My Publishing Journey--Part 1

Disclaimer: My blog has become boring. About a year ago, I was inspired by Annette Lyon when she posted her writing journey on her blog, one excerpt a week. I've thought about doing the same thing, but I've been slow to the punch. Each Wednesday, I'll post a new installment.



My Publishing Journey

Part 1:
What follows is a true story, mostly true, okay, 99.9% true.

Many of my author-friends grew up wanting to be writers. That was never really the case for me. I loved books. I read voraciously, and I probably wanted to just be a character in a book, more than the person actually writing it.

Many of my author-friends had mentors, teachers, parents or friends who encouraged them, told them to reach for the stars. That wasn’t the case with me. I got good grades in English and my love of reading propelled me to consider majoring in English in college.

But then I failed my AP English exam because of a low grade on the essay portion. I decided it was a sign and changed my major.

I cruised through college, as much as that is possible, and even added in a minor (Business Management) to my major (Fashion Merchandising). I decided that I’d work in retail and become a store manager of some fantastic boutique somewhere, perhaps even design a clothing line some day.

Along the way, I got married and soon after graduating from college, had a baby boy. For those of you who work in retail while raising a family, I salute you. Weekends + nights + holidays = Hard!

I became a stay-at-home mom, but life was suddenly very very frugal. You know those annoying sales people who call you on the phone and offer a free carpet cleaning if you’ll agree to listen to a short demonstration on vacuums? That was me. My biggest paycheck was $12.

Have you ever bought a “hand-crafted” stuffed bear from an exclusive catalog? Have you ever wondered who did the hand-crafting? That was me. My biggest paycheck was $30, after the bear was sent back TWICE for correction. Those embroidered noses are impossible!

I thought to myself: HELLO? I’m a college graduate and I turned down a job offer for $45k to make stuffed bears on my kitchen table?

Although I swear my mother tortured me into piano growing up, I realized that I was quite good at it. I decided to teach piano. We moved 6 months later, and I lost all of my students.

Things were looking up in our next home. My husband’s job paid a little more, and I was able to buy the brand-name cereal (when it was on sale). We bought a used couch to replace the plastic lawn chairs and splurged $400 on a dining table. Child #2 came along. Reading became my sanity. To settle with a book at night after a long day of kids-everywhere was heaven.

Fast forward another move, another house, and another kid. We were back in Utah now. I visited the library regularly with my kids and checked out book after book. My sister-in-law gave me a book by Richard Paul Evans to read. He is a Utah author, I discovered, and had made a huge name for himself nationally. Was that even possible, I wondered? My vision of authors was Mary Higgins Clark with her diamonds and pearls and NY accent. I read Evan’s book and came away with several things. First, there was no suspense, twists and turns, historical research, or literary descriptions. It was just a good story. And he was a NY Times Bestseller.

Imagine that!

The seed was planted. If Evan’s could do it, maybe I could too. Looking back, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And little did I know, but Richard Paul Evans would actually become an important part of my career, a good friend, and I’d eventually share his same agent.

But I do remember sitting down to write those first few pages of a novel. It was love at first paragraph.

Winners of Book Giveaway & Updates

Contest Winners:

Krista: KEY LIME PIE by Josi Kilpack
Andrea: CHOCOLATE NEVER FAILETH by Annette Lyon
Taffy: THE FOURTH NEPHITE by Jeffrey Savage

Email your address to heather at hbmoore dot com and let me know if you want them personalized by the author.

WRITING UPDATE:
I've been working on a new Book of Mormon novel that I've titled Daughters of Jared for now. (I'm keeping the running word count on my sidebar.)

Here is part of my pitch letter to my publisher. The committee has given me the green light on this project. Sigh of relief since I'm over 100 pages into the book.

September 14, 2010

Dear xxxxx and xxxxx,

Re: Daughters of Jared

In a similar vein as my Book of Mormon “prophet” books, I’ve decided to write a novel that focuses on the era of King Jared (#2). If you recall, in Women of the Book of Mormon, I included a chapter titled “The Daughter of Jared.” While researching that era, I was intrigued with the story that takes place in the Book of Ether and the cycle of kings’ rising and falling due to secret combinations.

Yet I wanted my book to not just be a story of warning, but a story of hope, and it has become both. For the main character Naiva, the younger sister of Asherah, is able to learn the truth even though she is raised in spiritual darkness. In sharp contrast to Naiva is Asherah, who is the eldest daughter of Jared (the one referred to in Ether 8–9). Ash will do anything to reinstate her father’s throne, and instigates plans to have her grandfather, the current king, executed.

The difference in this book, compared to my other historical novels, is the approach. I’ve written it in first person, all from the younger sister Naiva’s point of view. It could even be considered women’s fiction. I’ve tentatively titled the book The Daughters of Jared and intend for it to be stand-alone. Although it might be interesting to have a mini-series of “women” novels or “groups of women” from the Book of Mormon era, alternating release dates with my regular Prophet novels and/or non-fiction works.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,
Heather Moore

Pre-Conference BOOK GIVEAWAY

I'm SUPER excited about some great books I've been reading and want everyone to know about them. So, I'm hosting an ALMA THE YOUNGER "shout-out".

Rules to be entered:

Post a review/tweet/blog/facebook on something positive about ALMA THE YOUNGER in THREE (3) different places. Some of you have already posted reviews, so that's 1 down, and the rest should be easy. You can post the same review on different sites. Just let me know in the comments that you want to be entered into the drawing.

Possible review sites:
www.amazon.com
www.deseretbook.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.seagullbook.com
www.goodreads.com
www.shelfari.com


Winners selected: by random drawing for those who post comments to this blog that you have done 3 things.

DEADLINE: September 20th

PRIZES:
1st
Chocolate Never Faileth by Annette Lyon (cookbook comes out in Oct)



2nd
The Fourth Nephite by Jeffrey S. Savage



3rd
Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack



4th
Cross My Heart by Julie Wright (comes out in Oct)



5th
One of my books (your choice) by H.B. Moore

Upcoming Conferences & Signings

Upcoming Conferences & Signings:


Sept 17-18, 2010 - League of Utah Writers Conference
Hampton Inn & Suites on Admiral Byrd Road in SLC, Utah. I'll be teaching the Friday intensive workshop with my Precision Editing Group Senior Editors--Lu Ann Staheli, Annette Lyon, Josi Kilpack, and Julie Wright. Topic: "From Plotting to Final Draft: Getting Your Manuscript to Compete". NY Times Bestselling author John Gilstrap is Keynote Speaker. Registration and updates here


Sept 25, 2010 - Celebrating Sisterhood at Spanish Fork Seagull Book
10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Tons of promotions and in-store giveaways. I'll be signing books, and Sarah M. Eden will be there as well!


Sept 30, 2010 - The Book Academy Conference
Utah Valley University (Orem, Utah). I'll be teaching a workshop: "Life After the First Draft: Steps to Self-Editing". NY Times Bestselling author, Brandon Mull, is Keynote Speaker. Registration and updates here


Oct 2, 2010 - Ladies Night at Deseret Book
6:00-8:00 p.m. Join me on "Ladies Night" at the Ft Union Deseret Book. 1110 Fort Union Blvd, Midvale, Utah. I'll be signing copies of my books.