LDStorymakers Conference

I should have done this years ago.
Before I published.
Maybe even before I wrote anything.
Totally worth the time and even the money (cheepskate that I am).

Sooo, if you want to be an author, go to writing conferences. Yup, I've heard it all before and guess what--it's all true.
At conferences you do cool things like:
1. Learn how to write better.
2. Meet other authors and aspiring authors.
3. Find people to do critique groups with.
4. Get tricks for finding an agent or publisher for your book.
5. Did I mention learn how to write better?
6. Find yahoo groups to join with other authors/aspiring authors.
7. Win cool door prizes (more about that in a sec)
8. Meet agents and people from publishing companies.

So for today, #1 cool thing about LDS Storymakers Conference:
All the really amazing people I met. I didn't bring my camera so I don't have pictures :( but trust me, I met some great people.

I met people I'd been emailing with, real (as in more experienced) authors, aspiring authors who are learning to do things right, and I made a lot of new friends.

#2 cool thing about the conference: I WON THE ULTIMATE BEST DOOR PRIZE AT THE WHOLE CONFERENCE. Yup, me. They do a ton of door prizes, all donated by authors (I donated a basket myself), publishing companies, and other companies with connections to writing. Name after name they'd pull out of the basket but with something like 450 people there I never expected to hear my name. And I didn't, time after time. They gave out books, CD's, candy, baskets, etc.

The last door prize drawings were the three big ones. The first was a replica of the engagement ring Edward gives to Bella, donated by the jewelry company that made it for the movie. I thought that would be pretty cool to win but alas, it wasn't me. The next one was even better, a Neo! Didn't win.

I was wondering how they could possibly top that when Cindy announced that the final door prize of the evening was a free manuscript edit from Precision Editing Group. And guess who's name they called.

Did. Not. Expect. That. I'm totally psyched!

Ok, Ok, I get it. If you're not an author, wannabe author, this may not sound like the totally amazing prize that it is but trust me, this was the maraschino cherry on top of the ice cream sunday. 

Now if I can only implement all of the great things I learned...

Ya Gotta Love Soccer

I'm sitting at the computer with wet feet. My daughter had a soccer game tonight. She missed the first one because my older daughter had a concert. The second one she was only able to play for the first half because she had a piano competition. (She did very well)

So tonight she was very excited about her first full game. After the hail this afternoon I kept checking my email to see if her game was cancelled. Nope. Soccer goes on through anything. Rain, snow, mud, cold...

So we brought our umbrella's, I decked my younger son out in a rain slicker, and off we went to cheer her on. She loved it. She and the other girls were completely drenched and frozen by the time it was over but I didn't hear one word of complaint from any of them. They were happy to be running around after the ball.

Guess I'll go change my shoes.

Deleted Scenes from The Mark

I just sent off some deleted scenes for my awsome nephew to add to my website. He'll probably get them up soon though he is in the midst of finals for the next week or so. Here's a short sample so you know what's coming:

Chapter 2
This was deleted because it was unnecessary to the storyline and I needed to make the book shorter.

We found Shae and Jon climbing the rock wall.

“I thought you two were going to play laser tag,” Eric yelled up to them.

“The place is pretty busy. We’re on for 9:00. We signed you two up as well just in case you changed your mind,” Jon called down. Just then his foot slipped giving Shae a slight edge she was happy to take advantage of. She reached the top and was on her way down before Jon finished his climb, a jubilant smile lighting her face.

Jon dropped down to the ground with a sheepish look on his face. Shae was exultant, “I beat you; I can’t believe it!”

“I was distracted,” Jon protested. “You can’t possibly hold me to it.” He looked miserable.

“You should learn to stay focused,” Shae retorted sweetly. “I’m definitely holding you to it.”

Eric turned to me with a smile, “Looks like Mr. Confidence has to pay up, I wonder what the stakes are.”

I couldn’t control the look of triumph on my face. “They had an ongoing wager,” I explained. “Shae has always wanted to try country line dancing and Jon has always adamantly refused. They agreed that if Shae ever beat him on the wall, he would go with her. He only agreed because he was so sure that she couldn’t beat him, it was hardly a risk. He even gives her a head start to even things up a bit. It just makes her victory that much sweeter.”

Eric smirked, “This I’ve gotta see, Jon hates dancing of any kind.”

Jon was scowling as they made their way over to us. He checked his watch, “It’s almost 9, let’s go,” he growled.

Contest at Fire and Ice

Hey guys, Heather at Fire and Ice is hosting a giveaway of my book. If you want to enter head on over to her site: http://www.fireandicephoto.blogspot.com and GOOD LUCK, I hope you win.

Bad Review

I saw my first bad review the other day. I was checking out goodreads reviews and one of them was pretty negative.

Ok, she hated it.

I had been dreading the moment but you know what--it really wasn't that bad. My first thought was, "Oh no, maybe everyone feels the same way and my friends are just being nice." I was worried that people would buy my book and then hate it and feel like they'd wasted their money.

Then I thought, "Nah, you can't please everyone." So my disappointment didn't really last very long. I reread it and realized that she actually made some pretty good points.

SO NOW THAT'S OVER WITH.

Whew.

News and Upcoming Events

I have a few more book signings scheduled. Here they are:
Barnes and Noble, Gateway, May 1, 1-3pm (just me)
Barnes and Noble, Gateway Crossing in Bountiful, May 15, 1-3pm (just me again)
Borders, Murray, May 22, 2-4pm

Kings English in July
Barnes and Noble at Jordan Landing in July

Also COMING SOON I will be posting deleted sections from my book on my website. Because this is a first book and I didn't really know what I was doing, there were a significant number of deleted sections. I'll let you know when that is up and ready.

Tristi's April Challenge

Tristi Pinkston, author of many books including Agent in Old Lace, has issued a challenge for April. In participating I have publicly stated that during the month of April I will complete 10,000 words on my WIP (Work In Progress) and 5,000 on my second WIP. (I have 3 in progress but will set one aside for now.)

If you want to check out what she and others have committed to, you can check it out here: http://tristischallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/aprils-amazing.html

This is a great motivator, thanks Tristi!