This was quite the show. Long days, but we learned a lot and met some wonderful people. I even sold a few things! Already making plans on how to do things differently next year.

The date of Western Art Week in Great Falls, Montana is rapidly approaching.
We're almost ready to go. Pictures are all framed and labeled, prints are bagged and tagged. The books are almost all here. Amazon sent them in different shipments, so they are showing up, one box at a time. But we still have two weeks minus a day before we leave, so I am confident all will be here by then.
We still have to go through a 'dress rehearsal', setting up the display panels and hanging pictures, make lists of everything we need to take with us, and then get it all ready to go. 
Our main concern right now, is the weather. It seems to be turning into the hardest winter they've had in some time, so we're hoping there will be no snow storms along the way. We can always leave a day early if things look dicey, but of course, we'd rather the roads stay clear and safe. Prayers out to the weather goddess.

Not happy with this piece so far. I was hoping to have it done in time for Christmas, and maybe that was the problem.  I'm giving it a rest for now, and will get back to it later in the week. Most of the background needs to be re-done, and my attempts to fix it have only made it worse.

The second fence panel is now completed! 3' x 9', latex on plywood. It is quite the challenge working with latex paint, but the finished result was worth it.

Another one finished. This one was challenging, but fun. I'm not used to putting this much detail into the background. I'm really pleased with the way the vase turned out.

Just finished these new commissions. Both are small pieces, so I decided to try out my prismacolor pencils and see what effect I got. They are a challenge, and very different from working in pastels, but I do like the finished results.  I have one more large pastel to do and the horse panel for the fence, then I'll be all set for Christmas orders.
I will be at Camano Community Center on the 17th of Nov for their Christmas bazaar, then off to Snohomish on the 18th the the bazaar there. That is going to be one busy weekend.

Had a great time at Women Writing the West Convention in Walla Walla Washington.
I will now be spending my days eliminating many of the exclamation marks, italics, needless tags and passive verbs from my manuscript. I'm glad I got to this convention before I published the first book in the Navarre Link.
There were lots of great insights and opportunities to speak with people in the publishing business. I hope to go again next year.

Finally, after a few delays with getting supplies together and then playing around with the lay-out, the first fence panel is all blocked in and ready to go. Monday I will get out the small brushes and get serious.

I had hoped to get the cover for The Navarre Link: Twisted Fate done before I started on my commissions, but it's not going as smoothly as I had hoped. At this point now, the commissions need to get done, so my own artwork is being delegated to the back burner for now. I will get back to it, and probably work on it periodically as I find time.
On one hand, this is a good thing! It gives me more time to finish critiquing my upcoming book to make it even better!

Here are some of the five star reviews posted on LuLu and Amazon! Thanks to everyone who takes the time to give their support. It means a lot to us authors!

This novella is the prelude to a longer book, which I am now looking forward to immensely. Brauneis creates a solid sense of place -- the opening scenes, of a pair of outlaws fleeing a posse on horseback, through blizzard conditions, is so vivid I could imagine myself there. Jack and Leon, outlaws but not truly bad men, stumble across a ranch and meet a family whose welcome shows them a new way of life, but all too soon reality closes back in . . . The author's clear understanding of horses adds to the sense of time and place. Fans of the old ‘Alias Smith and Jones’ tv series will enjoy this, as well anyone who likes action, adventure, and the possibility of redemption.
 5.0 out of 5 stars
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I liked the relationship between Peter/Leon and Mathew/Jack, they share a deep bond. The action starts right at the beginning and keeps going. I am looking forward to The Navarre Link.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Format: Kindle Edition
I am really looking forward to the next installment the author has done a great job with world building. Love the boys and had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the little bit of humor that sneaks in.
 
This is such a great read from the beginning right thru to the end. I love the relationship between these two outlaws, Nash and Jack. Wanted and on the run, they still have a sense of humor and decency. Coming to care about the family that takes them in when they are finally able to lose the posse that has been chasing them. Capture, escape, a very smart horse, a creative meal on the run, this story just keeps giving you more and more. I am looking forward to reading more of it.

This author has presented us with a sympathetic pair of anti-heroes, and given them a compelling storyline as they seek shelter with a warm and generous family who don't know they are wanted. The posse hunting them don't know they are trying for pardons either and are determined to bring them in. Vivid descriptive language paints a world so real you can almost feel the ice and snow and a characterful horse brings the kind of light relief which could only have been written by someone who knows horses intimately. A wonderful read for fans of Westerns.