Let's Give Them Somebody To Talk About-Christy Lashea

We all know people who have worked hard writing, who have finished manuscripts, who have taken classes, joined groups and have diligently pursued this publishing avenue. And we all know they are about 2 seconds away from getting that first contract otherwise known as 'The Call.'

Today our Somebody is---------------------------



Christy Lashea!

I met Christy at a GRW meeting. I firmly believe the meeting was orchestrated by God. I wasn't sitting where I usually sit, in the front of the room and I heard someone ask her what genre she wrote. She said inspirational and they led her over to me and introduced her. We've been fast friends ever since. This girl has a ton of talent and I can't wait for everyone to read the words she pens. I asked Christy a few questions.


Lindi: What genre(s) do you write?
Christy: Most of my manuscripts have been contemporary romance. However, my current work in progress is a historical romance set in 1903. I enjoy reading historical romance because I love that escape to a different place and time. I’m discovering a new voice for my characters as well as new adventures in this piece I’m writing. The story takes place in my hometown. I don’t need to travel too far for research, and I’m discovering the town’s history has magical qualities… or, the kind I’m making up .

Lindi: How long have you been writing?
Christy: When I was about 10, I became obsessed (well, that may be too dramatic) with Gone With the Wind. I loved the movie. I began collecting the large picture books that depicted the casting search for the actors. Scarlett, in my mind, is Vivien Leigh. I can’t imagine Scarlett having been played by any other actress. I feel the same about Rhett. Rhett is Clark Gable. With all of that being said, I wanted to create that kind of book. In my 10 year old mind, I thought if I sat down at my sweet Granny’s brown electric typewriter, that I could create some of the dream and magic that Margaret Mitchell did. What happened was I copied the first page of GWTW onto the typed pages. There was no original writing done back then.
In middle school (I loathed 7th grade) I began a murder mystery about 5 or 6 friends that had to solve the murder of one of their friends. (I was reading a lot of Christopher Pike novels back then, too). That was my first attempt at a contemporary story. I didn’t write anymore until my late twenties, when I discovered I loved reading so much (Thank you Nora Roberts, Luanne Rice, and Nicholas Sparks) that I wanted to write my own stories. Plus, I had scenes in my head that had to be told.


Lindi: Do you have an agent?
Christy: Not yet. I’m actively seeking 


Lindi: Do you enter contests-if no, why not? If yes, what is the most helpful aspect of entering contests?
Christy: Yes, I do enter contests. I’ve always been choosy about what contests to enter. I consider the status of the contest among writer communities. I also pay close attention to who the final round editor or agent will be. I’ve been impressed this last year how more CBA editors are the final round judges. Now, we not only can attempt to get our work in front of Harlequin editors, specifically Love Inspired, but also large houses like Thomas Nelson and Bethany House. Very exciting!
The feedback I’ve received from contests has always been very useful.
I will say, it’s a hard pill to swallow if the feedback isn’t positive. Usually, I will put the comments away for a few weeks, then come back later and realize the judge was spot on. You have to have a thick skin to be in this business. Entering contests is one way to get tough.


Lindi: Do you attend writer’s conferences? If no, why not? If yes, why would you suggest conferences for authors who are seeking publication?
Christy: Yes, I attend conferences. I love going! I love writing and I love to talk about the craft with others and help motivate others to keep writing and keep working hard toward their dreams!
I don’t get to attend conferences as much as I would like. The 9-5 job that is a “must” to pay the bills and support my writing “habit” is an important thing that doesn’t allow me to be away a lot. Also, my children are still young and I find it’s harder to travel and leave them behind. My husband and our parents are very supportive, but I find that I have a better time if I am closer to home and choose local conferences to attend.
I always encourage new writers to attend any conferences they can. There are many one-day workshops out there. The wonderful thing about conferences – not only the workshops and teaching – but also the opportunity to sit down across from an editor or agent and pitch your novel! Meeting them in a conference setting is going to show them you’re serious about publication. It puts a face with that cover letter. It’s beyond a blind/boring query letter. If you’re serious about writing, do what you can to attend a conference.



Lindi: What is your favorite aspect of creating a novel. Character development or learning the story?
Christy: Hmmm…. Very good question. I love both aspects very much. I love to brainstorm and plan a story. The hard part is actually writing the scenes!! My stories usually begin with a character and an issue or situation. I find I have to be more structured that when I first started writing. I only write in snippets of time and I need a map to remember where I need to go. Initially, I would start with an idea and see where it took me, but then I found in the end I was all over the place. I believe my books are more character driven and I enjoy creating deeply wounded characters so they can have a happily ever after.


Lindi: Tell us something fun about you!
Christy: I love listening to music way too loud in the car. I jam out when I’m by myself. I love to sing and dance, although I don’t feel I do either very well. I sing to my children quite often and make up silly songs about them. I can’t stand to be tickled, although I love to laugh. I’m finding the best days of my life are right now. I know who I am, where I’m going and where I want to go. I’m not inundated with what someone thinks about me. I’m more confident than I’ve ever been. All of this is attributed to finally giving God the glory in all that I do. I became free when I realized His love for me. I hope one day the stories I write will serve and glorify Him, and will encourage others.

Christy: Lindi, Thanks so much for having me here today!! I love the themes you have going during the week. So fun!


Thank you for being here! Feel free to ask Christy a question or two. She'll be checking in.

Let's Give Them Somebody To Talk About-Dianna Shuford

We all know people who have worked hard writing, who have finished manuscripts, who have taken classes, joined groups and have diligently pursued this publishing avenue. And we all know they are about 2 seconds away from getting that first contract otherwise known as 'The Call.'

Today our Somebody is---------------------------





Dianna Shuford



I asked Dianna a few questions.

Lindi-- What genre(s) do you write?
Dianna---I primarily write Inspirational Romantic-Suspense and Speculative/Paranormal. I do have story ideas across genres, but I haven’t had the time to explore them. Working full time, running our family business and writing makes it necessary to focus on how to make the best use of the time I have for writing.

Lindi----How long have you been writing?
Dianna----The earliest I can remember writing is in middle school. I had poetry published in middle school and in high school. I discovered then that there is nothing like seeing your words, thoughts, work in print to share with any who cares to read it.
During college and my children’s younger years I still dabbled with my writing, but I didn’t get serious about pursuing possible publication until 2006. I prayed for God to grant me direction, and boy did He ever! He led me to an awesome group of writers, Georgia Romance Writers, and I have met my critique partner and other inspirational writers who have become mentors and role models in the writing industry for me.

Lindi---- Do you have an agent?
Dianna----I don’t have an agent. I have pitched to several agents and have outstanding requests that I’m working on meeting. I’ve discovered when pursuing publishing in the CBA market, it is beneficial to have an agent, especially if you can’t afford to attend the large national conferences every year.
I also view an agent as a necessary business partner because while I’ve focused on learning the art of writing, I don’t know very much about the business of writing. I would like to have someone there on my side to guide me in those unfamiliar waters when the time comes for the need to negotiate and sign that first contract.

Lindi---Do you enter contests- if no, why not? If yes, what is the most helpful aspect of entering contests?

Dianna---I do entered contests; however, I’ve learned to be selective in those contests I target. I base my decision on cost (whether I can afford it), who the initial judges may be (pubbed vs. unpubbed authors), and who the final judging editor/agents are (if I’m targeting that publishing house or literary agent). During the hard financial times everyone is experiencing right now, being selective is the way I stay within my budget.

Lindi---Do you attend writer’s conferences? If no, why not? If yes, why would you suggest conferences for authors who are Seeking publication?

Dianna--I love attending conferences. I always leave a conference feeling inspired, excited, and encouraged about my work. Conferences also provide the needed teachings and networking that help push a writing career forward. That being said, I’ve only attended one large national conference (ACFW 2010) because of the much larger cost involved, but there are many smaller conferences that are more cost effective that provide the same benefits even if it is on a smaller scale. Georgia Romance Writer’s Moonlight & Magnolias conference is one I try very hard to attend every year.

Lindi-- What is your favorite aspect of creating a novel? Character development or learning the story?
Dianna---I love brainstorming a new idea, watching the idea grow from a little spark to a full-fledged fire that burns into your creativity, a burn you can’t ignore. My critique partner and I brainstorm often, any time we hit a snag in either of our stories or when we are beginning a new story. (Laying that groundwork has become crucial as well.) Once the brainstorming is over, then it’s time to work at writing the draft, revising and editing. Not as much fun, but still worth it when the finished product sits before you.

Lindi---Tell us something fun about you!
Dianna---Fun? Hmmm…that’s a hard one. I don’t often think of myself as fun. Here goes…
* I love Sci-Fi. Not the scare-your-pants-off thriller kind of stuff, but the imagine the infinite possibilities stories. Star Trek is my favorite TV show, of course.
* I love Christian rap. My favorite kind of music.
* I love technology. My husband often buys me the latest gadget rather than jewelry as gifts. Last year, it was an e-reader, and the year before an iPod touch.
* I love helping other people whenever I can. I often have to put the brakes on because I tend to be overwhelmed with obligations from overcommitting myself.


Thanks, Dianna.

Dianna will be checking tonight if you have any comments or questions. We'd love to hear from you!!

Let's Give Them Somebody To Talk About-Melanie LeGrand

We all know people who have worked hard writing, who have finished manuscripts, who have taken classes, joined groups and have diligently pursued this publishing avenue. And we all know they are about 2 seconds away from getting that first contract otherwise known as 'The Call.'

Today our Somebody is---------------------------

Melanie LeGrand








1) What Genre to you write?

I tend to cross barriers in the area of genre. I am drawn to the drama and intensity of relationships in Women’s Fiction. It’s also important to me to include inspiration throughout my story, whether it is subtle or more involved and based on a specific Bible verse. Most of the books I recommend to others are stories that made me feel as though I took part in an uplifting experience along the way. Last but not least, I enjoy the challenge of portraying a romance in the making. Although it can be difficult to include all three of these elements in one story, it makes for a more enjoyable writing experience and journey for me.

2) How long have you been writing?

Writing has been a way for me to express my feelings for as long as I can remember. As a young child from a divorced family and then thrust into a blended family situation, I took to writing to help me work through my emotions. I wrote my first complete story in elementary school with my best friend providing the illustrations. We won first place in a school wide writing contest. At some point in time, the story got lost and I still wish I knew what became of it. I suspect it ended up with my friend from long ago. In high school I published my first poem. During my sophomore year in college, I met my husband through mutual friends. After our first date, I gave him a poem expressing the fun I had and my interest in doing it again. He claims it was one of the reasons he was brave enough to ask for a second date. On our first anniversary he gave me a beautiful wood writing box to keep my favorite notes, cards, and writing ideas. For many years the joy of writing also led me to create a small ministry of making homemade cards with uplifting messages, which I still do occasionally when I find the time. It wasn’t until three and half years ago that I began the process of writing my first novel. Once again, writing became a wonderful therapy for me as I went through several years of difficult circumstances. When you create a character that is hurting and needs to go through a healing process, it is amazing what it can do for your own heart.

3) Do you have an agent?

I am fortunate to have a wonderful agent who represents Inspirational Fiction. Her advice to significantly lower my word count made for a stronger, more interesting story, and I am glad I had her guidance. No longer bogged down by over descriptive words, phrases, and adjectives, I feel more confident knowing my work meets the requirement of word count for most publishers today. As an unpublished author trying to emerge into a very tight industry, I believe an agent is indispensable in bringing a new author’s work to the attention of the right publisher.

4) Do you enter contests-if no, why not. If yes, what is the most helpful aspect of entering contests.

I think contests can be beneficial if you find the right fit for your genre. Entering an inspirational women’s fiction manuscript with romantic elements will not do well in a single-title romance category (something I learned the hard way). Do your research. Find contests that offer a category for your specific work. I also suggest entering contests where reputable agents and editors contribute to the critique of the finalists. Be prepared for feedback that you may or may not agree with. Take what makes sense to you and learn and grow from it. Disregard anything that you do not agree with. These are simply opinions to help you, not to hurt you. That can be hard to remember when your work is torn to pieces but a complete stranger, but the key is to keep trying and improving. Never give up on your dream!

5) Do you attend writer’s conferences? If no, why not. If yes, why would you suggest conferences for authors who are seeking publication.

I wholeheartedly believe in attending writing conferences and workshops where you can meet other published and unpublished authors. Making contacts in the writing industry is vital. You never know, you might meet a wonderful friend in the process, which is exactly what happened to me when I attended my first RWA conference in Orlando in 2010. Conferences offer workshops that not only challenge you, but also help you take the next step toward publication. Writers are very open individuals—ready to share their journey, mistakes, pitfalls, and ready to offer feedback on ideas. It can be expensive, but classes and conferences within your local ACFW or RWA group can be less expensive. Budgeting for a National conference is a must at some point if you want to take your work to the next level. Your ultimate goal is to be published, and at conferences you can pitch your idea(s) to top professionals in the industry. What better way to get feedback and get your work out there?

6) What is your favorite aspect of creating a novel? Character development or learning the story?

I love every single aspect of writing. I love learning who my characters are and what story they have to tell. Character development and learning the story go hand in hand for me—they usually form simultaneously in my mind. I am big picture writer. I have to know where I’m going before I can begin, so all aspects of the story come rushing forth before I take it too far on paper. Once I have a good idea of the basics, I let my creativity take over. I try not to plan it too perfectly or I get bored and lose my connection to the characters and setting. I keep it interesting by not knowing every little scene or chapter up front. I let the characters tell me every day where we are going and how we are going to get there.

7) Tell us something fun about you!

I owned a gourmet pastry business for several years and love to bake. My specialty is cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter cheesecake, strawberry vanilla bean cheesecake . . . Mmmm, maybe I’ll have to head to the kitchen soon.

My love for baking made for a fun character in my first novel as she is a famous pastry chef in Chicago! ;-)



Thank you, Melanie. And readers, I've had the pleasure of being the recipient of Melanie's baking--O.M.!! Such sweetness-such deliciousness!!
Her sweets are as fabulous as her writing.

Let's Give Them Somebody To Talk About-Walt Mussell

We all know people who have worked hard writing, who have finished manuscripts, who have taken classes, joined groups and have diligently pursued this publishing avenue. And we all know they are about 2 seconds away from getting that first contract otherwise known as 'The Call.'

Today our Somebody is---------------------------

Walt Mussell

Walt has written an amazing novel titled The Samurai's Heart. I've had the pleasure of reading it, and let me just say it's an amazing journey!
(This is a respost of from the F.A.I.T.H. blog, but Walt is such a great guy and this book is so awesome, I wanted him over here as well!--and this feature was perfect!!)

Lindi: Tell us a little about your manuscript.

Walt: My manuscript is the first of a trilogy set in 16th century Japan. However, though there will be characters and a plot line that runs through all three books, a reader won’t need to have read one book to be able to understand the next one.


The first story, the one that won the Maggie, is called The Samurai’s Heart. The heroine, Sen Goami, returns to her hometown after ten years away. However, the homecoming is a sad one as it’s marred by the news of the deaths of her elder sister and her husband. As the remaining child, Sen must now find a man willing to marry into her family’s swordsmith business.


The hero, Nobuhiro Tokoda, is the prodigal third son of a high-level retainer at Himeji Castle. Born with a limp that made training to be a samurai impossible and faced with a harsh father, Nobuhiro leaves the castle and apprentices himself to a swordsmith, the heroine’s father. Through this honorable trade, Nobuhiro hopes to prove his worth to his father.

Nobuhiro would seem to be the ideal husband for Sen and her parents press the issue. However, during her time away, Sen became a Christian and seeks a Christian husband, a task made difficult as Christianity has been banned. For Nobuhiro, Christianity is dangerous as it caused the death of his best friend and would prevent any hope of reconciliation with his family.


Books 2 and 3, called The Samurai’s Soul and The Samurai’s Strength, take place in Osaka and Kyoto. Book 2 takes one of my favorite passages from Acts and places it in a Japanese context. Book 3 weaves two piece of Japanese history and addresses a “what if” question that fascinates me. I hope it all works.


Lindi: When did you first discover your love of history?

Walt: Elementary school. I read a lot of American history back then and begged my parents to take me to places like Williamsburg and Yorktown. As I got older, I became fascinated with British history and the Vikings. (I particularly like the Vikings. Why I don’t know?)

When I moved to Japan in the early 90s, I went more for business reasons and because I’d acquired an interest in Japan overall. However, I fell in love with the history of the country after I got there.


Lindi: What do you like best about writing? Creating characters or developing the plot?

Walt: Plot. Most definitely plot. As I mentioned above, my stories are meant to be independent of each other. However, my trilogy has a number of items and individuals (under fictional names) that should be recognizable to a Japanese person or a student of Japanese history and hopefully add depth to the plot. My story is written with the idea of being able to translate it into Japanese.

My love of plot may explain why the first agent who requested a full on my story (over two years ago), rejected it saying that the characters didn’t capture her as she would have hoped. I’ve spent a lot time since that day working on characters, deep POV, and trying to better bring my reader into the story. Haywood Smith taught me some techniques for trying to bring out my characters better and then reviewed my first attempts. Camy Tang has done some wonderful posts on deep POV over on the Seekerville blog and these have also been helpful. I’ve learned a lot.


Lindi: How does it feel to be the minority at the writing meetings? :)

Walt: Still weird at times, though my wife would tell you that I probably like it that way. Wonderful people have gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable at meetings. At the same time, there’s a reason why kids aren’t allowed at meetings. What goes on there is a serious conversation about writing and trying to improve one’s craft. Writers can be shy. However, when it comes to a craft discussion, writers are definitely blunt. (It’s the only way to improve.) At the same time, the discussion is primarily from a female POV. Consequently, there are days when I do get embarrassed.

Oddly, though, I wonder if I don’t kill the conversation at times. No one has ever made me feel unwelcome. But, there are certain topics that women don’t discuss in front of men. There must be days like that.


I know a couple of fun things about Walt I'd like to share. One--he is terribly funny. He keeps us in stitches at times at our meetings. And second, Walt just won the Maggie Award of Excellence for The Samurai's Heart. The prize is a beautiful medallion. Walt said his wife is going to try to make it unto a tie clip. That's awesome!!

Thanks, Walt!!

Let's Give Them Somebody To Talk About-Mindy Obenhaus

We all know people who have worked hard writing, who have finished manuscripts, who have taken classes, joined groups and have diligently pursued this publishing avenue. And we all know they are about 2 seconds away from getting that first contract otherwise known as 'The Call.'

Today our Somebody is---------------------------

1. What genre(s) do you write?

Romance. I just gotta have that happily ever after. My first story, a 2010 Genesis finalist, was romantic suspense, but I think my heart tends to lean more toward straight romance.

2. How long have you been writing?

I penned my first story in the fourth grade, complete with Polaroid pictures. J After high school, I took a really long hiatus. However, the story engine didn’t stop. I was continually making up stories in my head. I just never wrote them down. In 2004, shortly before my youngest child started school, I decided the only way I was going to find out if I could write was to actually do it. I spent the next nine months—LOL! I just realized the timing. And it really was like birthing a child—penning my first novel. Later, when I joined a writers’ group, I learned what I really had was a bad first draft. The good news was I had done it. I had written an entire book. Now I just had to learn the craft of writing and fix what I had written. You can’t do that with a blank page.

3. Do you have an agent?

I do not have an agent.

4. Do you enter contests-if no, why not. If yes, what is the most helpful aspect of entering contests?

I do enter contests, though I tend to target those where the final-round judge is someone I really want to see my material. Even if my entry doesn’t make it to the final round, the feedback I receive from the fresh eyes of unknown judges is incredibly valuable. That doesn’t mean it might not sting. There were times I felt like I’d tangled with a hornets nest. However, after I settled down, many of the judges’ comments began to resonate with me and I realized they were right. LOL! Most recently, I had a judge tell me my story didn’t start until page eight. I thought they were crazy. I rewrote and rewrote and, ultimately, cut those first seven pages before I sent it off to the editor. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never say never.

5. Do you attend writer’s conferences? If no, why not. If yes, why would you suggest conferences for authors who are seeking publication?

I am a huge fan of writer’s conferences. Aside from the learning, you get to mingle with like-minded folks. Those who don’t look at you like you’re crazy when you tell them what your character revealed to you in your most recent conversation. J

Conferences give you valuable insight into the industry. Also, you often have the opportunity to meet with editors and agents, to develop a rapport as opposed to a blind query letter. Besides, conferences are just plain fun.

6. What is your favorite aspect of creating a novel? Character development or learning the story?

Good question. Probably learning the story. Since I tend to be a seat-of-the-pants writer, I love to be typing along and suddenly think, “Wow! I had no idea that was going to happen.”

7. Tell us something fun about you!

I’m not sure this can really be classified as fun but…have you ever stepped on a snake? A poisonous one at that. We were at our ranch. I stepped off of the porch—wearing shorts and tennis shoes with no-show socks—and a few steps into my departure I realized I was standing on something that wasn’t the ground. I looked down to discover I was standing on a copperhead.

It’s interesting how quickly our brains can process things. In the timeframe of a nanosecond, I thought, “Copperhead. Poisonous. This thing could rear back and bite me.” With those thoughts screaming through my brain, I shot straight up in air.

My husband, who had killed another copperhead earlier in the day, was right behind me going, “There’s its mate. Watch it while I get the shovel.”

My first thought was, “You watch the snake while I get the shovel.” Second thought, “What do you mean mate?” I later learned that copperheads usually travel in pairs. Yeah. Apparently he didn’t feel the need to share that bit of information with me earlier.

Thanks, Mindy.

Hmmm.. You see why these people are authors? I ask them to tell something fun about themselves and so far we have sitting on a cactus and stepping on a copperhead while its mate watched!! Can you say conflict?

Mindy will be stopping by if you have any questions!!

Let's Give Them Somebody To Talk About

We all know people who have worked hard writing, who have finished manuscripts, who have taken classes, joined groups and have diligently pursued this publishing avenue. And we all know they are about 2 seconds away from getting that first contract otherwise known as 'The Call.'

Today our Somebody is---------------------------

Ane Mulligan!

I asked Ane a few questions.

Lindi-What genre(s) do you write?
Ane--Southern-fried fiction ~ women's fiction with a side order of fried laughter

Lindi---How long have you been writing?
Ane-----Forever. LOL As a kid I did some, but being ADD long before it was ever known, I worked my stories out in elaborate play with my dolls. I'd make up stories that would take 2 or 3 weeks to play out. Each day was a new scene. Then in 1996, I wrote my first script and it was snapped up by LifeWay. My editor there bought everything I sent her. I turned to novels in 2003 and have 5 under my belt so far.


Lindi-----Do you have an agent?
Ane--------I do. I recently signed with Sandra Bishop of MacGregor Literary. I've had 2 agents prior to Sandra. The first and I parted ways on friendly terms, and the second one retired.


Lindi------ Do you enter contests-if no, why not. If yes, what is the most helpful aspect of entering contests.
Ane--------I have entered a lot of contests and the most helpful part is the hard judging. I've learned a ton. While some of the comments I didn't like at first, I've come to realize they are like readers once you're published. They don't have the benefit of your mind, so what they see is all they have. Their comments are usually pretty valid. One contest, though, I got a comment that at first I thought was totally off base. My protagonist was a lobbyist for a pro-family group. I had been a lobbyist for Christian Coalition, so I knew my career choice for my protag. The judge commented that she was too naïve to be a lobbyist. Huh? I was naïve when I started out, too. But I noodled on her comments, finally deciding to ignore them. After all, you want your protag to go against the norm.


Lindi-----Do you attend writer’s conferences? If no, why not. If yes, why would you suggest conferences for authors who are Seeking publication.
Ane-------Absolutely! I go to every single one I can afford to attend. Besides the great workshops, the networking is worth the money. Secondly, writing is such a lonely profession, and no one understands you like another writer. After all, they talk to imaginary people, too.
I would suggest conferences for those seeking publication because you get known by the industry professionals, which I believe helps. If Editor Jones gets 2 proposals n his desk, one from an unknown and one from you, who he has met and liked at a conference, and they are both equally good, which do you think he'd gravitate to? 'Nuff said. I feel if I come away from each conference with 1 single golden nugget of craft and a new contact in the business, it was a successful conference.


Lindi-----What is your favorite aspect of creating a novel. Character Development or learning the story?
Ane-------Definitely character development. That makes the story happen for me. I have an overall idea, but until I know my characters inside out, the story won't move forward. I'm sort of a plotter and sort of a seat-of-the-pants writer. I need that "map" of where I'm going. I lay out the main plot points like cities on a vacation trip. Then I allow the characters to take "side trips" as they come up. So I say I'm a "pants of the pocket" writer.

Lindi------Tell us something fun about you!
Ane---------Well, this was fun for the others involved. Not so sure about me. We were on a camping trip years ago. I was probably all of 23. When camping in the wilds of California, you have to be inventive about your facilities. I won't go into detail, but I sat on a cactus in the dark. You really find out who your friends are, when they're willing to tweeze cactus thorns from your bum by moonlight.

Ane--you crack me up! What a funny story!
Thanks so much for being here today!

Y'all say hi to Ane!! I bet she'll even answer a question if someone has one!