Lori Zecca, author
Crumbs in the Keyboard
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Read my anthology contribution:
 
"A Day in the Life of a Writing Mom"
 
along with the essays of 80 talented authors in:

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All proceeds from this project will go toward the awareness and education of domestic abuse.

 

Real Words

 

 

 

 

From Real Women

 

 

 

 

Dealing With

 

 

 

 

Real Life Issues

 

More than seventy-five authors come together with words of wisdom, encouragement, humor, and true-life stories of what it is like to juggle the demands of a career and maintaining relationships with those around them.

How it all began ...

Pre-order today!
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Eighty-one women authors from around the world share their courageous true-to-life stories of juggling life and writing in this special book dedicated to the support of women everywhere and to the education and awareness of domestic abuse.

The seeds of the "Crumbs" Project, a two year labor of love, were planted at the melding of two separate incidents, both illustrating what it is like to be an author and juggle being a woman, an author, a mother, a friend. In a moment of frustration, Pamela Johnson posted to her writer's list, "How do you people juggle "it" all and still find the time and sanity to write?" The response was delightful.  Everything from humor to heartfelt stories came flooding in and that served to inspire me at a low ebb in my writing.

About the same time, gifted author, Nancy Richards Akers lost her life in a senseless act of domestic violence. She wasn't the first and unfortunately won't be the last.  But her spirit lives on in each one of us who, as women, pursue this journey called writing.

Ms. Johnson began to wonder how authors could encourage one another and ban together to help fight this insanity of violence and abuse.

All contributors, myself included, have pledged to donate 100% of their royalties to The Center For Women and Families, located in Louisville,Ky.  Crowley, Texas based publisher, Echelon Press will match the royalties in donations for the duration of publication.

Authors will be hosting and participating in independent book signing events to promote the CRUMBS project.
www.crumbsinkeyboard.com

For press information, speaking engagements, author events and signings, and interviews with any CRUMBS contributor, Echelon Press author, or staff member, please contact Teresa Saldana at TSaldana@echelonpress.com

"Crumbs" Debut at WRW
 
Good morning all you wonderful Crumbs authors!!
I am just beginning to wade through emails, etc and point my ship ahead to the horizon here...much has happened in the past week! As you are aware, the public presentation of Crumbs and its intent was made during the WRW conference held last week in French Lick Springs. It was a delightful week! I would like to share-with permission--Crumbs author, Lori Zecca's recap
that she wrote for her local writers group newsletter. It truly sums up the essence of the week. I'd like to hear back also from the other Crumbs authors who attended (some are still on vacation) I sincerely enjoyed meeting and visiting with each of you.
Heeerre's Lori!<g>
 
(The above text was written by Crumbs editor Pamela Johnson)
~*~
Hi all ... this article is to appear in my MORWA (writing organization) chapter newsletter.

Retreat and Resilience
By Lori Zecca

Midst the infamous Springs of the French Lick Resort in Indiana-a charming hotel, with picturesque landscapes and notable history made for the perfect early summer retreat.  After all, if President Roosevelt could write the "New Deal" in this very setting, the romance writing attendees should have found a wealth of inspiration in such surroundings.

Such was the case for an intimate group of romance writers who assembled for workshops, wisdom, and camaraderie.  No one left disappointed.  The chairpersons responsible for the World Romance Writers Retreat, spanning June 4-7th, were Pamela Johnson, Lori Soard, and Kim Cox, all amazingly gifted women who can now add event planning to their long list of achievements.  The ability to draw such talent as Stella Cameron, with sixty-six titles to her credit and countless appearances on the NY Times best-seller list, and Debra Dixon, gifted author and esteemed lecturer-well, what more can I say!

Stella Cameron gave a delightful keynote address to the attendees, being sure to add what she described as the requisite humor that she was told had been lacking in previous speeches.  She was darn funny too!  Perhaps it was the relaxed tone set forth by not only the hotel, but by that of her enchanted audience, which inspired Stella's ease.  It was evident by her
lingering presence throughout the retreat that Stella considered herself among friends, discussing our craft freely and relating to each of us as equals-as writers.

The ever vivacious, and all encompassing, Debra Dixon had our minds working overtime during her GMC workshop.  Goals, Motivation and Conflict were the topics and though relatively simple to identify with by definition, Deb went beyond giving new meaning to these words, and instead breathed new life into
them with her innovative conceptions.  There is never a lull in her
eight-hour seminar.  Blink and you risk missing something worthwhile.  Deb keeps you on your toes with her interactive exercises and examples.  She's also great fun in a social setting and amazingly-she never tires!

This retreat offered far more than just the semantics of writing, but the effect and power of our craft has as well.  The debut of "Crumbs in the Keyboard: Stories from Courageous Women Who Juggle Life and Writing" was especially dear to my heart, not only because I am one of eighty contributing authors, but because of the unity this book has inspired, as women, mothers, friends, and even strangers.

The seeds of the "Crumbs" Project, a two-year labor of love, were planted at the melding of two separate incidents, both illustrating what it is like to be an author and juggle real life.  In a moment of frustration, Pamela Johnson posted to her writer's list, "How do you people juggle "it" all and still find the time and sanity to write?" The response was delightful. Everything from humor to heartfelt stories came flooding in, which served as
inspiration to Pam.

About the same time, gifted author, Nancy Richards Akers lost her life in a senseless act of domestic violence. She wasn't the first and unfortunately won't be the last.  But her spirit lives on in each one of us who, as women, pursue this journey called writing.  Ms. Johnson began to wonder how authors could encourage one another and ban together to help fight this insanity of violence and abuse.

All contributors, have pledged to donate 100% of their royalties to The Center For Women and Families, located in Louisville, KY.  Additionally, Crowley, Texas based publisher, Echelon Press will match the royalties in donations for the duration of publication.  And although NY Times bestseller, Fern Michaels could not attend retreat due to family commitments, she has
pledged, and continues to pledge her commitment to the Crumbs" project and has made a generous donation to the Center.

On Wednesday, June 5th, Stella Cameron made a presentation to three representatives of The Center for Women and Families, providing them with the promise of support, a donation of intent, and two off-the-press copies of "Crumbs in the Keyboard" autographed by many of the projects authors.  It was a moving and reverent moment, made more profound by the impromptu speech given by the Center's director, who eloquently, if not blatantly captured the raw essence of a battered woman's struggle to survive.

The stories that comprise "Crumbs in the Keyboard" are inspiring, entertaining, and often heart-rending, which makes purchasing this anthology all the sweeter-because for all the emotions these stories invoke-none are more rewarding than the gratification you'll derive from the dollars you've spent helping a desperate family.  To obtain your copy visit: www.EchelonPress.com .

Though there were so many highlights to this four-day retreat, perhaps the most exciting for me personally, with the exception of the "Crumbs" debut, was when Stella Cameron asked for my autograph!  Yes, there are few moments during our writing careers that we are recognized in comparison to the blood, sweat and tears we shed midst the uphill battle, but I must confess that this one will keep me contented for quite some time.


A personal note--
from Crumbs contributor Lori Zecca:
 
The statistics on domestic abuse in this country alone are staggering--and beyond frightening.  By purchasing this wonderful anthology, you will not only be contributing to the support of these battered women and children, you will be giving hope, the opportunity to rebuild lives and the possibility of stopping the cycle of senseless violence for future generations.  Additionally, you will benefit ten times over, from not only this knowledge, but the inspiring and often humorous stories of courageous women who struggle daily to balance the needs of their beloved families--and who took time out of their hectic lives to help others.
 
With sincere thanks,
Lori

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© 2001/2002/2003 by Lori Zecca