That’s what the critique of one of my stories said. That made my day!
This was my second year to attend the Ozark Creative Writers Conference in Eureka Springs , Arkansas . It was jam-packed with valuable information, interesting speakers, and opportunities for writers of all genres to network. I came away with renewed enthusiasm and lots of new connections.
I had a great weekend with fellow members of my local (Hot Springs , Arkansas) writers group, Gail Paul and Linda Wagoner, who both won first prizes in writing contests. We had fun exploring the quirky town, along with my daughter, Robin Beard, who was our faithful driver. The weather was just right and the trees were beginning to turn their fall colors. Gorgeous!
The first two chapters of my WIP, Battle on the Brazos, (I'll probably change the title at some point—I'm not happy with that one) won first prize in the Oxbow Award for western writing, and two editors from High Hill Press talked with me about submitting the whole thing for publication when it is completed. “How fast can you write?” they asked me.
They also accepted On the Run, my prize-winning western story from last year's competition, for publication in one of their anthologies. Their first anthology of western stories is a great success and the second is due out shortly. I hope to be in number three.
Speakers David Morrell, Johnny Boggs, Gordon Warnock, Dusty Richards, and Max McCoy kept me taking notes the whole time. I didn't want to forget all their good suggestions for better writing and getting published.
"Ghosts”, my fictional short story based on a couple of true happenings from when we lived in Greenwood , Mississippi , won first prize in the contest sponsored by Northwest Arkansas Writers Guild. My fingers are crossed that it is going to be published in an anthology before long. The editors have been emailing me about it, but haven't made an offer yet. I'll let you know where you can buy it when I'm sure it'll be published. And when you read the story, the ‘real' ghost in the story was real. That actually happened.
BROUSSARD COURT
The title of my novel about the Hoodoo shop in New Orleans has finally been shortened to Broussard Court , and it's still looking for a home.Here is what it is about:
Madame Badeau, black owner of a curio shop full of Hoodoo spells, strange objects, scents, and magic dies, leaving her niece, who believes she is Caucasian, Madame’s only living heir. Addie must live at Broussard Court for a year to inherit Madame’s property. She’s left trying to figure out all the family secrets of a great-aunt she has never heard of, in a city she’s never visited. Will she also inherit Madame’s reputation?
Addie’s story is woven together with those of the other people whom the spirits have brought to Broussard Court for love and protection: the abused wife: the single mother: the naïve young woman. As Addie finds love with Parker, a computer geek who is skeptical of everything mystical, the other women also find love with men who are drawn to the special place that is Broussard Court.
Elements of Time
I am proud to announce the anthology, “Elements of Time”, has been released and is available for purchase at www.twintrinitybooks.com, www.amazon.com, or can be ordered from your local bookstore or Books-A-Million. Three of my stories are included, and each won a place in the tough competition that decided which stories would be published. There were three separate contests held, for Past, Present, and Future, with many superb entries in each. I am honored for my writing to be included in this collection.
Numbers (Past)
A religious satire, it raises the question: Do you believe in the message and live by it? Or do you ignore the message and worship the person who brings it?
Angelo's (Present)
Every Thursday the same couple comes to Angelo's for lunch, but for one of them it is the first visit every time. It is a poignant story about enjoying the present instead of living in the past or worrying about the future.
Valley of the Gods (Future)
Is it the past? Or is it the future? You can decide after reading this tale about love between a mortal and a goddess.
Elements of Dimension
The third anthology in the series, “Elements of Dimension”, Fantasy, Reality, and Sci-Fi, has been released and contains my stories:
Mavis and the Leprechaun
Mavis thinks she is donating to charity when she buys a raffle ticket. When Greenberry Muldoon magically appears in her kitchen her life is turned upside down. He proceeds to straighten out her house, her wardrobe, her appearance, and her love life. He has to. He was cursed and must stay with Mavis until someone else wins him in some manner.
The Replicator
Times are tough. Danny's mom has lost her job and his dad hasn't been heard from for a while. When the savings are all used up and they lose their home they are forced to live in their car. They move from town to town as she finds temporary jobs. When they end up in a small town where she gets work as a waitress they search for a safe place to park the car and sleep. Behind an unlocked gate they find an abandoned secret military facility. The row of vacant workers housing offers them the best home they have had for months. When Danny discovers he can get into the big building nearby and play in the rooms full of abandoned equipment, he gets more than he bargained for. Turning dials and pushing buttons brings big surprises.
In the fourth anthology in the series, “Elements of Life”, Birth, Life, and Death, you will be able to read my stories:
The Jar Girl
In ancient China, a group of performers, freaks, and wild animals wind their way across the country. By the side of the road, they find a baby. She is destined to become a Jar Girl, and save two lives.
Death Comes to Shadow Cove
All the people in the old village of Shadow Cove are strange. Everyone has some sort of special ‘magic' talent, which they try to keep hidden from the ‘newcomers' who have moved in from the modern world. But sometimes secrets are hard to keep, especially when Mafia hit men are after you!
The fifth in the ‘Elements' series has stories of First Love, The Engagement, and The Wedding. "Elements of Love" includes:
Granny Gets Engaged
The whole family is upset when widowed Granny begins dating an old flame. When they tell her ‘anyone but him', she takes them at his word and is seen all over town with a man thirty years her junior. Of course, she's now dressing like she's thirty years younger.
Johnny Falls in Love
When an enchanted toad shows up, everyone blames Johnny, who denies turning the school bully into a toad to give to his sweetheart. When the enchantment is lifted, there is a man they have never seen before. Are there more people like them somewhere?
I do not have stories in the first anthology being offered, Elements of the Soul, but many of my friends do, and there is a lot of entertaining reading in those pages. I encourage you to order your copy at this site.
Thanks for checking out my site.
Nancy Smith Gibson is a transplanted Okie from Muskogee. Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, she received her early education in Oklahoma City schools. She attended Linwood Elementary, Taft Junior High, and Classen Senior High School before moving to Hot Springs, Arkansas with her parents. She graduated from Hot Springs Senior High and afterwards attended Baylor University . She is active in the Melting Pot Genealogical Society and contributes articles to their publication, The Kettle. She has four children and four grandchildren and lives near Hot Springs with two dogs and three cats.