delicious. She felt that after some time in the bottle it would be quite

good. “At any rate,” she told him with authority. “You’re wrong. This wine is young,

but shows a great deal of promise. Now, would you please keep your negative comments

to yourself? I’d like to enjoy the tasting in peace!”


For the next couple of minutes she thought she’d struck him dumb with her rudeness

because he simply stared at her. She didn’t regret a word of what she’d said. He had it

coming, denigrating his host’s wines. He’d been rude first!


“You are right, I really should watch what I say, I might get fired,” he said with a

a twinkle in his eyes. He held out his hand. “Hello, I’m Joshua Knight of the Etienne

Roumier Winery.”


Erica’s mind raced. Yes, he was the head enologist at the winery. She’d been hearing

about him for years, but had never met him on her infrequent trips to Burgundy. The

Lafons and the Roumiers were not the best of friends. Their enmity went back at

least three generations. Something about Sobran’s and Etienne’s fathers once being best

friends and falling out over a woman. Erica didn’t know the particulars about the feud,

just the basics. Etienne Roumier had taken on Joshua Knight as his apprentice more than

ten years ago after his only son, Christian, had died in a skiing accident. Some said he

loved Joshua like a son and was going to leave him in charge of the winery when he

died which was unheard of in Burgundy, a rather insular society of winemakers. Usually

the winery went to a son, and a son only. Etienne had a daughter, if Erica remembered

correctly. Why wasn’t he preparing her to take over for him? Tradition, she guessed.

In Burgundy, the men worked the vineyards and the women kept house. Thank God I’m
American, she thought. She had every intention of one day running her family’s

winery. Her brother, Franklyn, was a chef and owned a restaurant in San Francisco.

Her other brother, Jason, was an attorney in Bakersfield, California. She was the only

one left to run the winery when their dad was ready to retire. She refused to think of

his dying. Even entertaining the thought caused her distress because she adored her

father. She’d wanted to be just like him ever since she could remember. As for her dad,

he’d taken one look at her in the hospital and announced to his wife, Simone, “Okay,

sweetheart, you finally win, we’ll name this one after me.”


Simone had grinned. Two older boys and he’d refused to allow her to name either of

them Eric, jr. A girl comes along, and it’s suddenly all right with him. Or that’s how

her mother had put it in her retelling of the story countless times over the years.

Erica smiled at Joshua as she shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Joshua.

I’m Erica Bryant.”


They allowed their hands to fall to their sides. “Yes, I know,” Joshua said warmly.

“Hubert told me all about you. You’re here in France to learn how to make good

Pinot Noir. In which case, you should be under my tutelage, not his.” His grin was

infectious. Erica decided the way his white teeth shone against the dark richness of his

skin was a definite turn-on. She couldn’t let an invitation like that go overlooked.

“I accept. You can show me around your domaine while I’m here.”


Joshua reached into his inside coat pocket and retrieved one of his business cards.

Handing it to her, he said, “I’d be delighted to show you around any Sunday. I have

the whole day off and we could have a picnic on the grounds while I instruct you in
the time-honored tradition of fine winemaking.”


Erica’s cheeks grew warm when he pressed the card in her palm with his thumb and

held her hand a bit longer than was necessary. Their eyes met. His gaze was intense,

as though he were committing her face to memory. “Call me.”


“I will,” she said.


Suddenly a young woman around Erica’s age, late-twenties, pounced on him, literally.

She wrapped her arms around him from behind and hugged him tightly. “There you

are, darling!” she purred in heavily accented English.


She sighed with satisfaction as she sinuously moved around his body to face Erica.

Petite with beautifully tanned skin, she had dark brown hair that fell to her waist and

looked as slick as sealskin. She gazed disapprovingly at Joshua with doe eyes that were

a velvety shade of brown. “We’ve been looking for you. Father is ready to give his

boring speech and, of course, he wants you beside him.”


“Erica Bryant, meet Dominique Roumier, my employer’s daughter.” Joshua

quickly made the introductions.


“Hello, Miss Roumier,” Erica said politely.


“Miss Bryant,” Dominique said coldly, her eyes never leaving Joshua’s face.

“Why don’t you stand beside him tonight?” Joshua asked, miffed at her rudeness.

“I would love to,” Dominique said, tossing her hair. She moistened her lips. “But

you’re the one he’s grooming to take his place, therefore you’re the one he wants by his
side, not me!”


Erica suddenly felt sorry for her.


Across the room, a short man in his mid-sixties, moving slowly as if he might be ex-

periencing some discomfort, approached the podium. “Good evening, ladies and

gentlemen, “ he said. “I am Etienne Roumier.”


Enthusiastic applause ensued. Joshua gazed regrettably into Erica’s eyes. “Promise

me you’ll stay right here until I return,” he said, his eyes pleading.

“I won’t leave this spot,” Erica agreed with a warm smile.


Joshua tossed a sharp look in Dominique’s direction then hurried to the stage. Erica

watched him go, her heart thudding in her chest. Her gaze settled on Dominique and

the smile on her lips disappeared. The other woman was frowning at her.

“Don’t waste your time,” Dominique said with a smirk.


“I beg your pardon?” Erica was the type of woman who felt women were supposed to

be a sisterhood, a support system for one another. She’d never engaged in warfare over a

man, and never would. This little Frenchwoman had been antagonistic toward her from

the start. Perhaps she should set her straight right away!

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Dominique told her. “Joshua doesn’t belong to me, and

I know it. He belongs to my father. That’s what I meant. He is devoted to his work, and

he doesn’t have time for romantic intrigues. So if you’re looking for something lasting,

look elsewhere.”


Erica laughed softly. “We only met five minutes ago. You’re reading far too much

into this. There’s nothing going on between us.”


Dominique snorted. “I’ve never seen Joshua look at anyone the way he was looking

at you. There is most definitely something going on between you!”


Erica didn’t comment as they turned their attention to what was being said on the

podium. Etienne Roumier beamed at Joshua with pride. “My English is not as good as

it should be,” he told the guests. “I will speak from my heart and have my partner

and friend, Joshua Knight, translate.”


He began speaking in French, his dark eyes animated, his tone of voice full of

emotion. After a while, Joshua smiled at him and said, “Etienne wants to thank you

for coming. God has blessed us with a good year. No losses from hail this year.”

Everyone laughed. Tales of hail and the subsequent affect on the grape crops were

notorious in Burgundy where any winemaker could tell you horror stories of almost

being ruined by hail, or miraculous stories about God allowing them to make the best

wine of their lives with the grapes that were left undamaged after a severe hailstorm.

Etienne spoke again, this time his animated eyes turned somewhat sad.


Joshua translated. “Etienne announces that due to ill health, he will be stepping down

from the day-to-day running of the winery. He will miss functions such as these, and

seeing the faces of dear friends.”


Expressions of disappointment arose among the guests, many of whom had known

Etienne for decades. They were genuinely saddened to hear of his failing health.

Etienne raised his hand, requesting their silence. Then he spoke again. When he’d

finished Joshua appeared reluctant to translate. He bent low, whispering something

into the older man’s ear. Etienne looked sharply at him, and motioned to the microphone,

evidently insisting that Joshua translate exactly what he had said.

Joshua evenly said, “Etienne has put me in charge of running the winery.”


The applause was immediate and spirited. Everyone started talking at once about the

exciting turn of events. Etienne hugged Joshua who, resigned it seemed, fondly returned

his embrace.


Wondering if Dominique had known what her father was planning to do before-

hand, Erica looked at Dominique to gauge her reaction to the news but all she saw was

Dominique’s back as she ran from the room. She thought of going after her, but

decided against it. She didn’t think Dominique would accept comfort from a woman she

barely knew. So she stood with the rest of the guests and applauded the two men on the

podium.


She was almost blinded by the flashbulbs from cameras brandished by at least five

photographers she hadn’t noticed among the crowd until now. She stepped backward,

shielding her eyes, and ran into someone behind her.


Hubert steadied her. “Hold on, don’t fall on that cute fanny of yours.”

“Never mind my fanny, where have you been?” she asked accusingly.


“There are some very nice-looking women here tonight,” he said. Hubert was five-

eleven, solidly built, with dark, curly hair that he wore too long, full lips that the

opposite sex found irresistible, and soulful brown eyes that had melted many cold

hearts. He considered women to be his calling. As a priest considers God’s work to be

his. Hubert was just as devoted to the study of women in all their delightful forms. Or,

that was the impression he gave. Erica thought it was all a cover for the very sweet

man underneath his playboy demeanor.


Erica grimaced at the photographers. “Where did they come from?”


“This is big news,” Hubert told her. “The Etienne Roumier Winery has been tops in

its field for more than thirty years. They’ve maintained a standard of excellence that

many wineries will never achieve. And now he’s turning over the reins to someone

who isn’t a blood relative. It’s unheard of!”


“It speaks volumes about his opinion of Joshua,” Erica said.


“Oh, then you two have met.” Hubert sounded pleased. “Yes, Joshua is a good

man. But I do not think Etienne’s surprise went over well with him. He has dreams

of his own.”


Erica was silent. She’d unwittingly stumbled into a family drama. A daughter who

appeared to be angry with her father for not taking her seriously. A devoted employee

who was so good at his job that his employer rewarded him with the top position with the

company. How would all of this play out? She had noticed some hesitancy on Joshua’s

part when Etienne had made his announcement.


She looked up at Joshua now. He was dutifully posing with Etienne. Smiling that

wonderful smile of his. Then he politely asked the photographers to wrap it up. After

a few more pictures, the photographers did as they were asked. Joshua helped a frail

Etienne off the stage and walked him to his table. Then he bent and said something to

the woman who was sitting beside Etienne, his wife perhaps, Erica thought. The woman

laughed delightedly, then Joshua excused himself and made his way back across the room

to her and Hubert.


“Do you want me to get lost?” Hubert jokingly asked Erica before Joshua joined them.

“Don’t you dare,” Erica said. “This man is far too appealing to be alone with.”


Hubert laughed. “You Americans and your inhibitions.”

“Let’s not get stereotypical,” Erica warned lightly. “I’ve known you since you were

five. I happen to know that you didn’t even kiss a girl until you were sixteen.”

“Keep your voice down,” Hubert cried. “Do you want all of Paris to hear?”

“They will if you leave me alone with Joshua Knight.”

“Did I hear my name?” Joshua asked upon his arrival. He smiled down at Erica.

“Is this man bothering you?”

Erica eyed Hubert. “He always bothers me, but I still manage to love him anyway.”

Joshua laughed shortly. “You’ve been friends that long, huh?”

“Unfortunately,” Hubert put in with a pained _expression on his handsome face. “I

know all of her secrets.”

“Oh, please share,” Joshua said, enjoying their conversation immensely.

Erica narrowed her eyes at Hubert and cocked her head as if to say, ‘do, and die!’

Joshua laughed because he was delighted to once again be in the company of a

sister. Black women had a unique catalogue of body language that he never saw women

of other cultural backgrounds utilize. One such movement was what Erica had just done

with her eyes. It was a death threat without even saying a word.

To save Hubert’s life, he said, “Is anyone else as hungry as I am? Why don’t we go

somewhere and grab something to eat?”


“I could eat,” Erica said, brightening.

“So could I,” Hubert said, glad Erica had stopped piercing him with her eyes.

“How about Pierre Gagnaire?” Joshua asked, mentioning a popular Paris restaurant.


“You have to reserve a table there way in advance,” Hubert said doubtfully.

“I phoned and asked them to save me a table,” Joshua said, his eyes on Erica’s

face. “Have you ever been there, Erica?”

“No, I haven’t,” Erica replied.

“Then it’s settled,” Joshua said, gently taking her arm.


Outside, Hubert spotted Dominique standing alone wiping her eyes with a tissue.

He’d known her all his life. Kept apart when they were kids because of the family feud,

as teenagers they rebelled and started secretly seeing each other in their social circles.

They’d never dated. Hubert had wanted to date Dominique. She simply preferred older

men, and he was two years younger than she was. Sometimes he thought she only dated

older men to irritate her father who continually admonished her to get married and gift

him with a house full of grandchildren. Dominique would be twenty-nine on her next

birthday, and didn’t appear to be in any rush to follow her father’s advice.
“Give me a few minutes?” he asked Joshua. “I want to see if Dominique can be

persuaded to join us.”


“All right,” Joshua said. He was glad of more time alone with Erica.

In Hubert’s absence, he helped Erica into the limousine. He sat across from her. In

the close confines of the backseat, Erica could smell his cologne, a masculine scent that

assailed her senses. It was a cool May night, but his body heat made her forget the chill.

“Where are you from, Joshua?” she asked, hoping to break the spell his nearness had

cast. She leaned toward him, awaiting his reply.

“I grew up in California,” he told her.


Erica sat back on the seat, crossed her arms over her chest and regarded him with

an _expression of utter delight. “California?”


“That’s right,” he confirmed, an enigmatic smile on his full lips.

“I knew I’d seen you somewhere before!” she cried triumphantly.

Joshua grinned, enjoying the intimacy of the moment. “California’s a big state. We

could have lived there all our lives without running into each other.”

“No, there’s something about your eyes,” Erica insisted, looking into them.

They were dark, almond-shaped, and expressive. The kind of eyes that could sweep

you up into the stratosphere one instant, and send you crashing back down to earth the

next. In their depths she imagined a world of possibilities and, as now, a modicum of

pain and loss. The sadness she’d glimpsed had been fleeting, but definitely there.

“Tell me where we’ve met before,” Erica said, adamant that they had.

Joshua’s gaze shifted away from her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean, Erica. We

met for the first time not more than twenty minutes ago.”

Erica smiled slowly and shook her head in the negative. “It’s funny how you

didn’t look at me when you said that.”


Joshua met her eyes once again. He leaned forward and grasped one of her hands

in his. They stared into each other’s eyes for several seconds, after which Joshua

cleared his throat and said, “Okay, we have met before. But it was many years ago,

and I would prefer that you recall our meeting on your own without any prompting

from me. I think that the memory will then be more meaningful for you.”

Erica breathed deeply and exhaled, gathering her thoughts. She had been right.


With one good look into his brown eyes she’d known they’d met before. Curiosity

was eating her up! Naturally curious, and a lover of mysteries, she didn’t know how

she would survive the evening not knowing where they’d met, let alone having to wait

longer for his revelation or, as he’d requested, for it to finally dawn on her when and

where they’d previously run into each other.


Looking at him now, how his sensual lips peeled away from his straight, white

teeth; how the lines around his eyes crinkled when he smiled; how his very presence

filled the cab, she knew that getting to know him would be well worth the effort.

She leaned forward. Taking his cue from her, he leaned in as well. “All right,” she

agreed. “But if I can’t recall where we’ve met, you’ve got to promise me that you’ll

tell me before I have to go back home in three months’ time. Deal?”

Their hands were still clasped. He bent his head. Now their cheeks were nearly

touching. He whispered, “Very well. But you will remember me, Wendy.”

Erica fairly melted when he called her Wendy. Peter Pan was her favorite childhood

story. How could he have known that? He was giving her a clue. Her golden brown

eyes eagerly raked over his face as she willed herself to remember. Nothing came.

Joshua inhaled the heady fragrance of her cologne. It took every ounce of his strength

to resist pulling her into his arms and kissing her soundly. To believe that fate had

brought them back together after all these years. He would never have sought her out.

It would’ve been unseemly, perhaps even profoundly inappropriate to do so. He would

be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about her over the years, though. He credited

her with his choice of a career. Would he be a winemaker today if the two of them

hadn’t encountered each other earlier in life?


Now, here she was. She’d grown into a beautiful woman. But, somehow, he’d

known she would. Her mother had been an exceptional beauty and he’d figured, like

mother, like daughter. But to actually set eyes on her! He could not slow his heartbeat,

he was so excited. Although most of his memories from the summer he’d met her

had been happy ones, others had also surfaced upon coming face-to-face with her again.

The summer they met was the summer his mother died.

WHAT DID YOUR THINK OF THIS EXCERPT?

SEP - FEATURED AUTHOR - Janice Sims

SORMAG: Please give the readers a brief bio on you the person and the writer.

JANICE SIMS: I'm a native Floridian who has been a published writer since 1996. I've never wanted to do anything else. My books range from traditional romances to Science-fiction romances, to romances with a touch of mystery and suspense.

SORMAG: Tell us about your current book?

SIMS: My current book is called Waiting for You and it's the first book in a trilogy I'm writing for BET/Arabesque. The Bryants of Glen Ellen, California are winemakers. Eric and Simone Bryant have three grown children, Erica, Jason and Franklyn. Each of the siblings will get their own book. Waiting for You is Erica's. Constant Craving, Franklyn's book, comes out next year.

SORMAG: What would you like your readers to take away from your book?

SIMS: I would like them to be entertained. Period. I hope that the story will entice them so much that they will barely be able to put it down. Authors always like to hear that. LOL!

Ultimately, I want them to fall in love with the characters and look forward to the next book in the trilogy, Constant Craving.

SORMAG: What resources on the net have been helpful in your writing?

SIMS: I'm a Google girl! Whenever I need to find information on any given subject I go straight to Google, and I usually find an abundance of riches. Love it!

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JANICE. POST IN THE COMMENTS BOX. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO LEAVE COMMENTS.

Would You Like To Be A Featured Author?

It’s a inexpensive way to promote your book. We have packages for every writer’s budget.

SEPTEMBER SPECIAL

BE THE FEATURED AUTHOR for 15.00

Interview on blog
Chapter excerpt on blog
Blog with readers
Link to your site

CHAPTER EXCERPTS – 10.00

Contact sormag@yahoo.com

We have slots available for the upcoming months. 4 authors a month will be featured.

Hurricane Check In

Author Vicki Hinze

Has started a check in list for authors.

To add your name or a friend's who has reported to you that she is safe, send an email to Vicki at vkhinze@aol.com

http://www.itgirlsseries.com/hurricane.htm


Thanks Vicki!

Authors please let us know what you need, I'll post information. We're here for you.

Literary Event - Writer's Conferences

There is a writers' conference being held on September 16, 2005 in Roswell, GA. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is a serious writer. If you are a published writer this is an excellent opportunity to promote and sell your books.

For more information log onto: http://fountainpenn.com/WritersConference05.htmlor email to: robdani2001@fountainpenn.com

Danielle-Kim DavisVP/FountainPenn Enterprise


Successful Self-Publishing Seminar

Join some of the industry's leading professionals in a comprehensive seminar about how to turn your manuscript into a nationally or internationally distributed publication that SELLS!
We will cover pre-press and formatting issues, printing 101, POD and eBook technology, publishing law 101, marketing and promotion, bookseller relations, and distribution. We will also present a bonus segment on copyright basics for writers.

Confirmed presenters:

Brian L. Jud, BookMarketing.com
John F. Harnish, Infinity Publishing
Lisa Gibson-Wilson, Renaissance Management Services
Kevin Wayne Johnson, author of Give God the Glory series
Nancey Flowers, author of A Fool's Paradise
Tonya Evans-Walls, intellectual property and literary lawyer and author

EVENT INFO
Saturday, September 24, 2005
9:00AM-3:00PM
Philadelphia Airport Hilton
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119

$90 per person, includes lunch, seminar materials, and FREE CD of the most important forms in the publishing industry.

$75 per person for groups of 4 or more!

http://www.fyos.com

Bless Someone With A Book

Hello everyone,

I’ve been off line for a few days. I’ve prayed for a way that I can help the hurricane survivors. My church has adopted a shelter who will receive 2000 survivors this week. This weekend, we will be painting the rooms they will live in.

I also received a press release for a book drive. I can do this. I had planned on compiling a list of the books I have for the SORMAG community; however life has been crazy so I haven’t had a chance. I’m sure you won’t mind if I donate them instead. If one book can give someone a little comfort in these crazy times, then we’ve done something to help.

I hope you can share a few of your books for this cause. Think about how the books make you feel and you’ll want to share those feelings.

My prayers continue to go up for these survivors. Let’s bless someone with a book.

If you want to donate to the shelter here in St. Louis

Send to :

L.C. Hoffman
7127 Minnesota Ave
St. Louis, MO 63111

I'll see that they receive the books.

THANKS!

NATIONAL BOOK DONATION LAUNCH FOR THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

For Immediate Press Release: Amber Communications Group, Inc. (ACGI), sends condolences, prayers, warm wishes, hope for immediate disaster relief, and a safe recovery to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In our efforts to help support the victims and families stationed at the Astrodome, relief centers and homes in Houston, Texas, Amber Communications Group, Inc.'s Publisher/CEO Tony Rose and Associate Publisher Yvonne Rose, along with Bill Cox, Publisher and Adrienne Ingrum, Associate Publisher, Black Issues Book Review; Heather Covington, CEO, Disilgold Worldwide Communications; Faye Childs, President, BlackBoard Bestsellers; Max Rodriguez, Publisher, Quarterly Black Review/Founder, Harlem Book Fair; Kassahun Checole, Publisher, Africa World Press, Inc.; Wade Hudson, President/CEO and Cheryl Hudson, Publisher, Just Us Books; Willie and Gwen Richardson, Co-Founders, CushCity.com; W. Paul Coates, Publisher, Black Classic Press, Jessica Care Moore;Moore Black Press, Mark Anthony, Publisher, Q-Boro Books; Nancey Flowers, Publisher, Flowers In Bloom Publishing; Azania Brown, Publisher, In Time Publishing; Tonya Evans-Wells, Publisher, FYOS Entertainment; Earl Cox, Publisher, Writers and Poets.Com; Gina Clark, Publisher, Alight! New York Grit Books; Willie and Gwen Richardson, Co- Founders, CushCity.com; and W. Paul Coates, Publisher, Black Classic Press (The Katrina Literary Collective) are spearheading a book fund drive.

As African-American Publishers, we recognize the importance of reading for education and enjoyment. In the case of the Katrina Hurricane victims of New Orleans, we recognize the importance of reading for mental and emotional stability. Reading can help pass the time, perhaps help victims take their minds off their trouble, offer some small pleasure, and provide an opportunity to gain knowledge on various topics that can help them gain a new foothold on their lives.

We can collectively comfort their stay, promote love of Black literature, foster literacy among youth and let our people know the Black literary community at large supports them.

As Publisher and CEO of ACGI, we are urging all Independent African American publishers, book clubs, self published authors, literary services, libraries, authors, editors, and publishers at the major publishing houses, to join the donation drive to submit books to the Katrina Hurricane victims. If you wish to participate by donating books, please email us at Amberbk@aol.com or Heather Covington at Disilgold@aol.com .

At this time our designated receivers and transporters are:

Gwen and Willie Richardson, Cush City.Com, 13559 Bammel North Houston Road, Houston, TX 77066,281-444-4265

Reshonda Tate Billingsley (Channel 26, Fox News Reporter),3714 Poplar Springs,Missouri City, TX 77459,281-799-7415

Tom Joyner,BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund,P.O. Box 803209,Dallas, TX 75380-3209

Dorris Ellis, Publisher, The Houston Sun, 1520 Isabella St. ,Houston TX 77288, Tel: 713-443- 9774

Yolanda Bridges, Publisher;LOF Publishing, 7500 Bellerive Suite 412,Houston, TX 77036,713-899- 7904

Andrea Brown 14220 Park Row #122, Houston, TX 77084, 281-759-1470

We will update you as more designated receivers and transporters are involved.

If you live in Houston and would like to volunteer to receive books and transport them to the Astrodome, relief centers or homes where some victims are staying, please include with your email, your destination address and phone number.

Thank you for your support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and taking a stand at large with the African American literary community. http://www.amberbooks.com

Thank you and God bless. Best regards,

Tony Rose, Publisher & CEO , Yvonne Rose, Associate Publisher , Amber Communications Group, Inc. , www.AMBERBOOKS.COM

LITERARY ARTISTS UNITED BOOK DONATION PARTICIPANTS THUS FAR

Heather Covington- Disilgold Soul Magazine Editor - Disilgold.com,
Tony Rose- CEO/ Founder Amber Books- Amber Books.com,
Linda Dominique Grosvenor- “The Hamptons- LindaDominque Grosvenor.com, Marti Tucker- Author of “A Mayor’s Wife - marthatucker.com,
Sydney Molare- Fishbowl International Inc. - Fishbowlinternational.com,
Nathaniel Portis- Things In Between- nathanielportis.com,
Electa Rome Parks- “Almost Doesn’t Count‚ - ElectaRomeParks.com.
LaShaunda Carruth Hoffman – Shades Of Romance – http://sormag.blogspot.com

How You Can Help Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

The following information was compiled by Cindy Appel

Support the American Red Cross just by searching the web...

You already use a web search engine, so why not switch to one that shares half of the profits with the American Red Cross? Now you can search the web while making a difference in your community. Allgive.com makes it simple and easy for you to search the web, save your favorite links, and comparison shop online.

For more information, please visit http://www.allgive.com

For information on how you can help out charitable and volunteer organizations assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina go to:

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

You can also send your monetary donations to:
American Red Cross
National Disaster Relief Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

When mailing a check, please indicate your designation on the check's memo line. (National Disaster Relief Fund)

Other web sites where you can find out how you can assist those who are hurting:

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Mercy Corps
http://www.mercycorps.org/

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Hurricane Response
http://www.fema.gov/

Charity Navigator
http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Habitat For Humanity International
http://www.habitat.org/

The Humane Society of the US:
http://www.hsus.org/

For those in Australia who wish to donate to the Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp

The Salvation Army has a ham radio network set up to search for information on those who are missing. It's called SATERN, and their addy is http://www.satern.org/

They have a form to fill out right on the main page with as much info as you have, and you e-mail it to them. Hopefully, they will be able to find information for you.

To donate online to the Salvation Army:
https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=USN-hurricane05

To donate by phone, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

To donate by mail, send checks, earmarked 'Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief,' to PO BOX 4857 JACKSON, MS 39296-4857.

Visit your local Wal-Mart or Sam's Club to donate to The Salvation Army's Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Photos of children separated from their parents by Hurricane Katrina have been posted on a Web site by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in an attempt to reunite families.

hotos of more than two dozen children found in Louisiana were posted on the organization's Web site http://www.missingkids.com/ , together with sometimes scanty information available about them.

For those unable to access Internet in areas where Katrina knocked out electricity, the center has set up a telephone hotline (888-544-5475) for families separated during the hurricane.

Rebuild the Coast Fund: http://www.RebuildTheCoastFund.org

Contributions also can be made at any BancorpSouth branch; or by sending a check or money order to BancorpSouth, c/o Rebuild the Coast Fund Inc., P.O. Box 789, Tupelo, MS. 38802 or Rebuild the Coast Fund, P.O. Box 4500, Tupelo, MS. 38803. Make checks payable to: Rebuild the Coast Fund Inc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT YOU CAN DO SOS America via Romantic Times magazine

For suggestions on what donated items are needed, here is a small list supplied by relief organizations. This is not complete, many other items are also needed, particularly underwear for adults and children, summer clothing, TOWELS.

Aspirin
Baby Powder
Batteries
Bedding
Bottled Drinking Water
Bowls, plastic, paper
Cable Ties
Calamine Lotion
Canned Food
Clorox Bleach
Clothes
Clothes Pins
Cutlery, Plastic Utensils

Diapers, Disposable size 12-24 lbs.
Disposable Razors
Duct Tape

Enema Kits
Envelopes, Manila
Exam Gloves
Face Masks
Facial Tissues
Fire Extinguishers
First Aid Kits
Flashlights
Folding Chairs

Gatorade Packets

Generators Hot and Cold Cups, Paper
Ibuprofen Tablets

Ladders
Towels
Mops
Paper Napkins
Paper Towels

Pens, Black and Blue
Plates, plastic, paperPower Cords, Electrical Outdoor 50/100ft.

Reading Glasses
Rope
Safety Glasses
Scissors
Soap, Antibacterial

Stapler
Staples
Step Stools
Sterile Water For Injections
Straws

Tape
Toilet Paper
Tools
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Towelettes, Antimicrobial
Trash Cans
Visine Eyedrops

What To Do For Survivors?
ADOPT A REFUGEE.....OR ADOPT A FAMILY

WHAT IS NEEDED?

Money / Supplies.

If you have usable TOWELS, UNDERWEAR, summer clothes, toys, pack them up. New, used, it doesn't matter. They don't have anything.

Children's clothing, toys, baby things, cosmetics, hygiene products, underwear for men and women, night gowns, pyjamas, summer clothes, sandals.

If so, let me know if you want to sponsor/adopt someone. Indicate the number you, your office, or school groups can take on.

Your contribution is deductible if the check (made out to SOS AMERICA, INC). Please sent to:

RT BOOKclub Magazine
SOS America, Inc.
55 Bergen St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Nancy will send you a receipt. She can also take your credit card for donations.
1 800 989 8816 (ext 12)

SEND ALL SUPPLIES TO ADDRESS BELOW.

Checks sent directly to Texas should be made out to Kathryn Falk. If you benefit from a tax deduction, make out check to SOS America,Inc., and send to Brooklyn address, Nancy wil make the transaction.

KATHRYN FALK
10218 COUNTY ROAD 941B
RR 1 BOX 134
ALVIN TX 77511-6839

My cell:347 432 2714

If you want to help with underwear and children's supplies in Houston, you can send money or supplies to:
JO CAROL JONES
1122 GLENBAY COURT
LAPORTE, TEXAS 77571
SOSAmericaInc.org.

Fallen Angel Reviews is coordinating an effort to collect books for children and adults, including coloring books and crayons, to be donated to the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. If you would like to be involved and contribute either money or books, email
Jaymi at jaymi@houston.rr.com or email JoAnn at joann@fallenangelreviews.com