And so it Begins

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. . .

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.

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!!!!!!!!!

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.