My Life in a Laptop

Good morning!

2012-01-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Wow. When I get sick I get knocked out by a train carying huge bins of coal or something like that. While my ears still feel like I'm underwater at least I'm not coughing up a lung anymore and that's a good thing because I need them.

So many things have happened I don't know where to start. I am still submitting EMERGENCE, I submitted and had a Christmas story accepted for an anthology, I am working on my first chapter entries for a conference first chapter contest. I've gotten all sorts of great comments on my first chapters. That makes me feel really good obviously.

I've been asked to prepare a emergency substitute class for a conference incase my friend gos into labor before then. I researched wrote edited and am preparing to send out a middle grade manners book to three publishers who asked for it back in MAy of last year. Considering its just been over 6 months since I talked about it to them I'm feeling pretty accomplished.

So how are things in your necks of the woods?

Short trips with large families. What I am doing wrong.

2011-12-31T10:47:00.001-08:00

My family and I traveled to Wyoming to visit the old prison. We'd heard about it a few years ago and really wanted to take a tour. It's supposed to be really hanuted. It definitely felt creepy. My baby was fine until we entered the "death row" building and then he wanted nothing to do with that building.

My older kids also wanted to go back to Martin's Cove. Knowing that Martins Cove would be blustery and cold I decided to stay at the hotel room and edit a MS that needed to be done. With the little kids that had snotty noses from a recent cold.

Every time I do short trips I sit in the car on the way home and make a mental list of things that could have been done easier faster etc. This time I actually wrote the list down.

So since you're my captive audience I thought I'd share.

First, I need to have a "travel box" IE hard sided rubbermaid box allready stocked with paper plates, cups, plastic silverware, paper towels, disposable tablecloths and other things like this. But it needs to be bigger than that or I need two one for the paper products and one for foodand snacks that we are taking on the road. We almost left the jar of peanut butter at Flaming Gorge because it fell out and rolled under the truck.

Garbage bags for the car and hotel room. For accidents, for dirty clothes, for garbage.

Hard sided cooler, the soft sided coolers leak after a few hours.

Seperate fish cooler so the cold food doesnt smell and taste like fish.

Take at least 2-3 more sets of clothes for the little kids than you think you'll need.

Blankets or towels in the car for spills and accidents. On floor or in carseats.

Laundry soap and quarters. Dish soap if you are using non disposable sippy cups.

Individual boxes that fit under my seats for individual kids stuff so it doesnt get lost in 12 pass van.

Laminated packing list in each kids bag and in the travel box(s)

Laminated list of food that we can grab or buy as we leave. (inc allergy list) IE maybe have some bread and tortillas frozen and hidden so we can just take off and let them thaw.

Make sure we have a master list so things like the babys porta bed doesnt get left at home. Inc, where the stuff is stored at home.

Now before you think that this trip was a disaster it wasn't. The 14 yo did leave the porta crib at home but the hotel had one we could borrow.

Things we did right.

I on a whim grabbed two extra pants and underwear for the preeschooler incase of accients.

I also brought a bag of toys for the one year old knowing we'd be in the hotel room all day. MAJOR RIGHT THING TO DO!!!

Most kids brought blankets sleeping bags and pillows for the pull out beds.

Being so cold I brought extra coats and jackets for the little ones. I also brought a little cooler so i could travel with milk and other things for the baby.

I took my little baggie of medicines fo the kids tylenol, motrin, benadryl, dramimine etc.

we have the food for traveling worked out and that went over mostly well except the ever changing picky one year old. But were still working on that.

Pack water bottles. Kids get tired of juice and pop and it can actually dehydrate them. Cups of water while cheaper get spilled.

Little styrofoam cups are great to fill with crackers and chips and pass out.

Bring both salty and sweet treats they will get tired of just one type.

Make kids bring some things to entertain themselves on the trip.

The best part of the trip besides seeing the haunted prison was getting my edit finished. (Mental note, hotel is nice place to work on writing. As long as kids arent watching Tom and Jerry.)

I'm back.

2011-12-31T10:38:00.000-08:00

My blog and I have a love hate relationship and most of the emotion is on my side.

I will honestly from here on out try my darndness to have a regular schedule. Honest.

Cold River by Liz Adair

2011-12-16T20:57:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of reading a really great Romantic Suspense these last few weeks.

Here is the blurb:

Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds.

This was a great read. Full of suspense, rich in characters and descriptive in setting. Liz is a great writer and I will be reading more of her stuff now that we've been (sort of) introdouced. It was hard to put it down. Thanks Liz for a great read.

You can get the book HERE

Here is her WEBSITE

About the Author:

A native of New Mexico and mother of seven, Liz Adair lives in northwest Washington state with Derrill, her husband of 48 years.

A late bloomer, Liz published her first mystery (The Lodger) just as AARP started sending invitations to join. After writing three in the Spider Latham series, Liz moved into romantic suspense with The Mist of Quarry Harbor.

Liz took a break from suspense to write Counting the Cost, a novel based on family history. The book won the 2009 Whitney Award and was a finalist for the Willa Award and Arizona Publisher Association's Glyph Award.

Liz is back writing romantic suspense with Cold River and feels that's where she belongs. "I remember when I was a young mother with all those kids and a slender budget," she says. "I was so grateful for books that let me go places and meet people who carried on adult conversations That's what I want to write--cheap vacations."

Heeding advice given to writers not to quit their day job, Liz works as a forensic scheduler on schedule delay analyses. She also serves on LDStorymakers' Board of Directors, is a member of American Night Writers Association and the Skagit Valley Writers League, and chairs the annual Northwest Writers Retreat.

Book Review Heir to Power by Michele Poague

2011-12-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I recieve a free book in exchange for an honest review. The way I recieve the work has no influence on my opinion.

The colony of Survin has been hidden for centuries, protecting an ancient religious artifact called the Healing Crystal from men who would steal or destroy it. Kairma, heir to the Crystal, is destined to mate with the handsome Naturi and become the leader of the reclusive colony, but she is too young to realize the peril soon to arrive. At sixteen, Kairma is too young to realize many things ....

Kairma would rather go spelunking with her brother and his best friend than study ancient medicine and religious laws, but the discovery of a tomb containing ancient artifacts leads Kairma to question her religion and the true nature of the Crystal. To further complicate Kairma's ascent, a childhood illness has left her resembling a nearby race of men both hated and feared by the people of Survin. Because of this, Kairma's younger sister Kinter, who is in love with Naturi, believes she is the rightful heir.

Disease and infertility have decimated Survin, but bigotry and religious laws forbid the introduction of new members so things heat up when a traveling archeologist stumbles upon the reclusive colony and introduces a powerful new weapon. Forced into a larger world, the Survinees discover they hold an object of unimaginable power, a power other men covet, a power that might save or forever damn the human race.

This was a big book at over 550 pages it was the longest I've read in a while. The author deals with an interesting subject, that of isolation of a peoples and what happens because of it. Regardless of the reasons. The copy was mostly clean making it an easy read. It is a typical epic fantasy and I am sure will delight many readers.

There were only a few problems, there were lots of characters and some had unpronouncable names and that slowed me down because I was second guessing myself trying to pronounce them in different ways. Also the author bounced from one head to another among those characters makeing me think "Who is this?" some of the time.

If you like fantasy this is the perfect book to pickup for those long cold winter. nights. Thank you Michele for the adventure.

You can get the book HERE

Michele's WEBSITE

Yeah, what she said

2011-11-28T18:56:00.001-08:00

I couldnt have written it better myself. So with permission of the author I send you to Howard Taylor's well spoken wife Sandra.

Here

Story Structure is not just for the MC

2011-11-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a chatroom "brainstorm session" on Iwrite network. I was trying to get my MC's storyline figured out for a YA fantasy I had an idea about. As we chatted, one thing one of the other ladies asked me is if I had a character arc for the female secondary character. Well to my embarasment I had to admit I didn't. As we discussed her arc everyhting about the story seemed to fall into place including the questions I was having about the MC.

Well to hammer that idea home, I just started to exchange chapters with my new crit partner (they're awesome) and I needed to revise some of my chapters for my 2nd MC in that story. At that point in time I realized that her character arc was also absent. (see a trend here?) Not the female aspect, although I do write males better than females. LOL The problem i was having was in the fact that I wasnt addressing the character arc or structure of the secondary characters.

Now let me clarify, if the character is truly secondary and only has a minor role in the story just addressing that characters arc and or what the character wants to happen or needs to do is probably sufficent. If for example the character wants to ABC and it doesnt interfere with the main structure then let it play out. But don't introdouce a character (even a minor one) and their motive if you don't plan on resolving it.

If the character is either the antagonist or another MC you should have some structure planned out. I have even found that with Brook's style that any or all of the MC's: Antagonist, protagonist, second MC, (or love interest) can have diferent plot points mid points and pinch ploints although PP2 is most likely the same and where all of the structures come together. Although you can have one structure for all of them too, but I feel that seperate structures leads to a deeper plot and less flat characters.

The main structure of the book however will follow the MC's structure and is the "recipie" you follow in respect to the theme and concept.

For example, If the MC's character arc involves him becoming used to living a new style of life then his arc should reflect that. The main structure will highlight the story points that acomplish that structure. If the other MC's arc takes them through a process of them going from confident to being a victim and then becoming confident again that arc should address that AND that characters structure (pp1, mp and pinch's) should highlight parts of the structure that pertain to their arc. If the antagonist's arc involves them deciding that they want something regardless of the consequences, their arc and structure will reflect that line.

You will treat all three arcs and structures as seperate but cohesive lines with all three arc and structures coming together to colide in some awesome PP2 3/4 of the way throught the book.

Wow I hope that was clear and concise and not resembling the mud my kids were playing in this afternoon. Please feel free to comment and ask questions if you want/need.

Halloween Scarefest Blog Hop . . .

2011-10-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to post some information on this but my day was so busy I just posted the excerpt and kept telling myself to go back and fix it. So here is the revised post.

Jordan McColum is hosting a scarefest with the theme of fear. I have some pretty scary scenes so I thought I'd go for it.

This is a scene from my story Intercession. I'll warn you this was a NANO project and is really rough. I apologize.

The scene opens where Dacias a vampire is chasing a human on Halloween night.

The man looked back and with a grin he turned down Garret Street, a small side alley lined with bars and whore houses. It would be easy for him to slip away in any of the darkened doorways.
Not if I can help it.
Dacias pushed himself forward increasing his speed, grabbed the man by the shoulders and spun him around.
“Whaddaya want with me?” the man asked. His once smooth ponytail now hung in greasy strands around his shoulders. He panted and looked at Dacias, one of his yellow contacts had shifted to the right and he blinked to settle it again. A fake vampire fang now hung by a string of adhesive from his incisor. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Right,” Dacias said. “I’m sure that girl would disagree with you.”
“Girl? What girl?”
“the blonde woman dressed in the fairy costume, I’m sure she remembers every terror filled second with you.”
“T…the fairy, oh her. She was like that when I found her.”
“When you found her? Then why’d you run?” he grabbed at the man’s had that held the straight edge. “What’s this for then?”
“I. . . uh found it next to her, and . . . I wondered what it was.” He startled as the tooth fell hitting his shirt before falling to the ground.
“You know what I really hate?” Dacias said as he took his finger and bent the blade of the straight edge down against the man’s hand. “I hate someone who impersonates a vampire. You guys have it all wrong. We’re nothing like the old legends make us out to be. You push a stake through my chest and you’re just going to piss me off, even more when you think that vampires drain a body. Just how big do you think my stomach is?” He paused watching the man’s face. He’d seen better vampire costumes. He wondered why his friend Elias invited so many humans to his annual Halloween party anyway. “You know what I hate even more? I hate someone who blatantly lies to me.”
“I . . .I” the man stuttered. Dacias smiled, smelling the adrenalin rush through his blood. The aroma similar to hot sugar, it made him think of his mothers cinnamon rolls.
“A . . . are you scared yet?” he mocked letting his fangs slide from his gums. The man’s pupils constricted into tiny pinpoints. “Yeah you thought we really didn’t exist did you. Thought it was cool to mock my race. Even better to let a woman bleed to death as you sit at home in agony with a belly full of blood.” He pulled the man’s head sideways and opened his mouth. He suppressed his calming pheromones, the ones that normally let his victims fall into a peaceful stupor as he fed and not remember a thing afterward.
“This is going to hurt.” He said and plunged his fangs into the man’s flesh.

inkPagent

2011-10-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

There's a new kid in town. A website called inkPagent. It deals with all things writing and publishing. To cellebrate their grand opening they are having a party. If you post an article there or mention them you get points toward three Amazon gift cards. The site is pretty amazing. Go take a gander. inkPagent

re-vise, re-write, re-vision . . . who am I kidding?

2011-10-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am working on a few projects. Drafting and editing and plotting. While I love the plotting and drafting the one that needs editing is the one that is demanding my attention. You see I have a new crit partner, and she's awesome. I can't believe I am so lucky!!!! The deal is, I send her a new chapter every Monday and she sends me hers. We crit them and then send them back by Sat evening. This is really a good thing, it is forcing me to revise Latent and send her chapters that are as perfect as possible. SO seeing that Latent is my NANO project from two years ago one ting has happened since then. I have fine tuned the plot and made it better. So what happens when you do this you revise every chapter. Now don't get me wrong, I said re-vise not re-write. While I am weaking things I am not rewriting most of the chapters. Most of them need things changed but not a complete re-drafting. This is a good thing. I have let this book sit in the back of my head and simmer so-to-speak, and by doing that it has gotten better much like seasonings in a stew. So while alot of my writer friends are gearing up for NANO, my advice to them is once the 50,000 words are drafted, stick it in a dark drawer for a long time and let it age. I promise you the story will get better as it sits. Happy NANO Everyone!

If I am a plotter, then

2011-10-15T10:57:00.001-07:00

why am I working on a book without a clear structure?

Have you ever heard of discovery writing? It's that place where you just sit down and write w/o any clear idea of where you're going. Well that is where I am on the MS that is demanding my attention.

Now don't get me wrong, I am still a "structure gal", it's just that at the begining of the story when I don't know where exactly I am going, siting down and just starting to write is a good way to get an idea of who my characters are and what they think and are going to do.

It's kinda like freewriting, giving me a way to explore what the beginings of the story is. A chance to have a little fun with out the structure looming over my head telling me that that isnt the way the story is supposed to go.

Sometimes I use this stuff I write at the begining in the story. Sometimes I throw it all into a "cut" folder for another time or refrence. Sometimes it becomes a later chapter or stays the first chapter. Whatever feels right.

Regardless of how or if I use it those first few chapters often express the theme of what I am trying to write and create the basis of everything else that goes on in the MS. It's how this panster turned structure gal stays sane.

This is my 400 post. Amazing isn't it? That I've been talking to you guys for that long.

To celebrate I will be giving away a custom made hand sewn 50 page mini journal. But you have to do one thing. Comment on the post.

SO . . . What style of writer are you? Or if you're not a writer, say hi.

Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson

2011-10-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

California teen, Sadie James, thinks her life couldn’t get any better. She has great friends, an energetic mother she adores, and the beach practically in her own backyard. But her carefree life is turned upside down when she’s rescued by a mysterious and strangely familiar boy who won’t even tell her his name.

Each time the boy appears, Sadie’s unexplainable attraction to him deepens along with her need to unravel his secrets. The boy is there to protect her. But as wonderful and exciting as it might be to have an irresistible boy with crystal green eyes protecting her every move, every minute of the day...why does Sadie need one?

As Sadie finds answers, she realizes her life isn’t as perfect as she thought. Not only is she caught in a world of dangerous secret agents she never knew existed, but it turns out her true identity may be the greatest secret of all.

You can get the book here: DEEP BLUE SECRET

Christie's website

This was a really interesting story. Full of interesting ideas and worlds. I actually read it in a day. The authors ideas are origional and that is what kept me reading.

However there were a few drawbacks, and I don't want any reader to dive into the story un-awares. the author created a world that we don'e get to see even though one of the POV characters lived there. A major problem with Sadie was presented and while Rayne solves it we again are left in the dark as to what the solution is. The book really needed a few more rounds of critique and editing.

The one thing that would have made me put the book down if the story hadn't been so interesting was Sadies emotions. She was up and down happy and sad, in love and in denial depressed and normal. It really reminded me of Bella and Edward in the Twilight Series. I wondered if the series is a favorite read of the author.

Now don't get me wrong. The book is worth the read. Yes there are problems in it. BUT there are problems in many books. I promised myself that I would be honest to you my readers, so you don't think I am up in the night.

I recieved this book at no charge in exchange for an honest review. How I recieve a book never influences my expressed opinion.

Here is her really good book trailer

Deep Blue Secret

2011-09-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself asking yourself and your friends,
"Am I really a writer?" or "Am I really an artist?"
Chances are you are.
The counterfeit innovator is wildly self confident.
The real one is scared to death.

Steven Pressfield "The War of Art"

One thing I dislike . . .

2011-09-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

About e-publishing.

This book Modern Sorcery by Gary Jonas is available in e-format now but not in paperback until October. Now before you get you panties in a bunch let me tell you why.

I don't have a kindle, nook, iPad etc. I just can't afford the $150-800 price tag. I'm not trying to make you feel bad for me I have made decisions about where my disposable income goes and admittedly it usually goes to writers conferences, and this year a new laptop that was desperately needed.

I could buy it and download it onto my laptop, but my eyes are getting older and I don't want to strain them any more than I do with my writing.

I don't dislike e-publishing, if that is what floats your boat, then go for it. I guess I'm old fashioned and like my old paper books better.

But remember this. If I want to read your book and I can't get it when I am thinking about purchasing it, I will probably forget about your book by the time its available in hard copy and you have lost a sale.

Monday news . . .

2011-09-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

Dyslexia has become the be all and end all of ny existence. Changing schools teachers and grades are just some fo the things we are dealing with. Please be patient with me for a few while I get my head back on my shoulders.

I just have to laugh. . .

2011-09-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

I think this is supposed to be engagement pictures.

Either someone is playing a good trick on the couple or they have interesting sense of humors. Either way thought it's make you laugh on a Monday.

How to Make a "YA quest Project Notebook"

2011-09-07T15:56:00.000-07:00

Okay so I will be the first to admit that writing YA is SO OUT OF MY BOX, it isn't funny. But when the idea hits you like a steamroller, you obey the muse.

So I had this idea to write a YA (thanks to my son and his amazing curiosity). But this story was one of both discovering the world he lives in and growing up. That mean I needed to know what he was going to go as he traveled.

When I had the theme and ideas firmly in my head I ploted out the story structure so I could begin the "journey".

I started looking at pictures of diferent places on earth and making a list of things I wanted him to see.

After the list was complete and the pictures gathered I needed a map. Luckily for me my hubby brings large pieces of paper home for me to use. I spent a few hours drawing it out. When I was happy with it, I went over it with markers to darken the lines. The origional map is about 4' x 5'.

Once the map was finished I took a picture of it and printed it off. Then I drew his path and what he would see and where.

Then with sticky notes I labeled the main scenes and placed the pictures with each scene.

Once the pictures were distibuted I glued them in the book from the end to the begining so I didn't run out of paper or have pages left over at the end of the book.

Now I have all my scenes and the pictures that serve as visual reminders of the journey right at my fingertips whenever/wherever I go.

Fall by Jennifer Hurst

2011-09-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

Free download of book in exchange for honest review
Imagine finding a secret space in an old school building you are supposed to be renovating. You are standing there knocking on the wall, trying to discern what--if anything is in that space, and something knocks back. Scared out of your wits, you run for the door.

And you're lost in the story.

I can't tell you how much I love love love this story. Paranormal Urban Fantasy is definitely my favorite type of book to read. The characters are rich in detail the scenery is detailed and inviting. The story has twists and turns you are totally not expecting. There were some typos and a few grammar problems but the story overrides them. This book is definitely worth the read.

Fall by Jennifer Hurst

Construction is in Julia's blood, so when she is promoted to Project Manager to renovate a turn-of-the-century school house in a bed and breakfast, she has high hopes of proving herself in the male-dominated construction industry.

But Julia discovers there is more to managing a construction project than just contracts and budgets - especially when she meets Matthew Rigo, the demolition contractor who seems bound and determined to cross the lines Julia has imposed.

Vandalism and other unexplainable occurances beset the project, leading Julia to believe there is much more to the school house than she first realizes. Something is inside the hundred year old school house, and it wants out. Is Julia the key to its release? And are Matthew and Nathan what they appear to be?

Buy the book here

Here's Jennifer's website

In conjunction with this blog tour, Jennifer is holding a contest. It will involve any of the blogs that Jennifer visits or where her book is featured and willclose on December 31st, 2011. The entrants have to answer three questions about the book they’ve read (bought, borrowed, or stolen - shame on you) and post a link to Jennifer's website on their Twitter, Facebook, or blog (need link for verification).

Then the names will be entered in a random name picker generator(http://textmechanic.com/Random-Line-Picker.html) and announced on Jennifer's website (www.jenniferhurst.com) on January 31st, 2012. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a night’s stay at the actual bed and breakfast where the story takes place.

Other prizes include an autographed copy of FALL, and she will randomly select 3 contestants’ names to use in the sequel to FALL. Plus, they will receive afree copy of that book when it is published.

Each blog that Jennifer Hurst visits will have a different set of questions people can answer, and they may enter as many times as they want - but they can enter once per blog site that they visit. So the more sites you visit, the more you can enter your name, thus increasing your chances of winning the gift certificate, a copy of the book FALL, and your name in the sequel.

Get the book, read the book, and then read over the questions below. Once you have your answers, e-mail them to Jennifer.fall.jenniferhurst@gmail.com

Your privacy is respected and your email address will NOT be used for anything but the contest. Once the contest is over -your email address will be deleted from the database.

Here are the questions for you to answer:

What color was Matthew's t-shirt when JD met him for the first time?

What is JD's favorite flavor of milkshake?

What kind of orchard did JD and Matthew camp in?

If you would like to visit the other sites, go here for themaster list of all participating sites: http://fallbyjenniferhurst.wordpress.com/

Best of luck, and thanks for participating!

All Diets Work by Jen Brewer RD

2011-08-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

Free book in exchange for review

All Diets Work, That’s the Problem

Author: Jen Brewer, RD

Published Date: 2011

Publisher: Petersen Press

Softcover; 132 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction

ISBN# 978-0-9835140-7-7

When I was approached to review this book i was sent a link to the blog by the author. Needless to say I was impressed and told the review coordinator yes. I have struggled with my weight since my first pregnancy and my thyroid began to fail. Back then I was not able to exercize back then because my activity induced asthma was outof controll. So slowly between inactivity and my slowed metabolizm the weight has just packed on over the last 14 years.

I know alot about diet allready, but I love that this book has everything I know and need in one little book. It was a nice easy read and there is a huge ammount of information (charts graphs etc.) in the back half of the book. Not only does she give you the rules, but she explains why. I loved the apple analogy.

If you want to take control of your weight life and diet as in what you eat not what you restrict eating--THIS is the book for you.

Jen's website/blog HERE

Book link HERE

Wow. . .

2011-08-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

So I've been looking around the internet for ideas for organizing and back to school prep. If I am to have any time writing this year I need to be organized. The anti muse demands most of my time so i need to take advantage of what little time he sleeps.

Well today my internet search has led me to lunch ideas. If the school lunches are too expensive this year I will be brown bagging it for the kids. Here's a few sites to get those creative juices flowing. Warning, these sites might make you feel like a bad mom. It did for me a little.

Here is a site that celebrates feeding kids in a creative way in a muffun tin. AMAZING!

Muffin tin Monday

This site had loads of bento boxes. So cool.

Bento boxes.

Last I found a blog i have been looking for for a long time A slow cooker a day blog.

Slow cooker

Have a good evening.

My other passion

2011-08-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

picture by Picasso
While I have always wanted to write and be published. I have other interests outside the printed word. Artistic endeavors and martial arts are two of many.

When I birthed my first baby I knew that breastfeeding was the best thing for him. While making milk comes naturally to most of those women who are able to get pregnant and have babies. The art of nursing doesn't necessarily come naturally as a skill. I know from experience. Those seven months that I attempted to feed my oldest were filled with frustration and tears. I have to praise my dear husband who talked me into trying "just one more day" that whole time.

I almost didn't nurse my second baby based on the hard time I had with my first. For me memories of nursing my baby were difficult to re-live. But again my dear hubby suggested that I just try it for a few days and see if I was sure I didn't want to. That first time I put my second baby to breast was a completely diferent experience. She latched on like she'd been doing it for weeks. My first thought was "If this is what normal breastfeeding is, then the last time was all wrong." We had a nice nursing relationship that lasted until I let peer pressure make me wean. Even if she knew what she was doing, I was still un-educated.

Baby number three changed my ideals and I began on a journey that would make this one of my few very loved passions. He was born 6 weeks early and spent 21 days in the NICU. I had a choice as i sat in the mothers wing alone, without my precious baby. Let my milk dry up and formula feed him or pump and give him the very best food he could recieve in this medicaly fragile time. I came home after two days armed with a pump and a bag full of attachments. In those few weeks i read everything I could get my hands on about breastfeeding, I talked to the lactation specialist, and the Dr. When my pediatritian said it was okay to wean him and feed him formula it had the opposite effect. It made me even more determined to get him fully breastfeeding when he got home. (I often wonder if he was using reverse psycology on me.)

Baby 4 was my most succesful relationship. We nursed almost 2 years.
5 and 6, were both weaned between 18 and 20 months. During this time I was hired in both UT county and Tooele county as a peer counselor and ran my own pump rental business. I also had a chance to become an IBCLC which is teh equivalent of a Masters of Nursing for breastfeeding. (we moved so I was never able to complete the course. I feel terrible that I couldnt get that degree. With changing regulations, it's lost to me now.) The cool thing about these years is I had become passionate about breastfeeding.

Now I am nursing my #7 and last baby. Even if I have dificulties. (I don't like getting bitten) I am determined to make this a rewarding relationship for both of us. I have made it to a year, (Happy Birthday Elias) and am still going strong.

It seems apropriate that my last baby was born during World Breastfeeding Week. What a better way to celebrate something you love with all your heart. To all those women who nurture your children at the breast I salute you. To those who struggle, you can do it, and if you choose to wean, you tried.

HAPPY WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK!

Please don't take this as an insult to those who can't have children of your own or breastfeed your babies. I have struggled myself and suffered almost every ailement know to the nursing woman with the belief that it has given me compassion for all women. I am adopted, I was not breastfed myself. This has deepened my understanding of all types of mothering. I believe in the precious feeding relationship between parent and baby regardless the mode of delivery or the content.

How many times?

2011-07-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Can the same story be told?

One of the recent trends especially in YA is the re-telling of fairy tales. Think about how many times you have heard the Cinderella story in any media form. Ella Enchanted? The Goose Girl? It seems that those moral teaching tales written by Hanz Christian Anderson or the brothers Grimm etc. resonate with people of all ages.

Why is that? It makes me wonder. I guess it's the same reason we have a plethora of vampire stories and everyone is unique and has it's own fan following.

My favorite origonal and re-told story is "The Little Mermaid". I especially love the Disney version of it. Disney has done such a good job at adapting stories. Each story having a great concempt theme and plot. Who else would have thought about taking the little known (at least in America) story of a girl dressing up as a man and saving China. (My good friend from Malaysia, has been told that story from when she was little.)

So the other day as I was finishing my MG book I had this really cool idea for this amazing story. It came to me with such clarity and a complete plot it struck me silent for a moment as the story unfolded in my head. Like a flower blooms. So as I paused from finishing my MG and pleaded for this book to take it's time so the MG wasn't over run, I wrote the details down and saved them in their own document.

Well this morning after helping my hubby get off to his extremely early job, I had a scene that come to me about this new book. The scene was so good and the idea so cool I couldn't go back to sleep, so I went to my computer and wrote the ideas down so they were safe.

I sent the idea to my BFF writing friend and she came back saying "This sounds like. . ." one of the re-told fairy tales. She's right, in many ways it is a re-telling of the MC's character arc.

While some people think I might be disapointed I am not. I am excited to have the link to relate to. something to tell an agent "Like the modern re-telling of ______ this story follows . . . " Who wouldn't like that?

What is your favorite re-telling? Either book TV or Movie.

The Last Archangel by Michael Young

2011-07-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

While I write technical suspense, I love paranormal. I was given an advance copy of "The Last Archangel" last month. It comes out July 14.

The story is about Xander an angel who is punished for his sins by being made the destroying angel until the end of time. We begin the story as Xander is given a hard to refuse offer. To hasten the end of the world so his punishment ends.

Armed with his double blades and a cupid he's supposed to be training, the adventure begins.

I loved the premise of the book. Things like demons and angels are my type of reading. The main character Xander was easily likeable and the dialogue was well written. I found the female character a little flat but don't let that disuade you from seeing where Xander's adventure leads.

You can find more about Michael here.

And buy a copy of the book here.

When reviewing a book I am occasionally given a free electronic or hard bound copy of the manuscript. These free copies never influence my opinion of the book. Often times I will like a book enough to just post something about it whether I bought it, borrowed it from a friend or the library.

Worlds within worlds

2011-06-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of Parallel novels. I love reading a series of books that are all interrelated by worlds or characters or both. Probably why I also love writing novels that are interconnected.

I had this really cool idea, (still is cool) that involved a planet and some deadly storms. As I pondered this story I realized that this planet was the same as the one in "The Guardian War" stories. Only this story happened a long time before TGW. It felt right as I contemplated the universe at that point in time.

I also have an Urban Fantasy world and the latest story idea I had fits all nice and snug in that realm. As my story develops I am discovering all sorts of paranormal nasties to have fun with.

Some might think that parallel novels is cheating. Not having to build another world and not creating new characters. I totally agree, I am cheating, but I love the worlds I have created, why not take advantage of that? Why not use that rich and developed world where the reader gets to experience more because you're familiar with it?

What's your opinion? Do you like parellel works? What are your favorites?

Having direction in writing

2011-06-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

Often times begining writers write alot of stories in alot of genres before settling on one that they feel is right for them. While it may not be my favorite exercise, the creative writing assignment that forces you to think outside of your genre box is good for you as a writer. You might find that you write one style really well inspite of your preconcieved notions.

My first love as a young reader was Science Fiction. That was what I chose to write as a teen. Well 20 something years later I write technical suspense not sci/fi like I thought I would be writing. I don't write the science well but I have found I am good at character based thriller plotting style. And, even if I can't write a full on romance, I have romantic themes in my stories.

Funny story, my friend and I were talking and she had assumed that I wrote romance until I was telling her what "my assassin" had done in the most recent chapter.

Well, 7 years into writing seriously I have not only found a genre I love, Tech Suspense, (add a little Urban Fantasy here or there) but I have found a "theme" in my writing. As my logline says I write about "bad boys (or girls) that go good". My characters go through events in the MS that change them and their lives. I like the process of deconstruction I take them through to get them to a better place.

As of now I have 5 serious ideas or rough drafts about some bad boy or another and what happens to then as they change to being good. Granted, two of those ideas have a paranormal urban fantasy leaning, and I have a YA that while the character isn't a bad boy, he goes from being an immature teen to a responsible young adult. Obviously I have a pattern that works for me.

It's a nice feeling.

I have 100 follwers!!!!

2011-06-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Whoohoo! I have 100 followers!!!! I'm so excited.

Congratulations to Shawna Carroll who was my 100th follower and chose Black Berry Crumble by Josi Kilpack.

And Renae MAckey who won the general random drawing and will get Beautiful Creatures by KAmi Garcia ans Margret Sthol.

That was alot of fun I'll have to do it again.

Life, a broken arm and three days without the internet.

2011-06-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

I ONLY NEED FOUR MORE FOLLOWERS BEFORE I GIVE KEY LIME PIE BY JOSI KILPACK, AND BEAUTIFUL CREATURES BY STHOL AND GARCIA!!!!!!!

Yep, that is my life right now, not that its an excuse but I couldn't do anything I regularly do for three days. So yesterdy it was catch up on my sleep, my home, and my life. Sleep, we're doing better. House, there's a visible dent. Life well that is probably out of control most of the time anyway.

I digress tho. Sitting in the hospital with my laptop and no internet was a good thing. I pounded out my plot for a new book on Tuesday while waiting for our surgery time. I was able to go over and do some edits on my latest MG project I finished on last Friday. I also watched some hours of mind numing TV which is normally something I never do. Sometimes we all need to veg right?

I have had some really cool realizations lately and I know the direction I want to go in my writing. I have had some good interest in my Emergence manuscript and i'm giddy happy about that.

My birthday was a blast, I went to the Book Festival in SLC and got a pre release copy of Posession by Elana Jhonson. YAY! I also got a copy of Maze Runner by James Dashner signed for a promoting literacy project for my daughter. My son made a killing Sat, he walked away with five free books, that was awesome for him.

I promise to discuss the new/old direction I am going in my next post unless I have an apostrophy. LOL

Untill then, write like mad my friends. Dont forget to become a follower, I only need four more until I give away two free books.

RetirementQuest®

2011-06-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

The state of today’s economy is insecure, causing concern in many people and fear in many others. It used to be that we relied on our retirement income to see us through our golden years, but we now have to face the reality that we must take action to ensure our well-being in the future. How do we go about this? What steps do we take, where do we go, how do we know we’re doing it right?

Financial advisor John Hauserman, CFP®, has created a no-cost website as a tool for you to use on your financial journey. This site features the amazingPlanning Map, designed to help you think like a financial planner. You can begin by setting up an account at no charge,complete with your zip code which will enable you to save your progress, but your information will never be sold or given away to any outside party. Or,if you prefer, simply skip registration with a single click. As you chart out your financial situation, you will never be asked for account numbers or personal information.

As you go through and create your personal profile, you’ll feel in control of your future—a sense of freedom and independence that perhaps has been missing since the economy went downhill. You will get the tools you need to help:

1. View the financial planning process from the eyes of a CFP® professional in a user-friendly format thatmost find easy to understand

2. Get the whole story on various investment products, not just “the good stuff” thatfinancial (snake oil?) sales folks talk about

3. Find useful links to government and other helpful websites

4. Identify if a financial advisor has been thorough in their duties

5. Identify and avoid fraudulent advisors

6. Make better financial decisions

You’re invited to stop by the RetirementQuest® website and see for yourself if this is a tool you can use. Again, it’s no cost, and all you have to lose is your financial stress. Those who take action now will find themselves in a much better placelater—why delay your future security? Plan ahead and be prepared.

Securities and advisory services are offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, member FINRA/SIPC.A Registered Investment Advisor.

3rd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win! Contest

2011-05-29T15:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our 3rd Annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win Contest!” This is becoming an exciting tradition, both for our sponsors and hopefully for all of you! 29 writer friends and I have banded together to present a month-long contest where we will give away a prize a day for the entire month of June. That’s right! 30 awesome prizes, running the gambit from books books books! (romances, fantasies, mystery/thrillers, inspirationals, children’s books, and various non-fiction), as well as Amazon gift cards, a Mary Kay gift set, a vinyl lettering gift certificate, a hand-sewn weekly planner with ribbon bookmark, a crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case, and again for you aspiring authors, TWO free edit/critiques of a partial manuscript. Many of the giveaways are open to International entries, though always check to be sure before you enter for a particular prize.

And how exactly do you enter for these amazing prizes? By following these rules:

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:

You can send in one entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRES to jdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.

(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).

(3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST

(4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.

All winners will be draw by www.random.org.

You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2nd – July 1st to read the names of the winners.

If you have any questions, please email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com.

And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

June 1
SPONSOR: Canda Mortensen
PRIZE: A $25 Amazon gift certificate
QUESTION: What is the title and artist of the Princess song on Newbie's playlist? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and read “Newbie Teaser”. Match the number of “Princess” with the same number on the Playlist box (you may have to scroll down the playlist to find this, too). It will give you the title and artist.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http:candamortensen.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

June 2
SPONSOR: Jennifer Griffith
PRIZE: Delicious Conversation (LDS romance, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in a chocolate shop in Salt Lake City), by Jennifer Griffith
QUESTION: Name at least 5 kinds of candy I ate at the last writers' conference I attended AND share YOUR favorite candy. (HINT: Read the April 20, 2011 post. Click on April under the Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

June 3
SPONSOR: Peggy Urry
PRIZE: Choice of book: Villette by Charlotte Bronte (romance, paperback); Airframe by Michael Crichton (thriller, paperback); The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell (contemporary crime, paperback); OR The Mist of Quarry Harbor by Liz Adair (LDS romantic fiction, paperback); AND choice of Jelly Belly Gel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS or Jelly Belly Strawberry Cheesecake Gel Case for iPod Touch.
QUESTION: What is the name of my Work In Progress (WIP)? (Hint: It's the title of my March 12, 2011 post. Click on “March” under Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://peggyurry.blogspot.com/
3rd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win! Contest
OPEN TO USA/CANADA ONLY

June 4
SPONSOR: Danielle Thorne
PRIZE: Josette (sweet Regency romance, E-book) AND Southern Girl, Yankee Roots (poetry), both by Danielle Thorne
QUESTION: Danielle supports what wildlife conservancy organization? (HINT: See right hand column of website)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.daniellethorne.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 5
SPONSOR: Bonnie Harris
PRIZE: Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set
QUESTION: What are the names of my two WIPs? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and click on “Work in Progress” under Labels)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 6
SPONSOR: Susan Kaye Quinn
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (YA love story), by Susan Kaye Quinn
QUESTION: How many days do David and Eliza have on the cruise together, before they’re forced to go their separate ways? (HINT: Click on the “About Me and My Books” tab and read the blurb for Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://ink-spells.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

June 7:
SPONSOR: Anne Bradshaw
PRIZE: True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil (non-fiction), by Anne Bradshaw – 1 print and 1 eBook – Print copy can be autographed. (Yes, there will be TWO winners drawn for this prize)
QUESTION: Which TV station interviewed Anne? (HINT: Answer is a short way down the middle column.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://truemiracleswithgenealogy.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES; PLEASE NOTE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR PRINT OR EBOOK, ALTHOUGH I CAN’T GUARANTEE YOU WILL WIN YOUR PREFERENCE.

June 8
SPONSOR: Cheri Schmidit
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Fateful (YA paranormal romance), by Cheri Schmidt
QUESTION: Who is the prince of darkness? (HINT: Click on “April” under Blog Archive in the left hand sidebar and read the April 12, 2011 post)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cherischmidt.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA ONLY

June 9
SPONSOR: Mary Fremont Schoenecker
PRIZE: Moonglade (a sweet cozy mystery, Book Two in the Maine Shore Chronicles series), by Mary Fremont Schoenecker The prize is an autographed First Edition hard cover print book.
QUESTION: What special skill does character Tante Margaret use that puts her in danger during Remi's murder investigation? (HINT: Click on the “About Her Books” tab and read the Publisher’s Weekly Review.
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.maryschoenecker.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 10
SPONSOR: Shaunna Gonzales
PRIZE: FREE edit and/or critique of first 50 pages
QUESTION: What do his lips taste like? (Hint: click on “Sizzling Kiss” under Post Subjects in the left hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 11
SPONSOR: Donna Hatch
PRIZE: The Stranger She Married (Regency romance), by Donna Hatch
QUESTION: What poses the greatest danger to Alicia’s heart? (HINT: Scroll down underneath the book cover of The Stranger She Married, and read the paragraph directly below.
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR E-BOOK VERSION; US/CANADA FOR PRINT BOOK OR PAPEBACK VERSION

June 12
SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams & Planet Play Productions, LLC.
PRIZE: Award winning glossy cover children’s snuggle, giggle picture book, Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today, signed by the author and the real Chase McKay.
QUESTION: What is the name of the dragon in the upcoming fantasy, Thundertail’s Tale: The Legend? (HINT: click on the Blog tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.cindyRwilliams.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 13
SPONSOR: Larry Hammersley
PRIZE: Motorcycle Woman (sweet contemporary romance, E-book), by Larry Hammersley
QUESTION: What kind of motorcycle does Tess, the motorcycle woman, ride? (HINT: Read the blog post “Motorcycle Woman from Red Rose Publishing”, May 5, 2011)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 14
SPONSOR: Cheryl Cory
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Must've Done Something Good (romantic comedy), by Cheryl Cory
QUESTION: What is Sylvie's all-time favorite movie? (HINT: Click on the "Info" link in the left-hand column)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.facebook.com/MustveDoneSomethingGood
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 15
SPONSOR: Valerie Ipson
PRIZE: $15 Gift Certificate for Vinyl Lettering (http://vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)
QUESTION: What is Valerie's writing goal for 2011? (HINT: Look in the right hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// valerieipson.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA

June 16
SPONSOR: Rachel Rager
PRIZE: Wednesday Romances - romance (obviously), ebook, by Rachel Rager. This is a compaliation of three different love stories, A Season for Love, The Tiger Unleashed, and The Feather Kiss. (All sweet romances)
QUESTION: Every week I have post a new chapter of a book on my blog. What are these posts called? (Hint: These posts are featured every Wednesday.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://rachelrager.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 17
SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson
PRIZE: Autograhed copy of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ (non-fiction/self-help) by Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons, M.S.)
non-fiction/self-help, autographed book
QUESTION: What is the name of the non-profit Danyelle co-founded? (HINT: Check out Danyelle's author bio)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.danyelleferguson.com/
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

June 18
SPONSOR: Teresa Thomas Bohannon
PRIZE: A Very Merry Chase (Regency Romance novel), by Teresa Thomas Bohannon. AND a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Winner's Choice: PDF with personalized dedication, or Ebook format for Kindle or Epub format for Nook. (HINT: Read “A Very Merry Chase Excerpt” under “A Very Merry Chase” in the right hand sidebar)
QUESTION: What did Lady Bethany do and why?
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.ladysilk.net
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 19
SPONSOR: Diane Daniels
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Over the Moon (YA fantasy romance, print copy), by Diane Daniels
QUESTION: Who is Andrew's evil x-girlfriend, Sonya, named after? (HINT: Read the May 14, 2011 blog entry)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.overthemoonseries.com/
OPEN TO USA

June 20
SPONSOR: Margaret Larsen Turley
PRIZE: critique for up to 5000 words
QUESTION: Margaret Larsen Turley is administrator for ______________________________ group. They hold fund-raising events for Cancer Research. (HINT: You’ll find the answer in one of her website tabs)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://margaretlarsen.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES/ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY

June 21
SPONSOR: Anna Arnett
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Lolly's Yarn: a memoir (older YA to adult), by Anna Arnett, with a hand-crocheted bookmark
QUESTION: What was the verdict regarding Anna's radar photo speeding ticket? (HINT: Click on the Blogs tab and read “I Fought the Law and Guess Who Won?”
WEBSITE/BLOG: htt:www.annaarnett.com
OPEN TO USA

June 22
SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Loyalty’s Web (sweet medieval romance), by Joyce DiPastena
QUESTION: How do people win Joyce’s “Light Bulb Award”? (HINT: Answer is found in the right hand column of the blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA

June 23
SPONSOR: C. Michelle Jefferies
PRIZE: 52 page hand-sewn weekly planner, with ribbon bookmark.
QUESTION: What rank is Michelle in martial arts? (HINT: Look in right hand sidebar under “MY TANG SOO DO PROGRESS”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: HTTP://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 24
SPONSOR: Valerie J. Steimle
PRIZE: Choice of two books: Home Is Where The Learning Is (homeschool how-to book, non-fiction; autographed print copy) OR Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widows Perspective ---(non-fiction articles about everything from being single and single moms to inspirational stories; autographed print copy), both by Valerie J. Steimle
QUESTION: How many children does Valerie have? (HINT: Look in the right hand column in "About Me")
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valeriesteimle.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 25
SPONSOR: Karen Adair
PRIZE: Crocheted Book Tote with matching cell phone case.
QUESTION: What commenter recently called me (Karen) "The Queen of Sugar Land?" (HINT: Select “January 2011” under Archives and read the COMMENTS on Karen’s January 6, 2011 post on “The 20 Minute Sprint”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kbadair.com
OPEN TO USA

June 26
SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant (www.jaimeygrant.com) and/or TreasureLine Books & Publishing (www.treasurelinebooks.com)
PRIZE: Winner's choice of 1 of 5 Regency romance eBooks by Jaimey Grant (Honor, Betrayal, Deception, Spellbound, or Redemption. Please note: Honor contains some marital "heat".)
QUESTION: Which of Jaimey's previously self-published titles has recently been picked up by a publisher? (HINT: Click the "Purchasing Options" tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.jaimeygrant.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 27
SPONSOR: Heidi Murphy
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Small Deceptions (sweet Regency/Georgian romance), by H. Linn Murphy
QUESTION: In what country is the bridge found over which 'we' were fighting? (HINT: Find “Blog Archive” in the right hand sidebar, click on April and read the post titled: “The Far Bridge”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.murph4slaw.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 28
SPONSOR: Kenneth Rosenberg
PRIZE: One e-book copy of my new romantic comedy, Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues, any format
QUESTION: What instrument does the character Warren August play? (HINT: Click on the cover image for Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues. Read the first few paragraphs of the excerpt.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.kennethrosenberg.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

June 29
SPONSOR: Michael Young
PRIZE: Autographed copy of The Last Archangel (YA Urban Fantasy, print copy - Release date July 14th)
QUESTION: What is the name of the fallen angel who is the main character in "The Last Archangel"? (HINT: Click on the Reviews tab. Frank Cole thinks this character “rocks!”
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA

June 30
SPONSOR: Joan Sowards
PRIZE: The Star Prophecy: a Book of Mormon Adventure (LDS novel), by Joan Sowards
QUESTION: Why do Enoch and his friends sail to Jerusalem? (HINT: Read the blurb under The Star Prophecy book cover in the right hand column of the blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://joansowards.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA

What do you tell your readers?

2011-05-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

In the first chapter?

I recently entered a first chapter contest. While I didn't place, I got some good comments on my prospective stories. I actualy entered to get those opinions, and not to win. Although winning would have been nice.

The comments left me with some general questions though. What exactly do you put in that first chapter? Some of the judges told me that I didn't draw it out enough and needed to give them more information. Others told me that I drew the story past the ending point and that the chapter should end on page three. While none of them told me I had too much information regarding the plot, some told me they wanted to see more.

My question is this. Where is that level of information where the first chapter entices the reader to pick the book up and buy it, but doesn't tell you the whole story and ruin the reading of the book?

If I tell you that Dave is a unwilling superhero and if he doesn't hurry and finish his cereal in time to rescue the lady who is going to be pushed in front of the bus at 9:12 and that she is the one person who is going to be able to save the earth from destruction by discovering a new element that afternoon. Why even bother turning to page two?

I ran into this problem early in my writing career and thought I had come to a reasonable answer regarding the problem. Which is why I am asking you guys. I went to a writing website and entered my first page and the critiques were asking for more information, who what where why etc etc etc. Problem is, if I give you the who what where why etc in the first half page of the book it isn't enticing, it becomes an info dump. Why bother reading the book if all the questions that should be discovered in the process of the text is given to you right away?

For example, I opened a book at a used book store and read the prologue. By the time I finished it I knew exactly what would happen in the rest of the book. Why, at that point bother reading it? On the other hand, I read a book where the first chapter was exciting and full of action I couldn't wait to get home and finish the rest of the book. Sadly the writer had worked so much on drawing the reader into the book that by chapter TWO it fell flat and I never finished the book. The first chapter was completely diferent, only the names were the same. It seemed to me that the writer worked so hard on the first chapter but not the rest of the book. What about the writer that gives you detailed information of the world for the first quarter of the book and the characters and plot start after chapter 10? Or the writer that starts the book in chapter 1 but the story started in either chapter 5 or -5?

What do you think? What is necessary in the first chapter and what isn't? What point in the plot is the first chapter written? How much back story, character development and setting is necessary? Do we always have to drop the reader into the action on page one?

I'm hoping this works

2011-05-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

Blogger isn't letting me post.

I wonder why?

Hmmmmm. . .

Celebrate the good things in life

2011-05-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

Yep, life is good.

The conference was awesome, I almost have 100 followers, I'm almost to my 300th post, My birthday is in a few weeks, and I got a request for a full.

Yes! You heard me, a full request.

So in honor of these awesome events I am giving away two books.

One, Blackberry Crumble a cullinary mystery SIGNED by the author Josi Kilpack.

Two, A copy of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. This copy has an exclusive sneak peak of the next book Beautiful Darkness.

How do you win one of these awesome books?

Here's how:

I want followers.

If you are all ready a follower, great, leave me a message, that's one point. However if you want to get more points get a friend to stop by and become a follower. Have the friend leave a message with your name and you get another point. New followers get two points just to even it up. Lastly, either facebook, blog or twitter it and get a point each. That's a total of 5 chances!

Don't forget to come back and leave me a message with your points.

The 100th follower will get one book and each point entry will get a chance to win the other.

Keep coming back and reading new posts, and leaving messages. I have someting awesome planned for my birthday.

Conference thoughts

2011-05-09T21:53:00.000-07:00

I wish i could tell you what is going through my mind right now. the conference was so awesome and in someways it was felt and can't be written down.

If you are a writer and are near SLC in the spring you NEED to be here. I learned so much from every class.

One thing I learned from David Farland was that he takes a walk with his sweetheart every day and talks to her about his ideas and stuff. How cool is that? He also says its important to get daily exercise so his body works right and he can write.

I learned from Julie Coulter Belon how important setting is to the story. That is a place where i seriously lack skills. I need to work on setting.

I am also going to keep in contact with my friends this time i let them just fade away last year. not this time. It's my friends that buoy me up and cheer me on and keep me going. I love them a ton.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Storymakers was awesome!!!!!!

2011-05-08T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the awesome highlights of the conference. For me at least. :)

1) I was one of the ten that managed to get their query in Sara Crowe's short
synopsis class. She said I had a great hook and a good length there was only one
thing she said to fix and I think I already have the solution for that. She said
that the ten she and her assistant read were really good and for us to re-submit
them as querys. Whoot!

2) Clint Jhonson's class was awesome. I learned so much about emotion and
motivation.

3)The publication primer class was as equally awesome. We had an awesome group
of women and a wonderful group leader. Julie Belon. I got some really good
comments on my WIP and know where to start the female characters plot line.

4) I entered the first chapter contest with no intention of winning, Gasp!
(which I didn't) but the intention to see what people thought of my two new book
ideas. It was well worth the money I spent because the judges really liked the
ideas and first chapters.

5) I pitched a nonfiction book to Cedar Fort, Covenant and Leatherwood (at the
publishers mix and mingle) and they all liked it, and want to see it. In fact I
think all three said they were looking for something along that line.

6) I made a new good friend and we are going to crit each others work.

7) I got to meet Larry Brooks, got his book and had him sign it.

8)I got to see a ton of my friends and meet new ones.

There, was that awesome enough?

Passing through the gates of knowledge

2011-05-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

Yes I have gates on my mind. While I have prepared for the upcoming conference I have been bombarded with ideas for a new book I am writing. I feel bad because in between what needs to be done there's little time to actualy time to sit and give this book the time it wants. I am also working on a second set of MS's and characters to accompany my first and premiere series The "Prophecy Rising" series.

It's been an interesting year. I've learned alot about writing without writing much. While I will allways be learning something new in the realm of writing I feel as if i have passed through the "begining writers gate" and into the realm of seasoned writer. I feel as if I can now look at a piece of work and identify what might need work, and what is good. Sadly it is easier to look at someome elses work than my own. Probably because I am "in love" with my prose and it hasnt worn on me yet. (Although by the time I am done editing like I am on Emergence I am sick of it.)

I have also passed through the "know nothing about submitting gate" and started to shop my MS. I am pretty sure I won't make a fool of myself when i send something off now. I can rattle off the industry standard guidelines for a "standard submission" without thinking about it.

Last but definitely not least I have passed through the "knows nothing about plotting and pacing a novel gate". I now have the knowledge and skills I need to take an idea and develop it fully into a real story. I have evolved from the just write a cool story to I can write a cool story that people curse me because they are still awake at 3:oo am.

While these last seven years have been long and I am impatient as I wait to get an agent, I have learned so much and passed through many gates on my way to being a published author.

P. S. Gates are SO relevant to my YA fantasy/SF WIP. :)

NINE days!!!!!!!

2011-04-25T17:59:00.001-07:00

According to my countdown ticker, I have only nine days until the Storymakers Writers Conference. I am so excited!!!!! I am signed up for some awesome classes and can't wait to see my writer friends.

On another note, this is Post #275 I have 80 followers, and my birthday is just over a month away. Time to have some fun. I'll think of some awesome things and get back here. I have a signed book to give away and possibly some other awesome stuff.

I have so much to do in 9 days!!!!!!! AAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

The Magic of Miracles

2011-04-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

When you have been doing the writing, trying to be published thing for almost seven years, with no major successes, it gets a little discouraging. Every once and a while I get a subtle message that assures me that my writing is often inspired.

I did alot of research as I was writing Emergence. I scoured websites books and Google Earth among other things. I picked up a little tourist book about Japan and found in the Kyoto section, a picture of a Monk dressed just as I described him. I didn't know exactly what a monk would dress like but I thought I remembered something and went on that memory. Well it turns out I hit the nail on the head.

I know it was inspiration, there's no other way to explain it. Just realizing it makes it easier to keep going. I would be negligent if I didn't openly recognize it and voice my thanks.

what makes a bad boy?

2011-04-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

So I am trying to start a new book since I am now shopping my polished MS.

I have found a road to travel down and a brand I am comfortable with using my name
on.

I have a few questions tho. I hope you will help me out here.

What is diferent between the true villan of the story and the bad boy
protagonist?

What makes the bad boy appealing?

what makes him a bad boy?

What behavior in the bad boy is acceptable and not acceptable?

I may have to draw a name from the comments for a bag of chocolate. :)

Learning about writing

2011-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

I spent Saturday in Ephiram UT at a writers conference. While most of the classes were about what I allready know, I did learn something new. Besides, a side benifit of going to this conference was to hang out with my writerly friends.

I don't think there was anything wrong with the confrence, there were alot of teens and first timers and they were probably sucking so much of it in that their brains were about to explode. I've been there myself.

I'm far from the perfect writer and know I still have alot to learn. That is why in less than 30 days I'll be going to another conference in SLC this time and I am sure to be one of those beginner, head exploding people at this one.

If you are serious about writing, you need to go to things like this. Not only do you learn so much, you get to meet people and network. I've come home before and felt as if my brain had turned to mush and needed a few days to unload and reorganize everything i was taught.

Even if you went and just listened and had epithanies about your book it'd be worth it.

By the letters

2011-04-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

Alot of my friends are doing an A-Z blogfest where each day of the month's post is based on one letter. While the idea is intriguing and their posts are great. I didn't have time to go through over 200 participants posts every day. I barely have time to get online with all this new baby demands. So using their idea, (shamelessly) I will do a little alphabet of my own and call it good unless I see the necessity to do more.

The writers ABC'S

A is for Aspire. So you want to be a writer, you have these great ideas and think they'd make a great book heck maybe even a movie. So you sit your butt in a chair and start writing. By page 50 you hate it and think its blather. A should be for ambition and application. Learn your craft. Realize every writer gets tired and sick of their writing were a huge bunch of chickens. The diference between a writer and a published author is the time spent working your BUTT off to not only finish the bloody manuscript, but to go back again X 10 and revise.

B is for Butt. Get a comfy chair a snack and a large glass of what ever you fancy and write. Don't get up to answer the phone, don't get on the internet, don't turn on the TV. Just write. The surprise success of so very few authors is an accident. Those that go on to be successful time and time again work. Writing is their career, their first or second job.

C is for Craft. Learn how to write. Learn how to edit. Learn how to revise. Learn how to critique and take critiques. Learn how to get a THICK skin. Then learn how to write synopsis' and querys and send it out.

D should be for Determination but I think you get the point all ready. D is for details and dialogue. Learn the ins and outs of both and apply them.

Last but definitely not least on this post.

E is for Enjoy. Learn to enjoy all the parts of being an author even revising and writing things like querys. I love editing, I know it sounds strange but I love making my work really sing. :)

Hope you enjoyed my little soapbox post here. Now its time for me to follow my own advice. I need to get my MS out and work.

KiTE by Bill Sears

2011-04-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

Please note, while I was given a copy of this book to review it the opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the gift of the book.

Today it is my turn to add my review to the blog tour of KiTE by Bill Sears.

Purchase link HERE

Authors website HERE

KiTE, by Bill Shears, is a science fiction novel set in Earth orbit. Mason Dash, operator of Kite, the flagship of Earth Orbit Maintenance Department’s debris sweeper fleet, suspects spacejackers on an abandoned space station may be using it as a platform for a terrorist attack on Earth targets. Sheila, his beautiful virtual companion, has been “enhanced” with an experimental free will module. Inside the computer system of Kite a digital uprising is under way. Sheila goes off on her own adventure and finds she’s forced to split her focus between Dash’s situation in the “real world” and an ambitious virtual tyrant who has also taken a fancy to her, and who wants to expand his empire beyond Kite. Meanwhile Dash finds the spacejackers are not what he suspected, maybe worse. And it’s just then that humankind’s first unearthly visitor appears in Earth orbit, who is none too pleased. Earth’s fate hangs in the balance.

I was intrigued as I read the promotional material about the book. Artifical Intelligence is something I write about myself and I was curious to see how others wrote about it. I am also a seasoned sci/fi reader and looked forward to reading about another adventure in space.

About ten pages into the book I paused and wondered if the writer was either trying to emulate Douglas Adams and Hitchhikers Guide or he was just heavily influenced by Adams writing style. Either way, it is pretty constant in the book. I don't blame him, (Douglas Adams is an awesome writer for those who like his style) I think the story would have been better told if Mr. Sears had developed his own voice.

While the story was unique and interesting, the execution lacked the profesionalism I am used to in published work. The manuscript needed a serious editing before being sent out to the masses. I also was very put off by the chauvanistic and abusive ideals of the male AI character in his regard to the females in his reach. I actually put the book down at that point and had a hard time picking it back up. This book would definately be rated PG 13 on my scale.

Critiques aside. The story was interesting. His science was well thought out and as someone who writes sci/fi I know that it is one of the hardest genres to write. You have to be smart to write science and technology. Mr. Sears knows his technology and his science. I also loved the MC Dash. I love his attitude and the deep characterization Mr. Sears gave this anti hero. Each of the characters is well drawn.

If you are wanting unique sci/fi, deep characterization and well executed science and technology, this is a book you might consider reading. However if grammar errors or abusive situations throw you out of a book then you'll probably want to pass on this one.

Who is she?

2011-03-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

I saw this pic a few days ago and I couldnt stop thinking about her. There's something in it that screams character. Who is she, what is her name, what's with the pink hair, and is she really standing in a cemetary? If yes, why the face?

Your guess is as good as mine. I'm interested in what you think. Post your ideas if you are willing to share and we'll get her figured out.

Photo link HERE

Book setting

2011-03-20T21:49:00.001-07:00

I'm trying something new. I am going to be posting random things that I think are amazing. Sometimes they might be book related, other times not.

Anyway. This is called the Grand Prismatic Spring in Wyoming. It is pretty amazing. Can you imagine something scifi or fantasy about it? I can. It has my cogs churnung already.

Photo Credit and Link here

2011-03-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

Well my plans of posting three times a week have gone out the window. No worries, this link should make up for alot of missed posts from me. I found it last night VIA Query Tracker (thank you) and haven't stoped thinking about it since. These are links to the notes from the last two RWA (Romance Writers of America I think) Writers Conferences. Even if you don't write romance go see these notes they are amazing. There is advice for every genre. Lots of notes on synopsis querys etc. The one on the 11 senses is really great. I printed them off and put them in a 3 ring binder for future refrence. Well worth the ink and paper. I promise you'll thank me later. :)

Go HERE!!!!!

Life calls the shots

2011-03-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

I often describe myslf as a "write at home mom". I stay home with my seven (now six) kids and try to make writing a career. However this year and the last, life is the one who has been controling me instead of me controling it. Sometimes we just have to sit back keep our arms and legs inside the car at all times and enjoy the ride. Sometimes its rushing past so fast that I blink and a week has gone by. My baby turned SEVEN months yesterday. Where did SEVEN bloody months go? How did I let that time pass and not make an serious effort to document it or remember the details.

This week has seen me watch my oldest son pack his room and move to his grandparents, and my daughter prepare and go to her junior prom. I've had no time to write or do anything but doggie paddle to keep my head above water. You know the old addage that ducks make it look easy but under neath the calm feathered appearence they are swimming like mad. Yeah I am a duck.

I hope sometime soon I can stand up when the rollercoaster car comes to a stop and get off the ride. The lyrics from Drive by Incubus keep rolling through my head. "When I drive myself my live is found." For now please enjoy the lovely picture of my daugher.

I'm so excited!!!!!

2011-02-27T21:12:00.001-08:00

About three years ago I got a new laptop after my old one died. Within weeks I rolled my hubbys truck on the way to LTUE and my laptop was ejected out of the truck as we rolled down the hill. I should have claimed the LT in the insurance claim, while it worked it was never the same and has caused me trouble since then.

Well Friday night I ordered a new laptop!!!!!!! And I don't plan on rolling any more trucks so we're good. It will be here by the tenth!!!!! Whoot!!!!!!

Real Life Story Structure with pictures

2011-02-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

There are alot of reasons I love the book "A Madness of Angels" By Kate Griffin. One her magic systen is amazing. Her main character is deep and not allways perfect. Her analysis of the bad guy is amazing and I learned alot about them from her.

The purpose of this post is to illustrate Story Structure using her book. Whether she subscripes to the same structure recipie as I do or not she pegged it and I am going to show you what and why.

First she has the Prologue. Notice how it's short and sweet. This is the part that must pull the reader of today into the story and keep them turning the pages. Her section titles and sub titles are clever and enticing. Makes you want to move into the next part of the book.

Prelude: The Trouble With Telephones In which a summoning is almost (but not quite) perfect, some new friends are made, and old enemies remembered.

The next section called Part one is further in the book (about the first 1/4 of the book as you can see) and begins the set up of the story. It introdouces the characters and setting. Things start happening and you are sucked in by now. This is where the MC has to move or the story can't continue. The first plot point happens in this section and changes the MC's world and forces them to make decisions.

Part One: The Haunting of San Khay In which the begining of a paln unfolds, revenge is plotted, and alot of rats decide to congregate.

Part two is where the MC is reacting to the cirsumstances and still trying to gather friends and allies and formulate a plan. (This is the second 1/4th of the story) This leads us to the mid point where information is given either to the reader and MC or just the reader that changes everything and ther MC can no longer just react now he has to act.

Part Two: The Allies of The Kingsway Exchange In which allies are made, enemies revealed, names take at late hours of the night, and an unusual use suggested for paint.

Part Three is the action part of the book. (About 3/4 way through) By this time its make or break for the MC and he has gone from the "What the heck happened?" to "Oh no you didnt just shoot that gun at me." This is leadning up to the climax of the book. Where the stakes are laid down and the MC is fighting for his and others lives.

Part Three: The Madness of Angels. In which things must end.

Last she has her epilogue which structure calls call resolution. This is where we tie all of the loose ends up and make the reader feel happy. This usually is the last 1/4 of the book but as you can see from the picture her's is shorter.

Epilogue: The Brief Act of Living. In which things having ended, continue pretty much the same, despite all probable circumstance.

The length of the sections is up to you but the order of the parts and the plot points is non negotiable and keeps your story from sagging in the middle.

Hope this helps you. :)

Valentines Day Blogfest.

2011-02-14T07:15:00.001-08:00

I was excited to join this blogfest. While I write Technical Suspense, I love putting romance in my stories.

I will apologise tho. While this "first meeting" is old and has alot of problems, it is still one of my favorites. It just goes to show you how much I have improved in the last four years. This is from a retired MS called Dominion Day.

Jason was pleased with his shooting and after nine magazines was satisfied enough to clean his pistol and put it in it’s holster. He placed the cleaning kit in one of the two safes, and shut the chrome door. He looked into the reflection of two bright blue eyes and red hair as the safe clicked shut. Turning and drawing his weapon in one move he held the gun at a young woman’s head.
“Jason?” she asked staring at him undaunted. She showed no fear for having a gun pointed at her.
“Yes,” he stood ready to call command on his link.
“I’m Jennifer, you’re apprentice.”
“Sorry,” he said and released the hammer on his pistol. He placed it on safe and holstered it. “You really startled me, no one can sneak up on me like that.”
“Sorry, I do that to a lot of people. It makes them nervous.” She looked apologetic.
“Well, while you are here this is the firing range,” he said trying to save a ruined introduction. “The Dojo is through that door. My strengths are in firearms and martial arts.” He let her out of the range and locked the door. Turning to the south, they walked up the rock pathway to the house.
A girl, he thought why would they send me a girl? I mean I am a guy… she is well you know. A girl in my house, the idea is ludicrous. She looks like she is 12, where are her parents? How old is she any ways? He opened the back door for her and she stepped into the kitchen. She wore a khaki straight skirt and a white tee shirt, with a sage colored plaid shirt over it. She had a basket backpack slung over her shoulder and a bright red leather planner in the other arm. Her long dark auburn hair was braided and laid over her shoulder.
“The kitchen is self explanatory, I hope,” he chuckled slightly, “and this is the living room.” He had decorated in dark green leather, it looked good with the rock fireplace and the wooden canoe hung from the ceiling. She stood and turned in a circle
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
She is beautiful, he thought. This would be interesting, he realized as he stared at her. His gut turned inside out and a voice rose in the back of his head. ‘I will marry you some day.’ It said, he had to bite his tongue to keep from saying it out loud.
“I’m sorry did you say something?” She asked he shook his head no still trying to hold the mysterious voice that had emerged. She smiled and he jumped.
“I’m sorry, your room!” he gasped, finding he had held his breath too. “Can I help you with your bags?”
“I left them on the front porch when you didn’t answer the door, if you don’t mind.”
He opened the door and was surprised to find a few suitcases sitting there. He guessed that there might be half a ton of them. He was very unversed with women. It was a good thing he reassured himself.
“Your room is here,” he said as he walked toward the spare room, “this is your bathroom.” He quickly said as he laid the suitcases on the bed and turned to leave. ‘You need a woman,’ he heard Mark’s voice mock him in his head, as Mark had held a prostitute at his side. They had laughed at him, standing in a bar with dancing girls appraising his face and body. Bruce had wanted to talk to Mark and sent Jason looking for him; he shook the memory from his head.
“Don’t go,” she smiled kindly, “I’d like to get to know you, we are sharing a house…”
“I’m not that interesting…” he stammered. He needed to get some fresh air; he was feeling something new, something intense.
“Everyone is interesting. Tell you what, I’ll ask you a question and if you want you can answer it. If not--fine, I’ll answer them if you want too. Do you have a middle name?”
“No I’m just Jason Anderson. Do you?”
“I’m Jennifer Ann Emery,” she said. Laying a suitcase on the bed and turning to the dresser.
“Favorite color?” he chuckled, his house was decorated in forest green.
“Green. Yours?” He watched her unpacking her suitcase. She pulled out a lacy underthing and he turned away from her his face flush.
“Oh I guess it is light blue, where did you go to school?”
“Sydney, Australia.”
“Your parents?”
“Greg Hansen is my Guardian,”
“I’ve met him; my parents are Bruce and Jane Emery. Your hobbies?”
“I like fast cars, I mean I like to race cars.” He blushed. “I like to shoot.”
“Don’t worry, it wont change my opinion of you,” she shut the top drawer of the dresser, all sorts of unmentionables had gone in there. He was desperately trying not to think of them. Closing his eyes he meditated himself into calmness. He stood in a yoga pose that looked like he was just standing there, and felt his pulse slow.
“Your favorite food?”
“There is this little pizza place on town, or would that be too much of a date. Maybe we should stick to take out, or delivery. My… my favorite is Chinese.” He was so embarrassed. He had been too busy in school to think about girls. “Are you hungry? It is dinnertime,” he said and pulled out his phone.
“I love Chinese food too.” she smiled.
“Favorite music?” She asked when he closed the phone.
“Oh geez,”
“What?”
”Don’t laugh,”
“I won’t laugh,”
“I like alternative music from the 1980’s”
“That’s old,” she said her eyes growing large.
“Best ever made.”
“You’ll have to let me listen sometime. How old are you?” Jason squirmed uncomfortably.
“Older than you,”
“Ever married?”
“No.”
“Do you eat breakfast?”
“Does it matter?”
“Are you a morning person?”
“I’m usually up before first light.”
“Read books?”
“If I have time.”
“What do you read?”
“Whatever looks good.”
“There I’m done,” she shut the suitcases and they were placed in the closet on the shelf by the basket backpack.
“What about you?”
“Huh?”
“You only answered three questions.”
“Oh I’m 21, I like to read, I eat breakfast, I like to cook, but haven’t had time, I have spent all of my time at school.” There was a knock at the door, Jason sighed, glad to get out of her room. He would have to talk to Greg tomorrow. He was 29, almost ten years older than she was. It was inappropriate… he paid for the food eager to get some time to think away from her; he swore she could read his thoughts.

I'm so excited!

2011-02-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! I am officially registered for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference and have sent my chapters in for the contest. I look forward to this conference every year and after my brain stops burning (about 12 hours) I am looking forward to the next one. If you are a writer and live within traveling hours of Salt Lake This is the conference to go to.
Not only are there great classes but I get to hang with my writer friends.

Go visit the website HERE.

If you've registered and want to win some awesome prizes go HERE

Happy (Chinese) New Year

2011-02-03T14:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of the Chinese new year. It is the year of the rabbit a year of peace and reconciliation. Best wishes to all my bloggy friends.

My goals for this year.

2011-01-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

Yes I know that January is almost over. You can blame the lack of posts on a developmental thing called TEETHING. I have had to experience life outside of mothering in tiny snippets called nap time. Dont feel sorry, I love being a mom it's just that my muse requires me to be creative or shrivel and die.

So as to my goals. I have had at least all month ot think about it, right?

#1, I want an agent contract this year. I'd love a publishing one too, but an agent will suffice.

#2, I will make sure that my 4 yo is ready for school in August. I have plans and we are learning something new every day. This also includes potty training and were still working on that one.

#3, I will bake (create) more because it makes me happy. As well as hubby and kids. This is also a time for me to teach my kids some life skills and things like fractions.

#4, I will write as much as I can, given said schedule with the baby. I refuse to fall out of the drafting habit again.

#5, I will humor my creative side more. I will find projects and I will draw and sew and knit because I want to be diversified in my skills.

#6, I will be a red #2 stripe by December. And continue getting in shape while I do it.

#7, Improve my relationships with my children spouse and myself.

The Peasant Queen By Cheri Chesley

2011-01-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

I honestly planned to interview Cheri in conjunction with promoting her book. However, chaos has reined at my house for a few weeks and it's been nothing short of a miracle to do anything. (I'm here typing with one hand as baby finally sleeps in the other.)

I met Cheri through Facebook and found out she lives in Tooele my old stomping grounds. I have since then been in a critique group with her and sat next to her at conferences. Cheri is not only an amazing writer, but an all around nice girl and I understand an amazing cheesecake baker. (jealous!)

I have read "The Peasant Queen" and was pleased with the fluid prose and witty dialogue. She knows her stuff. Definately a good read. Here's the description:

After running away from home, Krystal is transported to a faraway kingdom where an evil tyrant is bent on taking the crown - and Krystal's hand in marriage. But when she falls in love with the rightful heir to the throne, she must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her one chance at happiness or face the destruction of an entire kingdom.

I was talking to her about her sequels and am intrigued and can't wait until they are also released.

If you like tales of royalty and magic and girls being kidnapped this is your book.

Amazon link HERE

Top 10 of 2010

2011-01-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

As the year 2010 is gone and past I thought I'd give a little look back at the best of the year acording to me.

Favorite food:Oreo Truffles, I'd eat these every day if I could. Nummy!

Favorite movie: How to Train Your Dragon. Simply amazing.

Favorite album: Onerepublic Waking up

Favorite song: (thats not Onerepublic) Sun Goes Down by David Jordan

Favorite book: Infinity by Sherillyn Kenyon

Favorite purchase: My tea for one in pale blue.

Favorite thing I wanted: New Laptop, maybe tax return?

Favorite writer thing I discovered: Project Notebooks

Favorite writerly thing: Finishing my edit and getting full requests from my query.

Favorite event: Elias' birth Aug 4th.

I'm making these tonight . . . Nummy

2011-01-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

Cranberry Chocolate Scones
Recipie from Food.com

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup reduced fat margarine
1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup milk with 1 tbs lemmon juice
3/4 cup fresh cranberries or craisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
1 Mix flour, first sugar, baking soda and salt. 2 Stir in buttermilk and cut in reduced fat margarine. 3 Mix in cranberries, chocolate chips and first cinnamon. 4 Gather into a ball, press together and knead 12 times on floured board. 5 Divide in two pieces. 6 Grease a very large cookie sheet and push each piece into a large half inch thick circle on the cookie sheet, don't let them touch. 7 Cut each into 8 triangular pieces with a large kitchen knife, you will need to cut again after baking. 8 Mix cream, second sugar and cinnamon into a sort of paste, and paint over both circles of dough. 9 Bake about 20-25 minutes in a 400° preheated oven. 10 Let cool and cut again into 8 wedges each, following original cut marks.

I'm not here today.

2011-01-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Instead I took a detour and ended up HERE for an author interview.

To win a cute ribbon book mark tell me the name of my first serious crush.

To win a Dove Chocolate bar Tell me why I like butterflies.

I will chose random numbers from the correct entries.

To My Friends

2011-01-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

As we close the door on all the successes and failures of 2010, I hope we can remember the good stuff, learn from the rest and look forward to dreams and success in 2011. Happy New Year everyone.

Gasp!!!!!!

2010-12-29T14:56:00.000-08:00

I actually wrote something last night. Gasp! Choke! Breathe deeply!

And it wasn't a synopsis or query. It was actually a MS.

Even better? It was my Nano project from last year! I have pulled out Latent and am getting it ready for a new round of critiques and editing.

Still not freewriting, but at least my muse isn't long gone.

Merry Christmas. Best wishes to all of you. I am glad to call you friends.

2010-12-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

Blogfest! (even if its late.)

2010-12-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

Of course I sign up for a blog fest and my baby gets the tummy flu and I have spent the day taking care of him.

So without any more delay here is my Christmas decorations!

My tree:

My house. (note this is the first house where we have had outdoor lights so we are building our supply)

Lastly a favorite Christmas dessert. Sugar Cookies:

1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening or butter*
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl cream the shortening and the sugar. Add the eggs, extract, and milk. In a medium bowl mix the dry ingredients with a wire whisk. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl. Mix with mixer until well combined. With hands, shape dough into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Roll half or 1/3 dough at a time, keep the rest refrigerated. For crisp cookies, roll dough, paper thin. For softer cookies, roll 1/8 " to 1/4" thick. With floured cookie cutter, cut into shapes. Re-roll trimmings and cut.

Place cookies 1/2 inch apart on cookie sheets. Decorate Bake 8 minutes or until very light brown. With pancake turner, remove cookies to racks; cool. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Sorry about the lateness of the hour enjoy. :)

mmmmmm chocolate . . .

2010-12-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Happy National Covered in Chocolate Day!

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
Directions
1.Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
2.Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
3.Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.
Footnotes

How to How to Easily Dip Truffles Place truffle ball in melted chocolate to coat; roll if necessary. Lift truffle from chocolate using 2 forks (this will allow excess chocolate to run off) before placing on wax paper.

I love this song, interesting interpretation

2010-12-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

Caution . . . construction ahead . . .

2010-12-16T13:15:00.000-08:00

I am revising my blog. I have been looking at what people like and what draws readers and keeps them. I am also thinking in terms of what I myself like and will allow on my blog within my comfort zone. Or what I will allow on my blog before I feel like I'm selling out.

Life is Short

2010-12-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

This is your life.
Do what you love and do it often.
If you don't like something, change it.
If you don't like your job, quit.
If you dont have enough time, stop watching TV.
If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing the things you love.
Stop over analyzing, life is simple.
All emotions are beautiful.
When you eat, appreciate every last bite.
Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our diferences.
Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your isnpiring dream with them.
Travel often; getting lost helps you find yourself.
Some opportunities only come once, seize them.
Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them so go out and start creating.
Life is short.
Live your dream, and wear your passion.

author unknown.......

The cure for what ails ya. . .

2010-12-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

I have been in a rut. A long creative sucking as well as soul sucking rut. There are many things that contributed to it.

One of the major things is: I let myself stop writing and creating. I also let the stress of my life overwhelm me. Needless to say I sat here feeling empty and wondering why.

I am actively doing something about it.

A few days ago, I stumbled upon a site where there were many pictures of wonderful things. Places and things that stir the imagination and soothe the soul. I browsed the site for hours writing down things I saw that inspired me. It was then that I realized that I am a creator regardless the medium. I must create to be happy.

I used to love to cook from scratch yet lately it has been a mundane chore because I had to. I love to sew but the blankets and things I made for Eli were because I had to. I love to draw but have had no time, caught up in the mundane world of life. The same goes for writng.

This little sight stirred emotions and a desire to create that havn't been present in years and I walked away feeling as little refueled. Granted not completely whole again but now I knew what and why.

I have forgotten how to take true personal quiet creative time for me.

This is going to change starting this week. :)

It's time to dust off those teacups I collect, and have a creative brainstorm session that gives me a list of things to make and create that makes me happy.

What about you guys? What creative outlet do you have that makes you happy?

Why I stopped writing all those years ago.

2010-11-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

Back when I was young and newly maried I took my hand-written novel (the 189 page one finished my junior year) and began to rewrite it. I had matured since then and had plenty of time. I worked, kept house and had only one kid. I also had time to watch TV.

One morning I was watching some morning news program and they interviewed a bestselling author. I of course was interested, they were an author and I wanted to be one. I should have turned the blasted thing off. I would have saved myself some serious pain and many years of doing nothing.

That author said one thing that stopped me in my tracks and my MS about half way done.

They said something to the effect of, "being so completely origional that every sentence and every word must be unique, origional and creative. That you would never publish a book if you couldnt write like that." Well I heard that, and my muse, which is a fickle little thing, just rolled over and died right there on the spot.

"What the heck?" I thought. "I can't write a whole 300 pages with every sentence so origional that no one has ever written it like that before. There's no way, I'm not smart enough to to that," and with that thought, I put my MS away and didn't think of it for years.

Well time went by and I had more kids and I got side-tracked by becoming a breastfeeding counselor and that kept me busy for years. (Not that that is a bad thing I'd like to think I have helped many people through my years of service.) I know my kids apreciate(d) a mom that is at home and involved in their lives.

Years went by before I pulled out my old writing and started to read it just for fun. When I happened upon an old story I got chills and turned to my computer. "I love this story and I think I could finish it now." was the thought. Within a few months I had written about 106 K words and was feeling pretty good about it.

It was at that time I started to really look at the world of writing and realized that, that one author was WRONG.

Say your character has run into a gastly demon, and if they are to live, they must get out of there. Your sentence is going to sound alot like this:

"He ran."

Now putting a little twist on it, you could say:

"He bolted."

OR "He rushed from the area."

OR you could add a little detail to the origional "He ran." by adding something to the effect of "He ran as if the devil himself was after him."

Still no matter the words used, the cadence created, or whether you add metaphors or description, the sentence is still "He ran."

THAT is part of what I didn't understand about writing. And I had no confidence in myself to tell that TV where to go and that frankly I didn't believe it. I wasted years of time I could have spent writing believing that it was too hard for me to do and I wasn't smart enough.

Thank heavens I know better now.

Have you ever run across something that kept you from doing what you should do? What obstacles have stood in your way in achieving something you want to do?

Epic NANO fail

2010-11-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

So It's November again and that means it's National Novel Writing Month.

It's the month in spite of the hollidays and Thanksgiving around the corner you are expected to write a 50,000 word novel. Well, in my insanity I signed up thinking that with the baby being fairly new I'd be able to sit in front of the computer for a couple of hours a day and at least get something written.

No one told me in advance that my 5 of my 7 kids were going to go through a horrible coughing/puking virus one at a time. Or that after weeks of cleaning up puke I'd get the virus myself. Or that once that had run through my family my 13 yo would end up in the hospital with apendicitis.

The nerve of my crystal ball!

Needless to say, I have only prodouced about 2,500 words, and only 306 of them were in the hospital. Last year I typed 2,700 words the first night!

Oh well, there's nothing I can do about real life. My control exists only in my books.

Just for fun

2010-11-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

Somedays you just gotta dance.

The C. Michelle Jefferies version of Project Notebooks.

2010-11-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

Okay here is my disclaimer. I am not the origonal crerator of these notebooks. I saw them on Nancy Campbell Allen's blog and went gaga over them. I am one that NEEDS and uses my notes as I write. In these notebooks, I saw a way to keep organized and keep all of my projects seperate.

I am also not the creator of the Story Structure I use for structuring my books, or the Dramatica style of plotting or any interpretation of it. However I will shamelessly tell you that these two styles are what I use to organize and create my stories.

So back to the Project Notebooks.

When the local huge super store had their spiral notebooks on sale at back to school time I grabbed two 25 notebook packages of them. I use these notebooks all the time, and at 15 cents a piece it was a steal.

Now, because I am sort-of craftsy, I took some scrapbook paper and covered the front of the book by cutting a piece and gluing it on the cover. This makes them more appealing. :)

Next I glued into the inside of the cover my Table of Contents. Mine consists of:

1 general outline/story structure
2 character pages
3 brainstorm
4 chapter summaries
5 running edit
6 research

Second I glued in the Story Structure outline I created from Larry Brooks Structure lessons. Since this is mymain plotting tool and the one that i rely on the most I put it in first.

The pages after that (in the general outline/storystructure section)I glued in my prompts I created from learning about Dramatica. While it has some amazing questions and things to prompt and make you think, it isnt the steructure I like so I decided that I could use this more for character arc and character development.

What this does is prompts me to think about my story and work things out before I sit and just start hammering the keyboard. Even if you are a seat of the pants writer, I suggest you at least have some idea of where you're going.

The next thing I did was section off each section according to the Table of Contents using a piece of scotch tape folded over the edge of the page. that way I can get to the section easier.

If you are interested please follow my links and create your own notebooks and study out and create your own plotting style/recipie. The least I can tell you is it has worked for me.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.......

2010-11-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

If all of the books and authors that I love and inspire me are urban fantasy/paranormal. Then why am I writing tech suspense?

Probably because the tech suspense genre is really small and new acording to some people.

Most likely because hard core sf intimidates the heck out of me.

Definately because the characters in my head won't stop talking to me.

Such is the life of an author.

BTW my NANO is a paranormal. I had to see if I can do it.

Story structure and NANO

2010-10-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

Yeah I'm insane. I joined NANO with a three month old. Its going to be a ball of yarn fun tho'.

To be honest I couldn't even do it if I didn't have the knowledge of Brooks' story structure and a great story idea. I know where this story is going and have the basic story facts firmly on paper even if they're not in my head. (blame mommy brain for that one)

The main reason I love story structure is it's like a recipie for baking muffins. Hang here with me as I get all domestic on you. It gives me what to put in the story/batter in exactly the order and amounts I need it. If I follow the recipie I know the story/muffins are going to turn out great. The cool thing about this recipie/story structure is the variety. If I want to use whole wheat flour instead of white I can, if I want to use applesauce instead of oil I can do that too. I can add chocolate chips, blueberries, nuts, or whatever I want because the recipie tells me I can. I can sit and write by the seat of my pants, (my muse's preferred style) as long as I follow the structure and still get an awesome plotted story out of it.

There has been no other writing help I have found that has changed the way I look at writing as much as this. Granted there has been a TON of things I have learned about writing from my friends and the internet. But this story structure has freed me from the "I have a great idea now where do I go" plot problem.

For those of you who are interested in what I am talking about go to my sidebar and click on the story structure links. If you are in Utah and/or are interested in going to an awesome LDS writers conference where Larry Brooks will be teaching about structure in a master class then click on the LDStorymaker conference link in the side bar too.

Speaking of great writing ideas, I am finally putting together my project notebooks that Nancy Campbell Allen talked about on her blog. I of course have altered them to my own needs but thought I'd show them to you when they are done. I hope to get the NANO one done before Monday. Thanks for the awesome idea.

What I learned from pitching my novel.

2010-10-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my hubby gifted me a writers conference as some much needed stress relief.

It was a rushed drive to American Fork and a late registration, but I made it. Let me tell you as a side note, that this "little" three conference strong event was simply amazing. It was well organized. The teachers were great and every class was exactly what I needed to hear. I also won the grand prize (a 2011 Writers Market) which I am so stoked to use.

That isnt the real reason for this post tho.

The very last class of the day was open to "pitches" to the newly formed "AF Arts Council Press". I wanted to go to the "How to Write a Series" class but decided to see what an open pitch session was like. I'm glad I took that chance even if nothing comes of the pitch, I learned some valuable stuff.

We were invited into a nice office and asked to give our concact infromation.
Then one by one asked questions about our manuscripts. "What is your book about?" etc.

I only attended the afternoon pitch session so I don't know what the other session was like. But I will tell you what I saw and learned from my hour.

First, finish your book before pitching it. Stories and characters change as we write the book and might morph into something completely diferent before you type the end and then edit it.

Second, know all the "info": genre, targeted audience, word count, etc. Do the research it's worth the time.

Third, have an all ready established web presence (website/blog/facebook/twitter etc.) and know what goes into modern day marketing of books. Have marketing ideas thought out and a marketing plan in place. If you're going to have a platform, have it ready and know your subject.

Fourth, bring your stuff with you. I knew that pitches were happening at the conference but I thought they were reserved and an extra cost, which they usually are. I was also taking Eli with me and in the interest of "stuff" (baby, stroller, sling, diaper bag, and my pack) I only carried a notebook for notes and a few pages incase I found time to plot or had an idea. I was asked if I had any of my MS with me and I didn't. I gave my pitch from an old paper that had my old pitch paragraph from my query on it and I had to think hard to alter it to resemble more of what my current "rocking" query sounds like. I did at least have my business card with all of my web addresses (blog website facebook etc.) on it. From now on I will probably have a manilla envelope in my bag with the first three chapters, a synopsis, query letter, and business card. You can't be too prepared.

Fifth, be calm, drink some water (not too much) before the pitch, eat a few mints and relax. It's only your baby you're presenting to someone who has the potential and audacity to say they might be ugly. :)

Amie Borst and Free Critique Friday

2010-10-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

You guys know all about my query success. And you guys know I owe alot of the success to my friends. Pendragon is the one who I worked with over and over to get the query to a decent state. She's an amazing plotter and what if player.

I heard about Amie through a friend's blog and heard about a contest she offered on her blog. For the first ten people that posted thier query in the comments on her blog she would give them a FREE critique.

Well of course I clicked straight over hoping that not all of the ten spots were gone. Well I was blessed, there were only five (I think) other querys posted. I posted mine and in a series of email conversations with Amie we polished the query until it shined. If you guys were wishing you'd seen this offer and sad you missed it........

Well you're in luck. Amie is offering a free query or first page critique every Friday. All you have to do is be brave enough to post material in her comments and hope she chooses you.

If you guys want to see what Amie did to my query go here and scroll down to my name (Michelle Jefferies). I promise you its worth the nerves to stick your neck out there.

Go on guys, Amie is really nice and she doesn't bite.

First 250 words blogfest.

2010-10-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

I'm so totally late!!! So Sorry! I've been up since early morning with fall allergies and I forgot to post.

This blogfest is from Elle Strauss. I thought it would be good to participate.

This is the first 240 (the next ten words would have made no sense w/o the next pararaph.) words from my WIP it is the second book to the one that is pollished and being sent out now.

The working title is Latent as in something lying latent within someone.

The blown sand stung at Antony’s exposed skin and imbedded itself in his shoulder-length brown hair. He stood at the top of the pyramid of Khufu; the wind howled and buffeted him like it didn’t want him standing there. As if it policed the area, and knew, just the act of climbing the pyramid in the middle of the night, was not allowed.
Five years ago, it wouldn’t have mattered. The former assassin would have balked in the face of the laws of the land, but that was a long time ago. Now, the Speaker, the Head Elders mouthpiece, wasn’t in the habit of breaking the rules. This is different, he justified as he pulled an old piece of paper out of his pocket.
Elite’s list was now worn and tattered. The folds almost ripped through, keeping the paper in his pocket for years made it dirty. He read it again; her delicate handwriting graced the page.
Be bound together forever. He smiled at the memory of the top item on the paper. Kneeling on the cold stone floor at sunrise, he held the hand of a woman who took the place of his deceased wife Elite. The High Elder, Sori Katsu, pronounced that Antony and Elite Danic were bound together forever with their son Lucius. The bonding performed the morning Antony left Natani, a confirmation that after five intense years as Katsu’s student, his time of penance was over.

My thoughts about rejection.

2010-10-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a time of rejections for me. I have submitted and even pitched my novel to various publishers.

In the last few days I had one friend see a bad review of her book that paralyzed her and kept her from working on her current book. Another submitted an experimental query and was rejected in ten minutes, and she laughed about it.

Are either of these people better than the other? No. One is newly published, one will have her book out next year.

Am I speaking a little hypocritical? Yes. Because I've been in both of thier places. I've had that rejection that I brushed off with a smile and I've had that devastating critique that could have paralyzed me. Actually it did for about an hour. Then through talking about it with a friend I realized that I had done my best on my MS and that it shouldn't matter to me what thay thought.

I kept the business card of the critiquer and on a quiet morning I burned that card into a pile of ashes, put the ashes in a baggie and tacked ot to my wall. Why? Because after that period of time where I bemoaned what they said and after what I learned from the experience I needed a reminder of the lesson.

Yea rejection is going to hurt, it's how you let it either spur you into action or let it keep you from working that matters.

I definately won't be perfect, I'll still have my moments of doubt. I'm a writer it's my nature. However whenever I get those future rejections I hope I will remember the lessons learned and move on.

Book Academy and the query part 2.

2010-10-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

I knew months ago that the Book Academy conference at UVU was coming up in September. I also thought that because I'd have a newborn and medical bills I'd just go next year. I felt really bad because I loved last years conference, but hey what do you do?

I saw a contest on Facebook where you could win one of two tickets to the conference and I entered. I thought, I can't win if I don't enter.

Well I won! I was so excited I screamed and woke the baby. LOL

After the heart palpitations slowed I had the distinct impression that I was going to make a connection or two there and that is why I won. I have been praying that I would work my butt off if I was just pointed in the right direction. I didn't tell anyone though because I didn't want to jinx it.

I found a babysitter for Noble and Thursday my hubby drove me to Orem and Elias and I went to the Book Academy Conference. I registered and then found my friends Cheri Chesley and Melissa Cunningham and sat by them. Well about 10 minutes later Lisa Mangum from Deseret Book and BRANDON MULL of "Fablehaven" fame sat at our table. I was so excited.

After a great opening message I bought one of a few "Chocolate Never Faileth" books by Annette Lyon and went to my first class which was a workshop on query writing. The night before I had recieved a message from a friend that the class was going to be a workshop and to bring your query letter. Well as you know from the last post I have been working and pulling my hair out over my query. So I printed it off and put it in my bag for the next day.

After a short lesson on how to write a query, by Lisa Mangum from Deseret Book and Kirk shaw from Covenant. They asked for victims and I raised my hand. Lisa read MY query out loud to the class and after reading the pitch (three paragraphs) she stopped and said that she wanted to see the book. (I hope shes not kidding because I'm sending her a submission on Monday.) They suggested a few small cosmetic changes which I have done, but otherwise they liked the query. When I talked to Kirk Shaw after the class just to clarify the genre he also asked me to submit it to Covenant.

My heart pounded the rest of the day and I couldn't wait to share the good news with my friends. I had the feeling that I was going to make some connections and I was right. I am so blessed.

While I am bennifiting from being at the right place at the right time doing the right thing, I must thank those who helped me with this query, and MS.

Paulette Inman, best friend forever and plotter/what if extroidinare, for being my sounding board for the re-write of the query and the MS.
Tristi Pinkston, editor extroidinare, for the grammar edit on the blurb.
Amie Borst, new friend and awesome critter, for the outside "don't know a thing about the book" query critique.
And lastly my anonymous editor and good friend (you know who you are) for the undying, completely unselfish, editing work you did on my MS. Not only does it shine, it ROCKS!
P. S. Angie Lofthouse, my bloggy and Facebook friend, thanks for watching Eli for a few minutes too! What a lifesaver.

I had a blast and I came home reafirming that I work in an awesome career with awesome people.

How about this?

2010-09-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have been working on pulling my hair out, I mean my query. (did I say that out loud?) While the old one was subtle and vague but had voice I needed to give more information. So here is the new version hopefuly with a little voice remaining.

Corporate assassin, Antony Danic, has never killed an innocent man—until now.

During a dinner with friends, Antony realizes that his last assigned hit was a mere preacher. When his assignments start to resemble personal agenda, instead of corporate espionage, he realizes what he thought was reality, is a lie. Just weeks before, while on vacation, Antony received a death threat from a fellow employee. It appeared that the corporation was unhappy with his performance on his previous hit. Even though he hoped it was just posturing from corporate, he began to re-think his safety, and his employer’s integrity.

When Antony botches a hit, by causing the destruction of an international space cruiser filled with a mysterious cargo, his carefully woven security net begins to unravel. And as he scrambles to find a safe way out of his employers "till death do us part" contract, he faces the decision of his life: continue with business as usual and kill another innocent man—or do what's right, even if it puts his family in jeopardy.

Some links for you

2010-09-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

I dont normally provide a post with a list of links but I have found two places you need to visit.

First, if you are in the market for an EXCELLENT editor I have just the one for you.
Tristi Pinkston is a frelance editor and is an expert at it. I have had the opportunity to have her look at a few small pieces of work for me and I have been completely pleased with her work. For her info and prices go here.

Second, Nancy Campbell Allen has posted about how she does her "Project Notebooks". I love her ideas and plan on usung her formula from now on. Imagine, everyting you need for one book in one notebook. (And I just bought a TON of spiral notebooks at the back to school sales) Here is that link.

Third, I am at 49 followers!!!!!! I need ONE MORE FOLLOWER to make it to fifty! If you havn't followed me yet and want a FREE SIGNED BOOK (Key Lime Pie by Josi Kilpack) become my 50th follower. :)

moving on . . . moving up?

2010-08-28T21:21:00.000-07:00

With the last rejection I recieved, I have exhausted all of the little indie publishers in my area. I'm really sad about this, I was seriously hoping to make it in this little niche market. Something homey and safe. Someplace that would understand my specific cultural needs and expressions.

What is bothering me the most is what is left for me to choose.

The national market.

To be honest it scares me literally out of my boots. Am I good enough? Is my book good enough? While my last rejection said my MS was promising they passed on it. What does that say about me and my writing? The next move for me is to send the Ms out to the few places that still accept unsolicited works and then try to find an agent. There are thousands of them out there, but less then 200 that represent my genre. What if i submit this MS to all of them and no one likes it? Where do I go from there? Do I start another story? Do I even bother?

I have discovered I have a yeller streak a mile wide across my back and it disturbs me. Scared enough that I have literally sat on my polished MS for weeks and not done a thing. The query process is daunting to me and quite confusing. I want to just run and hide. So much for being brave and adventerous.

Yet, I want to see this book series in print its a darn good story if I have any say. I have had a professional Editor look at it and they like it, my readers like it and I have worked darn hard on it. I guess what I am saying is if its worth anything at all I'll just have to get over this streak and do what needs to be done. Inspite of being yeller.

Try your hand . . . pen names

2010-08-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

Okay I admit that my reason for this topic is probably going to offend someone.

I don't like my name and havn't since I was a teen. Sorry mom and dad, I just don't like it. Enough to consider a legal name change at one point in time. One of the appeals as a writer has allways been the fact that I could write something and use a pen name. That I could literally be "some one else".

I have played with many pen names through out the years and either kept them for a while and or discarded them when it was time.

I even created a pen name that I ended up liking so much that I eventually used it as a character name. Oh well so much for that one.

So. . . . . I bet you are wondering if I disliked my name so much why my blog, twitter etc. uses my given legal name and why I don't change it.

Well to be honest I'm a chicken and didn't want to offend those two people that gave me my name. Second, I was writing for the LDS market at the time and they don't like the idea of pen names so I established my presence on the internet using my legal name. Besides, I guess it's not such a bad name afterall. :)

My question to you is do you use a pen name or have you considered it? If so, why?

My current distraction

2010-08-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

His name is Elias Teancum Porter Jefferies. He was born on Wednesday August 4, at 5:27 pm. Baby is perfect. I am recovering.

Wow I'm a slacker,

2010-07-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

I've only posted three times this month? Wow. I know life gets crazy but still.

Its been a hectic month. With the baby due next month things have gotten busy. Still there's no excuse.

The edit is done, me and my BFF have worked for days on a query and I am hoping to start researching agents editors and publishers and start sending this MS out.

Its been so nice to see that the MS is finished. So cool. I honestly wish I had the energy to throw a huge celebration for finishing the edit and getting ready to submit maybe after Eli is born.

Either way I am still here and I hope to have good contractrual/publishing news for you my readers soon.

I suppose it's the journey . . .

2010-07-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

That makes you stronger. Yes I know I am waxing philosophical, but such is the day.

While my writing journey started when I was young, the serious "I really want to get published" mode hit me about 3-4 years ago. Since then I have written many things and edited many more.

Last May (2009) I submitted a re-written MS that was actually "story worthy" to a publisher. They rejected it and asked for revisions. (Which is actually a good thing) At that point in time I also had a friend offer out of the goodness of their heart to help me edit this MS to get it ready to re-submit.

It's been just over a year now and the LAST edit came in my email over last weekend. I downloaded it to my computer, (I swear I saved it) moved my laptop to a nice brightly lit quiet place and started editing it. I was 2/3 of the way done and when I came back to it that night I somewhow erased, deleted, overwrote it and it was "poof" gone from my computer.

All 244 pages of the edit I had worked on ALL DAY. I was so in shock I couldn't even cry. All that work gone in a second. I tried everything to find the document and after two days I decided to just reload it and start over.

So yesterday I sat down early in the morning and started to edit again. I finished that afternoon and saved it, sending to some friends for safekeeping too. The edit is done the MS is as perfect as its going to get w/o a contract and an publishing editor.

While I was feeling so sick about loosing the pages I worked on this overwhelming sense of calm was there with me also. This MS has faced adversarial forces the whole time I have worked on it. My friend has lost it, and has lost hours of editing work on it too. This MS has a mind of its own and seems to have some potential that someone doesn't want me to explore.

The journey of the last few years have been a deep learning process for me. I have seen both the hands of God and Satan at work in my life regarding a simple stack of 300+ pages. I hope that most of the time I am running with the good crowd on this endeavor. LOL Timing in this has been perfect even if it was only seen in hindsight. Connections I have made in the last few years and the knowledge I have gained has been amazing. I often stand in awe of the "tour" I have been given this last few years.

The next few weeks, before Elias is born I am hoping to research and send out my MS to many agents and publishers. It's the perfect time seeing that I will have my hands full and not be actively writing or editing.

This journey has made me stronger in ways I never knew I could be strengthened. I have recieved inspiration and interpretations of feelings that I didnt know I was allowed to recieve. I have grown and I am thankful for it.

A freind once told me to "Expect Miracles" I did and this is what's happened.

WOW!

As I promised: Series Bible Pictures

2010-07-06T18:22:00.001-07:00

Those of you who know me, know my passion for pink. LOL I saw this journal and HAD to have it.

This is the character section I have found pictures and glued them in to give me an idea of thier physical appearence. I will aslo as I go, add details in this section about the characters that I need.

This is my world building section I have information about my cities and worlds. I also have maps in this section.

This is my plot section all of the books in the series are plotted out at least in structure. I also add my chapter outlines as I finish them and my synopsis notes.

This is my random or ETC section. All those notes that dont go in the other sections go in here. This is where I usually glue the short emails I sent to either myself or my writer friends.

My writing tip post on The AI blog.

2010-07-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

WRITING TIP
~by C. Michelle Jefferies

Wow what a difficult decision I had to make in regards to what I should write about. There were lists on the little clipboard in my head for days.

I finally settled on a topic that I myself have been working on and researching.

A Series Bible.
Similar to a character bible, a series bible is a place where you store and record all of the things that happen in your book that will be significant in the rest of the series.

Even if you write stand alone books. I have found in my researching and assembling of my bible, it is still important to have a record of what went on in that book so you don’t repeat things in your other stand alone books. For example I have a penchant of making my male MC or love interest blond and green eyed. I write the character descriptions down in the book and it reminds me that for variety I should choose a different look for the next guy.

Regardless of what your bible looks like, whether it is a spiral notebook or a stack of post-its, it’s what’s in it that’s important.

According to all my research, my bible contains different sections. They are as follows.

haracter section:
What characters look like, what their families are like, what quirks they have. All those little details that make the character unique so your not pulling a blank when you begin the second (or later) book(s).

Worlds, setting section:
What color is the sky? What do the towns, cities, etc. look like? What are the little details? Magic rules, governments, styles etc.

Back-story section:
What happens off the pages of the book that are still important?

Unique things section:
If your world has cool stuff you invented, write them here so you can use them in the rest of the series.

Plotline and arc’s for the series section:
This is where you store the plotlines and structure for your books. I include the character arc’s here as well.

Notes for yourself section:
Have an epiphany about your book? Those go here unless they belong somewhere else.

Whatever else you need sections:
Self explanatory?

As I have created my series bible, I am finding I love having everything in one place. I carry my bible with me in whatever bag I am toting around at the time and have easy access to it when I need it.

Happy Writing.

A Tang Soo Do update

2010-06-20T19:20:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday I tested for my second green stripe. I did everything my instructor asked of me even some situps and pushups. Not many, my body doesn't allow too many right now. As I did my double up front kick my Instructor smiled and said "theres proof that a pregnant woman can do almost anything" I walked on cloud 9 for days after that.

The next Monday I recieved my second green (red) stripe. This last friday I broke a 12x12x1" board doing a jump side kick. WHOOHOO!

I love my class, I am having a blast.

Just a note, the last two "red stripes" on the chart are now midnight blue.

In hindsight

2010-06-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

As you know. I have struggled the last few months trying to add emotion to my current MS. The one that I am going to be sending back to the publisher that rejected and asked for revisions.

While I was just adding some internal thought the edits were going well. I got to chapter 17 and began to think that what I had been doing was not enough. I talked to the editor, researched adding emotion, read articles and lectures and blog posts all over the web and tried to wrap my head around the "adding emotion" concept.

The more I read, the more confused I became. The more I tried to insert the ideas and change what I had written, the harder it was to even formulate a coherent thought in regards to the MS. In frustration I closed the laptop and didn't go back for almost TWO WEEKS while my brain tried to decompress.

One thing that frustrated me was I felt that the emotion I had added even if it was in exposition was sufficent for the character.

After the two weeks I went back to the LT and restarted what I had been doing at CH 17 out of desperation and finished that type of edit. When I was done I sat back and felt oddly satisfied. Without hesitation I sent the MS to the editor that is helping me and explained the enormous block that had occured and that I had done as much as I could.

A week later I was sufing some random blogs and ran across a post about not being able to change the manuscript to the specs that the crit group wanted. The reason eventually came out after much contemplation the soul/subconscious rejected the changes because they were not right for the story.

I paused and stared at the screen. Was that why I had so much trouble with what I was trying to do? Were the changes just plain wrong for this story?

Part of the frustration was that the SAME character in the second book has plenty of emotions after changing his life around. And the apparent lack of emotions in the first book seem to fit the current chatracters state of mind and the "feel" of the book. The "new" emotions in the second book seem to reflect the changes that happen to the main character in between books #1 and 2.

As I have thought about it over the last few days I know that this is what the problem was. The lack of emotion in the first book reflects part of the "theme" of the book. The emergence of emotion in the second book also completes the move from lack of, to experincing emotion in the second book.

What frustrates me most is that it wasn't untill after many weeks of self inflicted torture. Then sending off the MS w/o knowing why it had bothered me so much, that I found out why. So in hindsight, whether I knew why or not at least I followed my gut and did what I should have for the better good of the story.

Who knew?

character interview blogfest

2010-06-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

I saw this on the 700blankpages blog who got it from Elizabeth's blog who signed up on Sangu's blog.

The idea is to interview a character and post it on your blog. While Wyan's interview with his author went swimingly well. Teehee! I don't know if an interview with my character Noble would be any better. While Wyan is stubborn and rebellious, Noble is more of the silent type. And to be honest, he isn't the main character of the first book. The main character of Emergence which is the first book is Antony Danic. I wonder which one would give me more info. Probably neither. Hmmmmmmm Sounds like I should flip a coin.

No coins down here in my dungeon of an office. This might be interesting. . . . .

Maybe I should go alphabetically. Antony starts with A. Besides, Antony is the first character you'll meet in Emergence you don't even meet Noble untill the second book Latent. Maybe I'll catch Noble later this afternoon and add him later.

So here we go. I Michelle (M) will be interviewing Antony Danic (AD) the main character of the Emergence the first book in the Prophecy Rising Series.

M Good monring. How are you this morning?

AD I was asleep. And I'm hungry. Got any food? (Rummages through my cupboards.)

M Sorry, I was inspired.

AD Your inspiration gets you in trouble especially when you talk to your trouble making friend. What good is toast if you don't have any butter?

M I have cereal and milk.

AD Bleh, cereal isn't breakfast it's a snack. Elite would have woken me up with a plate of scrambled eggs and waffles.

M I'm not Elite.

AD I know. (Grins.)

M So anyway. . . The purpose for this interview is to let my blog readers get to know you better.

AD I'm invisible. (He raises an eyebrow.) Remember?

M This is just for the blog. So where you work, and what do you do?

AD So straight to the heavy hitters. Well lemmese. My Name is Antony Danic. I am a Human Resourses director for a company called Hurst Enterprises. I travel all over the world training employees. (Hides the glock .357 in his waitband.)

M Human Resourses. Right. (I roll my eyes.)

Ad (Stares at me unflinching.)

M Moving on, tell me a little about yourself.

AD My name is Antony Danic. I am a human--

M We allready know that. What about your past?

AD What about it? (He folds his arms and leans back in the chair next to me.)

M Where were you born?

AD Donno, I was found in a basket on the steps of a church in Dunedin New Zealand. Probably Dundein?

M Grew up?

AD We moved to Auckland when I was little. My parents owned a sheep ranch and I lived there untill I moved to Asutralia and joined the Austrtalian Defence Force.

M When was that?

AD When I was 17.

M What were your parents and childhood like?

AD No comment.

M (Silence.)

AD (Smirks.)

M Moving on. What do you like to do in your free time?

AD Free time? Whats that? I help Elite do what she needs to do. We go places and do things. Just took a trip to Tahiti. (Touches the gun in his waistband again.)

M (changing subjects) Speaking of Elite, what do you like most about her?

AD You're kidding. I love everything about her. There's nothing to dislike. Well except that church argument we have on Sunday mornings.

M Church? Please explain.

AD Nothing to it. I am an atheist. (chin reaises defiantly)

M I see. Well I can see we're going to get some deep thoughtful answers today. Favorite color?

AD Black

M Favorite music?

AD As if you dont know it. You chose it for me. Alternative music from the 1980's on.

M More specif--?

AD Ultravox. Period.

M Favorite clothes?

AD Loose shirts, (pulls the back of his shirt over the butt of the Glock.) Jeans. cowboy boots.

M Favorite food?

AD Asian.

M Favorite car?

AD Dont drive a car. Or a shuttle for that matter. Too expensive and Elite gets car sick. Although I did see this sweet Dodge Prowler a few weeks ago.

M Favorite weapon?

AD No comment. (Folds arms again.)

M Any Tattoos?

AD Birthmark. Maybe. Why?

M Nevermind. (Grins.)

AD (Raises an eyebrow.)

M Anything else, you'd like to say?

AD Um. . . . You have something on your shirt. (Points at me.)

M I do? (Looks down)

AD (Smacks my forehead before disapearing.) PSYCH! (He laughs)

I am done!!!!!!!!!!

2010-06-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

ELEVEN days short of a year and I am done with the line, content edit and revisions that have been requested of me. I have sent the MS back to my friend and I will be preparing to send it back to the publisher that rejected it and asked for the work I have done this last year.

This has been the LONGEST year of my life I think. I am brain dead and mentally exhausted. Yet very happy in the knowledge that I am so finished with it. I know what it feels like to not be able to STAND one more look, pass or edit of the MS. To want to throw the laptop out the window if someone asks one more thing of you concerning the MS.

The MS is great. I have people who can't wait for it to be published because they only read the first chapter. I had a reader that had to read it twice because the first time they were so caught up in the plot and story the forgot they were proofreading it for me. My BFF and I have worked the plot on this puppy to perfection. It is a great story and now it is clean and shiny, I even added emotions to it. :)

This is a major milepost in my writing career. Something I have been working for, for the longest time. Therefore it is a time to celebrate. Since I have nothing to give you my devoted readers I have come up with a unique idea to thank you for the long years of support you have given me.

Those of you who comment on this post will recieve thier first names written into the sequel of this book as characters. Or book #3 if I run out of secondary characters in #2.

So comment away and come celebrate with me. I am pulling out the sparkling cider and eating at least a few brownies tonight. :)

Learning writing from other sources. . . .

2010-06-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days I have listened as my daughter has watched season one of "Criminal Minds". I don't watch TV and rarely watch movies. But I have learned something as I have "listened" to my kids watch this or that. For example, there are alot of Disney movies that have really strong points in one writing point or the other.

As I was listening to the TV/revising my MS I realized a few things. When a series usually starts they introdouce the characters doing someting that is unique to that character and you remember the introdouction. Also as the series progresses it often has episodes that highlight one character or the other.

Do we as writers do the same thing? Do we introdouce our characters doing something unique? Will our readers remember that character? When we have a MS that has more than one character POV. Do we use scenes or chapters to highlight a character that is in the story?

Have you listened to a movie or episode and realized the uniqueness of the dialogue and howit identifies the character even if you can't "see" who's speaking? Try it sometime. :)

Frustration

2010-06-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

I KNOW that emotion. I am really familiar with it.

I am at the cusp of sending my manuscript to the publisher who asked for revisions. I have done everything they have asked except adding emotion and internal thought. I even researched adding emotion and putting the MS away for a while to give me some distance.

I feel emotions, the frustration I am experiencing is real and I can identify with it. But my character isn't allways frustrated and that would get quite boring. The guy's an assassin who basically shuts down emotionally when he is on a hit. I'm okay with that. But what about when hes not? I dont know. Why is this so hard for me?

I am so close to being "there". I can almost feel that acceptance in my hands, like standing on the top of a hill ready to take a wild ride down the other side. Yet this hiccup seems to want to rip any thought of success from my hands.

Yeah I know frustration I am living a version of it right now.

Art verses Craft

2010-05-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

My best friend is a writer. She is also a "bookbinder". While she hates anything that has to do with crafts, I love creating with paper and fabric. When I have started a project that involves anything from a craft store we usually discuss her dislike of them. The few times she has decided to "make" something I usually razz her because I know I'm going to get a response from her. Trust me it's fun.

When she started taking book binding classes I was a little jealous, it's something I have allways wanted to learn. Well lucky for her I live in the boonies and she lives in the city. She got to take the class and I got to be jealous of her over the internet.

The discussion of whether what she does is either an art or a craft is a common discussion between us. What is the definition of art versus craft? Is there really a huge diference? When we were little didn't we all take "arts and crafts" classes in school? Didn't those classes involve anything between painting/drawing on paper to creating those little clay pots for mothers day? Just yesterday I laughed about her booking a table at a local "craft fair" hosted by a scrapbooker. She even defended her position by informing me that most book binders are men. Okay. . .

While I consider myself an artist I also consider my self a crafter. I love manipulating things to get the result I want. I love taking a few yards of fabric and turning them into something beautiful. While I insist that what I do whether it's writing, sewing, drawing or papercrafting is both art and craft she insists that things like bookbinding is an art.

I'm fine with the "art" label, I really am. But I also firmly believe that the actual process of making a book is a craft that is learned. I know that bookbinders call it a lost art and I won't argue with them. But taking materials and using tools to make something completely diferent than the raw materials is, in my opinion, craft.

While a clay pot is art, the knowledge of how to spin and fire and glaze clay into something that can hold water is craft. At least that is my opinion.

Writing is the perfect example of both art and craft. While a finished book can surely be called art, I believe its more the way words flow from a writers hand. The picture that they paint in the readers mind is an art. The time it takes to learn a craft such as writing is equal to an artists time spent in creating a masterpiece.

However, I believe that knowing how to construct a sentence, how to write a character that a reader loves, how to plot and then execute that plot, how to do all those things that a writer needs such as formatting, writing synopsis and querys is where we writers use craft. While some writer may have a beautiful story or an amazing character if the execution, or CRAFT, of that wrtiers skill isn't great, the story will completely flop.

A begining seamstress can not create a beautiful wedding dress, a begining writer cannot become a master of words with thier first draft. It takes time and lots of practice to combine both the art of story and the craft of writing to become an author that is worthy of reading. Knowing how to meld the two is I think what all "artists" of any form strive to achieve.

So while my best friend insists she is an artist, I insist she is also a crafter. Of not only words, but also paper, leather, book board, and glue. Maybe my elementary teachers were right in teaching "arts and crafts" combined because in my head, there's no seperating them.

Putting emotions in your writing

2010-05-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

As I type this I have been pondering the above title. How do you put emotion in your writing? How do you get your character to show emotion? How do you convince your reader to identify with your character without going overboard? Where is that overboard line? How do you write something painful or sad that you don't want to experience yourself? How do you make good writing great by adding emotions?

What are your thoughts? How do you as a writer add emotion? What do you as a reader expect in a book?

My mind is churning, I hope to learn as much as I can and get back to you guys.

Another update.

2010-05-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

First sweep of the revisions are done. I have sent it out to readers and will hit the book at least one more time.
WHOOHOO!

I can't believe I am this far. Wow.

Revision update

2010-05-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Just quickly before the kids come home.

I am HALF WAY done with my revisions!!!!! I will hopefully finish the revisions next week.

Whoohoo!

Try your hand. . . . With a twist.

2010-05-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

These last few months have been hard on me and my muse. As I have been editing Emergence in hopes that it will get picked up by a publisher, I have realized how much emotion I have poured into this particular manuscript. In moments where I have had the time to draft something new, I have been frozen by the "what if" bug. Not the "What if my character did this". No this is worse, it's the "What if this book is crap and no one likes it?" bug. Followed closely by the "then why draft the sequel if its crap?" thing. Its been a very emotional ride.

One thing I did find that helped me, was a distraction, hense the "try your hand" title.

I am also getting ready for a baby that is due in the end of August. One day when I couldn't stand to look at my computer for one more minute I shut the thing down and went upstairs to the baby's room. I love the room, it is very peaceful in my house of chaos. As I sat there I realized that there was plenty of stuff I needed to do in there. So with no thought about my story I sat on the floor and just started to work on the things that needed to be done.

It was calming and I felt better once I had a stack of things accomplished on that mile long to do list that every mother has. I was actually able to pull up one of my MS that needed work and actually work on it.

Often times we forget that theres a cure in leaving the thing that had frustrated us for so long and in doing something else. I think we get in a rut of doing either nothing or doing the same frustrating thing over and over again that we don't see the option that is waiting just outsie of that "wall of inprisonment" of our own making.

How many times do we only see that one thing that is frustrating us and not see the solution that is right there jumping up and down waving its hands wildly?

For me I leanred a lesson, and I hope I dont forget it soon.

What is your distraction? Do you use it often, or do you let the problem override it? Do any of you use service for others as a distraction? Let me know, I am curious.

Just a note. . .

2010-05-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

I am looking for a few people to read my MS as I finish the revising period to see if I missed anything. It'd be 1-2 chapters a day/5-10 ch. a week. I want to get this MS done by June, July. Any takers? Please comment and I'll get ahold of you.

And so it Begins

2010-04-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Just two days before the Writers conference I recieved an e-mail from my friend and editor. The final "grammar/content sweep" is done and they sent me a detailed letter as to what they want done in a round of restructuring.

To be honest it freaked me out a little. When I first read the e-mail I was imagining this huge insurmountable second edit. So much so, that the thought of starting a new hobby was entertained. I knew the conference was only a few days away so my best defence was to forget the e-mail even came until after I was home. So I went and tried to forget that there were five things I needed to do to every chapter, all 44 of them. (Well 42 chapters one chapter has been deleted and one was imaginary by way of chapter numbering errors.)

Sunday I started pondering the restructure in earnest because I can't ignore something like that for too long. It was still just as intimidating and I was vacilating between curling in a ball and crying or pulling out all of my hair. Monday I was about the same. By Thursday I was begining to gather ideas and the thought of changing hobbies was begingng to fade.

This morning, with a much more level head I looked at the email more objectively and realized that one suggestion only effects a few chapters, two of the suggestions will only effect minute parts of every chapter and two are going to effect every chapter. But that's okay because the work load has been significantly lowered because reason has stepped in place of the panic.

So starting tomorrow or Monday I will begin this chapter by chapter revising. I know what is needed and I know that I am capable. I have friends who believe on me and people to cheer me on in this process.

I know that my friend who is doing this HUGE favor for me out of the goodness of their heart believes in me and the story. They have taken time from thier family to read my story and tirelessly edit and help me along the way. Although I have given them gifts, I can never repay what they have done and I will forever be in thier debt. Thank you again and again.

I have altered the editing update on my side bar. You can watch it or read my posts as I go through this process.

I am on my way to a beatuiful manuscript.

It's all in the head. . .

2010-04-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

I went to the LDStorymakers conference this year.

It was a complete blast.

The classes were awesome. The friends were beyond awesome. The food, once I convinced them that I really am allergic to tomatoes, was awesome too. I was able to talk to people I admire and chat with people who I think are so cool and didn't feel like an idiot.

I want to thank Tristi Pinkston, Jaime Theeler and Crystal Liechty for all their hard work in putting the conference together. For all the teachers that worked for hours on thier classes. For the people in AI who also worked many hours to get people excited and involved. Also to Julie Coulter Belon for managing the First Chapter Contest and somehow handling over 190 entries.

I didnt win anything in the contest although I did win a CD from Covenant (door prize). But this year that's okay. I didnt expect to win this year I had much more realistic expectations and entered the contest with the sole intention of getting those crits. Although winning the laptop would have been nice.

I'm glad I took that approach, this conference was so much more enjoyable. Silly me don't know why I was so wrapped up in the contest last year. Maybe since I won the LTUE contest in 08 I was too full of myself. Letting it get to my head. I know, bad me.

Anyway, this year was a blast, I had alot of fun and got alot of books signed and got a coveted copy of "Mr. Monster" (the sequel of I am Not a Serial Killer) by Dan Wells. Next year I don't even think I am entering the contest. Most of the crits for all four chapters I entered were all saying the same thing anyway. I know where my strengths and weaknesses are and I am working on it.

Regardless I had a great time and it was certainly inspiring for me. Thanks Guys!

Right in my lap.

2010-04-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago we talked about Author Platforms. And at that time I listed a few things that were important to me, but had no real platform.

A few nights ago I was reading a magazine that my husbands alma matter sends us every few months or so. Opening the magazine I see an article about a former alumn an amazing young woman named Amanda de Lange who lives in China and runs an orphanage that takes abandoned children, often with birth defects like cleft pallate or spina biffida and finds doctors to treat them and takes these emaciated, almost dead children and turns them into rolly polly happy babies.

I have allways been facinated in the idea of foster care, adoption and would love to adopt an Asian baby. Maybe when my house isn't so full? LOL I am adopted myself as well as my brother and sister.

This article inspired me, especially when the main characters wife in my book runs an orphanage and that is her life's work. It never occured to me that it was a totally good idea as a platform.

So I now have an Author Platform. Foster care and adoption.

To see what inspired me go see The Starfish Foster Home

or her blog chinesestarfish.blogspot.com

Some people may wonder 'why adopt'? With millions of orphans in the world, how can you hope to make a difference? There's so many. This is the answer. . .

"An old man was walking down the beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. As the old man approached the young man, he asked, "Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"

The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.

"But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish," exclaimed the old man. "How can your efforts make any difference?"

The young man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said,

"It made all the difference to that one."

Amanda takes very little income and has alot of staff to pay for. All she is asking is either 40$ a month to sponsor a child or help support a nanny. If you have the ability please go support this wonderful cause.

Time To Celebrate!!!!!!!!!

2010-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

I honestly planned on posting a few days ago. Really. But then I got an edit from my friend. THE LAST TEN CHAPTERS EDIT. So the last few days have been spent going over and doing a grammar and content edit on 67 pages.

I am brain dead, oozing out of my ears dead. Yep.

I was planning on doing this big celebration as I went through the last ten chapters. This is a big deal to me, I have spent the last year working on this edit.

So we are going to celebrate regardless of the process of finishing this book. To celebrate the end of the first sweep being over. I am giving away a pack of my favorite pens all the way from Rock Springs Wyoming. All you have to do is comment on this post.

Furthermore, I'll be doing a reader participation/giveaways for the ramaining steps of finishing this book. (content changes, restructuring, and final read over.)

So, comment away. Keep coming back, and I will keep you updated on the last part of this process.