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My writerly pals and I are sharing breezy summer dreams and inspirations - what we’re currently loving, reading, wishing, watching, thinking about and more – in the C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y Jumping into Summer 2019 Blog Hop.
Please have a read to discover how I'm finding my summertime bliss. Then visit the other #Gr8Blogs listed at the end of this post for more Jumping into Summer 2019 smiles. 
LOVING Celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary JM and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary over brunch at the cafe where we had our first date in 1991. Cannot believe it has been 25 years since we eloped to Dillon, South Carolina! Same smiles and love in our hearts; majorly different hair styles -:D
READING Best-selling Authors' Newest Tales 
Elin Hilderbrand
faithfully delivers enjoyable summer tales, and her newest, Winter in Paradise, is no exception. Unlike the author's usual setting based on her Nantucket home, this first of her new series takes place in St. John, US Virgin Islands. Paradise is a bit of mystery, family and romance with a juicy tropical vibe. Yum!
Doing a book nerd happy dance here!
Yippy skippy!
I even pre-ordered an autographed copy of her 15th Inspector Gamache novel, A Better Man. You know what' I'll be reading this summer -:D WATCHING Bye-bye Big Bang, sniff-sniff Hated seeing The Big Bang Theory series end after its 12-year run. What a sweet, totally satisfying wrap (unlike GoT’s, which imho, was underwhelming). I adore this circle of socially awkward nerds who forge lasting friendships with each other. THINKING ABOUT Co-writing with Rosie Russell Writing is always better with friends, and I'm having a sweet ride co-writing a children's book with author Rosie Russell. Our story for middle graders is set in rural America's heartland. Our main character, Olivia, is a socially awkward farm child. She's thrown into the choppy waters of tween social circles when a new girl moves to town from a nearby city. We're stirring in horses, baseball, crafting, mean girls, and perhaps a storm or two to twist Olivia around. Stay tuned! 
Plainsville Map, by Rosie Russell
MAKING ME HAPPY Literary Classics Book Awards  Cat Michaels & award-winning Turtle Team on red carpet
Pinch me!
I still cannot believe Sweet T and the Turtle Team scored gold - environment category – in the Literary Classics Book Awards for excellence in children’s literature. JM and I had an amazing weekend in Rapid City, South Dakota, to mark the occasion with ..... author meet and greet * writers' conference * book festival * Red Carpet awards' reception
I was beyond excited to meet the Literary Classics Team and find friendship with other award-winning authors. The weekend was also an affirmation of my time on the writing road these past six years and a major dose of motivation for this Cat -:D.
Catch my comprehensive photo journey to a red carpet weekend in the American West on Cat's Corner HERE
SEEING IN MY CAMERA LENS
The American West
After the Literary Classics Awards, JM and I tagged on a 25th anniversary trip to Rocky Mountains National Park near Estes Park, Colorado. In total, it was a whirlwind 11-day, 1,500M/2415Km trip across four states in the American West in a rented Jeep Cherokee.  Camera Cat - Rocky Mountain National Park
This was hub’s first time
being west of the Mississippi. Although I visited as a child, I appreciated the journey more as an adult.
Endless prairie ...
Abundant wild life roaming up to your car ... Snow-capped summertime peaks ... Dazzling human-made and natural wonders ... Take Your Breath Away!
ANTICIPATING
My Women’s Fiction WIP To be honest, between travels, co-writing, and life in general, my first adult fiction has been percolating on the back burner. But I can't wait to toss my characters into the challenges of living together - or not! - as the Old South collides with the New South in the growing town of Corey, North Carolina.
YOUR TURN
But before you go, find more inspiration and smiles from these #Gr8Blogs as YOU jump into summer -:D
20 Comments
I’ve been to bookish events before but never to a writing awards ceremony…until Sweet T and the Turtle Team scored gold for best children’s book, environment category, from the Literary Classics Book Awards. Walking on air for months, here, dreaming about meeting other honorees and our weekend-long celebration in Rapid City, South Dakota. Although I visited South Dakota as a child, hub JM had never been west of the Mississippi River. We decided to make the most of this literary opportunity AND experience the American West while celebrating our silver wedding anniversary. Set your comfy chair in its upright and locked position, grab a brew, and join me for a photo walk of my journey to a red carpet weekend. 
WEDNESDAY
Getting to Rapid City 
My North Carolina home is sunny and warm in May, with temps climbing to 90F/32C. I pack for my American West weekend with shorts, sandals, and sunscreen until I check the weather forecast.
Nope. Cold, rain and sleet at Denver Airport. Toss summer gear from the suitcase. Squash winter coat and boots inside instead.
After a long plane ride and safe landing at Denver International,
we are like excited kids navigating back roads in a rented Jeep to see more of the countryside. 
Dodging sleet and rain during the 6-hour drive across Nebraska and north to Rapid City ... 
... we oooh and ahhh over unending stretches of prairie and grazing cattle.
Easy to imagine wagon trains and cowboys once crossing here, too. THURSDAY Getting to Know You Rapid City is a bustling center in northwest South Dakota. It's nestled between two magnificent natural wonders, the Badlands and Black Hills. 
Pine trees & granite outcrops - Black Hills, near Rapid City, SD
Wow, Rapid City is decked out to greet us! The Literary Classics Team makes us feel right at home, too. 
How to break the ice with a group of mostly introverted authors, who don’t know each other beyond the CLC’s private group Facebook page? Wine tasting downtown at Firehouse Wine Cellar! 
Photo: Firehouse Wine Cellar
After wine, it's a get-to-know-you scavenger hunt.
Cool, fun questions: How many books have you written? Do you have an agent? Is this your first time in Rapid City? 
Head-in-a-Book Authors: Photo - Literary Classics
We are all old friends
by the time we leave the winery -:D
FRIDAY Author Roundtable, Writers' Conference  Roundtable: Photo - Literary Classics Team
Friday morning is all about sharing ideas at a 90-minute author roundtable to kick off the writers’ conference. Such incredible talent in the room!
I come away with tons of ideas for authoring and motivation for my writerly life. After lunch, JM and I dash away on a 30-minute jaunt to nearby Mt. Rushmore National Monument. 
SATURDAY Book Fair and Bison Despite 37F/2.8C temps, our tables are ready to go by 9 a.m. for GABfest, the Great American Book Festival, in Rapid City’s outdoor Main Street Square High wind warnings that morning are no joke. The 50-mph/81-kph gusts knock down displays and threaten tents covering us. Then cue the hail and rain! Not to mention me spilling hot coffee all over my books and the once-pristine white tablecloth under them <rolls eyes and smacks head here>. 
Cat at Great American Book Festival
A few readers brave the elements. But it is soooo cold and sooooo windy! Later in the day, we discover that bison in nearby Custer State Park don't mind inclement weather one bit! 
Bison family - Custer State Park, SD
SUNDAY - AFTERNOON
Choo-chooing away butterflies
The BIG DAY of the Award Ceremony is finally here!
I’ve never been on the red carpet before, and to be honest, I fight butterflies in my stomach. I’m way more comfortable behind the scenes instead of in front of them. But we are free until the event that evening. No time to fret. So......
...on a perfect Sunday afternoon,
my sweet Trainiac Hub and I motor a short distance for grown-up play time in Hill City, SD. Nothing better than a happy hubby enjoying bison burger for lunch (apologies to vegetarians) in an historic, century-old log cabin next to a train depot .... 
Happy hub tasting bison burger
... unless it's chugging along on an old-timey steam train ride through the South Dakota Black Hills. Wow! I also have my first fan recognition! As I wait at the depot, an attendee from the author roundtable discussion remembers me! She walks up to say hello and ask about my books. My grateful heart does the happy dance -:D. SUNDAY - EVENING Reception and Award Ceremony
Show time!
The event begins with a happy hour and photos on the Red Carpet. Then comes the moment we've been waiting for:
The Literary Classics team calls my name.
I walk to the stage. Face beaming, Pulse pounding. I receive my medal for Sweet T and the Turtle Team. 
Cat Michaels - on the red carpet
We clap and cheer the night away for every awesome author recognized for his or her brilliant achievement -:D! And just like that, it's over. We linger as long as we can. Then we slip into the night. Go our separate ways. 
Photo by CLC Team - 2018 Literary Classics Award-Winning Authors
NOW Back to earth  Sweet T and the Turtle Team, by Cat Michaels
It's been a month
since my Literary Classics weekend. Have I come down to earth? Nope! I still feel the excitement. Cherish connections made there Best, I retain a huge dose of confidence to brave the hard road and keep writing. Writing is hard. It's just plain lonely. And I’m beyond grateful to Literary Classics for recognizing my work and reaffirming I am on the right track.  Award-winning author, Cat Michaels
And as always, I'm grateful to YOU for following my writing journey. Here's to more happy tales ahead! 
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 Cat MichaelsWriting about family, books, authoring, life, movies, travel and more. JOIN CAT'S Reader's room team!New subscribers receive a FREE downloadable
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