NC Maritime History Council Conference Wonderfully Seaworthy

I attended the NC Maritime History Council's Conference in Wilmington, N.C., Thursday through Saturday. What a treat that was! In addition to hearing great speakers talk about the significance of the Port City during World War II, we also toured the battleship, North Carolina. Climbing down into the belly of the ship, I was awe-struck with her immense size and how challenging it must have been to keep the men aboard fed, clothed, and healthy while the ship was at sea.

The dinner on Friday night was held at the Hannah Block USO building, a remarkable community center that was saved in large part by Wilbur Jones, Jr. Entering into the main doors was like stepping back in time.

Since my latest novel Leaving Lukens is set in World War II North Carolina, I was doubly impressed with the conference. Though my novel is set in Oriental, New Bern, and Ocracoke, it was great to see the real deal battleship and USO in Wilmington, and it wasn't too far a leap to imagine how similar the places would have been on the home front during the war.

When attending this annual conference, I've always come away with a nugget of an idea for a novel. Leaving Lukens was fortified by last year's conference in New Bern. I wonder if the next one will have Wilmington for a backdrop?

International Talk Like a Pirate Day Coming!

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is Sept. 19. I'm not kidding! But I am excited, because talking like a pirate is a fun thing to do for any lad or lass, if only for a day. So hoist up your sails and get your swagger ready ... the world is about to be filled with want-to-be pirates!

Children make a wonderful audience

I had the opportunity to speak to the fourth grade at MCA this week -- what a creative group of children!
http://www.mtairynews.com/view/full_story/15449636/article-Wharton-leads-students-on-writer%E2%80%99s-journey?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

Leaving Lukens Advance Review Copies Mailed

We're getting to the fun -- if not slow -- part of book promotions: asking for reviews that might hopefully help promote and sell Leaving Lukens. I am so pleased with the way the book looks. I've been blessed with an excellent editing and design team. We'll see if the reviewers agree with me!

Leaving Lukens Finished

Well, at least the very rough draft of the manuscript is. It took me six months to write -- far better than the six years it took to research and write The Pirate's Bastard. (What a relief!)

The story took a few unexpected turns, and I am quite pleased with the work. The story is a bit of a roller coaster ride of an adventure tale. There's a bit of a love story woven in, too, for readers who like to see how relationships develop -- or don't.  There's an element of mystery, but not in the traditional sense. I wasn't meaning for it to be a mystery. Honestly, I don't know what I intended with this one, other than to tell a good story. That's what I think it is -- a good story set in 1942 coastal North Carolina.

New Bern and Oriental figure prominently, and I hope I've caught the essence of what these wonderful towns were like in 1942. Because New Bern is such an incredibly rich town in terms of history, information is abundant about what it might have been like back then. Oriental has always had a uniqueness about it -- and that continues today.

Special thanks go to the owner the The Bean in Oriental. He's allowing me to use an image of his delightful coffee shop on the cover as part of a design element. Other places in Oriental are mentioned as well, like Steamers, a great restaurant there. I look forward to enjoying the quiet quirkiness of Oriental in the future. 

That won't be today, though. I'm heading in the opposite direction for a book signing tomorrow in Banner Elk at the Banner Elk Winery. Author and friend Mary Flinn has invited me to this event, and I'm so grateful to be included. I only have a few copies of The Pirate's Bastard left in my "signing" stock -- wonder how many I'll come home with after this event?

Sailing New Bern

Sailing New Bern -- well, the Pamilco. We had a blast touring New Bern this weekend, including a sail with Captain Malinda aboard her 43' center-cockpit Irwin. We were trying to get a decent photo of me for the back cover of my new book, Leaving Lukens (due out this summer), but I decided I didn't like any we took -- I was squiting into the sun without sunglasses, and with -- well, you can see what I mean. Anyway, we had a great time! Also, I had a book signing at the Hanna House Bed and Breakfast. This is the only place I will stay in New Bern!

New Events Planned for April

I love springtime -- the flowers, the blooming trees, the vegies in my garden starting to sprout ... turning off the heat in defiance as we still hug sweaters around us and light another fire in the fireplace to take the chill off.

Now that winter is over, people are coming back out into the world. Therefore, it's time for book signings! I had one last night as a kick off to National Library Week (it's also National Volunteer Week, so go hug a library volunteer sometime and see what kind of weird looks you get). In New Bern, I have two scheduled for the same day -- one at Next Chapter Books, the other at Hanna House Bed and Breakfast. I'm thrilled about both! If you're in New Bern April 23, please stop by and say hello to me and to spring. Together, we'll wave a fond farewell to winter for good this year. In May, I'll be in Boone, just in case you won't be able to make it to the other side of the state.