ARIA Writing Academy

Five Things - November 5, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. Last weekend was RI Comic Con. It’s the first time I haven’t attended this particular event in probably six years. My writer pals sent me goofy pictures, videos, and notes from their adventures. Although I know I am where I should be in my personal and professional life, I was truly sad not to be there with them.

  2. Since flying to RI a few weeks ago for a friend’s birthday party, I’ve found myself really missing my Meadowbrook community. I’ve been involved there as a parent, a volunteer, an employee, or Board member for over twenty years, and this marks the first time since discovering the school for our then five-year-old son that I haven’t had a hand in the day-to-day operations or long range planning. The Meadowbrook community comprised most of my friend group. It helped guide me as a parent, as a professional, and it changed the way I looked at educating children. Meadowbrook is a beacon of light at a time when the world really needs it, and I’m so grateful for the time I spent there.

  3. We’re currently camped out in the Emerald City, otherwise known as Seattle. While the weather is typical Pacific Northwest rainy, it’s as beautiful as I remember. We always have a good time because Ray’s brother and wife also live here. The four of us met in college, so, in addition to being family, we’ve also been friends for a hundred years or so and can party together like rock stars!

  4. Looking ahead to the holidays, I’m thinking about how to decorate our tiny home for Christmas. There isn’t much room, but we can manage a few bows of garland, some holly berries, and twinkle lights. I’m also ready to queue up the Holiday Station on satellite radio! Celebrating the holidays will look a little different this year for sure, but I’m really excited to create some new memories.

  5. I’ll be teaching a Zoom webinar titled “Editing: Soup to Nuts” on Wednesday, November 15th at 7 pm EST. It’s only 90 minutes and very reasonably priced (only $35) for as much information as I can pack into the time slot! So, if you or anyone you know have interest, please follow this LINK to register. Here’a a description… For many authors, the editing process is a daunting one, but a well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. Let’s talk about the different parts of the editing process and how to successfully find and work with an editor. We’ll also spend time discussing the goals of a developmental edit and how to work effectively with beta readers or critique partners. Learn practical techniques that will help make the editing process efficient, effective, and satisfying!

Our Itinerary, subject to change:

October 30 - November 12: Seattle, WA

November 12 - 19: Travel to Orange, CA

November 19 - January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

January 3 - 14: Oceanside, CA

January 19 - February 2: San Diego, CA

February 2 - 16: Palm Springs, CA

February 16 - March 1: Las Vegas, NV

March 1 - March 5: Meteor Crater, AZ

March 5 - 15: Albuquerque, NM

March 15 - 17: Amarillo, TX

March 17 - 24: Oklahoma City, OK

March 24 - April 5: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

April 5 - 12: Fredericksburg, TX

April 12 - 19: Hot Springs, AK

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Five Things - October 9, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. Summer and fall are now officially my favorite seasons, and with our mobile lifestyle, we can alternate between the two all year long! In addition to the perfect weather, both reflect my perfect wardrobe. Who can argue that sandals and sundresses or bathing suits and beach cover-ups aren’t the easiest and cutest attire? Similarly, a good flannel and cute boots just say fall flair! But honestly, I’ve always known that I’m affected by the lack of sunlight, so it make sense for us to follow the sun.

  2. I don’t like to shop. You probably don’t believe that based on the above rant about clothes, but my wardrobe is now completely updated to match my favorite seasons thanks to a visit from my BFF and some additional on-line purchases. There’s only so much room in our tiny home, so my closets are now filled with clothes and shoes that fit me well, I actually like, and I feel good wearing. This is surprisingly satisfying!

  3. I flew home this past weekend for a family visit and to attend a friend’s significant birthday. The only thing I miss about pulling up roots in RI is the easy ability to be with my family and community. It was so nice to catch up with everyone, and you can’t beat an old-school Italian Sunday dinner and card game at my parents’ house!

  4. One of the unexpected things about living on the road is the quirky little towns we find that we’d otherwise never get to visit. Sometimes we’re aiming for a bigger city, but there’s no suitable campground, so we’ll find a place as close as we can get. Currently, we’ve set up camp in Petaluma, about an hour north of San Francisco, and it is just the most adorable town. We’ve had dinner on the river walk, wandered through the artsy downtown, and taken some fantastic yoga classes. Our National Park tour continued with a visit to the magical Muir Woods, and we drove back and forth over the Golden Gate Bridge a couple of times just for fun. So far, northern California has not disappointed!

  5. I’ll be teaching two webinar classes in the month of October for the ARIA Writing Academy via Zoom. They’re only 90 minutes and very reasonably priced (only $35) for as much information as I can pack into the time slot. So, if you or anyone you know have interest, please follow the links below to register.

    KICK YOUR SCENE INTO ACTION - Wednesday, October 17 at 7 pm EST. As writers, we often visualize our action scenes as if they were on the big screen. But how do we translate the heart pounding, edge-of-the-seat, adrenaline rush that we get from watching a scene to the pages of our books? Whether you’re crafting a fight scene or a spaceship battle, these tips will help bring intensity to your scene and keep your readers turning the pages. New and experienced writers welcome! Click HERE for more info.

    PATHWAYS TO PUBLISHING - Wednesday, October 25 at 7 pm EST. There’s more than one way to bring your book baby to life! Publishing has evolved in the modern era offering authors many options. With innovative platforms such as Inkitt and Wattpad, and indie, hybrid, and traditional models thriving, writers have many opportunities to see their work in print. And, don’t forget the audio and digital markets! Register for an informative program and lively discussion on the what, why, and how of modern publishing. Click HERE for more info.

Our itinerary subject to change…

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

October 1 - 9: San Francisco, CA

October 9 - 30: Portland, OR

October 30 - November 12: Seattle, WA

November 12 - 19: Travel to Orange, CA

November 19 - January 3: Orange, CA

January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

January 3 - 14: Oceanside, CA

January 19 - February 2: San Diego, CA

February 2 - 16: Palm Springs, CA

February 16 - March 1: Las Vegas, NV

March 1 - March 5: Meteor Crater, AZ

March 5 - 15: Albuquerque, NM

March 15 - 17: Amarillo, TX

March 17 - 24: Oklahoma City, OK

March 24 - April 5: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

April 5 - 12: Fredericksburg, TX

April 12 - 19: Hot Springs, AK

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Five Things - September 25, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. Our wine fridge holds TWO cases of wine and still has room for seltzers, beer, and other miscellaneous beverages. Who knew?

  2. Being in the same time zone as our kids is really nice. RJ is studying abroad in London at the moment, so he’s difficult to reach with any regularity, but the other three are all in the Pacific Time Zone.

  3. This is our last week in Santa Barbara, and I’m really going to miss it, but I’m excited to head north and spend time in Portland, Oregon where our daughter is a sophomore in college. If you’re keeping track of our travels, the list below has been updated significantly, so check it out.

  4. Last post I mentioned I’d applied to graduate school. If any of you read my alter-ego’s blog, DEAR MAGGIE, you’ll have heard that my undergraduate college can’t find my transcripts. Apparently, when they digitized all the records years ago, mine never made it, and the paper copies are long gone. It’s like I never went to school. The registrars are sorting it out, but I feel like an accidental Mike Ross, minus the eidetic memory skills. It’s odd to think there’s no official record of all my work. I’m sure there is some lesson here on letting go, but I’m not sure exactly what it is. Anyway, an update… Boston University School of Medicine (yes, I attended medical school for a year back in 1998) has my basic record on file, which includes my final grades from both Holy Cross (my undergrad) and Providence College (where I did my pre-med work), so hopefully this will be enough to satisfy the grad school admissions board. Fingers crossed!

  5. On Wednesday, October 18th I’ll be teaching a 90 minute webinar through the ARIA Writing Academy titled “Kick Your Scene into Action.” You can follow this LINK to learn more.

Our itinerary subject to change…

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

October 1 - 9: San Francisco, CA

October 9 - 30: Portland, OR

October 30 - November 12: Seattle, WA

November 12 - 19: Travel to Orange, CA

January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

January 3 - 14: Oceanside, CA

January 19 - February 2: San Diego, CA

February 2 - 16: Palm Springs, CA

February 16 - March 1: Las Vegas, NV

March 1 - March 5: Meteor Crater, AZ

March 5 - 15: Albuquerque, NM

March 15 - 17: Amarillo, TX

March 17 - 24: Oklahoma City, OK

March 24 - April 5: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

April 5 - 12: Fredericksburg, TX

April 12 - 19: Hot Springs, AK

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Five Things - April 17, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. Flexibility is key to our well-being, especially on the road! While we’ve planned out our path for the next several months, stuff happens in the meantime. Instead of feeling frustrated and tense when we have to make changes, we sit with our map and a glass of wine and rework certain dates and places. The more comfortable we are in our tiny, mobile home, the easier it gets to roll with things.

  2. We’ve had a blast in New Orleans. It’s a quirky city with terrible roads, but we’ve eaten our way through the French Quarter, listened to some fantastic music, brought our dog to the Vampire Bar, where they served her a pup plate for dinner, met up with good friends from RI, and spent time with one of Ray’s college roommates and his wife. We visited the WWII museum, shopped, and managed to get some work done in between!

  3. “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” - Muhammad Ali

  4. I can not stress enough how important it is that we have laundry on board.

  5. I’m very excited to teach another Zoom webinar for the ARIA Writing Academy titled ‘Editing: Soup to Nuts’ on Thursday, May 11th at 7 pm EST. A well edited manuscript can mean the difference between a book that’s ready for the world and a document that sits in a drawer collecting dust. If you’re ready to tackle your edits, check out this class. Here’s a link to the full course description and registration: ARIA Writing Academy.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary, subject to change:

April 19-28: Austin, TX

April 28 - May 8: Medina Lake, TX

May 8-15: Carlsbad, NM

May 15-22: Albuquerque, NM

May 22-29: Santa Fe, NM

May 29 - June 2: Alamosa, CO

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-15: Salt Lake, UT

July 15-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Rock Springs, WY

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

Five Things - April 3, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. We bought a new RV! I know, I know, we just bought the first one, but this one is a significant upgrade. Honestly, when we started our journey, we didn’t know if we were going to love it enough to keep going after our initial cross country venture and therefore didn’t want to make a large investment. We also didn’t know what we didn’t know! We’ve learned so much in the last few months, and we definitely love it enough not to place an end date on our travels. Our original RV also had significant mechanical issues right from the start, and this last challenge confirmed for us that upgrading was the right choice. Check out my Instagram page @tabithalord very soon for some pics and videos of our new tiny home on wheels!

  2. Related to the above, whenever Ray and I make a significant decision, we try to balance the idea of living in the moment, since none of us truly know what tomorrow holds, with planning to live a long time and behave responsibly with our time and resources. There’s never a ‘right’ answer to this, but I think placing the question at the center of our decision-making assures we at least make thoughtful choices.

  3. People at RV parks and campgrounds are so kind! When you think about it, who would choose this lifestyle if they weren’t pretty social by nature? The neighbors are generally super close by, chances are you’ll need help with something sometime, and it’s fun to share a glass of wine with a new friend! It’s like being in an airport bar ALL THE TIME!

  4. Yup, we made a third trip to Disney. The campground there is beautiful, and as season passholders, we’d hop into a park for an ice cream cone or a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean but not exhaust ourselves with long lines or long days. We spent some of our very favorite family vacations in Disney over the years, so we were both nostalgic as we wandered. And yes, we imagined someday taking our future grandchildren with us!

  5. Last call for my Zoom webinar through the ARIA Writing Academy titled ‘Pathways to Publishing’ on Wednesday, April 5th at 7 pm. If there are any aspiring authors out there looking to learn more about the modern publishing industry and ways to bring your story to readers, check out the class. Here’s a link to the course description and registration: ARIA Writing Academy.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary, subject to change:

April 6-7: Panacea, FL

April 7-10: Lillain, AL

April 10-19: New Orleans, LA

April 19-26: Austin, TX

April 26 - May 2: Corpus Christi, TX

May 2-8: Lakehills, TX

May 8-15: Carlsbad, NM

May 15-22: Albuquerque, NM

May 22-29: Santa Fe, NM

May 29 - June 2: Alamosa, CO

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-13: Rock Springs, WY

July 13-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Salt Lake City, UT

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

Five Things - March 20, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. Happy birthday to our oldest and youngest kids who will be turning thirty and nineteen this month! It’s hard to believe I’ll be the mom of a thirty year old, gulp, and that our baby is almost out of her teens, but watching them all blossom into amazing human beings is an honor and a privilege.

  2. I love airport bars. I may have mentioned this a time or two, and my most recent trip proved this is still the case. Truly, I meet the nicest people! Our tiny dog gets so excited when we approach the dog park that she practically leaps from the moving vehicle. It’s so darn cute watching her socialize with other dogs of all shapes and sizes and chase her ball around like a loon. I suspect she views the dog park like I do airport bars.

  3. It’s hard to believe we’ve been here for two months, but we have, and this is our last week in Sarasota, Florida! We’ve had an amazing time here, with friends and family visiting and friends and family who live here. The beaches are beautiful, the yoga classes amazing, this resort so much fun, and the food options delicious, but we’re ready to see more of the country and continue our grand adventure. We’ll be making another stop in Disney before heading to the Alabama coast and then on to New Orleans.

  4. We’ve loaded a new Author’s Buzz video on YouTube focused around editing. Amy and I really enjoy making these podcasts and sharing all the things we wished we knew when we were baby writers! In case you missed it, www.authorsbuzz.com is a new author resource website created by me and two other talented ladies. We provide tons of articles and tips on writing craft and the business of publishing, and we also host a fun little podcast on YouTube where we discuss all things writing related.

  5. I’m very excited to teach a Zoom webinar for the ARIA Writing Academy titled ‘Pathways to Publishing’ on Wednesday, April 5th at 7 pm. If there are any aspiring authors out there looking to learn more about the modern publishing industry and ways to bring your story to readers, check out the class. Here’s a link to the course description and registration: ARIA Writing Academy.

Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our Itinerary (subject to change):

Feb 4 - March 27: Sarasota, FL

March 27 - April 2: Disney World, FL

April 2-3: Panacea, FL

April 3-10: Lillian, AL

April 10-19: New Orleans, LA

April 19-26: Austin, TX

April 26 - May 2: Corpus Christi, TX

May 2-8: Lakehills, TX

May 8-15: Carlsbad, NM

May 15-22: Albuquerque, NM

May 22-29: Santa Fe, NM

May 29 - June 2: Alamosa, CO

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-13: Rock Springs, WY

July 13-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Salt Lake City, UT

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

Five Things - March 6, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

  1. For the writer types who follow this blog, I’ll be teaching a Zoom webinar titled “Pathways to Publishing” on Wednesday, April 5th at 7 pm through the Association of RI Authors. Here’s a link to the course description and registration: ARIA Writing Academy.

  2. If you’re interested in free writing resources, don’t forget about AuthorsBuzz.com, a new author resource website created by me and two other talented ladies. We’ve been uploading new articles every week, and we’re also having a blast recording short YouTube videos where we discuss all the things we wish someone had told us when we were new writers!

  3. Red tide is no fun. Apparently, there is an algae down here that releases a toxin into the water and air. When the levels get too high, this toxin kills fish and irritates the lungs and skin of beachgoers. Yuk! Thankfully, we have a pool at this RV resort, and we’ve been keeping cool there.

  4. I got a new vacuum cleaner, and I have been enthusiastically sucking up dirt and cat fur with a vengeance. This may not sound like something to get excited about, but when we moved on board, we only brought a high powered dust-buster and a broom, thinking these would be sufficient to keep our space clean. Not so! It’s been a losing battle living with so many fur babies, and this new appliance makes me ridiculously happy. It’s the little things!

  5. My mom and dad and their childhood friend are down here for a visit. This week, we’re also hanging out with some cousins, and let’s just say this group knows how to eat, drink, and make merry! The downside of our life on the road, and the thing I miss the most, is the easy, regular access I had to the people I love. Lunch dates with my mom, family barbecues by the pool in the summer, dad tagging along for a shopping day because he’s actually an excellent personal shopper, are all things we could just do because we lived in close proximity. Their visit feels like a comforting little piece of home!

Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our Itinerary (subject to change):

Feb 4 - March 27: Sarasota, FL

March 27 - April 2: Disney World, FL

April 2-3: Panacea, FL

April 3-10: Lillian, AL

April 10-19: New Orleans, LA

April 19-26: Austin, TX

April 26 - May 2: Corpus Christi, TX

May 2-8: Lakehills, TX

May 8-15: Carlsbad, NM

May 15-22: Albuquerque, NM

May 22-29: Santa Fe, NM

May 29 - June 2: Alamosa, CO

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-13: Rock Springs, WY

July 13-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Salt Lake City, UT

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA