Joan Upton Hall, a former English teacher, is now a freelance author and editor, writing instructor, and speaker. Her manual, Rx for Your Writing Ills and “Demystifying Writers’ Demons” column, carried by various writer newsletters, have helped countless writers. She is a columnist (travel and humor) for her county’s newspaper. She has published in magazines as diverse as Texas Highways, American Jails, The Elegant Texan, and ByLine writers’ magazine. Think that’s a split personality? Her books run from historical nonfiction to urban fantasy and the paranormal. She offers sample chapters and other items on website: http://www.joanuptonhall.com/books.htm.

Carolina Blaha-Black announces that ehr Middle-grade children's book, "Anika and the Magic Top" is now available.  If you would like to purchase the book, it is currently available at http://www.lulu.com under her name or the book title.  The book is $12 plus shipping.  She will also be attending the North Texas Book Festivla on April 21 at the Visual Arts Center from 9am to 4pm if you would like to pick up a copy there.

Sharon Ellsberry's second book, The Spaniel Family's Pen Pal Adventure, will be out in February 2007. This children's book is a continuation of the Spaniel family's adventures.In this book the Spaniel dogs be-friend a Chihuahua named Chico. The Spaniels go on a Texas adventure to see their new friend Chico and Chico goes on his own adventure to see the Spaniels. They all end up at the State Capitol at the same time. This book, like the first one, features a song written by Joe Cocker Spaniel. This is a fully illustrated early chapter book with some bilingual language and is suitable for ages 5-10.  

CONVENTIONS

Convention                   Month    Place                    URL             

AggieCon                 March   Bryan, TX        http://aggiecon.tamu.edu/
Dreamin' in Dallas April Dallas, TX               http://www.dallasromanceauthors.com/conferences/
ApolloCon                June    Houston, TX      http://www.apollocon.org/
ConDFW                   June    Dallas, TX       http://www.condfw.org/
ConMisterio              July    Austin, TX       http://www.conmisterio.org/
Conestoga                July    Tulsa, OK        http://www.sftulsa.org/conestoga/
Armadillo Con            August  Austin, TX       http://www.fact.org/dillo/
Mythcon                  August  Norman, OK       http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon37.html
Bubonicon                August  Albuquerque, NM  http://bubonicon.home.att.net/
Fencon                   Sept    Dallas, TX       http://www.fencon.org/
     A comprehensive list of other conventions    http://www.fencon.org/links.html#calendar
World Fantasy Con        Nov     Austin, TX       http://www.fact.org/wfc2006/  

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