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I am slowly shifting over to http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com, so all of my new updates will be there.
I thought of syndicating from Blogger onto here, but I haven't been happy with LJ for a while, so I'm eventually going to delete the entire ambasadora blog. I need to move some content into my Blogger archives first, though.
Sorry for any inconvenience, as I know some of you use LJ exclusively, but it was just time to move on.
Hope to see you at heidirubymiller.blogspot.com some time soon.
Cheers, Heidi
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jason jack miller, heidi ruby miller, douglas preston, lincoln child
Over the weekend we went to Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Pittsburgh's South Side Works to see Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
We took several of our books from home and bought their latest Pendergast Novel The Wheel of Darkness, as well as Child's new novel Terminal Freeze.
This was special for me because these guys, along with Clive Cussler, Michael Crichton, and Arthur C. Clarke are why I started to write in the first place.
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Part of my duties as the Educational Marketing Director for Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob include creating a blog.
So, here it is for those interested:
http://kentuckknob.blogspot.com
~Heidi
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It's Read an eBook Week, (March 8-14), so M. D. Benoit will give away the first two ebook versions of the Jack Meter Case Files in the series if you buy Meter Destiny. Check out details at her website (http://mdbenoit.com) and her blog (http://mdbenoit.com/blog).
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Join the party for Eugie Foster's debut short story collection, RETURNING MY SISTER'S FACE: AND OTHER FAR EASTERN TALES OF WHIMSY AND MALICE, co-hosted by Facebook and LiveJournal. I hear she even has virtual champagne and sake.
She's giving out prizes, too!
The grand prize is an autographed copy of RETURNING MY SISTER'S FACE, which will be awarded by a random drawing to be held at the end of today. To get your chance to win, either:
• Post a shout-out on your blog for RETURNING MY SISTER'S FACE with a link to Eugie's LiveJournal party co-host page (http://eugie.livejournal.com/383110.html); or • Join Eugie's Facebook group.
See you there!
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I'm passing this along from The Authors Guild. It's lengthy, but worth reading for all writers, I believe.
"On Monday, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos unveiled Amazon's Kindle 2 e-book reading device at the Morgan Library in New York. Most of the changes from the first version of the Kindle are incremental improvements: the new Kindle is lighter and thinner, for example, and Amazon eliminated the scroll wheel. One update, however, is wholly new: Amazon has added a "Text to Speech" function that reads the e-book aloud through the use of special software.
This presents a significant challenge to the publishing industry.( Read more... )
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Jason Jack Miller got a word accepted at Urban Dictionary - paneranoia.
Stop by and give him a thumbs up! (Yes, I'm allowed to campaign for him because he is my husband.)
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I am officially the new Educational Marketing Director at Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob.
This is a dream job for me because it combines my degrees in Anthropology, Geography, and Writing, and my experience as an educator, archaeologist, and travel industry worker.
Neil Gaiman once mentioned something about each one of us connecting to certain energy centers around the world: that's how Kentuck feels to me.
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On February 1, the Odyssey Writing Workshop launched a blog for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror here on LJ at http://odysseyworkshop.livejournal.com/.
Weekly posts will provide valuable insights into the writing process and the publishing industry. They will include interviews, writing and publishing tips, profiles, and news of sales and publications by Odyssey graduates, among other interesting topics.
Odyssey invites writers and readers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror to "friend" our LiveJournal and leave comments.
Thanks to Shara Saunsaucie White for the heads up.
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Online Registration is open for the Pennwriters 22nd Annual Conference A Writer's Tool Chest.
WHEN: May 15 - 17, 2009 WHERE: Pittsburgh Airport Marriott KEYNOTE SPEAKER: New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline PENNWRITER SPEAKER: Asimov's Readers' Award winner and Seton Hill mentor Timons Esaias
I'll post continuing updates about the conference, guests, and events.
Pennwriters, Heidi Ruby Miller, annual conference, A Writer's Tool Chest, Pittsburgh, Lisa Scottoline, Timons Esaias, writing, Seton Hill Writers
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Congratulations to the following Seton Hill University students as they graduate today with their Master's in Writing Popular Fiction and become part of the WPF Alumni:
Mary Ann Aug (Mystery/Romantic Mystery) Patrick Cobbs (Young Adult) Rebekah Cramer (Young Adult) Matthew Donahue (Science Fiction) Gale Holt (Young Adult) Susan Isola (Women’s Fiction) Sherry Peters (Fantasy) Daphne Riordan (Urban Fantasy) Krista Russell (YA/Historical) Stephanie Splater (Women’s Fiction) Alexander Spoerer (Science Fiction/Fantasy) Jennifer Stuttle (Chick Lit) Betsy Whitt (Fantasy) Tracy Wilson-Burns (Romance)
Seton Hill University, Heidi Ruby Miller, Writing Popular Fiction, graduation, writing, Seton Hill Writers
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I always like to look back on my submissions record for the previous year right around this time, so behind the cut are my statistics for 2008, along with commentary: ( Read more... )
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I'm in the January 2009 issue of The Writer - actually my face is. A couple of months ago I did a photo shoot for a new ad campaign at Seton Hill University for their Writing Popular Fiction Masters Program, and the ads are now making their way into magazines.
If you're a member of RWA, there's a black and white version of the ad in this month's Romance Writers Report too.
Seton Hill University, Heidi Ruby Miller, Writing Popular Fiction, The Writer, Romance Writers of America, Seton Hill Writers
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I haven't done one of these in a while because I've been busy on a novel (of course), but here are a few updates I've recently heard about:
#1: The Other in the Mirror, a collection of writings by Phillip Jose Farmer and edited by Christopher Paul Carey, is now available for pre-order.
#2: Mary SanGiovanni was interviewed at Famous Monsters of Filmland about her latest novel Found You.
#3: Kaye Dacus' Stand-In Groom received a four star review in Romantic Times BOOKreviews. This was her thesis novel for the WPF program.
#4: Renae Johnson has a new trailer for her upcoming release Blessed Be.
#5: The first two chapters of Anne Harris' second novel Accidental Creatures is up at Book View Cafe.
#6: HALO: The Cole Protocol by Tobias S. Buckell hit the New York Times Bestseller list.
Christopher Paul Carey, Heidi Ruby Miller, Mary SanGiovanni, Kaye Dacus, Renae Johnson, Tobias Buckell, Anne Harris, writing, Seton Hill Writers
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Sorry for no cut. I thought this might be important enough to some of you to post in full. Here are two job postings put out by the university. One is for graduate level, the other for teaching undergrads. Thanks to Mike Arnzen for the heads up:
FACULTY WANTED TO TEACH WRITING OF POPULAR FICTION
Assistant Professor of English Location: Greensburg, PA Category: Faculty - Liberal Arts - English and Literature Posted: 11/10/2008 Application Due: Open Until Filled Type: Full Time
Seton Hill University seeks published novelist of popular fiction (preferably mystery/suspense), to teach and to mentor novel-length theses in the graduate low-residency Writing Popular Fiction program (half-load), and to teach undergraduate courses in creative writing and first-year composition.
Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in English, MFA considered. Background in journalism, publishing, and/or editing a plus. Teaching experience/potential at undergraduate level desirable.
Send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, official transcripts, a statement of philosophy of teaching, a writing sample, a teaching portfolio, and three letters of reference. The review process will begin February 15, 2009 and will continue until the position is filled.
Seton Hill University is a Catholic, liberal arts University, educating traditional and non-traditional undergraduate and graduate students. Classes are offered in a variety of formats - day, evening, and weekends. Seton Hill has a student-centered campus culture based on Catholic values, acceptance, community and service. The campus is located 35 miles east of Pittsburgh.
Postal Address: Dr. John Spurlock, Chair Humanities Division Seton Hill University Seton Hill Drive PO Box 507F Greensburg, PA 15601 Email Address: spurlock@setonhill.edu http://fiction.setonhill.edu http://www.setonhill.edu
*** ALSO WANTED: COMPOSITION SPECIALIST!
Assistant Professor of Composition Institution: Seton Hill University Location: Greensburg, PA Category: Faculty - Liberal Arts - English and Literature Posted: 11/10/2008 Application Due: Open Until Filled Type: Full Time
Seton Hill University invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in Composition, beginning fall, 2009. The faculty member will teach first-year composition courses, with a secondary teaching responsibility as a generalist in undergraduate English.
Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in Composition/Rhetoric with an M.A. in literature (or related area). Background in writing assessment and/or writing in the disciplines a plus. An outstanding candidate who has completed all but the dissertation may be considered.
Send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, official transcripts, and a statement of philosophy of teaching composition, a writing sample, a teaching portfolio, a developmental composition syllabus, a set of teaching evaluations from a composition course and three letters of reference to. The review process will begin February 15, 2009 and will continue until the position is filled.
Seton Hill University is a Catholic, liberal arts University, educating traditional and non-traditional undergraduate and graduate students. Classes are offered in a variety of formats - day, evening, and weekends. Seton Hill has a student-centered campus culture based on Catholic values, acceptance, community and service. The campus is located 35 miles east of Pittsburgh.
Postal Address: Dr. John Spurlock, Chair Humanities Division Seton Hill University Seton Hill Drive PO Box 507F Greensburg, PA 15601 Email Address: spurlock@setonhill.edu http://www.setonhill.edu
Seton Hill University, Heidi Ruby Miller, Writing Popular Fiction, Seton Hill Writers
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The following is an email sent from Roy Blount, Jr., President of the Authors Guild and humor writer. I thought it merited repeating, even in these tough times, because I can say personally how much less our household has spent on books this year...
"I've been talking to booksellers lately who report that times are hard. And local booksellers aren't known for vast reserves of capital, so a serious dip in sales can be devastating. Booksellers don't lose enough money, however, to receive congressional attention. A government bailout isn't in the cards.
We don't want bookstores to die. Authors need them, and so do neighborhoods. So let's mount a book-buying splurge. Get your friends together, go to your local bookstore and have a book-buying party. Buy the rest of your Christmas presents, but that's just for starters. Clear out the mysteries, wrap up the histories, beam up the science fiction! Round up the westerns, go crazy for self-help, say yes to the university press books! Get a load of those coffee-table books, fatten up on slim volumes of verse, and take a chance on romance!
There will be birthdays in the next twelve months; books keep well; they're easy to wrap: buy those books now. Buy replacements for any books looking raggedy on your shelves. Stockpile children's books as gifts for friends who look like they may eventually give birth. Hold off on the flat-screen TV and the GPS (they'll be cheaper after Christmas) and buy many, many books. Then tell the grateful booksellers, who by this time will be hanging onto your legs begging you to stay and live with their cat in the stockroom: "Got to move on, folks. Got some books to write now. You see...we're the Authors Guild."
Authors Guild, Heidi Ruby Miller, Roy Blount
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My Seton Hill critique partner and dear friend Mary SanGiovanni will be in my area (Uniontown, PA, Greensburg, PA, and Morgantown, WV) this weekend to sign her latest novel Found You. It is a sequel to her Bram Stoker-nominated debut novel The Hollower.
Mary SanGiovanni, Heidi Ruby Miller, Found You, writing, author signing, Seton Hill Writers
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Seton Hill Writer and alum Carmine Coco DeYoung will appear on a segment of the CBS Sunday Morning show on Sunday, September 21 (9:00 AM EST). Bill Geist did a segment which features her as the 2008 Hobo Queen.
Carmine is the award-winning author of the children's book A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt, which was recently translated into Korean.
CBS Sunday Morning, Heidi Ruby Miller, Carmine Coco DeYoung, 2008 Hobo Queen, Bill Geist, A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt, children's author, writing, award winning author, Seton Hill Writers
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The special tri-issue of my newsletter, Field Notes, went out this weekend with its new online format. The theme for summer is, of course, road tripping. Here's an excerpt:
Despite the rise in gas prices, Jason and I managed to drive or ride over four thousand miles during these past three months. In Florida, we saw Storm Troopers and Jedis, celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary, and became lost in the magic of Disney World. In Maryland, I reunited with family members and basked in the nostalgia of my childhood. And, in the Outer Banks, we discovered the beauty and renewal of the shore and just why the Wright brothers spent so much time there.
A little closer to home, we attended the 7th Annual WPF alumni retreat and writing conference at beloved Seton Hill University, where we reconnected with author pals, made many new acquaintances, and received our anticipated dose of motivation and inspiration.
We are always lucky to share these experiences with friends and family, and the memories and photos often keep us warm when the trees are bare and the wind chill makes our breath freeze once again.
If you would like to subscribe to Field Notes from Heidi Ruby Miller, please email heidirubymiller AT gmail DOT com.
~Heidi
Field Notes from Heidi Ruby Miller, Heidi Ruby Miller, newsletter, summer, roadtripping, Seton Hill Writers
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