Aloha to Gorman Farms - Fall Colors

Every day, I drive by Gorman Farms (link):

Our Mission is to encourage an understanding of the connection between the food we eat, the life we live and the health of our community.
We offer fresh, nutrient rich, flavorful fruits & vegetables on site through our farm stand & CSA program. Proud to serve Howard County Maryland just off the 95 in a convenient location between Baltimore & Washington DC. We deliver a unique shopping and educational experience filled with quality and consistency. 

We found pumpkins galore! 

How about some gourds?

Or sweet peppers?   I miss Hawaii ... but enjoy these fall colors in Maryland!

Do you have a farm near you?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Aloha to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

On Saturday, we visited Harpers Ferry - a National Park at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, bringing together three states:  Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.   It is a historic community with picturesque streets and interactive exhibits.  From its website (link),

It is more than one event, one date, or one individual. It is multi-layered - involving a diverse number of people and events that influenced the course of our nation's history. Harpers Ferry witnessed the first successful application of interchangeable manufacture, the arrival of the first successful American railroad, John Brown's attack on slavery, the largest surrender of Federal troops during the Civil War, and the education of former slaves in one of the earliest integrated schools in the United States.

Harpers Ferry is step back in time .... 

... even the Americans in the 1800s enjoyed coffee!

The Shenandoah River, to the left, joins the Potomac River, to the right.

The railroad spans the Shenandoah River with a pedestrian bridge ...

... that is part of the Appalachian Trail.

Americans built quality iron works over 100 years ago ..

 ... although the roof on the stone house fell to the elements.

Here's a view of the Potomac from the Maryland side of the bridge.

  

 St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church rises above the town ... 

... from its Facebook page (link),

The original church was built in 1833 in a pseudo-Gothic style which it kept through the Civil War, in which it was the only church in Harpers Ferry to escape destruction. The church was extensively altered in 1896 in the then-popular Neo-Gothic style to produce the church seen today. 

  

Harpers Ferry contributed to the Lewis and Clark Expedition - something I did not know!

As we waited for the shuttle back to the parking lot, I spotted this "house within a house".

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to NJRW Conference (part 3) - Let them eat cake ...and read books!

Let them eat cake!  The NJRW conference continued with a delicious luncheon featuring my favorite food group - chocolate!

I had to loosen my belt so I could waddle around the book signing to see Elizabeth Hoyt and Sara Humphreys.

I chatted with Kathleen Long and Sally MacKenzie.  Sally recently returned for a "research" trip to England, including a visit to Devon - my ancestors' stomping grounds.

Stephanie Draven and Vicky Dreiling were all smiles for the camera ...

... so were Risky Regency writers Diane Gaston and Elena Greene; they contribute to the Risky Regencies Romance Blog (link).

Here are the RomVets - Christyne Butler, me, Diana Cosby, Cathy Maxwell, and Ella Quinn.

I am giving away two conference bags filled with fun swag plus:

Diana Cosby's HIS CAPTIVE
Diana Cosby's HIS WOMAN
Margaret Mallory's KNIGHT OF DESIRE
Eloisa James' KISS ME ANNABEL
Anthology, THE LADY MOST LIKELY, with Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about taking photographs - do you have a fancy camera or a simple camera like me?  

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 26, 10  pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 27.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Dinner at Bahama Breeze ... do you recognize these authors?

Our waitress is Ciera, left back, who was awed by them!

Aloha to the NJRW Conference (part 2)

  
Saturday morning kicked off with Connie Brockway and Eloisa James - The Fabulous Sexy Novella:

Join Connie and Eloisa for this special presentation on how the novella is experiencing a comeback.  This workshop will address ways to create a novella that readers will love. 

Connie and Eloisa worked well as a team with an infusion of humor!

This writer is ready for a Steampunk Tea Party with her cute hat from the Scarlet Fairy, www.scarletfairy.com.

Cathy Maxwell is ready for the Highlands with her handcrafted leather sporran ... 

... with the Maxwell motto, "I flourish" (link).    Check out the its designer, Macski's Highland Gear, www.macskis.com.

Cathy presented Empowering the Writer within You:

It takes courage to be a writer willing to put her work out there.  Cathy will discuss techniques and strategies for staying ahead in the business of writing and protecting our most precious resource - our creativity.

Each time Cathy speaks, she raises the bar in motivating writers (and bloggers) to achieve their dreams.   Had Cathy remained in the Navy, I believe Admiral Maxwell could have been an eloquent spokesperson for the Department of Defense. Alas, the Navy's loss was Romance's gain as she now writes heartfelt historicals.    

I am giving away two conference bags filled with fun swag plus:

Diana Cosby's HIS CAPTIVE
Diana Cosby's HIS WOMAN
Margaret Mallory's KNIGHT OF DESIRE
Eloisa James' KISS ME ANNABEL
Anthology, THE LADY MOST LIKELY, with Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about what motto you would choose for your handcrafted sporran - feel free to make one up! 

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 26, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 27.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Anne Walradt, Cathy, and Margaret Mallory

Aloha to the New Jersey Romance Writers (NJRW) Conference (part 1)

This past weekend, I drove with Cathy Maxwell to the New Jersey Romance Writers (NJRW) Put Your Heart In A Book Conference (link).  The theme was DREAM BIG - WRITE NOW.  Cathy and I arrived just in time for the cocktail reception to celebrate the writing contest finalists.  Above is Diana Cosby, Cathy, and Diane Gaston.    

Kimberly Rocha from BOOK OBSESSED CHICKS (link) joined our group.  After chatting with Kimberly, I realized that we both attended Lora Leigh's RAW - she's in the picture of line dancing at this link.   

C.H. Admirand and Sara Humphreys chatted about their publisher, Sourcebooks.

The West Coast was represented by Margaret Mallory (Washington) and Jane Porter (California).

Cathy and I dined at the Kona Grill in memory of Hawaii. After eating healthy entrees, we splurged on a decadent dessert - butter cake with vanilla ice cream.   There are no calories at conferences, right?

I am giving away two conference bags filled with fun swag plus:

Diana Cosby's HIS CAPTIVE
Diana Cosby's HIS WOMAN
Margaret Mallory's KNIGHT OF DESIRE
Eloisa James' KISS ME ANNABEL
Anthology, THE LADY MOST LIKELY, with Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite dessert.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 26, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winners on Saturday, October 27.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City