Literary Girls Writing Group

Halloween Horror

2011-10-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

October has arrived. Yes, October, the month of rain and colored leaves; a time when little children prepare costumes and count down the days until the night of sugary ecstasy, and the time of year I wander the aisles in my favorite little bookstore looking for anything that will scare me silly. After all, it wouldn't be October without true Halloween horror.

Dracula by Bram Stoker
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Find something good to read, but beware, the ghosts and ghouls may not just be in your head. Happy Halloween.

Welcome to the Inn

2011-06-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! Check out my new blog for my novel at welcometotheinn.blogspot.com

And That Light at the End of the Tunnel Gets Bigger

2011-04-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

I think I just may have found someone to print my book. While on band tour in San Francisco (though I tell people I joined a gypsy caravan) I found out that the tour director owns a printing company. He said he could print some copies when I had it ready. From there it could be sent to publishers or he could print thousands of copies. I just need to here back from a couple beta readers and I'll make some final adjustments. And an update on the quest, I did finish Les Miserables in under a week. Five and a half days to be exact.

The Quest

2011-04-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's good to challenge yourself every once in a while and try something outside of your usual reading selections. Which is how the Quest arose. I am trying to read Les Miserables in under a week. To give you a better idea of the caliber of this little literary quest of mine, let me tell you a little about this book. Firstly, it's by Victor Hugo and, while I love his writing, he has a tendency to go on and on and on (and on and on and on...) Secondly, this book is over 1,400 pages long. That's over twice the length of any other book in my collection. And I have to read it in six days or less. Am I crazy? Most likely, but if I wasn't I could never do this.

Some Random For Your Tuesday

2011-03-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Oh yeah, well what if someone throws a dictionary at you? What about THAT?

You Can't Beat the Classics!

2011-03-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Goodness, it's been a while, hasn't it?

Well, the weather is warming and I can start reading outside again which means it's time to dig out some good books and when it comes to good books, you can't beat the greats. Tip to all, the most sure fire way to seem smarter is to read classic books. Remember, classic does not mean boring. Here are a few of my favorites.

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie- Every element that composes the perfect fantasy land: Indians, mermaids, fairies and pirates. Pirates always make for a good story.

And speaking of pirates...

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson- Avast ye landlubbers! Buried treasure awaits any who dare sail the seas with Jim Hawkins, but watch out for scurvy pirates.

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne- An underground sea, creatures that we never knew existed, a strange world, what really is below our feet?

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs- Lions, panthers, and apes, oh my! Tarzan's jungle world is filled with danger and intrigue. Including a certain someone named Jane.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Eummuska Orczy- I can't talk this book up enough. Romance, adventure, blackmail. It's enough to keep any one's heart racing.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss- A struggle for survival becomes an island paradise. At least until the pirates invade.

And if you're up for it...

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo- A hunchback touched by kindness, a gypsy trying to escape an evil plot, a priest with a plan, and a poor penniless poet caught in the middle.

There are far more classic beyond this. I have failed to include Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Alexandre Dumas, or Wilkie Collins. That doesn't mean I don't love them too. So go read some classics. They'll improve your IQ level and save you 15% on your car insurance. Well, maybe not that last one.

Inspiration in Every Aspect

2011-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Coming up with ideas is hard sometimes. There's nothing worse that sitting down to write and having a total brain fart. Well guess what? There's a little secret about ideas. There are no ideas, only combining old ones to make something new. So where do ideas come from? The answer: Everywhere.

My creative writing teacher said that when we wrote he wanted us to be pirates. He wanted us to plunder and steal ideas from everywhere. Ideas come from everywhere; from what we see, what we do, what we say. You may not notice this, but there are hundreds of ideas just outside your window ripe for harvest. Here are a couple ways to reap the bounty.

1. Be observant. Notice things.

2. Ask questions. Wonder about everything.

3. Ask "what if."

4. Read.

5. Write ideas down for later use.

6. Look at things in a different way.

Follow these simple steps and you can become an idea farmer in no time at all. Go on, have fun, go write. Create something awesome. Write on!

Port of Pirates

2011-01-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted some of my writing. So let's get caught up. Who here likes pirates? This is the first couple paragraphs of a new short story of my called "Port of Pirates."

Port Simeon was know to most of the world as the port of pirates. The weak law enforcement was long gone and the town was full of buccaneers, cutthroats, and scalawags. Despite the obvious danger, my longing for the rush of adrenaline pulsing through me veins got the better of me and I had to see the lawless town for myself.

I could only find one boatman who would ferry me out to Port Simeon. His name was Blue Bill. No last name was given. I met him on the docks in the swamps of Louisiana. He bowed low and gestured me into his rickety old swamp boat. I checked to make sure I still had my pistol, dagger, and sword; the usual things one takes when among pirates. Bill stepped into the boat behind me and pushed off from the dock. A parrot sat on a branch of a nearby tree. As we passed, it eyed us and squawked "dead men tell no tales." I don't believe in omens and I don't think this was the best time to start.

The swamp was riddled with shacks made from what looked like odds and ends of other houses. Dinghies were tied to porch posts, laden with fishing nets and bottles of cordial. We passed a withered old man rocking back and forth in a creaky old rocking chair. I don't know which made more noise, the creaky wood of the chair or the creaky joints of the old man. He stopped plucking the banjo sitting on his knee to warn us of our path. I thanked him for his concern and urged Blue Bill on.

We entered the black gaping mouth of a cave. I felt like was was venturing into the belly of the proverbial beast. Darkness closed its grasp on us as we journeyed further into the cave. Bill lit a lamp and the darkness subsided. Well, to a degree.

A throat cleared behind me. I looked to see it was Blue Bill. He opened his mouth and spoke to me for the first time and most likely the only time.

"So ye be lookin' for salty ol' pirates, eh?" His voice was slow and calm. "Well ye've come to the right place."

It's not much, I apologize, but it's just a start. If you want to hear the rest, just say so and I'll post it.

Books for all Genres

2011-01-17T11:37:00.001-08:00

Reading is like a buffet. There are lots of different things to choose from. And while it's okay to like one thing more than others, a buffet is most fun when you try a little of everything. It's never a good thing to restrict yourself to reading just one genre. You could miss out on a lot of really good books. Try some of every genre and you may find that there is something you like you thought you wouldn't. Luckily for picky readers, there's something for every literary pallet.

For fantasy fanatics...
If you love fantasy novels as much as I do, you need to get some Terry Brooks books today. He's most famous for his Shanara series, but my favorite of his books is the Magic Kingdom of Landover series. There are currently six books and there may or may not be more; it's an older series. The books are about a lawyer who becomes the high lord of the magic kingdom of Landover when he buys it from a department store Christmas catalog. If you are more partial to epic fantasy then by all means check out the Shanara books as well as The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

For high adventurers...
Nothing beats the adventurous imagination of Jules Verne. I highly recommend Journey to the Center of the Earth. Not to prone to older books? No problem! Dive into the spying world of the Alex Rider series, the chronicles of a teen spy. Or maybe enjoy the swashbuckling tale of the Treasure of Savage Island. Pirates, runaway slaves, and buried treasure make for a good read.

For historical fiction buffs...
I cannot express my love of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" enough, as well as my love of the sequel "El Dorado." If you've never read them, look into it right away. While you're at it, check out "The Three Musketeers." No book ever goes out of style. Alexandre Dumas is a master of historical fiction an his books are well worth the read.

For mystery maniacs...
Why it's elementary! The greatest mysteries ever solved are those of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famed Sherlock Holmes. The best of which being "The Hound of the Baskervilles." I also would recommend the Mary Russel mysteries by Laurie R. King. They're the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his apprentice, the young, intelligent, and witty Mary Russel. The series currently consists of ten books. Can you solve the mystery first?

For romance lovers...
Oh goodness. I haven't had much experience with romance novels; I'm usually not attracted to them, but there is one that holds a dear place in my heart. I combines romance with one of my favorite things: pirates. "To Catch a Pirate" by Jade Parker is the tale of young woman set out to reclaim the gold stolen from her father's ship and save him from the gallows, but her plan may be in jeopardy when she finds herself falling for the young pirate captive meant to lead them to the treasure. Yet another timeless romance is "The Princess Bride." There's nothing like sword fighting, poisoned wine, giants, and snobbish princes to create the perfect bedtime romance.

Time to whet that appetite. Head out to a local library or bookstore and pick up your four course dinner today.

Goals and Resolutions for 2011

2011-01-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

The first of the above being to blog more. Sorry about the long wait.

2010 was a good year. I did a lot (and boy do I mean a lot) of editing on my novel, I survived another year of high school, I got into the school's literary magazine Pegasus, I scored a job at the Hogle Zoo, became Employee of the Month, went to a teen writer's conference, hung out with authors, went to book signings, got Karen E. Hoover (author of The Sapphire Flute) to critique the first three chapters of my novel, and rode Space Mountain four times. Very good year indeed.

As for this year, in my attempt to make it as enjoyable and successful as possible, I hope that by the end of it there will be nice shiny copies of "Castaway Inn" on the shelves of bookstores everywhere. One can hope; we'll see how that goes. That's the goal for this year. And get a 4.0 GPA. That too.

Resolutions? Blog more. Don't procrastinate. Practice my drums more. Um... is that it? Is that really it? Ah, well. I'll stick to these for now. Now I know I'm not the only one with resolutions and goals for the new year. What do you hope to accomplish?

Writer's Block Survival

2010-12-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

It's any writer's worst nightmare and whoever says they've never had it is lying. It's writer's block; that wall of non-inspiration, the chasm of blank thoughts, and when you're trying to write a first draft of stories, novel, or any type of writing, every writer dreads hitting the block. But fear not my faithful reader, there is a way to defeat the dreaded writer's block.

Firstly, the best way to prevent it is to prepare. Have an idea of what you want to happen before you pick up a pencil (or pen or keyboard, whichever you prefer). This will make the writing process go much smoother and writer's block is less likely to occur as you already now what is going to happen.

If writer's block still occurs, take a moment to pause. Think about where you are in your writing and think "what if." Using the "what if" method gets your creative mind thinking about different story plots and opens up possibilities. You then have several answers for "what happens next."

If the "what if" method fails and you still are starved of inspiration, take a deep, deep, breath. Stop whatever you are doing. Turn off the music, the TV, or whatever else is going on, lean back and just relax for a minute in the silence. Clear your mind. If you really need to, walk away from it for a minute and let your mind focus on something else. That usually allows inspiration to flow more freely.

If writer's block still persists, watch a movie and try again in the morning.

Don't Take It Personally

2010-11-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

I learned an important lesson on writing last week. If someone or some people don't like what you write, don't take it personally. About 99.95% of the time, the reason they might not like your writing is simply preference, not the level of writing skill. Different people like different things; just because a couple people don't like doesn't mean others won't either.

For example: at the last meeting of my school's writing club (Writer's Guild) a friend of mine and I decided we wanted to have a poem war. We both submitted a poem, anonymously to ensure an unbiased vote, and had them read to the group. Then they voted. My friend's poem won 4 to 1. We talked about it today a little and she said that she was surprised she won because she thought mine was so much better, yet I thought she did better. We're both equally good writers, a vote doesn't make one better than the other.

Yeah, so I lost. Who cares? It's all about preference, not skill. Even if you fidn people that don't like your writing, there's always that one that does.

Unfortunately, that last 0.05% is skill, but keep practicing and that percentage will vanish.

The Origianl Who-Dun-It

2010-11-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

I can pretty much guarantee that most of you have never heard of Wilkie Collin's "The Moonstone" before. That's okay. I hadn't until I saw it on a table in a bookstore. What sets this book apart from others is that this is the original who-dun-it. Literally.

"The Moonstone" was first published in 1868, making it the first mystery to be written in the English language as well as the model for mystery novels that were to follow. Think of your cliche mystery novel scenarios: someone is murdered, someone is missing, something valuable has been stolen. Yep, it's all here.

"The Moonstone" is the story of a legendary Indian diamond called The Moonstone. The night it is given to a colonel's niece for her birthday, it mysteriously disappears from the drawer she kept it in, the only clue being a smear in the fresh paint on the walls of her bedroom. In one novel there is theft, murder, romance, and death by quicksand. There isn't anything like this anywhere else.

I have read a lot of mystery books and none of them have been quite like "The Moonstone." Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" is one of the most famous mystery novel series, but even the cases of the ingenious sleuth do not seem quite as suspenseful as the case of the missing Moonstone.

So who stole the diamond? Read for yourself. I'm not telling.

Not Just Summer Reading

2010-10-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

I can guarantee you that anytime between June and mid September you can go into any Barnes&Noble or Borders and there will be a table piled high with different books with a sign that says "Summer Reading". Okay. No problem there, but what about the other three seasons? Do people just suddenly stop reading as soon as the weather turns cold and not pick up a book until summer starts again? I thought not.

While summer is a great time for reading, it's not the only great time. Autumn is cool and rainy. Rainy days are fantastic reading days. When winter comes around, it brings perfect reading weather with it. On a cold December day there's nothing I like more than curling up with a blanket, a cup of apple cider, a dog, and a good book. The dog is optional.

Autumn has just arrived. The weather is already turning cold. The rain has started to come. Time to find a cozy chair, a warm blanket, and that book you've been wanting to read for a while.

Love Your Editors and Betas

2010-09-21T17:05:00.001-07:00

I can honestly say from experience that writing a novel is easiest the first time. It's mainly just laying out ideas- somewhat organized- on paper. It's most painful the second time. When faced with the mind-twisting pain of editing and rewriting, editors and beta readers are some heavy duty aspirin.

Before you start saying that no one has the right to mess with your writing, just let me give my sermon. Editors and betas provide that much needed "outside voice" that provides an opinion of your writing other than what you think of it. They suggest what may need to be changed, adjusted, or just plain deleted.

No protesting, I'm not done yet.

They also spot grammatical errors and if you hate having to worry about grammar as much as I do, this is a blessing. No one's grammar is perfect and no one knows how to spell every single word in the English language. When an author reads their own writing again, if they don't read carefully they can easily miss misspelled words since their brains know what it is supposed to be and will read it as that.

And then there's the all important "eye-opener" factor. What we may see as perfection can be far from it. Before you start prepping the army for retaliation, think about what they say. The best editor is the one that will not tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. This is the reason I'm so thankful for Mary, who upon reading the first chapter of my novel told me that while I had a good hook to keep readers for the next chapter, the start of the chapter was boring and made my character seem boring too. I looked back over my first chapter and rewrote most of it. I'm glad I did. The next time Mary read it she said that it was much better and she found my character much more interesting. Your characters are always interesting, it's just how you write them. Remember, criticism is a ladder disguised as an anchor.

So remember, show some love to your editors and beta readers. They don't want to see you fail, that's why they can be harsh, but being harsh means they care. The next time someone tells you something needs improvement, don't just ignore it. Their suggestion may be the factor that gets you published.

Lisa Mangum and the Hourglass Door Trilogy

2010-09-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hello again! Sorry I haven't posted lately, but school started and things got hectic again. Not to worry, I still have room in my high school life for books, writing, writing books, and meeting authors. Which brings us to the main story...

Saturday the 11th, Lisa Mangum, author of The Hourglass Door and The Golden Spiral, was at Barnes and Noble at Sugar House for a book signing. The signing didn't start until three, but me being the hyper, super-prepared, book lover that I am was there an hour in advance-- that's right, you heard me-- wandering around until she arrived. Lisa was one of the authors that attended my teen writer's conference at the beginnng of the summer. I spent some time talking to her then and I was excited to get to see her again. The coolest part was that she actually remembered me. (She remembered me! Me!!) She asked how my writing was coming and told me about an upcoming writer and reader seminar at UVU.
If you've never read The Hourglass Door or The Golden Spiral before, you should really look into it. They're fantastic books. The third in the trilogy, The Forgotten Locket, will come out next summer.

Guess That Character 2.0

2010-08-22T19:15:00.001-07:00

I was inspired by the post Mary did a couple days ago about reading the blurb about a character with no physical description and then guessing what they looked like so I decided to try it with one of my own characters. I chose to do Philippe because I haven't talked about him too much and it'll be harder to guess what he looks like. (whereas with Del I've given a full description on an earlier post) Give it you best shot. (by the way, this little segment isn't part of my book.)

Philippe turned a page of his book, yawning into his hand. He glanced at the dying fire, which was simmering in slowly fading embers. He closed the volume in his lap and set in on the side table. He stretched his legs, curling and uncurling his stiff toes. The calm was broken by a nasally snore. He turned. Del was asleep in her hammock. He smiled, stood, and picked up his candlestick. Journeying passed Del to the stairs, he slowly made his way up to the second floor. He gently pushed open the first door he came to. Sophia was curled up under the covers, her breath blowing a tress of hair back and forth. He smiled and shut the door again.
Downstairs, he opened the front door and stood watching the new snow drift down from the black sky. He shivered once and shut the door. Blowing out the candle with a soft breath, he reached for the cold doorknob of his private quarters. He turned to the quiet inn.
"Good night girls," he whispered. "Sweet dreams."
He closed the door and slumber settled in.

So? What does Philippe look like? Guess as much as you can or want to. Extra credit for guessing his age. Good luck everyone!

The Calming Effects of Short Stories

2010-07-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

You know, now that I'm done writing my novel, I've noticed something. I'm bored. My mind is lacking that wonderful exhilaration I get when I write and now that its dulled, the insanity is starting to bubble up again. And its not the good kind of crazy either. I've been trying to find ways to bring the sensation back, but my little sister's chocolate chip cookies and "Home Improvement" reruns aren't helping. They're still nice though.
You know what does help? The only cure for lack-of-writing syndrome is more writing. But what do you do if you need to write, but don't want to spend all the time and effort required for a novel? Just need a daily fix of writer high? I have two words for you my friend. Short stories.
Short Story writing is becoming a lost art. All writers nowadays seem preoccupied with full fledged novels that they forget the joy and calming effects of just sitting down and writing a short story in an afternoon. It's great for that between books feeling too. It allows a writer to extend the adventures of their characters without the need of a 300 page novel. I've found my own characters, Sophia, Del, and Philippe, live on in short stories like "The Orphanage Trick" and "Del's Somewhat Brilliant Plan." I can also explore the world of Queen Angeline and her shape shifting servant Taiga in "Catacombs Under the Castle" or spend an evening in The Loft with Tara and her friends in "Bohemian Alley."
Writing short stories is the perfect cure for whatever ails writers. It relaxes the mind and calms the body, leaving you ready to take on whatever life throws at you. And you don't even need a prescription. Let's see a doctor do that.

Book Selling Evolution

2010-07-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

I've been noticing something. The 21st century is catching up to the noble art of book selling. It's no longer necessary to go to a bookstore and stroll through isles of shelves looking for books. Now all that is required to buy a book is to go online and scroll through Internet pages with images of the covers and summaries, sometimes even using a search feature to find a book instantly. You don't even need a book to read a book anymore. eBooks are becoming more and more common, but they're not actual books. They're screens with pixels.

Book selling is changing rapidly. The way of computers and electronics may seem all fine and dandy, but it's not the same as traditional book selling. When shopping for books online, it's just not the same as pushing my way through the door of my favorite little bookshop, being greeted by the smell of paper, smiling and waving to the clerk (who knows my face from all the times I've been in there) browsing through the piles of books for what I intentionally came in for and maybe even finding something I wasn't looking for. You can't do that online. Online you can't take a book in your hands, feeling the pages with you fingertips, and flip through letting your eyes lap at stray words. eBooks are not different. With an eBook, you can't feel the warm spine against your hands as you open it, you can't feel the breeze of fluttering pages. They take away the pleasure of a book; of opening a book to find that it smells just like the Brooklyn bookshop described in the story. eBooks just don't have the same life as actual books, the same soul. You may not have known this, but all books smell different. Old books smell different than new books, hardbacks smell different than paperbacks, books about pirates smell different than books about dragons. eBooks... last time I checked technology didn't smell so good.

How many of you just sniffed some part of your computer?

See? I told you.

Books are books, computers are computers. Please leave the two worlds separate.

Pause the Chaos for Just One Second!

2010-07-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, life's a little chaotic right now. Between my two jobs and my work on the editing of my novel, I barely have any time to breathe. Luckily, I have found one second of free time, as today is my day off. Time to catch up.

Jessica at Jordon
This was something I meant to post a couple weeks ago, but if I barely had time to breathe, I most certainly was going to have a hard time finding an opportunity to blog. On Friday, June 18th I went to a reading and book signing of "Princess of Glass" at Jordon Landing. As Jessica Day George is one of my all time favorite authors, needless to say I was spastic with excitement for the next few days after finding out about the reading. It died down then flared back up as the date approached. And lasted for several days afterward. It was great to meet my favorite author, to get a few questions answered, and to hear about upcoming projects. I feel "in the loop" now.

In other news...

Novel Repairs
Oh, boy. Just for the record, I really hate editing my own stuff with a passion like none other, but I'm just a poor zoo gift shop cashier/janitor and I can't afford to have a professional do it. Luckily for me, my new CD of solo Native American flute is helping to keep me calm and in the zone.d While there are moments I doubt my own abilities when I come across lines I like then, but loath now it also makes me feel better when I read lines that are really good and there's that moment of "Whoa, I wrote that." The good news is that all the editing is done now and the changes are in the computer. I can be happy again! Don't take my ranting of editing the wrong way, doing edits yourself is a good thing because you come across things that you may want to reword or something you forgot to add that you wanted to. To some it all up, that light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer by the minute. To all you writers in progress out there, keep going and you'll accomplish great things. I wish only the best for you.

And there you go. You're all caught up. I'll try to post more often in the future. Until then, happy writing!

Princess of Glass

2010-06-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: Having once been cursed to dance every night with her sisters, Princess Poppy has vowed never again to put on a pair of dancing slippers. Which is why she's reluctant to participate in the royal exchange program that her father and some of the neighboring kings have cooked up. Life in far-off Breton isn't so bad, not when there's money to be won playing cards and a handsome prince promising friendship... and maybe something more. But when a hapless servant named Eleanora enters the picture and sets her sights on the prince, too, which girl will win his heart? And who is behind the magnificent gowns and slippers that penniless Eleanora has been wearing to the balls? Only Princess Poppy can see through the magic that holds the rest of the kingdom in a spell. And having fought against one curse before, she's just the girl to take on another!

My Thoughts: It's a new twist on a classic fairy tale. It's romantic, fun, and magical, bound to make every part of you smile. This is one of those books that you are going to stay up into the late hours of the night reading. Yeah, it's that good. Another masterpiece; on a scale from 1 to 10, it's a 15.

Teen Writer's Conference 2010

2010-06-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello, hello! I hope your summer has been off to a great start. Mine certainly has. Saturday was the second annual Teen Writer's Conference and I'm so, so, SO glad I got to go. The moment I walked in it was like I had entered a writer sanctuary. 'There were teen writers all around and of course there were books. And authors, lots and lots of authors, Karen E. Hoover ("The Sapphire Flute"), Lisa Mangum ("The Hourglass Door"), Dan Wells ("I Am Not a Serial Killer"), and Julie Wright ("My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life") just to name a few.
I took Karen's morning class about getting ideas and it totally rocked. I will be reviewing her book on her later. During the lunch break I got to hang out with Lisa Mangum and a few other young, aspiring writers in what came to be called "The Circle of Cool." She is sooooo nice and funny and awesome, I'm so excited to read her book (which I will be reviewing as well). And then I had a fan-girl moment when I looked up during my editing to see that it was Bron Bahlmann ("Bone Warriors") I had sat next to. After lunch there were more classes to partake in, including one about preparing to submit to publishers, followed by the question and answer session. And then the most anticipated part of the entire conference-- the announcement of the contest winners. Just like last year they had seven places, but there was a slight change in the scoring scheme and because of that three people tied for first and four tied for second. Unfortunately, I didn't win anything this year. The first place winners all had 87, second place all had 86. I got an 85. I was off by one point. One. Stinking. Point.
Don't get confused, I wasn't too disappointed and for one main reason. We got to see our score sheets this year. The judges for the competition were published authors. Down at the bottom of each of the three score sheets was a space for comments. I had comments like: "Awesome! Would love to read this as a book!" "This piece totally rocked. I would DEFINITELY keep reading!" and "Loved the beginning of this piece. I would definitely want to keep reading. Well done!" Published authors, published, in print, go-buy-their-books-at-bookstores authors were saying this about my stuff. How cool is that!!!!! Overall, a very productive day and I can't wait for next year.
Be sure to keep an eye out for my review of "Princess of Glass."

Tawnni's Bookshelf 2

2010-05-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks! I'm back with more of my favorites to share with you. Let's start things off with an old classic that's very dear to my heart.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas- D'Artagnan came to Paris to be a Musketeer. While in Paris, he falls in the "three inseparables" Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they attempt to stop the villainous cardinal from advancing his own power.

To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker- After the gold on her father's ship is stolen by the ruthless pirate Crimson Kelly, Annalisa Towsend will stop at nothing to get it back and clear her father's name. When she comes across James Sterling, a castoff pirate from Crimson Kelly's ship, she decides to use him to get the gold back, but can she really trust a pirate?

Pillage by Obert Skye- Beck Philips has just moved his with his crazy uncle. Soon after, he finds a hidden conservatory behind his uncle's mansion and a hidden basement containing a record of a family line that learned to raise dragons to pillage towns. Maybe his uncle's not so crazy after all.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George- Creel's aunt decided to give her to the local dragon in hopes a handsome prince would rescue her. However, Creel talked her way out of the clutches of one dragon, even getting pair of slippers in the deal. Unfortunately, she finds her way into the lair of another dragon. And what's the deal with everyone being worked up about those slippers? (by the way, if you read this one, you're going to have to read the sequels.)

Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge- Mosca had to get out of her little town and Mr. Eponymous Clent is the perfect ticket to do so. It's not long before she realizes that Mr. Clent is not what he says. Now the two of them take off on an adventure to learn the mystery behind a floating school and an illegal printing press.

The Secret of Castle Cant by K. P. Bath- Lucy was maidservant to the Baron of Cant's daughter. Outside the castle, the chewing gum rebellion was at hand. Things only seem to worsen after the Baron dies of sickness and some claim that his daughter isn't the actual heir to the barony.

Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer Among the Indians by Mark Twain and Lee Nelson- In the novel that Twain never finished and Nelson did, Tom and Huck travel west to rescue two girls that were kidnapped by Indians. During their travels, they encounter the army, a Mormon wagon train, friendly Ute Indians, and trappers in a journey that takes Huck from Missouri all the way to California.

The Moor by Laurie R. King- In this more recent addition to my collection, we return to the scene set in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles." There have been recent reports of a ghastly carriage riding along the moor at night with a spectral hound running ahead of it. Now a local is missing. Sherlock Holmes thinks there's something going on. With his trusted partner and wife, Mary Russell, at his side they return to the moor to solve the mystery once and for all.

There you are. I've made my recommendations for summer reading. I hope you find one you love. I'm usually the one giving the suggestions, but do you have any suggestions for me? What are some of your favorite books?

Big Days Ahead

2010-05-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

A couple of big days are coming up for me. Pegasus 2010, my school's literary magazine, comes out this Thursday, featuring two of my poems (The Jester King's Court and Open Eyes). There will be a reading after school that day and I'm super excited. June 5th is the annual Teen Writer's Conference in Ogden. Once again they're doing their writing contest and I'm entered in it. I came in 2nd last year and I'm eager to see how I do this year.

As for the editing of my novel, I've moved on to doing little nit picky edits, change a word here, reword a sentence there, add a paragraph over there. Unfortunately, the end of the tunnel is far away, but progress is progress no matter what speed.

And one more thing before I forget, Jessica Day George's new book "Princess of Glass" comes out on the 25th, that's only 8 short days away. She's amazing and you will absolutely adore her books. If you haven't read any of them before, there's still time before the 25th. You'll love 'em, I guarantee it.

Okay, that's all. Happy Writing!

Poetry for Non-poets

2010-05-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many of you out there are like me and enjoy writing poetry in your spare time, but it's always a fun thing to try.
You don't want to make poetry writing too over complicated because then it would be work, not poetry. Which brings us to tip #1- keep it simple. Poetry doesn't have to be long and complex; sometimes short and simple gets the job done better. Don't over think things, just let it flow.

Tip #2- Style
The style is completely up to you. If you want it to rhyme, it can rhyme, but if you don't want it to, it doesn't have to. Just choose the length of stanzas you want to let the ideas come. It doesn't matter is the poem is serious or not. Silly poems are always fun to read. Your poetry should reflect your own personal style.

Tip#3- Inspiration
If you don't know what to right about, think about what inspires you in other parts of life. Whether it's nature, your family, those defining moments in life, or whatever it may be, odds are it will inspire your poetry too.

Tip#4-Rhythm
Rhythm is always a great thing to add to poetry. It makes it more fun to read aloud and it can contribute greatly to the poem. Take Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells." This poem has a certain rhythm that almost sounds like bells. Rhythm, it's a fun little thing, go wild with it.

Tip#5- Word Choice
One small caution: be careful not to use the same word(s) over and over again. It makes a poem sound too repetitive. The only exception to this rule is when you are using parallelism, a method of using a similar, repeating style or phrase in a poem, but only during this.

To be honest, there really is no right or wrong way to right a poem. I probably should have said that at the beginning. It would you saved you a lot of reading and me a lot of writing. Oh well. Maybe next time.

The 13th Reality Book 3

2010-04-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

If you've never read any of James Dashner's books before, I highly suggest starting, they're fantastic. The latest is Book 3 of "The 13th Reality" series "The Blade of Shattered Hope"

Synopsis: Things have chabged for Atticus Higginbottom. After the near catastrophe in the Fourth Reality, Tick is being homeschooled in the fields of science, trying to master the mysterious Chi'karda-- and learning how to control his growing power. But just as he begins to make progress, Mistress Jane reappears, now hideously scarred and much more powerful. She has tapped into the universe's dark secret to create the Blade of Shattered Hope, a weapon that could shatter reality itself if not used properly. In her quest to attain a Utopian Reality for the future of mankind, she ready to risk billions of lives-- including those of Tick's parents and sisters-- to set her plan in motion. Her vengeance knows no bounds and when rumors begin to circulate about the secret scientific experiments taking place at the Factory, Tick and his friends--Sato, Sofia, and Paul-- are faced with their most dangerous task yet. And they must not fail; the entire universe could cease to exist.

My thoughts: Firstly, before you read this, you need to read the first two books ("The Journal of Curious Letters" and "The Hunt for Dark Infinity") or there will be some things in this one you won't understand. Secondly, I'm crazy about this book and the series. It's fun, creative, and adventurous. It's one of those books where you keep saying "Just one more chapter" until you eventually run out of chapters. Dashner is quickly becoming a master of fantasy. I really recommend reading some of his stuff. I know you'll love them. Book 4 is coming 2011. I can't wait. No, really, I can't, the excitement is killing me.

One litte reminder, Jessica Day George's new book "Princess of Glass" comes out May 25th. Check it out.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

2010-04-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed the human spiecies. To make sure that humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses- and training them in the arts of war... The early training, not surprisingly, takes the form of 'games'... Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games... He is smart enough to know that time is running out. But is he smart enough to save the planet?

My Thoughts: Things are a little confusing at the start, but start to clear up the further along you go. I found this book to be really futuristic and it takes a second of thinking to figure out what some things are refering to. Overall, I thought it was interesting. I usually don't read science fiction or things with aliens and such, but this one wasn't a waste of time.

Pegasus 2010

2010-04-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

And no, I don't mean the winged horse of Greek mythology. "Pegasus" is the yearly literary magazine at my high school. It's published at the end of the year and features the school's best young writers and artists. I submitted three of my poems, two of which got in. Of my three, "The Jester King's Court" and "Open Eyes" got in. "To: You From: Me" wasn't as lucky. Here are this year's winners:

The Jester King's Court

The time is now, come gather around
The fire's high, the sun's gone down
Friend and poet, come make anew
Gypsy, drummer, and lute player too
The blood red flames are dancing high
Kissing excitedly at the star draped sky
And close by, within the fire's hypnotic light
A bold and roaming passion is sweeping the night
Gypsies dance and singers sing
All performing for the Jester King
And joining in, drummer pound
Onlookers tap their feet upon the ground
The rhythm grows and oh so fast
As if bleeding into the future and past
Guitars and lutes all start to strum
From somewhere off, the mountains hum
The skies whisper encouraging chants
And swifter the gypsies start to dance
Distant bells are softly swelling
We storytellers are storytelling
The night goes on, but we never slow
The pulsing music seems to flow
The time is now, come gather around
The fire's high, the sun's gone down
This is no place of challenge or sport
Only music and merriment in the Jester King's court

And "Open Eyes" goes:

Come dawn, the world awakes
And all begin to rise
Tis beauty at waking
That paints the azure skies
Flowers emerge from leafy shells
Evergreens seem to raise their heads
Mountains yawn, the breeze is sweet
And songbirds stir from treetop beds
The beauty of a summer day
When all is quiet and still
With leaves of green and whispering streams
The peaceful times do fill
The days grow short and cold
Green trees lit aflame
Winds blowing through red and gold treetops
Seemingly whisper some forgotten name
Snow covered mountains
And valleys painted white
Tis the beauty of deep winter
That grades both calm day an night
A rose wilted in the garden
Succumbing to November frost
Tis beauty in death
When life, not in vain, is lost
There is beauty in gloom
Though somewhat harder to find
And hearts and eyes that diligently search
Discover such beauty, refined.
There is beauty in a child's laugh
And in an infant's smile
There is beauty in the forest grove
Where you stop to rest a while
Many see the world through closed eyes
And settle for only this
Never stopping and wondering
The beauty that they miss
Open eyes see far more than they that hardly see at all
Open eyes know the beauty
From watching sun and stars rise and fall
Come see the flowers, trees, and streams
And soft clear springtime skies
Come see the beauty of the world
And see it with open eyes

Pegasus comes out May 20th and I'm so excited. One little reminder to look for my review of "Ender's Game". (As soon as I finish reading it.)

You're gonna survive editing

2010-04-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

Ah, editing. A time of rethinking, redoing, second guessing, and, of course, the occational mental breakdown. Yes, there's nothing like reading something you wrote several months ago (sometimes longer) and saying "Did I seriously write that?!" Editing to some, myself included, is a long and annoying process, but it must be done. You can do it yourself, have a trusted friend do it, or hire a professional editor. A few tips for you do-it-yourself types:

-Be sure to keep an eye out for types. Read slowly since they can be easily passed over.

-Get more than one opinion. Just because you think something is fine or needs to be redone doesn't mean others will have the same point of view.

-Find ways to cope with the stress of reading and rereading. Take part in stress relieving activies between editing sessions.

-Don't be afraid to stop, step away from the red pen and manuscript, and get some fresh air, watch a movie, read a book, go for a walk, or anything else you like to do. It'll leave you revived and recharged, ready to start again.

-Remember that what you're doing is going to help you grow and flurish as a writer.

Don't get discouraged. You may not get a passage right the first time, or the second, or the third, but you'll get it. Don'g let the editing blues get you down; find the silver lining in the red pen laden portion of the novel writing journey. Keep your chin up. Each red mark you put on that paper brings you one step closer to the finish line. Happy Writing! And editing too!

P.S.-- This is a little reminder for all you readers out there that James Dashner's new book "The 13th Reality: The Blade of Shattered Hope" comes out tomorrow.

P.S.S.-- Coming soon is my review of "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Character Building 101: People, Not Names

2010-03-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Every writer knows that a story is not a story unless it's got good characters. Lovable (or unlovable) characters can make readers really love your book. Just remember one little rule about creating characters: Try to make them more than just names on paper. If variety is the spice of life, then personality is the spice of character building. There are a few tricks you can use to make characters better and unique, some of which I have used when creating the characters from my book: Sophia, Del, Philippe, and the Countess. By the way, I'll be using them as my examples.

Trick #1: Opposites
Characters that have personalities that are opposite of each other give your story some chemistry. Characters with opposite personalities can hate each other (like Philippe and the Countess) or they can get along perfectly (like Sophia and Del). Allow me to explain...
The Countess- meanest person on the face of the Earth. She never does anything for anyone else unless there's something in it for her and cares only for herself. So, if the Countess is the person that won't do anything for others, Philippe is the guy that's going to bend over backwards for anyone. He's very kind hearted and generous. He would always be the first to help someone who came to him in need, which kind of explains how Sophia gets mixed into this. Remember, opposite personalities can get along too. Del and Sophia are like sisters, but are completely different. Sophia is quiet, a little shy, and used to being on her own. She doesn't really want to get noticed and tries to stay under the radar. Del, on the other hand, has a personality up in the stratosphere. She's not afraid to put herself out there and stand up for herself. Unlike quiet Sophia, who tries to stay in the background, Del is more of "Look out world, here I come!" Opposite personalities are fun to play around with to see how the different personalities will react to one another. It's just like chemistry class, without things blowing up and burning your eyebrows.

Trick #2: Recognizable
Give your characters personalities that are recognizable and readers can connect to. This way your characters seem more real because when readers see it they will think "I know someone like that." It's okay for characters to have wild personalities that are out of this world, that just makes your characters even more outstanding.

Trick #3: Weakness
Remember, no one is invincible although we may want it to be that way sometimes. Characters are still human (most of the time, unless you're a fantasy writer) and everybody has weaknesses. Example #2- Sophia is a bit of an emotional wreck. On top of that, she's plagued with fears of her mistress, the Countess. Philippe is suffering from a broken heart and tends to let his gentlemanly (is that a word?) qualities stop him from fighting back when he should. Del is stubborn beyond belief. She's doesn't like letting people help her do anything; she has to prove she can do it herself. Weakness helps your characters grow and develop as people.

Trick #4: Inner Conflict
Everybody has things going on in their lives that no else knows about. The same should go for your characters. Conflict gives depth and gets readers to sympathize with your characters and what their going through. Simple as that.

Trick #5: Emotion
Another way to add depth is through emotion. If you want to make your characters people, they need to have feelings. Again, emotions help readers relate to characters and let them seem more real. When it comes to writing emotion, it's better to show than tell. It's way better to say "Her vision blurred as tears flowed freely down her cheeks and she erupted into pained sobs," than it is to say "She was sad."

It's as simple as that. Good characters need emotion, conflict, and weakness all rolled into one recognizable (or extraordinary) personality. Now, go and bring new characters and stories into the world. Happy Writing!

A Book Review of Epic Proportions

2010-03-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

It's a book review of epic proportions! I'm reviewing not one, not two, but three-- count 'em, three-- books at once. Today's triple threat consists of The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley, and Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. First, let us travel back in time to the French Revolution in The Scarlet Pimpernel...

Synopsis: It is 1792 and France is in the grip of a seething, bloody revolution. Mobs roam the Paris streets hunting down royalists, barricade block any chance of escape and everyday hundreds die under the blade of Madame Guillotine. But in the hearts of the condemned nobility there remains one last vestige of hope: rescue by the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. Renowned for both his unparalleled bravery and clever disguises, the Pimpernel's identity remains as much a mystery to his sworn enemy, the ruthless French agent Chauvelin, as to his devoted admirer, the beautiful Lady Marguerite Blakeney.

My Thoughts: Unlike a lot of older books I've read, The Scarlet Pimpernel is not wordy and hard to follow. It's very easy to get into this book. It's very well written and you learn some new words along the way (like flippancy). It's really a great book. If you still need something to get you excited for this book, here's a little something from chapter 10: "It does seem simple doesn't it? When you want to kill a chicken... you take hold of it... then you wring its neck... it's only the chicken that does not find it so simple. Now you hold a knife at my throat and a hostage for my obedience... You find it simple... I don't."

Next, let us travel to Brooklyn in The Haunted Bookshop...

Synopsis: The story finds Roger Mifflin once again being heard from in his own ebullient way. Mifflin has settled down and now runs a second hand bookshop in Brooklyn. No ordinary shop this, as Mifflin's sign which hangs outside the Gissing Street address will testify: "Parnassus at Home R. and H. Mifflin, Book lovers Welcome, This shop is haunted." Among the livelier spirits who inhabit "Parnassus at Home" are, besides Proprietor Mifflin and his loving wife Helen, the radiantly beautiful Titania Chapman, set to lie in the Mifflin household by her rich father in order to correct the evils of a finishing school education, the friendly dog Bock, and a young advertising man, Aubrey Gilbert, smitten by Titania's beauty and eager to learn the world of books for her sake.

My Thoughts: Trust me, this is a really good book. It's got something for everyone; there's comedy, romance, action, and mystery. It's one of a kind, I've never read anything like it, and I've read a lot of books. The Haunted Bookshop is very entertaining and impossible to put down.

Last, let us journey to Europe at the start of WWI, but forget the history books. Brace yourself, this is not the war you know. Let's dive into Leviathan...

Synopsis: It is the cusp of WWI, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale ship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksander Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way... taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

My Thoughts: I've never read any of Scott Westerfeld's books before, but this one kept appearing everywhere. When books haunt me like that, it usually means that it's a good book. This instinct has yet to be wrong. There are two sides of this story so there's twice the story, twice the adventure, twice the awesome. If you read this, be sure to read over a towel because the action will spill out and get everywhere if you don't.

And that's the triple play. You can find these books at your local library or bookstore. Happy reading!

Random Monologue #1: Amusement Parks

2010-03-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

Here is one of the monologues I like to do for writing practice. I wrote this one at the end of the summer. Enjoy.

Amusement parks always seem more like amusement parks when the sun is going down. Right at that point when the sun is almost gone, but not quite and all the lights have been turned on. It's only then, I find, that all the sounds of the park become more defined; the applause and groans of people winning and loosing games, the shouts and screams of passengers as a roller coaster drops down that first big hill, and the soft grinding of roller coaster cars running down twisting tracks.
Despite the enticing beckoning of neon signs and bright depictions of other rides, I find myself waiting in line for a somewhat milder ride to give the adrenaline currently pulsing through my veins time to dull. I stand, hands in my pockets, waiting in line between two strangers and vaguely listening to the Demi Lovato song playing over some nearby speakers and savoring the sweet and sugary aftertaste of cotton candy.
The term "amusement park" plays with my mind. It seems so appropriate, at least to me, advertising the only reason these brightly colored, neon laden attractions exist; so people can come, ride roller coasters, play games, and forget every worldly care for one day. The whole place is designed to be hypnotic and mind numbing. The outside world disappears in the smell of hot dogs and the warm evening air of summer.
The line lurches forward unexpectedly and I rush to take my seat in my solitary car. I lean back and put my feet up on the metal lip on the front of the car. Slowly, the metal beast rumbles to life and everything starts to spin. Through the dull noise, I catch a few lines of the Demi Lovato song still playing over the speakers.

"But you're so hypnotizing,

You've got me laughing while I sing,

You've got me smiling in my sleep."*

Shouts from a nearby roller coaster blur the music. I smile. I rest my arm against the back of the car. As the ride makes another revolution in its never ending circle, all my care spins out of my thoughts and spirals into space.

*lyrics from "Catch Me" by Demi Lovato

Let me know what you think and try righting your own monologue and leave it in the comments. All you have to do is describe what's going on around you and your thoughts. It can be about anything and any length. (and yes, I do except a minimum of two words.)

Princess of Glass

2010-02-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

Hear ye! Hear ye! Announcing Jessica Day George's new book Princess of Glass to hit bookstores everywhere May 25th!
If you haven't read any of her books before, you really should, they are fantastic. I've read them all and have loved, loved, loved, LOVED every one of them. She has five books out right now, which are:
Dragon Slippers
Dragon Flight
Dragon Spear
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
Princess of the Midnight Ball
You should read them, really you should. Go, go now.
I wish I had the cover image and synopsis for you, but I don't, which makes me sad. When it comes out and I read it, I'll post a review, complete with lots of happy smiley faces. Until then, enjoy the rest of her books and feel free to leave comments on her books and recommendations. (But, really, please do, I get lonely sometimes when people don't comment. Except for when Mary comments, then I'm not lonely. Thank you Mary.)

To: You From: Me

2010-02-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Valentine's season. What comes to mind when you think of Valentine's Day? Cards? Chocolates? How about roses?

There was the tranquil moment of mind
As my eyes run down the rose stem to see
The small, simple, card declaring-
To: you From: me
A rich, red ribbon in a loose knot
The ends let run free
That is attached to the note stating-
To: you From: me
Rose petals feel of velvet
And smell of something soft and divine
An emblem of love and admiration
To a heart as elusive as mine
Perhaps I'll return the thought
And whoever he may be
He'll receive an emblem of my appreciation
With a card saying- To: you From: me

The Looking Glass Wars

2010-02-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Synopsis: When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape her murderous Aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly! Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she can eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

My thoughts: Forget the rabbit hole, this is not the Wonderland you know. I loved this book. It's well thought out and is very, very enjoyable. You will not want to stop reading this. It's wonderland like you've never seen before. If you like adventure and imagination, this book is for you.

The Legend of Big Red

2010-02-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

It's finished! Here's the legend for the plaza at Bear Lake.

The Legend of Big Red
One foggy afternoon, two men went out fishing in a small boat. They reached the middle of the lake and cast out their lines. Shortly after, the first man said he saw a dark shape in the water. His friend glanced over the side of the boat and into the azure water.
“There’s nothing there,” he said. “You’re seeing things.”
A few hours passed of reeling in lines and casting them out again. The fog only grew worse as evening started to approach. They didn’t get a single bite, despite it being one of the best fishing seasons either of the men had seen in years. The first fisherman saw the shape in the water again.
“See, there it is,” he said pointing over the side of the boat to the spot in the water the shadow had been.
“I don’t see anything,” said his friend glancing over the side of the boat again. “You must be going crazy.”
After a few more hours of no bites, they decided to reel in their lines and call it a day. Just as they set their rods on the floor of the boat, the water rippled and began to bubble. The two fishermen cautiously leaned over the side of the boat. The water broke and a cutthroat trout the size of a Great White Shark, possibly bigger, jumped over the boat. The two men looked up and for a moment all they saw was the trout’s bright red gills gleaming in the fog. The fish dropped back into the water; the wave from its reentry tipping the small fishing boat.
After the two had pulled themselves back into the boat, they returned to the docks. Meeting some other fishermen, they told the story and it spread like a virus. Soon, everyone knew about the giant cutthroat inhabiting the lake. Fishing rods were fitted with new lines and equipped with bigger, stronger hooks and boats headed out. The hunt was on for “Big Red”. Fishermen from towns all around the lake and even from towns miles away came to hunt for Big Red. Days were spent out in the middle of the lake where the trout had first been sighted, but the fish was never seen again after that first fateful afternoon, although some fishermen claim to have seen a dark shape circling under boats in the water. Weeks passed and weeks turned into months. Many of the hopeful fishermen finally vanished from the surface of the lake and the hunt soon subsided. Some still look, some have given up the hunt. Either way, should you go out to the middle of the lake, be sure not to dangle your toes in the water for too long as Big Red may confuse them for bait.

The plaza won't be ready for a while, but it feels good to have a part in it.

My First Hired Writing Gig

2010-02-02T16:40:00.000-08:00

JSA Architects called me and said they were doing a small plaza by Bear Lake and there were going to have bronze statue of some of the local trout. They said they were going to put a legend about "the trout that was never caught" and they wanted me to write it. Yes, me!!!! I'll probably post it when I'm finished. I'm so excited!

Just for laughs.

2010-01-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted anything lately, mainly because I've been focusing on getting the rest of my novel into the computer, but now I've decided it's time I posted something. Disclaimer: this little piece is not meant to be serious. I was with two of my friends (Kylie and Gracie) and we started joking around and one thing led to another and the idea of "The Adventures of the Hobbit, the Hobo, and the Hermit" was born. I've got to get some normal friends. But that would be no fun. I'm not done with it yet, but here's a little taste of the story in all of its laugh out loud humor.

One day while the hobbit was looking for her pet squirrel Juju (who liked to run off and play with all the other pet squirrels who ran away from their owners) she came across the hermit dangling upside down from a tree, one foot caught in a snare.
"I might be wrong," said the hobbit. "But aren't you supposed to be the other way around?"
"No duh Sherlock," snapped the hermit, curling like a worm on a fishing hook to reach her entangled foot, but without success. "You think I didn't know that from all the blood rushing to my head?"
"Is that a troll trap?"
"No."
"A goblin trap?"
"No."
"A gremlin trap?"
"Nope."
"It must be an ogre trap."
"Nope."
"Then who's is it?"
The hermit looked embarrassed. "Mine."
The hobbit cocked a eyebrow. "You got caught in your own trap?" The hermit swung back and forth, groaning loudly when she slammed into the tree from which she dangled. "Do you want some help?"
"No, I can get down myself. I just need to reach my kni-- hey, get away from that you dumb squirrel! No, wait, don't chew through that, no--ahh!"
The rope snapped and the hermit came crashing down. A squirrel darted down the tree truck and sat in front of the hobbit.
"Juju!" she squealed.

Fighting Chance(?)

2010-01-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

I was thinking the other day and started to wonder if my novel (Castaway Inn) would attract readers. I want you guys to tell me what you think and if I have a fighting chance or not. Here's the plot:

Sophia only knew the life of a servant. She had no family, no home (aside from the small, cramped, drafty room in her master's house that she lived in) and no friends (aside from Evelyn, who leaves at night, leaving Sophia by herself). On top of all that, there's one person who wants nothing more than to make sure her life is horrible: Sophia's black hearted mistress-the countess. In a desperate attempt at freedom, she runs into the woods one stormy night, leaving only a note at Evelyn's door. While on her flee in the middle of the night, she meets Philippe, a French businessman turned innkeeper with a heart that's been bruised, and Del, a lass with spunk, spirit, and a mysterious limb. Sophia finally felt like she had people she could call her friends, maybe even her family, but the bonds of their friendship is tested when Sophia's pursuit of freedom turns into a deadly game of hide and seek.

The Smell of Rain

2010-01-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

Look what I found in the back of my computer! I write a lot of poetry along with my other projects and this one is one of my favorites. I got into my school's literary magazine with this one last year, which was so cool to be able to do that as a sophomore. I've always loved rain and this peticular poem, along with a few others to be posted later, holds a special place in my heart. Enjoy.

Dark clouds envelope once starless skies
The hiss of the storm in the wind as it flies

Lightning shatters the ink splattered night
And midnight carries chill with its flight

Endless rain tumbles to a final resting place
Thunder echoes rhythmically through an almost endless space

Storm clouds billow like great black sails
The wind whispers gently like the brush of bluebird tails

White strokes of lightning paint stripes in the dark
And midnight flies on the wings of a meadowlark

But the rain, the rain, that sweet silver thread
Tearful pearls streaking down my head

The smell of rain as it hits the ground
The rumble of thunder, oh sweet the sound

The way the lightning seems to dance
The way the twisting wind enchants

But the smell of rain is what I wait for
Why I spend those days by my front door

The reason I sit by that open window pane
Just to catch the smell of rain

The First Step

2010-01-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

They say that a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. Writing the manuscript for my novel has really seemed like that journey. Surprising, my "single step" that started this journey of ink wasn't the first words of the book, it was a paragraph that came in chapter six. This paragraph right here:

The first thing Sophia noticed about Del was not her flaming red hair that flowed to her chin from under the rim of a weathered blue bandana. It was not her dusty brown eyes that gave her the look of someone deep in thought. It was not her ensemble of a baggy brown shirt and knee length cotton pants that looked like it belonged on a sailor on a merchant ship and not on an innkeeper’s errand girl. It was not that she was bare foot. Oh no, the first thing Sophia noticed about Del was that she walked with a limp.

This paragraph has remained in the rough draft the entire time I've been writing and I still love it.

The Passing of the Scepter

2010-01-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

Since Mary will not be contributing here as much, or not at all, the scepter has been passed to me. I shall try and continue with the same things Mary did, I'll post review of my favorite books and I'll post about my writing as much as possible. Which reminds me, I am proud to announce the completion of my manuscript and I am moving into the re-writing and editing stage. Writing the book the first time was the easy part. I'll be posting about my experiances and some tid bits of my novel. However, something new I will be trying is that I will be taking requests on what you would like to see on the blog. Help me keep this going. Happy Writing!

Hiatus

2009-12-29T08:04:00.000-08:00

My original plan when I started this blog was to give my critique group a place to share their writing and their thoughts on writing. It turned out that I was mainly the only one who had anything to say. My awesome 16-year-old crit partner Tawnni contributed once in awhile and I'm grateful for her.
Anyway my critique group is going through some changes and while we figure out some things, I'm taking a break from the Literary Girls blog. You can still find me at my personal blog Writer's Butt Does Not Apply To Me. Thank you so much to you wonderful loyal few who stuck by us and faithfully read and commented on our posts (Juju, Kath) - you ladies are awesome. I don't know what the future holds for this blog. It's possible that a guy may become apart of my crit group and then the name of this blog may change. It's also possible I'll never blog on it again. It was a fun experiment though. Thanks again for reading.

Mary

Merry Christmas Muppet Style

2009-12-22T20:53:00.001-08:00

I won't be posting for the rest of the week.

Hope you all have a

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays if you prefer.

A First Kiss Scene Sans Tongue

2009-12-21T09:53:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Kissing Blogfest Monday

Sweet emblem of returning peace, the heart's full gush and love's release,
Spirits in human fondness flow and greet the pearly mistletoe.
Oh! Happy tricksome time of mirth, giv'n to the stars of sky and earth!
May all the best of feeling know, the custom of the mistletoe.
Married and single, proud and free, yield to the season, trim with glee:
Time will not stay ... he cheats us so ... A kiss? ... 'tis gone ... the mistletoe.

As a teenager this was my favorite kissing scene

I imagined my first kiss being like this. I was a tomboy like Watts with a chip on my shoulder when it came to guys. I was the pal - never the girlfriend. I identified with this scene so much. Love the passion of his tightening fist and her legs going around his waste - the music is perfect.
Sadly my first kiss was nothing like this. Barely knew the guy and he was all tongue - intrusive and hyper. Gross!!!

Current Favorite Kissing scene

It has been my experience that first kisses are overrated in real life. Awkward and strange. The second kiss is usually better. I doubt there are any teenage boys reading this, but if there are - study this scene boys - look, no tongue - a soft and tender first kiss. That's what a girl wants to experience for their first kiss with any guy - all men could learn from this kiss actually. The tongue comes later. Do you agree with me ladies, or am I in the minority?

This is my first attempt at writing a kissing scene so I just hope it doesn't crash and burn like my first kiss:

He put his arm around my shoulders and drew me closer to him. His eyes dark and intense frightened me. The entire day felt as if it was building towards this moment. But now I wasn't sure if I wanted it. Nervous, I needed a distraction. I brought the forgotten tomato to my lips and bit into it. Succulent juices exploded into my mouth tantalizing my senses. A piece of the vine still clung to the fruit. I breathed in its earthen freshness and sighed.
When our eyes met again, the hunger I saw there no longer frightened me. He'd moved closer during my reverie and our noses nearly touched. I could feel his hand tremble as he swept the soft pad of his thumb across my slightly open lips. The lingering aroma of the tomato vine and his aftershave fuzzed my thoughts, but a tiny spark of doubt still remained.
"Wait," I said, pressing my hand to his chest. "I've never done this before."
He buried his face in my hair and when he whispered, "Me either," his hot breath on my ear sent shivers through me.
His fingers entwined in my hair as he touched his lips to mine. The uneaten fruit dropped from my hand in my growing need to have him closer.

Something tells me this kiss might lead to tongue after all.

Race against the Calender

2009-12-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

With my sister getting married in two weeks, give or take, I have given myself a challenge. I want to have the manuscript for my novel finished by the wedding on the 2nd of January. Luckily, I'm in the last chapter and after that I just have the epiloque (should I decide to have one). I am nearing the summit of this mountain and the clock is counting down and faster than it was before. The race is on, I'm breaking into a sprint, wish me luck.

We Have a Winner

2009-12-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

Three Winners Actually:

L.T. Host, Catherine Denton and Diana Paz

Congratulations Ladies! E-mail me here and let me know your address and which book you'd like to have.

Why three winners? Well, because Diana won my last book giveaway and she's my super awesome blogging and beta buddy and I was afraid you'd think I played favorites. I really didn't. Honest. My sons drew the names and they actually drew Diana's name twice. You deserve to win Diana and I'm glad you did. Since I was considering having three winners anyway, this gave me the chance.

Now for the teaser reveal

The super awesome teaser that belongs to me is:

“I don’t believe you now -- so it really doesn’t matter what you tell me. But I do enjoy hearing a well delivered tale.”

Congratulations to all of you who guessed correctly. About half of you guessed it. It actually makes me feel good that so many of you couldn't tell which one was mine.

Teaser #2 is from:

"I don't want to sleep. I'm afraid the nightmare will come back. But there's no need for you to stay awake with me."

Teaser #3 is from:

"No of course not," I lie. "I was only having a bit of fun with you."

A big thank you to everyone who participated. I had fun. Hope you did too.

Last Day To Enter Book Giveaway Challenge

2009-12-18T07:13:00.001-08:00

Today is your last chance to win these books. To enter the challenge go here.

Teaser Tuesday Challenge and Book Give Away

2009-12-15T08:19:00.001-08:00

For today's Teaser, I'm going to do something a little different and a little bit scary.

Below are three teasers. Two are from published YA novels. The other is from my own WIP. I challenge you to guess which one is mine and which is from the published novels.

Teaser #1: “I don’t believe you now -- so it really doesn’t matter what you tell me. But I do enjoy hearing a well delivered tale.”

Teaser #2: "I don't want to sleep. I'm afraid the nightmare will come back. But there's no need for you to stay awake with me."

Teaser #3: "No of course not," I lie. "I was only having a bit of fun with you."

If you make a guess your name will automatically go into a drawing with +1 point.

If you guess correctly which teaser is mine you get +4 extra points.

If you are already a follower you get +2 points.

Become a follower you get +1 point.

Please indicate in the comments if you are already a follower or a new follower.

Contest Ends Friday at 10pm MST
Sorry - U.S. and Canadian residents only.

Two people will win their choice out of 2 books:

BTW - none of the teasers come from these two books.

Love it and It's On Sale - The Elizabeth Gaskell Collection

2009-12-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

I love all three of these movies and I just bought it. So excited! Found it on sale at Amazon and I felt compelled to let all of you know about it, so that you could buy it too. I've been wanting to buy it for awhile, but it was more than I wanted to spend. If you haven't seen any of these movies, you're missing out. I love, love, love these movies. Oh did I mention I love them? I even got free shipping. Merry Christmas to me!

When her father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the north of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill-workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice. This is intensified by her tempestuous relationship with the mill-owner and self-made John Thornton, as their fierce opposition over his treatment of his employees masks a deeper attraction.

I haven't read the book yet. Someone told me the ending is different than the movie and I haven't felt like reading it since.
Have you read it? What's your opinion?

The love scene alone is enough to make me want to watch this movie again and again.

An enchanting tale of romance, scandal, and intrigue in the gossipy English town of Hollingford around the 1830s, Wives and Daughters tells the story of Molly Gibson, the seventeen-year-old daughter of a widowed country doctor. When her father remarries, she forms a close friendship with her new stepsister—the beautiful and worldly Cynthia—until they become love rivals for the affections of Squire Hamley’s sons, Osbourne and Roger. When sudden illness and death reveal some secrets while shrouding others in even deeper mystery, Molly feels that the world is out of joint and it is up to her—trusted by all but listened to by none—to set it right.

I enjoyed this book more than the movie. I loved the details of village life and Molly is charming. The interaction between the women is intiguing and the love story is satisfying.

Cranford is a humorous account of a nineteenth-century English village dominated by a group of genteel but modestly circumstanced women. By eschewing the conventional marriage plot with its nubile heroines and focusing instead on a group of middle-aged and elderly spinsters, Elizabeth Gaskell did something highly unusual within the novel genre. Through her masterful management of the novel's tone, she underscores the value and dignity of single women's lives even as she causes us to laugh at her characters' foibles. Charles Dickens was the first of many readers to extol its wit and charm, and it has consistently been Gaskell's most popular work.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The movie was absolutely charming though. I think I need to go back and give this book another try. Have you read it? Any thoughts?

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst - Versus - Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

2009-12-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, determined to become a scientist, she has no time for make-believe.
Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride. - Goodreads

Synopsis:

Blessed—or cursed—with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she’s known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn’t hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who’s been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he’s forced to marry a troll princess. - Goodreads.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed both versions. Both books are re-tellings of the fairytale - East of the Sun and West of the Moon. If you would like to read a version of the original fairytale go here.

Ice is a contemporary retelling set in the frozen Arctic and the Canadian boreal forest. The descriptions of the ice floes and the scenery are vivid and beautiful. I like that Cassie is a modern girl and a strong female lead. She's intelligent and determined to accomplish all of her goals and dreams. It is this determination - bordering on obstinacy(in my opinion) that drives her to seek out the Polar Bear King who she is forced to marry. After she has fallen in love with him and is carrying his child the Bear is taken from her when she breaks a promise. As she searches for her husband East of the Sun and West of the Moon, she encounters many obstacles, but she never gives up on finding him. Durst's version of trolls is fascinating. I love the whole concept of rescuing the one you love at all costs, but I wonder if this book took it too far. In her quest for the bear, Cassie gave very little thought to the growing fetus inside of her and put herself and the baby at great risk almost killing herself and the baby. I didn't really care for this aspect of the book. Other than that it is a fun, fanciful retelling and I recommend it to anyone 12 and older.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow is a more traditional re-telling set in the Nordic with the sweet and brave Lass as the lead. I really liked the mystery aspect of this book as Lass searches for the truth behind the trolls and their hold on the Polar Bear King. This version has a fun, lighter tone than Ice, but it is still full of adventure and love. I really enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the Nordic culture and scenery. George artfully weaves Nordic myths and language which helped me to fully immerse myself in the world. I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book and I recommend it to anyone 12 and older.

**For Jessica Day George's thoughts on her own book and Ice - along with a fun interview with Ice's author Sarah Beth Durst - click here.**

The Handwriting of a First Grader and Other Random Thoughts from Unplugged Week

2009-11-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is my actual handwriting and
my actual notebook with my actual
rough draft drivel on it.

As some of you are aware I "unplugged" a few weeks ago so I could focus more time on my rough draft. When I sat down to the computer all psyched and ready - can you guess what happened? Nothing. Nothing would come. My fingers hovered above the keyboard twitching to type...something...anything, but nothing was all I got. My head began to ache from the pressure building inside. I tried to convince myself to stay calm - the words didn't need to be perfect. The cold, pale computer screen loomed before me, daring me to type a word so that it could chew it up and spit it out.

That's when I stepped away from my computer and grabbed a notebook and pen. I normally don't like to freehand because as you can see - I have the handwriting of a first grader. But I shoved past the embarrasing scribbles and began to write. It was great. The pressure I felt to write amazing and perfect prose left me and I allowed myself to just write. The beautiful mess above is a sample of my creative abandon. I'm mostly pleased with the results:

Day one: 948 words
Day two: 807 words
Day three: 965 words
Day four: 300 words and edited short story
Day five: burned out - blogged about it here.
Day six: edited short story.
Day seven: I don't write on Sundays.

Since I wrote the words first and then typed them into the computer - does that count as double the words written? I think it should. It's a great way to do a little bit of editing and clean-up as well - just don't go overboard.

I recommend the pen and paper method to anyone who is having a hard time letting themselves write because their too busy trying to edit. This method also helped me stay unplugged. I wasn't near the computer so I couldn't check out facebook or read other blogs during my writing time. It was a win, win situation.

There's something else I discovered during unplugged week. I'm not sure if I should admit this, but I'm going to risk being shunned and say it anyway - I got bored of writing. Maybe bored isn't the right word. I don't think I'm the type of person who needs to write all the time to be happy. I enjoy it for a little while and then I want to do something else. I enjoy the creative process of brainstorming and researching, but when it comes to the actual writing part I get burned out. Writing doesn't come easy for me. My story is perfect in my head and it's so frustrating when I can't write the scene the way I picture it in my mind. Probably all writers feel the same way. If it was easy everyone would do it, right? Anyway I think I've decided that right now writing for me is nothing more than a creative outlet. I don't need to do it all the time and if days go by where I don't write I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was nice after an emotional week. Thank you so much to all of you who offered condolences and sympathy in regards to my dog. I appreciate this new found blogging community so much. You are all awesome!

A Grateful Heart Amidst Grief

2009-11-26T12:40:00.001-08:00

“All happy people are grateful, and ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that it is being unhappy that leads people to complain, but it is truer to say that it is complaining that leads to people becoming unhappy. Become grateful and you will become a much happier person.” - Dennis Prager

I'm not always as grateful as I should be, but today I'm grateful for many things.

My husband is #1. He loves, protects and works very hard for us. I'm especially grateful right now for the way he rushed to my side at the emergency vets and took care of everything while I was a sobbing mess.

I'm very grateful for my children. Three wild boys who push my patience to the edge, but are still the cutest, bestest boys ever.

My extended family and friends who are all supportive and wonderful.

My beautiful dog has passed, but I'm grateful she was apart of our family for ten years.

I'm grateful for the complete strangers who stopped and helped when my sweet dog was hit by a truck.

Another stranger drove us to the emergency care because I didn't have the car that day. I'm extremely grateful to her.

I'm grateful for kind neighbors and friends who have expressed their condolences and sympathy and are generally great all the time.

Especially grateful for the neighbor who took care of my children while I left to be with my dog.

Again I'm grateful for my husband and father-in-law who dug a grave in the dark and cold and for the sweet prayer uttered over her body.

I'm grateful to know I'm a daughter of God and that I'll see my loved ones again someday.

Finally, I'm grateful for all of you - my blogging and writing friends. Thank you for the wonderful advice and encouragement that you share with all of us everyday. Thank you for taking time to comment on my blog.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Keeshka

2009-11-24T11:46:00.001-08:00

"Tragedy strikes like a hungry lion,
brutally

tearing at our hearts."

Keeshka -- 1998-November 23, 2009

Beautiful. Sweet. Protector. Friend.

Meet Mirai

2009-11-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

Mirai McKain is a friend of mine from Writers' Guide. He's a fantastic writer. You've got to see some of his stuff. He has a website with two poems there right now. Check it out here.

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2009-11-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor's kid, it's hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam's personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel. - Goodreads

Fun Quote: It's hard to explain how it feels when Nick Shaw smiles at you. Not butterflies or blushing. It just feels good.

My Thoughts: This book started out a bit slow for me, but it was very worth pressing on. It's YA and written in the first person point-of-view of Samara. I don't always like Zarr's main characters, but I liked Samara a lot. I identify with her in a lot of ways. She is struggling with problems within her family that she doesn't want anyone to know about, and yet she wishes everyone did know about them so that she wouldn't have to pretend her life is perfect anymore. Her struggles lead her to doubt her faith and everything she has been taught. Zarr handles her struggles with amazing insight and delicacy. Also appreciate Zarr for not putting in any language or sexual situations that would make me uncomfortable to recommend it to mature teens and adults.

A wonderful coming-of-age story that slowly unfolds to a lovely and satisfying end.

My review of Sara Zarr's other books can be found here.

Her Is Me or Finding Depth In Ourselves and In Our Characters

2009-11-05T10:39:00.001-08:00

Do any of you read the Nie Nie Dialogues? If not then you really should. Read todays posting - you can find it here. Go ahead I'll wait...

Did you read it? Heartbreaking, right? What kind of a person would say such a thing?

If you don't already know, Stephanie Nielson is a young mother who kept up a charming blog about her family and life. In 2008 Stephanie and her husband Christian (love that name, can you guess why?) were in a plane crash. They both suffered severe burns all over their body - Stephanie more than Christian.
Her blog postings are the most inspiring things I've read. I eat them up everyday.

This is Stephanie before the accident.

Beautiful yes? I think so.
Did she have depth? Probably

For a long time Stephanie would not post pictures of herself post burning. Finally she was brave enough to do it.

This is the first picture that Stephanie posted of herself after the accident.

Beautiful yes? I absolutely think so.

Does she have depth? Loads and Loads.

Now I have not been burned and my pitiful trials are no where near what Stephanie's are, but I too don't like to post pictures of myself. I have struggled with weight all my life. There have been times where I have been thin and I thought I looked pretty good.

This was me in college.

Beautiful, yes? Maybe.
Did I have depth? A bit.

Stephanie struggles everyday with how she looks. So do I. In my mind I still look like that picture above. Then I look in the mirror or I catch a glimpse of myself reflected in a window as I pass by. Everytime I'm shocked. The image in my mind and the image reflected back at me don't match. When I come face to face with the reality I want to run away and hide. Today when I read Stephanie's post I realized what a coward I am. She is putting her picture out there for everyone to see and she is praying hard every day to be happy with who she is now. So, if Stephanie can do it, so can I.

This is me now.

Beautiful, yes? Umm.

Do I have depth? More now than before.

I don't like to give writing advice, because really - what do I know? But I do know what I like to read. I like books with characters who inspire me. The main character of the book I'm writing is a person who once was beautiful and her family was wealthy, but she had very little depth. Later her family loses their fortune and she loses her beauty. Do those trials give her depth?

I'm not trying to suggest that you or your characters need to become ugly to have depth. But just like us, it's not the trials that our characters face that gives them depth. It's the way they deal with those trials and everyone's trials are different. Do your characters become better people because of their trials. Are they inspiring?

Depth and Inspiration. This is what keeps me turning the pages. It's what makes me want to read a book over and over again.

Do you feel the same way? In what ways are you giving depth to your characters?

Debut Utah Author Shoutout

2009-10-30T14:23:00.001-07:00

Bree Despain

The Short: Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. The Dark Divine is Bree's debut novel. For more in depth info about Bree you can find her website here. For her Blog - Read Bree go here.

The Dark Divine debut's December 22, 2009. To read the first chapter go here.

Synopsis: Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Karen Hoover

Karen E. Hoover has loved the written word for as long as she can remember. Her favorite memory of her dad is the time he spent with Karen in his lap, telling her stories for hours on end. Her dad promised he would have Karen reading on her own by the time she was four years old ... and he did it. Karen took the gift of words her dad gave her and ran with it. Since then, she's written two novels and reams of poetry. Her head is fairly popping with ideas, so she plans to write until she's ninety-four or maybe even a hundred and four. Karen blogs at A Writers Ramblings.

The Sapphire Flute, Book I of the Wolfchild Saga is Karen's first novel set to debut - March 16, 2010.

Synopsis: It has been 3,000 years since a white mage has been seen upon Rasann.
In the midst of a volcanic eruption miles outside of her village, Ember discovers she can see magic and change the appearance of things at will. Against her mother's wishes, she leaves for the mage trials only to be kidnapped before arriving. In trying to escape, she discovers she has inherited her father's secret--a secret that places her in direct conflict with her father's greatest enemy.

Ali Cross

My favorite quote, "Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia" by Doctorow, pretty much sums me up. My different personalities include Wife to an awesome man, Mother to two beautiful boys, and Writer. Thankfully, I'm surrounded by friends and family who accept me the way I am--craziness and all. Ali's YA novel The Devil's Daughter has been accepted for publication through Valor Publishing Group . The tentative debut is set for July 2010. Ali blogs at Ali Cross, Author

Natalie Whipple

I'm a YA writer repped by Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown, LTD. Some people say I'm a ninja cyborg when it comes to pumping out books. I don't know about that, but I do know I have 2 little ninjas in training. So it could be true.
If you just have to stalk me, I'm also on Twitter and Facebook. I may or may not stalk you back. If you want to see more of my drawings, I'm also at deviantART. Natalie blogs at Between Fact or Fiction and has several projects in the works.

I'm sure there are other Utah authors on the rise. If you know of any let me know and I'll be glad to give them a shoutout.

Critique Group - Flashy Fiction Prompts

2009-10-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last night our writing prompts were inspired by Flashy Fiction. Their daily writing prompts can be found here. We only had ten minutes to write these.

Two People Chose "Tuesday Fortune"

1. I had just finished my sweet n' sour chicken at Kung Po Pows Chinese buffet. I never eat the fortune cookies. They always poke my mouth and make my gums sore for days. Tonight, though, I thought, "Aw, what the heck," and popped one open. The fortune said "The greatest danger could be your stupidity."
    "That's a dumb fortune," I said to myself, shoveling the crumbled bits into my mouth. As I chomped down, one of the pieces lodged into a back molar, slicing into my gums. The iron taste of blood pervaded throughout my mouth, causing me to choke. I could feel the eyes of everyone in the restaurant upon me as my fortune came true. - Jenny

2.   Anytime a fortune cookie comes my way I feel the mass produced, and typically general in nature fortune may in some way have significance in my life. It's totally foolish, but I still give credence to what is said - letting it linger on my mind and creep into my life.
     Reading this fortune as I eat a bit of the cookie fills me with fear. I can't help but doubt. Doubt everything. Call it low self-esteem, but I'm unprepared for this fortune, "The greatest danger could be your stupidity." As always I take the words to heart and believe them to be truth.
     This is why I play it safe. Why my dreams remain dreams. I don't like feeling stupid, let alone believing it! But this time I want it to be different. This time I'm choosing to let the fortune be mere 'words of wisdom'. Not a closed door. - Alaina

Two Chose "Friday Funk"

I walked through the parking lot, a weird tingling on the back of my neck. I gripped my keys a little tighter. Was...was someone following me?

My pace quickened, but the closer I got to my car, the more terrified I became. I was going to run for it. Just then, someone grabbed me.

1. The sound of plastic cracking on tile was followed by an apprehensive, "Mom! Look what the baby did." I dropped the notebook I was writing in and went to investigate the latest two-year-old catastrophe. I hate to be interrupted when I'm writing. Feeling positively wild I stormed into the kitchen. The sheepish grins of two children greeted me while a two gallon jug of apple juice bled it's contents from a gaping gash onto my freshly mopped floor.

This scene was an actual event that prevented me from participating with our group. The original scene I had been working on was just bad. - Mary

2. The lights flickered as the train car flashed past. A myriad of blurred forms behind fuzzed glass roared through the underground station. The clicking of heels against cold concrete caught the attention of a shadowed form leaning casually against the railing. With a calculated glance he noticed the curves of the business woman making her way toward the train platform. She looked irritated, and kept glancing at her watch. The train station emptied leaving behind an echoing silence.
The shadowed form crept closer, watching his victim and thinking of the best way to get near her. Savoring the hunt. - Janele

Janele's piece was inspired by the "Friday Funk" prompt.

The Hate List by Jennifer Brown

2009-10-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life. - GoodReads

My Thoughts: Did you hate someone when you were a teenager? Enough to want them dead? The Hate List is a poignant and compelling book that delves into the dark reality of victims and perpetrators rampant in most everyone's teenage years.

This is not normally a book I would like. I only decided to read it because of a story idea that is taking root in my mind. I not only liked this book, I had a hard time putting it down. It is written in the first person point-of-view of Valerie Leftman, girlfriend of the shooter. Valerie is not always likeable, but I can empathize with her. The book is an exploration of her life before and after the shooting. Guilt, forgiveness, bravery are all major themes. Check this book out even if its dark topic is not what you would usually read. Try it - you won't be disappointed.
There are a few F-bombs and some other swearing which I don't like, but I suppose it is warranted.

The Hate List is Jennifer Brown's debut YA novel released Sept. 2009. For more information about Jennifer and The Hate List or to read the first chapter go here.

Retro Friday - The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery - Review and Book Giveaway

2009-10-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: At twenty-nine Valancy had never been in love, and it seemed romance had passed her by. Living with her overbearing mother and meddlesome cousin, she found her only consolations in the "forbidden" books of John Foster and her daydreams of the Blue Castle. Then a letter arrived from Dr. Trent -- and Valancy decided to throw caution to the winds. For the first time in her life Valancy did and said exactly what she wanted. Soon she discovered a surprising new world, full of love and adventures far beyond her most secret dreams. - Goodreads

The story takes place in the early 1920s in the fictional town of Deerwood, located in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Deerwood is based on Bala, Ontario, which Montgomery visited in 1922. Maps of the two towns show similarities.
This novel is considered one of L.M. Montgomery's few adult works of fiction, along with A Tangled Web, and is the only book she wrote that is entirely set outside of Prince Edward Island. It has grown in popularity since being republished in 1990. - Wikipedia

Fun Quote: They got into the canoe and paddled out to it. They left behind the realm of everyday and things known and landed on a realm of mystery and enchantment where anything might happen - anything might be true.

My Thoughts: I have read every book that L.M. Montgomery published including her short stories that have been compiled into theme novels. Out of all of Montgomery's stand-alone novels, The Blue Castle is my favorite. It's so romantic. Montgomery has this incredible ability to make everything feel as if it is alive. Juju from Tales of Whimsy posed a question on her blog recently - "If you could step into a book and visit any fictional town, city, home or location - which would it be?" The Blue Castle is where I would like to go. I want to live there with someone who adores me.

Give Away: I love this book so much I want to share it with you. I know it's not the latest hottest thing, but it's a free book and I promise it's worth trying for. If you would like to have my gently used copy of The Blue Castle leave a comment with your e-mail address.
Followers of course get two extra points. If you become a follower you can earn an extra point. Promote this on your blog and earn another point. Contest is only open to those in U.S. and Canada. Ends Oct. 30th.

Did I mention how much I love L.M. Montgomery? For all things Montgomery go here.

Wikipedia's list of Montgomery's Novels and Short stories (I've read all of them):

Novels

Anne of Green Gables (1908)
Anne of Avonlea (1909) (sequel to Anne of Green Gables)
Kilmeny of the Orchard (1910)
The Story Girl (1911)
The Golden Road (1913) (sequel to The Story Girl)
Anne of the Island (1915) (sequel to Anne of Avonlea)
Anne's House of Dreams (1917) (sequel to Anne of the Island)
Rainbow Valley (1919) (sequel to Anne of Ingleside)
Rilla of Ingleside (1921) (sequel to Rainbow Valley)
Emily of New Moon (1923)
Emily Climbs (1925) (sequel to Emily of New Moon)
The Blue Castle (1926)
Emily's Quest (1927) (sequel to Emily Climbs)
Magic for Marigold (1929)
A Tangled Web (1931)
Pat of Silver Bush (1933)
Mistress Pat (1935) (sequel to Pat of Silver Bush)
Anne of Windy Poplars (1936) (sequel to Anne of the Island)
Jane of Lantern Hill (1937)
Anne of Ingleside (1939) (sequel to Anne's House of Dreams)
The Blythes Are Quoted, edited by Benjamin Lefebvre (2009) (sequel to Rilla of Ingleside)

Short story collections

Chronicles of Avonlea (1912)
Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920)
The Road to Yesterday (1974)
The Doctor's Sweetheart, selected by Catherine McLay (1979)
Akin to Anne: Tales of Other Orphans, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1988)
Along the Shore: Tales by the Sea, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1989)
Among the Shadows: Tales from the Darker Side, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1990)
After Many Days: Tales of Time Passed, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1991)
Against the Odds: Tales of Achievement, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1993)
At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1994)
Across the Miles: Tales of Correspondence, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1995)
Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1995)

Montgomery also kept diary's which have been compiled into The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery (5 vols.), edited by Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston (1985-2004).
I've read two of them. Very interesting and read just like her novels.

Janeology by Karen Harrington

2009-10-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

Nature? Nurture? Or Simply Psychotic?

What happens when the spouse you think you know turns out to be a stranger? In Janeology, Jane and Tom Nelson are an average American family until the day one incomprehensible act forever changes their lives, igniting a powerful exploration of Jane's nature and nurture. What begins as a question - "What made Jane do what she did?" - soon unravels dark family secrets, hidden for generations. - Scobberlotch

Quote: Everything is connected. Blood. Experience. Who we love.

My Thoughts: My skepticism of this book was big when I first heard of it. The idea that we are destined to be a certain kind of person because of our geneology doesn't bode well with me. I have a strong belief that every individual regardless of nature or nurture is free to choose what they will or won't do. Because I believe this I also believe that individuals are accountable for the right or wrong choices that they make.
So what made me read this despite my skepticism? I'm actually not sure. It might just be that the author Karen Harrington was nice enough to comment on my blog and willing to answer a question I had about her book. It could also be the intriguing discussion that took place in my college Human Development class taken years ago, that explored these concepts. Nature Vs. Nurture - to what extent does each one play a role in making us the people that we are? Whatever the reason my curiosity was piqued.

Mothers are killing their children everyday. Who among us has not asked why? Should the people in the killers lives share the blame for failing to see what these women are capable of. I've certainly asked these questions and so did Karen Harrington.

Janeology is a compelling page turner. It is a perfect book club book - the kind of book that provokes discussion. The journey into the lives of Jane's quirky relatives is fascinating. Harrington handles the provocative subject matter in such a way that my own beliefs are not stomped on and she does not excuse the accountability of Jane. My one complaint about the book is sometimes Jane's family tree is confusing. Luckily Harrington has provided us with Jane's family tree at her website that you can find here. This is a book written with adults in mind, but I'm happy to report that there was nothing that offended my sensibilities. But I do feel the subject matter is definitely for mature teens and adults.

Another Great Quote: Mothers were less isolated then. They had more family support around them and didn't feel the loneliness some mothers experience today. Drugs are often the substitute for the lack of multiple generation support.

Karen Harrington author of Janeology. Not only is she a good writer, but she is gorgeous. For more in depth information about Janeology you can find her website here. Karen also blogs at Scobberlotch.

Fairy Dance

2009-10-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what lies just outside your window? What comes out to play while you dream? Me too. I hope you enjoy "Fairy Dance"

Awake my friend and follow me
There is something that you’ve got to see

Follow me and come see them dance
This may be your only chance

Down by the sea shore at night
Where the sand is bathed in white moonlight

The stars above wink their eyes
At a thousand dancing fireflies

In the summer air, the lights all prance
Spinning and twirling in a fairy dance

The moon shines like a disco ball
Warm, indigo waves rise and fall

Have you ever tried to stop the world
As it forever twirled and twirled

But now as the light reflects on the seas
The world around seems to freeze

A million stars look down and smile
As a breeze decides to rest awhile

The shore becomes a living dream
And nothing at all is what it seems

Have you ever tried to stop the world
As it forever twirled and twirled

But now as the light reflects on the seas
The world around seems to freeze

5000 Year Leap Book Trailer - Have You Read This Book?

2009-10-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

I haven't read it, but it seems to discuss all the principals I believe in. I don't usually like nonfiction books, but I've heard a lot about this book. Can anyone give me their opinion on it?

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

2009-10-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm. - Goodreads

Romantic Quote: His hands were enlaced in my sister's long hair as he strained her slight form against him, white on black. Their eyes were closed; their lips clung; they were lost in each other.

My Thoughts: Ooh, I get goose bumps just thinking about that kiss. I enjoyed this book a lot. The prose was enthralling and whimsical. The romance heartbreakingly beautiful and satisfying. I chose to read this book for research because it takes place in a Slavic culture and that's what my book is based in, but I found that I was too engrossed in the story to be able to study it properly. I guess I'll have to read it again. My only problem with the book is I felt the male love interest was not as strong as I wanted him to be. He was too boyish and I like men. It's YA though so it's probably just right for that age. This is a wonderfully different retelling of the fairytale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." I read Jessica Day George's "Princess of the Midnight Ball" recently, which I enjoyed, but this version seems deeper and richer.

Nathan Bransford's 1st Paragraph Contest

2009-10-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Literary Agent Nathan Bransford is holding another 1st paragraph contest. You can find his blog here.
I entered mine just for fun. My WIP is far from done, but I like my first chapter.

This is a paragraph from my novel with the working title "The Shrouded Star." Let me know what you think.

In a certain kingdom, in a certain realm, on the eve of the Nahe'dra rising, a cloud of smoke whisked across the night sky beneath a crescent moon. Black piercing eyes searched the inward curves of snow covered alps. Sharp teeth appeared as lips parted in a fearsome grin. Abruptly the cloud descended into the uninhabited depths of a dark forest. Twigs snapped and leaves rustled as a fierce wind swept through the trees.

“She has arrived at last,” a voice whispered in the darkness.

“Why is she making so much noise? It's enough to wake the dead,” whispered another.

“Maybe that's the idea.”

What happens next?

2009-10-09T18:15:00.001-07:00

I had this idea for a little writing exercise. Below is the beginning of a story I've written, but it isn't finished. Your job it to write what happens next. It can be any part in the story, in the middle, the end, anywhere. There doesn't have to be a lot of detail. I want to see your imaginations. Let me set the scene...

The fishing docks were quiet and unoccupied. Boats and ships bobbed as the waves jumped and dived. Moonlight shone against the dark waves. The moon was full, the stars were black, and the twilight was awaking.
James walked across the beach following the dark line the waves left on the sand. As he did, he thought about the countless evenings he had spent walking the beach with his little sister, who was now seventeen. He felt his heart drop at the thought of his sister. A few weeks ago, she had gone for a walk along the beach one evening and never came back. The villagers claimed it to be the work of the dragon that inhabited the lake.
He was aroused from his thoughts by the waves being broken. He turned in surprise to the lake's surface in time to see the head of a water dragon break through the black water. It looked around before its sea green eyes rested on James.
"It's a bit late for a walk isn't it?" the dragon asked in its melodious voice.
At first, James was taken back a bit. The he could find words.
"You ate my sister!" he screamed.
"Did I? I find it hard to remember my meals."
"She went missing two weeks ago. You ate her."
"On the contrary lad, my last meal was at the beginning of the month. I haven't eaten a thing since."
"Then what happened to my sister?!" James could not be angrier than he was now.
At first, the dragon didn't speak. He pondered to himself, leaving an enraged James to fume on the beach. Then the dragon's eyes widened.
"Hold on a moment," it said. "So, it was your sister that the warlock's men kidnapped on the beach two weeks ago?"
"You know what happened to her?"
"I suppose. She was walking along the beach and the Dark Warlock's men appeared and kidnapped her."
"Where is this Dark Warlock? I'll find him and get my sister back."
"As you wish. I hope you like adventures. If you wish to find the Dark Warlock's castle, go to the edge of the forest and find Darius the phoenix. He can show you the way. Tell him Nero sent you." The water dragon dived back into the water, leaving James alone on the beach.
James was in shock. The forest? Nero really wanted him to make the journey through to the Dark Warlock's castle? Him, of all people. Everyone knew the forest was not a place to explore; it was full of all forms of creatures, goblins, ogres, centuars, other dragons, and a witch coven or two. No, he thought, it wasn't worth it. As he was about to continue down the beach, he thought of his sister trapped in a warlock's castle.
"It is worth it," he decided.
Summing up his courage, he turned and sprinted toward the forest. He turned the name of Darius over and over in his mind, branding it into his memory. But could he really trust the work of a dragon? Either way, huffing and puffing, James ran into the haunting bowels of the forest, not knowing if he would come out again.

So? What do you think Darius is like? Who do they encounter in the forest? How dark is the Dark Warlock? What is James's plan to save his sister? Does he save his sister? What happens next?

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman

2009-10-08T06:20:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

A moving love story set in the Canadian wilderness, Mrs. Mike is a classic tale that has enchanted millions of readers worldwide. It brings the fierce, stunning landscape of the Great North to life-and tenderly evokes the love that blossoms between Sergeant Mike Flannigan and beautiful young Katherine Mary O'Fallon. - Goodreads

"It is the personality of Sgt. Mike blowing through this account like a clear breeze that gives it a refreshing quality. Everyone's dream of a cop, he was also a romantic and understanding husband, the fondest of fathers; a man of honor and humor." (New York Times)

Fun Quote:
"He reached for the last apple, but it slipped out of his hand almost to my feet. I stopped to get it just as he did, and we bumped heads with an impact that sent us sprawling. We really laughed then. We laughed so hard we couldn't get up."

My Thoughts:

This was another book club gem - a book that I wouldn't have known about without my fabulous book club. I love the quote above because it tells so much about the relationship of Mike and Kathy 'O Fallon. Mrs. Mike was published in 1947 and has been reissued 2 times. Since I've been educating myself on the publishing industry I've come to learn how rare that is. Most books are taken off the shelves never to be seen again after that first year they are published. The fact that this book has had several new editions speaks for itself. The love that Kathy and Mike share is sweet and enduring as they struggle to survive in the harsh Canadian North. Their life among the Indians is fascinating, but the love story is what I adore most.

More stories of Mrs. Mike:
The Search for Joyful
Kathy Littlebird

Going Bovine

2009-10-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Libba Bray has put together a hilarious video clip promoting her new book - Going Bovine. I am disclosing the fact up front that I am not endorsing this book in anyway. I have not received a free copy of this book nor have I read it (take that FTC). In fact I've never read any of Libba Bray's books, but I would like to - any suggestions?

Writer's Butt Does Not Apply To Me

2009-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new blog - writersbuttdoesnotapplytome.blogspot.com you can find it here. There is also a link from my Literary Girls blog. Literary Girls is a blog for my writing group where I will still contribute - reviews, writing advice, writing exercises, contests and hopefully interviews of authors or aspiring authors. All things to do with books and writing. My new blog - Writer's Butt Does Not Apply To Me will be a place where I share my personal thoughts on writing and losing weight and anything else that comes to mind. Hope you'll follow me there.

Yep! That's really my dog... and my butt

And The Winner Is

2009-10-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

Diana Paz of

Writing Roller Coasters

Congratulations Diana!

A big thank you to all of you who participated. Also like to thank my original followers for all the fun comments and support they give this blog.

And welcome to my new followers - hope you'll like it here.

The Maze Runner ARC Give Away - Contest

2009-09-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is set to be released soon, but one of you lucky people could get your hands on it sooner. My review of The Maze Runner can be found here.

To be eligible you need to:

1. Leave a comment with your e-mail address.

If you become a follower of my blog you'll receive a second entry.

Those who are already followers will receive two extra entries. Also those who promote the contest on their blog and let me know they did it, will get another entry.

Contest open only to those in the U.S. or Canada

Contest is closed

Winner will be announced tomorrow.

You Can Never Go Home Again

2009-09-26T05:51:00.001-07:00

As a teenager I dreamed of the day I could leave my home town behind, choking on my dust. And at the ripe old age of 18 I did. Sure I came home from college for holidays and summers, but it wasn't the same. I mostly didn't care because I was on to bigger and better things so the family and friends that I had left behind became less and less of a priority. Then of course I got married to someone outside of my hometown which severed the home ties even more. I try to go home to visit my mom and sisters once a month, but every time I go, there is something new. The town has transformed so much that it is almost unrecognizable. My mom no longer lives in my childhood home either. So the home I try to visit is not the one I knew. My aunt now lives in my childhood home and I can visit it any time I like. Guess how often I go there? It's disturbing to walk through the rooms of a house that I knew intimately and barely recognize now. The pictures that hang from the walls are not of me and my brothers and sisters. They are of my cousins. It's almost as if I never existed.

Now 16 years after leaving home, the one constant I could always count on is gone. Yesterday I spent the day at my grandpa's house and he wasn't there. A yard sale was in progress in order to sale off the unwanted items of his life. I walked through the rooms of the home that he had built himself over 40 years ago, searching for something. I'm not sure what I was hoping to find as I looked through rooms bereft of his things. Several of the rooms had already been gutted and painted in preparation for someone new to inhabit them. My one constant is gone and I am left feeling adrift.

Grandpa and Me

Cannibal, Mysterious, Rain, Generous, Cat, Fire

2009-09-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

What do these six words have in common?

In writers group last night we used these random words to create 3 unique snippets of stories. Here are the results:

The icy rain tumbled down in never ending sheets, and all the world was wet. My fire was low and refused to give enough heat to warm my frozen hands. I sighed. As a traveler, I had grown used to these things. I glanced around the cave, my temporary residence. It was small, dark, dank and musty, but it provided shelter from the weather and a defense against the cannibal tribes living in the valley. It really was a stupid idea to take a short cut through this place. From the top of my bag, my agitated cat meowed. I stroked his head. Looking at the way he watched the rain I wished I could read his mysterious thoughts, but alas, I could not. Tomorrow, I would move on. Hopefully the people living in the next village would be more generous. - Tawnni

"The Donner Party became cannibals?" Jake asked his teacher incredulously. He wondered to himself whether they had been able to at least make a fire out there in the cold, so they wouldn't have to eat each other raw.
Maybe I'd eat a cat, but a human is going way to far - he thought to himself. The teachers voice droned on in the background as Jake's attention turned to the window. It had begun to rain, and off in the distance a mysterious covered wagon emerged from the hills. - Jenny

We watched, mesmerized as the rain began to extinguish the giant flames of fire, bursting from the mysterious island floating in the mist. My sister had warned me there had been rumors of cannibals in these waters, but if you were generous and presented the chief with a gift, they might let you pass unscathed. Sheltered by a small lookout on the deck, I nervously stroked the soft fur of an orange striped cat, content and purring in my arms. Suddenly I wished I had not made friends with our generous gift. - Mary

Writers are often asked where they get the ideas for their stories. I wanted to write for years, but I didn't because I thought I didn't have anything to write about. I was so wrong. I learned that I just need to write. It doesn't matter if it's stories about your cat or your children or whatever. Just write. The ideas will come. If anyone would like to try our experiment using these words - please do so and leave your results in the comment section or post them on your blog and let us know that you did it. Happy Writing!

Author Spotlight - Sara Zarr

2009-09-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

Sara Zarr is a Utah resident and I try to read local authors as much as possible. Unlike most Utah authors, Sara Zarr is not LDS, which is definitely not a bad thing especially since it has only been recently that I have started reading LDS fiction again (the writing and the writers have improved exponentially.)

In her own words:

"I live in Salt Lake City, UT, with my husband, and a parakeet named Peanut. We came here from San Francisco in 2000, thinking we’d give it a couple of years and predicting we’d be high-tailing it back to CA soon after. The place kind of grew on us, and it’s home. For now.
My life is pretty unexciting, in a good way, full of normal things like cooking and cleaning and movie-going and reading and procrastination and lunch dates and good days and bad days and stupid days and boring days. I say this because before I was published I had this idea of what a published author’s life was like, and it’s not. At least, mine isn’t. But, I’ve got great friends and amazing colleagues and a close family. I’m blessed with a good, full life, and am pretty happy with my job."

Sara Zarr has written two YA books called Story of a Girl and Sweethearts.

Summary:

In the three years since her father caught her in the back seat of a car with an older boy, sixteen-year-old Deanna’s life at home and school has been a nightmare, but while dreaming of escaping with her brother and his family, she discovers the power of forgiveness.

My thoughts:

This is one of those books that is written so realistically with emotion so raw that it's almost impossible to put down. The story is told from the point of view of 16 year old Deanna Lambert and is set in Pacifica, California. When she is caught with her older brothers friend at 13, she is labeled by the whole town and her father can barely look at her. An amazing look at the struggles that teens face. Deanna is gritty and courageous. Sometimes I didn't like her and sometimes I loved her - sort of the way I feel about myself. Deanna's character is so well written, you will almost feel that you lived the story yourself.

I have difficulty recommending this book to people because of the sexual content - which isn't overtly graphic, but it is there. The "F" word is also used a few times and I hate it when books have that word. Reading it is so much worse than hearing it.
Awhile back I e-mailed Sara and told her how much I liked her book, but felt uneasy about recommending it to people because of the language. She wrote back and assured me she understood what I meant and that she felt the situation warrented it. The word is like a slap in the face and that is what she wanted to portray in that scene. Possibly she is right - I still hate reading it though. So just know it is there before you read.

Summary:

When Jenna Vaughn’s childhood sweetheart unexpectedly comes back into her life during her senior year of high school, she is forced to confront her troubled past. This is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.

My Thoughts:

I identify with the character of Jenna so much in the way she loses weight before high school and tries to reinvent herself. Even the childhood friend she had that moved away and she can't forget. I often think about my friend and wonder what he would be like now and what would have happened if he came back. Sara wondered the same thing and wrote a very compelling story. I enjoyed this book a lot, but I'm not sure I like the ending. I also like how this book is set in Salt Lake City, Utah so the places are familiar to me. It gives an interesting look at kids who are not members of the LDS faith and how they cope with that. Jenna attends a private school where none of the kids are members of the LDS church and that is something I didn't realize some kids do. This book I don't have a problem recommending to people. Their isn't any language that makes me uncomfortable and the sexual content is minimum.

Zarr's new book - Once Was Lost is debuting October 1, 2009. Can't wait to read it.
For a more in depth look at her books and life - you can find her blog here.

Tawnni's Bookshelf

2009-09-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite books with you all. Please mind that in order to save space, I'll write the summaries in my own words.

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry- After the appearance of a strange woman with a strange jewel in her uncle's shop, Lucinda is sent off on a journey that will relieve not only the secret behind the fabled Amaranth Witch, but also reveal secrets behind the mysterious death of her parents.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson- First a sailor shows up at his parents' inn, then Jim Hawkins finds a map to Treasure Island, where the pirate Captain Flint hid his treasure. He and other treasure hunting sailors set off to find it, but can they beat some bucaneers to it?

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne- It was just a piece of paper in a book, but that paper sent Axel and his uncle, Professor Lindenbrock, on a journey to see what lies at the center of the earth.

The Thief Queen's Daughter by Elizabeth Hayden- After receiving an assignment from the king, Ven and his friends journey into the depths of the Gated City, the legendary city of theives. Everything was fine until one of them goes missing and they fall into the hands of the thief queen.

The Beast of Noor by Janet Lee Carey- What really haunts the woods at night? That's what Miles wants to find out. His determination to halt the curse of the dreaded Shriker once and for all ends up leading him into the Shriker's realm.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- Something is killing off the Baskerville heirs and now Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are on the case. With only one heir remaining, can they solve the mystery in time?

Zorgamazoo by Paul Robert Weston- Katrina thought the shadow in the subway was just her imagination. Wrong. Shortly after meeting the maker of the shadow, Morty the Zorgle, the two of them set of to find the lost zorgles of Zorgamazoo on a journey that sends them to... the moon?!

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George- Princess Rose and her eleven sisters (11?!?!) always needed new dancing slippers. The reason: they are condemmed to dance each and everynight for the King Under Stone and his twelve sons. All they want is for the curse to be broken and to their rescue is... a gardener.

See one you like? Give it a try!
"My best friend is a person that will give me a book I have not read." -Abraham Lincoln

Bringing Scripture To Life - Review of Alma

2009-09-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have often wondered why it is the Book of Mormon gives us very little information about the women living at that time. In fact there are only three women who's names are even mentioned. Sariah - the wife of the prophet Lehi, Abish - a Lamanite servant and a harlot named Isabel. There is not an absence of women - in fact the men are often inspired to do great things because of their mothers and wives, but unlike the Bible their is an absence of heroines and romance. This oversight is what I believe has driven many LDS women authors to write historical novels that help to breath life into the prophets of old by adding a little spice of romance and give women inspiring heroines they can identify with.
Don't misunderstand me, I know that the Lord had a purpose for the Book of Mormon being written the way it was. I know that it is divine scripture and has been preserved for us in the latter days, but sometimes, as inspiring as the Book of Mormon is, I still hunger to know about those women behind the men. What were they like? How did they deal with the trials in their lives? These are questions that Heather Moore not only wondered about, she took it to the next level. With her vast knowledge of the scriptures and her incredible imagination, Moore has brought the men and women to life in a creative, page turning adventure.

ALMA - is the second installment of what I believe is going to be a trilogy. The first novel is Abinadi, and the third that she is now in the process of writing will be called Alma The Younger. Three great prophets from the Book of Mormon.

Events move quickly in the 2nd book. King Noah is thundering with rage. On Amulon’s watch, the former high priest Alma disappeared from the city of Nephi, and every night more believers manage to escape. The king threatens certain punishment unless Amulon recaptures Alma—a seemingly impossible task. But Amulon has a plan. An equally valuable prisoner is at his fingertips: Noah’s wife, Maia, whose newfound faith means bitter humiliation for the king and an opportunity for Amulon to seize power.
Amulon’s disavowed daughter Raquel is making plans of her own. Alma and his followers are building a colony by the waters of Mormon, and she’s determined to begin a new life there despite the deep grief she suffers daily as Abinadi’s widow. Abinadi’s watchful brother Helam deems the journey to Mormon too risky, but when Lamanites plunder and burn the settlement, Raquel has no choice but to flee with her young son.
Drama and danger escalate as Alma the Elder organizes the Lord’s church and baptizes its members, bringing an outpouring of divine grace and power. But even as they rejoice, the believers have profound and perilous trials to face, from the outward threat of Amulon’s treachery to the inward threat of pride and disobedience. With poignant emotion, gripping suspense, and rich inspiration, this new epic story from H.B. Moore vividly brings the Book of Mormon to life. - Goodreads

I have to confess that I haven't actually read Abinadi - the first book in the trilogy. I meant to, but for reasons beyond my control(we only have one car right now) I have difficulty getting to the library or a bookstore. If you're familiar with the Book of Mormon, it isn't absolutely necessary to read the first one, but I recommend it. Moore changes point-of-view a lot and it took me awhile to feel invested in the characters or the story. So reading the first book would have probably helped with that. The scene that finally drew me in had to do with the noble character of Maia who is in love with Alma. Here is a qoute from the book that brought on the tears:

Maia - "I am but one woman--no lives should be lost over mine. In the name of peace for my people, I accept this assignment."

To find out why she says this and what is going to happen to her, you'll have to read the book. Trust me you won't be disappointed.

I became familiar with Heather B. Moore and her books when I attended the LDStorymakers conference in the spring. Moore is the award winning author of the Out of Jerusalem series: Of Goodly Parents, A Light in the Wilderness, Towards the Promised Land, and Land of Inheritance. She won the 2007 Whitney Award for best historical fiction for the Land of Inheritance and also won the 2008 Whitney Award for best historical novel for Abinadi.
To find out more about her you can check out her blog here. She is also an editor for Precision Editing. Precision Editing has a very helpful writing blog called Writing on the Wall and you can find that here.

Heather was very kind in offering to let a nobody like me review her book by sending me an autographed copy - she is awesome!

First book in the Trilogy

May We Never Forget

2009-09-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

My eight year old and I were talking about 9/11 today. I was sharing with him my experience of that terrible day and I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. I had forgotten how horrified and shocked I was by everything. Many changes had come into my life. I was a new mom, my firstborn was only 4 months old and I had become a full time homemaker. My husband had just started a new job and he had left for work that morning just after we watched a 2nd plane hit another tower. I remember holding my sweet little boy, tears pouring down my face - terrified by what his future might hold.
Everyone has their own story of what they were doing on 9/11, but I was very saddened today, eight years later, when I realized that I was forgetting - and I am ashamed.
So, this post is written in honor of all those who died on that day and for all of those who have died since, fighting to keep us free.

May God bless all of those who have lost loved ones in this fight.

Author Spotlight - Chaim Potok

2009-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

In book club a few years back I was introduced to an author that opened up to me a previously unknown and fascinating world. The book was called:

The Chosen was published in 1967 and is a story of two Jewish boys and the friendship they form, though they are from two different worlds. The setting is 1940's Brooklyn, New York. The story is told from the point of view of Rueven(Robert or Bobby) Malter who is a Modern Orthodox Jew and the turmoil that comes when he forms a deep friendship with a Hasidic Jew named Daniel(Danny) Saunders. The story takes place over a period of three years, beginning in 1944 when the protagonists are fifteen years old. It is set against the backdrop of the historical events of the time: the end of World War II, the death of President Roosevelt, the revelation of the Holocaust in Europe, and the struggle for the creation of the state of Israel.
Rueven is the son of a writer and scholar. He is intelligent, popular and has a head for mathematics. His father wants him to be a mathematician when he grows up.
Danny is brilliant and has a photograhic memory. He is fascinated by psychology, but feels trapped by his Hasidic traditions. He especially feels trapped by the fact that he will have to succeed his father as the next Rabbi. - Wikipedia

This book was so interesting to me. The friendship between the boys is beautiful and poignant. Learning about the Jewish culture and the differences between the Jewish sects and how they view each other was fascinating. Learning of the history and the politics of the time was also very interesting.
The Chosen has a sequel called The Promise. I'm pretty sure I read it, but it must not have had the same impact because I don't remember the details of it now.

After The Chosen I moved on to another great book called:

My Name is Asher Lev was published in 1972 and also takes place in 1940's Brooklyn, New York. Asher Lev is the narrator and main protagonist and he has incredible artistic ability. He is a Ladover Hasidic Jew and the book follows his growth from a four-year-old boy until shortly after his college graduation. During Asher's childhood, his artistic gift brings him into conflict with the members of his devoutly religious sect, who value things primarily as they relate to their faith and who consider art not related to Judaism to be at best a waste of time and possibly a sacrilege. It brings him into particularly strong conflict with his father, a man who has devoted his life to serving their leader, the Rebbe, by traveling around the world bringing the teachings and practice of their sect to other Jews, and who is by nature incapable of understanding or appreciating art. -wikipedia

Also a very fascinating book. The turmoil that his art brings to the sect and the conflict it causes between his mother and father is very provocative. Asher's gift won't be denied and he constantly pushes against the barriers of his religious traditions and his fathers authority until he finally paints a scene that is so heinous in the minds of his sect that he is forced to leave. The conflict is riveting.
Their is a sequel to this book called The Gift of Asher Lev and it is also very good.

The final book from Potoks fictional work I will review is called:

Davita's Harp was published in 1985 and is the only one of Potok's novels to feature a female protagonist. In New York City of the 1930s, Ilana Davita Chandal is the child of a mixed marriage: a Polish Jewish immigrant mother and a Christian father from an old and wealthy New England family. Both of her parents are haunted by bitter and violent memories from their youths, and both have, in consequence, turned their backs on their pasts in order to become active members of the Communist Party. Ilana's early childhood is fraught with mystery and struggle as the neighbors eye the Chandal family with suspicion. - wikipedia

Fascinating book on the way religion can shape our lives for good or ill. Everything is written from the point of view of a little girl(Davita) and her struggle to understand her parents and her world is very intriguing. Also the disillusionment and insight that comes when something we believed to be true is exposed as a fallacy is deftly explored. The political events that shape their lives(WWII and Stalin signing a nonaggression pact with Hitler) is also very interesting.

Potok may have planned a sequel to Davita's Harp, but he never wrote it. Davita reappears in the collection of stories called Old Men at Midnight. - wikipedia

Chaim Potok was born February 17, 1929 and died on July 23, 2002. He was an American Jewish author and Rabbi. You can find a more in depth look at his life and writing career here

Creative Writing

2009-08-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

This summer it's been hard to find the time to write with the kids home, vacations and all the summer activities. So, for critique group only one person had new material to share. As a fun way to get our creativity flowing, I printed a variety of artwork to use as inspiration. Each person chose a picture and had ten minutes to write a scene about what was happening in the picture. I think we all came up with some awesome starts. I couldn't get Heidi or Jenny to send me theirs to put on here, but here's the results of mine and Tawnni's:

The feel of the grass tickling her nose made her want to sneeze and laugh, but she knew if she made any unnecessary noise, Madame would give her that look. She had already been silenced by her piercing gaze twice. Once for tripping on an unseen stone in the grass and again when she had dared to ask where they were going. Madame always walked with a steady, rigid grace and this time was no exception, even with the deep furrows and the tall grass grabbing at their skirts. - Mary

He sat there, just sat. And smiled, but no one knew why. Leaning against the sun warmed stone of the old inn, Lionus watched the townsfolk pass, chatting and laughing. He smiled at the local farmers, sometimes waving to old friends, and tipped his cap to the ladies. No one knew why he smiled as he sat there, sometimes Lionus didn't even know why he smiled either. He never really seemed to notice he was smiling; all he knew was that he was thinking of Julia. - Tawnni

These two pictures are what Heidi and Jenny chose. If anyone wants to come up with their own scene to fit these pictures please do so in the comments. It's a fun creative writing experiment and you just might be surprised by what you were able to create.

DREAMDARK - An Evening With Faeries

2009-08-14T10:46:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:

"It is the faeries' doom to forget what ought never be forgotten. Their wars have faded to legend. Their foes are naught but nursery tales. After thousands of years of peace the name Blackbringer inspires no fear. But it should. The Blackbringer is no nursery tale. He's the dark come to life. And he's back."

This month, book club was at my house and I chose the Young Adult novel "Blackbringer" from the Faeries of Dreamdark Series - written by Laini Taylor. Before I became a fan of this series - I first became a fan of Laini Taylor. I enjoy reading her blog. She is so interesting, personable and fun. She and her husband are both artists and their life is very appealing. I also think it is way cool that she has pink hair. Her husband Jim created the artwork for this book and for her books that will be debuting soon. You can find her blog here. So, to get into the wild spirit of the book I had a theme party. We invite all of you to share in our fun.

All of these wonderful photos were taken by Anna Hale of Boololo Photography, located in Salt Lake City, Utah - check out her blog here.

Here There Be Faeries

Standing: Mary, Heidi, Wendy, Sue, Sue, Paige and Kristy
Kneeling: Jade and Jill
Missing: Kelli, Natalie, Corinne, Catherine and Tauna
All of these lovely ladies are apart of my wonderful neighborhood.

"Be willing to rewrite a scene a dozen times or more -- as many as it takes. Go above and beyond the call of duty. You’re striving for your best -- never be content with a scene or even a single line until you love it." - Laini Taylor from her blog - Not For Robots

There is a paragraph on page 145 where Laini uses the word "surreptitiously." I wasn't sure what that word meant so I looked up it's meaning. After that I reread the paragraph and it changed what I had envisioned was happening in the scene. As far as I'm concerned it was the perfect word. At that moment I realized how important it is to make sure we find the perfect word or sentence when writing. One word can make all the difference. Laini has a blog called "Not For Robots" where she shares the knowledge she has gleaned from writing novels. It has been extremely helpful to me. You can find that blog here.

Our Thoughts:

Heidi - "I picked up the book and couldn't put it down. Loved it!"
Paige - "Really fun, very engaging. I loved the world so much. It was beautiful and I wanted to live there or visit."
Wendy - "I enjoyed it - faerie stories are lovely and this one kept me turning the pages. I didn't like the name Magpie though. When I think of a magpie I think of a big noisy bird - thought she needed a more feminine name."
Kristy - "I liked the imagery. Her writing made it easy to visualize the world. Thought the pictures were to harsh - pictured Magpie and Poppy differently."
Sue - "I enjoyed how she changed Point of View throughout the book."

Of course I loved this book or I wouldn't have chosen it. I enjoyed the amazing world and the endearing, tough characters. I don't think that I have ever read a book about faeries in my life before reading this one. But now I have read a few others - so far this has been the best. It even inspired me to get crafty and I am not a crafty person. The only problem that I have with the book is that it implied that humans are a scourge on the earth and I don't care for that kind of thing - since I believe the earth was created for our use. I believe we are stewards of the earth and we definitely need to take care of it, but I dislike the idea that we shouldn't be here at all. But the imagery is fantastic and the prose is literary and lovely.

Pollywog Creek

2009-08-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

I can't find any pictures of pollywog creek in my limited stash of childhood pictures, but here is a picture of me and my Grandpa Roy. My grandpa's brother, Gene had a home in Springfield, Missouri and we spent time their in the summers when I was a kid. We loved it and memories of being there are mixed in with my memories of grandpa so I want to share the memory with you. I wrote this for a writing class I took last February. I gave it to my grandpa before he died, but I don't think he read it. He was having trouble seeing towards the end.

I haven’t seen old Uncle Gene and Aunt Violets place since I was young. I long to see it again, but sadly it now only exists in memory and imagination. Even though we only stayed there for a few weeks out of the year, I always felt as if I was coming home. My anticipation and excitement grew as we turned down the narrow unmarked country road and crossed the rusted metal bridge that overlooked pollywog creek.

As Uncle Gene's small white house came into view my heart surged with joy. The house was not fancy and the pretty, tree shadowed yard was not large, but to me it was one of the dearest places in the world. There was a gravel driveway where visitors parked. A cobblestone path surrounded by green grass led to the front door. Yellow rose bushes, fragrant from the heat, rested under the large windows that sat on each side of the door.

When I first entered the living room through the old screen door, I was always struck with the feeling that I was not merely visiting a place, but a time. The furniture was old fashioned and draped with homemade quilts. The lack of air conditioning was accented by the portable fan that did nothing but move the warm air around. There was a television, but no cable; only an antenna that allowed a few channels to come through. The floors were made of rough wood planks that were covered in colorful braided rugs. Faded pink flowers papered the walls where black and white photos of family and friends were sprawled. Two couches were separated by a worn brown-leather recliner that was reserved for Uncle Gene when he was in the house.

The sunny kitchen sloped slightly downward from the living room. A large round table, where many crowded, but pleasant meals had been enjoyed, took up most of the room. It was strategically placed near the large front and side windows so that both the rising sun and anyone popping over for a visit could clearly be seen. The painted white walls had faded to a cheerful yellow. The windows were framed by Aunt Violet’s home-spun light blue curtains. Just off the kitchen was a back door that led out to a small porch. Only five steps brought us down to where large hickory trees shaded the yard. A hand-made wooden swing hung by thin chain from a thick branch of one of the towering trees. A well tended vegetable garden that we often invaded in search of berries and tomatoes was in the corner of the yard. On the south side of the house sat a water-well veiled in white by a flowering vine. Half of the yard near the house was kept clear; the rest of the yard was bordered by tall grasses and sun flowers waving in the wind. A well worn rocky path led down to pollywog creek.

How the creek was going to look from year to year was a surprise. Winter flooding often changed the face of it. One year rocks and sand had been pushed clear up to the lawn. The creek was bordered by short bushes with a sprinkling of pale pink and purple wild flowers. Oak trees with large trunks and great boughs spread clear out over the water. Some of the branches were very close to the ground. Often we would sit out on one of these branches and dangle our feet in the water, riveted by the different ripples that were created. The part of the creek that we loved to play in most was shallow and about twenty feet across. Further down, it meandered around the back of Uncle Gene’s property and became narrower. Here the creek was deeper and dark from the canopy of trees. The catfish that Grandpa Roy loved to catch hid at the bottom of this gloomy area. Further down stream, there were wide deep pools that were good for swimming.

In the shallow areas of the creek we would catch pollywogs, crawdads and tiny fish. Sometimes a rare turtle or two could be found. Once in a while, reddish brown snakes would be seen taking a ride down the creek with their heads raised above the water like a periscope. The sounds of the babbling creek and the rippling laughter of children splashing in the water still echoes in my mind. I remember putting my feet in the cool water and waiting for the disturbed sediment to clear. Minnows would curiously kiss my legs. Other aquatic creatures came close and then would sense that I was foreign to their world and would quickly swim away. The crawdads swam backwards. The pollywogs were fat and slow. Vibrant life is what we found in that creek behind old Uncle Gene’s house and with that life, freedom.

The Shepherd of the Hills

2009-08-04T10:45:00.001-07:00

My Grandfather, Roy Douglas Pogue, passed away recently. In honor of him, I'm sharing one of his favorite books, "The Shepherd of the Hills" by Harold Bell Wright.

Grandpa was born and raised in the Ozarks of Missouri and the kind, hardworking people of this book are so like him.

Quote from the book:

"This, my story, is a very old story.

In the hills of life there are two trails. One lies on the lower sunlit hills where those who journey see afar, and the light lingers even when the sun is down; and one leads to the lower ground, where those who travel, as they go, look over their shoulder with eyes of dread, and gloomy shadows gather long before the day is done. "

Synopsis:

Based on actual people and events during the end of the 1800's, this brilliant tale tells of the complicated lives of the Ozark pioneers. The story vividly portrays the account of the stranger people called Dad Howitt. Having a mysterious past, his life was bound up in theirs more than they knew. The story also tells of a father, bitter over the loss of his only daughter and seeking revenge; of magnificent, untutored Sammy Lane who wanted to become a lady so she wouldn't embarrass her fiancé, Ollie Stewart; of Young Matt who loved her in silence; of Little Pete, the strange boy that no one understood; and of the Baldknobber gang on their quest to control the region.

The Beginning of a Legend:

The Shepherd of the Hills was first published in 1907. It became an immediate best-seller and one of the first million-selling books by an American author. The book was acclaimed novelist Harold Bell Wrights second publication and certainly his most famous. It was translated into seven different languages and made into four movies, one starring John Wayne in his first Technicolor film. The book sparked the beginning of tourism in Branson, Missouri, and in the Ozark mountain region of Missouri.

My Thoughts:

This book is full of beautifully written descriptions of the Ozark hills and of the simple folk who struggled to live there. The characters are quirky and endearing. It is a lovely story of redemption with a very satisfying romance.

Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter

2009-07-20T10:17:00.001-07:00

Wow! How did he manage that?

My husband received an amusing e-mail from a friend and he forwarded it to me so that I could share in the humor. Since it is something we all need to watch for in our own writing - I am sharing it with you. All of these are headlines taken from news stories across the country.

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No crap, really? Ya think?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing, lazy so-and-so's!
------------------------------------------------------
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
----------------------------------------------------------
War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
----------------------------------------------------------------
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
----------------------------------------------------------
Man Struck By Lightning: Faces BatteryCharge
He probably IS the battery charge!
----------------------------------------------
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
-----------------------------------------------
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
-------------------------------------------------
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
****************************************

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
***************************************************
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
*******************************************
And the winner is...
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Did I read that right?
***************************************************

Review of The Maze Runner

2009-07-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the maze after dark."

Like I said in my last posting - I was lucky enough to win an ARC of The Maze Runner by James Dashner. It's so cool to have a copy of a book that hasn't even hit stores yet. It gives me a feeling of being apart of the "in" crowd for once in my life. Almost from the moment that I started reading I had difficulty putting it down. I would have read it through the night, but I was suffering from the ill affects of the flu and could no longer keep my eyes open, but I finished it with a flurry this morning. Now I'm still not sure how I feel about it.
Don't get me wrong the book is a page turner from beginning to end, but the ending left me with more questions than it answered and my head is still spinning. It has been said that this book is a cross between the Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games. I didn't care for Lord of the Flies - but I do care about the characters in this book. As for The Hunger Games - yes it did have elements of that book as well. Especially the cliffhanger ending. I think I'm getting rather tired of cliffhangers. I'm glad there is more to the story because it is definitely not finished, but maybe I would be happier to have everything wrapped up in one long book so that I can get that nice cozy buzz that comes after reading a satisfying story. Beyond that though, The Maze Runner is a well-written riveting book, wrought with intrigue. I recommend it to anyone ages 12 and up.

The Magic of Nature

2009-07-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Last week I was reading James Dashner's blog where he brought to our attention that Amy Lundebrek had finished her ARC of "The Maze Runner," and she would be willing to send it to the first person who e-mailed her. Wonder of wonders it turned out to be me. I won it and Amy sent it to me postage free. I have it now and will be reading it soon.
To find Amy's e-mail address, I needed to go to her web page. I had not heard of her before this, nor had I heard of her fantastic children's picture book "Under the Night Sky." I was drawn to the cover immediately. How could I help it - the colors are incredible. As a thank you to Amy I am posting a review of her book. I read it to my eight year old and he was mesmerized by the beautiful images. I was mesmerized by the heartwarming imagery that Amy created from her words. The illustrations capture the vivid artistry of her prose perfectly.
I was also amazed how she was able to seamlessly weave weighty subjects like single parenting, and the worry that we feel for our children as they grow older and away from us into her story about the Northern lights. Also that nature holds a special magic that can draw us closer together.
Thanks again for the book Amy. You can find Amy's web page here. A review of "The Maze Runner"will be forthcoming.

World Building

2009-06-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey

Last Saturday I attended a world building seminar at the Provo Library. It was taught by Stacy Whitman who is a freelance editor for children/YA lit - you can find her website here. It was a 4 hour seminar and I learned a lot. The main idea that I took from it came from the discussion on the magic system. A magic system has to have rules and those rules, once established, need to be upheld throughout the story. This is not a new concept for me, but what was kind of an "aha" idea was that I need to understand the "cost" or the "opportunities" that can come to the main characters because of the rules that have been established. I think I have already been doing that in my book, but this put it into perspective as to why I need to remember this concept as I write. The Rules can be used to help create tension in the story and I need to understand the rules to know how to get around them. Again, these aren't really new concepts for me, but it gave me a clearer understanding now of how to use the magic system to drive my story.

Another concept Stacy talked about was "Campbell's Hero Cycle." This is probably not new to most of you, but it is to me and I find it to be a very helpful tool to use in helping to plot my story.
Stacy was having difficulties bringing this diagram up on the screen so I looked it up when I got home and I put a copy of it above, but to see it bigger you can find it here. Joseph Campbell wrote a book titled "The Hero of a Thousand Faces." In his book, according to wikipedia - Campbell explores the theory that important myths from around the world which have survived for thousands of years all share a fundamental structure, which Campbell called the monomyth. In a well-known quote from the introduction to The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell summarized the monomyth:

“

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.^[2]

”

I found his Hero Cycle to be very interesting and helpful. It is putting everything into perspective for me. I plan on getting a copy of his book now so that I can explore his theory's in more depth.

Teen Writers' Conference 2009

2009-06-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

The start of June marked the first annual Teen Writers' Connference. I was able to go and loved every minute of it. Starting at 10 am, I took several different classes on many different things including using humor, creating lovable characters, creating story worlds, and critique. I got lots of good direction for further writing, not to mention had the chance to hang out with some of my absolute FAVORITE authors. The class that Jessica Day George gave (creating story worlds) was so much fun and so funny. She has a fantastic sense of humor.
Not only did I get to hang out with them, I also got to meet a few. Well, sort of. There was a small book stand where you could get books by some of the authors there. I bought two books by Jessica Day George (I love her! She's fantastic!) and a book called Bone Warriors by Bron Bauhlman. He's 15!! How cool is that!!!!
After all the classes were over, they announced the winners of the writing contest, which I had entered. There was one honorable mention and six places after that. One by one, the chair person announce the winner and the piece that won them the price. They had said that the winners had been within a point of two of each other. As the winners were called out, I listened intently. That was when I heard it. "In second place, Tawnni Jensen for Fled." I did not expect to win that. I got a $25 gift card for AMC theaters (anybody know where that is?) and a $50 visa girft card (sweetness!!)
Finally to end it all, their was the signing. I started that off by racing to have Jessica Day George sign the two books of hers I got, and ended up leaving skid trails on the floor. Then I had Bron Bauhlmon sign my copy of Bone Warriors. After that, I hung around just a second longer then headed for the ol' homestead. I can't wait for next year's conference.
And one more thing, I got the e-mail address of one of the authors that was there, C. S. Besaz. You thought I was going to say Lewis weren't you? Anyway, she's also a a creativity coach. I e-mailed her recently about a story idea I had and I'm kind of expecting that she's going to want to see what I have of it at the next conference. Time to buckle down and get to work. As soon as I get over the strange urge I have at the moment to read Sherlock Holmes books.

Rewrites

2009-06-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

I finished the rewrites for Ch. 1. I read part of them aloud at my conference and got some good feedback, but I want to know what you ladies think. Enjoy!

Chapter 1:
How it all Began
“Sophia, hurry along now.” Mr. Quibble, the head of the household, said, prodding the maid along with a gloved hand.
Sophia hauled her basket of laundry higher onto her hip and picked up her pace. She brushed some escaped strands of ebony black hair behind her ear. Her feet caught themselves under each other and she stumbled. Mr. Quibble sighed.
“Really now,” he scoffed. “Is that all you do? Trip and stumble? Straighten up and try to be a good maid.” He walked away muttering under his breath “Clumsy, clumsy, clumsy.”
Sophia frowned and continued on her way. She kept her glance cast towards the floor. She avoided the glances of other servants that passed and they seemed to not notice she was there. After all, she thought, who cared about an orphaned maid.
It was true. Her parents had died long ago when she was just a little girl. A count had taken her in and given her a job as a maid in his house. From then on her fate was fixed and sealed. She was set to live a life of serving.
She eventually found her way to the washroom. Strewn among the throngs of wash buckets, maids chatted and giggled like school girls. The air was littered with slurred sentences and babble that sounded like nothing in Sophia’s ears. The other maids stopped chatting momentarily as Sophia walked into the room. She tried not to blush. The moment of haunting silence dissolved into the steady buzz of murmurs. The orphaned maid didn’t join in.
Sitting herself down by a vacant, Sophia took to washing the basket of linens. The chilling water cut into her hands and she scrubbed the linens, wrung them out, then scrubbed them again.
One of the other maids, laundry basket resting on her hip, passed by Sophia.
“Well, look who it is,” she said, tossing her hair. “Short stop came down to join us.”
Sophia rolled her eyes. All the other maids were older, not to mention taller, than her. This particular maid, Jennifer, was one of the tallest. Short stop was one of her favorite nicknames for Sophia, that, along with “Tiny”, “Junior”, and “Little lady”. Jennifer always called her one of those names, no matter how many times Sophia tried to tell her that her name was Sophia.
“Hello Jennifer,” she said quietly.
“What’ve you been up to? Haven’t seen you around the mansion lately. The count keeping you busy?”
Sophia shrugged and dipped another piece of laundry in the water. A few of the other maids picked up their baskets and left with Jennifer. The few that remained continued to talk quietly before leaving themselves. Once Sophia was alone in the wash room, she sighed. Resting one hand on her cheek, she lazily scrubbed the linens that remained. No one cared about an orphaned servant girl.
When she had finished, she carried the basket out to the pavilion where she slung the sopping wet laundry over the line to dry. She made the quiet walk back inside the mansion by herself.
The hallways were not the hive of activity that they had been that morning. The swarm of servants had vanished and dispersed throughout the mansion to attend to their various chores and tasks. Sophia found herself wandering the stretched corridor alone, as usual.
“Sophia,” a voice called. “There you are my dear.”
Sophia smiled. She recognized that hardy voice. She pivoted on her heels to face the count as he approached her.
The count simply brimmed with glory and respect. His smooth hair was slicked back as always and his short brown beard was neatly trimmed. He clutched at the collar of his finely tailored suit. He bright eyes glistened.
“Good afternoon my lord,” Sophia said with a curtsy.
“And a good afternoon it is my sweet. I must ask a favor of you.”
“Yes, my lord, anything you ask.”
“I’m having some guests over for dinner and ask if you would be so polite as to serve us this evening.”
“Yes, of course.” Sophia nodded. “As you wish.”
The count laughed his thick laugh. He patted her shoulder with one gloved hand. He said nothing more than that and walked away. Sophia continued her work with something to look forward to.
When that evening arrived, she reported to the cook at the kitchen, who gave her the trays of food and drink to take to the count and his guests. Straightening up, Sophia entered the dining hall.
The table was nearly filled completely with dukes, duchesses, knights, and other nobles. The count sat at the head of the table, with his wife on his right. Smiling slightly, Sophia tried not to hesitate to serve them. She served the count first, as he was her master, followed by the lady of the house them the rest of the guests.
When Sophia handed him his drink, the count said “Thank you Sophia.” When she had finished serving the rest of the table their drinks, he continued “You’ve all met Sophia before, if I recall.”
This was not unusual of the count. He was always introducing her to dinner guest and visiting nobles. She assumed most of the providence knew her by now.
The night carried on. Sophia served the dinner party, one course following, always serving the count and countess first. When she was not needed she waited to be called to refill a glass or take away an empty plate. Finally, the count said that she had done a fine job, that she was no longer needed there that evening and to go get herself some dinner.
She got her dinner from the cook, who gave it to her without even looking in her direction. She ate in solitude in silence, then continued to bed after the other servants had left for home. It was the evenings she felt the most alone.
A few weeks past and the count had no more dinner guests which was unusual for him, for he was a very social man. Guests seldom came now, or didn’t come at all. It confused the maid greatly. It was not until an evening a few days later the cause of the mystery became to unfold before her curious eyes.
The last of the maids was heading for home.
“Good night Sophia,” she said. “Get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night Evelyn,” Sophia replied.
Evelyn was in her mid thirties. She was slender and trim with straight blonde hair and stunning hazel eyes. A few freckles dotted her nose.
“Give my sympathies to the countess will you dear?” Evelyn pulled on her coat.
“Why,” question Sophia. “Is something wrong?”
“Haven’t you heard darling? The count is awfully ill. I thought you of all people would have heard. I mean, you are the count’s favorite.”
“The count’s favorite? Me? Oh, no, no, I’m not his favorite, it’s just that he—“
“He took you in after your parents died, raised you, taught you, and gave you work. Yes, yes, we’ve all heard the story deary. And now, if you’ll excuse me, if I stay any longer, Harold will worry. Ta, ta!” Evelyn walked out the giant French doors and vanished into the dark night.
Sophia had always thought of Evelyn as too elegant and sophisticated to be a mere maid. She carried the countenance of a duchess.
Sophia continued to bed, but not before giving Evelyn’s sympathies to the countess.
What happened the next day or the day after that, or the day after that isn’t important. What is important is what happened the following week, which brings us to the events of this evening.
Sophia had been asleep until the sound of footsteps and voices down the hall from her room woke her.
“Thank you for coming at such a late hour doctor,” came the voice of the countess. “My husband’s condition has only grown worse since you last visit and I felt in necessary for you to examine him.”
“No trouble at all milady,” answered a voice Sophia assumed to be the doctor. “You made a wise decision calling for me.”
Sophia swung her feet out of bed and onto the wooden floor before she listened to anymore of the conversation. Her door was already opened a crack, but she opened it more anyway. Peering though the doorway, she could finally see the doctor.
He was a short man with long lanky limbs. The dim candle light shone against his short black hair. His bag hung loosely from his left hand. His back was turned to the servant girl so Sophia couldn’t see his face.
Sophia crept out of her room and followed the two as the countess led the doctor down the hall to the count’s chambers. As he turned to address the countess, the doctor caught sight of Sophia out of the corner of his eye.
“Well hello there little one,” he said turning to Sophia. She could now see his soft rounded and clean shaven face. He then turned to the countess. “Your daughter I assume.”
“Heavens no,” replied the countess. “She’s just a little orphaned servant girl,” she turned to Sophia. “Who shouldn’t be out of bed.” She growled.
“I just wanted to know what was wrong,” Sophia said innocently.
“Nothing is wrong, now go back to bed.” The countess said stiffly. The last words were almost sneers. She and the doctor entered the count’s chambers and shut the door behind them.
Sophia waited and waited. No words reached her ears, not even a hint of a voice. The clock chimed one, still no sign from within. She waited more. The only way she could pass the time without worrying too much was by playing with the fringe on the cuff of her white nightgown.
Another half an hour passed and the fringe was not worth playing with anymore. The hallway remained silent aside from the constant ticking of the clock. Sophia turned to the chamber door. It remained closed. She curled and uncurled her bare toes nervously and waited some more.
As the clock struck two, the doctor finally reemerged. Sophia approached him.
“Well,” she asked glancing down to look him in the eye. “Is the count going to be alright?”
“The count,” he replied gravely. “Is dead.”

Will I Ever Write Like That?

2009-06-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. If you haven't read it, you really should. It was so good - I couldn't put it down. When I came to the end and found out that it is a trilogy, I was so bugged. I wanted more and I felt nervous and twitchy all day like there was something I should be doing, but something was keeping me from doing it. Wow! I can only dream of writing a book that will have this affect on people.
When I sat down to do my own writing (which I have been neglecting of late) it just looked so amateurish and terrible. So I gave up and didn't write anything for the rest of the day. This morning I reread a chapter that I had written awhile ago and I realized it wasn't terrible. In fact it was pretty good. I am only on the first draft. I need to remember that. There had to be days when Suzanne Collins, or any good author that I love, felt like their writing was utter garbage too. The finished product is what we see, but I know that authors have a pile of rewrites sitting in a notebook or a computer file. I know this is true because I have seen pictures of many writers rough drafts that they posted on their blogs.
I just hope that I can keep going and allow myself to suck so that one day, I too can get to the fantastic finish.

I SURVIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

I survived my first year of high school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All hail my awsomeness!!!! Now that school's out, I have more time to focus on my novel. Right now, I'm in the middle of some rewrites. I'll post them later on. Other than that, I've got my writers' conference tomorrow and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

Extraordinary from the Ordinary

2009-05-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

I blogged back in April about Susan Boyle and her amazing singing voice - ordinary woman, extraordinary talent. I watched her semi-final performance on You Tube this morning and she once again did a fantastic job and her dress was beautiful. Anyway I noticed the comments that were written underneath, and one person commented that they thought it was unfair that ordinary people sometimes do extraordinary things. I wonder if she really meant that. To me that is the ultimate in fair. Those who may not be beautiful, or are what some might consider ordinary - should get blessed in other ways. That is what fair is, in my opinion anyway. Unfortunately many of "ordinary" people's "extraordinary" talents usually get overlooked because they are not showy enough. Like being a good friend for example. When Sue Son auditioned for the Britain's Got Talent show she auditioned with her friend. Sue played the electric violin and her friend was on keyboard. The judges did not like the two girls together at all, but recognizing Sue's incredible talent they let her audition again. Sue was forced to make a very difficult decision. She had to decide if she should leave her friend behind and find out how far she might be able to go with her talent. Sue chose to audition without her friend and she faced a lot of public back lash for her choice. I think that the girls friendship has suffered. She ended up not winning in the semi-finals and I wonder if it had to do with people not liking that she left her friend behind.
Which of the girl's is not the true friend though? In my opinion the girl who was not chosen should have been happy for her friend that was. She should have been yelling her support to her friend. Sue truly did have the greater music talent. Was it worth sacrificing her friendship to pursue it? Was it worth her friend sacrificing their friendship by not supporting her? If a friend got a book deal and we didn't or vice versa - do we not support each other?
I watched the other acts for the semi-finals and Susan Boyle was one of them chosen for the finals and Sue was not, but I think she should have been. What do you think?
Here's her semi-final performance.

We Meet Again

2009-05-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

The last Wednesday in April (yes I am a little behind in posting) our writing group had it's second meeting. Only 4 out of the seven we're able to come. It was still a nice evening though. Our oldest member was able to come this time and shared with us a recent essay that she called "Why I write." She bestowed her wisdom on us with humor and charm. Sadly this will be the only meeting that she will ever attend - due to health problems this beautiful woman will not be able to continue.
Tawnni shared a scary short story with us before she rushed off to her job and Jenny expanded on her cute children's story. I'm impressed with the writing of all those who contributed this week.

This past month I worked on developing a character for my book. His name is Rainier Abelard, but everyone calls him Rain. I love that name and I think it is so awesome that I came up with it. Creating a world is so hard, but it is also very fun. The character can be anything that I want them to be. Everything that I imagine a perfect romantic hero to be is just at my fingertips.

For those who didn't make it this week or for anyone else who may want an idea to write about - this months theme is "A Place I Know Well." The place can be real or fictional. Try to use all of your senses as you try to describe the place. Think of sounds and smells as well as how it looks.

I'm finding it difficult to find time to write lately. My baby changed his nap time to when my four year old is home from preschool so I feel guilty about not spending time with the 4 year old. It's so easy to let a day go by and then a whole week with very little writing happening, so my goal this week is at least 1000 words a day. Wish me Luck!

Discouragement and the LDStorymakers Conference

2009-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

So this last Saturday I attended the LDStorymakers Conference. It was a two-day event, but I am a mom that has massive guilt if I leave my babies longer than three hours at a time, so I only attended one day. I left for the conference at 7am before my 15 month old baby was awake and didn't get home until 6:30pm. It was strange to be gone all day. I had never done that before with any of my children. It felt like I had been in an alternate universe. My children actually still function when I'm not there. Strange feeling. Anyway the conference was fun. I got to see a friend that I haven't seen for over a decade. She is still as beautiful as ever and I felt like I belonged there just because I know her. Also got to meet the authors of a lot of blogs that I read and many published authors as well. It was awesome. I totally made an idiot of myself as I gushed over Janette Rallison author of "My Fair Godmother" - also very awesome. I played it cool when I met Julie Wright author of "My Not-S0-Fairytale Life" - great book and she is very nice. Tons of authors there that I didn't know, but they were all very accessible.

Now for the discouraging part - There are a ton of talented and not so talented writers (me) in Utah. Also, the publishing industry is slow right now so not as many books are being published. Which is probably a good thing, but discouraging. Everyone at the conference was inspiring and encouraged all of us to never give up - but underneath that encouragement I felt an undercurrent that was actually encouraging me to give up. Writing is not for wimps. This is a true statement. Since I have been writing I am just beginning to understand this. I have done a lot of soul searching this weekend and there is a question that has been rolling around in my thoughts. The question is: Do I really want to keep writing even if I never get published?
3 months ago I might have said no. Now things are different. I have a story that won't let me stop. I have characters that are coming alive for me. I can see them. I hear their conversations in my head. I can't stop now. I only know the beginning of their story right now and like a book that I have been pulled into I now must find out whats going to happen next.

Even if my story is so three years ago, there must still be a place for it. Things like good versus evil, honor, glory and triumph over our heartaches and failures never go out of style. Themes like Faith, and there is a hero in all of us - are classic ideas needed now more than ever in this faithless, what's-in-it for me generation. So I am not giving up. If no one but my three boys ever read my story - it will be worth it.

Don't Always Judge a Book by It's Cover

2009-04-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Britain Got Talent - Susan Boyle

I can't embed this video so please click on the link of Susan Boyle and listen to her. I love this video. This older woman - not very attractive, but nicely dressed walks onto the stage of the "Britains Got Talent" show and the crowd immediately begins to laugh. The judges roll their eyes and can barely keep a strait face as they interview her. She is not beautiful and she is older and everyone has it set in their minds that she is going to be ridiculous. As she begins her song the judges chins drop and the entire audience boisterously begins to cheer and applaud this woman as she sings. She is fantastic. The moment is fantastic, made even more so by the fact that she isn't beautiful and no longer young.

I was walking my 4 year old son home from preschool a few weeks ago. We don't live far from the school and I walk him everyday, but sometimes when I walk a car with a group of teenage boys will drive by and yell something out the window at me. This time they yelled "It's not working" and drove off. I wasn't sure exactly what this was supposed to mean, but since I recognized these boys as the ones who had yelled rude things about my weight before when I was walking, I took it to mean that the walking wasn't working because I was still fat. When I was in junior high I was overweight and comments like these were a common occurrence as I walked down the road or through the halls of my junior high. I suppose the boys in the car have made comments that were much ruder on previous occasions, but this time what they said really bothered me. It cut deeper than just telling me I was fat. These boys wanted to make me believe that losing the weight was hopeless and that I should just give up. I know these are just jerks and the I should ignore them , but - who do these boys think they are? They don't know anything about me. Why do I have to endure this as a grownup woman. My weight problem has not kept me from having a good life and finding a nice husband who loves me. What I also want to know is - why is it that when an attractive person attempts to do something everyone expects them to do well - they even root for them and hope that they do well, but when an overweight person or unattractive person makes the same attempt - we automatically expect them to be horrible?
I do it too.

One last observation - Did anyone else notice Simon sigh like a love sick school boy as he watched Susan Boyle sing?

The Jester King's Court

2009-04-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what certain music can inspire one to do. This little piece is called the Jester King's Court. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.

The time is now, come gather aroung
The fire's high, the sun's gone down
Friend and poet, come make anew
Gypsy, drummer, and lute player too
The blood red flames are dancing high
Kissing excitedly at the star draped sky
And close by, within the fire's hypnotic light
A bold and roaming passion is sweaping the night
Gypsies dance and singers sing
All performing for the jester king
And joining in, the drummers pound
Onlookers tap their feet upon the ground
The rhythm grows and oh so fast
As if bleeding into the future and the past
Guitars and lutes begin to strum
From somewhere off, the mountains quietly hum
The skies whisper encouraging chants
And swifter the gypsies begin to dance
Distant bells are softly swelling
We storytellers are storytelling
The night goes on, but we never slow
The pulsing music seems to flow
The time is now, come gather around
The fire's high, the sun's gone down
This is no place of challenge or sport
Only music and merriment in the jester king's court

Castaway Inn

2009-04-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is the first chapter of my novel. My friend and english teacher have both read it, but it's been all sunshine and daisies, so I'm seeking a third oppinion. Comment please. I apologize if it's a bit long.

Chapter 1:
How it all Began

Sophia was a maid in the household of a count. Her parents had died many years before, leaving her with no home, no family, and no future. Before anything else could be done, the count took the orphaned, frightened child into his home. He brought tutors to teach her and educate her. When she was older, he gave her a job as a maid.
Sophia was very obedient which made her a good maid. She did not seem to mind the endless work in the count’s household. She had found friends among the other maids and was able to talk with them when she wanted to, but she felt very alone at night when the other maids when home to their mothers and their fathers and their husbands and their sons and daughters leaving her by herself in her little bedroom.
Her only friend, besides the other maids, was the count. The count had become very fond of Sophia. He had begun to think of her as a daughter. He thought highly of her and whenever guests came, he took the liberty of introducing her to them. However, lately there hadn’t been as many guests. A few came now and then, but always seemed to be in a rush. Soon, they stopped coming all together. One night she found out why.
The last of the maids was heading for home.
“Good night Sophia,” she said. “Get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night Evelyn,” Sophia replied.
Evelyn was in her mid thirties. She was slender and trim with straight blonde hair and stunning hazel eyes. A few freckles dotted her nose.
“Give my sympathies to the countess will you dear?” Evelyn pulled on her coat.
“Why,” question Sophia. “Is something wrong?”
“Haven’t you heard darling? The count is awfully ill. I thought you of all people would have heard. I mean, you are the count’s favorite.”
“The count’s favorite? Me? Oh, no, no, I’m not his favorite, it’s just that he—“
“He took you in after your parents died, raised you, taught you, and gave you work. Yes, yes, we’ve all heard the story deary. And now, if you’ll excuse me, if I stay any longer, Harold will worry. Ta, ta!” Evelyn walked out the giant French doors and vanished into the dark night.
Sophia had always thought of Evelyn as too elegant and sophisticated to be a mere maid. She carried the countenance of a duchess.
Sophia continued to bed, but not before giving Evelyn’s sympathies to the countess.
What happened the next day or the day after that, or the day after that isn’t important. What is important is what happened the following week, which brings us to the events of this evening.
Sophia had been asleep until the sound of footsteps and voices down the hall from her room woke her.
“Thank you for coming at such a late hour doctor,” came the voice of the countess. “My husband’s condition has only grown worse since you last visit and I felt in necessary for you to examine him.”
“No trouble at all milady,” answered a voice Sophia assumed to be the doctor. “You made a wise decision calling for me.”
Sophia swung her feet out of bed and onto the wooden floor before she listened to anymore of the conversation. Her door was already opened a crack, but she opened it more anyway. Peering though the doorway, she could finally see the doctor.
He was a short man with long lanky limbs. The dim candle light shone against his short black hair. His bag hung loosely from his left hand. His back was turned to the servant girl so Sophia couldn’t see his face.
Sophia crept out of her room and followed the two as the countess led the doctor down the hall to the count’s chambers. As he turned to address the countess, the doctor caught sight of Sophia out of the corner of his eye.
“Well hello there little one,” he said turning to Sophia. She could now see his soft rounded and clean shaven face. He then turned to the countess. “Your daughter I assume.”
“Heavens no,” replied the countess. “She’s just a little orphaned servant girl,” she turned to Sophia. “Who shouldn’t be out of bed.” She growled.
“I just wanted to know what was wrong,” Sophia said innocently.
“Nothing is wrong, now go back to bed.” The countess said stiffly. The last words were almost sneers. She and the doctor entered the count’s chambers and shut the door behind them.
Sophia waited and waited. No words reached her ears, not even a hint of a voice. The clock chimed one, still no sign from within. She waited more. The only way she could pass the time without worrying too much was by playing with the fringe on the cuff of her white nightgown.
Another half an hour passed and the fringe was not worth playing with anymore. The hallway remained silent aside from the constant ticking of the clock. Sophia turned to the chamber door. It remained closed. She curled and uncurled her bare toes nervously and waited some more.
As the clock struck two, the doctor finally reemerged. Sophia approached him.
“Well,” she asked glancing down to look him in the eye. “Is the count going to be alright?”
“The count,” he replied gravely. “Is dead.”

Betrayal

2009-04-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

I wrote this for a writing class that I took a few months ago. Also shared it with the writing group.

Accusing, tear-filled eyes greeted me as I opened the door. My guilt burned like the scorching heat of the sun and my face grew hot with shame. This was a familiar scene that had been played out between us many times before. I love him. I loved him from the first moment that I saw him. His dark brown hair so soft to the touch and his pale blue eyes, penetrating and persistent, left me powerless to resist him.
He needed me, and that need filled me with importance. I loved him so much that I couldn’t help but dote on him. He wanted me constantly at his side. Ordinarily he was devoted and sweet, but at times he could become distraught and I grew weary of the squall of emotions that could come without warning. Soon the storm would pass and I would be drawn to him again, dazzled by his smile. We did everything together. He couldn’t bear to be away from me. Usually, I didn’t mind; I was so happy that he loved me and needed me. Sometimes though, I felt smothered. Sometimes, I was desperate to get away.
Patiently, I would pick my moment, and covertly slip away when I thought he would be too busy to notice. This time I was unsuccessful and he followed me. With the stealthy moves of a jungle… elephant, I escaped his grasp. His cries of anguish haunted me, but I had come too far to give up now. The pounding of the water drowned out the sound of his voice and for a little while I was free.
With my spirits renewed I was ready to be with him again. I opened the door and there he was, waiting. Consolingly, I kissed him on his flushed cheek. He laid his head on my shoulder and gazed adoringly up at me with his amazing blue eyes and smiled. Melting in the radiance of his love I returned his smile and kissed him again. All was forgiven.
Yes, I had betrayed him before and I know that I will do it again, but even the most devoted mothers - need to take a shower.

Beginnings

2009-04-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

We had our first meeting and I think it was a success. Five out of the seven showed. It was a dreary snowy evening so it did require dedication and better communication (on my part) for everyone to come. It was a planning meeting more than anything, but a few people brought some of their writing to share. Tawnni our teenager shared a vivid poem called "Gardens After Dark."
Jenny had the great beginnings of a children story and I read the first 13 lines from my two WIPs. I read on Orson Scott Card's website that he feels that most people know if they want to continue reading a book just from the first 13 lines. I think everyone liked mine. It was a rough draft so it will probably change anyway - I just wanted to see if I was on the right track.
Our group so far has seven women - all of whom are amazing. I can't wait for our next group to see what incredible things will be written over the month of April.