Melanie Sherman

Writer Melanie Sherman

Melanie Sherman lives in Southwest Washington and has been writing for years against her better judgment. By day she poses as a numbers cruncher in a small manufacturing firm. By night she chases these two cats off her laptop who really can’t write well at all.

Melanie is in love with the sea and writes beautifully about it on her blog, Meanderings of Melanie, that is when she is not crafting humorous posts about everyday life that will flip you out of your chair.

Two words of advice: buckle up.

In 2009 Melanie competed in an international writing contest and won second place in the mainstream category for her manuscript, "Pirates Reckoning." Her critique group claims full responsibility. The members are often heard saying, "We can criticize anyone to success."

Winner PNWA Literary Contest, Mainstream Category, Second Place, 2009

Finalist PNWA Literary Contest, Mainstream Category, 2009

Sharon Axline

Writer Sharon Axline

Born to a troop of traveling gypsies Sharon Axline spent her early years trapsing about the US never stopping long in one place. She learned at an early age to play the banjo and tap dance while whistling the star spangle banner all the while dressed in a sequined mini skirt and platform shoes.

After settling down she joined the work force in the adventurous job of computer programming. While battling bits and bytes during the day as a caped computer crusader she relaxes by working for a secret organization known only as DBC.

Sharon likes cooking, writing, cooking, playing with her dogs, did we mention cooking?

Enjoy Sharon's blog at Preposterous Ponderings.

Local blogger gets noticed with Google post

It's reaffirming when someone visits your blog. It's even more exciting when a large website notices and promotes your post to their online audience.

That happened this weekend to one of our friends, Carol Doane. She wrote a post on research tabulated recently by Google Analytics.

Her post was picked up by The Customer Collective and appeared on their home page on Sunday and remains up today.

Keep blogging, Carol! We're enjoying the internet trail you're blazing.

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High marks for Active Qu3st friend

Kailynn Doane and her proud mother, Carol Doane.

Grades came out last week, and our youngest public relations friend, Kailynn Doane, performed extremely well. We did a little digging and discovered she completed her sopohomore year of high school with a 4.0.

We were able to obtain this picture from Kailynn Doane's grandfather of her initiation into the National Honor Society.

It's been quite a year for the teenager. In April, she traveled with the Washington Cultural Exchange to Guangzhou, China as a student athlete on their annual Swim & Dive trip. She had the honor of training in the pool with the Chinese future Olympic hopefuls and reports the experience was, "Awesome."

We're still waiting to get a slideshow of young Miss Doane's pictures. If there were some framing in her future we suspect she could get a gallery show. In fact, we'd help promote it.

Hint. Hint.

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Party in the USA? You bet.

Wishing you a happy, jubilant Fourth of July.

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People and Promotion

The Active Qu3st office has been quiet lately as everyone is busy on big projects. We did want to take a moment to congratulate Carol Doane on her promotion announced in The Columbian May 29. (We guess that would let you know we are at almost a month behind).

Here's the report:

"Carol Doane has been promoted to general manager with USD Media, a video and audio team that will produce programs and features for the company’s website. Doane will oversee website production and development staff. Doane is a former advertising sales manager for The Columbian."

Congratulations, wishing you the very best!

You can read the entire post here.

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Vancouver Business Journal features Carol Doane



Vancouver Business Journal reports US Digital's good news

The Vancouver Business Journal featured a story on the front page of their Friday, February 4, 2011 printed edition that also appeared online, "U.S. Digital enters the media world with new venture." Their report gives a little insight to Carol Doane's new role as the Partnership Manager at the US Digital spin-off company USD Media.

Congrats, Carol!

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It all happened after the tornado

Carol Doane's 15 minutes of fame got a boost from SlideShare. She is featured on the home page pf SlideShare. Check this out:

It all happened after the tornado

View more presentations from Carol Doane.

COASTER CONTEST: Seeking poetry submissions of fiv...

Submission deadline to be featured on a Niche Wine & Art coaster is Tuesday, February 1, 2011. Let the poetry writing begin!

Lekker Entertainment: COASTER CONTEST: Seeking poetry submissions of fiv...: "Niche Wine & Art is embarking on a 'coaster printing spree.' To make the coasters memorable they will be printed with short poems. Subm..."

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Carol's Sip Wine & Savor a Goodbye Party

Everyone Welcome! Come to Carol Doane's goodbye party.

Online event registration for Carol's Sip Wine & Savor a Goodbye Party powered by Eventbrite

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New Year's Eve: Tarts and Vicars Party!

Niche Wine & Art welcomes all tarts, savory and sweet,
because tarts always come FIRST at Niche!

Enjoy your champagne cocktail in this comfortable neighborhood gathering spot. Rustic down to the original concrete walls washed with remnants of colors from the past and the rough hewn fir floors, this new restaurant in downtown Vancouver offers 140 wine selections by the bottle, and dozens of selections by the glass and half glass. Prices from $4.
Full menu available for the holiday including tarts, both savory and sweet.

Event management for New Years Eve: Tarts and Vicars Party powered by Eventbrite

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Rain powered writer on PearlofCarol.com

There's a contest in our midst. Chime in with your comment to be entered to win a copy of Hemlock Lake by Carolyn J. Rose.

Pearl of Carol: pursuit of adventure!: Rain powered writer

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Social Media for Writers: Speaker Carol Doane

Vancouver Writer's Mixer

Social Media for Authors

Saturday, December 4

5-6:30 pm

Featured Speaker: Carol Doane

Saturday Carol Doane speaks to the Vancouver Writer's Mixer. She's got the internet wired for fun, for feedback and success! She's the doyenne of Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, and many other virtual publicity websites.

Carol will be demonstrating the basics of navigating these treacherous technical waters. Find out why you should dabble, even just a little, on-line. By the time we're finished, you'll be amazed and eager to get out there and start networking!  It's so easy, even Smedley the bookstore cat tweets. Carol will touch on hot social media topics such as Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, YouTube, Plancast and blogging.

Learn quick tips, easy to use shortcuts and what to do if you hate the idea of marketing yourself.

Carol was a top finalist in the 2010 SoMe Awards (Social Media Awards of the Pacific Northwest) for her volunteer campaign for the Southwest Washington Blood Program. Winning campaigns awarded to Air New Zealand, Travelocity, PAX East, Mio Gelato, Portland Fit, Hotel Max, Mio Gelato, a worthy group to be included in!

Carol Doane is also a published writer (chapter in Laughing Nine to Five: The Quest for Humor in the Workplace) and has two completed fiction manuscripts now in the hands of literary agents on both coasts.

Many, many thanks to Angst Gallery owner Leah Jackson for allowing Cover to Cover Books to hold their monthly mixer in the gallery. The bookstore remains closed due to smoke damage until renovations can be completed. Cover to Cover is taking special orders via email: mail@covertocoverbooks.net.

If you want to chat with Carol after the event we'll be taking over the couch in Niche Wine & Art next door.

Online event registration for Social Media for Writers powered by Eventbrite

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Kailynn Doane

Writer, artist, future educator Kailynn Doane

Potential is not dictated by age.

One of our youngest friends is a dedicated high school student who plays piano, guitar, saxophone and beginner trumpet. She is a dynamite artist and freelance photographer. She competed with her rare breed dog at the State level in 4-H and is learning to ride her uncle's wild horses in the hinterlands. While in the city, she is seen around town on bike and when not on bike she is in the pool as an avid swimmer.

Whew. We wonder when she has time to do any homework.

We're excited to know Kailynn Doane and celebrate her own Active Qu3st. She is currently enrolled in the Science Math Technology at the largest high school in her city and is the organized friend who keeps everyone else on track to complete assignments on time.

Doane creates art wherever she finds

an interesting surface or medium.

Doane has her sights on a swimming trip to China March 2011. The trip is organized by Washington Cultural Exchange. They are an educational 501(c)(3) charitable organization begun in 1986 to increase cultural awareness and appreciation through international travel and competition.

Traveling with Washington Cultural Exchange is an exceptional opportunity and students are encouraged to network with the community and seek financial support.

Doane is seeking donations from local businesses, friends and of course, family. Support is paid directly to WSE in the students name and may be tax deductible. Check with your accountant.

Email Active Qu3st, Now@ActiveQu3st.com, if you would like more information on how to contribute to Miss Doane's cultural exchange. Personally, we can't wait to see her photos, but first we have to make sure she snags that trip :-)

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Books' worst enemy: FIRE

As reported in The Columbian, a fire next door to Cover to Cover Books ravaged the locally owned book shop with smoke and water damage. They are temporarily closed, but both owner Mel, and the owner of Mel--Smedley the cat, escaped unharmed.

Mel sent us this update:

We won't have power for at least a few days, and I will be meeting the adjuster later today to see what's what. Last night it was a mess, ceiling tiles down everywhere, water and smoke damage. Not sure how bad the books are, but there was no fire in our suite, just stink, some water damage, and mess of other sorts. Smeds and I got out just fine, along with most of the electronics. Luckily it was before our Open Microphone, so there was just me and the cat in the store at the time.

Probably need to scratch the author faire in December. I have no idea how long the business will be sidelined, but I expect at least a month, actually, and I won't have any extra oomph to keep that rolling while we assess the mess and get a new ceiling and flooring and whatever else.

*sigh*

It's always something. The irony is that last night while we were salvaging paperwork by flashlight, I found the inspection report and invoice from our annual fire extinguisher inspection: all 3 extinguishers were fine! Not that we had fire, but still. IRONY, WE HAVE IT.

Mel

We'll keep you posted on alternative location for the November Vancouver Writers Mixer as soon as we have secured space. In the meantime, our best wishes are with Mel and all the friends of Cover to Cover Books.

From the mailbox, read at your own risk

We received this email from one of our friends (psst... Melanie Sherman). It expresses our own love of beautifully crafted language.

"I followed someone on twitter who sent me the following direct message:

thanks 4 following me, Melanie. I look 4ward 2 connecting w/ U. PLZ remember me if U ever need proofreading, editing or transcriptions done,

Um...yeah. She'd B like a 1st lieu10ant. I'd forgot10 how much help that wood B."

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If you need editing assistance, perhaps Active Qu3st can assist you in finding a real editor. Wait! We think you already know one. Keep editing, friend, and let us know when you get back to that agent who is hot on your trail. We want to see your book published!

Let the kids tweet!

Received an email from Carolyn J. Rose that made us laugh. She is currently substitute teaching and enjoying the heck out of it—now that she views it as part of her social life and a chance to practice stand-up comedy.

Here's what she wrote . . .

So I see a kid with his phone out in class today and I tell him he’d better be texting his pals to tell them that I’m the greatest sub in the world and he says no, he’s tweeting it. A few minutes later another kid says he’s tweeting about me, too.

I should have taken their phones away, but I knew that you, my publicist, would have been upset at the loss of free publicity. LOL

That's right, Carolyn. We want ALL the PR we can get for you as possible, even from kids who should be studying English.

After all, when they are tweeting they are still writing, aren't they?

Leah Jackson Show: a second look at graffiti

Graffiti is an under appreciated art form.

Usually deemed a minor crime, this transitory art form is the subject of an exhibit by Angst Gallery owner Leah Jackson.

Jackson, a world traveler, encourages us to take another look at graffiti and captured her visual thesis in a photographic journey. She shares pctures from the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, France, and the Pacific Northwest at Washington State University. The photographs are not framed, but rather displayed on distressed surfaces such as rusted steel or weathered wood.

Much of the graffiti she captured is no longer visible. It's gone, covered up with paint so as not to bother the general public.

Because of Jackson's keen eye, imaginative and beautiful graffiti can still be shared and enjoyed.

Venue:
Washington State University Vancouver
In the Library
14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave
Vancouver, WA 98686.

When

Now through November 21

Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 10pm
Friday: 8am - 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: Noon - 5pm

The library will be CLOSED on: September 5-6 for Labor Day and November 11 for Veteran’s Day

FREE admission.

For more information about the graffiti exhibit or any other exhibit at Washington State University Vancouver, contact Erin Dengerink Madarang at madarang@vancouver.wsu.edu or 360-546-9551.

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Read more about Leah Jackson on these posts:

Leah Jackson on Active Qu3st

SW Washington Zest: 10 minute conversation with Leah Jackson

SW Washington Center for the Arts; Doc published Summer 2009

Art is in the eye of the beholder: Student interns at Angst Gallery

Bike Love event June 2009: Bike Portland.org photo gallery

Leah Jackson: Director Angst Gallery

Sometimes a Carolyn Commotion

"It’s bedlam by the bay, chaos on the coast, another dustup in Devil’s Harbor."

Yes! The next book in the Devil's Harbor Mystery series goes on sale now at Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660. It can also be found at other popular sites such as Amazon.com,  Barnesandnoble.com and Kindle.

That's good news.

Carolyn J. Rose co-wrote the mystery with her husband Mike Nettleton. She laughs a lot about the joys of writing with a spouse, but secretly we know that whenever the atmosphere gets tense someone gets knocked off in the book.

So, who dies in this commotion? Here's the scoop:

Thanks to reporter Molly Donovan, the person who killed The Big Grabowski is in jail, but things are hardly back to what passes for normal in the quirky coastal community. With the aging sewage treatment system at its limit and huge penalties looming, the mayor orders extreme water conservation. Townspeople complain, but comply; they make every flush count.

Then Elspeth spots an image scorched into a breaded crab cake served up at the Devil’s Food Cafe. Swarms of pilgrims descend on the town and the mayor, despite threats of impeachment or worse, plants a portable toilet on every lawn. Only selling timber from town trust land can supply funds to fix the sewer system. But a tree-sitting activist for hire keeps loggers at bay.

When someone takes a chainsaw to his perch, Molly discovers the fall alone didn’t kill him-he was poisoned, strangled, and struck with a blunt object. Who did him in? The mayor? The girlfriend he cheated on? The environmentalist he defrauded? Loggers with their payday on hold?

While Molly delves into the dead man’s past, hoping to untangle a snarl of lies and name the killer before Sheriff Greg Erdman, others chart stranger courses-her father falls for a shady lady, Henri undertakes an extreme makeover, Adam flees to the forest, Elspeth sees the light, Icky becomes a writer, and Shelley takes bold steps to turn back the tide of tourism.

Run on down to Cover to Cover. Make a commotion. They'll point you toward the right shelf.

Read an excerpt on the Deadly Duo's website!

IN THE NEWS: Leah Jackson and PARK(ing) Day

"Vancouver gallery owner Leah Jackson was happy to participate in Friday’s city-sanctioned conversion of a few curbside parking spaces into parks-for-a-day," begins the article in the local paper.

Leah Jackson has been participating in PARK(ing) Day an annual, worldwide event that inspires city dwellers to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good since its inception. She is a strong promoter of biking and pedestrian access to city venues and gallery visitors will spy Jackson's bike parked in front of Angst Gallery during open hours.

The picture from the paper's website shows Niche Wine Bar, Jackson's next new venture opening soon at 1013 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.

Read the entire article here.