We had in exciting weekend in Orlando. Thursday evening, we ate dinner at the Stonewood Grill, located on the corner of Conroy and Dr. Phillips. We found the menu choices to be varied, the prices reasonable, and the atmosphere comfortable. We would definitely return.

Friday found us in Winter Park where we checked out the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens. Polasek, originally from Czechoslovakia, emigrated to the United States and made a name for himself as a painter and sculptor. He worked in mediums of wood, stone, clay, and bronze. Many of his sculptures can be seen around the country while some of his early models are on display at the museum. You get to tour his house which is very simply designed facing Lake Osceola. He was a handsome man, twice married, who left the legacy of his house for the public to enjoy.

On our way home, we went down Fairbanks via the usual route toward I-4. But as we approached the ramp to go west, two policemen blocked it off. Figuring there might have been an accident on the highway, we veered south on Orange Avenue toward Princeton. That ramp, too, was blocked. Proceeding along, we tried for the next entrance to I-4, downtown by Ivanhoe. But as we headed in that direction, we ran into a blockade, cops with guns, and emergency vehicles with flashing lights. We turned on the radio and learned there had been a shooting at the Gateway Center, and there it was, straight in front of us. Another workplace tragedy. Fortunately for us, we could get on I-4 here, but we could not go west. So we went all the way east in the opposite direction, got off at Altamonte Springs, drove west to 429, and finally headed south to Windermere. Getting home was an adventure in itself and took over an hour longer than usual.

The next day, we fared better. I attended the Central Florida Romance Writers meeting where sci fi romance author Linnea Sinclair was the guest speaker. I’d invited Linnea to stay over at our condo the night before, so we had a wonderful chat about the publishing industry and a nice dinner at Bonefish Grill. Linnea’s talk about Opening Hooks was well attended. She said that you shouldn’t only have an opening hook at the beginning of your story, but also at the beginning of every chapter. She discussed the categories of openers and then reviewed some examples.

We grabbed a quick lunch at Panera Bread in the Fashion Square Mall where the meeting took place, then drove to the Altamonte Springs for the mass book signing called Romancing the Holidays sponsored by Barnes & Noble and CFRW. Twenty authors met readers and signed books for three hours on Saturday afternoon. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Adult Literacy League. I was lucky to sit between author Grace Kone who writes mystery and romance like myself, and Lucienne Diver who doubles as a literary agent and YA author. Other authors who attended from my home chapter, FRW, included Traci Hall and Bonnie Vanak. And of course, I was glad to see so many of my Central Florida pals: Terry Odell, Dara Edmondson, Catherine Kean, Pamela LaBud, Nancy Robards Thompson, Michelle Young, and many others. Thanks also to Lorena Streeter, CFRW president, for helping Dara and all pull this event together. (Forgive me if I’ve left out someone or spelled a name incorrectly).

  Grace Kone and Nancy Cohen

Finished with business, I set off for the last day of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival on Sunday. This time I tasted some new dishes: Beef Stew (Austria, $3.25); Spanikopita (Greece, $4.00); Chocolate Lava Cake (Ireland, $2.75); Veal Meatballs (Germany?). It was all delicious, and I’ll definitely attend next year.

Band at Epcot using cooking utensils as instruments.

Please watch for my guest blog on Research and The Muse at The Stiletto Gang on Friday.