May's challenge was to write a scene using WaBoPs - wandering body parts.

Jeffrey Morckel sent this winning entry:

Twin Peaks

His eyes rolled across the sand, searching for their quarry. The beach was awash with bikinis, and he had to find just what he was looking for. His corneas hit the brakes. There it was. Without question, one of the most attractive things he had ever seen in his life. Two marvelous twin peaks towered towards the sky. He hustled over with his camera, and began snapping away.

"Um, excuse me?" asked the woman.

"Oh, just photographing next month's cover shot!"

The woman's face radiated.

"Oh, well in that case, snap away," she giggled. "Oh, and you're welcome to feel it, too."

His brain set off a round of fireworks, and he did just that. It was nice and firm. Luscious, bounteous curves led to two peaks, bursting at the seams. It was exquisite and beautiful, and absolutely perfect. He finished shutterbugging, thanked the woman, and strutted away.

The hairs on the back of his neck sent up a distress flare, and he turned around to see his wife.

"I saw that." Her voice dripped with malice.

He grinned.

"Told you I could find something better than yours. I just bagged next month's cover shot."

The look of anger deflated.

"But why not mine?" she pouted.

"Sweetie, let's face it. You made a great turtle, but that two-tiered castle is going to look brilliant on the front of the next Sand Sculptures Illustrated."

Jeffrey Morckel is a recent college graduate, and would much appreciate it if somebody would hire him. He lives in Ohio with his family, including 4 cats.

After an EF 3 tornado slammed into Hugo, Minnesota over Memorial Day weekend, I started asking myself some serious questions. Hugo is 18 miles north (as the crow flies) of Woodbury, MN where my husband and I call home. That's the closest I've ever been to a tornado and certainly to the kind of devastation visited upon the suburb of St. Paul, and it was a wake-up call. The main question I pondered was this: As a writer (and homeowner, for that matter) did I have in place a plan to protect my writings in the event of a disaster?

The answer was a big, fat resounding no. Like most writer's I'd backed up my manuscripts and screenplays onto disks. However, instead of being kept in a secure place, too many of those CDs were on shelves and in desk drawers. Other works such as short stories remained on my computer. Should our house be destroyed in the kind of catastrophe Hugo had experienced, all of my writings would most likely disappear, literally, into thin air.

Whether writing is your livelihood, passion, hobby, or a combination, it is very much a part of who you are, perhaps even a piece of your legacy. After all that you've invested, why take the risk of losing it to a disaster - natural or otherwise? Every writer, I realized, should have in place a bona fide disaster plan just as most businesses do. Here's the plan I put into action:

1. Make at least one CD copy of everything you've written. In my case this included a novel manuscript, two screenplays, short stories, journals, and countless articles.

2. Store those CDs in a safe place; this could be onsite or offsite. Currently, CDs containing my writing are locked in two fire-proof safes in our home. A safety deposit box offsite at a bank is even better, copies of everything at home and in a safety deposit box better still.

3. Keep at least one paper copy of any published materials securely stored as well. For me this includes articles of special significance and books I've published.

4. Update your plan on a regular basis. As a writer, hopefully you're constantly expanding your body of work, so you'll want to protect every new piece you write. Schedule those updates so you don't forget - once a year at a minimum.

5. Keep up with technology. The first version of my master's thesis was saved on a floppy disk, the second on a 3 ½" hard disk, and currently it's a CD. Technology changes so fast, it's important to store your writing where it can be easily accessed, even years later.

Looking at the larger picture, your writing probably isn't the only thing you want to protect. One of the most devastating aspects of the Hugo tornado (and many other disasters) is residents unable to find even the smallest personal item such as a photograph amid the rubble. What my husband and I have done is develop a list of items, some of which will stay in the basement during summer months. Your list might look like this:

1. A safe or fire-proof box containing important documents such as passports, birth certificates, social security cards, copies of credit cards, a list of computer and account passwords; CDs holding copies of special photos or information, and expensive jewelry

2. One or two heirlooms you could take into a basement or storm cellar with you

3. Medications

4. Identification (Driver's license, other photo ID)

5. Insurance cards

6. Credit/Debit Cards

7. Checkbook/Bank Account Information

8. Cash

9. Other easily transported items of value such as lap tops and camera equipment

Using the list, when severe storm warnings are forecast my husband puts together a bag containing those items. I keep identification and insurance cards in my purse as do a lot of women, so when we head downstairs during a bad storm, I automatically grab that. I keep my purse in our bedroom in the same place so I always know where it is.

The key to a good disaster plan is taking the time to organize and plan ahead. Most disasters catch us by surprise, whether they involve taking immediate shelter or getting out of the house. Such drastic action usually leaves little time to find the current manuscript you're revising or grabbing a family heirloom. When disaster does strike writers are trying to accomplish two things: preserving our work and having access to the basic information used in every-day-life to survive and get back on our feet.

Kathryn Schleich is a freelance writer residing in Minnesota. In 2003 she published her first book, Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers, and Other Images through iUniverse. This article first appeared in the December 6, 2006 issue of Absolute Write. She may be contacted at: kathrynschlei777@yahoo.com. Visit the web site at: www.women-write.com

Women have always connected with each other by getting together and sharing experiences, whether it's through a book club, a Bible study, a weekly Bunco game or a mothers' play group. But it's not always easy to squeeze in time with our friends because our lives are so busy. Susan M. Heim, former Senior Editor for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of four parenting books, is coauthoring a devotional book to help women fill this need to connect with other women by sharing stories from their lives. If you have a brief story in which you emerged through a difficult period or experienced a poignant, life-changing moment, please submit it for this upcoming book to susan@susanheim.com. Sample devotionals and additional information are available.

Visit TwinsTalk, a great new web site for parents of multiples, at www.twinstalk.com!

Susan's web site: www.SusanHeim.com

Parenting Blog: www.susanheim.blogspot.com Subscribe to have each column delivered to your e-mailbox!

Multiples Column: www.mommiesmagazine.com/category/family-and-relationships/loving-and-living-with-twins-and-multiples/

Susan's newest book, It's Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence, is a 2008 Mom's Choice Award Gold recipient! It can be ordered through www.hamptonroadspub.com/book/503/ref/49, www.twinsmagazine.com/its_twins.html or Amazon. Visit www.twinstalk.com/twinsshop for more information.

The inspirational book, Twice the Love: Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins, Multiples and Singletons, is available from TWINS magazine. Winner of a 2007 Reader Views Award in the parenting/family category, this wonderful story collection makes a great gift! Visit www.twinsmagazine.com/twice_the_love.html.

Order Susan's award-winning book, Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year, for all the new and expectant parents in your life. Oh, Baby! is a proud winner of the 2006 Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award, the only award program to ever be honored by Disney.com, as well as the winner of a 2007 iParenting Media Award and a 2007 Moms' Choice Award! Learn more about Oh, Baby! at www.ababywillchangeyourlife.com. Oh, Baby is now available in Spanish, too! Visit www.edicionesoniro.com/lib.asp?COD=87180.

The new book, Twin Connections: Stories That Celebrate the Mysterious Bond Between Twins, is a collection of true stories that highlight the unique bond that unites twins. To learn more or to order, visit www.twinconnections.com/book.htm.

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Maggie Grinnell is excited to announce that her children's story entitled: The Ketchup Bottle and the Takeover will be published by Living Waters Publishing.

This is a story about Tommy Tomato, a ketchup bottle who tries to take over the refrigerator and the lesson he learns.

Check back for more news as the release dates draws near.

Visit Maggie at: maggiegrinnell.lifeartz.com

Congratulations Maggie! We wish you much success!

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The following is a list of agent blogs. The info reveals the cold, hard truth about publishing. Some of the information is depressing (LOL) but I read them on a regular basis.

Nathan Bransford is an agent with Curtis Brown. His blog is very popular! http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/

Janet Reid is an agent with FinePrint Literary Management. http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/

Query Shark This is also by Janet Reid and not for the faint of heart - LOL! http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

Scott Eagan is an agent with Greyhaus Literary Agency. I really enjoy this one. http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/

Richard Curtis of Richard Curtis Associates. This is a great blog. Mr. Curtis has been around for a long time and offers a wealth of information. http://www.ereads.com/richard_curtis/

If you would like to suggest a blog, please send it to me. I've become quite addicted to them lately!

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Tiger Publications has closed its doors. I had mentioned this publisher a few months back and was surprised to hear they recently folded. They were very author friendly and put a lot of time and effort into the company. I recently entered a contest and one of the final judges was an editor from Tiger so I'm not sure what's going to happen there.

Unfortunately, this happens a lot. I have a friend who sold to a small publisher and before her book went to print, they folded. Luckily, she sold the book to another publisher.

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NYC Pitch and Shop

Four times a year in New York City, this conference comes together to provide a unique opportunity for writers with completed manuscripts or works-in-progress to not only workshop their novel with professional fiction editors, but meet and pitch top acquisition editors from major publishing houses such as Berkley, Doubleday, Penguin, Random House, Viking, and more.

This is a great opportunity! For more information, check it out: NYC Pitch Conference

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The Editorial Department

They offer writing services as well as interviews and resources.

There's a lot to navigate on this site, but I love it.

Home page: www.editorialdepartment.com

Featured Topics: Featured Topics

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101 Reasons to Stop Writing

If you have a sarcastic and humorous side, you'll enjoy this one.

101 Reasons to Stop Writing

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Bobbie Christmas is the "Book Doctor" and Author of Write In Style, a triple-award-winning textbook for writers of fiction and nonfiction, available wherever books are sold.

Bobbie loves to receive questions from writers and offer her expert advice. If you have any questions you need answered, please e-mail her at: Bobbie@zebraeditor.com

For the latest Q&A with Bobbie, go to AskTheBookDoctor on the CS4W site.

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If you have an announcement you would like to share with us, please send it to: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com with "announcement" in the subject line.

I love to hear from you!

Peace,

Sandy

email: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com

phone: 732-364-3993

web: http://www.coolstuff4writers.com