What’s Happening at Casita de Luz?

This section of my newsletter tends to be the most popular so I’m putting it first.  People seem to love knowing about the “goings-on in the garden.”  Couldn’t be better!  The corn is waist high.  I picked the first yellow squash and cucumbers.  The plum and pear trees are loaded with green fruit.  Yesterday I made a salad with spinach, red mustard greens, chives and cilantro, and I topped it with freshly picked and steamed green beans.  Today I sautéed nopalito (prickly pear cactus pads) with onion, green pepper, jalapeno and tomato for a nacho topping.  Every day is a new adventure because I have no idea what I’ll find “out there!”

We have a new addition to our yard:  A wind spiral made by Ralph Moresco of Buchanan Dam (www.westshorewindspirals.com).  The twisted, cut-copper sculpture is called “Full Circle” and we love the way it moves in the slightest breeze.  Even the birds are enchanted with it.  Other additions are a Mexican feather grass plant, a gold star Esperanza (also called “yellow bells”), and a tree that I won as a door prize at the annual Lawn and Garden Show in April.  The tree is called Eve’s Necklace and when mature will stand 15-20 feet tall with whitish-pink blossoms in the spring.  Right now the jasmine and lilies are in bloom so the outdoors is scented like perfume.  The coreopsis is so prolific that our drive way is covered in yellow petals.  The first pale pink Rose of Sharon blooms have appeared just as the last of the sunflowers faded.  W.C. and I are in the middle of removing grass from one side of the front yard so we can put in an additional flower or herb bed.  Our friend and fantastic workman Lonney Hendershot built us a lean-to off the back of the writing studio to serve as a storage area for lawn and garden equipment; he remodeled the half bath/laundry room in the music studio; and finally he is going to enclose the front porch so we will have a “bug free” place to sit and read outdoors.

New Website for Laurie Jameson & Women’s Fiction

Yes, I needed a makeover and I felt ready to let go of my old names in everyday life.  Plus this study of my name helped me make the shift:   “Using numerology we discovered that if you used Jameson instead you would be more visible as a writer. (laurie wagner buyer = 7)  (laurie jameson = 8). 7 is invisible. 8 is more powerful and is a strong money number.  (wagner buyer =4) which is a square and is foundational but hard work and much effort. (jameson = 5) which is change and movement. And laurie = 3. By itself as a first name it is very joyful and enjoys small gatherings and close friendships.”  The Laurie Jameson site will be dedicated to news about my novels and the fiction writing process.

www.lauriejameson.com

And what about Laurie Wagner Buyer?  She’s still there!  You can find her on Facebook and at her own website:  www.lauriewagnerbuyer.com

Where will WC and Laurie Be?

W.C. will be the keynote speaker and musical entertainment for the Llano County Historical Society annual meeting on Friday, May 4^th, at 6 p.m.  The event is being held at the Raesner ranch in Lone Grove.  For more information or directions, please call LCHS president Roger Pinckney at 325 247 3026.

I will be offering a Stage Presentation and Performance Workshop at Fuel Coffee House Saturday, May 5^th, from 10 a.m. until noon.  Soundman and fine musician Justin Simpson will be joining me to offer tips and give critiques.  The event is open to the public with a $10 donation per person going to benefit Fuel.  I will have my books and CDs available for sale (cash or check).

http://fuelcoffeehouse.wordpress.com/

The W.C. Jameson Trio featuring W.C. along with Buddy Case (lead guitar) and Keenan Fletcher (fiddle) will be appearing for a special Saturday night show at The Badu House Wine Pub on May 12^th, 7-9 p.m.

Texas Music Thursdays at the Badu House Wine Pub at 621 Bessemer Avenue/Highway 16 in Llano (north of the river) has become the place to be for great music!  W.C. and Mike Blakely continue to co-host the show featuring a special guest songwriter.  Here’s the lineup:  May 3^rd—Richard Dobson.  May 10^th—Owen Temple.  May 17^th—Nathan Hamilton.  May 24^th—Michael Fracasso.  In addition to a fabulous new summer menu and an amazing selection of beers and wine, the Badu House’s B&B is now open.  W.C. and I are scheduled to stay overnight this coming Thursday to help them celebrate!  We had to choose between a haunted room or a ghost-free room.  Guess which one we chose?

http://thebaduhouse.com/

W.C. will be hosting the Texas Songwriters Showcase at Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse in Spicewood on the second and fourth Monday this month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.   May 14^th—Bridgette London.  May 28^rd —Jon Napier. 

http://www.poodies.net/

What else is W.C. doing?

Hot off the press from Garlic Press Publishing! The long awaited Billy the Kid: The Lost Interviews.  W.C. Jameson, a leading authority on Billy the Kid, provides two introductory chapters detailing the circumstances which led to the identification of William Henry Roberts as Billy the Kid as well as the events leading up to the discovery of the lost interview tapes.   http://amzn.to/wyGCaU

Also new from Garlic Press Publishing:  Florida’s Lost and Buried Treasures
For generations, the state of Florida has attracted men and women in search of lost and buried treasures. The abundant legend and lore associated with the Sunshine State tells of pirates and buried booty, of Spanish explorers and sunken gold and silver laden ships just off the coast, of Indian and outlaw treasure, and of lost Civil War payrolls. The tales included in this book are compelling and each carries with it a level of documentation that transports the story beyond the status of legend. These treasures are real and attainable.  http://amzn.to/HVKrUe

New from August House Publishing:  Finding Treasure:  A Field Guide

W.C. shows you where to look and how to find valuable artifacts, precious metals, lost jewels, and hidden caches in your neighborhood park, your attic, or the open country.  Practical tips will get you started and help you keep your claim on lost treasure wherever you are.  www.augusthouse.com or http://amzn.to/KloCOx

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

No word yet from the University of Oklahoma Press on The Heart of Nowhere, so I remain hopeful.

The novel Beautiful Snare has been through two readers, corrections have been made, and Bekah’s story is now in the hands of Seven Oaks Publishing design expert Sonya Unrein.  The novel is scheduled for a mid-June release.  New York Times best-selling author Paulette Jiles (Enemy Women, The Color of Lightning) says:  “A haunting story about a beautiful and driven woman.  I loved it!”

Doctorate Update

The texts for my Ancient Tools of Divine Guidance II turned out to be Palm Reading for Beginners and The Spellbinding Power of Palmistry.  At first I thought, “Oh, no! … gypsies, tramps and thieves…fortunetellers at the carnival predicting the future,” but the course has turned out to be fascinating.  There is more science to this art than there is folklore (think about the legal ramifications of fingerprinting). Men’s Journal ran a short article in their “Mind and Body” section stating, “Is your ring finger noticeably longer than your index?  If so, you might have a greater likelihood of having a longer penis, a higher IQ, a lower risk of heart attack, a higher risk of prostate cancer, more athletic talent and more success as a financial trader.”  I doubt I will ever become a palm reader but I find myself spending a great deal of time studying people’s hand size, shape, the length and flexibility of fingers and thumb, etc…  The palm, we are told, is a map for the mind.

http://www.aiht.edu/catalog/holistictheology.asp

July 2012 is two months away!

W.C. and I have a full calendar for our month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  We are really looking forward to seeing all of you there in the Rocky Mountains.  I will send a separate e-news itinerary to our Colorado friends.  If you are not in Colorado but want to know what we will be up to when we go there, drop me an email and I’ll send you the list of events.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

What’s Happening at Casita de Luz?

We enjoyed such glorious rains in March that we hope April will bless us with even more showers.  The hill country has been ablaze with wildflowers for weeks now:  bluebonnets, white prickly poppies, Indian Paintbrush, wine cups, pepper grass, yellow groundsel, claret cup cactus and many more.  At home the fruit trees have changed from fragile blossoms to full leaf, with a multitude of purple irises, blue and red sages, and deep pink roses offering delectable fragrances.  Thanks to our wonderful friends Pat and Derenda Keating and their new greenhouse, we have over twenty container pots sporting tomatoes and peppers, plus cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash.  The corn and beans, asparagus, celery, mustard and collard greens, new lettuce and basil are all coming on strong.  And thanks to our neighbor Jon (who also provides us with fresh eggs) we have a pile of dried cow patties to use in the making of compost tea.  The plants love the smelly stuff and our raised beds are full of voracious earthworms.  Bird life, squirrel antics, and butterfly activity make sitting in the garden an entertaining endeavor.  WC and I accomplished the task of making a mulched pathway patch under the long expanse of the clothesline, which eliminates the old difficulties of dust or mud.  Our newest project is creating a faux stream along the south-facing rock wall of the patio by using crushed glass from the recycling center (thanks to my friend Sandy Shaw and the master gardeners of Llano for this lovely idea).  This is labor intensive since I insist on washing the glass first to remove paper, grit and sand.  The result, however, is a sparkling array of flowing colors that is especially seductive on a moonlit night.  Needless to say, a great deal of our time is being spent outdoors right now.

Where will WC and Laurie Be?

There are a bunch of fun events going on in the hill country this month starting with the Fiddle Fest in Llano on April 6, 7, 8^th.  I’m certain we’ll be checking out some of the excitement!  www.llanofiddlefest.com

Friday and Saturday, April 14 & 15^th—WC will be signing several of his new books at the Goldminds Publishing book table at the Burnet Creative Arts Spring Arts and Craft Show, part of the Annual Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, Burnet Community Center, 401 E. Jackson.  Contact Joyce Weaver at 512 755 0257 or burnetcreativearts@yahoo.com

Saturday, April 21^st, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.— We will have a book sale table at the annual Llano Lawn and Garden Show at St. James Lutheran Church, Schorlemmer Hall, 1401 Ford Street.  For more information contact Judy Waddell or Roy Petty, chairpersons:  judyee20@yahoo.com or rpetty@ctesc.net

Saturday, April 28^th, we’ll make our way to Menard to perform at their annual Around the Campfire on the Great Western Cattle Trail event, which will include cowboy poetry, music and storytelling from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Stock Pen Crossing Park.  Sealy’s Chuck Wagon Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm.  Tickets are $15 for dinner and entertainment.  For more information, contact Tina Hodge at the Chamber office, 325-396-2365. info@menardchamber.com

What else is WC doing?

www.wcjameson.com

Great comments and reviews are rolling in for WC’s new CD “Texas Tonight.”  If you have enjoyed his previous albums you are going to love the songs, musicianship and vocal harmonies on this one.  To order your CD, send your name & address, along with a check for $18.00 (postage paid) to W.C. Jameson, P.O. Box 989, Llano, TX  78643.  Of course you can always catch W.C. at one of his gigs and get your CD then!

Texas Music Thursdays at the Badu House Wine Pub at 621 Bessemer Avenue/Highway 16 in Llano (north of the river) has become the place to be for great music!  W.C. and Mike Blakely continue to co-host the show featuring a special guest songwriter.  Here’s the lineup:  April 5^th—Bo Porter.  April 12^th—Wake Eastman.  April 19^th—Greg Whitfield.  April 26^th—Jed Zimmerman.  Plus fabulous food and an amazing selection of beers and wines.

http://thebaduhouse.com/

W.C. will be hosting the Texas Songwriters Showcase at Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse in Spicewood on the third and fourth and fifth Monday this month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  George Ensle will be hosting the first and second Monday and will join WC on the fifth Monday.  April 16^th—Buddy Case.  April 23^rd —Richard Dobson.  Ribeye steak special on Monday, but owner Sharon Burke also has yummy black bean or veggie burgers on the menu, much to Laurie’s delight.

http://www.poodies.net/

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

Good news!  The Heart of Nowhere received a second reader endorsement for publication.  This means that my editor at the University of Oklahoma Press can now present the project to the internal editorial committee later this month or in early May.  If my memoir meets board approval, a contract offer is the next step.

More good—if unexpected—news!  After great deliberation and some genuine angst I decided to pull my novel Beautiful Snare from consideration with JET Literary Agency and Water Street Press.  Why?  It’s complicated, but in essence I no longer wanted to ride the emotional roller coaster of the publishing world, in particular the hair-raising (and for me, hair-pulling!) carnival of Internet Marketing.  With WC’s blessing and Sonya Unrein’s dedicated expertise, I have chosen to bring out my future work independently through Seven Oaks Publishing Company.  This means a delay on the release of Beautiful Snare, the other seven novels, the poetry collection Reluctant Traveler, and the creative non-fiction piece The Daily Kiss, plus ongoing projects, but henceforth I will have more balance with and control over my creative life.  And that makes me happy!  If you want to engage in further discussion of this shift in my writing life, please feel free to call me or email me.

Doctorate Update

With “Divine Laws of Prosperity” completed, fully appreciated, and incorporated into my daily life I’m gearing up to begin two new courses: “Ancient Tools for Divine Guidance II” and “Quantum Healing and Spirituality.”  Part of my process during March, which I will continue implementing in April, has been to take a weekly meditative hike out at my friend David’s ranch.  This has been a very different undertaking than my usual group hike with my women friends that includes ongoing conversation and socializing.  By going alone to a quiet place in the natural world I am able to embrace the silence and ascertain intimate details about the landscape, weather, plants, animals, and our Earth’s exciting evolution.  I find great pleasure in being a conscious and considerate co-creator of a new and ever-expanding reality.  With half of my course work complete, I am beginning to explore topics for my dissertation.

http://www.aiht.edu/catalog/holistictheology.asp

Laurie’s Reading Picks

John Dofflemeyer’s Proclaiming Space, the very best finely wrought introspective poetry about life on the land and the dynamics of human relationship.  John Dofflemeyer has long been a favorite of mine and I find myself reading each poem over and over again to ferret out all the lovely nuances of expression he cultivates.

David Seabury’s The Art of Selfishness, a fascinating (if sometimes dated 60s & 70s) look at how important it is to consider the self before others.  Many thanks to my friend Pat Keating for recommending this book and loaning it to me.  It became intrinsic to my doctoral work on self-healing.

July 2012 is only four months away!

W.C. and I have a full calendar for our month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  We are really looking forward to seeing all of you there in the Rocky Mountains.  We will post the dates and venues in our June newsletter.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

That you can “find” W.C. and me on FaceBook.  Yes, due to some rather urgent prompting from our web master and our publicist I am administering fan pages for both of us.  If you want more up-to-date details on where we are and what we’re doing you can always “like” us and receive the postings.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Wagner-Buyer/150397578326953

https://www.facebook.com/pages/WC-Jameson-AuthorSongwriter/182905902741

What’s Happening at Casita de Luz?

Ah, Spring!  Such a seductress.  The plum, peach, and apricot trees are in bloom.  We are enjoying fresh lettuce and cilantro, with spinach and collard greens coming soon.  Oregano, tarragon, green onions, chives, mint and lavender add their scents to green grass, fresh-pulled weeds, and new-turned earth.  I hope to finish some gravel pathways, do more extensive mulching, and plant more delicious things to eat.  This is always an exciting and renewing time of year, especially when I turn some attention to “spring cleaning,” which means I donated half of my clothing and many household items to the yard sale to benefit our local yoga studio.  It felt wonderful to reduce the clutter in my life and to have more space in the house.

Texas Treasure Show 2012

W.C. will be the keynote speaker at the Texas Treasure Show March 10^th & 11^th at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest, in Bryan, Texas.  Sponsored by the Texas Council of Treasure Clubs, this promises to be “a fun-filled weekend of information and excitement.” He will also have a book booth with dozens of his Lost Mines and Buried Treasures titles, as well as his new memoir Treasure Hunter: Caches Curses and Deadly Confrontations and the novel based on a true story Beating the Devil.  For more information, contact Terry Smith at 903 238 3020.

Upcoming titles scheduled for release this year in W.C.’s Lost Treasures of America Series include Treasure Hunting Field Guide, Buried Treasures of the Civil War, Florida’s Lost Treasures, Lost Mines and Buried Treasures of Missouri, Lost Mines and Buried Treasures of Oklahoma.  He is also working on a sequel to Treasure Hunter:  Caches, Curses and Deadly Confrontations and another novel set in 1880s Texas.

What else is WC doing?

www.wcjameson.com

It’s here!  It’s here!  And WC’s new CD called “Texas Tonight” is beyond explaining.  If you have enjoyed his previous albums you are going to love the songs, musicianship and vocal harmonies on this one.  To order your CD, send your name & address, along with a check for $18.00 (postage paid) to W.C. Jameson, P.O. Box 989, Llano, TX  78643.  Of course you can always catch W.C. at one of his gigs and get your CD then!  It was a long year of waiting for this project to come to fruition but it has been worth every minute of hard work to achieve such a stellar collection.

Texas Music Thursdays at the Badu House Wine Pub at 621 Bessemer Avenue/Highway 16 in Llano (north of the river) have become the place to be.  W.C. and Mike Blakely continue to co-host the show featuring a special guest songwriter.

Here’s the lineup:  March 1^st—Mike Beck.  March 8^th—Bryd & Street.  March 15^th—Kenny Williams.  March 22^nd—Walt Wilkins.  March 29^th—Jimmy Davis.

http://thebaduhouse.com/

W.C. loves hosting the Texas Songwriters Showcase at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.   March 12^th—Brooks Brannan.  March 26^th —Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay.

http://www.poodies.net/

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

I have been having a great deal of fun writing playful novellas based on W.C.’s (Carlos) and my (Luz) life.  The stories are based on W.C.’s adventures as a treasure hunter and involve real places, real experiences, and both real and imaginary people, all of which is infused with a lot of imagination and speculation for plot twists.  Both The Palomas Predicament and The Guadalupe Glitch are out to readers for assessment to see if they garner enough merit for publication.  I’m anxious to start on the third in the series titled The Virgin Island Vendetta.

The fourth revision of The Heart of Nowhere is finished and turned into the editor at the University of Oklahoma Press.  Don’t gasp, but I cut 10,000 words and really condensed the last eleven chapters in order to bring the story to a more dramatic and interesting close.  Now, let’s hope that the readers, experts in the literary field, agree that it works.  If so, the manuscript will be offered for consideration to two different boards at the University.  Join me in putting lots of good thoughts in the direction of acceptance!

Beautiful Snare is still scheduled to be out later this spring, but I have no firm date yet.  I am very excited to be working with Lynn Vannucci, Executive Editor and CEO of Water Street Press on this first novel.

Reluctant Traveler is being “operated on” by a fine editor who will help me reshape this poetry collection into a stronger book in hopes of getting a publisher to take a more serious look.  At least the manuscript was not “DOA.”  All I need to do is breathe new life into these poems and recommit myself to their existence.

Doctorate Update

I loved my brief holiday from my doctoral studies but I was also very glad to get back to “hitting the books.”  What is it about me that loves to study, that yearns to delve deeply into some subject and garner the essence of what it all means?  I don’t know, but whatever it is it has served me well, leading me ever deeper into self-knowing and self-understanding.  No wonder my February class in “Intuitive Healing” left me feeling so fabulous!  And I’m very fortunate to have friends who have volunteered to allow me to stretch and test my psychic abilities by using them as guinea pigs for the prescribed exercises. This month I begin “Divine Laws of Prosperity,” and I can’t wait to see what I’ll learn next.

http://www.aiht.edu/catalog/holistictheology.asp

Laurie’s Reading Picks

Aside from my required course texts I dedicated my reading this past month to catching up on issues of The New Yorker and Spirituality and Health magazines, plus picking up poetry books at random for a good dose of inspiration and exhilaration.

July 2012 is only four months away!

W.C. and I have a full calendar for our month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  We are really looking forward to seeing all of you there in the Rocky Mountains.  We will post the dates and venues in our June newsletter.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

Join me in a fun endeavor during February!  Later this spring I’ll be posting a new blog called “The Daily Kiss,” and I hope to add links to help readers savor the world’s most famous or memorable kisses.  Do you have a favorite kiss that is captured in a photograph, a painting, a sculpture, a film clip, or a music video?  If so, send me the link, or an attachment, and if possible I’ll include it on my website and my publisher’s website.  Remember, a kiss can be many things—not only an affectionate gesture between friends or an erotic connection between lovers, but also a motherly-fatherly-sisterly-brotherly sign of familiarity, or even a religious signature.  The kiss of the sun.  The kiss of death.  The kiss of confusion.  The possibilities are endless.  What can you discover during this exploration?  Let me know.

Good News For Treasure Hunter:  Caches, Curses and Deadly Confrontations

The Huffington Post reported that WC’s memoir made IndieReader’s Best Books of 2011 List.  We are thrilled with this news, along with all the strong reviews the book has received on amazon.com.  Many thanks for all your support!

If you enjoyed Treasure Hunter you may want to know that WC’s first novel Beating the Devil (UNM Press) is now available on Kindle.  This is the violent, heart-wrenching story of a young man who crossed the border into Mexico to explore the country, only to be caught up in a war between the indigenous people and the wealthy landowners.

http://www.amazon.com/Beating-the-Devil-ebook/dp/B006LR8I9G/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325877531&sr=1-2

Upcoming Speaking Events and Workshops

W.C. will be speaking about Treasure Hunter at the Rylander Memorial Library in San Saba on Monday, February 13^th, at 2 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Carol Littlefield at 372 3883.

We will be presenting a joint workshop at the Herman Brown Free Library in Burnet on Saturday, February 25^th, 9-12 a.m.  WC will be addressing “The Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Publishing” and I will be offering “Making a Memoir:  A Creative Nonfiction Expedition.”  Pre-register by February 17^th; a required $20 materials fee is payable at the door.  For more information, contact Betsy Engelbrecht at 512 715 5228.

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

I am pleased to report that I have survived another cedar fever season here in the hill country, mostly by staying indoors and appreciating the air purifier that WC gave me for Christmas.  I enjoyed my first long hike of the year with my friends at Inks Lake State Park Fish Hatchery and we truly reveled in the 70, sunny, no-wind morning.  I’ve planted lettuce, spinach, cilantro, collard greens and some flowers.  Onions and chives are already growing strong.  And, best of all, we’ve had some lovely light rains this past week.  It is now time to prune our fruit trees.

For more information about our lovely hill country town go to:

http://www.llanochamber.org/

What’s WC doing?

www.wcjameson.com

Texas Music Thursdays at the Badu House Wine Pub at 621 Bessemer Avenue/Highway 16 in Llano (north of the river) have become the place to be.  W.C. and Mike Blakely continue to co-host the show featuring a special guest songwriter.

Here’s the lineup:  February 2^nd—Jake Martin.  February 9^th—George Ensle.  February 16^th—Larry Nye.  February 23^rd—Buzz Cason

http://thebaduhouse.com/

W.C. loves hosting the Texas Songwriters Showcase at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.   February 13^th—Bridgette London.  February 27^th —Woody Eastman.

http://www.poodies.net/

Where oh where can W.C.’s new CD be?  We are still waiting to hear from the company, but Texas Tonight should be out later this month!!  I know we’ve said that before and you have waited a long time for this new release.  If you want to pre-order your CD, send your name & address, along with a check for $18.00 (postage paid) to W.C. Jameson, P.O. Box 989, Llano, TX  78643.  We’ll send them out as soon as they arrive.  Of course you can always catch W.C. at one of his gigs and get your CD then!

Doctorate Update

My course work with AIHT is on hold right now until I finish a few writing projects.  I hope to get back on track by mid-month.

http://www.aiht.edu/catalog/holistictheology.asp

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

The fourth revision of The Heart of Nowhere is well under way.  This is the stage where the story does not change but where I apply my expert poet-surgeon skills at excising every unnecessary word, what we call “honing the prose” and “tightening the dramatic essence.”  This is never an easy process but one that is required in my quest for publication with the University of Oklahoma Press.

Beautiful Snare is still scheduled to be out later this spring, but I have no firm date yet.  I am very excited to be working with Lynn Vannucci, Executive Editor and CEO of Water Street Press on this first novel.

Reluctant Traveler was turned down by another press but I have not given up hope of finding a home for this collection of poems.

Laurie’s Reading Picks

Doghouse Roses, Steve Earle (short stories by one of Texas’ premier songwriters)

Your Soul’s Plan, Robert Schwartz (nonfiction spiritual exploration…NOW I know why I ended up with the family I have!)

July 2012 is only five months away!

W.C. and I have a full calendar for our month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  We are really looking forward to seeing all of you there in the Rocky Mountains.  We will post the dates and venues in our June newsletter.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

Did you know…

…That January comes from Janus, the Roman god that is identified with doors, gates, and all beginnings?  Of course you did.  I wish you health, wealth and happiness, along with many open doors and gates as you begin this wonderful and exciting New Year!

Journaling Your Way to Health and Well Being

Did you know that journaling, even as little as three short lines, can open your mind, open your heart, open many doors, and open possibilities for awakening and expanding your consciousness?  Join me on Saturday, January 14^th, 12-2 p.m., at Sana Vida in Marble Falls for an interactive workshop where I will walk you through the delightful step-by-step prospect of journaling your way into better health and well being.  The $45 fee includes a copy of my book Infinite Possibilities:  A Haiku Journal and a pen.  No prior writing experience is required.  Call me for more information:  325 248 1889.  Register for the workshop online or by calling Sana Vida:  830 693 6000

http://www.sanavida.info/events.html

The Truth about Treasure Hunter:  Caches, Curses and Deadly Confrontations

W.C. will be speaking about his new memoir on Tuesday, January 24^th, at 2:30 p.m. at the Lakeshore Library (7346 Texas Highway 261, Buchanan Dam).  Whether you have read the book and have questions, or simply want to know more about the stories he tells, please join us for this special event.  Limited seating.  For more information or to reserve a place, please call 325 379 1174.

Lakeshore.library@gmail.com

http://www.llano-library-system.net/lakeshore.htm

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

We’ve let the yard and garden go wild for these few winter months of rest and recuperation.  Lots of weeds out there for me to pull, but I’ll find time to tend to that chore during one of these wonderful 70 degree days we’ve had lately.  We have been blessed with some rain, which means that the bluebonnet plants are popping up all over.  If things go well—with more moisture and no hard freezes—there should be a marvelous crop of wildflowers come spring.

For more information about our lovely hill country town go to:

http://www.llanochamber.org/

What’s WC doing?

www.wcjameson.com

The W.C. Jameson Trio (with Buddy Case on lead guitar and Keenan Fletcher on fiddle) will be the featured guests at River City Grill in Marble Falls on Tuesday, January 3^rd.  Show starts at 7 p.m. with Mike Blakely and Larry Nye opening.

The W.C. Jameson Trio will also appear at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill on Highway 71 in Spicewood, for a special show on Friday, January 6^th beginning at 9 p.m.

W.C. and Mike Blakely continue to co-host a weekly show featuring original Texas Music at the Badu House Wine Pub at 621 Bessemer Avenue/Highway 16 in Llano (north of the river).  Each Thursday they will feature a special guest songwriter.

Here’s the lineup:  January 5^th—Buddy Case.  January 12^th—Noel McKay and Brennan Leigh.  January 19^th—Casey Hubble.  January 26^th—ShAnnie

http://thebaduhouse.com/

W.C. loves hosting the Texas Songwriters Showcase at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.   January 9^th—Jimmy Davis.  January 23^rd—Danny Brooks.

http://www.poodies.net/

W.C.’s new CD of story songs Texas Tonight should be out later this month!!  We know you have waited a long time for this new release.  If you want to pre-order your CD, send your name & address, along with a check for $18.00 (postage paid) to W.C. Jameson, P.O. Box 989, Llano, TX  78643.  We’ll send them out as soon as they arrive.  Of course you can always catch W.C. at one of his gigs and get your CD then!

Doctorate Update

I’m joyously in the middle of my course work called “Care of the Soul.”  After I take my exams and submit my paper, I’ll take off a month or so in order to focus once more on my creative writing.

http://www.aiht.edu/catalog/holistictheology.asp

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

This is it:  the window of time I blocked out to take care of the revision of The Heart of Nowhere (the sequel to When I Came West).  I anticipate a daunting task, but once I garner enough courage to tear things apart, I know I’ll enjoy the process of putting all the pieces of the story back together again.  Those six years of my life (1982-1988) with the Mick Buyer family on the O Bar Ranch in Wyoming were “a hard life in a hard country,” but I sure learned a lot about the land, the grass, the water, the cows, the wildlife, and what it means to “cowboy up!”

Laurie’s Reading Picks

Cry Till You Laugh, Terri Hendrix (memoir mixed with song lyrics) http://www.terrihendrix.com/store.html

Breaking Clean, Judy Blunt (memoir)

Available at http://www.amazon.com

Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore (nonfiction)

Available at http://www.amazon.com

The Red, Candle-lit Darkness, Larry Thomas (poetry)

http://www.larrydthomas.com/books.htm

July 2012 is only six months away!

W.C. and I have an almost full calendar for our month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  Still a few spots open if you wish to schedule us for a speaking or writing event, a book signing, a music gig, or you simply want us to stop by for a visit, please let us know.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

In the next few days I’ll be sending out a special holiday offer for books and CDs from Seven Oaks Publishing Company.  If you are a book and/or music lover now is your chance to stock up on some good reading and listening—or purchase gifts for friends and family.  If you want to preview what will be available, go to:

http://www.sevenoakspublishingco.com/SO/Our_Publications.html

Literary Publicist Stephanie Barko

We’ve had the good fortune to be working with Stephanie Barko for W.C.’s memoir Treasure Hunter:  Caches, Curses, and Deadly Confrontations.  Stephanie has been spearheading an online virtual book tour, as well as teaching us step-by-step techniques on how to take advantage of all the great social media sites.  To learn more go to:

www.stephaniebarko.com

http://www.sevenoakspublishingco.com/SO/Our_News/Our_News.html

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

Okay, the hill country of Texas has got to be the strangest place in the world to live!  Despite the fact that we are now into the winter months, the scattered rain showers (what a blessing after the long summer drought) have brought the jasmine and mums into full bloom, along with a few roses and the autumn sage.  The rock walkway between the house and studio is finished (what a feat W.C!) and more stones await placement along flowerbeds and the front yard curb.  It’s great fun to see our dreamscape emerging a little bit at a time.

For more information about our lovely hill country town go to:

http://www.llanochamber.org/

For one of the coolest places in Llano, check out the events happening at:

www.fuelcoffeehouse.wordpress.com

What’s WC doing?

www.wcjameson.com

NEW VENUE!!  Beginning Thursday December 8^th, W.C. and Mike Blakely will co-host a weekly show featuring original Texas Music at the Badu House Wine Pub at 621 Bessemer Avenue/Highway 16 in Llano (north of the river).  Each Thursday they will feature a special guest songwriter.

http://thebaduhouse.com/

W.C. continues to host the Texas Songwriters Showcase at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  Jess Posey will be his guest on December 12^th, and George Ensle will join him on December 26^th.

http://www.poodies.net/

December 16^th W.C. will be playing a private show for an RV Park in Bulverde.  If you, your RV Park, condo association, men’s or women’s club, civic organization, church or library would like to book W.C. for music or speaking engagement, just send him an email (jamesonwc@gmail.com).

The really, really, really long overdue new CD of WC’s story songs is headed to Terra Nova Mastering Studio! Cover design is underway too, so it’s almost there!  We’ll let you know when it’s ready.

New Books!!  Lost Mines and Buried Treasures of Arkansas and Lost Mines and Buried Treasures of Missouri are now available from Goldminds Publishing, both in print and in digital formats.

http://www.goldmindspub.com/?page_id=126

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

Yippee!  The reader reports for The Heart of Nowhere (the sequel to When I Came West) from OU Press came back with high marks.  BUT both readers had strong suggestions for revisions.  Therefore, I have blocked out the month of January to tackle the process of tearing apart the manuscript and doing some substantial rewriting.  Time consuming?  Yes.  But in the end I know I will have a much better book—the better to please YOU, dear readers.  So please be patient as the editors and I work extra hard to create a really worthy story.

Boo-Hoo!  Write Works Publishing, the new house that accepted my novel Beautiful Snare, has already met an untimely and unfortunate end.  However, all is not lost.  Beautiful Snare has already found another publisher and is still slated for a spring release.  I’ll tell you more once the contracts have been finalized.

Ahhhhh!  I am still waiting to hear if Reluctant Traveler (new poems) has found a home.  I’ll let you know as soon as I find out anything.  Also, speaking of poetry, I put the final polish on a chapbook of poems titled Parched, but Waiting (a Texas hill country drought motif) and sent it off to another prospective publisher.

Doctorate Update

Slaving away…no, not really!  I am truly having the time of my life going through my course work for the Ph.D.  I just finished “Life Skills” (pretty shocking to discover all the things I didn’t know about decision making) and I’m looking forward to starting “Care of the Soul” later on this month.

http://www.aiht.edu/catalog/holistictheology.asp

Off to Florida

Pretty soon I’ll be packing a bag and flying to Florida to see my Mom in Tarpon Springs.  My older sister Karen (mom’s usual house companion) is gone to Hawaii for a conference and to see her son Charlie.  So it seemed like the perfect time for me to go hang out with Mom and do “a lot of nothing” for a week.  I figure we’ll take some walks on the beach, browse around the town shops, visit the library, and watch some movies.  What more could a mom and daughter want?

http://spongedocks.net/

Need a one-of-a-kind get-away place for the holidays?

Why not consider some kickback time on a Colorado high country ranch?  Not any old ranch, but the place that I used to call home, with the incomparable beauty and wildness of the South Fork of the South Platte River.  My stepchildren, John and Melody, have turned the cabin that Mick and I built on the DM Ranch into an incredible retreat.  Easy access to the skiing in Breckenridge.  To see photos and check availability, please go to:

www.vrbo.com/321739

July 2012 is a long way off…but…

W.C. and I are already booking dates for a month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  If you wish to schedule us for a speaking or writing event, a book signing, a music gig, or you simply want us to stop by for a visit, please let us know and we’ll put “you” on the calendar.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

Wow!  The response to WC’s memoir Treasure Hunter: Caches, Curses and Deadly Confrontations has been phenomenal.  We cannot thank all of you enough for ordering the book and letting us know how much you’ve enjoyed the stories.  For those of you who asked, “What can we do to help promote this great book?” the answer is easy.  Pass the word, tell your friends, recommend it for a book club, post a short review on amazon.com, blog about it on your own site, “like” it on WC’s Face Book page, buy copies to give as gifts, donate one to your library, or ask WC to come speak to your group or organization.  Also, please know that we are open to other marketing suggestions from you so don’t hesitate to send us your ideas.

Writing Workshop in Burnet, TX

Have you ever wanted to “pick our brains” about the writing life?  Now’s your chance.  WC and I will be team teaching a writing workshop at the library in Burnet on Saturday, November 5^th, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  For more information, please contact:  Betsy Engelbrecht, Director, Herman Brown Free Library, 100 East Washington, Burnet, TX  78611.

bengelbrecht@burnetcountylibrary.org
tel: 512-715-5228              fax:  512-715-5249
www.burnetcountylibrary.org

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

Oh, we had a lovely day and night of rain, which put over five inches in the rain gauges and filled the reservoir on the Llano River.  Nothing is more beautiful to us now than seeing the river rushing over the dam as we drive over the bridge.  Because of this gorgeous gift of moisture everything that had gone dormant from the drought decided to bloom.  Everything in the yard has resurrected with astounding beauty.  WC spent three days hauling truck loads of white limestone flagstones from San Saba, and is currently spending these cool days laying another patio and finishing up the walkways in the yard.  I have been spending my “garden time” listening to the birds and meditating on the wonders of the natural world.

For more information about our lovely hill country town:

www.llanotexas.com

What’s going on at the famous Fuel Coffee House?

This month WC’s Songwriters in the Round at Fuel Coffee House will be hosting the incredible Susan Gibson on Thursday, November 17^th.   NOTE:  NO Gospel Music Night with George Ensle on Thursday, November 24^th because that is Thanksgiving Evening.  All shows are free to the public and begin at 7 p.m.  We pass the watering can (instead of a hat!) for tips to help these fine songwriters and musicians pay travel expenses.  Fuel serves specialty coffee and tea drinks, homemade ice cream, sodas, pastries and more!  For other events, please go to:

www.fuelcoffeehouse.wordpress.com

What else is WC doing?

More music!  WC will be hosting the Texas Songwriters Circle at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays this month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  Casey Hubble will be his guest on November 14^th, and Richard Dobson on November 28^th.

The really, really, really long overdue new CD of WC’s story songs is still undergoing the final touches! It’s almost there!  We’ll let you know when it’s ready.

www.wcjameson.com

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

Nothing new to report on (1) the memoir manuscript at OU Press  (2) on the novel under contract, or (3) the new poetry collection.  Thus, I wait, and while I’m waiting I stay busy with the PR campaign for WC’s memoir and working on my doctoral courses at AIHT.

Need a one-of-a-kind get-away place for the holidays?

Why not consider some kick-back time on a Colorado high country ranch?  Not any old ranch, but the place that I used to call home, with the incomparable beauty and wildness of the South Fork of the South Platte River.  My stepchildren, John and Melody, have turned the cabin that Mick and I built on the DM Ranch into an incredible retreat.  Easy access to the skiing in Breckenridge.  To see photos and check availability, please go to:

www.vrbo.com/321739

Laurie’s Reading Picks of the Month

The Weird Sisters, Eleanor Brown (fiction)

            […and I thought I had weird sisters!  I loved this book.  It made me smile and laugh more times than I can count.  I swear that I identified with each of the sisters in Eleanor’s imaginary, Shakespeare-enthused family.  A great, fun read.]

Falling into Grace: insights on the end of suffering, Adyashanti (non-fiction)

            [Adyashanti points out that each individual creates human suffering by personal choices regarding “trying to control, making demands, and rejecting ‘what is.’” In doing so we “fuel the suffering in our lives.” In order to change human suffering, for ourselves and for others, it isn’t so much what we try to do for others, but whether or not we are each awake to the truth. “As long as we’re asleep within our egos, we aren’t really contributing either to ourselves or to anyone else. As we begin to awaken from this egoic state of consciousness, we begin to suffer less and less, and as we suffer less, we cause less suffering in the world around us.”]

DEADLY POWERS:  Animal Predators and the Mythic Imagination

304 PAGES / ISBN 978-1-61614-501-9 / HARDCOVER / $26.00 Also available in ebook

PAUL A. TROUT, professor emeritus at Montana State University, taught English for thirty-eight years. He has published widely on cultural and academic issues, and his articles have appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, Commonweal, the Christian Science Monitor, and other publications.

[Paul Trout was one of my favorite English professors at MSU back when I attended in 1979-80.  I can’t wait to read this book, have ordered my copy already, because I already know from knowing Paul and from reading the reviews that this is a fabulous and fascinating project.]

July 2012 is a long way off…but…

W.C. and I are already booking dates for a month-long tour in Colorado in July 2012.  If you wish to schedule us for a speaking or writing event, a book signing, a music gig, or you simply want us to stop by for a visit, please let us know and we’ll put “you” on the calendar.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

TREASURE HUNTER:  CACHES, CURSES AND DEADLY CONFRONTATIONS

MEMOIR / ADVENTURE by W.C. JAMESON

(Please click on the amazon links to see the stunning cover)

“What W.C. Jameson has done in real life makes National Treasure and other features pale in comparison. It is the stuff that dreams—and nightmares and sometimes fortunes—are made of. His objective may be gold or silver, but what he’s really after is adventure. This book is destined to become a classic not only among treasure hunters but for anyone who is determined to live life to the fullest. When I grow up, I want to be just like W.C. Jameson.“  —Max McCoy, author of Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx

Print ISBN 978-0-9630829-7-8 $14.95

http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Hunter-W-C-Jameson/dp/0963082973/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317485659&sr=1-1

Kindle edition: $2.99

http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Hunter-ebook/dp/B005NCV8YM/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1317485659&sr=1-1

For a signed, personalized copy

please send a check for $18.00 (includes postage and handling) to:

Seven Oaks Publishing Company

P.O. Box 989

Llano, TX  78643

What else is WC doing?

Heritage Days in Llano!  WC and I will join Llano legend Darrell Staedler for a booksigning at Fuel Coffee House on Saturday, October 15^th, 4-6 p.m. PLUS cowboy poetry and music 7-9 p.m.

More music!  WC will be hosting the Texas Songwriters Circle at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth and fifth Mondays this month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  Kenny Williams will be his guest on October 10^th, Tessie Lou Williams on October 24^th, and Jake Martin October 31^st.

The really long overdue new CD of WC’s story songs is undergoing the final touches!  ShAnnie did a fine job with the harmony vocals.  WC is going back into the studio to re-cut some lead vocal tracks then sound engineer and co-producer Casey Hubble will begin the mixing.  It’s almost there!  We’ll let you know when it’s ready.

www.wcjameson.com

What’s going on at the famous Fuel Coffee House?

This month WC’s Songwriters in the Round at Fuel Coffee House will be hosting Chris Wall on Thursday, October 20^th, plus Gospel Music Night with George Ensle on Thursday, October 27^th.  All shows are free to the public and begin at 7 p.m.  We pass the watering can (instead of a hat!) for tips to help these fine songwriters and musicians pay travel expenses.  Fuel serves specialty coffee and tea drinks, homemade ice cream, sodas, pastries and more!  For other events, please go to:

www.fuelcoffeehouse.wordpress.com

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

The drought continues but so far our town has not been impacted by the wicked wildfires that have decimated areas near us.  This past week brought two short but serious downpours that gave us hope that more rain is in our future this fall.  Leaves are falling.  Raking and composting begins.  Minimal watering from the fatigued but faithful back yard well keeps the fruit trees and rose bushes nourished.  We decided not to try to plant a fall garden.  A few brave September lilies put out exquisite red blooms, and the Rose of Sharon bushes still offer their sweet pink blossoms, as do the autumn sage and chives.  These dabs of color and delight give a bit of stop-by-and-see-us incentive to passing hummingbirds and bees.  Doves, cardinals and other songbirds continue to visit the feeder and birdbath, always keeping watchful eyes on the feisty feral cats that have somehow survived and thrived this summer.  Their feline, tiger-striped antics at dawn and dusk provide endearing entertainment.

For more information about our lovely hill country town:

www.llanotexas.com

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

Nothing.  Don’t laugh…or smirk…or feel sorry for me!  It feels good to have a break from writing or revising a manuscript.  I don’t mind at all being in the “wait and see” mode for both the memoir (The Heart of Nowhere) and the novel (Beautiful Snare).

I am actively searching for the right publisher for my newest collection of poems, Reluctant Traveler and for my creative nonfiction piece The Daily Kiss.

Need a poetry fix?  I often post haiku poems on my Facebook Fan Page to give friends a quick glimpse of my daily life.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Wagner-Buyer

Lest you think that I am not actively engaged in anything meaningful, most days (when I’m not at yoga, Pilates, or out riding my bike) find me holed up in my office reading, studying and taking exams for my PhD course work at AIHT.  I truly love every exciting minute invested in learning new things.  I finished “Transformative Spirituality II” in September and will be starting “Theosophy” this month.

Laurie’s Reading Pick of the Month

Alchemy of the Heart:  Transform Turmoil into Peace through Emotional Integration, by Michael Brown.

It sounds either dull or officious, but it is neither.  I learned so much about living my life with purpose and integrity—without the unnecessary drama—that I cannot help but recommend this insightful and timely book published in 2008 by www.namastepublishing.com

Family News

We would be remiss if we did not introduce to you the newest member of WC’s daughter Marylee’s tribe.  The four Lajoie boys (Jameson, Jackson, Max, and Sullivan) welcomed their sister Lucy Claire into the world on September 16^th.  We plan to go to the Dallas area soon to meet Lucy and visit her mom, dad, and brothers.

I had the good fortune to fly Southwest Airlines into Orlando on September 18^th and then catch the Disney World Magical Express bus to meet my mother, Joan, and my older sister, Karen, for three amazing days of fine food, exquisite accommodations, stellar service, live music, fun adventures AND fireworks as we celebrated our birthdays.  Nothing could have prepared me for the delight of Disney World, especially the Disney Vacation Club activities.  I was really impressed and had a grand time seeing the incredible property, plus so much overall happiness.

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

Off and running…this time back to the Southern Rockies for a couple of book events to celebrate An Elevated View:  Colorado Writers on Writing.  If you are in the area, please come see us!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

5:30 p.m. until closing

Readings, Food & Wine, Live Music

THE BOOK HAVEN

128 F Street
Salida, Colorado 81201
719-539-9629

thebookhavenlisa@gmail.com

Friday, September 2, 2011

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Historic West Wing of Savage Library

Western State College Campus

Gunnison, Colorado

Dr. Mark Todd

(970) 943-2016

mtodd@western.edu

For more information about the book, please visit:

www.sevenoakspublishingco.com

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

If you’ve been watching the weather news, you’ll know that our part of Texas is still suffering through a record-breaking drought.  Every day the temperatures continue to climb over the 100-degree mark.  Our garden is gone except for one tomato and one green pepper, a citronella and a patch of lemon grass, all of which seem determined to hang on.   Our faithful backyard well provides just enough water for us to keep the fruit trees alive.  We have been saving every drop of kitchen water to put on other plants, and every bit of bathroom water to use for toilet flushing. Bailing out a bathtub isn’t too bad once you get the hang of it!  Despite the heat I’m still walking every morning and evening, plus riding my bike to yoga classes.  I have accepted the fact that “sweaty and stinky” is an ordinary part of daily life!

For more information about our lovely hill country town:

www.llanotexas.com

What’s going on at the famous Fuel Coffee House?

This month WC’s Songwriters in the Round at Fuel Coffee House will be hosting Tommy Byrd and Kathy Street on Thursday, September 15^th, plus Gospel Music Night with George Ensle on the last Thursday.  All shows are free to the public and begin at 7 p.m.  We pass the watering can (instead of a hat!) for tips to help these fine songwriters and musicians pay for gas.  Fuel Coffee House is now serving homemade ice cream and fresh blueberry lemonade as a way to help beat the summer heat!  For a listing of other events, please go to:

www.fuelcoffeehouse.wordpress.com

What else is WC doing?

More music!  WC will be hosting the Texas Songwriters Circle at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  Courtney and Allan Reed will be his guests on September 12^th and Tris Munsick September 26^th.

The long overdue new CD of WC’s story songs is still in the works!  He’s going back into the studio with his great harmony singers ShAnnie (Shan Kowert and Annie Acton) on September 14^th.  We’ll let you know when it will be ready for release.

On Friday, September 9^th, WC will be speaking to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in Bastrop about Texas culture and history.

SAVE THE DATES:  September 23-25^th for the LLANO RIVER OUTDOOR EXPO, Llano.  WC will be making a personal appearance and hosting a book signing.

www.wcjameson.com

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

I did it!  I did it!  I spent the month of August tackling the hefty revisions of The Heart of Nowhere, the sequel to When I Came West.  With numerous pages of helpful suggestions from OU Press editor Kathleen Kelly, I shaved off 12,000 words, dug into character development, expanded the themes, honed my style and polished the prose, all while keeping the story intact.  No easy feat especially since I still consider this monumental effort another rough draft.  The manuscript must now make it past more editorial eyes and the scrutiny of several professional readers.  If it survives those rounds, then I can be expected to make more revisions before it will be submitted to the board for serious consideration.  Your positive thoughts are greatly appreciated…especially if you are anxious to know “the rest of the story.”

I have been writing new poems and posting them on my blog.  To read them please go to:

www.amordelacorazon.wordpress.com

And I often post haiku poems on my Facebook Fan Page to give friends a quick glimpse of my daily life.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Wagner-Buyer

Need your own special ranch get-away?

Why not consider a vacation on a Colorado high country ranch?  Not any old ranch, but the place that I used to call home, with the incomparable beauty and wildness of the South Fork of the South Platte River.  My stepchildren, John and Melody, have turned the cabin that Mick and I built on the DM Ranch into an incredible retreat.  To see photos and check availability, please go to:

www.vrbo.com/321739

Or, if you are especially interested in fishing on the DM Ranch:

www.southparktrout.com

Laurie’s Reading Picks of the Month

Chinaberry Sidewalks, Rodney Crowell (memoir)

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!

I am counting down my days left in Colorado and relishing every cool morning and each afternoon thunderstorm in order to take back the mountain energy to Texas when I fly home on August 2^nd.  How blessed I have been to spend an entire month in the high country staying with so many welcoming and wonderful friends.  Special thanks to Lenore and A. J. Hotchkiss (and Tag), Natalia and Bruce Brothers (and Rocky), Kathlene Sutton (and Sweetie Pie), Patricia Sorensen (and Willie, Buddha and Spirit) for sharing their homes, their lives and their hearts.  I cannot even imagine a more memorable summer vacation, plus so much great writing time.

What’s happening at Casita de Luz?

W.C. reports that our yard and garden at Casita de Luz have met their demise.  Weeks of temperatures over 100 degrees have been too much heat stress for the plants despite his efforts at watering daily from our private well.  He is focusing now on saving the fruit trees and perennial roses.  In spite of the drought and the hardships brought to everyone with severe water restrictions, the spirit of Llano is kept alive by incomparable citizens.  I keep sending my rain prayers south and east.

For more information about our lovely hill country town:

www.llanotexas.com

What’s going on at the famous Fuel Coffee House?

This month WC’s Songwriters in the Round at Fuel Coffee House will be hosting Jake Martin on Thursday, August 18^th, plus Gospel Music Night with George Ensle on Thursday the 25^th.  All shows are free to the public and begin at 7 p.m.  We pass the watering can (instead of a hat!) for tips to help these fine songwriters

and musicians pay for gas.  Fuel Coffee House is now serving homemade ice cream and fresh blueberry lemonade as a way to help beat the summer heat!  For a listing of other events, please go to:

www.fuelcoffeehouse.wordpress.com

What else is WC doing?

More music!  WC will be hosting the Texas Songwriters Circle at Poodies’ Hilltop Bar and Grill in Spicewood on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, 6:30-9:30 p.m.  Tommy Elkses will be his guest on August 8^th and Houston Marchman on August 22^nd.  Because there is a fifth Monday in August, W.C. and George Ensle will be on stage together at Poodie’s on August 29^th.

The long overdue new CD of WC’s story songs is coming along…we’ll keep you posted on the release date.

The History Channel film crew met with WC about his book, Billy the Kid:  Beyond the Grave on July 27^th.  We will let you know when the show(s) will be aired.

Good news!  One of W.C.’s most popular books, Ozark Tales of Ghosts, Spirits, Hauntings, and Monsters, is now available in e-book downloads.  Here are the eBook links:

B&N Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ozark-Tales-of-Ghosts-Spirits-Hauntings-and-Monsters/W-C-Jameson/e/2940013140738

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930584113?ie=UTF8&tag=readwest&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1930584113

AND…W.C. just signed contracts for three more books with Gold Minds Publishing!!

www.wcjameson.com

What’s up with Laurie’s writing?

My friend and personal editor, Natalia Brothers, has been helping me with a rewrite on my novel Casita de Luz.  She is a brilliant reader and discovered a way for me to add a special twist to the ending and heighten the tension between my characters.  During this month in Colorado I have focused on sending my mom a daily travelogue of my Rocky Mountain adventures, plus I have been writing new poems and posting them on my blog.  To read them please go to:

www.amordelacorazon.wordpress.com

(Love from the Heart of the Great Mother)

Need your own special ranch get-away?

Why not consider a vacation on a Colorado high country ranch?  Not any old ranch, but the place that I used to call home, with the incomparable beauty and wildness of the South Fork of the South Platte River.  My stepchildren, John and Melody, have turned the cabin that Mick and I built on the DM Ranch into an incredible retreat.  To see photos and check availability, please go to:

www.vrbo.com/321739

Or, if you are especially interested in fishing on the DM Ranch:

www.southparktrout.com

P.S.  I spent a couple of days in Fairplay and loved revisiting the historic library, hanging out in the great coffee shops, wandering around the town cemetery to visit Mick and all his relations, plus I enjoyed a gorgeous morning hiking on the upper end of the DM Ranch.  Simply said, it is unbelievably beautiful and I am so full of gratitude to the Buyer family for keeping the ranching tradition alive.

Laurie’s Reading Picks of the Month

When the Killing’s Done by T.C. Boyle (fiction)

The Gift of Fear, and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker (non fiction)

Until next month let me say thank you for everything you do to create a better, wiser, more kind and loving World.  I appreciate you more than words can say!