Today is the last day to enter Debra Erfert's drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card. Click here and leave a comment and you are entered! (Plus you can read her review of my novel. Sneaky I know!)I was so interested in today's critique because it talks a lot about the hook which we can all work on for sure. Thank you so much to Angela and Brian for today! The EntryUntitledby Brian HenkelsWhen the iPhone buzzed to life at seven minutes to eleven that evening, it scared the sh** out of Dale Gibson. He had forgotten about...
Friday, 28 September 2012
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Do you ever have those days where everything is going right and you just feel happy? Today has been that sort of day for me.First, I noticed on Goodreads, that a Meridian Magazine reviewer that I respect and admire gave my new novel All Fall Down FIVE STARS and said, "Exciting from start to finish." Just those five words and those five stars really kicked my day off on the right foot. (I'm still happy dancing from that.)Then, I got an unexpected email from an old friend that I haven't talked to since high school. It was...
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Well, my word count this week was zero. I think I've burned myself out or something. And it's been raining and cloudy and dreary which makes me feel less like writing. I think I need a pick me up. Do you ever feel that way?I've been kicking around an idea to do a Halloween short story "contest" for the Word Count Wednesdays in October. Wouldn't it be fun to do a flash fiction every Wednesday and put it in the comment trail for everyone to comment on? It would boost our word count and be fun at the same time....
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Well, my friends, last night was a mixture of awesomeness and head-shaking. Let's start with the awesomeness of Castle.The new dynamic between Castle and Beckett is cute and fun. After the dark of last season, we needed it as viewers I think. I love the smiles and the hiding in the closet. It was funny. Although I am sort of sorry in the fact that I usually watch this show with my older kids and there seems to be a lot...
Monday, 24 September 2012
Well, if you didn't see my post over the weekend about my first review of All Fall Down and your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, scroll down and look at it I mean, who couldn't use a gift card right? And plus, it was a great review. Thanks, Debra!And if you know me, you know I've been looking forward to tonight since last May. We have the season premiere of my two favorite shows---Hawaii Five-O and Castle. I've watched all the spoiler vids for Castle and am so excited for tonight. Hawaii Five-O looks good,...
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Friday, 21 September 2012
Well, after yesterday's comments, I just want to post the link to where you can get a hardcopy of All Fall Down. You know, in case Jon was talking about me. So, if you want a hardcopy of my book, click here As soon as I see it available in stores, I'll let you know. :)On to First Page Friday and it's a good one!The EntryThe Raven by Jericho McKraven Bathed in the light of a half crested moon, the Raven sank back into the shadows and waited. Nightfall beyond the edge...
Thursday, 20 September 2012
As an author with eight published books I have learned a lot about marketing and what works for me and what doesn't. Today I wanted to share with you three mistakes authors sometimes make when they're working their marketing plan.1. Waiting until you are finished to start marketing your book. If you wait to start marketing until your book is finished and on store shelves then you've waited too long. The period right before your book is released is a prime time for marketing. Give your audience peeks into your process,...
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
I have some exciting news and a secret. I have started drafting again on my Super Secret Project. It's something totally different than I've ever done before and it is really exhilarating to pick it back up again. So far I have written 2436 words. Woohoo! Don't you love that first flush when you fall in love with your project and you want to be with it, you think about it, and can't wait to get back to it whenever you're away? Yeah, me too. It's a great feeling.How did you do this week? &nb...
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
First of all, let me apologize for being late with the blog. My son had oral surgery this morning and there were complications that required I be at his side to take care of him today. But I knew you were all waiting on the edge of your seats, so I got here as fast as I could. Paige is the third installment in the Newport Ladies Book Club and written by Annette Lyon. At first I was worried because we are going over the same events from the other two books, but I worried needlessly. It definitely sucked me in right from the...
Monday, 17 September 2012
First of all, let me say I am so humbled by the amazing response I've received over the weekend. All Fall Down has only been available on Kindle since Friday and I've had so many people tweet and Facebook about it. Thank you all for helping me spread the word.Over the last month or two I've been involved in discussions with other authors about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing. Since I'm an author with six traditionally published books and two self-published, I feel like I've seen both sides of the fence. People...
Friday, 14 September 2012
I am so excited! My new book, All Fall Down, is available on Kindle today! You have to go check it out, if nothing else to just celebrate with me. Click here to go straight to the page.It's a happy day. :)On to First Page Friday!The EntryThe Heart of Nimble Woodsby Joey DeLeenJack had dragged his friends in and out of trouble so often they had worn a groove there, one they knew by heart. So when he asked them all over, with that blithe tone in his voice, just to hang out, you know, like old times, each of them suspected...
Thursday, 13 September 2012
I know, I know, I'm reviewing another historical this week. I'm just on a historical kick these days and Carla Kelly is my author of choice these last two weeks. She really weaves history in with deep characters and I enjoy her writing style. Reforming Lord Ragsdale was no exception.We are introduced to Lord Ragsdale, a second son who is nursing both physical and emotional wounds from a war that made him hate the Irish. When...
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
I apologize for being late today. Mommy duty has been a little chaotic this week! But that's what makes it fun and interesting.While I was waiting for my daughter's dance class to let out, I had an idea come to me for a spin-off to All Fall Down. It was so out of the blue it caught me off guard, but I'm getting excited about it. The more I think about it, the more I see potential. But I have this other manuscript to work on (the sequel to Ribbon of Darkness) so it's hard to know which one to do first! It energizes...
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
I just wanted to suspend my usual blog post to take a step back and remember those who lost their lives on September 11th.As you all know I write books that deal with the military fighting against terrorists. I've had to do a lot of research and I have met a lot of incredible people along the way. I've talked with retired military men, active duty soldiers, detectives and policemen who walk our streets every day as I tried to make my books more authentic. But what those experiences did for me beyond that was make me appreciate...
Monday, 10 September 2012
Last week I had the opportunity to go to a dinner my publisher had put on for its authors. I went, not for the food, but for the company. I love being in the same room with other writers.I got to be appropriately awed by authors like David Woolley who spoke to me while we waited for our food (and remembered me from Six LDS Writers and a Frog blog!) and Jean Matthews who talked to me about her research for her historical fiction novels. I also sat at a table with a new author, Frank Holdaway, whose first book will be out next month.I...
Friday, 7 September 2012
Just a reminder that you have until midnight tonight to enter the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop. Just click on the pic in my sidebar to enter. On to First Page Friday!The EntryThe Light of Dawnby Kale O'ConnorThe night was cold and the wind blowing through the keep made the guard’s eyes water. He was not a large man, though he wasn’t small either, he was young despite the weathered lines around his eyes. He was mid-twenties, with dark brown hair, bright green eyes and strong jaw.On the outside, it seemed as though he had everything: a beautiful...
Thursday, 6 September 2012
I am so excited about the release of my new book, All Fall Down this month, I wanted to share the first chapter with you today! I hope you like it. :)Chapter OneSomething was wrong. Rafe could feel it. He’d opened the door to the building that housed his family’s business, but hesitated before going in. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. With a cursory glance into the lobby of the building, he couldn’t see anything wrong. Chalking it up to being in Afghanistan too long, where he relied...
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Well, once again my word count was low, (I was replacing all the nods, felts, wondered, and looked in my WIP) but that's because I have been getting ready to launch my new book, All Fall Down! I have some fun ideas and contests coming up, so I hope you'll check back.Also, if you haven't entered my Back to the Books Giveaway Hop, you totally should. There are a ton of great prizes, including mine. I'm offering a Book Lover's Box with my new book, gourmet hot chocolate, and a hand-tied blanket. All you have to do is write...
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
When I started My Loving Vigil Keeping I was thinking it might be the old cliche of a poor girl trying to get as far away from her mean rich relatives, so she spontaneously takes a job in the boonies. Of course she'd fall in love with the town and maybe a gentleman or two and get her happy ending. I was both wrong and right.Della Anders is no stranger to tragedy. Her father dies in a mining accident when she is small, her mother abandoned...
Monday, 3 September 2012
First of all, I hope you're having a wonderful Labor Day! Second, I was interviewed by Tanya Parker Mills today. (So, that means I'm having a wonderful Labor Day. Ha!) Tanya is offering some great book prizes in her contest so you should check out the interview, to see if there's anything you didn't know about me on it, and then enter her contest. Just sayin' You can read the interview hereAlso, don't forget the Back to the Books hop I'm doing. There's more great book prizes being offered on that. You could totally...
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