Idea Creations Press: Writing in the New Year

This is my friend Kathryn Jones take on how to organize your writing in the New Year:
Idea Creations Press: Writing in the New Year: What do you want for your writing in the new year? I've previously written about organizing your writing life, but when it comes to actual...

Connections: Cherish Each Moment

This is a great link to what my friend Christy Monson had to say about the Sandy Hook Tragedy:
Connections: Cherish Each Moment: After the shock, horror, and grief all of us felt over the events of this past week, I began to look for the blessings they brought ...

Writers On Vacation

I kind of took a vacation from writing from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  I say "kind of"  because I wrote several academic papers for school in that time period.  Now, I feel refreshed and ready to go again for the New Year.

Some of the funny things that happened during that time:
My grand-daughter has been potty trained but has discovered a fear of automatic flush toilets.  I think many adults are afraid of them too.  I hate it when they go off unexpectedly when you're putting on the toilet seat cover or just adjusting your seat.  It is a first world problem as they say.

Everybody I know got two copies of Disney's Cinderella for Christmas.  I took my extra one back to Walmart and traded it for Disney Pixar's Brave.  Even my son who hates animation loved it.

Utah finally got a good dose of snow and my car door froze shut.  When I was trying to yank open the door, my feet slipped out from under me and I did an unexpected snow angel on the way to work.

My mother-in-law bought my very hard to shop for husband, Doritos and Dr. Pepper for Christmas; exactly, what he asked for :) .

I was going to finish editing a book during "Christmas Vacation" from school and I haven't even touched it yet.  I spite of it all, I'm happy to have spent time with my family over the holidays.  The book will wait patiently until I get it done, but my family has grown up too fast.  My favorite Christmas gift this year was a picture book done by my parents.  It has pictures  of them and then a couple pages for each of my siblings families with things that have happened this year.  It includes my son's wedding and pictures of my brother's wife who died this year.  Joy and sadness make up life, and it was good to take a moment and see the year in review.

May you all have a Happy New Year!

Week 20: Blog Hop - Check out these Author Blogs

While you're getting over the excitement of the election, take a break and Check out these Author Blogs.

5 Great Authors

1 E. M. Tippetts   Chick Lit & YA
http://www.emtippetts.com
http://www.emtippetts.com/2012/08/good-men-matter.html
Amazon Author page
Twitter: @emtippetts

2 Jason King     Fantasy 
http://www.authorjasonking.com


3 A. L. Sowards  Historical Suspence
http://alsowards.com
Amazon Link       Deseret Book Link         Seagull Book Link

4 Christy Monson  LDS Historical YA
http://www.christymonson.com
Connections blog http://christymonson.blogspot.com/
Prophets blog http://prophetsinperson.blogspot.com/

 

5 Chris Stewart (He won his election yesterday.) He may not be posting today.
Http://www.chrisstewartforcongress.com

Deseret Book Link

     

     

Rowdy Readerz Book Club - Christmas Gifts for Readers

Today, I visited the Rowdy Readerz Book Club (facebook link).  This time they met at the Hunter Library in West Valley City, UT.  They usually meet at different restaurants and invite authors to come talk about their books and then discuss the book they are reading for the month.  I was there as their invited guest author to talk about my book Shelby's Plan and the sequel I'm currently editing (see WIP on the Blog Hop Post).

They are a very nice, fun group of women who are enthusiastic about reading.  They were suggesting books I should read and I left with a list of books to look up at the library or on Kindle.  They are so knowledgeable about the books they like and promised to post names of books they forgot the title or the author to on Facebook for me.  It's good for me to meet an audience of women who love to read.  It reminds me why I'm an author. 

I write because I can't always find the perfect book to read, so when I get in that mood I write the story I want to read or need to read.  Shelby's Plan was a book to comfort me when I thought I might lose my husband.  It helped me create an imaginary future if the worst happened.  It gave me hope. One of my readers said it gave her hope while she was in the midst of a divorce that she would find a man she could love again.  It's about learning to love again.

I'm hoping to get Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Deseret Book gift cards for Christmas so I can buy some of the books the Rowdy Readerz recommended.  Part of being a good writer is reading good books - it improves your writing to read other creative writers.

Texting Through Time - Guest Post by Christy Monson

A second Texting Through Time book is here, John Taylor And The Mystery Puzzle. It’s a fast-paced quick read—fun for kids and the entire family.

As Micah and Alicia get to know John Taylor, they find he is faithful, courageous, prayerful and loving. They must solve a mystery puzzle about his life before they can return home. While hunting for the puzzle pieces, they land in France with a dead phone battery—and Micah is in a dress! What else can go wrong?

This was such a fun book to write. I enjoy doing the research. It’s a blessing for me to learn about our modern-day prophets.

I am honored that Mary Jane Woodger, BYU Faculty and editor of Champion of Liberty, John Taylor, has written a forward for my book. Maureen Smith, International President of the Daughter’s of the Utah Pioneers has endorsed the book. And Mathew Buckley, author of Chickens in the Headlights, and Bullies in the Headlights has given it a thumbs-up.

If you like contests, be sure to join the book blast on November 13^th. Order a book from Amazon and leave me a message on one of the following sites to win a $25.00 Amazon Gift Certificate.

http://www.christymonson.com/index.html

http://www.textingthroughtime.com/index.html

http://christymonson.blogspot.com/

My book launch will be at the Ogden Temple Deseret Book Store on Friday, November 23^rd from 2 – 3:30 pm. Join the fun. Come for refreshments and a fun signing.

Check the websites for other scheduled signings.

 

 

**** Check back in a week for a review of this book -- Michelle****

 

Hurricane Sandy - "Good book material"

I've been watching the devastation Hurricane Sandy left in New Jersey and New York.  I lived in New Jersey in the late 80's, and early 90's.  The Garden State grows flowers effortlessly.  I didn't know what a desert was until I went to New Jersey and learned what it wasn't.  The nice sandy soil of New Jersey grew tomatoes and bulb flowers without much effort on my part.  There were no sprinkler systems and grass grew.  Now, I see pictures of the houses just covered deep in sand. 

Toms River was in my LDS Ward. They and most of the NJ Coast are flooded and without power.  It's been twenty years since I was there and Hurricane Andrew was threatening to come aground in New Jersey.  I was huddling in the corner of our apartment during the worst of that storm, alone with a baby and pregnant with another, wondering what I would do if we had to evacuate. I can't imagine what it was like Monday.

As a writer, you learn to see trials as "good book material".  Someday, someone will write a disaster book based on this storm and it will help somebody heal.  Right now what the good people of New Jersey need is help. So donate to the American Red Cross and journal about your experiences so you can remember.