We Have a Winner!

Ms. Robin Walston of Indiana was picked as the winner of the Sarah Ann Smith giveaway that ended Dec. 21. Robin's name was picked in a random drawing. She will receive one of Sarah Ann Smith's patterns that are displayed on Sarah's website. Robin gets to visit Sarah's site and choose a pattern. Thanks Sarah for your generosity in providing the gift for this giveaway.

Congratulations Robin! And thank you everyone who left a comment and contributed to the fun! And don't forget to check out Sarah's patterns and her new book.  -- Dawn

Question of the Day: What do you like to read in fiction?

I have a confession to make. Most of you know I'm first of all a writer and a wanna be or utilitarian seamstress.

My specialty is nonfiction. Personal essays published in a variety of anthologies from Knit Lit to Cup of Comfort and some between. Also magazine articles including Quilters World, Ohio Magazine, Birds and Blooms, Notre Dame Magazine, etc. And several years worth of feature articles for various newspapers where I served as reporter, editor, columnist, etc. And then the years as freelance writer for Christian Science Monitor and The Washington Post, etc.

 Along the way I have 'secretly' delved into fiction, winning an award for The Vigil and publishing a few short stories. If you check out The Vigil, you'll see it is listed as nonfiction -- maybe creative nonfiction since its based upon a personal experience, but I consider it fiction.

Always in the back of my mind is the goal of publishing a novel.

Well, I haven't reached the 'published' goal, yet for a novel. But on my way to that end, I started this blog named for the working title of the series I'm writing -- Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles. This is a project that has been fermenting for quite some time.

So my question is -- what would you like to see in a novel with such a title? Or what you're tired of seeing and hope no one ever writes about again!

I keep switching characters and plots and can't seem to figure out where this is going. But next month, November is NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) and I plan to devote it to Subversive Stitchers.

Please don't hesitate to wade in with what you wish you could see in a book that has stitchers, fabric artists, quilts, and needles in it!

Thanks so much. Obviously I am going to need alot of nudging and prodding to get this project finished. I hope you'll keep me on track.