A busy week! I'm a little behind my word count goal--I wrote 4,000 words in Alma the Younger, and my goal was 5,000. One of the reasons is because I had to prepare a presentation for the Book Academy Conference at UVU. I blogged about the keynote speaker, Brandon Sanderson, here. I can't wait to read his newest book, Warbreaker. Any Brandon Sanderson fans out there?
So I took my first Alma the Younger chapter to my critique group. It's a chapter that might be a forward prologue (kind of what I did in Abinadi). They liked it, but they thought the "hook" wasn't powerful enough--you know those pesky first chapters have to draw the reader in immediately. So back to the drawing board. I wrote a completely new chapter last night, and will still retain parts of the former chapter, but I'll be interested in what my critique group will say now.
Back to Brandon Sanderson--he saves drafts of all his books. In other words the chapter I just nixed, he would have kept it and put it up for his readers to review. Hmmm. Something to think about.
On Friday, I signed copies of Alma at the Seagull Book in American Fork. I think I signed every last copy in their store (like 50+). So if you need a signed copy--go there!
Some really great reviews and interviews came in this week for the blog tour:
Kathi Oram Peterson at Kathi's Writing Nook: She is another Book of Mormon fiction writer and has written The Forgotten Warrior--a YA novel that's a time travel story. It's a very entertaining read, for teens and adults alike. Awhile back, I reviewed The Forgotten Warrior here.
Nikki Wilson of Mormon Mommy Writers posted an interview with me. Nikki is also a writer, and her big question for me was how to push past writer's block. You can check out the interview to find out my tips :)
Danyelle Ferguson at Queen of the Clan also reviewed Alma. Danyelle is also a writer, and is in the final stages of her upcoming book: Teaching Special Spirits. Her journey to publication has been really interesting, and I'm looking forward to her new book.
Nichole Giles of Random-Ish reviewed Alma on her blog, along with some funny questions. Nichole is also a writer and her first book will be out this December: Mormon Mishaps and Mischiefs--Hilarious Stories for Saints. If you read Nichole's other blog posts, she is a really funny gal, the perfect person to write this type of book.
Thanks Ladies!
My next book signing is:
October 2, 2009 - Redwood Seagull Book,
Pre-Conference Signing 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1720 South Redwood Road, SLC, UTAH)
Also to read the first three chapters of either Abinadi or Alma go here.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
ALMA Blog Tour & 2009 LUW Conference
The drive to the League of Utah Writers conference in Midway, Utah was worth all preparation. The fall colors are just starting to hit throughout the canyon. The best thing about writers conferences is reuniting with friends and finding out what they are up to. This conference is the first one I attended as an aspiring writer in 2002. So it's really cool to return 7 years later with 6 books published.
I taught a couple of workshops on Saturday (which I'll highlight on my editing blog), and I listened to several great speakers. Even more than a writer, I'm a reader and a huge fan of many authors. I met Sandra Dallas (alas, no picture), and I also attended a workshop by Richard Paul Evans (thanks Nichole Giles for the picture!). He is one of those brilliant marketers, and I feel like I have to write down every word he says.
I taught a couple of workshops on Saturday (which I'll highlight on my editing blog), and I listened to several great speakers. Even more than a writer, I'm a reader and a huge fan of many authors. I met Sandra Dallas (alas, no picture), and I also attended a workshop by Richard Paul Evans (thanks Nichole Giles for the picture!). He is one of those brilliant marketers, and I feel like I have to write down every word he says.
Me with Richard Paul Evans
Alison Palmer of Tangled Words and Dreams recently posted her review of Alma here! Alison frequently reviews books on her site, and she is also an author. If you teach kids, she has books to fit your needs. Her next book Simply Singing Time will be out in October. Thanks Alison!
Is anyone coming to the UVU Writers and Readers Conference this Thursday? (Sept 24) I'll be teaching a class, and I just printed off the schedule. This conference could be two days--there will be so many great speakers, including Brandon Sanderson, Rachel Ann Nunes, James Dashner, Josi Kilpack, J. Scott Savage, Anita Stansfield, Julie Coulter Bellon, Tristi Pinkston . . . okay, here's the link, you can check it out for yourself!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
ALMA Blog Tour
This week three more reviews have come in.
Thanks to Mary Campbell of the Literary Girls Writing Group, who posted a review of Alma. It's a fun blog to peruse because the contributors talk about books! Which I love in all shapes and sizes, of course. Just this week I've read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, and started reading The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale (which is completely zany so far!).
Also, Jen posted her review as well--otherwise known as JenHeadJen. (What's the story behind that name?) She also fired some interview questions at me, so my favorite color is now no longer a secret. Check out Jen's blog, where else, but JenHeadJen. Thanks, Jen!
Thanks to Tamara Heiner who posted her review on ALMA. Everyone has been so fast! There's a pretty good comment trail going on the review already. Check it out at Chasing Dreams. I also enjoyed reading Tamara's other interviews/reviews of various books and authors. Tamara has her own book coming out Fall 2010. Congrats!
This weekend I'll be teaching a couple of workshops at the LUW Conference in Heber, Utah. I'm excited to mix and mingle with crazy writer people like me :)
Thanks to Mary Campbell of the Literary Girls Writing Group, who posted a review of Alma. It's a fun blog to peruse because the contributors talk about books! Which I love in all shapes and sizes, of course. Just this week I've read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, and started reading The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale (which is completely zany so far!).
Also, Jen posted her review as well--otherwise known as JenHeadJen. (What's the story behind that name?) She also fired some interview questions at me, so my favorite color is now no longer a secret. Check out Jen's blog, where else, but JenHeadJen. Thanks, Jen!
Thanks to Tamara Heiner who posted her review on ALMA. Everyone has been so fast! There's a pretty good comment trail going on the review already. Check it out at Chasing Dreams. I also enjoyed reading Tamara's other interviews/reviews of various books and authors. Tamara has her own book coming out Fall 2010. Congrats!
This weekend I'll be teaching a couple of workshops at the LUW Conference in Heber, Utah. I'm excited to mix and mingle with crazy writer people like me :)
Friday, September 11, 2009
Alma the Younger and other updates
I have a cold, so I'm glad that no one can hear me speak :) Today I bought a variety of remedies, hoping something will stem the tide.
Anyway, a few weeks ago I started writing Alma the Younger, the sequel to Alma (of course!)
I took a chapter to my critique group. It's one the first chapters of Alma the Younger (probably chapter 2). In the chapter I have Alma and two of the sons of Mosiah on a hunting trip. The problem is, all of their names start with an A: Alma, Ammon, Aaron. It gets confusing to write, and will be confusing to the reader if I can't get their characters established pretty quickly.
Or maybe have nicknames.
Nicknames sound great in theory, but I'm afraid it would turn off my Book of Mormon purists. Can I call Alma "Al" or Ammon "Am"?
My husband is a nick-name giver. You probably won't believe the nicknames he gives people. In fact, when I first started dating him, I thought he must have at least 7 brothers. Turned out he only had 4, but he kept using such a wide variety of names, I didn't realize some of them were the same person.
Here are his nicknames for his brothers:
Cor-dog
Pound
Noobie
Lenny
The nicknames for our kids:
Number 9
Honey
Falina
Rosebud
Let me know if you have any solutions for Alma, Ammon, Aaron (and don't forget Alma's father, Alma the Elder).
Anyway, a few weeks ago I started writing Alma the Younger, the sequel to Alma (of course!)
I took a chapter to my critique group. It's one the first chapters of Alma the Younger (probably chapter 2). In the chapter I have Alma and two of the sons of Mosiah on a hunting trip. The problem is, all of their names start with an A: Alma, Ammon, Aaron. It gets confusing to write, and will be confusing to the reader if I can't get their characters established pretty quickly.
Or maybe have nicknames.
Nicknames sound great in theory, but I'm afraid it would turn off my Book of Mormon purists. Can I call Alma "Al" or Ammon "Am"?
My husband is a nick-name giver. You probably won't believe the nicknames he gives people. In fact, when I first started dating him, I thought he must have at least 7 brothers. Turned out he only had 4, but he kept using such a wide variety of names, I didn't realize some of them were the same person.
Here are his nicknames for his brothers:
Cor-dog
Pound
Noobie
Lenny
The nicknames for our kids:
Number 9
Honey
Falina
Rosebud
Let me know if you have any solutions for Alma, Ammon, Aaron (and don't forget Alma's father, Alma the Elder).
Thursday, September 10, 2009
ALMA Blog Tour & Read first 3 chapters!
Thank you to Andrea Frisby who wrote a review on Alma here. She is the first official reviewer on in this blog tour. She runs a movie review site, so it was a question of where to post the review. She decided to post on her regular blog, but if you want to hop over to her movie review site, visit Movie Reviews by Andrea. I read through several of her movie reviews, and we have very similar opinions! Thanks, Andrea for your book review!
I've also worked the past few days on getting the first three chapters of ALMA available for you to read on-line. With my techo-challenged mind, I finally turned it over to my brilliant webmaster who designed my website.
Read the first three chapters of ALMA here!
And if for some reason, you haven't read Abinadi, you can read the first three chapters of ABINADI here!
Reminder on my book signings--hope to see some of you there!
September 11, 2009 - West Jordan Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1625 West 9000 South, West Jordan, UTAH)
September 25, 2009 - American Fork Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (218 West State Road, American Fork, UT)
October 2, 2009 - Redwood Seagull Book, Pre-Conference Signing 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1720 South Redwood Road, SLC, UTAH)
I've also worked the past few days on getting the first three chapters of ALMA available for you to read on-line. With my techo-challenged mind, I finally turned it over to my brilliant webmaster who designed my website.
Read the first three chapters of ALMA here!
And if for some reason, you haven't read Abinadi, you can read the first three chapters of ABINADI here!
Reminder on my book signings--hope to see some of you there!
September 11, 2009 - West Jordan Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1625 West 9000 South, West Jordan, UTAH)
September 25, 2009 - American Fork Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (218 West State Road, American Fork, UT)
October 2, 2009 - Redwood Seagull Book, Pre-Conference Signing 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1720 South Redwood Road, SLC, UTAH)
Monday, September 7, 2009
ALMA Blog Tour & The Hidden Branch
Sheila Staley of the LDS Womens Book Review podcast posted her review and a short interview she did with me on her blog today. Sheila is one great woman--she teaches school and she is an aspiring writer. She's very fun to be with and has an awesome sense of humor (which you can kind of tell by the title of her blog :)
This is a picture of me with the LDS Womens' podcast ladies when we were all at the Whitney Award Gala last April. Check out Sheila's blog, as well as the podcast. Annette Lyon and I were interviewed in Episode #35, and I just saw they have Episode #36 up--with Josi Kilpack and Michele Paige Holmes, two of my favorite authors.*****************************************************************
If you love mysteries, you need to check out the giveaway that GG Vandagriff is doing for her latest romantic suspense novel: The Hidden Branch. Anyone who purchases her book online or in the store before September 17th will qualify for the Alex and Briggie gift package and a chance to win an autographed set of the entire series.
Rules:
1. Email GG your name and address (email is listed on her website: http://ggvandagriff.com/)
2. Tell GG where you bought the book
Saturday, September 5, 2009
ALMA Blog Tour & Another Giveaway!
Two more reviews came in this weekend:
1. Cache Valley Magazine, p. 12
By reviewer Charlene Hirschi. Charlene is one of those reviewers that authors scramble to get attention from. She is the former Writing Center Director of Utah State and has many publishing credentials herself. She has graciously reviewed several of my other books, and in the process has converted from a non-fan of historical fiction based on scripture, to a reviewer who has enjoyed my books immensely. But still, the anticipation is high when I hand over my manuscript for her to read.
2. The Ultimate in Time Travel: Alma
Recently, GG Vandagriff interviewed me on her blog. I met her through LDStorymakers last spring. I had seen her books, but had never read one, and I knew she wrote columns for Meridian Magazine. But when she asked a few questions on the list, I jumped in and answered them--something I don't always do because there are nearly 100 people on that list and it becomes overwhelming to keep up with much. GG was looking for reviewers for The Last Waltz, and I agreed to be one (also something I don't always do). But I literally loved that book, and I was so amazed that from a simple email, I had found a new author to read! This past week, GG agreed to read Alma in PDF form and last night she posted her review.
As an added bonus, if you make a comment on GG's blog, you will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of Alma! So if you aren't already on my blog tour list, or want to give away a copy, go over and comment on GG's blog for your chance to win!
Happy Labor Day Weekend :)
1. Cache Valley Magazine, p. 12
By reviewer Charlene Hirschi. Charlene is one of those reviewers that authors scramble to get attention from. She is the former Writing Center Director of Utah State and has many publishing credentials herself. She has graciously reviewed several of my other books, and in the process has converted from a non-fan of historical fiction based on scripture, to a reviewer who has enjoyed my books immensely. But still, the anticipation is high when I hand over my manuscript for her to read.
2. The Ultimate in Time Travel: Alma
Recently, GG Vandagriff interviewed me on her blog. I met her through LDStorymakers last spring. I had seen her books, but had never read one, and I knew she wrote columns for Meridian Magazine. But when she asked a few questions on the list, I jumped in and answered them--something I don't always do because there are nearly 100 people on that list and it becomes overwhelming to keep up with much. GG was looking for reviewers for The Last Waltz, and I agreed to be one (also something I don't always do). But I literally loved that book, and I was so amazed that from a simple email, I had found a new author to read! This past week, GG agreed to read Alma in PDF form and last night she posted her review.
As an added bonus, if you make a comment on GG's blog, you will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of Alma! So if you aren't already on my blog tour list, or want to give away a copy, go over and comment on GG's blog for your chance to win!
Happy Labor Day Weekend :)
Friday, September 4, 2009
ALMA Blog Tour & Booksigning Updates
Thanks to Julie Ford and Jenn Wilks for posting reviews of ALMA on their blogs. Check them out!
How NOT to get Published
Lifelong Bookworm
Julie and Jenn are both writers. I've read 1.5 of Julie's books--she writes women's fiction, which were great, and so I was a little nervous about her review. Julie lives in Tennessee and I've visited her bookgroup through the phone! We did a conference call, and the ladies in her group are a riot.
Jenn also writes (I think fantasy???), but she also reviews a lot of books, so again thanks for the very nice reviews, ladies!
I'll keep a running tally of reviews/interviews on the sidebar.
Also, here is the most updated booksigning list--they are all Friday lunch hours!
September 11, 2009 - West Jordan Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1625 West 9000 South, West Jordan, UTAH)
September 25, 2009 - American Fork Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (218 West State Road, American Fork, UT)
October 2, 2009 - Redwood Seagull Book, Pre-Conference Signing 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1720 South Redwood Road, SLC, UTAH)
How NOT to get Published
Lifelong Bookworm
Julie and Jenn are both writers. I've read 1.5 of Julie's books--she writes women's fiction, which were great, and so I was a little nervous about her review. Julie lives in Tennessee and I've visited her bookgroup through the phone! We did a conference call, and the ladies in her group are a riot.
Jenn also writes (I think fantasy???), but she also reviews a lot of books, so again thanks for the very nice reviews, ladies!
I'll keep a running tally of reviews/interviews on the sidebar.
Also, here is the most updated booksigning list--they are all Friday lunch hours!
September 11, 2009 - West Jordan Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1625 West 9000 South, West Jordan, UTAH)
September 25, 2009 - American Fork Seagull Book 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (218 West State Road, American Fork, UT)
October 2, 2009 - Redwood Seagull Book, Pre-Conference Signing 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (1720 South Redwood Road, SLC, UTAH)
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