Barbara Marshak

New Year; New Opportunities

2012-01-16T12:32:00.002-06:00

It’s amazing to look back over the past year and see all that transpired in the time the earth made its journey around the sun. Discovering that I could start and finish a full book in five months was a great confidence booster for me as a writer. Last January I was just starting Michigan & Rookie: Guardians of the Night, and now I have the reward of receiving reader comments, payoff for those long hours at the computer:

“I just finished this most exceptional book. Each and every page captured the heart, soul, and purpose of an amazing police officer and his K9 partner.” Christine S.

“This is the best book I’ve read in a long time…a true story about a courageous man and his K9 partner serving our community and nation.” Roxanne A.

“What a fabulous story for any American to read!” Amanda E.

As I look ahead to 2012 I can only wonder what this year has in store.

ü Possible opportunities to collaborate with Paul LaRoche and continue the Hidden Heritage journey

ü New writing projects

ü Finding agent representation for Seeds of Salton

ü New speaking opportunities

ü More marketing and promotional events with Joaquin Guerrero for Michigan & Rookie

ü Expand my new photography line called Sundance Imagery

Here’s a cool thing that happened the last week of December when I ran an errand with my son to the local Office Max. Upon seeing they were running a one-day special on color enlargements, I hurried home and grabbed my jump-drive. I asked the young gal working in the copy center to make 11x14s of each photo.

As the pictures began printing, the gal said, “Wow, these are really amazing.”

Being a fledgling photographer I was touched by her compliment and said, “Thank you.”

“Do you teach?” she asked, still studying the photos.

I thought, what—am I dressed like a teacher or something? Not knowing what she meant, I said, “Huh?”

“Do you teach photography?”

OH… that’s what she meant!!!

I told her I’d never even taken a photography class, let alone taught one, and said, “You just made my day!” Turns out she had a Graphic Arts/Photography degree, so that made her comments all the more meaningful. I hope to bring my Sundance Imagery collection to a couple art shows this year and see what kind of interest they generate.

Many of my writer friends have good things happening in 2012 as well:

Author Julie Saffrin’s new book, BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life is in the galley stage and will be released in March. This is a delightful and possible life-changing book on the impact one can make by reflecting back and thanking someone who influenced their life along the way. www.BlessBack.com

Author/Speaker Joy DeKok released her new book on Amazon, today as a matter of fact! Your Life a Legacy: Explore and Record the Times of Your Life is full of ideas and information for people who want to turn their lives into written legacies. www.JoyDeKok.com

Author/Editor Susanne Lakin is a virtual writing machine these days. She released four books in 2011, and has plans for two more in 2012—so far! Fans of her Gates of Heaven fantasy series can look forward to books #4 The Unraveling of Wentwater and #5 The Crystal Scepter in 2012. You can find all her books at www.cslakin.com Susanne also has a new blog for writers: www.LiveWriteThrive.com with insight, inspiration and practical advice for writers.

I’ve also been asked to speak at a wonderful women’s conference coming to Minneapolis, September 21-22, 2012. The Refine Conference—Come as You Are invites women seeking to REFINE their lives emotionally, spiritually, financially, professionally, in health and wellness and in relationships to attend. I’ll be speaking on blended families in one of the breakout “relationship” sessions. Married 22 years to my hubby, along with six kids in the “yours, mine, and ours” categories, it’s my heart’s desire for people to know blended families can and do work. www.TheRefineConference.com

Looking forward to all the opportunities this year will bring!

Barbara

Travels and Trails

2011-12-22T12:08:00.000-06:00

With the release of Michigan and Rookie in September, I’ve been fortunate to participate in a number of book events. Of course traveling means giving up time at home and falling behind on things…like, well, my blog. After the official book launch at Indian Summer in Milwaukee, my next destination took me westward, to the South Dakota Festival of Books in Deadwood, SD.

I considered this invitation a real honor, knowing the level of distinguished authors and cultural figures in attendance, including 2011 keynote speaker/author, Joseph Marshall, III. The three-day event kicked off with an author reception at the historic Deadwood Public Library, with wine and appetizers, a chance to mingle and get to know others.

Deadwood Public Library

It was there I met Cathy A. Smith, an artist who crafted the traditional regalia for Hollywood’s biggest westerns such as Dances With Wolves, Last of the Mohicans, Son of Morning Star, Geronimo, and many more. Her power-point presentation was filled with photos of her work, authentic replicas of regalia from different time periods and native tribes. She shared stories of having to make six identical regalia pieces for each of the main characters in Dances With Wolves. She also made a replica of Crazy Horse’s warrior shirt for the cover of Joseph Marshall’s book, The Journey of Crazy Horse.

The imagery of her work captivated me completely! I absorbed every detail, fascinated with her stories and beautiful artistry. If you have any interest in period pieces of Native American regalia, you’ll want to go to her website and check out her amazing collection: http://www.cathyasmith.com/collections.html

Friday and Saturday were filled with all kinds of events. The festival was spread out among several historic sites in downtown Deadwood, such as the Franklin Hotel, Masonic Temple, and Deadwood Pavilion. My presentation, “The Hidden Heritage Journey”, was at the Franklin Hotel on Main Street…apropos since the journey in fact started on Main Street Deadwood in 1999. (See post from Sept 29, 2011 for the remarkable details!)

I also shared the podium with Minnesota author Colleen Baldrica for a workshop titled “Seeking Heritage – Where Literature and Identity Intersect” in the upstairs meeting rooms of the Masonic Temple, an imposing building on the corner of Main Street.

All the authors gathered at the Deadwood Pavilion for two mass book signings where I ran into several friends and family of Paul LaRoche, and my friend, Wyoming poet Patricia Frolander.

Saturday’s events culminated with a delicious dinner and Joseph Marshall’s address at Deadwood Mountain Grand, a new hotel/casino event center being converted from the former slime plant of the Homestake Gold Mine.

The hubby and I stayed at The Lodge at Deadwood, another beautiful new hotel/casino on the edge of town, right across from Tatanka, Kevin Costner’s museum. Our room was on the fourth floor, so unless we were carrying boxes of books, we took the stairs and by the end of our sixth day, we could really feel those leg muscles toning up!

As always, the hubby and I enjoyed our time in Paha Sapa, the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. We stayed an extra day to hit a few of our favorite spots: Rico’s in Hill City so the hubby could have tamales; Moonshine Gulch in tiny Rochford so we could have the best-ever cheeseburgers; Sundance, Wyoming…my dream home; and a stop at the Devils Tower National Monument, the very place I enjoyed a full week as a guest of the monument when I won a writer’s residency in 2008. We walked the Joyner Ridge Trail in the late afternoon, just as a full moon rose behind the tower, the perfect end to our stay in the hills.

Two weeks later I traveled to Elbow Lake, a tiny prairie town in western Minnesota for a meeting with a local writers group, followed with a presentation to a small but intimate group of ladies at the Thorson Memorial Library.

Last, but not least, I hopped a flight to Michigan for the Novi Pet Expo on the north side of Detroit. I hooked up with Joaquin and Rookie for three full days at the Suburban Showplace Convention Center (Suburban as in GMC and the SUV, ‘cuz in Detroit, all things good connect to the car industry!) where we met a number of dog lovers and new fans of the book.

And now the traveling is done and it's time to enjoy "home and holidays!"

Barbara

Michigan & Rookie--On the Move!

2011-11-11T15:14:00.001-06:00

It’s been a crazy-busy fall with book events scheduled in Minnesota, Michigan,and South Dakota. I’ll start with a few highlights from Joaquin’s visit toMinnesota in October, sort of a whirlwind weekend with three funfilled events packed into twodays!

Ironworks – Men’sMinistry (Friday morning-6:30 am!) at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville. The men's group is studying The MicahProject, based on the verse, Micah 6:8. As Pastor Roger Thompson shared withthe men in attendance, Joaquin’s story and 22-year career in law enforcementtied in perfectly with their theme of justice in today’s world.

Minnesota Book Clubwith host Sandy Beaudette, Friday evening at 7pm:

This was the same delightful group of book lovers that had read Hidden Heritage this summer and invitedme to their meeting in June, so in a way it was like spending the evening withold friends. When Joaquin and I (and Rookie!) arrived at the Beaudette’s, delicioussmells emanated from the house immediately luring us inside. Sandy put out awonderful spread of nummy creations…appetizers, salads, daughter Jennifer’s delicious picode gallo, scrumptious sandwiches, topped off with homemade apple crisp for dessert.

The evening was especially fun because everyone had already read Michigan & Rookie so they had lotsof questions, wanting to know more about Joaquin’s stirring story. A few of thehusbands even stayed, equally eager to hear Joaquin share more of the details. And inthis more intimate setting, Joaquin was able to open up about some of the thingswe weren’t able to include in the book.

And like everywhere we go, Rookie pretty much stole the show. Hisbeautiful coloring, incredibly soft fur, and easy-going temperament (unlessordered otherwise!) draw people to him like a magnet.

A big thank you to Sandy and Jennifer for hosting such a warm and wonderfulevening!

Book signing atBarnes & Noble, Saturday afternoon at 1 pm:

Our last event of the weekend was a book signing at the Apple ValleyBarnes & Noble Bookstore. Not sure how many to expect, John and Joaquin commandeereda big table near the windows (instead of the end-table and single chair set inthe aisle), which turned out to be a smart move. We had a nice-sized crowd offriends and family who took time out of their busy Saturday to join us. Thewindowed corner gave us plenty of room, and the beautiful October sunshine madethe perfect backdrop to our afternoon presentation!

So far book sales (and book reviews!) have exceeded our expectation. We really appreciateeveryone who has supported us by coming out to one of our events. It’sespecially fulfilling when people tell us they are buying the book as a gift forsomeone special in their life. More than anything, we love hearing how the bookhas touched those who have read it.

All for now,

Barbara

Barnes & Noble Book Signing!

2011-10-17T20:39:00.003-06:00

We're hoping for a great turnout this Saturday (Oct. 22nd) at the Barnes and Noble in Apple Valley at 1:00 pm to meet Joaquin and Rookie II, and hear Joaquin share stories from "Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night." There will be plenty of books on hand, and Joaquin and Rookie will sign copies for everyone. (Yup, he's got a paw print with Rookie's name!)

I've got a packed weekend planned for Joaquin and Rookie while they're in Minnesota. On Friday morning bright and early (or should I say 'dark and early'?) we're making a stop at Ironworks, a men's ministry group led by Pastor Roger Thompson at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville. The topic is "justice", which ties in perfectly with Joaquin's 22 years as a police officer.

Friday evening we've been invited to meet with a book club out in Victoria, hosted by Sandy Beaudette. I met all the ladies in this book club back in June when they read Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche. Judy Schultz hosted the group that evening and we were treated to the most delicious gourmet summer dinner and drinks, sitting outside in her screen porch on a perfect June evening.

Maybe the most interesting part of Joaquin's visit will be seeing how Mr Duke and Miss Daisy (our two newly adopted yellow labs!) react to having a great big ol' German shepherd in the house. If you hear a crazy commotion coming from the house this weekend, you'll know why!

Hope to see you at the book signing!
Barbara

South Dakota Festival of Books 2011

2011-09-29T11:20:00.001-06:00

More good news to share…I’ve been invited to participate in the SouthDakota Festival of Books, October 7-9, 2011 in Deadwood, South Dakota, a 3-dayfestival celebrating all things literary. This year’s theme is Native America, whichis why Hidden Heritage: The Story of PaulLaRoche was selected as one of the books to have on hand.

I'm scheduled for two presentations, Saturday, October 8th, at the Franklin Hotel, Main Street, Deadwood.

Saturday, 10 am: "Seeking Heritage: Where Literature and Identity Intersect", with Minnesota author Colleen Baldrica.

Saturday, 4 pm: "The Hidden Heritage Journey"

All authors are invited to take part in two book signings at the Deadwood Pavillion/Chamber of Commerce: Friday, October 7, 4-5 pm, and Saturday, October 8, 12:30-2 pm.

Festival link: http://www.sdbookfestival.com/

Attending the festival in Deadwood has deeper meaning for me, becausethat is where the ‘Hidden Heritage Journey’ first began. Here's what I mean...

THE DEADWOOD CIRCLE

TheHidden Heritage journey began with a chance encounter in the tourist town ofDeadwood, South Dakota. On a family vacation in the Black Hills in 1999 wehappened upon Brulé playing near the sidewalk seating of the Buffalo Stockadebar on Main Street. The music from this small, upcoming band of three was ascaptivating as the surrounding landscape. Their distinct sound initially caughtmy attention—the hauntingly beautiful mix of flute, keyboard, and traditionaldrum they are now famous for. Listening one could immediately sense somethingdeeper at the heart of it. Sure enough, in reading Paul’s Artist Bio I wasequally captivated by his life story.

Allthe way back to Minneapolis I heard a voice, You should write a book about this man…

Butbefore I reached home my own doubts drowned out the voice, telling me I had noconnection to Paul LaRoche, a complete stranger. I wasn’t Native American oradopted, and more importantly I didn’t have any writing credentials. Theloudest doubt pushed through time and time again: You’re not a real writer; you’ve never even been published! Yeteach time I listed to Paul’s unique music, the voice returned.

Threeyears passed before I dispelled the doubts and found the courage to respond…andas soon as I did, an amazing journeybegan. First came an article about Paul, published in a regional magazine, followed by the book in 2006, Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche, including two awards. That summer I joined Paul for booksignings at several Brulé events, but none was more moving than at Mount RushmoreNational Monument. I stood on the park’s plaza, the majestic monument in thebackdrop, beautiful Brulé music playing in the mountain air, signing booksalongside Paul. It was a moment I never could have imagined seven years earlieron our first vacation to the Black Hills.

Yes,there have been roadblocks along the way, some bigger than others, but withfaith and perseverance we’ve tromped over and around those obstacles, committed to keep this journey on track. In 2009 Hidden Heritage, a documentary-styletelevision series premiered on the RFD-TV cable network, opening a door for Bruléto perform at the RFD-TV Theater in Branson, a show that’s now described as 'aNative American experience in sight, sound, and soul.' On January 1, 2011, Bruléperformed atop One Nation, a Native American-themed float in the prestigious Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena,sponsored by RFD-TV.

Sonext week I return to Deadwood to attend the South Dakota Festival of Books asan invited author, 12 years after I first saw Paul playing his soul-stirring music.Chance encounter? Hardly. Every phase of this journey declares it is God’sperfectly designed plan, a journey that is far from complete.

Whilewriting Hidden Heritage, I discoveredPaul’s great-great-great grandfather, a Yankton chief named Strikes the Ree(1804-1888), was an important figure in American history. In 1804 Lewis andClark camped at Calumet Bluff when word came that a baby had just been born. Thefamed explorers wrapped the infant in a flag and declared that he would somedaybe a great American citizen. Their prophecy indeed came true. Strikes the Reebecame a great leader among his people and played a significant role as apeacemaker during the Great Sioux Uprising. During his life he traveled toWashington DC and received peace medals from three US presidents. Worthy of anepic tale, the great burdens the chief bore during the years of cession andsettlement on the Northern Plains have largely been overlooked by historians.

Strikes the Ree
South Dakota State Historical Society Photo

Ibelieve the Hidden Heritage journeyhas led to this important, historical book. All this and more I could havemissed, had I not taken that first step.

Where is your journey taking you?

Barbara

Indian Summer Book Launch

2011-09-16T18:09:00.001-06:00

Where do I begin?

The whole Indian Summer experience turned out to be one of thoserare moments in life when God aligns the stars just right and we as merehumans stand in amazement at His divine orchestration. The beautiful lakeside Henry Maier Festival Park and absolute perfect weather, combinedwith the many reflections of Native culture and stirring Brulé music brought a true sense of God’s handiwork as the festival unfolded.

I couldn't have asked for more in the way of a book launch. On one side stood Joaquin with his brand new book Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night,and on the other side was Paul LaRoche and his biography Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche.It’s humbling as a writer to think the God of our great universe chose me to write Paul's and Joaquin's stories, which in turn led to this amazing intersection ofpeople, stories, faith, and culture.

Joaquin, Barbara, Paul

Many of North America’s tribal nations were represented throughout thethree-day event, from the nearby Ojibwe tribes of Minnesota and Wisconsin tothe Aztec people of Indigenous Mexico.

Because of Brulé’s popularity ourbooth was located inside the main entrance, making us easy to spot. :)

Besides the steady stream of newcomers that we visited with, my nieceLisa, her husband Arlo and daughter Tammy, along with another niece Babettefrom Wisconsin drove over to say hello. We don’t get to see each too often, soit meant a lot to have them make the trip.

Lisa, "Auntie" Barbara, Babette

Also, daughter Karli’s boyfriend Cameron’s parents, Wes and Sue, drovedown from Fond Du Lac to meet us for the first time. It ended up that they enjoyedthe festival so much they decided to stay for the Brulé concert.

You'll never guess which stage Brule' played...
..how'd you ever guess-- Miller Stage!!!

And like the thousands of fans who showed up to see Brulé, they weren’t disappointed. Somewherebetween 2,500 and 5,000 showed up for Saturday night’s show alone…and judging by thecrowd’s contagious enthusiasm, no one walked away disappointed.

Brule' dancers

Paul LaRoche, founder of Brule'/AIRO

Paul invited Joaquin and Rookie onstage during the concert both nights andshared a little about their experience at Ground Zero. Many people in theaudience stopped by our table to say “Thank you” to Joaquin for his service.

More highlights from Indian Summer 2011:

One lady couldn’t wait to begin reading Michigan & Rookie: Guardians of the Night and took a seat right behind our vendor tent...

Having fun with the Brulé gang...

Stacey hard at work while Judi and Kim goof off
(jk!)

Judi promoting the books
(Thanks, Judi!!)

Kathy, Paul, Vlasis

John and Rookie sharing a hot-fudge sundae…

Lakota giving Kim some juicy kisses…

Moonrise over Lake Michigan…

Joaquin's parents, Jim and Lupe, enjoying a nice breeze off the lake…

Meeting lots of new people...

9/11 Honor Parade with veterans, first responders, and Joaquin andRookie…

One of the most poignant moments of the whole festival happened onSaturday evening. Just like the previous night, many people were drawn toRookie’s powerful presence and asked to pet him or have their picturetaken with him. As a working service dog Joaquin always has to be careful in big crowds, making sure people approach Rookie only one or two at a time.

One woman asked Joaquin to have her picture taken with Rookie. It wasapparent she had some physical limitations, yet she knelt down beside Rookie,ready to pose right next to this K9 hero. As her friend held up the camera to snap thepicture, she reached up and removed her ball cap, exposing her nearly bald head. At the very same instant Rookieraised his face toward hers, gently “kissing” her cheek in soft, tender licks.

Joaquin later confided that Rookie neverdoes that, but he had somehow sensed the woman’s illness and vulnerability. In an unscripteddisplay of affection, Rookie touched the hearts of us all.

Of course all good things must come to an end and by Sunday evening it was time to close up shop. On behalf of our crew (John, Jim, Lupe, Rookie, and Lakota) a great big THANK YOU! goes out to Pauland Kathy for inviting Joaquin and I to join up with them at IndianSummer. Without a doubt, the book launch was an experience we'll never forget.

Barbara

Michigan & Rookie - Press Release

2011-08-23T21:30:00.001-06:00

K9 Officer’s Remarkable Story of Service to Community and Country:

Contact:
Barbara Marshak                             Joaquin Guerrero
Author/Speaker                               Precinct 131,
952.215.2390                                    President/Founder
Barbara@BarbaraMarshak.com                 989.233.8612
www.BarbaraMarshak.com           tal196@aol.com

Minneapolis, MN, August 22, 2011: As America prepares to mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the inspiring story of K9 Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his German shepherd partner Rookie is set to be released in this time of remembrance and reflection. Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night shares Rookie’s unwavering service at Ground Zero, and his impact with hundreds of thousands of school kids across Mid-Michigan. Told in the POV of this K9 hero and his partner, the book shines a light on the life of a working police dog.

It’s been said there is no bond greater than between a K9 handler and his partner. In Saginaw, Michigan—a city plagued with gang violence—Officer Joaquin Guerrero sensed God’s call to work the dangerous night streets with his K9 partner, a ninety-pound German shepherd police dog named Rookie. With Rookie as his mascot, Guerrero created Precinct 131, an educational program to keep kids from turning to gangs.

On 9/11, Guerrero and Rookie responded to Ground Zero to help in the search efforts. For seven long days the pair worked “The Pile” with a never-give-up spirit. Because of Guerrero’s unusual first name, a battalion chief nicknamed him “Michigan” for his home state. Following Rookie’s service at Ground Zero, he was included in two studies that tracked the health of 9/11 search-and-rescue (SAR) dogs. An MRI revealed a large cancerous tumor on Rookie’s jaw, most likely from toxins in the crushed tower debris. Despite everyone’s efforts to save Rookie, he died in 2004 and received an honorary memorial service.

“Rookie’s story is just one of a thousand that could be written about a working police dog in America. My hope is to bring recognition to all K9 handlers and their faithful partners,” says Guerrero.

Guerrero partnered with author Barbara Marshak to tell Rookie’s story. “As I thought about the best way to share the bond between man and dog, the idea came to give Rookie a voice,” says Marshak. “Parts of the story are told from Rookie’s perspective.”

Guerrero’s stirring story of goodheartedness and faith was featured in the episode “Native American Heroes” on Hidden Heritage, a documentary-style television program on the cable network RFD-TV in 2010 and received the show’s highest Nielsen ratings.

Guerrero has made thousands of public appearances with his dogs since the inception of Precinct 131. He continues Rookie’s legacy today with Rookie II, another K9-trained German shepherd, having served his community for 22 years. Guerrero’s desire for 2011 is to adapt Precinct 131, now 13 years strong, into Operation Broken Arrow and bring the same type of anti-substance abuse program into Native American communities and schools.

A sought-after K9 trainer/instructor, Guerrero also founded the Apache Acres Training Facility and Kennel in Hemlock, Michigan, where he teaches obedience and K9 training.

Michigan and Rookie is a cop story, a Ground Zero story, a dog story, and a faith story.

Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night
By Joaquin Guerrero
As told to Barbara Marshak.

Beaver’s Pond Press, Minneapolis, MN

September 1, 2011
ISBN 13: 978-1-59298-420-6
$19.99 USD
Available from Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon, and fine booksellers everywhere.

Michigan and Rookie - Book Launch!

2011-08-12T13:02:00.001-06:00

Joaquin and I are pleased to announce the launch of Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night September 9-11, 2011 at Indian Summer Fest in Milwaukee! Held at the beautiful lakefront Henry Maier Festival Park, this 3-day festival is the largest Native American celebration in the country. This year marks the 25th anniversary for Indian Summer Fest, a regular stop on the annual tour schedule for Brulé.

Yes, equally exciting to announce, Brulé will be performing throughout the day at the main entrance! Thanks to an invite from Paul LaRoche and Kathy Summers, Joaquin and I will get to set up shop with the book right next to them. Brulé is also scheduled to perform a full concert both Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30 on Miller Stage. As everyone who has already seen Brulé knows, their hauntingly beautiful music and live performances create a contagious excitement wherever they go. Their concerts are described as an experience in “sight, sound, and soul”; a two-hour show that features their unique blend of contemporary Native American sounds and rhythms. Each song is accompanied by beautiful choreography and breathtaking American Indian dancers wearing traditional regalia.

Brule' in concert

American Indian dancers in traditional regalia

Joaquin first saw Brulé in concert back in 2009 when he was going through a difficult period in his life. Their stirring and soulful music bought a sense of healing to Joaquin and after reading Paul’s biography, Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche, Joaquin contacted me about writing his memoir. As it turned out Paul was so moved by Joaquin’s story that he featured Joaquin and Rookie in the episode “Native American Heroes” on his weekly television program Hidden Heritage on RFD-TV. Joaquin’s episode earned among the highest Nielson Ratings for RFD-TV in 2010.

Paul, Joaquin, and Rookie
Taping the episode "Native American Heroes"

I feel honored to have written both Paul’s and Joaquin’s story, a journey that’s allowed me to spend time on the pristine and beautiful Lower Brule Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, and to ride shotgun in Joaquin’s police car on his regular nightshift in Saginaw, Michigan. Writing both stories has enriched my life immensely, and it is my hope and prayer that everyone who reads their books will be enriched as well.

We’d love to have you join us at Indian Summer Fest for three full days of American Indian arts, music, pow wow, and more. For details, go to: www.indiansummer.org

For Brulé’s current tour schedule, go to: www.BruleRecords.com

We’d love to see you at our book launch in Milwaukee, Friday-Sunday, September 9, 10 & 11!

Barbara & Joaquin

Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night

2011-07-22T14:56:00.000-06:00

Joaquin and I are at six weeks and counting until Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night hits the store shelves! And guess what…we can hardly wait! We’re trying to stay busy planning events to kick-off the book launch. Joaquin is connecting with “his people” in Michigan and I’ve already contacted a few of “my people” in Minnesota, hoping to capitalize on both areas when the book is released. We’ll get the word out with the details for both locations as soon as the dates and places are finalized.

Meanwhile…to whet your appetite for the book, here are some of the endorsements that have already come in:

“Officer Guerrero and Rookie were one of the hardest working canine teams we’ve had the pleasure of working with, evidenced in the pages of this book. Above all, they helped make this world a better place.” Terry and Diane Schoenbach, Trainers/Consultants of ATF Special Response K9 Teams, Homeland Security

Terry and Diane Schoenbach

“Joaquin Guerrero used his canine partners for the betterment of all people…from community relations, to routine patrol, to his service at Ground Zero. This book shines a light on a K9 handler dedicated to utilizing his canine partner to the fullest.” Terry Foley, Master Trainer, K9 Academy Training Facility, President of the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers

Terry Foley

“Joaquin’s desire to serve is so deep that he will go wherever he is most needed…regardless of the danger. Despite the difficulties he has encountered, Joaquin remains a man who is walking tall on life’s journey. This book will lift the spirit of all who read it.” Paul LaRoche, Native American Cultural Role Model and Keynote Speaker, Award-winning Native American Recording Artist

Paul LaRoche

“Through Precinct 131, Joaquin made it his mission to make a positive impact in the lives of young children. What began as a short K9 demo in school classrooms, blossomed into a multifaceted ministry that reached tens of thousands! In their years of committed service together Joaquin and Rookie provided true, heartfelt definition to the meaning of ‘civil service.’ This inspiring story will empower and captivate readers everywhere!” Mike Goschka, Former Michigan State Senator

Mark your calendars--September 2011--coming to a book store near you:

Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night, a story of goodheartness and faith.

Barbara

Obedience: Lessons From a Dog

2011-06-24T11:04:00.000-06:00

While working with Joaquin on his memoir these last six months, he shared how God used his dogs to teach him about obedience. German shepherds are known to have a high degree of intelligence, which explains why Joaquin believes God has used them to teach him many things in life. While working the nightshift, Joaquin often retreated to the serene setting of the Japanese Gardens in the wee hours of the morning. It was there, in the treasured quiet moments between police calls, where God spoke to Joaquin’s heart.

Owners and breeders of German shepherds are familiar with the initials: GSD. One night while Joaquin was parked at the garden with Rookie, God asked him to take a closer look at those initials.

GSD…God Serving Dog.

Spell DOG backwards…GOD.

Shepherd…how many references in scripture tell us that God is our Shepherd and we are His people.

As all dog owners know, dogs demonstrate unconditional love, much the same as God. Joaquin joked that he thought sometimes God brought these thoughts to his mind just to baffle him. The parallels are plain to see. Just like Joaquin’s dog sits, waiting for his master to speak, we need to do the same with our Master.

Here’s the clincher: when God does speak, we need to respond in obedience. That was the all important part I failed to grasp right away.

On a family vacation in the Black Hills one summer we happened upon Brulé playing in a tourist area. The music from this upcoming band of three was as captivating as the surrounding landscape. Their distinct sound initially caught my attention—the hauntingly beautiful mix of flute, keyboard, and traditional drum they are now famous for. Listening one could immediately sense something deeper at the heart of it. Sure enough, in reading Paul’s Artist Bio I was equally captivated by his life story.

All the way home I heard a Voice, You should write a book about this man…

But before I reached home my own doubts drowned out the Voice, telling me I had no connection to Paul LaRoche, a complete stranger. Besides, I wasn’t Native American, or adopted, and I didn’t have any writing credentials.

And because I didn’t trust the Voice, I let three full years pass before I responded in obedience.

Once I did, doors opened in ways I never could have imagined. What I lacked in experience I gained in affirmations as I began writing, and a series of trips to South Dakota. When Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche was released in 2006, I knew I had found my calling. That same year I went on a mission trip to Mexico with a group from our church. A testimony from one of the men became the material for my next book. Seeds of Salton is a powerful story of courage, love, and the transforming power of forgiveness. And before I could find an agent to rep Seeds of Salton, I received a phone call from Joaquin, asking if I would consider writing his memoir. You see one of the places Brulé played was the Soaring Eagle Casino near Joaquin’s hometown of Saginaw. Joaquin too was moved by their stirring music and found an instant connection to Paul.

I’ve been fortunate to write the stories of these three individuals, a journey that’s allowed me to spend time on an American Indian Reservation, discover the rugged ranchlands of Eastern Montana, and most recently, ride shotgun in Joaquin’s police car.

Lower Brule Sioux Reservation
South Dakota

Montana section road

Montana sunset over the Missouri Breaks

Riding shotgun with Joaquin on patrol

Looking back, think all I would have missed had I not stepped out in faith back in 2002. Come to think of it, that was the very same year we got our dog Miss Abbie, my puppers, who was always at my side, waiting for me to speak.

My faithful and loyal Miss Abbie, helping me write

I dunno…I think Joaquin’s onto something with lessons from a dog.

Barbara

Michigan & Rookie...Things I Learned

2011-06-10T15:04:00.000-06:00

The manuscript is written, the edits are complete, and now it’s time to move into the design phase. After months of research, interviews, discussions, and rewrites, it’s exciting to know Joaquin and I are mere weeks from having a published book.

One of the coolest parts of being an author is learning about the topic you’re writing about, in this case a K9 police officer. When I think back to last summer at this time, the Hidden Heritage episode with Joaquin’s story, “Native American Heroes” had just aired. At that time I only had an outline written and had no clue all the things I was about to discover.

CITY OF SAGINAW – Even though both Minnesota (where I live) and Michigan (where Joaquin lives) are in the Midwest and border Canada, the two states are quite different culturally. The outlying cities in Michigan (including Saginaw) that supported the automotive industry and manufacturing plants of Detroit created a much different way of life than out-state Minnesota, where farming and small businesses were the prominent employers.

K9 POLICE OFFICER – Like most people I was aware of the typical duties of police dogs, but I had no concept for the intensive training that is required for the handler. The partnership between a working dog and officer is much deeper than a family pet because it’s a 24/7, life-and-death, love and loyalty. The extraordinary bond begins on the first day of training and continues from that day forward, both on and off the job. Officers who begin K9 training are told they will become closer to their dog than their spouse, kids, or fellow officers because of all the time spent with the dog, a statement that in fact turns out to be true.

DANGERS IN POLICE WORK – Even though I worked in police records for the City of Lakeville Police Department for 7 years, my comfortable third-ring suburb of Minneapolis saw much less violent types of police calls than Saginaw. In contrast, Joaquin worked the nightshift for the City of Saginaw Police Department for 22 years and was routinely involved in high-stress calls: shootings, homicides, fatal crashes, escaped fugitives, armed robberies, fatal fires, violent domestics, narcotics busts, gang violence, and more. As Joaquin said, “You learn what you have to do in order to go home at the end of your shift.”

GIVING BACK – Even though Joaquin worked fulltime as a police officer, he went above and beyond and found another way to give back to his community. Using his K9 partner Rookie as his mascot, he created Precinct 131, an educational program designed for young kids in Saginaw to “say no to gangs, guns, drugs, violence,” in a community besieged by gang violence. What began as a short K9 demo to one classroom at a time, Joaquin turned into a multi-faceted ministry with outreaches to nearly every group of people in Mid-Michigan.

SEARCH-AND-RESCUE – Through the eyes of Joaquin and the nose of Rookie, I learned what it was like to be at Ground Zero following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, thrust into the dangerous work at The Pile. More importantly, I realized the responsibility Joaquin felt in helping the victims and families, and the never-give-up spirit among the search-and-rescue volunteers. Joaquin’s experience started with the devastating images at Ground Zero, compiled with the survivors retelling their painful stories…and how heavy the totality of it weighed on his heart.

SERVANT’S HEART – After spending this past year working with Joaquin on his memoir that included two trips to Saginaw—seeing Joaquin’s K9 facility, joining him on ride-alongs in his K9 patrol vehicle, attending K9 training, long phone conversations—what I discovered was a man with a servant’s heart. Joaquin turned his love for his dogs into a gift for his community; a tool to reach out and make a difference in the lives of young school kids and local citizens.

Bottom line, I can’t wait to share this heart-warming and touching story of Joaquin and Rookie with everyone!

Barbara

Michigan & Rookie, the Marathon!

2011-05-13T16:35:00.000-06:00

Running a marathon is a popular goal for people these days. Personally, I don’t get it. I’m more inclined to think, “Who would want to run 6 miles, let alone 26!” Yet there they are, lined up by the tens of thousands at the starting line, eager to begin. Whenever I meet one of “those people” and they happen to say, “I ran a marathon last year,” I always detect a sense of pride in their voice.

I think it’s more about achieving a goal, like, I did it. Well, I just finished a marathon of a different kind. Between January and May of this year I cranked out over 60,000 words for Michigan & Rookie, my new book about Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his K9 partner Rookie. When I hit “Send” and electronically forwarded the completed manuscript to the publisher this week, I raised my arms in jubilation, thrilled that I’d accomplished my goal. Whether you’re a marathon runner, a writer, or a K9 handler, the common thread is the steadfast commitment to a passion of the heart.

In my last post I shared a little about how K9 handlers like Joaquin train and the long hours they spend with their four-legged partners. After my day observing the K9 handlers in Detroit, I had one more ride-along with Joaquin and Rookie II in Saginaw.

Once again I cruised the streets of Saginaw with Joaquin and Rookie, the Saginaw River dividing the city into two parts, east side and west side. The downtown area rests right along the scenic river’s edge.

Joaquin shared bits about the history of Saginaw, how in its early days it was a great lumber city, where the logs floated from upriver to the mills. Saginaw thrived once again when the automotive industry made its home in Michigan and families worked the plants that supplied parts to Detroit’s Big Three—GM, Ford, Chrysler.

The Saginaw city seal reflects both great industries.

When the manufacturing plants closed down, economic hardships hit the city, changing the face of Saginaw. The population dropped from 75,000 to 50,000, leaving many homes abandoned, something that’s still evident today.

Joaquin took me past the locations of some of his more interesting police calls, stories that are included in the book:

-an abandoned house where Rookie found a young man buried in concrete

-the old train depot where officers captured a dangerous fugitive

-a dumping ground on the edge of town where K9 teams found body parts from a homicide

And just when I had this sense that Saginaw was a city without hope, the violence imbedded so deeply, we stopped at a 7-Eleven to pick up Joaquin’s “rocket fuel”, (a/k/a Arizona ice tea). One car over an older woman waved at Joaquin, very animated, like she had something important to tell him. Even though it was late afternoon the woman got out of her car dressed in her Sunday best, a long dress coat, heels, and fancy feathered hat. Joaquin walked over to see what she needed. “I just want you to know I’m praying for you,” she said, her brown eyes beaming. “You have a good night now.”

Message delivered, she turned and went into the store. Well up in years, this woman had to share what was on her heart, to let Joaquin know she was praying for him, a policeman in her city, going about his nightly job. Watching their brief but tender exchange, I was touched…especially knowing what police officers in Saginaw routinely face. This is not Mayberry RFD.

Here’s what I mean: In 2011 Saginaw rated #1 for having the worst violent crime per capita in the country, and has held that distinction for 10 years running.

It amazed me to watch these officers, men and women, rush to answer every call that came over the police radio, from minor things like two (adult) sisters fighting over cigarettes and calling 911, to a man with a history of mental illness reporting someone in his house with guns threatening to kill him. They responded to each call without hesitation. It’s in their blood.

Must be that passion of the heart thing.

Barbara

K9 Training with Agent Annie Marshak

2011-04-11T17:13:00.003-06:00

In continuing my research for “Michigan & Rookie” I returned to Saginaw last week to take training one step farther than mere police work.

Rookie II...keeping an eye on "Dad" whenever Joaquin gets out of the patrol car

Joaquin & Rookie II

This time I tagged along with Officer Joaquin Guerrero and Rookie II down to Wayne, Michigan (on the west edge of Detroit) to K9 Academy with Master Trainer Terry Foley. A total of 58 K9 handlers from all over Michigan show up at Terry’s facility five days a week, from newbies just starting out to seasoned handlers like Joaquin. Terry starts out each session by having handlers talk about any K9 issues, which gives officers a sense of support they don’t often have in their own departments.

Different types of training go on simultaneously, depending on the level of the handlers. Joaquin suggested we hook up with 2 brand new handlers at Lower Huron Park to do a straight-line track, which made sense since it was my first day of K9 training too.

#1 Rule in Tracking: training goes on despite the weather. This is the nitty-gritty world of police work—rain, snow, mud, whatever, you train in all the elements.

Straight-line track

Tug-toys for a reward on the track

I learned that obedience is key to all areas of training. And it’s not as easy as it looks. If you’re right-handed you have to use your left hand to switch between the tracking harness, leash, and long lead in order to keep your right hand free for your weapon. Added to that is the timing of commands and praise to the dog.

After a couple hours sloshing through wet grass, we took a break for lunch and then met at an empty school used for building searches and narcotic finds. Trainers come up with various scenarios and play different roles: Bad Guy, Back-up, Decoy.

#1 Rule in Searches: when the handler sends the dog, make sure you stay BEHIND the handler so the dog doesn’t mistake you for the Bad Guy.

Building search

German shepherds thrive when given a task and want to please their handler

"Bad Guy" gets a bite

The atmosphere among officers was somewhat subdued by the loss of a Michigan State Trooper early that morning. Trooper Jeffrey Werda, from the Bridgeport Post near Saginaw, was killed in an on-duty rollover crash. Trooper Werda had responded to assist the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department in pursuit of a suspect who had fled from deputies. Flags were lowered to half staff in honor of Trooper Werda…another reminder of the constant danger facing law enforcement officers.

Terry’s goal at the academy is to train handlers for situations that officers see on a daily basis…and prepare them for the worst. Terry speaks from experience…24 of his 29 years are in the K9 field, a career that includes three full-service dogs. As a Master Trainer his objective is to have every K9 officer become an expert in:

Court testimony
Health of the dog
Report writing
Training documentation
Legal issues pertaining to K9

Down time between searches

#1 Motivation for Becoming a Handler: love for the dog.

Training dogs is as art; handlers learn to read the dog…and ultimately trust the dog. A canine is the only “tool” that police officers can’t put on the shelf when they go home at night. SWAT officers have told Terry that K9 training is 10% harder than SWAT.

#1 Interesting Fact: a canine is the only “bullet” an officer can send out…and call back.

Master Trainer Terry Foley

For more information on K9 Academy & Training Facility, go to www.K9ATF.com

The day ended with a drive home in the pouring rain, a two-hour drive Joaquin and Rookie II make every other week in order to continue their ongoing training.

Next up: news & notes from Thursday night’s ride-along with Joaquin, Rookie II, and Saginaw PD’s nightshift.

Agent “Annie” Marshak

Barbara "Annie" Marshak; Reporting from Saginaw, Michigan

2011-02-08T21:26:00.001-06:00

In order for me to get a clear picture of what it's like for Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his K9 partner Rookie II to work Saginaw's dangerous night streets, I decided to make a trip to Saginaw to join him on a couple ride-alongs. Having worked at the Lakeville Police Department for seven years of course, I felt I had the experience necessary to serve as Joaquin's crime-fighting partner for two nights. Picture Annie Frost, US Marshall on the new NBC show "Chase".

US Marshall Annie Frost in black vest with weapon drawn

You can probably see where I'm going with this, the resemblance is obvious...blond(ish) hair pulled back, black vest, a serious, lets-get-down-to-business attitude.

Barbara "Annie" Marshak reporting for duty with pen and paper ready.

One important factor to keep in mind is that the difference between Saginaw and Lakeville is like comparing Mayberry to Detroit. No kidding. Lakeville has virtually no violent crime and Saginaw has ranked #1 the last ten years for having the worst violent crime per capita in the country. Joaquin reassured me, however, that's due to the high number of shootings, not necessarily homicides. When it comes to police stats, there is a difference. Nonetheless, Joaquin advised me to wear a bulletproof vest and I complied.

The Saginaw PD operates on 12-hour shifts, so we reported in Friday afternoon for the Umbrella shift, 3:00 pm to 3:00 am.

As it turned out, the weather played a big role in my weekend visit to Saginaw. Michigan had just been hit with the massive winter storm that covered most of the country, and dumped over a foot of snow on Saginaw, followed by more blowing, drifting snow. (Poor Joaquin even got stranded on the road and had to sleep in his squad the previous night!) Because of the winter storm Joaquin advised it would probably be quieter than usual. I filled out the ride-along paperwork while Joaquin checked in with the sergeant on duty.

Friday Night Ride-Along: Looking back, I'd like to consider this my "practice" night, only because everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I had packed all my necessities--notebook, pen, camera, brush, money, sunglasses, chapstick, etc--in my bag and placed it on the floor by my feet, thinking I would need everything within easy access. The first course of action was for Joaquin to show me some of the pertinent sites around Saginaw, on both the east and west sides of the Saginaw River. It was a good idea, except only the main streets were plowed, leaving all the side streets plugged with snow.

Unfortunately Joaquin's K9 squad (a 2-wheel drive Tahoe) didn't handle well in the snow. Each time he sped up, the back end would slide and spin all over the road. Every intersection meant a quick stop, slide some, take off, slide more.  This was then repeated over and over as we cruised throughout the city. Meanwhile I start taking notes, forgetting that writing and riding in a car is not a good combination for me. Next thing I know my stomach is doing flips.

While I was thankful for the bulletproof vest, I knew right off the bat it was NOT meant for a size DD. My chest was crushed with each breath. By then I was too hot, so I took off my outer vest.  We got our first call, a domestic, and Joaquin raced to the address. We pulled up to the house and Joaquin advised that it was safe for me to join him. As I opened my door, my boot caught in my bag and I flew head-first into the snowbank with the contents of my bag spilling onto the snow-covered street. (Thankfully Joaquin was on the other side of the Tahoe and couldn't see any of this.) By this point I'm feeling more like Barney Fife than Annie Frost. I gathered my things, brushed off the snow, and acted like nothing happened. Except now I'm cold and wish I had my vest back on.

A short time later the domestic was resolved, without an arrest. We hopped back in the truck, and after a few more slip-and-slides in the snow, my face is a lovely shade of sage green and I confessed to Joaquin I was car sick.  End of ride-along #1 for Barbara "Annie" Marshak.

Saturday Night Ride-Along:  Thank goodness for second chances, amen?!  This time I knew exactly what to expect.

#1-Skip the bag and stuff only the bare basics in my pockets
#2-Take Dramamine
#3-Put the size-B bulletproof vest in the back of the Tahoe until needed
#4-Only write when the car is parked

-The night started out quiet and then around 9 o'clock things got rolling. Central (a/k/a Dispatch) sent out the calls, one after another.
-Drunk man sleeping in snowbank; transported to ER.
-Two-year old with the front section of a computer tower stuck (somehow!) around his neck; transported to ER.
-Reports of shots fired; UTL.
-Man with warrants; transported to jail.
-Reports of shots fired; UTL.
-10-48 (mental case) reports men in his house with long guns; transported to mental health unit.
-Domestic--drunk husband kicked in front door; transported to relative's.
-Fight at the liquor store; drunk female surprises the life out of me with a giant bear hug.
-Reports of shots fired; neighbor sees young men run down the street.
-Young man arrives at ER with 2 bullet wounds; follow-up at ER.

Police call on Saturday night.

Later, when things were quiet Joaquin and Rookie took me to their nightly stop at the drive-through of Tim Horton's, a fast-food bakery and sandwich shop.

Joaquin pulled up to the speaker and the girls inside said, "Welcome to Tim Horton's...can I take your order?" That was Rookie's cue. "Rouw, roouw, rouw, rouw!" he responded, barking out his order. The girls said, "Hi there, Rookie! How you doin' tonight hon? You want your Timbits?" (a/k/a doughnut holes)

Rookie barked again, "Rouw, rouw, rouw!" (which meant Yes!) We pulled up to the window and the girls inside all come over to the drive-though window to see Rookie. They hand Joaquin a little box labeled "Rookie bits" for his nightly treat. Cutest thing I ever saw, promise!

Then it was back to work...we answered more calls and cruised the city streets while Joaquin told me more about the history of Saginaw.

Joaquin talking about his city.

State computer in the squad car.

Saginaw was once part of Michigan's big car industry, although many of those plants are now closed. Joaquin shared what it's been like to be an officer in Saginaw for the past 22 years and how much the city and demographics have changed through the years.

And so our Saturday night came to an end on a much more successful note. I didn't fall out of the Tahoe, I didn't get car sick, and I managed to stick it out for the whole 12-hour shift.

End of PART I - trip to Saginaw, Michigan.

PART II - coming soon!

Barbara "Annie" Marshak,
Reporting from Saginaw, Michigan

"Award-Winning Tales" Released!

2011-01-29T20:16:00.000-06:00

It's always a joy to receive a new book in the mail...especially when said book contains one of my stories! I received that kind of "joy" today when I opened a thick bubble-envelope and pulled out two complimentary copies of Award-Winning Tales, a western anthology complied by R. L. (Becky) Coffield. My story Lost Letters was a Finalist in the short story contest sponsored by Moonlight Mesa Associates. Following the contest Becky was so pleased with all the stories that she decided to publish a book with selected stories from the 2009 and 2010 contest entries.

Lost Letters is a fictional story I took from the title of one of my articles I wrote as a regular contributor for the Hidden Heritage feature page in RFD-TV The Magazine. In Lost Letters the article, I shared the story of Paul LaRoche's adoption papers being lost in the back of his adoptive mother's writing desk for years, thus hiding Paul's true American Indian heritage. When thinking "what on earth can I write about for a western contest?!", I looked at the two simple words, Lost Letters...and the ideas began to emerge.

I placed the story in western Minnesota and South Dakota, settings familiar to me, and told the story through the eyes of Marsha, a young college student who always knew she'd been adopted, and Josephine, a woman who had given up her baby girl for adoption...and why. Becky said the story brought tears to her eyes when she read it, which to me means it touched her heart, and as a writer that is what matters.

Here's the review Becky received from Shirley Johnson, Senior Reviewer with the MidWest Book Review:
I was not quite sure what I would find on the pages of this book, but I knew it would be good. Looking upon the read I had a hard decision to make. Should I start the read from the beginning or just pick a tale? It was not easy because some of the titles seemed to be calling my name. That is one of the pluses of a book filled with different tales, and one that I truly enjoy. You can read it in one sitting, or read a full story when it fits your fancy.

As I began the read I was taken into the magical words of the authors that stirred many an emotion within me. Not something I expected to happen from this book. I usually only experience this when reading a full novel where I have become totally immersed in a longer storyline. It was a pleasant surprise. The stories were down front and personal. In other words, they were so well written I felt I was part of each story, knew the characters, faced the challenges, and felt the emotions of every story I read. Unbelievable but true.

However, the styles of each tale changed like rapid water, always keeping the Western flare, yet cascading me into the rapids of the moment that the author touched upon. Each story showcased that particular author's ability and talent. The fiber that each author wove into his/her story was like a burst of fresh air as I anticipated what was to be unfolded. I was never disappointed, as each story introduced new characters and new locale, like a fresh new picture being painted while I watched. Each story was different and could stand alone, yet they merged under the western skies as one. It may be a tale of romance, murder, competition, struggles, joy or sadness, each brings just the right dish that fills a banquet table before you. Let the feast begin.

This is an outstanding read. Very well written by authors who truly know how to spin a tale that will grab you and not let go. Highly recommended.

If you are interested in reading Lost Letters or any of the stories in Award-Winning Tales, please visit the website for Moonlight Mesa Associates at http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/. I haven't had a chance to read the stories yet, so guess you know what I'll be doing this evening!

Blessings,
Barbara

5th Annual Winter Writers Retreat

2011-01-19T22:34:00.001-06:00

Every Martin Luther King weekend my good friend, author Julie Saffrin, hosts a writers retreat at her cabin in northwestern Minnesota on Dead Lake. This year four hearty writers made the drive "up north" to work on projects in a variety of genres:

Jannelle Huston - humor writer
Sheri Jacobs - playwright
Julie Saffrin - nonfiction
myself - memoir
Julie's dog, Mick - author in waiting

My focus was to keep working on Michigan & Rookie...Guardians of the Night, the story of Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his K9 Rookie. Joaquin's intentions in sharing Rookie's story is to bring honor and recognition to all K9 handlers and their partners. And since Rookie is really the "star" of the book, the idea came to me that I should tell by story by alternating POVs between Joaquin and Rookie. It sounded like a good idea anyway.

The first time I sat down to write out a scene in Rookie's POV I managed to come up with three weak sentences and that was it. Hmmm... How does a dog think? What would a dog say? Maybe I should rethink this grand idea.

Then again, I shouldn't give up that easy. After all, we writers are hearty souls that never give up, right? So I dragged a dozen library books on dogs up to Julie's cabin and took a few notes:

-its estimated dogs can use their noses a thousand to ten thousand times better than humans
-dogs can distinguish between scents to an extraordinary degree
-German shepherds have a high degree of intelligence, if not the highest,
-German shepherds love to work and be active

I studied Rookie's pictures for awhile, talked to Mick for awhile, stared out my window awhile, and tried it again. Suddenly my 'dog mind' clicked, and away I went, typing out a bunch of scenes from Rookie's POV. Witty and clever scenes, even. So maybe, just maybe, this whole dog POV will work after all.

What do you think, Mick?

That's fine...just don't touch my pillow!

I made some good progress on the manuscript each day. My favorite part of writing up at Julie's cabin is the fact I can push my work table up against the south windows that face the lake. It's a great way to spend the day.

Morning sun out my window

Evening sun out my window.

Julie and Mick out my window

Of course there are certain requirements for every writers retreat: coffee, great food, and a little wine to close out the day. I'm just saying.

Sheri's fabulous French salad!

Julie and I have dueling coffee pots: she likes her coffee strong and dark; I like mine weak, flavored, and equal parts coffee and Half & Half.

Morning and nighttime necessities

We had some good laughs (Janelle could be a stand-up comedian, seriously..."off with the foot!"--what a story!), shared some "cries of the heart" with each other, and bonded in that special way that women and writers do. Proud Mom, Sheri's son Kyle Jacobs, a songwriter in Nashville, just married the love of his life, Miss Kellie Pickler, on New Year's Day in Antigua and the couple is featured in this week's People magazine. Once again, our time was blessed.

Barbara

One Nation - Craftsman Award

2011-01-06T10:11:00.000-06:00

The Tournament of Roses Parade went off without a hitch...once again a beautiful and colorful display of imagination and creative thinking. "One Nation", sponsored by RFD-TV won the Craftsman Award. The float was 75 feet in length and 35 feet tall, and represented a Lakota Fancy Dancer, patterned after Garan Coons, one of the Fancy Dancers for Brule'.

Photo of One Nation, by Getty Images
January 1, 2011
Courtesy of Daylife

I haven't had a chance to speak with Paul LaRoche since the parade to hear all the details. He did say in an interview with the Worthington Globe, "It's a pretty exciting occasion for a kid from Worthington!" Brule' performed in the front of the float for the full parade route, while other tribal representatives walked alongside.

Pretty exciting stuff, indeed!
Barbara

Brule' & One Nation at the Rose Parade, January 1st, 2011

2010-12-26T18:44:00.000-06:00

The award-winning contemporary Native American group, Brulé, is proud to announce their participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade, January 1, 2011, with One Nation, a Native American float, one of only a few in parade history. The 122nd Rose Parade themed Building Dreams, Friendships, and Memories, will take place on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. (PST). This celebrated event is broadcast live on ABC, Hallmark, HGTV, KTLA, NBC, RFD-TV, and Univision, and is seen in more than 200 international territories and countries.

Brulé founder Paul LaRoche, enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, has performed as the contemporary Native American recording artist for the past 15 years. LaRoche’s unique life journey has brought him to this position as host of the One Nation float. The 2011 Tournament of Roses theme, Building Dreams, Friendships, and Memories, ties in closely with LaRoche’s personal mission that started when the course of his life was forever altered with the discovery of his Lakota heritage.

Adopted at birth LaRoche grew up in white, middle-class America and didn’t discover his true heritage until he was 38. On Thanksgiving Day 1993, LaRoche was reunited with his brother, sister, and extended relatives. Overwhelmed by the experience, he returned to the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation where Brulé was born, a musical synthesis of the two worlds he has lived in. LaRoche has long since dreamed of bringing a message of hope and healing to worldwide audiences through the stirring music and dance of the Brulé entourage that has criss-crossed the country with him for 15 years.

Brulé is now one of the top-selling Native American recording artists with more than a million CDs sold worldwide, and has earned seven Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs) since 2002. Their live performances are currently receiving rave reviews as “a Native American experience of sight, sound, and soul” at the RFD-TV Theatre in Branson, Missouri. LaRoche is also producer and host of Hidden Heritage, a weekly television series that highlights “positive, uplifting stories from Native America” on the RFD-TV cable network.

As Paul has shared, "Being part of the One Nation float is indeed an honor, but the real story is the opportunity to showcase Native America as one nation, to step forward onto this stage with the whole world watching." Tribal representatives from American Indian tribes will accompany the One Nation float dressed in their tribe's regalia. It is Paul's vision for all Native ambassadors to come together in a gesture of unity onto this unprecedented stage in an historic, breathtaking visual of Native America.

Viewers can cast their vote for the favorite Rose Parade float online at http://www.tournamentofroses.com/ or http://www.rfdtv.com/ and look for the "Viewer's Choice" link.

All this week I'll be marking the countdown to January 1st and watching Brule' perform on top of the One Nation float along the parade route in sunny Pasadena!
Barbara

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T14:37:00.001-06:00

"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
and His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Have a blessed & Merry Christmas!
Barbara

Author Joy DeKok Reviews "Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche"

2010-12-19T14:51:00.000-06:00

Minnesota author Joy DeKok writes a unique and interesting blog titled Beliefs & Books, where she selects a book and not only writes a review, but interviews the author as well, giving added insight into the author's background and perspective. On Friday, December 17, 2010, Joy posted her interview with me and her review of Hidden Heritage.

To read the interview and book review, go to http://www.joydekok.com/.

In August I had the pleasure of spending time with Joy at Julie Saffrin's writer's retreat in northern Minnesota at Julie's cabin. Here's Joy and Mick waiting for yet another beautiful sunset on Dead Lake. I can say firsthand both summer and winter, the sunsets are breathtakingly beautiful.

Joy is the author of Rain Dance, Under His Wings, and three children's books. Visit her at http://www.joydekok.com/. Thank you, Joy!

Barbara

On Your Mark; Get Set; GO!

2010-11-29T21:56:00.000-06:00

As I've shared before, my next book project is one that takes a look at the eight-year career of Rookie, the K9 partner of Officer Joaquin Guerrero from Saginaw, Michigan.

In Saginaw--a city plagued with gang violence--Officer Guerrero created Precinct 131, a program for pre-D.A.R.E. kids to "say no to gangs, guns, drugs, and violence." School kids across mid-Michigan bonded with Rookie, an affable German shepherd, and collected Rookie dolls, puppets, and patches. On 9/11 Officer Guerrero and Rookie responded to Ground Zero to help in the search efforts. Working unprotected in the crushed tower debris, Rookie later died from cancer and received an honorary memorial service.

Joaquin and I have talked about different options in the publishing world--traditional publishing vs. self-publishing--and since I am without an agent as of this moment (unless I get The Call soon!) we decided the best route to go was with Beaver's Pond Press in Minneapolis. Joaquin also mentioned that he would like to have the book available for the 10th anniversary of 9/11...which is obviously next September. That means the manuscript has to be written by May or June 2011. And that would be the "final draft'...not the "first draft'!

So yes, I have my work cut out for me these next six months. I actually got a good start on the first few chapters last week when I retreated to the Lunds/Byerly's cabin in northern Minnesota for three full days of writing. I brought notes, pictures, & video clips that Joaquin had given me, and even a stuffed "Rookie" for inspiration.

My set-up with a view of the lake

I spent all of Friday reading through the news clippings and watching Joaquin's video that he took at Ground Zero. Then I started writing fragmented sections about 9/11 in the manuscript. Mid-afternoon I took a break and walked over to the fireplace to warm up, thinking about everything Joaquin must have seen at "the pile". I happened to look down at a basket of books and noticed a picture of the twin towers. Here was a coffee table book from 1983, "New York...City of Many Dreams" filled with pictures of New York...and in almost every picture the twin towers stood out prominently, as they always did.

I knew it was more than coincidence. Things like that always are. And to explain, this is a company cabin, where many families use it every year. People bring games and books and leave for others to use and enjoy. In all the years we've stayed at the cabin--including a week this summer--I've never seen the book there before.

To me it creates excitement, a sense I'm on the right path. It encourages me to forge ahead and get the story down on paper. Joaquin's purpose in writing this book is give tribute to K9 handlers and their dedicated partners all across America, dogs like Rookie that work hard and risk their life night after night for nothing more than a ball or pat on the head.

This is the least I can do for them.
Barbara

A Full Plate

2010-11-13T10:38:00.001-06:00

As I look at the calendar (in disbelief!), wondering how on earth it can be November already, I feel like my desktop is like a Thanksgiving Day dinner, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and the works. In other words, I have a full plate. Here's a sample of what's crossed my desk in the last few months:

Prairie Promises, published in September in Talking Stick-Volume #19, a literary journal
Lost Letters (the article) appeared in the Sept/Oct issue of RFD-TV The Magazine
A Special Gift appeared in the Nov/Dec issue of RFD-TV The Magazine
Lost Letters (the story) will be included in Award Winning Western Tales, an anthology published by Moonlight Mesa Associates, with a January 2011 release date
Bad River, the article, will be in the Jan/Feb issue of RFD-TV The Magazine
Press release and promos for the Michael Franzese event, The Good, The Bad, The Forgiven
Press release for Brule's appearance in the Tournament of Roses Parade, January 2011
Copy for Brule media kit, an impressive color packet and video collection showcasing the stirring dance and music of the Brule' entourage
Intro letter for Brule' sent to the 580 recognized American Indian tribes, inviting representatives to appear with Brule' in Pasadena on January 1st at the Rose Parade
A Passion for Youth, appeared in the Winter issue of the Trinity Trumpet

And looking ahead, these still cover my desk:

Cries on the Prairie (same story as Prairie Promises but with a different premise) for the Lake Region Review
The Quarry, short-short story for the Writer's Digest contest
Holy Name Chapel, the next article for RFD-TV The Magazine
Michigan & Rookie...Guardians of the Night, my current book project

As I've shared before, MI & Rookie is the remarkable story of Joaquin Guerrero, a cop and his K9 partner Rookie, dedicated to serving their community as the eyes and ears of the night in Saginaw, Michigan.

In fact, I've decided to escape next week "up north" to the cabin on Lower Whitefish Lake. There's nothing like shutting out the world and spending four full days in solitude writing. No errands to run, no emails or Internet. Just my notes from Joaquin and my laptop. Well, and my thesaurus. Okay, and a dictionary. You get the picture.

So if you can't get a hold of me next week, I'll be cozied up in the cabin, the beautiful lake out my window, hard at work...and lovin' it! (Unless we get another foot of snow and I can't get there...) And when I get home it'll be time to enjoy that delicious Thanksgiving Day dinner, all thanks to the wonderful deli at Lunds & Byerly's!

Blessings,
Barbara

Michael Franzese - The Good, The Bad, The Dinner

2010-11-04T18:43:00.000-06:00

As I shared in the last post, the hubby and I fixed dinner on Saturday for former New York mob boss, Michael Franzese. Cooking for a former crime boss put a little pressure on the cooks, of course, wanting to keep our guest of honor happy. We had about 20 people over, including the couple from our church (Jerry & Muff) who had heard Michael Franzese speak in Florida and arranged to have him come to Lakeville. The hubby came up with a menu that I thought sounded more like a Meat Fest:

bruschetta (John's world-famous recipe)
shrimp cocktail
spaghetti and red sauce (prepared by friends Dan & Chris)
dry-aged top sirloin steak
BBQ ribs (again, John's world-famous variety)
swordfish
butterfly shrimp
Italian meatballs (believe it or not, I make a pretty decent Italian meatball for a Scandinavian!)
garlic bread
Tator Tot hotdish (an old Minnesota standby)
pumpkin & spice bars (from Muff & Stephanie)
chocolate cake (from Nygren's wedding the prior weekend!)

When John announced the menu to all the guests, Michael said, "Well that sounds good John, but next time I come can you expand the menu a little?"

Everyone enjoyed a nice relaxing afternoon, visiting with Michael and his brother-in-law, Dean Garcia, who travels with him to most of his events. Both men said they appreciated a home cooked meal, versus going to a restaurant. The dinner went over well, and to my surprise, nearly everything was eaten!

Of course the real purpose of Michael's visit was to share his unique and compelling story. No one walks away from the mob and lives to tell about it. But in 1993 Michael Franzese broke all the rules by walking away from the mob--and through a woman of faith--became a changed man, transformed by God.

Michael is a gifted speaker

The sanctuary was full all 3 times Michael spoke

A one time captain in the La Cosa Nostra, Colombo crime family in New York City, Michael spoke to full-house at Trinity Evangelical Free Church and received a standing ovation all three times. His story is captivating. Chills up your spine, captivating. In 1986 Fortune Magazine listed a ranking of "the 50 biggest Mafia bosses" in New York's crime families and Michael was rated #18, the youngest man on the list. As Michael states, "the mob life is a very violent life and when you're part of the mob, you're part of the violence." Today of those 50 men, 43 are dead, 3 are in prison, and Michael is out of prison, free to share his remarkable story of forgiveness with audiences all across the country. It's a testament as to how God can change a man's heart--from the dark and deadly world of the La Cosa Nostra--to a man on a mission with a message he calls, The Good, The Bad, The Forgiven.

John, Michael, Barbara (Dean in background)

Thank you Michael, for taking time away from your family to travel across the country and share such an incredible story.

Barbara

Michael Franzese, Former NYC Mob Boss, Coming for Dinner!

2010-10-14T14:23:00.000-06:00

Michael Franzese, former mob boss of the Colombo crime family is coming to Lakeville, Minnesota to share his powerful testimony at our church, Saturday, October 30th at 7 PM and Sunday, October 31st at 9 & 10:30 AM; Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 10658 210th St. W., Lakeville, MN. A gifted speaker, Michael discloses the details of his life-changing conversion from a man with a past to a man with hope for the future. You won't want to miss this dramatic true story of God's transformational power.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE FORGIVEN...
MICHAEL FRANZESE

Michael grew up as the son of the notorious Underboss of New York's violent and feared Colombo crime family. Intelligent, handsome and ambitious he quickly rose within the ranks of organized crime. It was a life filled with power, luxury...and deadly violence. Then an innocent young woman walked into Michael's life. Her beauty captivated him. Her faith in God saved him. It's a story with a powerful lesson: Nothing is too bad that it can't be forgiven--life can begin again.

Michael's compelling story has been featured on high profile media including FOX News, Life Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Sports Illustrated, LA Times, 48 Hours, The Today Show, ABC Primetime, NBC Nightly News, and ESPN.

Michael documented his dramatic life story in a biography: Blood Covenant: The Michael Franzese Story. To find out more about him, check out his website at http://www.michaelfranzese.com/.

The hubby and I are on the committee to help coordinate and promote the event, but our biggest test will come when we try to cook an Italian dinner for Michael and his traveling companion. It's going to be a group effort...we have Italian friends who will make the sauce, we have a recipe for spicy Italian meatballs, and the hubby makes bruschetta that's out of this world, seriously. And just for fun, we'll throw in a casserole of Tator Tot or Wild Rice hotdish for him to try...something pure Minnesotan!

All kidding aside, this looks to be a remarkable evening with Michael. We are looking forward to hearing his amazing testimony and if anyone is anywhere close to Lakeville, Saturday-October 30th or Sunday-October 31st, we invite you to join us!

Barbara & Hubby, a/k/a, the Italian chef!

Women Writing the West

2010-10-03T18:03:00.001-06:00

Howdy! I can use that greeting again--even though I'm not in Wyoming--because I am officially now a member of WOMEN WRITING THE WEST. I may not live in The West (yet!), but I live west of the Mississippi, which will have to do for now. As their welcome letter states, "Women Writing the West is a dynamic group of individuals who write, edit, publish, and produce the western women's experience is an association with which to be reckoned." This is an organization I found out about back in May from Kaye Roll, one of the ladies I met at the Literature & Landscape of the Horse Retreat in Wyoming.

Over the summer I browsed through their website a few times, and somehow stumbled onto a website for Moonlight Mesa Associates, a small publisher in Arizona that happened to be sponsoring a short story contest. It was their 2nd annual "Cowboy Up Contest!" and the criteria included:

western theme,
3,000 words max,
must involve a cowboy or two--or other western character(s).

My first thought was, "Hmm, I don't really write in the western genre...what kind of a story could I possibly come up with for this contest?"

Two seconds later I turned back to my desk and spied the list of article ideas from Paul LaRoche for the RFD-TV Magazine. Starting this spring, the editor of RFD-TV had asked Paul to submit a short article for each issue. Since Paul's talents are primarily in music, he asked for a little help. He sent me a list of ideas and I write the articles. I had just finished, "Lost Letters", a short piece about Paul's adoption papers being lost in his mother's writing desk for years. And then the light bulb went off...

Duh! Take the title of any one of these articles and write a completely fictionalized story to match!

So that's exactly what I did...I started a brand new version of "Lost Letters." I wrote the first draft and took it with me to the Black Hills for our annual camping trip. We stayed in a different campground this year, one surrounded by a forest of tall Ponderosa pines. Each morning I heard the wind whisper through pine needles. The beauty of the dark green needles contrasted against the bold blue sky stunned me each day. Slowly I started putting the pieces of my story together, defining my characters. Throughout the week the setting all around contributed to my story in scattered moments. Pink patches of clover, granite spires, sunlight casting lace patterns on the ground below, distinct scents of clover and pine. I scribbled down notes, thoughts, images.

After we returned home I finished my story and sent it off to the contest, not really sure if it met the style of the western genre but deciding either way it was good writing practice. Then last week I received word that "Lost Letters" is a Finalist (how 'bout a yahoo!) in the contest and Moonlight Mesa Associates announced plans to publish an anthology in 2011 titled "Award-Winning Western Tales" with selected stories from the contest. I'll find out next week if "Lost Letters" is one of the top three winners, but right now I'm just tickled it placed as a Finalist.

In my eyes, Women Writing the West opens a window to a whole new world of writing possibilities!

To learn more about Women Writing the West, go to http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/

And to learn more about Moonlight Mesa Associates, go to http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/

Blessings to writers, western and otherwise!
Barbara

Prairie Promises

2010-09-19T21:38:00.001-06:00

Here's my winning entry, Prairie Promises, based on an actual event from 1870 when my great-grandparents lived in a small cabin on the shore of Horse Head Lake near Parkers Paririe in Otter Tail County. Notes from our family history show that Charls and Carolina Veden had staked a claim on eighty acres, across the lake from another family whose short time as settlers on the Minnesota prairie ended in tragedy that winter...

               Prairie Promises

        A strange noise stirs me, but my bones are simply too tired to move. I drift back to my dream…I am still in Sweden and we have yet to make our long journey to America. Elot is sitting beside me, holding my hand in his, My sweet Corena, we will have a wonderful life in America, I promise. Here we have no hope. In America there is so much land, even a poor soul like myself can own his own farm…
       The crackling sounds come again. Our cabin creaks routinely as it settles, especially on such cold winter nights. The grand white farmhouse with a pillared front porch that Elot promised is for now a primitive cabin. We have cupboards for a kitchen, a private room for Elot and I, and a loft for the older children. I sense Elot turning over and his movements awaken me further. No doubt it is time to add wood to the stove. The past seven days have been colder than I thought possible, even living in Sweden. It’s our first winter at Horse Head Lake and min godhet, we burn wood nonstop, day and night.
         A waft of smoke strikes my nose and I sniff. Smoke.
         In an instant my eyes open, senses alert. I sit up in bed. “Elot!” I grab his shoulders and shake hard. “There’s smoke!”
         “Ja? Vad är det?”
         “I smell smoke, Elot! Hurry!” My bare feet hit the floorboards and I turn to the cradle next to our bed. I snatch Sadie into my arms and grab her blanket. Elot opens the bedroom door and a thunderous burst of brightness fills my view. Orange and yellow flames dance across the width of the cabin, blocking the cupboards and only door. The log wall behind the stove is engulfed in a fiery glow that roars back with danger.
         I cling to the bedroom doorway, shaking, protectively pressing Sadie’s face into my bosom. Elot rushes to the ladder and scrambles halfway up. “Hans! Louisa! Wake up!”
         The terror in his voice pierces my eardrums, sending me into a panic. The heat is intense, tall flames pulsate in rapid, rhythmic motions forming a barricade to our only way out. “Elot! What do we do?!”
         Hans and Louisa climb down the ladder and stand behind Elot. “Pa!” Hans cries. “How do we get out?”
        Stricken with fear Louisa’s cries turn to screams, her blue eyes glisten with tears.
        “We have to run through the flames to the door,” Elot shouts. “It’s the only way!”
        “No!” screams Louisa. “No! I can’t!”
        “We can’t wait, it’s too late…” Elot says, watching the fire consume our handbuilt home.
         The baby wakes, and sensing danger begins to cry. “Shhh,” I say between sobs, trying to calm her when I know the logs are too thick…the few windows too small.
         Elot’s whiskered face is covered in sweat and fear. He looks much older than his thirty-three years. “I’ll take Hans and Louisa through first,” he says, “and then I’ll come back for you and the baby.”
         Louisa clings to Elot, all the while screaming, “No, Pa!” Nine-year-old Hans tries to be brave, but the raging fire is too intense and all I see is my frightened little boy.
         “Give me the quilt,” Elot shouts between coughs.
         I reach for the wool quilt on our bed. Ma gave it to us the day we said our vows, May 1, 1861. Elot puts it around them, Hans on one side, Louisa on the other. “We must go quickly,” he shouts above the fire. “Now!”
        Barefoot they race into the flames. I cover my face, unable to watch. Sobs overtake me as I clutch the doorframe. Seconds later Elot is at my side, the handstitched quilt singed black. “Corena!” He grabs my arm and throws the quilt over us. “Now!”
        Elot leads me forward. The heat is powerful. Instinctively I pull back. “Hold your breath!” Elot puts one arm behind me and pushes. The floorboards burn my feet. I can’t hold my breath and smoke fills my lungs. I cough, blinded from the heavy quilt, burning now on top of us. Elot pushes me again and I collapse into the snow next to Hans and Louisa. The burnt remnants of our wedding quilt hisses against the snowbank.
        Icy air fills my lungs, stinging deep inside my chest. I turn to the children, crying and shaking in the frigid night air. Elot falls to his knees, gasping for breath between gut-wrenching coughs.
        “What do we do, Elot?” I ask, watching our dreams vanish into billowing smoke. All our possessions are inside, everything we lovingly carried with us to America.
        “We must…walk to…Charls and Carolina…the lake.”
        “Across the lake? We are barefoot!” I say. “The snow is too deep. My feet have burns.”
        “We will freeze, Corena, we must get help.” Elot struggles to stand. “Hans, Louisa, come. We must walk to Vedens, across the lake. Carolina will have the stove going…warm quilts for us. Hurry now.”
        Elot takes a few steps toward the lake. He cries out in pain and leans into a tree for support.
        “Elot, what’s wrong?”
        He turns away from the children. “My feet…are burned too.”
        Light from the fire show the blisters on Elot’s feet and my gut wrenches. I try to calm the children. “Listen, listen…Pa will lead the way for us. Hans, you follow and hold Louisa’s hand. I will be right behind you. Go now, follow Papa.”
        Moonlight illuminates the surrounding prairie in a bluish haze. We near the shoreline where the lake has frozen and thawed and then froze again. Jagged shards of ice cut my tender flesh. Snowdrifts rise and fall like white ribbons. Beneath us the ice creaks in an eerie moan, momentarily halting the children’s wimpers. In the distance a wolf howls, followed by the rushing wind across the open lake.
       Sadie fights me, wanting down. It takes all my strength to keep her in my arms. Louisa’s shawl slips from her shoulders and I pull it up. Our thin cotton gowns are no match for the frigid January night.
       The lake is long and narrow. We cross where it is the shortest distance, yet on this night it seems too far. I look back, the glow visible through the trees. Above us, heaven’s stars hang in intricate lace patterns. I can no longer feel my feet or legs. Each step is difficult, laborious. Panting and breathless, the children fall and I help them up. Elot can barely walk. I can make out the darkened shape of the Veden cabin, see the smoke coming from their chimney.
       One more step, Corena.
       Keep going.
       My mind plays tricks on me. I realize now Louisa and Hans are helping Elot. He cannot walk on his own. We reach the shore and struggle to climb over the piles of snow.
        “Louisa, run to the cabin for help! Hans, help Papa!” I try to shout, but the words float softly from my throat.
        Soon I hear voices. “Ǻ kär Gud i himmel!” Oh, dear God in heaven!
        Ah, our Swedish friend, Charls Veden. We are saved.

                                    * * *

       I think of the pretty flowers that filled the wild prairie our first summer at Horse Head Lake. Elot was so proud to own land. Eighty acres, he said to me, just like I promised. He took me to the site he’d chosen for our cabin. Already a new life was fashioning within me. I picked a handful of flowers; purple ones, others pale pink, tall yellow ones, like droplets of sunshine, imagining our life in this land called Min-ne-sota. Elot cut the thickest trees to use for the logs, to keep us warm in the harsh winter, he said. We stayed with Elot’s cousin Josephine in Parkers Prairie until our cabin was built. A difficult woman at best, she bossed me around like a servant. At first I was afraid to move to the wilderness. I heard stories of Indians attacking settlers and the great uprising in ’62. But after a summer living under Josephine’s thumb, Elot couldn’t finish the cabin soon enough.
        Elot…
        My own cries wake me. Elot passed first. Charls hitched up his team and went to town to fetch Doc Hanson but it was too late. The gangrene set in and there was no chance. Charls crossed the lake the morning after the fire. In hushed voices I heard him say he followed a trail of flesh the whole way.
       Hans and Louisa lay still in the other bed. The doctor says their suffering is nearly over. Charls will make the coffins. Only little Sadie will live to see spring come. I hear her bubbly laugh with Carolina in the rocker. So young, so innocent. A midwife, Carolina came for the birthing. She will care for Sadie until my sister comes. Until the wild flowers fill the prairie once again.
                                   * * *

I remember going with my parents to visit the Veden homestead on Horse Head Lake as a young girl, and hearing the story that day, how my great-grandfather Veden had to build all the coffins for the family. Even then, as a young girl I tried to imagine what it must have been like to walk across the frozen lake after escaping the fire, barefoot, in the darkness of a winter night, wearing only thin night clothes. Had the husband promised the wife a better life if she came with him to America?

As with most immigrants, they came despite the many dangers...

...and I wonder, would I have had the courage to come, as a young mother with little ones?

Barbara

Jackpine Writers' Book Launch for Talking Stick-Volume 19

2010-09-19T20:47:00.001-06:00

This Saturday, September 18th, I had the pleasure of attending the book launch party for the Jackpine Writers' Bloc newest edition of the Talking Stick, a literary journal they publish annually. Each volume is comprised of winning and selected entries from their call for submissions that go out to Minnesota writers each spring. The contest is open to works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. I am honored to say my short fiction piece, Prairie Promises, took first place in the fiction category, and is featured in the Talking Stick-Volume 19 on Page 5!

The hubby and I drove up to Park Rapids to attend the afternoon party. Surprisingly, there were a number of Twin City writers who had made the drive up to picturesque Park Rapids. It was my first chance to meet members of the Jackpine Writers Bloc and pick up my copy of the Talking Stick. It was also fun to see some familiar faces, such as Candace Simar, Sharon Harris, and Susan Spindler. Susan's piece, A Second One, took first place in the creative nonfiction category. Another writing friend, Barbara Farland, who also has Wadena roots, had her poem Widows' Banquet included. This year's contest had a grand total of 324 submissions from 165 writers all over Minnesota!

Several authors had book tables, and it was fun to mingle and meet new writers, like Nona Carlson, Donna Trump, and Marsha Porter. After a time of refreshments, we were invited to read our published pieces. There is something special in hearing each writer read their own piece. We had a mix of serious and humorous pieces.

Susan Spindler, reading her winning entry, "A Second One"

If you have time, check out the web pages for the Jackpine Writers Bloc and the Talking Stick:
http://www.jackpinewriters.com/
http://www.thetalkingstick.com/

All in all, it was a great day of building new friendships.
Barbara

On Top of the World Moments

2010-09-08T21:07:00.000-06:00

This August the hubby and I joined four other couples on a motorcycle trip across the beautiful expanse of Wyoming. We started in the Black Hills and made a circle tour out to Yellowstone and back. Come to think of it, back in May I spent five days riding horseback near Laramie, and on this trip I rode motorcycle for five days clear across the state. Kind of a contrast in "rides", but both offered stunning views of Wyoming's ever-changing landscape.

Western side of Big Horn Mountains

We were blessed with perfect weather, beautiful scenery, wonderful food, and a safe journey throughout the entire trip.

Bob & Kay, Clint & Diane, Bob & Judy, Hubby & I, Todd & Char
Circle Tour Gang

Our route started in Hill City, South Dakota and took us up to Sheridan, Wyoming where we spent the first night in a cozy little motel. That evening we walked down to the Main Street Tavern where we listened to Clint, a retired police lieutenant, tell stories from his early days as a cop. By the end of the night our jaws were sore from laughing, and we crawled into our beds tired, but happy.

The next morning we hopped on the bikes and began the climb in elevation as we rode across the Big Horn Mountains, west and north to Red Lodge, Montana, and then south into Wyoming again through the Beartooth Pass.

This stretch of Highway 212 that makes up the Beartooth Pass zig-zags along the edge (and I do mean edge!) of the mountains in Montana and Wyoming at 10,900 feet in elevation with absolute breathtaking views. At the top, the mountain landscape levels off into a wide plateau, with colorful wild flowers at every turn--pinks, reds, yellows, blues, purples--sometimes right next to a patch of snow. In the distance icy mountain lakes reflect the clear blue sky, surrounded by rock-strewn ridges. Part of me wondered if it looked the same as when the mountains were carved during Creation.

It was truly a top-of-the-world moment that took my breath away. (Or was it the Wyoming wind??) As a writer, it made me think about some of my top-of-the-world moments, like having a book signing for Hidden Heritage with Paul LaRoche on the plaza at America's majestic Mount Rushmore National Monument. Or winning a week-long residency at the Devils Tower National Monument. Or completing my first novel, Seeds of Salton. True top-of-the-world moments are rare...but that's what keeps me focused, keeps me motivated to write, until I reach that next 'moment' in my writing journey.

Our stay at the top of the world on the Beartooth Pass was short. We needed to continue on and get to our destination before darkness settled over the mountains. We arrived in Cooke City, Montana, just before dusk and settled into our hotel. Later we walked up the quiet Main Street to the Miners Saloon where we once again ended our day with good food (seriously the best pizza ever!), a glass (or two) of Merlot, and lots of laughs, thankful for another day of safe travels.

Cooke City, Montana

So, let me ask you...what are some of your top-of-the-world moments?? Please share!

Barbara

Writers Retreat on Dead Lake

2010-08-29T20:51:00.001-06:00

I had the good fortune of being invited back to my writer friend's cabin on Dead Lake. Author Julie Saffrin and her husband have what I consider the "perfect" cabin. Unlike some of the more popular lakes in Minnesota with one cabin about every 20 feet of shoreline, Dead Lake in Otter Tail County has a minimal number of homes even though it is a very large lake.

The weather was perfect each day...beautiful sunshine, warm temps, a nice breeze off the lake. (And let me tell you, "perfect" and "weather" rarely coincide on the same day in Minnesota!) The Saffrin's dock is surrounded by cattails on both sides and there aren't any other cabins or homes visible...which I love. Earlier this year I wrote a historical fiction piece titled, "Cries on the Prairie", about a tragedy in 1870 that actually happened on Horse Head Lake in Otter Tail County.

On Friday afternoon I went down to the dock alone, the cattails were dancing in the wind, I saw several eagles flying overhead, and it made me wonder...is this what it looked liked for my great-grandparents when they homesteaded on Horse Head Lake in 1870? Maybe...maybe not, but it made me feel like I was seeing what they could have seen from their cabin. Goosebumbs...

By the way, I entered "Cries on the Prairie" in the Writer's Digest Short Story Contest, and have another six weeks before I find out if I placed or not.

My real goal in coming to the retreat was to work on Michigan and Rookie...Guardians of the Night, my next book project. I was able to get a lot written for Chapter One, including writing in a dog's POV for the first time ever! Anyway, I needed a quiet place to allow myself to get this book started...and Julie's cabin offered that for me. It's amazing what you can accomplish in a couple days without any interruptions!

Author Joy DeKok joined Julie and I for the weekend. As all writers know, when so much of our time is spent alone, it is all the more rewarding to come together as friends and lift each other up in our writing journeys.

Let me give a plug for both Julie and Joy; please check out both of their websites:

Julie Saffrin, at www.JulieSaffrin.com, author of the forthcoming book, BlessBack, Those Who Shaped Your Life.

Joy Dekok, at http://www.joydekok.com/, author of Rain Dance, Under His Wings, and several children's books.

All for now and blessings to all,
Barbara

Sundance, Wyoming...Town of One Author's Dreams

2010-08-19T12:33:00.002-06:00

The hubby and I have been spending time in the beautiful Black Hills every summer since 2003 when we stayed in the historic Franklin Hotel, downtown Deadwood. We were there to attend the grand opening of Kevin Costner's Tatanka museum, since Brule' was the guest performer for both day's opening festivities. We followed that visit up the next summer with the Kevin Costner motorcycle ride from Sturgis to Tatanka, and another Brule' concert on the Tatanka property, overlooking the valley below.

Starting in 2005 we found a campground near Hill City, adding another day or two each year to stretch out our visit. One year while studying the map I noticed the hills actually spread a short distance into the eastern edge of Wyoming. The town of Sundance, Wyoming caught my eye.

Sundance...what a cool name! It sounded so cool in fact, I told the hubby we had to check it out that summer.

We hopped on our Harley and took scenic Highway 16 west from Hill City into Wyoming, coming into Sundance from the south on Highway 585. My expectations were high; it was Sundance, after all. Sundance, Wyoming, even. As we drove down Main Street I studied the typical store fronts, and I have to say they looked "ordinary." Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. The hubby turned and said, "This is where you want to live?" I had to admit there was no magical sensation or pounding heartbeat to indicate this was anything other than an average small town, except for that fact Henry Longabaugh, a/k/a the Sundance Kid, did spend time in jail there once, thus the nickname that followed him.

Me and The Kid, July 2010
Downtown Sundance

The famous Sundance Film Festival, however, is in Utah, where the celebrities and Hollywood types all flock each September. Sounds exciting, but I think I'll stick to "my" Sundance in Wyoming, where my affection has re-blossomed having visited there several times now. Situated at the base of the Bearlodge Mountains, Sundance has a picturesque backdrop that pulls you in and a quaint, western appeal I can't really put into words. My dream is to one day have business cards that say:

Barbara Marshak
Author
Sundance, Wyoming

Until that day comes, however, my life is centered in plain ol' Minnesota where the hubby and I have good jobs, a nice home, lots of friends and close family. Yeah, bottom line, I'm pretty lucky to be right where I am.

Barbara

Hill City Book Club

2010-08-15T15:16:00.000-06:00

Granted, Hill City, South Dakota is a long way to go to visit with a book club, but since the hubby and I camp in the beautiful Black Hills just south of Hill City every summer, it was only a short ride into town from our campground. Paula DeMars, Library Director of the Hill City Community Library, invited me to lead a discussion with their book club about Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche.

Since Paul, a/k/a Brule', has performed several times in the Hill City area, readers of the book were eager to hear a little more about Paul's family and their transition from Minnesota to South Dakota; from mainstream America to Native America.

I chose five discussion points in the book:

1 - The prologue with Sister Mona Kirwan, the nurse who was in charge of the nursery when Paul was born and remembers both his mother, Arlene, and taking care of Paul as a newborn.

2 - When Paul and his family are returning to Lower Brule from Pierre on their first visit to the reservation, it is late at night on a gravel road that follows the Missouri River. What did Paul, Kathy and their kids think, to see the reservation like that for the first time?

3 - The decision to include Chapter Five - The Ancestors Speak, which tells a quick review of the history of the Lakota people using Paul's ancestors listed in his lineage, including Paul's great-great-great-grandfather Strikes the Ree, an influential Yankton chief.

4 - The fact that Paul wants everyone to realize it took both worlds to create his story and his music; the love of his adoptive family and the heritage of his birth family, together created Brule'.

5 - The story of Hidden Heritage touches people on multiple levels: race, culture, adoption, a love story, and following a dream.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the members of the book club. It was a wonderful evening, both with the discussion time and enjoying some tasty treats. A great big "Thank you!" goes out to Paula and the Hill City Library for inviting me to speak to their group. It was a fun evening!

Barbara

Rez Ride 2010

2010-07-18T22:37:00.003-06:00

Lucky me--it's time to pack up the camper and head west once again! This two-week adventure will be a combination of A) part Rez Ride 2010, B) part family vacation, and C) part Harley ride through Wyoming with friends.

A) What is the Rez Ride 2010 you ask? Let me share... Hidden Heritage-the TV show features 13 episodes per season, one of which is a motorcycle ride through reservation land in South Dakota. In 2009, our inaugural season, we filmed segments in three locations: the Black Hills, Bear Butte, and the Pine Ridge Reservation. Because Paul LaRoche has only a short window of time to break from his live performances and film the ride, it's a little tricky to schedule with other people's vacations. In 2009 we only had three bikes participate for the Rez Ride, but it didn't stop us from having a blast. Due to the late hour we had an unplanned overnight stay in Sturgis and spent several hours on the patio of the Holiday Inn, telling stories and laughing until our sides hurt.

Shane LaRoche, videographer and audio technician, did a fantastic job handling the camera and audio equipment. It's not as easy as you think, considering he has to capture footage of the bikes riding through the curves and turns on the always busy Needles Highway. Heading out to the Pine Ridge Reservation was a little easier with a straight road and less traffic, with the Wounded Knee Memorial as our destination. Little did we know that the Wounded Knee Memorial Run--in honor of Chief Big Foot and the American Indians killed in the Wounded Knee massacre--was enroute to Wounded Knee. Moments after we arrived roughly one hundred bikers rolled in and parked their bikes, having started the run in Fort Yates, North Dakota. The timing couldn't have been scripted any better. With cameras rolling, we captured footage of the ceremony in honor of those killed at the massacre in 1890. We all had the sense that it was no accident for us to witness and share such a moving ceremony as part of the Rez Ride 2009.

This year, in 2010, our plan is to capture footage and scenery on the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Reservations in central South Dakota along the famous Lewis and Clark Trail. And as of today we've upped participation in the ride to four bikes!

B) For our family vacation we'll spend one week at the Horsethief Campground south of Hill City. Our youngest son David will join us, along with another family and their three kids. We'll do some of the typical family traditions, sightseeing, little bit of tourist shopping, and end each day with dinner back at the campground, followed with an evening campfire.

One author note: On Tuesday, July 27, I've been invited to speak to the Hill City Book Club at the Hill City Library. We'll be discussing Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche. Since many people in Hill City are fans of Paul LaRoche and Brule', it should be a fun evening! I am looking forward to our discussion.

C) On Sunday, August 1st, four other couples will join John and I for a circle tour through Wyoming. We're leaving from Hill City and taking some of the back roads west to Sheridan, then up to Cooke City, Montana. From there we head south into Yellowstone National Park and will spend one night in Grand Teton, Wyoming. Next we head east to Buffalo, and back to Hill City on the fifth and final day. We'll finish up our vacation with a couple days of riding in the always-beautiful Black Hills before returning to Minnesota.

My husband and I have been going to South Dakota at least once--and quite often twice--every summer since 2003...and each year part of the reason has involved Hidden Heritage and/or Brule'. On that note, let the adventure continue!

Barbara

Real Poetry--Wyoming Style

2010-07-08T14:13:00.000-06:00

When I won a residency at the Devils Tower National Monument back in 2008, I had the good fortune of having lunch with several members of the Bearlodge Writers group, who cosponsored the residency together with the park. One member, Pat Frolander, (back row, lavender sweater) also worked at the park and served as my liaison, graciously greeting me when I arrived in Wyoming on the heels of an early winter storm.

Pat lives on a ranch in Sundance, Wyoming and writes poetry. Real poetry. A couple posts ago I shared my feeble attempt at poetry during the Landscape & Literature of the Horse Retreat I attended back in June at the Vee Bar Ranch west of Laramie. (Okay, yes, I feel drawn to Wyoming and use any excuse to venture westward!)

I'll be the first to admit, however, there's a difference between Pat's poetry and mine. In fact, Pat's poem "Denial" was recognized in June by Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate 2004-2006, in the American Life in Poetry. With Pat's permission, here is her poem:

Denial

He called it "his ranch,"
yet each winter day found her beside him
feeding hay to hungry cows.

In summer heat
you would find her in the hayfield--
cutting, raking, baling, stacking.

In between she kept the books,
cooked, cleaned
laundered, fed bum lambs.

Garden rows straight,
canned jars of food
lined cellar walls.

Then she died.
I asked him how he would manage.
"Just like I always have," he said.

Amazing! Through a minimal amount of words I can picture each decade of this woman's life. Anyway, Pat shared her good news with me earlier this week, and I felt it was worthy to pass on. If you by chance pick up a copy of Grassland Genealogy (Finishing Line Press, 2009) you will see that Pat's writing style is in one sense heartwarming, like "Requiem In Lace", and in another sense frank and forthright, such as "Wringer Washer", a short poem that speaks of a woman's tenacity. Pat shares a way of life in the contemporary west through fragmented sentences and rhymes that speak to the heart and draws the reader to her spirit.

As we all know, one of the best things in attending writers events is connecting with other writers. And sometimes the 'connecting' goes deeper than we first realize. Like finding out Page Lambert, the author/speaker who facilitated the retreat I attended in June, is a former member of the Bearlodge Writers and helped found the residency...and happens to be a good friend of Pat's.

Maybe as our world gets smaller (as it sure seems to!) Wyoming will get closer to Minnesota and I won't have so far to drive next time!
Barbara

(*Group photo is by Alice Liles, Muleshoe, TX; Landscape & Literature of the Horse Retreat, 2010)

Seconds Matter

2010-07-04T14:37:00.000-06:00

Those who live in or near my hometown of Wadena, a picturesque farming community in north-central Minnesota, are familiar with the neat yards and tree-lined boulevards, similar to many other Midwestern towns. That all changed on Thursday, June 17th, when an F4 tornado ripped through Wadena. The tornado hit with such ferocity that it destroyed a good portion of the town in a matter of seconds.

Thankfully there was enough time to send out warnings for residents to take cover, including my relatives who still live there. My sister's home was only two houses away from the tornado's path, yet hers had no damage. My brother was a patient in the Tri-County Hospital and he was escorted to an underground tunnel for safety.

In the southwest section of town--my old neighborhood--over two hundred homes were damaged or destroyed. Stately oak trees that stood for generations in the cemetery were uprooted or twisted off at the base. The county fairgrounds, complete with century-old buildings and beautiful trees was devastated. The municipal pool--by far the most popular spot all summer--was in ruins. Sections of the community center and agriculture building were wrapped around other business, literally ripped from the foundation and swept away. School buses and rail cars were tossed around like toothpicks.

The high school (senior high, junior high, and district office) had the roof ripped off and authorities later found the building had started to crumble. Plans were in place for an all-school reunion the following day, which would have meant many more people in the school. It was eerie to walk down a street a block from where I grew up that was unrecognizable. Trees my dad planted (bottom left photo) in our back yard were toppled.

The outpouring of help has been incredible. First responders and volunteers came to help from communities statewide. Wadena will rebuild, much the same as other communities that have been hit by a devastating force of nature. That's when we realize it is the people who are at the heart of each town--big or little--who make the difference, reaching out, helping each other across this great nation of ours.

So on this Fourth of July it seems all the more appropriate to give thanks to our military friends and families who dedicate their lives and sacrifice more than we'll ever know in the name of freedom. I'm thankful to live a country with God and freedom at our very core . . . and I'm thankful for the type of upbringing I had in a small town like Wadena.

Happy Fourth of July to all,
Barbara

Vee Bar Highlights

2010-06-27T13:52:00.000-06:00

Howdy! (FYI, that's how you greet someone in Wyoming.)

Let me backtrack for just a minute...last Christmas I received a beautiful travel journal from our daughter Summer & her husband, Grant. Knowing I was already registered for the Literature and Landscape Retreat at the Vee Bar Ranch in Wyoming, I saved the journal specifically for my trip west.

Right after returning home from Wyoming, however, I had a chain reaction of events that kept me from having access to my computer, subsequently delaying any posts or making a fun photoshow, like Page, Jenny and Alice did. And now, since a whole month has passed, I thought the best way to share the experience is to simply make a list of some of the highlights. (My new journal even had a space to record the highlights!)

Day 1 - listening to the rushing of the Little Laramie Creek & the birds singing, watching the sun going down--all from the Adirondack chair on my front porch, with a glass of wine in hand.

Day 2 - watching the wranglers--Tommy, Darcy, Dave, Connor, Brent--bring in the whole herd of 60 horses from the pasture to the corral

Day 3 - riding bareback on Jello with Tommy telling stories; the beauty of the Little Laramie River Valley in every direction

Day 4 - a few, brief moments where I felt like I belonged in the saddle with Lollipop!

Day 5 - writing the poem, Little Laramie

Day 6 - view from the camp up on Centennial Ridge at the neighboring Deerwood Ranch, about 9,700 feet elevation

Added to that were all the nice people I met, sixteen writers from all over the US and two from Canada, plus Page and Sheri who facilitated the retreat, and all the wonderful staff at the Vee Bar. As I get back on track here at home and relive some of my thoughts from Wyoming, I'll share more about this unique experience.

Blessings,
Barbara

Little Laramie

2010-06-06T18:56:00.001-06:00

It was a long drive out to the Vee Bar Ranch west of Laramie, but the entirety of the experience was well worth it. I have many fun and wonderful things to share about the Vee Bar staff, the other writers/riders I met, and the adventures of a greenhorn (that would be me!) riding horse in Wyoming . . . but I'm simply too tired tonight.

I got home from Wyoming at 1 a.m. Friday morning, only to leave Friday afternoon for a weekend camping trip with the hubby to entertain some of his employees with a BBQ Saturday evening. So tonight I'm simply going to share a poem (keep in mind, I really don't write poetry!) from an afternoon in the Adirondack chair in front of my cabin, not five yards from the Little Laramie River, still swollen and rushing with winter's snows and spring rains.

Little Laramie

Little Laramie, where you oft' to girl?
In such a big hurry, your brown water a'swirl.
'Round each crooked bend you go,
Splashin' and rollin' over rocks and stones.

Are you lookin' for your sister?
The Big Laramie, or where she might be?
Maybe she's over that mountain or across that next ridge.
Perhaps farther west, where so many hearts are called.

Keep on rushing, Little Laramie.
Under the light of sun, stars, or moon.
May you find your way through this valley, long through it is.

I too am on a journey in life.
A little unsure the path the Creator has planned.
So I'll listen to your pretty music outside my door,
And wonder . . . will the answer come tonight.

More to come later!
Barbara

Literature & Landscape of the Horse Retreat

2010-05-20T08:50:00.000-06:00

A week from today I'll be grabbing my cowboy hat and boots (and my little horse buddy Rio) and headin' west to attend Page Lambert's writers' retreat on a guest ranch near Laramie, Wyoming. For the past 21 years I've lived in the suburbs of Minneapolis, surrounded by strip malls and giant box-retailers, working either FT or PT, raising a blended family of six kids. Ten years ago I decided it was time to pursue my lifelong dream--writing--and stayed up late nights to make it happen. While writing both Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche and Seeds of Salton, I had many opportunities to travel to Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas to do research . . . and found myself in love with The West.

When I won the residency at the Devils Tower in 2008, the week I spent at the park took me to a 'place' far beyond my expectations. Living/walking/breathing amid the whispering Ponderosa pines, the red sandstone buttes that shimmer in the afternoon sun, golden meadows filled with Western Wheatgrass, the winding Belle Fourche River--with time to write--made it a week I treasure more than almost any other.

I remember one afternoon in particular. I was on the Joyner Ridge Trail sitting with my back against the bark of a pine tree, the sun on my face, looking at the valley below, mesmerized by the view, amazed even by the grasses. Sitting there, journaling my thoughts, I was overwhelmed by the sense I belonged there, yet not understanding why the feeling was so strong.

This trip is neither a conference nor for research . . . the retreat is simply a gift to myself. This time I want to open my heart and mind and embrace all that the ranch and the retreat have to offer. I hope to learn more about horses, how to ride and trust a horse, to feel like I belong in the saddle. And in doing so, I hope to discover more of me. More of who I am and the woman God has called me to be. I know He's called me to write, but now I'm asking what if there's something more, something deeper, some thing undiscovered . . . waiting to surface given the right circumstances, timing, setting.

Onward . . . better yet, westward I go.
Barbara

Mother's Day

2010-04-29T11:33:00.000-06:00

As Mother's Day draws near and people are searching for the right gift, I have two books from the Cup of Comfort series and one titled Blessings for Mothers that may be just what you're looking for. They are all anthologies, with a collection of stories from various writers including myself.

A Cup of Comfort for Mothers & Sons is just that...a collection of stories written for mothers and sons. My story Some Distance Now Required shares a story about my son David at a time he changed from this 'sweet, affectionate little boy' to a 'standoffish young man' at the start of seventh grade. Needless to say, it caught me complete off-guard!

In A Cup of Comfort for Single Moms each submission shares a heartfelt story for single mothers. My story A Home Built for Three shares a time in my life when I purchased my first home. As a fairly new single parent this was our chance to establish a new 'home' after moving from Tennessee back to Minnesota when my daughters were only five and eight years old.

In Blessings for Mothers I wrote a story from the perspective of a step-mom when I married a man with three kids and we became a blended family of 'yours, mine, and ours.' Imagine taking six kids on a 27-hour drive from Minneapolis to Florida in an RV that "claimed" to sleep eight. I worried what those circumstances would unleash--especially with four teenage girls on board. Rather than arguments or complaints, our two week vacation went by smooth as silk, and today ten years later, all six kids enjoy reminiscing about that trip.

To say we've been blessed as a family is an understatement...

If you're interested in any of these books, send an email or give a call!

Blessings,

Barbara

The Cup of Comfort books are edited by Colleen Sell and published by Adams Media. Blessings for Mothers is from Regal Publishing.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/barbara.marshak

Time of Transition

2010-04-15T22:38:00.003-06:00

Today I finished my novel Seeds of Salton. I mean really, finished. The edits are complete; the manuscript is complete--Chapter One through Chapter 30. It's an odd feeling. After all, this is the story I've been involved with on an intimate basis nearly every day for the past three years. I know the very heart of my protaganist, Grady Kramer; I've felt his pain. My writing journey has included two trips to Eastern Montana and of course countless hours at my computer. That's why it's a little hard to let the book simply sit on the corner of my desk. I'm tempted to carry the manuscript with me everywhere I go, just to show people...look what I've accomplished; look what I've spent the last three years of my life doing.

And I do this because I love to write.
Seeds of Salton is in fact a beautifully moving story of courage, love, and the transforming power of forgiveness.

The book runs 370 pages in length, 97,000 words, (general fiction), and has been through a content edit and a minor copy edit with Susanne Lakin, an editor/author from San Jose, California. What I love about Susanne is that she "gets" my protaganist, Grady Kramer and the difficult relationship Grady has with his father, Frank Kramer.

But now comes a time of waiting...

...waiting for the right agent to act on behalf of Grady Kramer.

...waiting for a contract with a publisher.

In the mean time I need to keep writing. And fortunately I have another incredible story to write. It's a non-fiction project titled, Michigan and Rookie...Guardians of the Night, A remarkable story of a cop and his K-9 partner Rookie, dedicated to serving their community as the eyes and ears of the night.

More to come on that later...

Barbara

Synchronicity

2010-04-08T16:56:00.001-06:00

One of the workshop sessions I attended at the Northern Colorado Writers Conference in March was "Intimate Emotions, Universal Themes & Synchronicity" presented by author and writing coach Page Lambert. (By the way, Page's memoir "In Search of Kinship" was a Rocky Mountain bestseller and her novel "Shifting Stars" was a finalist for the Mountains and Plains Bookseller's Award.) In this workshop Page talked about some of the synchronicities that happened while writing "Shifting Stars", a book born from stories/memories surrounding her own grandmother. Page shared that she allowed herself to "become" her grandmother as she wrote, thinking, feeling as her grandmother might have, and in turn it brought deep, honest emotion to her character.

Page read from "Shifting Stars" using a distinct voice for each character. Her personal journey had many synchronicities--from choosing the title, to literal shifting stars, which referred to Haley's Comet crossing the sky above the plains in 1832, to a letter from her grandmother written in 1910 where she talked about seeing the comet, unbeknownst to Page beforehand, to the Native American phrase "shifting stars" which also references the comet. Truly an amazing example of generational synchronicities!

This theme struck a chord with me since I had recently written a short story about my Swedish great-grandparents who settled in Minnesota's wilderness in the 1860s, a heart-breaking story of tragedy and loss. Today I received notification that my short story "Prairie Promises" won First Place in the Talking Stick contest sponsored by the Jackpine Writers Bloc in Park Rapids, Minnesota, and will be published in Talking Stick-Volume 19, set for release in September. The reward for me comes as an affirmation for what we choose to write about.

Synchronicity...yes, I think I am familiar with it as well.

In seven weeks I'll be on my way to the Vee Bar Guest Ranch near Laramie, Wyoming to participate in the Literature & Landscape of the Horse, a retreat hosted by Page Lambert. I learned after signing up for this retreat that Page Lambert is a lifelong member of the the Bearlodge Writers group in Sundance, Wyoming. It just so happens that the Bearlodge Writers co-sponsor a residency together with the nearby Devils Tower National Park. In 2008 I won the residency, based on the opening pages of my manuscript "Seeds of Salton". When I spent my full week at the Devils Tower I had the distinct sense that my being in that very place to write that book was no accident. "Seeds of Salton" you see, is based on real people and real lives, and is set in the tiny town of Wibaux, Montana. Wibaux sits on the border of Montana and North Dakota, where long ago two of the famous cattlemen who settled that part of the open range were a couple of rough riders named Teddy Roosevelt and Pierre Wibaux. Teddy Roosevelt later became President of the United States and in that capacity established the first national monument in the country--the Devils Tower.

Hmmm. It's no wonder I look forward with great anticipation to Page Lambert's retreat in Wyoming. Who knows what other interesting synchronicities might come our way.

Barbara

Northern Colorado Writers Conference

2010-03-30T11:58:00.004-06:00

My good friend and writing buddy, Julie Saffrin, and I attended the Northern Colorado Writers Conference (NCWC) this past weekend in Fort Collins. We met lots of friendly writers--mostly all from Colorado--and connected with quite a few, collecting the usual array of author business cards and postcards. The workshops were helpful and enjoyable, like "Selling your book to film and television" with Ken Sherman, or "Intimate emotions, universal themes & synchronicity" with Page Lambert. It was fun to meet Page before I attend the "Landscape and Literature" retreat that she is hosting in Wyoming this May.

Kerrie Flanagan, Director of the NCWC, did an amazing job overseeing the many aspects of a large conference, and took care of everyone's needs with a smile on her face. The keynotes were great, starting with author/screenwriter Stephen Cannell on Friday, and Colorado author Todd Mitchell on Saturday.

I had a pitch session with agent Rachelle Gardner, which was my main reason for attending this particular conference. I think both my novel "Seeds of Salton" and my new nonfiction book "Michigan & Rookie" will appeal to a crossover audience. From what I've read about Rachelle I think she might have the ideal background for these types of stories. Time will tell... :)

Of course I love traveling west for any reason--and combining Colorado and writing makes it even better. Old Town Fort Collins had lots of cool shops and restaurants and we had a gorgeous view of the Rockies--that alone was worth the trip! The conference was held at the Hilton and I must say "Hilton" is the way to go--no more Motel 6's for me! :) I loved having four feather pillows on my bed!

Meanwhile, now it's time to get back to the new episodes for "Hidden Heritage" on RFD-TV and start on my book proposal for "Michigan and Rookie...Guardians of the Night." It seems I never run out of things to write, which is a good thing!

Barbara

2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest - Quarterfinals!!

2010-03-24T11:41:00.001-06:00

I, along with a thousand other writers, waited not-so-patiently yesterday for the posting of the quarterfinal entries. This is the stage in the contest where hopeful authors go down from 1,000 to 250. I won't say how many times I logged on to check the Amazon/abna website, but finally around ten o'clock central time zone, the list was posted.

My husband happened to be in my office when I scrolled the list (going alphabetical by last name), down through A, B, C...K, L, M...Ma and we both spotted it simultaneously:

Marshak, Barbara - Seeds of Salton (And both cheered simultaneously: Wha-hooh!)

It may or may not meaning anything to my career--time will tell--nonetheless it brings a good dose of encouragement as I prepare to head off to Colorado tomorrow for the Northern Colorado Writers Conference in Fort Collins.

Until the next round!
Barbara

Road Trip to Branson!

2010-03-17T20:34:00.003-06:00

As some of you may know already, Paul LaRoche and the Brule' gang are booked full-time in Branson, Missouri at the beautiful RFD-TV Theatre starting March 2010. Their extended concert run in Branson means they had to move from their home-base in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Branson. And while it might seem a bit strange for them to leave South Dakota, Paul and crew are thankful for a full-season performance schedule in one of America's most popular tourist stops.

Moving the entire Brule' entourage to Branson--which includes 18 people by the way--also means upcoming episodes for Hidden Heritage-The TV Series will be produced from their new home-base. When Paul asked me to come to Branson last week to assist with the interview for Episode #15, I said sure. Then I realized it was "off-season" and airfare to Branson was INSANE! So I called up my sister Norma and dared her to come on a roadtrip to Branson with me while she was still 69! (Her 70th birthday is March 22nd!) Being the good sport that she is, she signed up to go...and off we went. We didn't see much of Iowa either way since it was covered in thick, soupy fog that made driving quite stressful. Even worse, we drove 640 miles straight south to southern Missouri only to endure cold, misty, windy weather--so not fair!

Upon arriving in Branson, Norma and I were happy to discover a Panera next door to our hotel. Needless to say, we started every morning there! Branson was quite an interesting town, think Vegas/Orlando/Nashville. There were tons of theatres everywhere and I must say the RFD-TV Theatre was a beautiful facility, inside and out. The photo of the Brule' gang on the big marquee outside looked impressive--and should draw in a number of tourists with that alone.

Norma and I didn't have time to do much sight-seeing, after all I was there to work. The theme of Episode #15 is one where we feature a Native American hero story. This episode features Officer Joaquin Guerrero from Saginaw, Michigan, a Mexican Indian man just happens to have another incredible life story. Officer Guerrero created Precinct 131, a program designed for young children to say "no to guns, gangs, drugs, and violence." He has worked the night shift in Saginaw for 21 years and feels it's his calling to work the dangerous night streets. After meeting Joaquin, it is easy to see that he is a man with a very giving heart. A man whose life story--God willing--will be my next book. In fact, my working title is "Michigan and Rookie...Guardians of the Night", a remarkable story of a cop and his K-9 partner Rookie, dedicated to serving their community as the eyes and ears of the night.

It was fun to meet both Joaquin and Rookie and assist Paul and Shane with the interview process. I do know that you won't want to miss this episode of Hidden Heritage, scheduled for June 7, 2010 on RFD-TV.

I want to give a special "thank you" to my sister Norma for going with me on the roadtrip to Branson while she was still a young 69 years of age!
Barbara

What's Your Heritage?

2010-03-04T19:36:00.000-06:00

I thought about my heritage a few weeks ago when I wrote a short story for a contest sponsored by the Jackpine Writers group in Park Rapids, in northern Minnesota. The story needed to have a Minnesota connection, and since my hometown of Wadena is in that area I started to brainstorm, trying to think of something to write about.

Late one night when it was well below zero and a full moon lit up our snow covered back yard, I thought about the pioneers and the difficulties they must have experienced, coming to make a home in this “new land.” My great-grandparents, Charls and Carolina Veden, on my Dad’s side, emigrated from Sweden in 1858 and bought land in Chisago County near Lindstrom, where many Swedish immigrants settled.

Notes from our family history tell us that around 1870 Charls and Carolina bought 80 acres by Horse Head Lake in Ottertail County. Carolina was a midwife so many people turned to her for help. One winter night a family who had a house across the lake lost their home to a fire. They walked across the frozen lake in their bare feet and some of them were burned so badly they left a trail of flesh across the lake. Most of the family died from gangrene…except the youngest child who’d been carried. My great-grandfather built their coffins.

Around 1877 Charls and Carolina relocated again, this time near Wadena, in Compton Township of Ottertail County. Their son, Herbert, took over the family farm from them, followed by Herbert’s son, Percy, who was my dad. The Veden family farm is now operated by my nephew, the fifth generation of Vedens.

My short story, Prairie Promises, is a fictionalized version of that horrific event on Horse Head Lake back in 1870. Writing about that time period made me curious as to why people were compelled to leave their homeland. On my last trip to the library I picked up The Emigrant series by Vilhelm Moberg, a four-book account of the Swedish emigration to Minnesota, based on the fictional Karl Oskar Nilsson and his family. It’s a real-life look at a remarkable period in history, written with stunning detail and great humor.

So far I’m on Book #2 – Unto a Good Land and enjoying every page!
Barbara

Bloomington Writers Festival & Book Fair

2010-02-09T19:56:00.000-06:00

Once again I am going to take part in the Bloomington Writers' Festival & Book Fair held Saturday, Februrary 27, 2010 at the beautiful Bloomington Theatre & Art Center. The 7th annual event runs from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and features keynote speaker Cathy Wurzer, one of Minnesota's premiere journalists and host of "Morning Edition" on Minnesota Public Radio.

Workshops, panels, and the book fair run from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, with a variety of scheduled guest speakers, author readings, and writers' idea exchanges running throughout the day. More than 60 authors and resource people will be in attendance to discuss books and the publishing process.

It's the perfect place for people who love to read, write or talk about books to spend a winter Saturday. Admission for the book fair is FREE! Admission for keynote, workshops and panels is $10 each and preregistration is required.

Location: Bloomington Theatre & Art Center, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road
Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
For additional information, go to http://www.bloomingtonartcenter.com/ or call 952-563-8587.

I will have signed copies of Hidden Heritage...Story of Paul LaRoche, Brule' CDs and DVDs, my compiliation books, and photo greeting cards at my book table. Hope to see you there!

Barbara

It's the Cows!

2010-02-05T23:34:00.005-06:00

Not long ago I wrote a 'short-short' piece for a contest sponsored by MinnPost. The article or essay had to be about Minnesota and under 800 words. I pondered a few ideas and decided it was time to disclose a secret that until now I've only shared with close friends and family: I'm deathly afraid of cows. It's true. I equate cows with the likes of grizzly bears and mountain lions. So here's my story:

Head out along any rural roadway in Minnesota and you’ll most likely pass a herd of dairy cows or beef cattle. Poised sporadically across a serene pasture, tails swishing, munching summer grasses, they stand as still as a Norman Rockwell painting. A picturesque snapshot of bovine innocence…from a distance.

Be warned—it’s a façade. Those frightening four-leggeds are out to get me.

I know this because as soon as I get close enough, their big brown eyes stare into mine and a sinister sensation pulsates through me. The vibrations ripple through my heart like a pounding drum: I’m coming right for you!

I don’t have telepathic experiences with any other mammals in the animal kingdom, just cows. Well, and buffalo. I think it all started when I was sixteen and my older brother corralled me into helping him move cattle one fall. My parents were retired dairy farmers and had handed over the farm to my oldest brother. I was the “surprise” in the family…Baby Number Seven born when my mom was 49 and my dad 51. Even though we spent many weekends helping out on the farm, I was a town kid at heart and frightened of those big brown Herefords. Every time I neared the pasture, the entire herd charged toward the fence in a threatening posture, their brown eyes glaring right through me.

During the summer months the beef cattle grazed peacefully in the meadow, 240 acres that stretched along a lazy creek bed about a mile from the homestead. Before the snows hit it was crucial to bring the herd home in order to feed them through the harsh winter months. The cattle basically knew the routine, barnyard to meadow and back—or so my brother insisted—making it a simple task of directing them at certain turn points between.

It was a cool, gray November day when I found myself positioned next to the pickup at the exact spot the cattle needed to make a ninety-degree turn and cut through the field. “Just wave your arms and holler and they’ll head right for home,” my brother instructed, leaving me alone while he went to open the gate.

As the seconds ticked by I regretted my decision to help and longed for the safety of the paved streets in town instead of risking my life on a dead-end gravel road. It would be a dead-end all right, my own.

There was a slight rise in the road so my first and only clue in knowing the cows were heading in my direction was the brown cloud of dust and dirt that rose up, followed by the unmistakable sound of stampeding hooves. The thunderous roar of the approaching herd didn’t come close to the deafening sound of fear pounding in my chest. The tops of their heads appeared first as they came into view. It was my worst nightmare come true: a hundred head of Herefords descending on me at lightning speed. With every single set of brown eyes locked on my small frame, I did what every intelligent town kid would do and dove head first into the cab of the pick-up.

As best I can recall the nightmares started soon after. In some dreams two or three Holsteins are hiding around the corner of the house, waiting for me to come outside so they can attack. In another dream a single Hereford is in the house, hiding on the other side of the refrigerator, waiting for the right moment to charge. Even though I’ve lived in the suburbs for over twenty years, no place is safe.

It happened again this summer. My husband and I were riding his Harley through the scenic Wind Cave National Park in the Black Hills. I spotted the signs alerting visitors to watch for free-roaming bison in the park. Sure enough we came upon a large herd of buffalo that spread across the open range on both sides of the road. One big bull about twenty feet away lifted his head and stared straight at me. With his eyes locked on mine, his message came through loud and clear: I’m coming for you!

“Don’t stop!” I screamed, pounding my husband on the back.

Annoyed, he shouted back, “I’m only slowing down so I don’t hit one of them!”

Some people have gone so far as to imply that my fears are irrational, but I beg to disagree. This crippling fear that envelops me time after time is every bit real. I’ve concluded I must not be alone. After all, there are huge warning signs posted all over Minnesota roadways from some guy named Kemps: It’s the cows!

Don’t I know it.

NOTE: I should explain for any non-Minnesotans...Kemps is a popular brand of dairy products in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area. They advertise a wide variety of very clever ice cream flavors with loveable cows dressed to match each flavor, posted on eye-catching billboards along with their slogan: It's the cows! My husband has worked in the grocery business for over 30 years, so I was pleased that I could actually tie in my fear of cows with products from his supermarket shelves! :)

I sent this story to my penpal Amish sisters in northern Minnesota, knowing they'd get a kick out of it. Sure enough, every letter I get from them now has stickers of cows on the envelope and stationery. Cute, girls!

So that's my story...and I'm sticking to it!
Barbara

Good Things To Come

2010-01-27T20:58:00.005-06:00

I'm excited! Super excited, even. Do you want to know why? I have this sense of good things to come in 2010, more specifically in the first half of 2010...and here's why:

A) I entered Seeds of Salton in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest on the advice of my editor, Susanne Lakin, who entered one of her books last year. She made it to the top 100 (which is quite an accomplishment!), and had tons of fun connecting with other writers as the contest progressed. The contest is decided through four stages of elimination with the winner being announced June 10th.

B) I just registered for the Northern Colorado Writers Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, March 26 & 27, 2010. They have a great line-up of speakers, authors, agents, editors--the works, packed into a two-day conference. I'm really looking forward to attending a new conference, after having attended the Southern California Writers Conference (San Diego) in 2007 and 2008. Last year I was unable to make it to a conference and really missed it engaging with new writing friends. My plan is to drive, rather than fly, so I'll be praying for mild, sunny weather come March!

C) I also signed up for the (amazing!) Landscape and Literature writing retreat hosted by author Page Lambert at the Vee Bar Guest Ranch near Laramie, Wyoming. Actually a thought just occurred to me...maybe when I leave the NCWC conference in March, I should drive right to Laramie and park my car at the entrance to the Vee Bar and wait until May 29th when it starts! So yes, you can tell I am excited about spending five days in a creek-side mountain cabin, journaling, riding horse, talking writing, and finding that "voice" inside.

All of that only takes me to June. Who knows what could happen the rest of the year! :)

Barbara

The Great January Escape

2010-01-21T19:44:00.004-06:00

Like a lot of Minnesotans, hubby and I opted for a temporary escape from the cold and snow and headed south to the desert sun of Phoenix, Arizona. Our trip revolved mostly around family time. We stayed with John's mom and aunt in Phoenix, and also spent a relaxing day with our daughter Karli and her boyfriend Diego. We enjoyed browsing the shops in Old Town Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Fountain Hills, (although we both agreed it just wasn't the same in Fountain Hills without the big Arts & Crafts festival going and the live music of Brule'!) We also checked out the new Cardinals stadium in Glendale and looked at some new toy haulers at an RV show.

For once I didn't bring any manuscript pages to edit and instead scrounged for a book at Grandma's house and came up with "The Loop", by Nicholas Evans. The book turned out to be a great novel and I enjoyed having some quiet time to simply sit back and read. We thoroughly enjoyed our days of blue sky, warm sun, and the unique desert landscape.

Even though we were in Arizona, we watched the Minnesota Vikings game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. We were thrilled of course that the Vikings beat the Cowboys 34-3, but the best part was watching Brett Farve in the locker room after the game singing his own version of "pants on the ground, pants on the ground!" from last week's American Idol. Boys will be boys! :)

Come Tuesday it was a little disheartening when we descended through the clouds at the Minneapolis airport and saw nothing but gray. Gray sky. Gray snow. Gray pavement. Ugh.

So now it's time to get back to work. This week I'm writing a short story to enter in the Talking Stick contest sponsored by the Jackpine Writers group, I'm starting an article for the next issue of the Trinity Trumpet, and starting the outline for my agent chart.

Happy writing. Stay warm. Go Vikes!

Barbara

Artisan Dreams

2010-01-06T22:04:00.006-06:00

It's January...not only a brand new year, but a new decade. Everyone is talking and tweeting about New Year's resolutions: eat healthy, exercise more, set goals. For me, it's a time to look back and see how much I've accomplished in the past year and then set specific goals for the upcoming year.

In 2010 I plan to:

obtain an agent
send query letters
format an agent chart
choose a writer's conference
polish completed manuscript, Seeds of Salton
work through changes from copyedit
write...read...write...write more

From 2000 to 2010 I committed the full decade to my writing, and thankfully have much to show for ten years of work. While I want to continue my pursuits in prose, I recently decided I don't want to limit my creativity to a singular art form. For the first time I allowed myself to wonder if there are other artistic abilities hidden away, deep within me, just waiting to come out. My inspiration for this notion came during an episode of "Hidden Heritage" when host Paul LaRoche sat down with Native American recording artist Bill Miller as his guest.

I thought--mistakenly so--that Bill Miller was "just" a musician. He's a musician all right--a 2009 Grammy-nominated one at that, (for his album, Spirit Wind North.) I soon learned he is so much more. Check out his website http://www.billmillerarts.com/ and view firsthand the full array of his many amazing gifts and talents. As it states on his homepage, "Bill Miller is an award-winning recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, painter, and world-class accomplished flute player. Over the past four years, Miller has produced two incredible albums, received a Grammy Award and led Wisconsin’s La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a member of the League of American Orchestras."

I'm not fooling myself to believe that I have talents anywhere near the likes of Bill Miller, but in listening to him share his passion and ideas with Paul and seeing the beauty of his stunning artwork, it inspired me to consider what other art forms I might pursue. I've mentioned before that my husband and I are planning to list our house for sale and look for a place "in the country." I've already made up my mind I no longer want a home office--it sounds far too restricting, too confining...too much like "office work." My hope now is to have a loft or a studio, a place that will allow the creative juices to flow in multiple art forms.

Someday--maybe by the end of this decade--I can call myself an "artisan."

Here's to your dreams in 2010...and beyond.
Barbara

Christmas Wish List

2009-12-17T11:23:00.002-06:00

I found what I believe is the most perfect writing retreat--ever. (Or at least within my immediate reaches.) It's called "Explore the Literature and Landscape of the Horse", hosted by author and speaker Page Lambert this summer at the Vee Bar Guest Ranch in Wyoming. Each participant is paired up with a horse for the week and as the brochure states, "As we learn more about how a horse communicates with the world, we develop a deeper awareness of how we communicate with the world." I get goosebumps just thinking about it!

As someone who has lived in the suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul for the last 20 years, I can only imagine how engaging and life-changing an experience like this would be. My daily environment consists of strip malls, giant box retailers with giant paved parking lots, traffic lights, traffic congestion, and just plain traffic. This fall our suburb, which is on the outer fringe of the Twin Cities Metro, added two metro transit stations with daily bus service to the Twin Cities. I told my husband that was the last straw--it's time to get out.

Actually, we do plan to list our house for sale with hopes of moving to "the country", and we plan to keep an open mind for whatever opportunities come our way. In the mean time, I'll be dreaming about a cabin nestled along a rushing creek at the Vee Bar ranch, imagining what I can learn from a horse, as we spend 5 days "riding and writing" in the Snowy Range Mountains of Wyoming. And to think I'll have a real horse this time--not a little plastic one like I took to the Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch in September. (Although I have to admit, Rio and I did have a special time together.)

So yes, a week at the Vee Bar ranch with author Page Lambert and facilitator Sheri Griffith is at the top of my Christmas Wish List for 2009!

Barbara

Christmas--Celebrating the Joy of Faith and Family God's Way

2009-12-04T10:53:00.006-06:00

As I look out my office window this morning, the ground is covered in fresh white snow. It's only a dusting...tips of short green grass poke through, as though they're not ready to be hidden away for the long winter that we get to "enjoy" here in Minnesota.

Yes, it is December...the season of Christ's birth. For many it is a time of family get-togethers, of decorating the house in red and green, and gift-giving. If you are looking for a heartwarming and economical Christmas gift, consider the book, Christmas--Celebrating the Joy of Faith and Family God's Way, Whitestone Books, a collection of true and tender holiday stories. Each story is a real life reminder that Christmas truly begins in the loving heart of the Father.

A Christmas Bundle is one of my stories selected for the book and shares my unexpected arrival for my parents late in life. With a willingness and obedience to God, Jessie and Percy Veden selflessly accepted the responsibility of raising another child in their 50s, a time when most couples were in the twilight of their parenting years. In a small, rural farmhouse, they welcomed another baby into their simple home, placing the well-worn crib in the midst of the warm kitchen where Jessie spent most of her days.

Christmas-God's Way is available on my website on the Anthologies page. While you're there, check out the other compilation books such as Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Sons, Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers, Groovy Chicks' Road Trip to Love, and Finding and Following God's Will.

Christmas Blessings,

Barbara

November is National Adoption Month

2009-11-03T09:06:00.003-06:00

NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH, 2009- - - - - - -BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

"All children deserve a safe, loving family to protect and care for them. In America, thousands of young people are waiting for that opportunity. During National Adoption Month, we honor those families that have strengthened America through adoption, and we recommit to reducing the number of children awaiting adoption into loving families.

America is a country rich in resources and filled with countless caring men and women who hope to adopt. These individuals come from all walks of life, united in their commitment to love a child who is in need of the protective arms of a parent. We must do more to ensure that adoption is a viable option for them. By continually opening up the doors to adoption, and supporting full equality in adoption laws for all American families, we allow more children to find the permanent homes they yearn for and deserve."

Thus begins the formal presidential proclamation for National Adoption Month. May we take time this month to recognize individuals and couples who have adopted and raised children as their own. My sister adopted two children, Brian and Stephanie, and dedicated her time and love to raise them. My brother adopted two boys, David and Bruce, and I can't imagine our family without having known and loved these children.

When I wrote "Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche", the true story of a white couple who adopted an American Indian boy, I became intimately involved in the Summers-LaRoche family. Paul's story is inspiring and uplifting on both sides of the adoption coin...his adoptive home was warm and loving, and when he reunited with his birth family as an adult, he was embraced and welcomed back. His is a wonderful example of how adoption can and should work.

This month let us salute all the people and families who have given and shared love--the greatest gift of all--under the umbrella of adoption.

Blessings,
Barbara

Link to presidential proclamation: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamations-national-adoption-month

Planning, Progress, and Pay-off

2009-10-20T11:28:00.003-06:00

I finished the first draft of my current novel "Seeds of Salton" in two years, writing and working at a steady, sometimes-frenzied pace, all while keeping up with my home and part-time day-job. When I finished the last chapter this spring and read through the entire 356 pages I found myself face-to-face with the same question a lot of writers do: How do I turn this draft into a polished manuscript that I can present to agents or editors?

Like many I turned to the Internet to research my options, reading agent blogs and writers websites. I knew first-hand that writers conferences hold a wealth of helpful resources. In 2007 and 2008 I attended the Southern California Writer's Conference in San Diego, but I lacked the time and money to get to another one this fall. There were numerous editors-for-hire all over the web, but who could I trust?

To start, I turned to a writer friend who recommended editor and author Susanne Lakin in California. I contacted Susanne and we "hit it off" right from the start. I hired her to do a content edit of the manuscript, which she promptly did. She responded with many positive things to say about my writing and the manuscript, which gave me an enormous boost of confidence. In her eight-page critique she outlined my weaknesses in the premise and story arch. More importantly though, she offered suggestions on how to strengthen the manuscript in a way that made sense to me.

In the midst of working with Susanne, I attended "Story Mastery" with Michael Hauge, presented by the Midwest Fiction Writers & Screenwriters of Minnesota right near my home in Minneapolis. Michael's handouts included Key Story Component Breakdowns and a Six-Stage Plot Structure worksheet--exactly what I needed to fine-tune my own plot structure. What hit me even deeper, however, was how he presented the protagonist's character arch through "Identity and Essence" and the tug of war between the two.

Susanne Lakin also suggested I purchase the CD set for a seminar taught by T. Davis Bunn at the Mount Hermon Writer's Conference in 2009, titled "Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level," another wonderful seminar about story arch and character development. By this time everything began to "click" and I had a much clearer understanding of premise, tone, voice, and character development.

And then came the fun part! I did my best to take all these news helps and apply them to my manuscript. These past few weeks I've had a ball putting all that I've learned into action. I've cut pages, tightened paragraphs, and rewritten several scenes like there's no tomorrow. The pay-off is a much improved manuscript and a newly instilled confidence to go with it. I still plan to attend a national writer's conference this winter, but for now I am thankful for the opportunities that have crossed my path without having to leave home.

It's rewarding and uplifting to have people like Susanne, Michael and Davis who are willing to share their expertise with those of us on this journey to publication. Thank you, thank you!
Barbara

1st Place - Brainerd Writers Alliance Essay Contest

2009-10-07T20:42:00.005-06:00

As all writers know, the journey to publication has so many ups and downs it's like being on a never-ending rollercoaster ride. The struggles, the frustrations, the rejections can turn into a one-way ride down, plunging my unstable rollercoaster car toward the ground. Thankfully those moments don't come along too often, but when they do, they're ugly. I had one of those moments recently and wondered why we must endure these difficult, soul-searching "bumps" that want to literally throw us off the track.

This one lasted a couple days. I did some good soul-searching, dried my eyes, and went back to the computer. Later that day I received a phone call from Gary Midge with the Brainerd Writers Alliance telling me I won first place for my essay, "Under the Shadow of the Tower" in their 2009 writing contest. Wow...a much needed boost! And within minutes of Gary's call, I received an email from an editor in California, filled with wonderful words of encouragement and confidence in my writing...exactly what I needed to keep going.

So here I go with my rollercoaster car upright once again, up the slow and steady climb on the biggest and steepest hill of my journey to publication...clickety, clickety, clickety...working on the revisions of my novel, feeling the sense that something incredible is waiting for me just over the top of that next rise.

Chuck Swindoll once said, "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal."

Well, today my prayer is to keep my eyes on the goal--rather than the ups and downs of the journey--to obtain an agent and subsequent publication for my novel, Seeds of Salton.

"Raise your faith to trust God when you can't see around that corner," is another good quote from Chuck Swindoll, and most fitting!

Blessings, fellow writers,
Barbara

Me and Rio

2009-09-28T08:19:00.004-06:00

Yup, I saddled up little Rio last Monday and headed west. Luckily for Rio I found the Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch west of Medora, ND that has accommodations for both people AND horses, as you can see by the corrals there behind Rio.

When I checked in to the ranch Monday evening, the man working the bar/front desk asked if I had a horse. I said, "As a matter a fact I do!" and pulled little Rio out of my purse. He didn't seem to appreciate my humor, or maybe he'd had too many city slickers trying to act like rough riders, I'm not sure. Regardless, me and Rio settled into our room at the lodge. We had an incredible view of the North Dakota Badlands off the deck, which I can testify is amazingly beautiful at sunset.

Tuesday I drove over to Wibaux, hoping to do a little deeper research about the history of Wibaux and the cattle ranchers of the 1880s, including the town's founder, Pierre Wibaux. At one time Pierre Wibaux owned more cattle than any other individual in the world! He was a true cattle baron and had friends like Teddy Roosevelt and Marquis de Mores. I roamed the sections roads for awhile, admiring the quiet beauty of eastern Montana's rolling land, spent time in the library, and had lunch at the Shamrock, downtown Wibaux.

On Wednesday I drove to Medora, the quaint little tourist town on the edge of the North Dakota Badlands, where the entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park sits. On the 36-mile loop through the park there are numerous overlooks with incredible views, ones that give you a sense for how it looked a century or two ago. There are wild horses and buffalo herds, antelope, whitetail, muleys...plenty of western inspiration to stir the imagination.

I asked Rio if he wanted to stay there, but he was a little intimidated by the size of the wild horses and opted to come home with me. So now the real work begins!!

Giddy-yup!

Defeat of Jesse James Days - Northfield, MN

2009-09-11T08:23:00.002-06:00

If anyone is looking for something fun to do this weekend, take a short drive to the beautiful river town of Northfield for the "Defeat of Jesse James Days" Celebration. The weekend is chock-full of festivities in the historic downtown--everything from re-enactments of the famous shootout to a PRCA Professional Rodeo, a parade, craft show and much more.

I will have a booth with the FINE ARTS & CRAFT FESTIVAL along the picturesque river walk, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with copies of "Hidden Heritage", Brule' CDs and DVDs, and my photo greeting cards, plus copies of my compilation books: Cup of Comfort for Single Moms, Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Sons, Celebrating Christmas God's Way, Finding and Following God's Will, and Groovy Chicks' Road Trip to Love.

Please stop by and say hello!
Barbara

Hidden Heritage TV Show Premieres on RFD-TV!

2009-08-21T09:15:00.005-06:00

Exciting news!!

HIDDEN HERITAGE premiere episode to air on
RFD-TV Monday, August 31, 2009 – 8:30 p.m. CT

The first episode titled “Hidden Heritage—The Pilot” will air Monday, August 31st, at 8:30 pm, CT. New episodes will follow each Monday thereafter with topics that include Mount Rushmore and Park Superintendent Gerard Baker, The Elders, Circle of Celebration—Lower Brule Pow Wow and Tribal Farm, Rez Ride 2009, Arts of the Indigenous, Sacred Sites—Bear Butte, Native Wisdom—Lakota Concepts, The Music of Brulé and Friends.

Each episode will air at Monday, 8:30 pm; Tuesday 10:30 am; and Wednesday, 7:30 am, central time zone. The television show follows Paul’s journey into Native America and is based on the book Hidden Heritage by Barbara Marshak.

Paul LaRoche, a/k/a Brulé, is an award-wining Native American recording artist from Minnesota. Adopted at birth, he didn’t discover his Lakota heritage until he was 38. Paul and his band, AIRO, (American Indian Rock Opera) have sold over a million CDs worldwide and earned seven Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs) since 2002.

Locally the network can be found on:
Charter Cable – channel 138
DIRECTV – channel 345 (basic package & family pack)
DISH Network – channel 231
For further listing information, go to http://www.rfdtv.com/, Rural America’s Most Important Network.

Producer: Paul LaRoche

Director: Shane LaRoche

Writer: Barbara Marshak

Filming "Hidden Heritage" for RFD-TV

2009-08-08T21:45:00.003-06:00

Yes, believe it or not filming has begun!

We were fortunate to join Paul LaRoche in South Dakota last month for a weekend of filming for the new television series that will premiere on RFD-TV in September 2009. We filmed part of Episode #5, titled "Rez Ride 2009"...and hope to make the motorcycle ride an annual event.

We started on the popular Iron Mountain Road in the southern portion of the Black Hills that has framed tunnel views of Mount Rushmore in the distance. It's a very popular route for motorcycles especially...numerous hairpin turns, tight curves, pigtail curves, single lane tunnels--you name it, Iron Mountain Road has it all. Even though we were there two weeks prior to the Sturgis Bike Rally, there was plenty of motorcycle traffic through the hills. It was a little tricky filming on such a busy roadway, but our fabulous crew made it work nonetheless.

We had only 3 motorcycles...which proved to be just the right amount considering the traffic and other roadside challenges. Dan and Chris Kes, from Bloomington, Minnesota; John and Barbara Marshak, and Paul and Kathy LaRoche. Next up we rode north through Nemo and Vanocker Canyon to Bear Butte, the sacred Lakota mountain on the northeast side of Sturgis. The next day we headed south and west to the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Badlands, and the Wounded Knee Memorial. The timing was perfect...shortly after we arrived at the Wounded Knee Memorial, the 4th Annual Wounded Knee Memorial Bike Ride rolled in with about 65 bikes and a number of people waiting to see them. We stayed for the ceremony as the sun began to set on the prairie...a fitting end to the episode.

In fact, as we wrapped up our final shot, in the distance we a soft chant echoed down the hillside as the ceremony came to a close. It was that perfect moment, captured on film, that happens when you least expect it. We couldn't have timed it any better if we'd planned it. It was almost surreal. I'd like to think it's a sign of good things to come for our new television series.

I'll post details about the series premiere of "Hidden Heritage" on RFD-TV--America's most important rural network-- soon!

Until then,
Barbara

Graduation!

2009-06-20T08:24:00.003-06:00

Yeah! We made it through another high school graduation, our last in fact. Number 6 of 6! With ours being a blended family there was a bit of a gap between the older kids and David, our youngest. Like 9 years to be exact. So long I'd almost forgotten how to do a grad party! Nonetheless, we celebrated commencement on Friday, June 5th, 2009 with David and 410 graduates from Lakeville North High School. We had our open house celebration on Sunday, June 7th. Although the weather didn't cooperate at all--extremely cool & dark, looming clouds--we made the best of it.

As with many stages in life, we now look forward to the next phase...college. David has plans to attend North Dakota State University in Fargo to study Architecture. And for John and I, empty-nesters. It'll be the first time in our married life without any kids in the house.

And so it goes...another one of those life changes. For the first time in 26 years my life won't revolve around a school calendar. Rather than look behind and feel sadness, I look ahead with breathless anticipation of what God has in store. Right now I have three writing projects going simultaneously, each one amazing in story, depth and dimension.

So while I may have an empty nest, I do not have an empty desk!

Until next time,

Barbara

Working Weekend

2009-05-26T18:52:00.003-06:00

We had our first camping weekend of the summer this Memorial Weekend. It felt great to get outdoors and spend some time around a campfire again. We went to northern Minnesota with three other couples, just like we've done the past three years. Typically the focus of our weekend getaways is to ride Harleys (well, one couple has a Honda motorcycle) during the day and gather around the warmth of a campfire in the evening. (Actually the Honda guy brings the firewood, so we have to let him ride with the Harleys!)

I had a lot of writing to get done over the weekend, so I decided to stay back and write while the others went riding. It worked out really well and I was able to accomplish quite a bit...thanks to my helper, Abbie...our Golden Retriever. I think if she has her way, she'll be going with us every time!

Next on my mind is graduation...our youngest is graduating from Lakeville North High School is less than two weeks!

Barbara

Maui Shower Sponsors NASCAR

2009-05-12T09:08:00.002-06:00

I had a fun project to work on last week. A family from our church has a business called Maui Shower, a mobile shower facility in a bright yellow-and-orange semi that they take to large-scale events like NASCAR where thousands of campers are in need of showers. Maui Shower is now in their fifth year of business and they have four semis that travel all across the United States.

The owners, Tim and Sam Watts, (father and son), were pretty excited to have an opportunity to sponsor a couple drivers at Talladega Superspeedway a couple weeks ago. I wrote a press release for them and thought I would share it here:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Minneapolis, Minnesota –
The Maui Shower Company teamed up with Tonya McCallister and McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) to sponsor drivers at Talladega Superspeedway, April 24-26, 2009. In a show of support to NASCAR and the sport of racing, Maui Shower went 3-for-3, sponsoring drivers in all three events.

Sponsorship started Friday night at the ARCA series when Maui Shower took an ad on the side of Grant Enfinger’s #83 red Chevrolet. Enfinger started in the 8th position—his second start of the season—and finished 3rd, after a wild race with five cautions. Tonya and MPM took it to the next level, bringing Maui Shower a sponsorship opportunity with Joe Nemechek in both the Nationwide and Cup series.
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY - NATIONWIDE SERIES: On Saturday, April 25, 2009, Maui Shower sponsored driver Joe Nemechek. The Maui Shower logo dazzled bright and bold on the front hood of his yellow Chevrolet Impala SS throughout the race. Driving #87, Nemechek started in 19th position and stayed clear of trouble to finish 11th in the Aaron’s 312. Television coverage was provided by ABC Sports, giving Maui Shower great national exposure.

TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY - SPRING CUP SERIES: On Sunday, April 26, 2009, the Maui Shower logo splashed across the front hood of Joe Nemechek’s #87 Toyota Camry. The highly visible spot throughout the four-hour race earned a 25-second mention by FOX Broadcasters. Nemechek started the Aaron’s 499 in the 17th spot and avoided two major crashes to finish with a season’s best at 14th .

Working in conjunction with McCallister Precision Marketing, Maui Showers is committed to the sport of racing. Look for the Maui Shower trailers on the infield at future NASCAR events throughout the 2009 season.

Contact: Tim Watts, CEO President
Sam Watts, Vice President
Maui Shower Company

952-641-6000

http://www.mauishower.com/

Sleetmagazine.com

2009-04-24T08:41:00.002-06:00

Flash News!

There's a brand new online literary journal created right here in hidden Twin Cities literary circles, called Sleet Magazine. The first issue was released in April with three categories, Poetry, Fiction, and Flash. The staff includes Susan Solommon, Editor, Nate Thomas, Poetry Editor, and Kathleen McEathron and TJ Kampa.

My short story, One More Chance, was selected as one of three fiction pieces for the first issue. Check it out at Sleetmagazine.com, Current Issue, Fiction. By the way they are currently accepting submissions in all three categories for their Fall 2009 issue.

On a side note, it was 85 beautiful degrees in the Twin Cities yesterday. Wonderful!
Blessings to all,
Barbara

Brule' Concert in Willmar

2009-04-19T21:50:00.003-06:00

This past Thursday, April 16th, John and I were once again treated to an amazing performance by the Brule'/AIRO gang. Paul LaRoche continually finds ways to improve his concerts, bringing in new dancers and drummers, adding a story or new song, and sometimes he simply hooks us all with a good old fashioned joke. Altogether it really defines the direction he is going...all the way to the top!

This spring Brule'/AIRO has been on a tour sponsored by DMM Productions with several stops in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In reading the message board on the Brule' website, it's evident that scores of people are thrilled to see them in person, right in our own backyards.

The reason hubby and I chose the Willmar stop is because John's stepmom, Lorraine Majchrzak, lives near by. She has followed the Brule' journey along with us and never thought she'd get to see them in person. I was a little hesitant because at 84 years of age, I didn't know if she'd be bothered by the pounding drums or loud music. Not to worry, she loved every minute of it, completely enthralled with the dancers.

This summer it will be 10 years since we first saw Paul performing on the sidewalk in front of the Buffalo Stockade in downtown Deadwood. It's amazing to think all that has transpired since then, fulfilling my dream to be an author. I never fully understood why God chose Paul's story for me to write, it's simply one of those "trust & faith" things that comes along in life, sometimes when you least expect it. Needless to say, it's been an incredible journey and opened so many doors. And what's especially neat is knowing the journey isn't over.

Right now Paul and I are taking the Hidden Heritage story to a new format...television. More on that to come...

Blessings,
Barbara

A Word of Advice for Freelance Writers

2009-04-02T09:24:00.006-06:00

As we all know it's rather amazing what we can find out by doing searches on the internet these days. Recently I was amazed to discover two stories I had written nearly four years ago were published---and I had never been informed or paid! It all started when I decided to Goggle my name to see if Hidden Heritage was included in the class-action lawsuit against Google Books. The book cover and information came up, however the contents were not uploaded.

As I continued looking through the list of books that came up with my name search, I found several stories I had written for different anthologies, such as the Cup of Comfort series. Then I noticed two stories that I'd written but as far as I knew had never been published. One was titled, Second Blessings, shown in a book called Blessings for Mothers by Regal Books, and A Guide for Life was listed in The Bad Hair Day Book by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson. Both had publication dates of 2006.

Needless to say I immediately checked my submission records from 2005 and found both stories had been submitted to a "middle-man" type editorial company that worked with inspirational publishers. From what I could tell he collected and edited stories for a themed project and then sold the entire contents to a publisher as a package deal. I contacted both publishers who directed me to this person. My purpose in sharing this information is not to "bad-mouth" him or his business...I was told he went through a "perfect storm " of changes and events that caused the breakdown in connecting with all the authors. Regardless, it took a full month after my initial query and further prompting on my part to get a resolution.

It's a lesson I think many freelance writers can learn from. Keep good records and take the time to search your name and articles/stories by title. You never know what you might discover!

Blessings,

Barbara

Mexico Amigas and Amish Sisters

2009-02-12T16:59:00.003-06:00

Another Minnesota February means cold nights, cloudy days, and a recent rain that turned the snow into a dirty drab landscape. Even though it is tempting to not leave the comforts of home, I am thankful we have reached beyond our four walls and made connections to those in other cultures. For the past several years our family has participated in a short-term mission trip to Central Mexico through our church, Trinity Evangelical Free Church, in Lakeville, Minnesota. Last week my husband John and son David traveled to Iguala, Guerrero, in central Mexico along with 21 others to help Paul and Teresa Stillwell and Missions to Latin America. This is a construction-type mission trip and their team mixed 75 tons of cement by hand in just four days. Four long days, according to hubby. Because wood is so expensive in Mexico, most building are made with concrete. The team did a roof pour on two small churches in Igaula and a small addition to the Sunday School room at Paul's church in nearby Tepecoa. I've gone with John twice before and it truly is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. The people in Mexico are so appreciative and thankful their American amigos have come to help, yet somehow we come home far more blessed. David really came into his element as a young man this year (according to dad) and says he wouldn't miss it for the world.

Meanwhile, awhile back I made friends with two Amish sisters who were selling homemade baskets one cold December day at the Dairy Queen in Staples, Minnesota. I stopped to buy their baskets and made time to visit with the girls before I hopped back in my warm car. As I resumed my drive back to the Twin Cities, I knew their horse and buggy offered no such break from the cold! I planned to use the baskets as a display for my photo cards whenever I had a book or speaking event. After the next book festival, I sent a couple pictures to the girls so they could see how I'd used their baskets and sent a letter with the photos. The sisters were so happy to hear from me, they immediately wrote back, and we are now best friends. For the past year we've been exchanging letters and little gifts back and forth. It's funny, in this day and age where texting and cell phones, facebook and email are the norm, I've rather enjoyed our old-fashioned letter writing.

So...here's to our amigos in Mexico and my Amish friends "up north", I send blessings and love,
Barbara

Devils Tower Storybox Essay

2009-01-22T09:33:00.005-06:00

As part of my residency at the Devils Tower, I was asked to submit an essay to the Tower Storybox answering the question, "What does the Tower mean to you?" This past week I was fortunate to attend the third annual writers retreat up north near Perham at a quaint little cabin on Dead Lake, hosted by author Julie Saffrin. Each morning first thing I worked on my essay, basking in the memories from the Devils Tower park and my time there.

Under the Shadow of the Tower

October images one envisions across the Northern Plains often include machinery churning up dust in the fields, leaves turning brilliant golds and reds, crisp and crunching underfoot, a full Harvest moon, warm Indian summers. As I drove west from Minnesota into North Dakota I was met instead with strong, gusty winds and a mix of nasty sleet and rain pouring down in sheets. No warm autumn imagery to greet me on this trip. My destination was Wibaux, Montana, a tiny dot of a town on the Montana-North Dakota border to do research for my book on my way to the Devils Tower residency.

For three days I trudged the cold, wet Montana landscape to “discover” all things unique to that region…lava scoria covered buttes, crushed and poured on gravel roads, coal trains, loaded full and coming from the west, huge ranches measured and divided by section roads, iron hard land with eccentric-looking buttes and breaks. Having all those images fresh in mind I was ready for the next phase of my journey…the tower.

I awoke early Sunday morning to the thud of a large branch hitting my roof overhead and a foot of heavy, wet snow. All roads west were closed. Disappointment set in as I didn’t want to miss a single day. By one o’clock I decided travel southbound should be open and struck out on my own. Dark, gray skies hovered just above the roof of my car as I drove south from Medora on Highway 85, continuing into South Dakota. The buttes and craggy outlines of the rugged landscape on both sides were covered in a glistening white garment, as though elegantly dressed for a special occasion. Unusual sandstone formations looked like an enchanted castle, offering a mystical elegance to my drive. Each mile I was encompassed by breathtakingly beautiful scenery, a royal escort of sorts, my own anticipation growing.

Around five o’clock I made a stop in Belle Fourche and turned west into Wyoming, thankful the road was open and clear. The sky remained dark, the clouds seemingly too heavy to stay in place, descending now to the ground in a misty shroud. Dusk neared as I rounded the final curve past Hulett and I caught my first glimpse of the tower jutting above the hillside in the far distance. It caught my breath. As I neared, the clouds began to lift and the sun, setting now behind it, shone through the lifting haze, basking it in a golden backdrop. There it stood, large and tall, giving the aura of something special.

I settled in to my unit at the park as an invited guest, with the purpose to write. Each day as I walked the base of the tower, glancing upward every few steps, words like strong, mighty, and fortress came to mind. Standing in its shadow I felt an assurance that the tower was there not because of a random geological formation. The strength radiating from the cracked columns of stone call those who stand in its shadow to acknowledge the Creator’s unique design, formed like none other on the earth.

To further prove its reverence, the tower is harmoniously surrounded by equal beauty…the gentle meandering curves of the Belle Fourche River, the red sandstone buttes that shimmer in the afternoon sun, golden meadows filled with Needle and Thread Grass and Western Wheatgrass. Pockets of tall, majestic Ponderosa pines whisper in the wind, shedding a soft bed of pine needles that cover the ground for the creatures that wander the landscape, often hidden in their quiet steps.

I wondered how to answer the question…what does the tower mean to me? It meant I found a sense of belonging in a place that captivated my soul like no other. I sat at my desk, weaving the scenes from Wibaux into the pages of my manuscript, cognizant of the responsibility that comes with telling a true story. The book you see, shares a powerful story of forgiveness, a message relevant to many.

As I spent time on the Joyner Ridge Trail with my back leaned up against the smooth bark of a pine overlooking the valley below, the tower cut a distinctive shape against the blue sky as I reflected on my own dreams, hopes, and visions. The setting begged me to be still and listen to God’s voice echoing across the landscape, the voice of the Great Mystery, Wakan Tanka to the Lakota people who lived under the shadow of the tower for centuries and also declared it something special.

Suddenly I understood the connection between my setting and the message in the words I was writing…the One who created the earth and everything in it is the same One who grants forgiveness. I was given a most incredible gift…time under the shadow of the tower, blessed so richly by God.

The Year 2008

2008-12-29T09:27:00.002-06:00

I am one of those people that like to journal highlights throughout the year (and sometimes lowlights, although that's not nearly as much fun!) and later look back and reflect. Sometimes I am surprised...maybe I've forgotten a really cool thing that happened and it feels good to think about it again, other times I feel a bit sad knowing certain things haven't changed or improved, but most times I am overwhelmed with a sense of God's goodness, recognizing His Hand in specific circumstances that have no other explanation.

Back in January I had just started "Seeds of Salton"...I think I had the first 4 chapters written. As 2008 winds to a close I can say I am nearly finished with the entire book, all 27 chapters.

Here's the new tag line that sums up the story:
A powerful true story of a heart redeemed, a love restored, and the gripping journey to forgiveness between a son and his father.

Two writers retreats at Julie Saffrin's cabin gave me a great boost, followed up with the residency at the Devils Tower. It was incredible to have that much time to write on the heels of seeing Wibaux, Montana and Beach, North Dakota, where much of the book takes place. All in all, it helped me achieve what I set out to do after reading "Secret Life of Bees" back in January, that I needed to go deeper with this book because of the powerful message within.

One of the most critical scenes takes place in a logging camp in the Rocky Mountains through a flashback. I couldn't find anyone who could tell me details I needed in order to write the scene. I contacted a reporter, a resort owner, and a rancher in the Missoula/Potomoc area and couldn't come up with anything useful. I thought, well, at least I tried. A couple nights later the phone rang and it was the rancher's son. Turns out he was the best friend of the man in "Seeds" back in third grade and remembered the event specifically. He lives near the logging camp and knew all the details I was looking for, actually gave me more details and information than I'd even hoped for. Amazing.

Midway through the book I was trying to write a scene about the oil rigs in North Dakota. Me, being technically challenged, could not grasp the workings of an oil rig no matter how many times it was explained or how much I read. My brain can't think in terms of diesel engines, the Kelly, tripping pipe, tripping in, tripping out, a round-trip, the mouse hole, the rat hole, and have it all make sense. One day while flipping channels I saw an advertisement for a brand new show called "Black Gold"...all about oil rigs. There it was, in living color, in HD no less. I recorded the show and watched parts of it over & over until I finally gained a (partial!) grasp of how it all worked. Those are just a couple of the cool things that helped propel this book forward throughout the year.

Next up I will begin a search for an agent or publisher for "Seeds of Salton" and I'm excited to see where my search might lead. I also have a brand new project for 2009...another powerful true story of redemption. The working title is "The Redemption of 3743", a story of one man breaking free from the clutches of addiction and reclaiming his Karuk (northern California Native American tribe) heritage, another amazing life journey with a powerful message.

As 2008 winds to a close I can look back and feel good about all that has transpired, both personally in our home and family, and professionally in my writing. I look ahead to 2009 with the hope that always comes new a new year.

Happy New Year!
Barbara

Devils Tower National Monument Writer's Residency

2008-10-23T15:05:00.003-06:00

Where do I even start? This was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. I think it really hit me the second to last day. I'd taken a walk on the Joyner Ridge Trail, a beautiful hiking trail not far from the Tower. I walked about halfway and ended up sitting with my back against a Ponderosa Pine, the warm October sun in my face, big blue sky overhead, the Tower off to my left, pen and journal in hand...no sound except a gentle breeze whispering through the pines, just one example of the many ways God chose to bless my time there.

The trip started with three days of research in the Wibaux, Montana/Beach, North Dakota area, the main setting for my current project, Seeds of Salton. This book needs to have a gritty, western, rugged feel to it and seeing the iron hard land of that region in person really helped me work some of that into the manuscript, giving it much more authenticity.

From there I drove down through North and South Dakota, right at the tail end of an early snowstorm! Thankfully the roads were dry, and I found the snow covered buttes and breaks absolutely stunning the entire drive! When I turned west from Belle Fourche into Wyoming it was dusk, the clouds had started to dissipate, a little sun breaking through. I came around a curve and there it was...the tower, protruding above the hillside, the gray clouds hovering, giving the aura of something special.

And special it is. It lies at the edge of the beautiful Black Hills, near the winding Belle Fourche River, the red capped buttes here and there, the Ponderosa Pines. Beautiful. I feel drawn to this area, like I belong. In reality though, I was there to write. And write I did...morning 'til night, with only one stop for a walk each day. By the end of the week I was amazed how much I'd actually accomplished! As I packed to leave, I didn't feel sad the residency was ending. Instead, I felt blessed that my journey of writing Seeds of Salton continues forward.

I want to thank the Bearlodge Writers Group in Sundance, Wyoming who co-sponsor the residency. What a delightful group of dedicated writers and warm, friendly people! I also want to thank the staff at the Devils Tower National Monument for opening the park to writers in this fashion. This was such an absolute treasure of time!

Blessings,
Barbara

BRULE' Live at Mount Rushmore: Concert for Reconciliation of the Cultures

2008-09-26T08:39:00.002-06:00

GOOD NEWS...Twin Cities PBS, tpt 17, has scheduled the BRULE' LIVE AT MOUNT RUSHMORE: CONCERT FOR RECONCILIATION OF THE CULTURES to air on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.

As many of you know in July 2007 Paul LaRoche, aka Brule', and his Native American band AIRO performed the concert of his dreams at Mount Rushmore's majestic amphitheatre with over 11,000 in attendance. The concert has since been edited into a one-hour HD program designed specifically to air on PBS. South Dakota PBS has already aired the program and received wonderful reviews.

It's our hope now that it spreads all across the country...in September 2008 a digital feed containing the actual program was sent to all 220 stations across the country, along with a beautiful 3-page color attachment. The concert meets two important criteria for PBS schedulers on both cultural and educational levels. At the end of the program, 3 products are offered for viewers: "Live at Mount Rushmore: Concert for Reconciliation of the Cultures", the CD, the DVD, and the book, "Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche" by Barbara Marshak, Beaver's Pond Press, Minneapolis, MN.

If you are outside the Twin Cities area and would like to see the concert, feel free to contact your local PBS affiliate and ask them to air this program. On behalf of Paul, the Brule'/AIRO gang, and John and myself, we thank you in advance for your help!
Blessings,
Barbara

Iris Ink Creations now on Esty.com!

2008-08-16T08:55:00.002-06:00

Earlier this summer I signed up to have a vendor booth at the Eagan Arts Festival. In preparation I made up over 150 of my photo greeting cards to have on my tables, along side my books. Most of the cards I make are made with photos taken while doing research for "Hidden Heritage" and the proceeds go back to the Lower Brule Boys & Girls Club.

I also made up two sets with photos taken on our mission trips to Iguala, Mexico, and the proceeds from those cards go to support Latin America Missions, Paul & Theresa Stilwell, Iguala, Mexico. One set is from the Mississippi Headwaters in northern MN; proceeds go to the White Earth Boys & Girls Club.

Long story short...............I only sold one card at the festival and ended up with a crate full of cards in my closet! A friend suggested I post them for sale at www.etsy.com a website that features all homemade items for sale.

Mission accomplished this weekend! I created an account, IrisInkCreations and posted all 7 sets. Check it out if you or someone you know is looking for a gift idea!

Blessings,
Barbara

Beautiful Black Hills, Summer 2008

2008-08-07T10:04:00.002-06:00

I was fortunate to spend an amazing two weeks tucked in a quiet little campground along a lazy creek near Hill City, South Dakota, called Crooked Creek Campground. Honestly, I can't think of a better place to be in mid-summer. We had a wonderful vacation with a real mix of events: family, friends, Harley rides, cookouts, campfires, and more.

The real treasure in this type of a vacation though, comes in the setting. An amazing bold, full moon the weekend we arrived, lighting up the nights in a soft glow. Sitting around the campfire with our kids and good friends. The fresh pine scents and simple beauty of the hills. Harley rides through beautiful canyons, creeks and trickling waterfalls nearby. Pink patches of sweet clover poking their heads above the prairie grasses. Majestic giant thunderheads that filled the otherwise blue sky. Cathedrals of granite spires aimed heavenward. All of it brings a deep appreciation for a land once called Paha Sapa, to the Lakota people.

I came home with my spirit refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to dive in head first once again to my writing projects.
Blessings abound,
Barbara

Eagan Art Festival

2008-05-29T08:04:00.002-06:00

I'm excited to be part of the 14th Annual Eagan Art Festival on Saturday & Sunday, June 21 & 22, 2008 on the Eagan Community Center Festival Grounds. This is a large 2-day outdoor festival with crowds estimated at 5,000-7,000 people, featuring both fine and original handmade art, tasteful music and entertainment, art activities, and food--all in one easy-to-find location near Yankee Doodle & Pilot Knob, just north of I-35E.

If there are any Brule'/AIRO fans in attendance, I should have everything they could possibly want: copies of Hidden Heritage...the Story of Paul LaRoche, Brule'/AIRO CDs, the 2007 Holiday Concert Tour on DVD, plus the corresponding photo greeting cards with pictures from the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation & "Paha Sapa", the beautiful Black Hills, in South Dakota.

I will also bring copies of my compilation books, such as Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers, Cup of Comfort for Mothers & Sons, The Groovy Chicks' Roadtrip to Love, God's Way - Christmas, and Finding & Following God's Will.

Hubby John will be my assistant for the event. If you have time, please stop by & see us!
Barbara