I have yet to write today after wrapping up a shift at @LowellArts Artists Market located on 223 W. Main St. until 5 pm.
I will be at Artists Market next weekend, Dec. 9 from 10 am to 2 pm, and Dec. 10 from noon to 5 pm. Stop by to check out my books from the Shifting Sands Short Stories collection and Greenwich Meridian Memoir.
Author Emma Palova @LowellArts
It’s a beautiful market with a variety of unique gifts ranging from jewelry, ceramics, paintings, fused glass to knitwear among others.
Of course my favorite are Petoskey stones and jewelry made with them. I love rocks, stones and geology.
Today is also the first Sunday of advent and a very short one since Christmas Eve is on Sunday.
I have learned about the three elements of Advent: penance, longing and hope.
Lowell Arts
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I logged in 2,000 words on a sunny but freezing November morning for a total of 50, 495 words which put me into the victory lane of the NaNoWriMo 50k-word challenge.
As always I have trouble summarizing how I did it.
1-writing every day
2- breaking daily writing quota of 1,667 words into 2 sessions
3- physical activity between the two
4- pushing through the dead ends
5- I donated $25 as helper extraordinaire to NaNoWriMo during the first weekend.
6- I stayed committed to writing even on challenging days like book selling events, and on Thanksgiving.
7- I blogged about my daily writing progress.
8 – I ate a lot of trail mixes to sustain my energy.
9- During low points I blamed it on the weather and changed directions or settings.
10- The first draft is important because it exists.
11- You can edit the first draft, but you can’t edit a blank page.
12- I stayed in contact with writing buddy Verra West as we cheered each other on.
13- I read one of the pep talks.
14- I found out about a local NaNoWriMo write-in at Bettie’s Pages.
15- It’s never too late to join the challenge.
16- I used the advice from the special episode of For the Love of Books podcast.
17- Keep it up or keep pushing through.
18- I had to pass a birthday party.
I will write more about how to get it done as the whole process sinks in.
It was a rainy freezing cold November day great for writing. I logged in 1,801 words for a total of 37, 300 words in the NaNoWriMo 50k-word challenge. I moved the story forward big time, but not enough to be ahead due to the holiday.
Then off I drove to the only grocery store in town, that was packed to the rafters because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The usual scene unfolded in front of my eyes- half-empty shelves, not enough cash registers and lines. All that reminded me painfully of my life in former socialist Czechoslovakia before the regime toppled on Nov. 27, 1989.
After the challenge is over, I will write a post about shopping bags, and how I was happy not to have them in the USA until like five to 10 years ago.
I also made a stop at the Lowell Area Historical Museum (LAHM) to pick up my kombuchas from the big holiday event, and to fix my book display. And Heureka I discovered an old Underwood typewriter, that I had not seen there before.
Today is our granddaughter Josephine’s 10th birthday, and I found a great video that I would like to share here.
Now, we’re heading out to self-distribute our fruit spirits from Moravian Sons Distillery based in Lowell, MI. For more info to https://moraviansonsdistillery.com
We have two new flavors, pear and peach. Just like books, spirits make awesome holiday gifts. Follow us on WordPress and Facebook.
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I’ve been waiting for this beauty to bloom. Acidanthera is also known as peacock orchid. It has beautiful white flowers on long stems. I planted it only in May. Unlike their tropical counterparts, it wasn’t expensive. I only paid $9.99 for 30 bulbs. The ones planted in the pot are doing the best.
My other gardening great news is that one of our cherry trees is recovering and has new leaves. We also planted more plum trees for our plum brandies, and of course, it’s harvest time. The fruits are looking great. For info about our Moravian Sons Distillery go to https://moraviansonsdistillery.com/
I also canned blueberry syrup which is out of this world. We used it to mix our signature cocktail Blueberry Crush. I designed the cocktail after studying the basics of making a good cocktail.
Summer events & discoveries
I hate to see summer go. Overall, I had a good selling season. My best event was the Wild Blueberry Festival in Paradise, UP. I was there with seven other authors. We stayed in Paradise Shores Cabins which were excellent. Thanks to our hosts Mark & Melody Ricci. We discovered a hidden gem on Lake Superior- Crisp Point Lighthouse.
Last author’s summer event
Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apple & BBQ Festival, Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Come to all or one of these events in Michigan. Spread joy and love.
More than 180 vendors will be at the Epic Island Art Fair between the island and ballfield locations.
Island Art Fair in Grand Ledge, July 29
There is an art or craft event near you. Come to the fair.
July 29, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m Epic 50th Island Art Fair-Grand Ledge. More than 180 vendors will be located on the Island and ballfield. I will be in booth 16 on the island. Stop by to pick up a signed copy of one of my books. See you there.
The Apple BBQ Festival Arts & Craft Show will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 10am – 5pm along West Silver Lake Road in Mears featuring over 100 handcrafted items, baked goods, farm fresh apples, and more. I will be there with my books. See you there.
Car show at the Apple & BBQ Festival in Mears.
For the Love of Books Podcast with host author Emma Palova. Listen in on your favorite podcast app or on https://emmapalova123.podbean.com. Be a guest and or a sponsor.
Join us this evening, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. for fun and adventure with authors Dana Storino and Emma Palova for Day 4 in the Winter Virtual Festival by Pages Promotions, LLC. Help us solve the mystery of the missing manuscript in a well-designed setting, sign up each evening to listen to authors’ readings through Feb. 28.
Be a witness as the mystery unravels.
Register on Zoom prior to 6:45 p.m. for a chance to win a free book on the Spinny Wheel of Happiness. In the box on the registration form, fill out that Emma Palova invited you.
Join us this evening, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. for fun and adventure with authors Dana Storino and Emma Palova for Day 4 in the Winter Virtual Festival by Pages Promotions, LLC. Help us solve the mystery of the missing manuscript in a well-designed setting, sign up each evening to listen to authors’ readings through Feb. 28.
Be a witness as the mystery unravels.
Register on Zoom prior to 6:45 p.m. for a chance to win a free book on the Spinny Wheel of Happiness. In the box on the registration form, fill out that Emma Palova invited you.
Even though the clouds moved in, we still held onto the upper 60s with rain in the afternoon. The November weather definitely made its mark on the start of NaNoWriMo.
Like on a real roller coaster, I pushed the story forward with a jerk to the ‘Singapore is Ours’ declaration by the protagonists and left it with a new chapter opened. I logged in 2020 words. Again I like the number, but I wish I could have pulled off more.
I am going to flip back to the beat sheet plotting method rather than the roller coaster, which is more like a labyrinth. This morning it led me to these dead-end streets and side streets.
In my other role as a journalist, I am working on a story about a hometown salon celebrating its 10th anniversary. The salon survived the Covid horror and competition from other salons.
You can buy my books locally at Shabby Chicnanigans next to Curtis Cleaners and Bettie’s Pages on Main Street just in time for holiday shopping.
Thanks Michelle.
Shabby Chicnanigans opens next to Curtis Cleaners
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I will be at Art in the Park in Holland on Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. along with other authors. We will be located along Central near the corner of 10th in booths 205 & 206. You can listen to some of these authors talk about their books on For the Love of Books Podcast at http://emmapalova123.podbean.com
These authors represent a wide variety of genres from horror and fantasy to historical fiction and everything in between. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to meet us in person and find your next favorite read.
Jean Davis
Emma Palova
Diane Burton
Andrew Smith
KM McIntyre
Janet Vormitag
Vera West
Patricia Kiyono
Mark Love
I have a brand new book The Lost Town from the Shifting Sands series that I have introduced to the market at Once Upon A Book in Frankenmuth. The third book in the series is getting awesome reviews. You can get a signed copy by visiting our authors’ booths in Holland this Saturday. I am grateful to my graphic artist Jeanne Boss of Rockford for the whimsical cover.
Reviews
This historical fiction is a reflective account of a city in Michigan’s past, called Singapore, whose development on the Lake Michigan shore was the dream of wealthy investors from New York. Their hopes in making it a booming Michigan city were affirmed in a statement made by John Bosch, one of the main characters and investors, who said, “The town of Singapore will rival both Chicago and Milwaukee, and its counterpart in Asia….” With twists and turns that love and hardships create, this fascinating saga of our state’s history will keep the reader’s attention from start to finish. Emma has successfully captured the varied emotions and accounts of the characters and conditions surrounding the growth, and later demise, of the city of Singapore.
–Carol Briggs, Lowell Person of the Year 2019
Emma’s ease at mixing actual history into her stories is remarkable, and so entails Miss Ida’s response to an invitation to a soon-to-be bustling “Singapore” on the shores of Lake Michigan. She is transported away from Chicago, family, and friends. She quickly learns the duties expected of her in maintaining a boarding house and warehouse in the rapidly growing community. Soon she falls in love with one of the corrupt founders. The many colorful characters weave a fantastic story of love, mystery, hope, and faith. This is a quick, very worthwhile read!
The Apple BBQ Festival Arts & Craft Show will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 10am – 5pm along West Silver Lake Road in Mears featuring over 100 handcrafted items, baked goods, farm fresh apples, and more.
For the Love of Books Podcast with host author Emma Palova. Listen in on your favorite podcast app or on 
authoremmapalova 