Rolecall!!!

I'm Mike, payroll clerk and sometime English student at UNLV. Wrote for college paper, sold some stories here and there. Recently got hooked on typewriters and joined the Brigade. Found NaNoWriMo completely by chance. SO EXCITED. I have motivational issues that prevent me from doing anything more serious than a short story, so this is good.

I moved to Vegas with my parents when I was 13, and am now 27 with lovely wife and kid and dog and house. Working on white picket fence as we speak...

I'm Tabetha, but since that's a mouthful, people usually call me Tabby. I'm a student at ITT Tech in Henderson, but live in North Town. I originally moved here with my family because of my father's job, and only left once to live in Iowa for a year. I can't say I've been doing NaNoWriMo since 2003 anymore, since I didn't participate last year due to school and travel reasons. (I went to Rhode Island to visit the in-laws!) But I did every other year than 2007. I even felt the agony of defeat in 2004. This year I'm taking a chance with a genre that I haven't even read widely in!

I originally started doing NaNoWriMo because an online writing friend mentioned it to me. Since then, it's more like a conditional thing. When I look at the calendar and see how close to November it is, the back of my mind lights up and starts thinking about crafting sentences from the bricks and blocks that we call words. Even last year I felt an urge to write, if not a new story, then something old I've been overturning for a long time.

Also, NaNoWriMo works for me because I'm long-winded, to the dismay of my instructors. :3

'03 Winner: A Harmony of Grays
'04 Loser: Mastigophobia
'05 Winner: Power to Lose
'06 Winner: False Influence
'08 Contender: Maelstrom and Undertow
My Blog: http://coup-de-plume.blogspot.com

Howdy, I'm Dawn and have lived in Vegas for almost (I can say almost since it's already OCTOBER, sheesh) 4 years (January). I came to Vegas to work with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and am currently on a break from the whole missionary thing and working at The Palazzo. However, I'm leaving for Australia end of the year for a YWAM school called Intro to Primary Healthcare - and who knows what I'll be doing once that's over end of June.

I've been doing Nano for a few years now...2004 was first year I believe - lost half the writing because of an old laptop so gave up. 2005 was writing while taking a YWAM school in Brazil - and actually won that year. One of my fellow students let me borrow his laptop every single evening so I could write. So nice of him! Next year, didn't get past the second chapter and lost. Last year, finished the FIRST chapter, and again, lost.

This year, I'm picking up last year's story, with some character revisions (evidently, some of them decided to reinvent themselves over the last 9-10 months) and running with it. Hopefully to at least 50K.

:o) I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to any of the meetings...I'm off Tues/Wed and rely on the bus for transportation. :o) I'll be there in spirit though! And I might try to get a day off to come to the 24 hour thing. I was planning on taking a few days around the beginning of November anyway, specifically for Nano...that actually sounds crazy doesn't it??? HAHA!

Hi I'm Laura and yes I am the crazy one who screws up dates and tries to set up all night write-athons. I have been doing nano since 06 when a friend told me about it. I won last year, yeah. I write all kinds of things, from horror, romance to last year's novel a murder mystery. I am not 100% sure what I am going to write this year. Still plotting.

I have lived in Vegas almost 5 years (5 years in Feb) and I enjoy many things, (not enough space to get into all of them) I am usually a nice person, but if you get on my bad side, be ready to die in some horrible accident, in my novel of course!!! LOL

I hope we all can work together this year to get meet ups and gathers together and fun.

Nano 06 -- Lost, but I was sick
Nano 07 -- Won with Cat Scratch
Nano 08 -- Won with Ryan Says
SF 09 -- already plotting
Nano 09 -- not ready to think about yet!!!

Howdy! I'm Laurie. I've been living in North Vegas now for about a year and a half. I came following hubby's job--he's a Field Engineer for a construction company. I'm blessed to be teaching piano both privately and at Silver Mesa rec center. (I teach country western line dancing there, too!) ----shameless plug!! I don't have kids, but I do have furbies (babies with fur!) --two adorable Hush Puppies and two cats.
This is my third go-around with Nano. I had stumbled upon it purely by chance and signed up on Nov.1 of 06 and miraculously pulled off a win. I get so excited for Nano now that I spend quite a bit of time on the boards--mainly role playing--that's one of my guilty pleasures. Seriously, Nano should be declared its own holiday!! I write fantasy, and I'm also a sucker for romance.

Rick Bentsen... ink-stained wretch of a man.... somewhat successful author... Wait. Wrong story!

Heh. I'm 32 (I'll turn 33 during NaNo...) I just got out of a 2.5 year relationship... MESSY end. So I'm looking forward to diving into NaNo and letting my writing take away the pain. As some of you already know, I own my own publishing house and we are working hard to get out the full schedule of books we already have!

This is my 3rd year in NaNo. The past two years have been miserable failures (I barely made 3000 words last year) but I am DETERMINED to make it this year come hell or high water. I think that the all night write in is probably going to be the difference maker this year.

My new novel should be out in February or March. *shrugs* That's about it.

Madam, I assure you, I am merely Ernest Pratt. Ink-stained wretch of a man, sometimes successful author - and free for the evening, incidentally.

-- Ernest Pratt (From "Birth of a Legend".... if you get the reference you get a cookie!)

My name is Peter, my wife and I moved here three years ago from the East coast. We both work in the casino industry and so far we've both avoided the axe, thank god. I guess if I DO get let go I'll have a lot more time for NaNo this year, right? I did NaNo for the first time last year and just managed to finish with 50k words. I'm hoping I can do it again this year!

2007 - 'Stripped' - Winner
2008 - Arugula Moon
'I love my country - mainly because I'm white and rich. Well, I'm not actually rich but I do have a lot of sh*t I don't need that I refuse to share with others. And that feels pretty solid.' - Maria Bamfo

Hi all! I'm Leah and have been in Vegas nearly 4 years now. Orginally from a small midwestern town where we all watched the grass grow for fun. I have 4 adult children, 2 grandchildren and 1 grandson on the way (due Nov. 5th), and have had 28 foster chldren grace my home over the past 10 years (currently taking a break from foster parenting). My 21 year old daughter (the one who is expecting), my mother who has failing health, my fiance who somehow manages to put up with it all and still be my bigges supporter all live in my home along with my 2 furball kitties, so writing this year should be interesting.

This is my 3rd year with Nano and I have managed to win the last 2 years so I am hoping to keep it going this year. MY usual genre is fantasy, but not sure this year what it will end up being. I have the concept down but it almost seems like romance which is not my thing so I have to add to it and add some flare. It may end up fantasy or suspense of who knows, but I am excited about it this year.

**I'm five years in to a two year plan**
**So what am I waiting for?**

Well my name is Kathe...I have lived in Las Vegas since I was like 5, and am now 27 soon to be 28, (In Dec..Man am I getting old. LOL)

I am not married, have no kids and work as Security at the Eastside Cannery. (Yes that is the new one). I enjoy my job and love the people I work with it.

I have signed up to do Nano every year since 2003, and have yet to have a year that I have completed it. EIther family issues, health issues, or work has taken over and all my time has gone out the window. And we wont talk about the evil writters block. LOL. I am hoping this year will be different and I can finish it.

I'm Meg -- 22 years old and pretty much a complete nerd. I work at Starbucks in a casino and I really dig my job. I've written for a very long time, but since moving to Vegas last year I've sort of fallen out of it. Hopefully this'll spur me into writing on a more frequent basis again.

I play a lot of World of Warcraft, and live with four guys in their early 20s (the latter being one of the most trying things that I've done in my life to date!). I can't wait to meet up with you guys; I'll be the one typing furiously on her shiny new Alphasmart Neo. :D

My name is Lizzie :) I just moved to Vegas 2 months ago, to go to UNLV. I'm from CT where I have lived all 21 years of my life.

This is my 3rd year doing Nano. I started because some of my online friends were doing it and convinced me to try as well. I havent won yet - the first year I got around 3k words, the 2nd around 300. Neither year did I have a plot going into it, this year I do, so hopefully I will be able to finally win.

I'm Sierra, most people call me CiCi, I'm seventeen and I've lived in Vegas for about six years. This is my first year doing NaNo, I love to write, so when I heard a challenge I felt I had to cut myself a slice. I'm a junior high school student at Cimarron-Memorial. I'm Taking an AP English Lang/Comp class, and hopefully it will pay off. Hum, I suppose that's all the interesting 'stuff'.

**The new kid**
This year I'll kick ass....hopefully.

NaNoWriMo video (wow it rhymes...kinda...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKjadRWfP1w

I'm Arlene, I did Nano last year and won (and finished the book) and this year I'm doing the sequel.

I've been here 4 years, and I work for MGM/Mirage selling Cirque tickets by the armload. Not a bad way to earn a buck or two.

In non Nano writing, I have three of six books out in my historical fiction series and am struggling with the fourth (because the Nano book keeps wanting to be written first and I can't, I've GOT to get this thing out) and I also sew cosplay costumes for myself and others. I also occasionally write for comic books (hence the Screnzy version of last year's Nano story: my book as graphic novel! Came out pretty cool, too) and am teaching myself crochet and doll making. Which are just two more forms of writing procrastination, according to some of my readers :-)

I do Nano because it forces me to adhere to a deadline. As book 4 will attest, I have some problems in that area XD

___________________________________________
NANOWRIMO 2008: Carillon Prophesy
Twelve Chapters. Thirty Days. No Sweat.
0 words - 0/12 chapters completed

I'm Eric. I'm a full time student at CSN double majoring in Music and Creative Writing. I was tempted to do NaNo last year, but I didn't. This year I'm going to go for broke and give it what I can.

I've been in Vegas for 13 years. I don't have much in the way of complaints, but I'm sure this city's spoiled me; where else can you go get a burger at three in the morning without anyway raising an eyebrow?

Well welcome to our newbies and a wave hello to our return writers. Please everyone try to hit up a gather, a write in or the kick off party or closing party (all still in planning stages)

We want to meet everyone and hopefully we can still find a good burger joint opened at 3A after this is all over. LOL

Nano 06 -- Lost, but I was sick
Nano 07 -- Won with Cat Scratch
Nano 08 -- Won with Ryan Says
SF 09 -- already plotting
Nano 09 -- not ready to think about yet!!!

...I am the resident Ghost Writer. As in, I live in the area, but I have yet to make even one actual meetup in the last four years running. I might actually manage one this year, though. The chief difficulty is my screwy work schedule. Indeed, the only one I know would recognize me in person who has posted thus far is Tsunami.

Not that I'm hard to identify, really.

*fills out a citation to Tsunami for abuse of punctuation in the thread title*

Welcome to all the new writer's we have this year and welcome back to those returning. I look forward to a funfilled month of writing with everyone. Like Laura said try to make at least one of the get togethers. They really do help keep us all motivated. Not to mention Laura and I are looknig for ways to make this year even more exciting.

**I'm five years in to a two year plan**
**So what am I waiting for?**

Hi, I'm Mercedes! Most of you guys know me as Jei_toh from previous years. This is my third NaNo, and hopefully my third win. I'm married with two little kids, and I manage to not sleep during the entire month of November, or else I could never get any writing done. I dearly love NaNo, seriously. It's so much fun.

I'm Anna (rhymes with Donna). No I'm not a snob. Just Norwegian. : )

This is my second time living in Vegas. I lived here in the mid-90s for three or four years. I moved back in 2003. My husband and I have three kids ages 10, 12, and 17. I currently home school my youngest child. The older two were previously home schooled, but have now graduated to the wider world of public school and are enjoying it very much. The thought that all three of them will soon be beyond the need for my care has me trying to figure out, once again, what I will be when I grow up!

That's where NaNo comes in. This is my first year with NaNo. I thought about it last year, but chicken out at the last minute. I'm excited to give it a whirl.

I look forward to meeting all of you at one of the local gatherings!

TajLV here, checking in. It was a lot of fun last year (yes, I managed to complete the local challenge and work a vampire into my 2007 winner), so I'm back for more and hope to attend a few of the gatherings.

I'm an author, editor and publisher of non-fiction--a Las Vegas resident since 2000--straying from my bread and butter to create some fruitcake (humorous fiction). I think 2008 NANO will be a nice change from the electioneering I've got myself involved in over the past six months. Come November 5th, I'll be ready to return to the keyboard. Enough of these political distractions. It's time once again to write, Write, WRITE!

====================================
50,000 words in 25 days or jesfahgedaboudit

TajLV - 50,000 words in 43,200 minutes or bust!

*takes the citation from Kassil and glances down at it* Hmph. *sets it on fire and tosses it in the rubbage bin*

2006: How Charming/ Winner
2007: Juliette Grace: Catch and Release/ Not Even Close
2008: A New History Of Dragons/ 0 words

*watches a wildfire start as a result*

Hi there, my name is Meredith, and I am a return Wrimo- I 'won' in 2005, my first NaNoWriMo experience. Last time I started with a very clear idea of what I would write (a ghost story geared for young adult readers), and this time, I find I have nothing particular in mind, yet; I'm ready for a totally new challenge.

I have lived in the Las Vegas area for five years now, am currently employed as a florist, and love very little more than I love putting pen to paper and writing. I will, by the way, be participating in NaNoWriMo the old fashioned way, this go around, and have no plans to involve my laptop in the process; A smooth writing pen, and a notebook which opens comfortably flat will assist me this year (something I feel quite good about; a more organic approach to novel writing.)

Hi everyone. This is my first year doing NanoWriMo. I first heard about it reading one of the many blogs I go to for writerly inspiration.

I have completed what I am calling my drawer novel (I think lots of writers have them) it serves as proof that I can finish (but it will never see the light of day). When I wrote it, I had just gotten laid off and couldn't find work, so I was mad with words 8 to 10 hours a day.

Over the years, my true identity as a writer has suffered against my alter-ego who works the grind. I have lots of novels in the works because I get bored and another idea takes my attention. Currently, I'm working on a fantasy novel that I love, which I abandoned the horror novel I love, to focus on. The words are coming too slowly and I'm editing way too often. I figured doing NaNoWriMo would remind me what it's like to just put the words on the page with the promise that it will all come together in the editing in the end.

I'm twenty-twelve and will be twenty-thirteen in December. For my birthday my BF promised she'd do NaNoWriMo with me. I sent her a silly synopsis to show her how easy it is to pull one out of the ether and I actually kind of like it, so that's where Sophie Softie Squared came from. I write sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. This is the first time I've tried mixing comedy (dark humor) into my writing. I'm not sure how you'd categorize Sophie Softie, perhaps it's some hybrid of horror, fantasy, comedy, and romance.

I moved to Las Vegas three months ago from close to Chicago and surprisingly enough I miss the weather. I've discovered I'm more of a warm off in front of the fire than cool off in the pool kind of gal. Oh well. :)

OH, Jean Sands is a pen name, however, my middle name is Jean and lots of people call me that. You can also call me Erica or E.J. :) Nice to meet you all.

The power of imagination makes us infinite. - John Muir

Hello, fellow WriMos.

This will be my third attempt. I have yet to cross the finish line but got 38,000 words last year. Pathetic. But this year as Nov. 1 approaches, I am full of hope. It hasn't been a total loss. Just last week I found the strength to take a look at what I wrote in 2006 and was pleasantly surprised. Of course, it was a fragmented and disjointed mess, but parts of it could be developed into something that doesn't suck.

I recently moved to Las Vegas from Illinois. I think there's at least one other former Illinoisan in the group. I also miss the weather and in particular, the fall colors and the sweet smoky air of a midwestern October.

I gather that there is some sort of weekly meeting planned and possibly an all-nighter or two, but apparently I missed the memo covering where and when these will be. Could someone clue me in? I've always done this on my own. I'm looking to do something different this time around, and hoping that will yield different results.

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

e

I'm from the Midwest at well, and am actually back visiting family for the week in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The rain is strange, as is the lack of mountains and the crackle of the dried leaves under my feet as I walk across the driveway. It's really very nice here, but I miss my new home. :D

We want to welcome all the new comers and return nanoiers... don't forget on this coming Tues, Barnes N Noble on Rainbow near the 95 exit. I can get anyone the addy if needed.

Please just remember, we all must be nuts or super smart to be doing this AGAIN.... or for the first time. Come out and meet everyone and have a blast.

Nano 06 -- Lost, but I was sick
Nano 07 -- Won with Cat Scratch
Nano 08 -- Won with Ryan Says
SF 09 -- already plotting
Nano 09 -- not ready to think about yet!!!

WOW we grew up in the same neck of the woods. In fact I will be back in Indiana at the end of the month to visit family as well. I was back there last year and loved the storms it is what I miss the most living here, but when I was there I missed not being able to go shopping at midnight if I wanted too. I think we get spoiled here to everything being 24 hrs.

**I'm five years in to a two year plan**
**So what am I waiting for?**

To echo Laura's words. Welcome to everyone both new and returning writers. This year is going to be so much fun and I hope to see everyone Tuesday!

**I'm five years in to a two year plan**
**So what am I waiting for?**

Hi I am Laura L Alton I will use my whole name so I won't get confused with the other Laura. This is my fourth year doing NaNo. I finished in 2005 and sold that book to a publisher in Tx It is coming out in April 2009. Las Vegas Chew Toy Go buy two or three copies. The next year I finished, but didn't finish in 2007. I really hope to finish this year.

Well looking forward to meeting you all.

Laura L Alton

Las Vegas Chew Toy a 2005 NaNoWriMo novel being published April 2009.