As some of you know, I'm crazy about writing stories (as yes, designing knitwear too!). While some of my short stories are out there in the world waiting to be published, I participated in PitMad, an author pitch party last Friday, kindly hosted by Brenda Drake. 
     We could post 3 tweets to pitch my book, "Love and Terror" from 8AM to 8PM.
I carefully composed 3 tweets of 140 characters or less, complete with hashtags. I participated, hoping any agent would heart my tweet (that's the way it works), so I could query them directly, but what I was really hoping for, is that a particular agent that I think would perfectly represent my writing found me.
     She didn't.
     Somewhere, with maybe a half hour to go, she posted to tweet her directly win the next 30 min to make sure she saw your adult or women's fiction, so I did. A few minutes later, she hearted my tweet, "Art dealer Kate falls for Afghani artist Salim. CSIS investigation casts doubt. Someone is the terrorist – who? #PitMad #A #S." and my own heart grew three sizes that day!
     Off went my query and 10 pages to her inbox and my fingers are crossed, my toes braided and my heart is doing a jig, - yes jig; they still do those in the world…I'm certain.
     Now, begins the waiting game. Not any waiting game. The kind of waiting game that would have writers second-guessing themselves. But we mustn't do THAT!
     Instead, I’ll write Chapter 11 of my next novel, "Off the Grid" and knit the edging of the Heirloom Shawl (nearing the end!) as say a little prayer with each stitch, "I hope she loves it! I hope she loves it. I hope..."
   I don’t say her name because that’s too much pressure, but if my knitting prayers work, I’ll spill; I promise!
 
Happy knitting (and writing)!
 
Joanne

Is there such a thing? Lately, I've been working on my baby book "Nine Months of Knitting" to follow up "Twelve Months of Knitting" Jan 2008 Potter Craft/Random House (which is now out of circulation). There's all sorts to knit up for that, including a beautiful circular shawl that I call the Heirloom Shawl, because it reminds me of one my Auntie Avril knit for the babies in our family. I did my own version and still have the edging left to do. It will be the star of the book, I think. I hope! The idea of a KAL appeals to me, though I have never done one. Any thoughts?

Alas, I ran out of yarn before the edging and the lovely ladies of Fleece Artist & Handmaiden, not only dyed another skien for me to match, but gave me a couple skeins of a neutral colour offer another colour variation. Thank you!!! I'm besotted with their yarns (as you can tell by my past designs) and plan to do even more projects using it. 

PLUS I have become enamoured with the Sweetheart Sock by Nikol Lohr. So I've decided to knit myself a pair (doubt in time for Valentine's Day). Fantastic pattern! Wish I designed it! Yarn is Rhichard Devrieze another fantastic yarn) that I found at The Purple Purl

PLUS I'm updating and altering an old design of mine for a kerchief/neck shawl/scarf - soon to be posted to Ravelry. It's also in a Fleece Artist yarn I had left over. While it's discontinued (Wool/Silk), many similar yarns will be available.

PLUS there's the to-do list for the book. So I knit until my fingers can't take any more or the Olympics gets too exciting not to watch. I won't take a picture, as it's a big bag of knitting; loads of swatches and partial knitting. Ahhh!

What a glorious day! Isn't nice that Spring is finally here? So a quick post to get out there and do some gardening...
A favorite baby pattern of mine, "Baby Wonderful" is now available here on my site and I am posting to Ravelry next!
Enjoy your day!