The Winner Is..

The winner of Grace Elliot's book, A DEAD MAN'S DEBT, is Patricia Stoltey. Congratulations, Pat. Grace will be e-mailing you your prize.

Thanks to all who left comments. My guest next week has another giveaway, so be sure to check back.

Friday Field Trip - Cinque Terre

Today, thanks go to fellow author Patricia Stoltey for sharing her adventure to Cinque Terre, both pictures AND commentary.

But first, please take a minute to go over to Kitchen Daily -- they've published an article I wrote about creating new holiday traditions. (And if you'd click the "like" button at the bottom of that post, I'd be ecstatic!)

Patricia Stoltey's Trip to Cinque Terre

My husband and I visited Italy's Cinque Terre in 2000 and bravely attempted one leg of the hiking trail that connects the coastal villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Luckily, we only planned to do the section from Monterosso to Vernazza because it took a lot longer that we expected (mostly my fault since I was seriously out of shape for the climbing part of the trip).

A few of these photos were taken by my husband. You can tell which ones because he always manages to get me in the photo, usually from the rear.

#1: The path looked so easy when we first left Monterosso. Should we continue? "Sure," I said. "Piece of cake."


#2: Soon the trail began to climb and the wide pathway disappeared. In some places, stone steps made it easier to navigate, but there were no more handrails.



#3: Many sections of narrow dirt path circled the hills and wandered past hillside vineyards.

The Writer’s Eye

Today I welcome fellow Five Star author, and frequent visitor to Terry's Place, Patricia Stoltey. As many of my regular visitors know, I enjoy sharing photographs. What a treat to have Patricia talk about writing and photography in today's post -- with pictures! Enjoy!

Before I began writing, I took very ordinary photographs. Empty beer cans or fast food trash littered my beach shots. Framing a distant view with nearby trees never crossed my mind. When I look through my albums of old 35-mm photos, I understand how limited my powers of observation were.

Writing has taught me to pay attention to detail, to imagine a scene as though planning the props for actors, to see the main subject of the photo and then observe the subject’s surroundings. Where are the shadows? Is there a natural frame if I move a little to the left or right? Are there interesting clouds in the sky? Is everything in the landscape the same color?

Since I began writing in the mid-80s, and as I became a better writer over time, I also improved my photographic skills. I still have a lot to learn. Thank goodness I’m not still practicing with a 35-mm camera (and thank goodness, I’m not still writing at a typewriter).

Here are five of my favorite photos from over the years.

1. At the Wagon Wheel Bunkhouse of Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Loveland, Colorado

Getting Started

What I'm reading: Decaffeinated Corpse by Cleo Coyle

First I'd like to share another review for Nowhere to Hide, from Happily Ever After Reviews.

NOWHERE TO HIDE is a romantic suspense that will leave you guessing until the end. Ms. Odell’s characters breathe off the page and beg you to join them in a world of desire, lies, and yellow police tape. Once you start, you will not want to put this book down.


Next, my office is almost fully furnished. I got my comfy rocker-recliner reading chair yesterday. Really adds something, doesn't it.

As for the "meat" of today's blog, it's over at Patricia Stoltey's blog. She interviews authors about how they got started. My route was a little unconventional. Hope you'll head over and read it.

Comments welcome both here and there.

And tomorrow—don't forget it's Friday, and we're taking our Field Trip to Europe.