Maybe Mandi

Dystopian Reading Challenge

2012-03-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

I don't usually sign up for reading challenges, mostly because I read by what interests me at the moment, which changes based on my level of energy, and my mood. Also, because I find that my list of 'to-read' books just keeps growing longer and longer, as I find more amazing authors and compelling stories.

However, dystopic and post-apocalyptic literature is currently about 2/3 of what sits on my 'to-be' read shelf in the fiction of YA speculative.

And, it's quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. So for fun, I'm going along with it!

If you're interested in signing up as well, you have until June 1, 2012.

I'm declaring, for now, that I will read the medium level, of 8-14 books. Wish me luck (I've already done five this year, and will get to their reviews this month, I hope).

Rules:
This challenge lasts from January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2012
All books must be started on/after January 1st, 2012
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
After the challenge has started, you can decide to choose a higher level,
but you can not choose to go down a level.
All books must be dystopian (duh) and either Young Adult or Middle Grade (I
can't think of any MG dystopian though).
Must post all your reviews to either your blog or goodreads. Sorry, non
blogging folks!
Must create a sign-up post that includes a link to this post, the level
you've signed up for, and the button above.
Must sign-up before June 1st, 2012.

Important Info:
After each month I will do a recap where you can link your reviews, I will
also declare what the prize will be for the current month and the winner of last
month's giveaway.
Each month there will be a giveaway for all those who reviewed a book, each
review = one entry. The giveaway item could range from a gift card, a book,
swag, and more.

The Levels:
Easy: Read 5-8 books.
Medium: Read 8-14 books.
Hard: 15-20 books.
So Hard it Would Have it's Own Apocalypse!: 21+

LMNOP

2012-02-29T21:02:00.005-07:00

Well, I felt like posting today partly because of a couple of fun books I found, and partly because it's the 29th of February, and how do you not blog on a day that exists once every four years? It sounds like something out of a fairy tale, or a sci-fi thriller, or maybe a mixture of both...

Anyway, at the library last week we (the kidlets and I) stumbled upon a book by an author I mentioned previously named Tom Lichtenheld. The book was called E-mergency!, and since I love everything else he writes, I picked it up and added it to my bag. And I wasn't disappointed. the gist of the story is that all the letters live together in a house, but one day E gets hurt, and by the doctors orders, nobody is allowed to use the letter E until she has a chance to recover, and O has to step in to pick up the slack. Makes for some pretty funny spelling. My kids can't get enough of it, and the illustrations add a whole new dimension to the story. I laughed out loud when I closed the book the first time, and saw the caption, "Look, it's and E-book!".

This book got me thinking to a novel a read a few years ago. One I picked up on a whim and absolutely fell for. It's a novel in letters, and it basically follows the same type of concept. Ella Minnow Pea is a young lady living on the island of Nollop in the Atlantic ocean, named after the man who 'supposedly' penned the famous pangram:

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Hint: all the letters of the alphabet are used at least once. Anyway, the book is essentially a series of letters written between Ella and her friends and family discussing the political and social issues that arise when letters start falling off the monument established for Nollop, causing the island's high council, by divine will, to banish them from the alphabet.

At first, Ella and friends, find other ways of saying words with banned letters (my favorite is when the council 'renames' the days of the week. But as the alphabet continues to diminish, the text, and the task, become harder, and funnier.

This book is definitely not within my genre, but I considered it so clever and unique, it's moved up the list to one of my all time faves. Check it out, if you need a good read!

And Happy Leap Day!

Flash Fiction Inspiration

2012-02-25T12:34:00.003-07:00

So I was blog hopping last night and found an entry by Mark Koopmans for a flash fiction contest. I read his short story (has to be less than 100 words) and inspiration struck. Actually, it was the title of his entry and the concept of telling a very short story of an inanimate object. I think it can also be partially credited to the frozen water nature so graciously dumbed on my doorstep overnight. I'd take a picture if I could get out my front door (lol).

Here is the contest details:

Janet Reid, Literary Agent

Usual rules: write a story with 100 or fewer words. Post in the comment column of this blog post. (Comments closed until the contest opens). If you need a mulligan, delete your entry and enter again. Only ONE entry per person will be considered for the contest.Use these words in your
entry:

choice destroy risk sequel allegiance

Contest opens at NOON on Friday (2/24) and closes at 6pm on Saturday (2/25). Winner receives an ARC of INSURGENT by Veronica Roth, the sequel to DIVERGENT which was voted Best Book of the Year by the readers at Goodreads.com (among many other honors!)

Here is my entry (just for your enjoyment!). I didn't think writing a story of less than 100 words would be hard, but I spent more time cutting it, then I did plotting and writing it (and yes, I did some plotting - in my head - for this story. Crazy, I know!

Title: Pairs

They say death takes you to a better place.

The sisters stood in motionless reverence, staring down at the lifeless thing, its empty black form in stark contrast to the harsh white snow.

It seems that nature favors pairs, and the twins grasped hands in wordless recognition of their own allegiance, and the chasm that could destroy, dividing this one from its sequel.

The playground was abandoned - children called inside due to risk of bitter cold.

The silent choice was made.

They pulled the frozen mitten from its icy grave, and took it to the lost & found.

Two Exciting Announcements

2012-02-24T19:15:00.002-07:00

I'm very excited about two new opportunities that have become available to me this month.

I was invited to be a roaming contributor (occasional blogger) for Ali Cross' Dojo at ninjaswrite.com. I'm really enjoying the daily posts and the insight and confidence and motivation they provide to get working on the craft of writing. If your looking for a daily boost of motivation to keep moving forward with your writing, this is definitely the place to visit.

One cool thing Ali has done is to create these little buttons you can add to your blog, to earn your Ninja writing black belt. Let me tell you - I am so excited for that day! In the mean time, I'm going to enjoy the process of learning and improving in the craft of writing. I studied the requirements of each of the buttons, and found that some matched and some didn't what I have already accomplished. So I am going to go with the highest level I seemed to have achieved, and work my way up from there. If you want your own ninja writing belt, go check it out and see where you qualify.

Here's what I've done to earn this badge, according to the list of requirements:

Have been blogging for a year or more (almost five now)
Joined a writer's association (Authors Incognito, Southern Alberta Writer's Workshop)
Joined a critique group (three years now)
Have at least five writer friends (too many to count - isn't that a wonderful feeling?)
Started visiting writing blogs
Entered a writer's contest (lots, and won or placed in a few!)
Have been writing in earnest for six months or more (or years...)
Attended a writer's conference or workshop (several of both)
Have your work critiqued by another writer (and now know how important this is)
Read at least 50 books in your genre (again, too many to count)

I'm excited to keep working towards the purple belt, with my eye forever on the black.

I've also been invited to be a regular contributor with the Mormon Mommy Writers Blog. Starting next week, I will be making weekly posts on Thursday. They have a cool new project called Monday Manuscripts in Motion, encouraging you to pull out a project and do something to tweak it at least once a week. Should be fun! Come check it out:

Move Over Sitcoms, Here Come Webisodes!

2012-02-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

I meant to make this post a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to take a moment to bring it to your attention. Back in December I happened upon a blog promoting a sight called Big World Network. The basic gist is that instead of watching episodes of your favorite TV sitcom or dramas, you can now read or hear chapters of high quality fiction. AKA, books are being presented in the same type of format as a television series. And they're calling them webisodes.

The author I read about in that post is Taryn Taylor, and her book, The Secret, is being released an episode at a time, once a week, on BigWorldNetwork.com. I was curious, and clicked to check it out. I started the series about five episodes in, so I was able to read up to the point where she released the sixth part. And like any great TV show, now I'm hooked. What a fabulous idea! I checked out some of the other authors with books being released on the site, and was quite impressed by the high calibre of writing. There seem to be stories and series from a variety of genres and interests.

I must say, this new little trend may quickly become an addiction.

Teach Them To Read, Tip #1

2012-02-14T21:42:00.004-07:00

Wow - so it's been way too long since my last post - I apologize. And I plan to make up for it with an over abundance of dashes in the following 'play catch-up' post. We've been dealing with some health issues - not to be alarmed, I'm talking standard winter cold and flu like symptoms - nothing serious. However, trying to keep on top of life is hard enough when you're healthy. Feeling slightly under the weather trumps blogging, and therefore, my somewhat lengthy silence. However, as promised, lots of dashes.

I promised to give some tips on teaching children how to read, or more importantly, how to love reading. I want to emphasize once again that I'm in no way a certified professional, but having worked as a teacher in the field, I do know the basic tricks. In fact, you may be surprised to learn you actually know them too, even if you weren't aware of it.

And the things I've learned about literacy education I have turned around and used with my own children, so from personal experience, I know they are valid. My six-year-old daughter (notice how I snuck the dashes in???) finished reading Ramona the Pest last night. By herself. I don't say that to brag - I'm just pointing out that there's at least a little bit of truth to these simple teaching techniques.

Aware that I am probably 'preaching to the choir', I will get down off my soap box and get to the point of this post.

How do you teach a child to love to read?

Tip #1 - You read to them.

That's the first and probably most important tip. Read to your kids daily. At least fifteen minutes (that's about three books). We'll get to the how, and what and why in another post, because I think the true emphasis in this technique lies behind the action.

Read to them. Or with them, if you prefer that semantic.

And as simple as it sounds, it works. Professional studies prove that if you do nothing else to teach your child to read but this, they will learn to read (if there are no learning difficulties involved - such may require a different approach).

And as simple as it sounds, it's not as common as it should be. Too high a percentage of parents these days don't even spend fifteen minutes one-on-one with their kids, never mind reading to them. I don't say that as a political/philosophical opinion. I'm just stating a truth.

The beauty of the solution lies in its simplicity as well - it's not hard to adopt the practice of reading fifteen minutes daily. If you are analyzing you're own habits right now, and realize you are missing out on this vital learning opportunity, it's not too late to make a change. If you know of someone who could use this important interaction, encourage change.

Need some inspiration? There's some well known, successful storytellers in the world of children's literature. Names such as Don and Audrey Wood, Robert Munsch and Eric Carle span two or more decades of high quality, well loved story production. But just as in the world of novels, children's literature does not stagnate. Here are some suggestions for authors I have found that are making huge headway with their picture books - because they're that good.

Mo Willems has some incredibly popular books available - including the 'Pigeon' series. This books, however, will remain one of my all time favorite children's books. It's about Leonardo, who just can't scare anybody, and has to learn that there is something more important in life than being a scary monster.

Melanie Watt is an author on fire. Here books are fresh, original, funny and plentiful. Not only does she have the scaredy squirrel series (that includes an admontion to wash your hands with antibacterial soap before reading) but the incredibly popular 'Chester' series, in which Melanie has to wrestle with a Narcissic (did I spell that right?) cat over a fat red pen and the rights to authorship of the story. If you've never read her, head to the library Pronto!

Tom Lichtenheld is also producing a large array of high quality books (most of them co-authored by other up and coming talents). This is one of my favorite. A little cloud who dreams of being something more Cummulous (again with the spelling - I'm too tired to google it).

Finally, for the night, an author I found just this month. Michal Hall makes shapes exciting. This book is about a square that thinks he's perfect until he gets torn up and realizes he can be so much more. I read this book five times today, and still not sick of it. Plus, it has great opportunity for quality art time with the kids.

Snuggle up with one of these fantastic reads with your kids, and I promise you won't regret it!

For The Love Of Reading

2012-02-02T20:41:00.001-07:00

A couple of days ago, I promised to write a wrap-up post on the theme of self-publishing (since I've been talking about it all month) and my thoughts, insights, and feelings after the research I've done. However, after much consideration, and some failed attempts at fleshing out the subject, I'm going to postpone that blog for another day. I'll explain more when that day comes.

In the mean time, because it is such an interesting topic these days, and because the field of self-publication is changing so rapidly, if I can across anymore interesting posts/articles/stories, I'll be sure to let you know.

I'd like to kick off the month with a brand-new topic for discussion - and it wasn't even hard to come up with. Because February is symbolically the month of love, I'd like to dedicate the majority of my posts to the topic of love. Not the mushy kind (though that's wonderful too).

The love of reading.

And writing.

And books.

And more specifically, giving our children the gift of loving to read.

My inspiration for this topic actually came from my own daughter. I scanned something I'd like you to read, but before you do, I'll lay out some back story: First, the book referred to, "Meet Kit", is a short early children's novel from the makers of the American Girls Dolls, and was given to my six-year-old daughter for Christmas from a friend at school.

Second, about two weeks ago, my daughter woke up one Saturday morning on the wrong side of the bed. Literally. And she never recovered. It was like a bad preview of what to expect in the teen years. Grouchy. Irritable. Moody. Pouty.

And this from a little girl who scatters sunshine everywhere she goes. Something was definitely off, and though she couldn't find the words to elaborate on what, I figured it probably had something to do with sleep.

So she went to bed early that night. Very early.

The next morning, I found the following note: (Note - I've removed her name and dubbed her 'lil miss' for privacy reasons).

Now my heart absolutely soared with joy when I read this (and yes, some empathy as well - anyone who's read late into the night knows exactly where she is coming from!).

Why? Because I believe one of the most important skills I will pass on to my children is a love of reading. Notes like these are positive signs that all my hard work is paying off. Disclaimer - I certainly am not encouraging her to lose sleep over a book, especially at such a young age. But it is nice to know she loves reading that much, already.

I have a background in early literacy, and experience teaching kindergarten and grade one. I'm not going to pretend I'm even close to being an expert in these fields, but for the month of February, I would like to share some of the activities, books, and ideas I use to teach children to read and write. They're not necessarily peer-reviewed or research-proven methodologies, but they've certainly worked for me and others I know.

I'm also going to highlight some of my favorite children's books and authors!! (One of my all time favorite subjects - Yay!)

You know what else? I'd love to hear about your strategies too. How do you teach kids that books can be fun, and make reading a pathway to future success?

And because I know that there is more to life than children's literature, I thought I'd quickly share two links with you. I saw these recently and thought they fit perfectly with my theme.

The first, from author Jennifer Clark is about an article she found about the statistics on how much people read every year - and the numbers are scary! She weighs in on why it's so important to make the time to read.

Also, writer Lisa Asanuma has proposed a special event for Valentine's Day 2012 - she's calling it Books For Lovers, and the idea is to go out an buy a book on Valentines day from one of the brick-n-mortar stores, instead of purchasing online. To find out why, and how you can support this campaign, visit her blog! It's an interesting post.

In the meantime, I have some reading and writing to do, because hey, I love to! How about you?

Roles of the Self-Publisher

2012-01-30T22:29:00.004-07:00

It's late, and I probably should be getting ready to sleep, but I wanted to quickly share some of the interesting blog posts I've found this month on the topic of self-publication. I think it is very important to go into an enterprise with a full array of research and an open understanding of what is involved.

So whether you're considering self-promoting your work, or pursuing traditional publication, there is something to be learned from each of these authors:

Enjoy! Oh, and if you get a chance, tell me what you think!

(Please note, these are in no particular order)

S.R. Johannes put together a eye-opening list of the various roles played by a self-published author. At first, the list sucks the romance out of the vision you keep in your head of the newly emerging ever evolving definition of Indie Authorship. Once you get over the initial shock, you realize that some of the roles that seem so overwhelming are still required by major publishing houses. Not only that, but when all is said and done, the work is worth the achievement of a dream, right?

J.A. Konrath is a name I've heard floating around a lot this month, so I had to check out what the buzz was about. I quickly discovered why he has become a guru of the Indie market - over the Christmas season, he sold $100,000 worth of books. And, he'll tell you how and why, in his opinion, self-published authors can find the same success.

Amanda Hocking is the next stop on my mini-tour. If you haven't heard of her, don't despair - I hadn't either, until three weeks ago. But she quickly caught my fascination with her amazing tale of do-it-yourself success.

Susan Kaye Quinn has put together a great post that gives advice and encouragement to any one trying to market their own books. She includes anecdotes relating her experience with her self-pubbed book, and I found this article very informative. She brings to the light seven questions you should ask yourself - and answer honestly before you decide to take the leap.

NiNoCon Ninja Self-Publishing Conference

2012-01-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

If you are someone who has ever considered self-publishing, or, if you are always on the lookout for an opportunity to learn more about your craft, I have a link to a great conference opportunity:

Ali Cross and some other talented writers are helping to put on a conference to discuss certain aspects of self publishing and writing. The beauty of this conference is three fold:

1. It's free

2. It's online (which means you can come in your pajamas)

3. It features authors with experience (which is the best source for correct information)

Ali is an author with a background in martial arts, and she has connected this to her love of writing. Therefore, NiNoCon stands for Ninja Novel Conference, and is a fun blend of the two different worlds. If you want to join the ranks of writing Ninjas, head on over to NiNoCon on Saturday, February 4th, 2012. I am unaware of the time the conference begins or its duration, but I'm sure Ali will keep us updated as Saturday draws closer.

Hope to see you there!

A Self-Publishing Surprise Success Story

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

How's that for alliteration? And I just want to begin by clarifying that I don't mean it's a 'surprise' that this book is successful, more a 'surprise' at the unexpected momentum with which it rose to the top.

When I heard the story of Regina Sirois and her newly released novel (very, very new - as in January 2012) On Little Wings, I knew I had to include it in my monthly discussion on self-publishing. In trying to find a way to contact her for an interview, I stumbled upon her blog, and I must say, I think I've developed a tad of a writer's crush on her. Okay, I admit it, I'm smitten.

I'd love to tell you her story, but I think she'll do a much better job, and with greater eloquence.

Meet Regina Sirois.

"I am really happy to get to tell my side of the story because I think there are many misconceptions floating around about me.

Misconception #1: I have made it big in the publishing world. the truth- I haven't. Not even close. I was contacted by two very talented agents in New York this week and I have decided which one I am going to sign with. That means she will try to sell my book to publishers. That does not mean they will buy. She feels good about our prospects, but there are no guarantees in this business.

Misconception #2: I just lucked out.The truth- this is almost entirely true. If you count working on my manuscript for years, sending it to many test readers, enduring harsh critiques, querying everyone and their mother and finally giving up on myself as lucky. Because that is what happened. I worked as hard and tortured myself just as long as other writers. The difference is I believed the silence from the agents and gave up on myself. I put my manuscript in a drawer and refused to talk about it or look at it for over a year. I stopped writing. And I made peace with that. So then how do I explain you knowing about my book? Well, I got a gift. A teenage girl who test read the book for me almost two years ago asked for a copy. I told her "no, don't worry about it. It's not any good." She told me that she loved it and had been thinking of it for months. She asked if she could please read it again. I brushed her off and went back to life. But it got under my skin. I kept hearing her say she missed it. So one day I timidly pulled it up on the screen. It was like making up with a friend after a big fight. It took some time to get comfortable with it again. And I started working. I worked for weeks. I neglected all my chores and wrote. And then, right before Christmas, I finished. There is a great amount of luck involved in any literary success, but it doesn't take unless there's a thousand times more work than luck.

Misconception #3: I had a marketing strategy. Truth- what is a marketing strategy?I decided to give my book away for free to any friends who wanted to peruse it and print up copies for my family as gifts. On January 4th I put a post on my blog and told my handful of followers that I wrote a book. I announced it on facebook. I worried people would think I was bugging them or bragging, but I did it anyway. I decided if I worked that hard I should at least tell the people who cared about me what I did. I did not think I would make a penny. I didn't really want to. That wasn't the point. I'm not sure what the point was, to be honest. I just wanted to stop being afraid to try. I don't know how 14,000 people found me in five days. I really don't.

Any marketing tips or strategies? I refer you to my last answer. :) I believe that free is a great way to plant your book. If it really touches people and lands in fertile ground it might just grow. Just remember that there will be no word of mouth if it doesn't resonate. No one says, "hey I downloaded a mediocre book for free. You should get it." Let your work speak for itself and see if people pass along the word. And say a mediocre book does make it big online. When an agent reads a copy, then what? They will say, 'what the heck is this?' You have to have a product that stands up to the most critical eyes. Self publishing is not a short cut! It is just another path through the jungle. For me it was an accidental path. But trust me, I had tried to get through the jungle before I self published.

How long have I dreamed of being an author? I fought being a writer for a long time. I always said that writing is a crap shoot. It doesn't matter how good you are because even dogs write books nowadays. Dogs! So how do you compete with that. And if you knew me you would know that if I have a competitive bone in my body it is my pinky bone. Or maybe one of those tiny bones in my eardrum. I fight hard with myself but I hate competing with anyone else. When I finally gave in and decided to do this it was because I was sick of telling my husband, "If I ever write that book..." It sounded so lazy and stupid to me. I told myself, "Just write it if you're going to write it, or shut up about it." (See, I told you I can be hard on myself. But in a good way) Every time I wanted to give up (there were many) I told myself to write it to my daughter. I can do for her what I cannot do for myself.

The most exciting part of this experience? The first time a complete stranger blogged about my book. I found it by googling my title. She said I was a master of the English language. Another woman called me a "wordsmith." I looked at my husband and said, "I'm a wordsmith?" Then I covered my mouth and cried in the kitchen. Cried happy, happy tears. Seeing that people who don't know me and are not trying to be nice to me care about what I wrote is the biggest reward."

Okay, this is Mandi speaking again. I know, I'm sorry, I was completely hypnotized by her writer's voice as well, and almost forgot I was supposed to be writing this post. If you haven't read this book yet, don't miss it! If you don't believe me, go check out the 20/22 five star reviews on Amazon! There is a reason this book has gone from zero to sixty in under ten seconds, but I'm not going to tell you what.

I'll let you read it and find out for yourself...

A Self-Publishing Giveaway

2012-01-21T14:30:00.005-07:00

Have you ever had this experience - you start to think or dwell on a topic of issue, and you suddenly notice the answer is all around you? I've been mulling over this whole field of self-publication in my head for two months now (as you've heard about over and over and quite possibly are getting sick of), and it seems that everywhere I turn, it's already being discussed! It's fantastic, really, to see so much positive press on the issue.

As it turns out, there is a post on the Mormon Mommy Writers blog by author Linda Boulanger who runs a business called TreasureLine Publishing, and if you follow the instructions on the post, you can earn an entry in the giveaway for one of three fabulous self-publishing packages. How cool!

Linda also talks in depth on the topic of self-publishing from her own experience, and why she got into the business. Lots of good information - go check it out!

Book Review - Matched, by Ally Condie

2012-01-20T21:52:00.001-07:00

Wow - my first book review of the new year, and so excited about this one. I have to just say, my first reaction when I finished and closed the book was to hug it tightly to my chest and say "Where have you been all my life?". While my husband thought I was crazy for proposing love to a book, I soon relaxed and realized it may have been a tad over-dramatic.

I wasn't too sure what to expect when I picked up the book: the cover was a definite draw in (who can resist that luscious green silk dress, and the simplicity of the glass bubble - it still makes my skin tingle) but I'm also not a big one for hype, because I find it too often doesn't deliver. And this book has hype. A lot of it.

However, I was not disappointed. I was instantly sucked into Cassia, Ky and Xander's dystopian world in which an all powerful government makes all the decisions for you - what you own, where you work, who you marry, when you die and how you feel about all of that.

I've read a few reviews on Amazon and Goodreads that seem to believe this book is just a rip-off of Lois Lowry's The Giver. While I can see where they are coming from, I don't agree in the least. Is it a similar concept to Lowry's award winning book? Yes. But how many versions of the Cinderella story are there? Or Pride and Prejudice, for that matter? Nobody gives those authors a hard time for plagiarizing Austen and Anderson, and I don't think it's justified in this case either. The stories may be based on the same concept, but they are totally different stories with vastly different characters.

This book was also quite widely correlated with The Hunger Games series as far as quality goes. I say Yes to Condie's ability to pull you in to the story and keep you hungering for more. However, it doesn't have the same depth of plot as Hunger Games. The pacing, writing, characterization, plotting, hooks are all stronger, but it is pretty much a singular, linear plot. At least that's the way I see it.

So all in all, what do I say?

Well, I'm still trying to sort out my book rating system for this site, so when I do, I will come back and update my thoughts on this particular book. In the meantime, I gave it a 5/5 on Goodreads, I will definitely be purchasing this book for my book shelf (I don't do that often, as space is very rare on my shelf - I have to love it that much to buy it hard copy instead of e-book), and I've already put in a request for the sequel, Crossed, which was released in Nov. 2011. According to the library site, I'm hold number 94 on 36 copies. That says something, doesn't it?

In summary: Don't miss this one!

Self-Publishing Forum Transcript Goodies

2012-01-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

The other night I participated in an online forum that had been advertised on the Indelibles site, and I'm glad I did! I went because the topic piqued my interest, and fit in with the focus of my blog discussions this month - self publication.

Indelibles is a website that has brought together 25 YA and MG authors who are either Indie or self-published novelists. I didn't really understand what those terms meant until I attended the event. To learn more about these authors, and their books, please visit their website - it will be worth you time!

You can also access the whole transcript on their site. For interest sake (and mostly to remind myself) I have cut and pasted a few of the comments that best answered some of the questions that have been stirring in the back of my mind. At the end of January, I will revisit my own thoughts on this topic, but for now, here's what some of these experienced authors had to say:

srjohannes:
as some of you may know - the indelibles is about 25 indie authors that have banned together. Our goal is to help each other and support the indie community.

Comment From Kris Asselin:
I'd love to hear how you all came to the decision to self-pub. Thanks!

Megg Jensen:
Fellow Indelible, Karly Kirkpatrick, told me about Konrath just over a year ago. I read up on epublishing and jumped in feet first. Love it!

Susan Kaye Quinn:
I decided to self-pub Open Minds because of: price, creative control, and writing diversification (I was prev. pubbed with a small press). And to get it out quickly!

G.P. Ching:
My books did not easily fit within a genre. Not Christian enough to be christian but more religious than mainstream was comfortable with. Megg Jensen convinced me to self-pub.

srjohannes:
in a nutshell - i spent 2 years with agent and submitted the first 2 books I'm publishing now. they got to acquisitions but never were bought. I figured they were good enough and I was tired of having someone else run my destiny.

AuthorCKBryant:
For me it was a no brainer. I'd already had BOUND under contract with a publisher (who has since gone under). I'd waited long enough and the book was ready. I was ready. So why not send it out into the world to be read and shared?

Sarra Cannon:
I had too many traditionally published friends who spent years trying to get agents and when they finally got published, they were unhappy because their books were changed so much by their editors. I wanted to keep control of my own work.

Lisa_Nowak:
After five years of trying the traditional route, I heard agent April Eberhardt speak on how ebooks had changed the industry. I was researching the subject when I finally got an offer from a
small press. By that time I'd learned enough to know I wanted to do it myself, so I turned them down and went indie. Never regretted it for a second.

Comment From laurapauling
What started me thinking about it was Nathan Bransford's post that said midlisters could make more money self publishing. That and posts by kris Rusch who pointed out that authors were really getting a bum deal with ebook royalties.

Sarra Cannon:
Good point Sara! If you are Indie it's so much easier to experiment with genre, cover art, price, everything.

Comment From Mandi Thomson
You've mentioned the best part of self-publishing: the control. What is the common consensus on the worst aspect of self-publishing (or is the experience very different for everyone?

srjohannes:
not really a worse side but a hard side - doing it all on your own. it gets lonely. sometimes I would love to have someone get y back if something slips.

Sarra Cannon:
Great questions Mandi! I think the experience is different for all, but for me the worst part is that it's ALL on my shoulders. I love the control, but sometimes it's just so hard to be responsible for every aspect of it and to know there's nowhere to blame but me if I fail.

Jessie Harrell:
@Mandi - it probably is diff for everyone. I am finding that marketing the book has sucked away months of my life. not that it hasn't been fun, but like Shelli says, it's hard work.

RaShelle Workman:
Mandi - I do believe it's different for everyone. As an indie, you work your strengths and hopefully have good people help with the weaknesses.

Stacey WB:
The feeling that you have to market yourself 24/7 or you're going to lose any readers you have. That is the worst. It's a crazy cycle b/c then you don't have time to write!

AuthorCKBryant:
I'm a writer, not a marketer, not a publisher, not a graphic designer, not a business woman, A WRITER. But with self-pubbing you have to be all of those things and the worst part is that sometimes your writing has to take a back seat.

Susan Kaye Quinn:
@Mandi Worst is having so much on your shoulders - very hard to balance all the promoting with writing (not that I think this is much different for trad pubbed)

Comment From Kris Asselin
I'd love to know the difference between self pub and indie pub. Is there a difference or do you use the terms interchangeably?

Megg Jensen:

Indie pub means going through a small press. Self-pub is self-publishing

srjohannes:
technically indie pub is an independent press

Karen Hooper:
Kris, I'm "Indie" pubbed meaning I'm published with a small press. So it's a little different than self-pub. I do have help with edits, cover, some marketing etc

ali: For me personally, I think I'm happy with self-publishing and won't attempt a traditional publishing path anymore/again.

srjohannes:
i think trad pubbing is for some and indie is for others - you have to figure out what that is for you. I just dont think one is better than the other.

Lisa_Nowak:
I think there are a lot of people who shouldn't self-publish. Those with demanding jobs, or who don't like to self-promote, or who only want to write.

Comment From Mandi Thomson
This may be a loaded question, but I'm just curious - if any of you were ever to make it real big, and I mean REALLY big through self-publishing, and got deals from major publishing houses to pick up your books, would you ever consider the switch? Have you ever contemplated this scenario?

Lisa_Nowak:
Okay. One more. Mandi, it would take a LOT of money to make me go traditional. Bye now.

(Note - for whatever reason, I can't get the hyperlink thing to work. To see the forum on the site, go to the following):

http://indeliblewriters.blogspot.com/2012/01/writers-chat.html

Indelible Self-Publishing Chat

2012-01-16T17:47:00.000-07:00

Right along with our topic of discussion this month, I have just learned that a new group site featuring Indie authors will be hosting a writers chat this Wednesday night to talk about several topics of interest for writers, self-publishing being among them.

To learn more, go to the Indelibles site. Hope to see you there!

Author Heather Justesen on Self-Publishing

2012-01-12T17:21:00.009-07:00

I'm very excited today to introduce my first guest author, as promised in my previous post, to talk about the topic of self-publication. Heather Justesen has joined us to answer some of the questions about the self-publication industry that I had mentioned earlier.

You can learn more about Heather by clicking here, which will take you to her blog. Here are two of Heather's self-published works:

Shear Luck, by Heather Justesen :

Chelsea Robison has never forgotten the older boy next door whom she crushed on as a teen, so when she runs into him at the restaurant he’s preparing to open, it’s a delightful shock. And learning he’s available again is more than a little tantalizing.

Vaughn Krenshaw had never seen his neighbor as more than a nice kid—but Chelsea had definitely grown up in the decade since they saw each other last. He’s attracted to the feisty red head, but still struggles over his wife’s death the previous year. And then there’s his five-year-old daughter, Molly, who really liked Chelsea—until she realized the woman was dating her dad.

As Chelsea starts to wonder if their love for each other will be enough to make things work, a specter from Vaughn’s past rises, making her question whether she really knew him at all.

Blank Slate, by Heather Justesen:

Adrianna Mueller may be a world-renowned concert pianist, but when she wakes from her coma after a serious car accident, her ability to perform has disappeared as completely as her lost memory.

As she recovers from her injuries, she struggles with the expectations of everyone—her family, friends, and fiancé, Brock—who all want everything to go back to the way it was. Everyone except Gavin, Adrianna’s brother’s business partner, who finds himself drawn to the woman she is now. But he has his own problems. As he tries to get a handle on a former employee’s embezzlement, he fights his growing feelings for Adrianna. And then a trip to the emergency room shakes everything up, leaving her to stumble as she tries to regain her footing all over again.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

I did submit my book to my publisher first and several other publishers after, and I considered submitting it out to other publishers outside of my usual market, but just felt like self-publishing was the right option for that story (with Blank Slate). As for self publishing a novella, I only intended it to be an ebook, unless I do an anthology later. Though traditional publishers are terrific for getting books into stores, I didn't feel like the advantages of using a publisher for an ebook was stronger than doing it myself--especially since ebooks never die.

Which company/business did you work with?

I printed with CreateSpace, but I did my own cover and typesetting on "Blank Slate," thanks to my background in desktop publishing. I did use a cover designer at create-imaginations.com for "Shear Luck."

Would you recommend them to others? Would you be a return customer?

I'd definitely use CreateSpace again and Paul was a terrific designer to work with who took some information I gave him about the book and came up with a much better cover idea than I had on my own. And he worked his guts out for not much money.

In your opinion, what are the pros to self-publication?

Being in charge of it myself, having creative control and seeing it come together under my own control.

In your opinion, what are the cons to self-publication?

Being in charge of it myself...okay, really trying to get the word out when I couldn't afford much in the way of advertising was a major drawback, and even though authors have to do most of their own publicity regardless of whether they have a publisher or not, there's definitely still extra pressure if you're doing it all yourself.

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer authors considering this option?

If you're doing this wanting to be taken seriously as a professional, then you need to treat it as a professional would. Make sure you have a good cover, that the formatting looks like traditionally published books, and that you've edited the heck out of it. The details are what prove that you're a professional, so pay attention to them.

Thanks to Heather for stopping by and answering some of my questions! I haven't had the privilege of reading her work yet, so I will have to get reading to see the fruits of her hard work. You can find Heather's books on amazon, or at her webpage: www.HeatherJustesen.com.

More authors, with more answers, yet to come: stay tuned!

To Publish or Not To Publish: That Is the Question

2012-01-07T14:42:00.004-07:00

Have you ever thought much about the possibility of being self-published? And when you did, was it always your 'back-up plan' or last resort?

I’ve never thought much about the process of self-publication. In fact, if I was quite honest I would admit that I probably have the same misconceptions of the process – and reasons for – pursuing this form of publication. That, and I’ve never reached the stage of submission, so it just never really occupied much space in my mind.

At the end of NaNo in November, one of the prizes listed on the Winners goodies page was six free copies of your manuscript in book form from a company called CreateSpace. Intrigued, I looked through their website, which began to stir a little mini-fascination with this facet of writing I had never explored.

Then I read a couple of articles of several authors in the past decade who shocked the publishing world with their self-published books that sold in the hundreds of thousands, and went on to be picked up by agents and traditional publishers.

After all of my reading and research, there is one thing I’ve come to realize – self-publication doesn’t abide by the same definition that it might have years ago. Now there were new questions and curiosities tumbling through my head, and as much as I tried to Google the answers, I continued to find a lot of conflicting advice – including from some who’d never been self-published. That’s when the answer hit me: I needed to turn to those who have experience.

For the rest of January (and possibly beyond, if there are still some unanswered questions or hot topic debates) I would like to explore this topic of interest, and have reached out to several others who have chosen the route of self-publication for at least one of their novels.

I asked them to answer several questions about why, and how they self-published their books. Because the general consensus among the reading & writing population, from what I can infer, is that those who self publish do so because they can't get accepted by a traditional publishing house. Therefore, the quality of their work is poorer, or their writing talents weaker, or their marketing prowess less developed and therefore they end up with a spare room filled with books that won't sell and that have little but bad reviews.

While that may have been the case a decade or more ago, it seems less likely to be the black and white answer today. In fact, self-published books, in some respects, are doing so well, are so successful, that the major publication companies are actually being given a run for their money. Obviously there are many shades of grey to this story.

I wonder what my readers think? What are some of the opinions, and misconceptions and unknown facts about self-publication? Would you ever consider the possibility?

And a question I have still yet to answer, would I?

p.s. If you are a self-published author and would like to weigh in on this topic of conversation, please drop me a line. You can make a comment and leave your email, or send me an email to maybemandi at gmail dot com. If not, then at least tune in for the answer to some of these questions...

Author Maggie Stiefvater On A Writing Education

2012-01-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of being a writer, is that you have to read - a lot! In fact, as beneficial and important as writing classes, conferences and tutorials can be, the most growth we as writers can make comes from seeing, and doing. The doing includes nothing more than gluing yourself to your chair and getting to work.

The seeing comes from studying the work of the great authors that have come before - and sometimes from the not so great.

If you are a writer of fiction, the best textbook you will find is other published fiction. I use this as my excuse when my husband says something like "you're reading that book again?". Of course I'm reading that book again - I'm studying! In fact, I've never loved studying so much in my life!

But what of the need for formal education to become a successful author? Does one need a college degree to enjoy success in the writing world?

Maggie Stiefvater, an author I've just recently been introduced to, touches on this subject on a recent blog post. She talks about the importance of getting to work and actually writing, to improve your ability to write. Her is one of my favorite quotes from her post:

My sister read and chatted with me about OUTLIERS: The Story of Success, by
Malcolm Gladwell. In it, he talks about the 10,000 hour rule — he postulates
that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in any field. I think
this is key. You need to learn everything you can about not only writing, but
reading, and everything you can find out about the industry and business. I
would say that 10,000 hours of writing sounds about right. But I think that
there are lots of ways to accomplish those hours. You can self teach. You can
apprentice. You can take classes. You can workshop. You can get a writing
critique partner. You can steal someone else’s brain. ~ Maggie Stiefvater

If you would like to read more of her work, or learn more about her books (which I'm hungrily delving into even now...) than click on her name, or the picture above.

Resolutions

2012-01-02T13:42:00.004-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again, when we make all sorts of crazy resolutions so we can break them in about 15 days time, right?

I actually enjoy making goals for myself - I'm sort of a list person. I love to cross things off a neatly columned lined paper. It makes me feel good. And I love deadlines. I know, I'm crazy.

But this year, I decided to do something different. Usually, my resolutions are pretty par with what you hear of other's goals - eat healthy, exercise more, read more, try to do the dishes when you use them, not the next day when the food is crusted on, etc., etc.

This year, I've taken a long hard look at where I am, and where I want to go.

I've always been a writer - ever since I could hold a pencil. In the third grade, I joined my first writer's group, at lunch time, in my classroom, with four other kids who loved to tell stories, and I have files and files of paper full of plot and character, spanning back over fifteen years or more. Writing is my release, it is my growth, it is my passion.

But it's time to move beyond that - it's time to start down the path I've always dreamed about, but never dared to really explore, probably because I wasn't truly ready. I want to be more than a writer. I want to be an author.

I took the first important step this past November: I have entered Nanowrimo three years running now, but never made it past 14000 words - always with 'good' excuses. But this past year, I knew I had to do it. When the clock hit Dec. 1, I had finished Nano. That's when I realized it's time. I've (metaphorically) grown up enough to take my writing to the next level.

So my New Year's resolution is to start down that road. I don't know if it (publication) will ever happen. I'm not worried about that right now. All I can do is try, and either way, the effort I put into the task will be rewarded with the most important prize: growth. My writing will improve.

Here's how I plan to achieve this goal:

1. Finish my nano manuscript (I figure I have around 10, 000 - 20, 000 words to go)

2. Complete edits & rewrites of my manuscript

3. Submit my manuscript (it doesn't matter if it gets accepted or rejected - its all about overcoming that first hurdle)

I have till Next October 1st to complete this portion of my goal. At that point, I will switch into gear for the second part of my goal:

1. Outline a new story for Nanowrimo 2012

2. Complete 50,000 words for story between Nov. 1 2012, and Nov. 30 2012

And finally, the last part of my goal to take my writing to the next level:

1. Find a creative way to network in the blogging world

2. Attend my writers group with polished work ready to go every month

3. Read 25 books by next Christmas

When it's written all out like that, it seems like a rather intimidating goal, but I feel confident that I have the support and drive to make it happen. And not only that, but I'm excited about it!

So, I guess I better get off my blog and get to work, because the kids are napping right now, and we all now how precious those moments of quiet can be each day.

Wish me luck, or better yet - hold me accountable!

Long Vacations (aka Excuses, Excuses)

2011-09-15T12:39:00.004-06:00

Though I consider myself an avid blogger, most of the blogging I do is held on a private site, and for purposes of journaling the experiences of myself and my family. (I also consider my private blog a sort of digital scrapbook, as I'm not very creative with scissors and pretty paper, and therefore usually don't bother with the other type).

Even though I sign into my blogger account several times a week, I try to cover the part of the screen that links to this blog, and the blaring announcement that it has been over nine months since my last post, of which there aren't very many to begin with.

I tell myself, "Hey, I'm on vacation." which really means I have a thousand excuses for why I am not working on my writing. Some of the excuses are legitimate. In the past year, I have done all of the following:

Had a beautiful baby boy

Endured some minor health difficulties related to this miraculous event

Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas with three small children (enough said, right?)

Directed a high school musical play (what was I thinking?) - which was a phenomenal, though busy, experience!

Helped my husband job search

Helped my husband apply to school

Accepted the fact that we were going back to student life

Started the process of opening an accredited preschool dayhome

Soccer, swimming lessons, YW camp and other summer sports and activities

Moved my entire family 6 hours away! Ahhhh!

Even looking over this list again, I realize how crazy busy my past year seems. Whether the excuses are legitimate or not, the point is I was not making room, even in small increments, for something I consider equally important - writing.

It's time to turn the car around. It's time to get back to the writing. It's time to get organized.

I need it more than it needs me. Even if I only get 10 minutes in at the end of the day, writing is what allows me to keep my sanity.

Vacation's over - No more excuses!

Winner Announced...

2010-12-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it took me a few days, but I did a draw from the names that got entries in my blog tour contest (this is separate then the contest being run by Walnut Springs for the same tour) and the autographed copy of Finding Rose goes to.....

...Jenn!

Congratulations, and I will contact you to get the prize to you!

Thanks for following the tour!

Finding Rose Blog Tour

2010-11-30T07:05:00.002-07:00

It's blog tour time for Whitney Nominee
Finding Rose by Stephanie Humphreys.

We're excited because we've got some fabulous reviewers on board,
not to mention that we'll be giving away THREE copies!
The tour runs from November 22-December 3.

Want to win a copy of
Finding Rose? It's easy. Check out
the fabulous reviews and leave a comment letting us know why you're excited
to read Finding Rose. Remember to
include your email address. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about
it on your blog or facebook, leave the link in the comments section and
you'll receive an additional entry.

I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour. I've been waiting all month for this day. With the old blog that I used to run, I had the opportunity a few times to review books by authors in various genres. But this review is different. I'm not just going to tell you about this novel, I'm going to share with you my journey with it and it's author, the talented Stephanie Humphreys.

I met Stephanie eight years ago when I began dating my husband. As an individual she impressed me with her deep spiritual convictions, her loving concern for her immediate and extended family, and her good natured, welcoming personality. I enjoyed spending time with her, and was excited to become her Sister-in-law. However, it wasn't until almost a year later that I discovered we had something in common - a love of writing.

It's been exciting to watch Stephanie go from rough draft to published novel. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the fact that I haven't shared in any of the stress of the process, but just a viewer on the sidelines.

I have watched her grow and struggle, experience success and setbacks through the publication process. Her initiative and intensive love for the craft of writing have fueled my own growth in this fulfilling hobby. She has a constant desire to grow and learn. She is always reading and studying, and pushing herself to become a better writer. She supports other worthy authors by buying and promoting their work. When the Whitney awards were pioneered, she tirelessly advocated the importance of the program to friends, family and associates. She has faithfully attended the LDStorymakers conference every year since 2007 when we first walked through the doors of the Provo library and realized that we had found a true treasure of an experience.

Though she is a busy wife and mother, Stephanie also runs two local writing groups - one which I have the privilege of attending, and one for the youth of the community. Her love for the written word has been passed on to her children, who reflect high standards of writing. It is fun to hear them debate the sections of a book or film based on plot and character development.
The point is, this is not just about a book, it's about an author. This is Stephanie's first novel, and if the calibre of professionalism and talent that is present within it is any indication, then this emerging writer can only grow and achieve with a promising future. I can't wait to see her next books on store shelves, and own an autographed copy of each!

How does that famous saying go? Oh yes, there's plenty more where this came from! And I look forward to it.

As for the novel itself, I have discovered that the process of writing is much like the process of life. One does not just sit down, type out 60,000 words and then send it off to the presses. Books grow and change like we do. Through several edits, lots of cutting of excess and addition of deeper plot and character, this book has truly been through the polisher. What is unique about Finding Rose is that although an LDS romance, it is set in a time and place, though not totally historically accurate, are a part of our pioneer heritage. Stephanie has ancestors that came from Utah at the request of the Church Presidency to settle and develop the Southern Alberta area. Rose and the characters of this story are loosely based on these people and events. Romantic fiction is not new, but this story is.

One thing that Stephanie truly excels at in her writing is characterization, and this book is no exception. Her characters are passionate and intriguing and pull you into the story. We can easily identify with them, and wish for them the best possible outcome.

I suppose you may think I say these things because Stephanie is my Sister-in-law. I am generally not a fan of romantic fiction, but in this case, despite my relationship to its author, Finding Rose is truly an exceptional piece of writing. I guess you'll just have to read it and find out for yourself...

****
Will Rose honor her father's last wish?

Rose stood and dropped her father's hand. "You're tired, Papa." She pulled
the quilt over his thin shoulders and kissed him on the cheek. . . .

"Think about what I said." He gently squeezed her hand. "I wish you would
consider giving Miles a chance."

"Miles! I wish Sean had never brought him here. He's so serious. In all the
time he's been here, he's hardly ever smiled. . . . He annoys me and I wish
he would go home." Still, Rose couldn't help but think of his gentleness
when he cared for her father.

On his deathbed, Rose Sterling's father asks her to consider Miles Crandall
as a suitor. Then Rose is sent to live with an uncle in Spring Creek,
Montana, far from her carefree life with her family in Utah. Miles is
returning to his hometown of Spring Creek to set up a medical practice, so
Rose is certain her being sent there is a setup. Yet Miles doesn't seem
interested in her, and after Rose falls ill in Montana, he seems content to
act as her physician and friend. When Rose captures the attention of Miles's
younger, flamboyant brother as well as the town sheriff, Miles retreats even
further from any attempt at courtship.

How can Rose honor her father's last wish if Miles doesn't even try to court
her? Will she have the courage to put her heart on the line and fight for
the one she really loves?

November 22
Tristi Pinkston--Tristi Pinkston

November 23
Alison Palmer--Tangled Words and
Dreams

November 24
Taffy Lovell--Taffy's Writing

November 29
Jenn Wilks--Jenn Wilks
Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen--The
Write Blocks

November 30
Amanda Thomson--Maybe Mandi

December 1
Sheila Staley--Why Not?
Because I Said So

December 2
Valerie Ipson--Valerie Ipson

December 3
Christine Bryant--Day
Dreamer

Thanks for checking out my review! If you've read Finding Rose, or can't wait to get your hands on your own copy, I'm going to give you a 4th chance to win. I have an autographed copy to give away, in addition to the three prizes being offered at the beginning of this post for leaving a comment on the blog tour. But you have to do something different to earn mine. Here's how you win:

Stephanie has been an advocate and tireless supporter of the Whitney awards since their inception in Spring of 2008, and of the LDStorymakers organization. In fact, we were blessed to attend the first Gala event in Sandy, Utah. To help raise awareness of this group and its efforts to improve the calibre of LDS writing, I'm going to make you do some research. Click on the two links below, do a little searching, and then come back to comment on this post. Tell me:

Whitney Awards

LDStorymakers

1. The name of a book that has been nominated for a Whitney in the past three years that you have either read or want to read, and

2. The month and year that LDStorymakers was formed (hint: it's right on the home page).

This will earn you two entries into the contest. I will draw for a winner December 4th. And don't forget to follow the instructions at the beginning of this post to earn entries for the other prizes. Good luck!

Blog Tour For Local Author

2010-11-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been quite an absence since I last posted. A lot has changed in the past four months. In September, my oldest child started kindergarten, my second started potty training, and we were thrilled to introduce a beautiful baby boy to our growing family. Two months have passed, and as I am feeling very well, and life seems to be back in the normal phase again, I decided it was time to update my blog.

I couldn't think of a better way to do this than with this exciting announcement: On Tuesday, November 30, 2010, I get to participate in a blog tour for the first novel published by Stephanie Humphreys, who just happens to be my sister-in-law.

I am excited to host her on my site, so be sure to check back next week! There will be a prize involved....

Who Am I?

2010-07-14T22:36:00.000-06:00

Although, by my blog archive, you may assume I am new to the blogosphere, I have actually been an avid blogger for about three years now. However, this past Christmas, I decided to take my blog private as it contained the first names and pictures of my children, and this lack of privacy in an increasingly dangerous Internet world was beginning to worry me.

However, the downside to privatizing a blog is it kills your networking and friendshiping abilities. After months of deliberation, I have finally made the decision to start fresh.

And now I find myself staring at a screen and wondering, what do I write?

So I think I will start with the basics and introduce myself. I am a Southern Alberta raised girl. I've been married for over seven years and we are currently expecting our third child this fall. I have a combined degree in Science and Early Childhood Education, and have previously taught Early Elementary for two years.

I've been writing stories since I could hold a pencil (and I seem to remember having my parents scribe my creative writing even before I could do that) and continue to love the pursuit of this hobby. One of the highlights of my year is attending the LDStorymakers Conference each spring, something I've done three times now, and found an invaluable experience. Someday, someday, I will actually finish one of my myriad of stories and then get it published.

I also have a voracious appetite for reading. I can't imagine life without books, though sometimes I think my husband tries to imagine our house without dozens of overcrowded bookshelves - I can never seem to have enough space. One of my favorite places to frequent is a bookstore. I can't walk by and not go in...

And another one of my loves is gardening. I love being around plants. I visit my local greenhouse (about a block away) on a regular basis, sometimes for no other reason than to see all the pretty plants growing together. It's so peaceful there. Okay, I know, I'm a nerd. Due to a cold wet spring and a growing baby belly, I was unable to get my vegetable garden in this year, but I did manage to plant some flowers to keep my green thumb happy.

Well, that's a start. At least I've published one post, and the task of starting fresh won't seem quite so daunting.

One thing I can say, it feels good to be back!