Welcome to the Sunday Interview post where I ask guests to share the top two items on their bucket list. This week children’s author Darlene Foster shares her thoughts on the subject. Two that as writers are very important, one to connect with other authors and also to meet those who have been successful and learn from the best.
I have had a bucket list for a long time, well before it was known as a “bucket” list! As I reach one goal, it gets stroked off and more are added. The list never gets shorter. The two biggies were getting published and moving to another country. I am happy to say I have accomplished both of those but there are always others. I have travelled quite a bit but there is still a lot of the world I would like to see so that is always on my list, the names of the places just keep changing. Sally asked for two personal items from my list so here they are.
Attend a writer´s conference in the UK or Europe
I enjoyed attending writer´s conferences when I lived in Canada. I found them to be exciting, very motivating and I always learned something valuable. The chance to meet and chat with other writers is always wonderful and to meet well known and respected authors is awesome. I attended the Surrey International Writers Conference in British Columbia a number of times and met the most amazing people, whether well-established writers or struggling scribes like myself.
A couple of years before I was published, I booked ten minutes with Meg Tilly (Oscar winning actor and author) at the conference. She read the first two pages of Amanda in Arabia, gave me some tips to make it better and encouraged me to keep sending it out. It made all the difference as I was about to give up.
I also met and had my picture taken with Diana Gabaldon (author of the Outlander series). I miss the opportunity to rub shoulders with other authors and learn from them. So attending a Writer´s Conference somewhere in Europe or the UK would be awesome.
This is high on my bucket list and I have started to do research. If anyone knows of Writer´s Conferences on this side of the Atlantic, please let me know.
Here is a post by Bridget Whelan who attends the Brighton Writer’s Conference:https://bridgetwhelan.com/2017/01/25/write-by-the-beach-an-inspiring-writing-conference-in-brighton-april-2017/
and here are the details of the 2018 conference by the organisers. https://www.beachhutwritingacademy.com/conference
Meet more of my blogging friends in person
I love blogging! I have made so many wonderful friends the seven years I have had my blog. The thing is, I now want to meet them in person. I was fortunate to meet a blogging friend from Liverpool a few years ago when she made a trip to Canada which included a stop in Vancouver. Now I plan to visit her in Liverpool next month. I also met the delightful Sue Slaght from Travel Tales of Life when I was in Calgary in August. I found these blogging friends are just as nice in person as they are on the page. When we met, I felt like I have known them all my life. But that is only two out of the hundreds of bloggers I follow and who follow me. My wish is to meet many more. I´m working on it. Perhaps some would like to visit me in Spain.
Well here is a date for you diary Darlene.. The Blogger’s Bash 2018. I went this year and met several of the bloggers that I was looking forward to meeting in person. Here is the link to keep an eye on proceedings: http://sachablack.co.uk/annual-bloggers-bash/
DATE: Saturday 19th May 2018
TICKETS: To be announced
TIME: To be confirmed
LOCATION: The George IV, 185 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London, W4 2DR
DETAILS FOR THE DAY: To be confirmed
And you can meet some to the attendees courtesy of the video compiled by Hugh Roberts: https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2017/06/18/the-offical-video-of-the-bloggers-who-attended-the-third-annual-bloggers-bash/
So there are two items from that never ending “bucket” list. Thanks Sally. I look forward to reading what’s on everyone else’s list.
Thanks to Darlene for sharing her top two bucket list items.. and I am sure that she will get those ticked off in the next year. If you have details of other conferences or blogging events, please let Darlene know in the comments.
About Darlene Foster
Darlene Foster is a writer, an employment counsellor, an ESL tutor for children, a wife, mother and grandmother. She loves travel, shoes, cooking, reading, sewing, chocolate, music, the beach and making new friends. Her 13-year-old grandson called her “super-mega-woman-supreme”.
She was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where she dreamt of traveling the world and meeting interesting people. She currently divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca in Spain, with her husband Paul.
“Amanda in Arabia-The Perfume Flask” was her first published novel. Once bitten by the travel bug, Amanda travels to other interesting places, sticking her nose in other people’s problems and getting herself in trouble. Read “Amanda in Spain – The Girl in the Painting”, “Amanda in England – The Missing Novel”, “Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone”, and “Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music” and “Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind” to find out the adventures Amanda has as she travels the world.
Here is Darlene’s latest book – Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind.
About Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind
Amanda Ross is on a school trip to Taos, New Mexico with several of her fellow creative students. Join Amanda, Cleo and their funny friend, Caleb, as they visit an ancient and beautiful landscape where a traditional hacienda, an ancient pueblo, and a haunted and spooky hotel all hold secrets to a wild and violent past. Does Cleo really see ghosts? Can Amanda escape the eerie wind that follows her everywhere? Perhaps the Day of the Dead will reveal the mysteries of Taos in this latest adventure of Amanda’s travels.
A recent review for Amanda in New Mexico
This is the latest installment in a series about a 6th grade girl who is lucky enough to travel, this time with many in her class on a school trip to Taos, New Mexico. They are all students who are artistic, write blogs, take photographs or express themselves in other ways that they are producing each evening after their sightseeing. Taos is a place I have visited and enjoyed so I find it exciting to see it used for the setting of a young adult novel. I also read mysteries when I was young and enjoyed the opportunity to see what is being produced today in this area,and with that hint of the paranormal.
Amanda’s character seems likable to me, smart, but not off-putting. She is also friendly and able and willing to be friends with an outsider. She is adventuresome but also loves learning. I enjoyed the way the author sprinkled the elements of education carefully throughout this novel, providing information on Taos Pueblo and the people who live there. There are also tidbits on cowboys who populated the Southwest and their culture as well as elements of the lives of the many current residents.
Were there ghosts in the Taos area? Did Amanda or her friend Cleo actually see or experience one or more? Well that’s a difficult question to answer. This story combines a good young adult adventure story with hints of the paranormal while also providing some well placed educational material lightly in the text and great ideas for other young people to aspire to.
Read the other reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Travels/dp/1771681209
And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Travels/dp/1771681209
Also by Darlene Foster
Read the reviews and buy all of Darlene’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Foster/e/B003XGQPHA
and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darlene-Foster/e/B003XGQPHA
Read more reviews and follow Darlene on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3156908.Darlene_Foster
Connect to Darlene via her website and social media.
Website: www.darlenefoster.ca
Blog: https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/supermegawoman
Thank you for dropping by and if you have news of writer’s events in Europe then please leave details in the comments for Darlene. Thanks Sally
I loved reading this about you, Darlene. A writer’s conference would be a dream come true. You have met some of the great ones, and that is a gift. If we had a Blogger’s Bash in America, that would be awesome.
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Thanks, Jennie! Writer´s conferences are wonderful and I think a blogger´s bash would be awesome.
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Exactly! 👍
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Thanks Jennie… xx
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My pleasure, Sally!
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Thanks for featuring me and my bucket list items. Huge thanks for the suggestions as well! Will definitely check them out. xxoo
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Delighted to have you here today Darlene and I am sure others will have some contacts too.. Enjoy the day.. hugs xx
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thank you for sharing Anita and Jaye.. have a lovely Sunday.
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You too, Sally… at least the sun is out today!
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Thank you Darlene. I would love to meet Diana Gabaldon. I am rewatching series 1 and 2 of Outlander in anticipation of a series 3 box set.
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Diana is a warm and wonderful person. I love her books and am enjoying the series.
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Thanks Brigid.. xxx
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Darlene Foster shares her top two bucket list items.. and would like your recommendations for Writers’s conferences in Europe and blogger gatherings.
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Such fun and exciting items in your bucket! Sending energy for to make them come true with joy!
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Thanks, Annette.
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Thanks Annette.. hugs xx
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I think there is some kind of bloggers gathering in the US. You should ask Annette Aben as she attended this. A lovely bucket list, DArlene.
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Thanks Robbie and for the suggestion.. xxx
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Thanks Robbie!
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Darlene I commend you on your bucket list wishes, they are practical but also very endearing.
Writing is by its nature is a lonely profession – banging away at a keyboard, with a very long period of delayed gratification (and that’s if we are lucky), and one that our nearest and dearest often don’t fully appreciate the old blood sweat and tears of taking a raw idea and chiselling it into shape (even a lot of readers don’t because the main part of writing well is making it look so damn easy!) I think it makes perfect sense to want to meet fellow writers because only they really appreciate the hell we all put ourselves yourself through to get even a far as the first draft! May your wishes come true and I wish you a happy European or UK conference!
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Exactly. It can get pretty lonely sitting in front of the computer with only your characters for company. Thanks for understanding Paul.
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I don’t have a bucket list but do have things I want to do. I want to go to Ireland, Scotland, England and a few others.
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I do hope you get there as they are wonderful countries to visit. Just bring a raincoat and umbrella. Just in case!
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Thanks. I hope I get there too. Just followed you by e-mail
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Great post, Darlene. I echo what Sally says about the Bloggers Bash – you’d love it and be made to feel right at home. One of the biggest writers’ conferences is the one at Winchester. It’s now called Winchester Writing Festival. Here’s the link: http://writersfestival.co.uk It provides opportunities to attend writing workshops in various aspects of writing plus the chance to book a one-to-one session with an editor/agent/publisher.
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Thanks for the link Mary..had not heard of that one.. hugs xx
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I went twice, several years ago. I went to some excellent poetry and memoir workshops. Fay Weldon was the keynote speaker one year. I enjoyed it both years but Winchester is such a long way from here and there’s no easy way to get there.
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I know.. I was only along the coast in Portsmouth.. I used to work in a clinic in Winchester for a couple of years.. Lovely town but as you say a nightmare coming from the north. hugs xx
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Thank you so much for the lead, Mary. I have friends that live near Winchester so I would have a place to stay! It is an amazing place, so much history and Jane Austen is buried in the cathedral!! I will definitely check it out.
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Darlene, we must be twin souls! These two items are on my bucket list as well. Meeting authors and bloggers in person is such a delight. Here’s a link to 30 Fantastic Writer’s Conferences for Authors, Bloggers and Freelancers: https://thewritelife.com/writers-conferences/; and a link to The Ultimate List of Blog Conferences: https://www.inspiredbloggersuniversity.com/ultimate-list-blogging-conferences/. I hope we meet one day soon 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Tina for supplying the treasure trove of conferences. hugs ♥
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Welcome, Sally ❤
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Thank you so much for the links, Tina. We are for sure twin souls. I am an extrovert and need the human connection to keep me going. Can´t wait to check these out as I´m sure there will be something that will work for me.
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Welcome, Darlene. Look forward to reading about your experiences 🙂 ❤
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Great bucket list Darlene. That’s about the only thing on mine too, meeting my friends in person and getting out to some conferences. 🙂 xx
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Thanks Debby.. and we will make it to the same one, one day.. hugs xxx
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Oh yes we will! ❤
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It would be so cool to meet you one day. You never know!!
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I know right? Well I think we have a good chance, being that we’re both Canadians, you’re bound to be ‘home’ for some conference we may end up together. 🙂
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I hope you’ll be able to make it over to the Bloggers Bash soon, Darlene. We’d love to welcome you there. Plans are already well underway for next year’s event and tickets will be going on sale very soon.
One did take place in Chicago this year, but I’ve not heard how it went.
Thanks so much for linking to my video of those that attended this year, Sally.
Hugs to you both.
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It was a great time Hugh..hugs xx
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It would be so great to attend, I’ve heard so much about it. Now that I am based in Spain it would be easier to get to as well.
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Yes, for the past two years we’ve had some visitors from Europe come to the bloggers’ bash. This year, we also had our first North American visitors.
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Anytime you decide to bring Amanda to Sri Lanka would love to meet you.
We create five year bucket lists…goals to hopfully achieve in the next five years. Sometines we do reach those lofty goals, sometimes not. . Currently a big ine for me is to return to Africa my birthplace.
Peta
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I will for sure look you up should I get to Sri Lanka! I need to see that fabulous outdoor bathroom.
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Well, after reading this, I’ve added two more things to my (very full) bucket: (1) visit Darlene and Dot on a trip to Spain and (2) travel to London and attend The Blogger’s Bash 2018. I read so many great posts from other bloggers who attended the one in 2017.
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Fantastic Pamela.. I am afraid I cannot make it next year but I loved meeting everyone this June.. hugs xxx
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Both would be fun!! I´ll try to get to the Bloggers Bash as well.
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