WRITING CHILDRENS BOOKS

How do you get the publishers to look at your work. Vanity publishing is out of the question for me. Besides if a publisher doesn't want to pay you for your work what is the point. If I am wrong please let me know.

Your suggestions please.

Here is a picture of the Dola Miner Memorial that I wrote about in an earlier post.

A COAL MINERS MEMORIAL

You may find yourself traveling a country road and as you round the curve you will get a glimpse of a memorial. It will be surrounded by a semi circle of trees with tall security lights and cameras. Hopefully, you will pull into the paved parking lot and walk down the cement path that leads to the large black monument. You may then find yourself reading the names of lost miners. Husbands and fathers, brothers, son and uncles all lost in the same day.

These men sacrificed for their families and in the process lost their lives. They were hero's of the best kind, making an honest living for their families. They knew that they were going into danger everytime that they entered the mine but they were men of honor and did their jobs without complaint.

They left sorrowful destitute young wives and young sad children. Yet life must go on and they buried the sorrow and anger the best they could with their beloved husbands until Sago.


When Sago happen:

Then the Sago happened and the horrible process was happening again only this time the world could see it. The world was trapped in the process of watching the horrible event unfold. The world watched as the grieving families mourned. The families of Dola Mine Disaster were watching also and reliving the loss, but this time the anger rose up and was released into a movement to let the world know what they had lost and it was time to talk about it. Surprising as it may seem very few people even knew that 22 men had lost their lives. No one talked about their sorrow, they buried their sorrow and anger with their loved ones.

Then with renewed energy the adult children of these men began to organize and within 9 months this beautiful memorial was dedicated. Now, the families have a sanctuary.

I hope you will find your way down Route 20 North and stop by the memorial and a take a few minutes to rest in this scared place.


The Dola Miners Memorial is located in Harrison County, West Virginia. I believe you may find a Geo Cache in the general area. Happy hunting.

Sagebrush Roundup

This is a covered bridge that spans the Buchkannon River in Barbour County, West Virginia. What a joy to travel along a back road and find a treasure like this.

Last night my husband and I and our dear friends found a place that threw us back in time about fifty years. We found the Sagebrush Roundup. Sagebrush has been around for a long time first starting as a radio show back in the 30's but now it is a live sit down barn theater experience. Sagebrush Roundup is high on Bunner's Ridge in Marion County, West Virginia.

We found directions on the internet and began to follow them to the top of Bunners Ridge. This being the height of winter we found ourselves on a dark country road. The directions said to follow the signs to Sagebrush but they negelected to note that there are no lights to indicate where the signs are located. Well, this made it almost impossible to see the signs so after a missed turn we back tracked and took the right turn onto the road that headed us for the Roundup and were on our way to a night of entertainment. Once we paid the ticket fee of $5 per person we were given entrance to a clean family oriented facility. No smoking, drinking or any such thing would be permitted on the premises. Children under the age of 12 had free passage with an accompanying adult. I will have to say the building was very clean, the people well behaved and the entertaining was if not alway excellent it was entertaining. Plenty of cold bottled soft drinks, popcorn, hotdogs, pies and icecream were provided at decent prices. If

you came early enough you could even eat dinner for 6.50 I believe it was roast beef and mash potatoes last night. We missed the dinner special but did eat a few dogs and fries. They also had a very good coconut pie. Tables were provided at the back of the theater so that you could have theater dinner experience. The building was very clean with nice restrooms. If you are interested in buying some country western inspired jewelry, clothing, Indian and Cowboy type belts, buckles and maybe a new strap for you guitar you may find what you need at the Sagebrush Roundup. The people that ran the Roundup were pleasant and informative.

Showtime: Open Mic began at 6 ( if you want to take part in this you must come early to be put on the line-up. If they like what they hear you may be asked to come back at a later date and be part of the show.) If country western isn't your thing, you can also sing 50's rock n roll, blue grass, gospel etc- just make sure it is clean.

Last night the open mic was very enjoyable. Then the show began and I will have to say some of the acts were way past their prime but the audience was enjoying themselves by singing along, dancing on the dance floor and some were laughing a little too much.

Then Al Anderson walked on the stage and things began to rock and roll. He gave a great performance. We really enjoyed his blues and rock n rool. He has a great voice and some exceptional moves---total enjoyment for the middle of a gloomy winter.

So here are my final comments on the Sagebrush----a walk back in time when things were simpler, a place that offers more than entertainment on the stage, for me the audience was just as entertaining as the musicians. I loved it and will go back. Next stop the Blue Grass Special.