Sorry that I took so long to get back to everyone today, but I wanted to take the opportunity to let everyone know that big steps (I mean BIG STEPS) were taken today.

First – it seems like the name that people are favoring is THE CARTEL COLLABORATIVE. I also wish to make a small apology to Joe about the slip in proper etiquette here. It is important to always get permission, and even though Joe is very supportive, that one is on me. I’ll try be more mindful of that going forward.

Secondly – Stephanie Gonzaga has offered her services to help build our site and has already begun diving into the task. I would like very much to give a tip of the cap to her as well for giving of her time and talents. Thank you very much Stephanie.

Thirdly – I wanted to inform everyone that Joe has not only given his blessing to this endeavor (Thanks again), but on top to that he has graciously offered to pay for the domain and host the site for us as well. I would like to express my most sincere appreciation for such a generous gift.

Lastly – if any of you wish to discuss anything while we work to get the collaborative space up, I just want everyone to know I check this blog regularly ( I am also still trying to finish my lessons on using Twitter), and I am frantically trying to get my own website/blogosphere set up ASAP. Until then if any of you wish to contact me directly, my work email is jamesschmidt@bsrconsulting.net.

As this project now looks to be solidly underway – I want to also extend my thanks to each and every one of you for lending your time, talents, and most importantly your spirits to this project. I promise that I will do my very best to join along with all of you to build something that we can all be proud of.

Thanks

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

OK – I registered three domain names – only held them for month initially so you all can decide if you like any of these names or suggest others if you find there is a domain name available.

VOTE TIME:

I registered the following:
http://www.thecartelcollaborative.com – I hope this doesn’t step on any toes
http://www.thewriterscooperative.com
http://www.writebetweentheears.com

Any of these strike a chord? Any suggestions? Let me know your thoughts.

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

Everyone: I asked Angie if she would consider doing the cover for this project. I just wanted to give other people in the Cartel group a chance to showcase their talents and Angie (if she agrees) could really add to the project by designing a book cover for us. I hope that is OK with everyone.

On the note of the project – I was hoping to set up a web meeting time for us to get together and get the ball rolling. I was looking for times sometime next week (after the July 4th weekend). I am in the Central Time Zone (U.S.)- but evenings are honestly a bit better for me.

I also wanted to get people thinking a bit on what we envision this project being (Do we want to have a theme, what might be a good theme, maybe a time frame for the project, A name for the project, things like that). Please let me know your thoughts about this and any other topics that we need to consider. I would love to hear ideas.

I am working on getting a basic web collaboration site put together for us so that we can collaborate and work according to our own individual schedules. I would also like to “Chronicle” the process so that we can all share our experiences with others about this project. I will let you all know when things are ready.

Let me know some times that work for you all.

Thanks again everyone,

Sincerely,

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

Excellent Christy – I am glad you’re on board. I was hoping that you might have caught this post and decided to participate. I felt that we had a pretty good rapport going when discussing your Twenty Seconds of Courage story and I just knew you would make a great collaborative partner to have in the project.

You’re exactly the type of person we’re looking for and I know that you will make great contributions. I am so pleased with the writers who have chosen to participate thus far because there is a pretty high level of talent that exists here.

Thanks again – You Got Your Spot!!!

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

Brian – I was hoping to hear from you. You and I have a whole lot in common and I know that you will be great for the project. There are still room available so you’re in my friend. Currently we are working on logistics and Joe is going to let us put up a site where we can gather and collaborate. I’m glad to have you aboard.

Sincerely,

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

Wordpress skills are excellent Stephanie – just the person I am looking to help me. It’s funny just because I work in I.T.doesn’t mean I do much website work. I write boring old insurance software, so when I tell people I don’t have much experience with making websites, they tend to look at me like I’m crazy. Oh I could figure it out, but why struggle with it when I know someone who already has experience in this area.

Ta da – Welcome Ms.Stephanie. I am very grateful for the offer to help me get a central place up and going. I think it will make it easier for each person to work on this when their schedules permit. I sent you an email on your website – you can use that email to contact me personally until I get my own site up and running. We can talk about this and you can help me build some kind of base of operations for this project. I already have a couple of Domains we can use if you want. Let me know your thoughts on this.

Thank you very much – I really really appreciate it.

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

Margie, Thank you so much for agreeing to help – especially from a Newbie like myself. I went to look at your site and I was blown away. It means a great deal that you would volunteer to handle the layout and design of the book. I don’t have really much of an idea about what it takes to layout a book, but you obviously do and I am thankful for your direction here. In many respects, that may be the most difficult job of the entire project.

If you would agree to help us assemble the book, I promise I will help you in any way I can, even if that means staying out of your way. Whatever you require – I will try my best to make happen.

I cannot thank you enough for this gesture. It truly is appreciated.

Sincerely,

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

Ebony – thanks for getting back. Like you, Wednesday is not a good night for me, and the next couple of weekends I am helping a friend build his home brewery (Homebrewers tend to be very similar writers, we are always tinkering and as soon as you finish one project – another presents itself).

I myself have next Thursday open. Are you on the West Coast with Ann. I was just trying to judge what time periods could be most convenient for all. I am not sure but I think Stephanie is in an even later time zone.

I am very glad your looking forward this. I’m pretty pumped myself. I don’t want to get to far ahead of myself on this, but I have already been thinking about who should to play me if Hollywood decides they want to turn this into a movie!!!!!!

Thanks Ebony,

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

We are members of a Story Cartel with different stories and perspectives. That’s a good enough theme for me. I am totally fine with just allowing people to write what is in their hearts and minds. In fact – the differences might actually play to our advantage. As the legendary Martha Stewart says “It’s a good thing.”

Everyone who wants to participate is vital to the project. I am pleased as punch that Margie and Angie have also agreed to participate because we are all aware of their talents and skill set. Both Margie and Angie have helped me personally already and I know that together, along with everyone else who has signed on, we are very strong and creative group.

I will try to get some kind of meeting forum set up for next week. I am in the process of setting up a collaborative website as I know people’s schedules can vary greatly. I am also open to ideas on how we can best work as a group and still allow individuals the freedom to come and go as their time allows. Blogging posts seem to work fairly well for us but any other suggestions are appreciated. Let me know your thoughts.

Finally, I want to take just a moment to express my sincere appreciation to all of you for your enthusiasm and willingness to try this. I have never done something like this before and you always wonder how well an idea will be recieved. I spend most of my writing time hunkered down alone at my keyboard. I am very excited about the opportunity to work with all of you. You all have rich and valuable voices, and produce great stories. I am very proud to be associated with each and every one of you and again thank you very much for doing this.

So get ready! Get Set! …………….

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S)

Stephanie – Its an opportunity to collaborate and do something together as a group. That was the idea. This group is made stronger through the qualities and passions of it’s individuals. Where ever your passion lie – that’s what we’re looking for. Vijay Seshadri just won the Pulitzer for his poetry – and I find nothing lacking or less poignant in the prose just because it may be shorter in length.

Heart and Soul – That’s what we are asking for from each member – so you’re all good in my book.

I for one am glad to have you participate. Your contribution will add value and scope to the project. Welcome aboard and thanks for joining.

Sincerely,

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)

YEAH SUNNY !! I am very excited to hear that you are interested. Everyone here knows how strong a writer you are. I am very pleased that you would want to participate. So far – of all that are interested – I am probably the farthest behind in terms of Skill set, web presence, body of work, and I am very glad to have such strong writers to prop me up a little higher.

Lee also mentioned a theme – we should discuss it – I think it might be a good idea. Honestly I do not have much experience in putting an anthology together, but the great thing is this can be whatever we want it to be.

Once we have determined who is in and who is out – I think we should try to arrange a web meeting/chat/project management type of thing and start to put some ideas together. This is intended to be a group project – the crux is to encourage everyone to feel free to contribute and participate – and get to know each other along the way.

My thought was to give this a week or so to allow other members in the group to have a chance to comment – then probably after the 4th of July Holiday weekend – we start the ball rolling.

Comments? Thoughts? All views are welcome –

Thanks again Sunny !!!

James Lee Schmidt (J.L.S.)