I Cry the Day I Take the Tree Down (I hate endings)

         I hate cleaning up after Christmas. Even more than the disposing of mass quantities of wadded Christmas wrapping paper and cardboard boxes, is the taking down of the Christmas decorations. It's not that I'm afraid rolling up my sleeves, greasing my elbows, and doing a little work. I just hate endings. The anticipation, the festivities, and warm-fuzzy feelings with family members are over. For now. It brings a lump to my throat.
           A week before Christmas we picked up my son from the airport after serving an LDS mission in Alaska. The experience was bitter sweet--just like taking down the Christmas decorations. While I was thrilled to see him again, and I love having him home, it was an ending of a great experience for both he and I. And I hate endings.
          I guess I don't hate all endings. I don't get choked up when I've come to the end of a dentist appointment, or after completing year end financial crap from my business.
          As I have contemplated "endings" it has brought me to think about another kind of ending: the ending of a novel. Some endings are anxiously awaited. Some endings leave a lump in my throat similar to the one I get when I take my tree down. These are the stories I have enjoyed with a similar relish as the basking in warm-fuzzy feelings of holiday festivities. Thus I hate to see it end. I even mull it over and over in my mind for several days after I turn that last page.
          As a writer, I pose this question to all of you other writers out there: how do we write a novel/story with a powerful ending that will have our readers feel that lump in their throat? I think the key is to have the previous two-hundred-or-so pages be full of meaning. Good meaning, (a trip to the dentist office or doing one's taxes have meaning).
          We must speak to our readers' hearts and stir their souls with truth and good story. Follow that up with a satisfying ending that makes sense and doesn't disappoint, we will have our readers thinking about our book long after they finish it. Readers will then hate endings as much as I do--not because it was a bad experience, but because they are sad that it is finished.

Spotlight: Texting Through Time series by Christy Monson

A second Texting Through Time book is here, John Taylor And The Mystery Puzzle. It’s a fast-paced quick read—fun for kids and the entire family.

As Micah and Alicia get to know John Taylor, they find he is faithful, courageous, prayerful and loving. They must solve a mystery puzzle about his life before they can return home. While hunting for the puzzle pieces, they land in France with a dead phone battery—and Micah is in a dress! What else can go wrong?

Christy said this was such a fun book to write. She enjoy doing the research. It was a blessing for her to learn about our modern-day prophets.

She felt honored that Mary Jane Woodger, BYU Faculty and editor of Champion of Liberty, John Taylor, had written a forward for her book. Maureen Smith, International President of the Daughter’s of the Utah Pioneers has endorsed the book. And Mathew Buckley, author of Chickens in the Headlights, and Bullies in the Headlights has given it a thumbs-up.

If you'd like to purchase or learn more about her Texting Through Time series, check out  the following links:

http://www.christymonson.com/index.html

http://www.textingthroughtime.com/index.html

http://christymonson.blogspot.com/

Her book was launched at the Ogden Temple Deseret Book Store on Friday, November 23^rd 

Check the websites for other scheduled signings.

I've completed my first picture book!

I just finished uploading my first picture book onto the web for sale and ordered me a few copies to give as presents. It feels great. Now I can begin my Christmas shopping and housecleaning.

I have written several manuscripts for picture books, but they have remained untouched on my computer collecting cyber dust for a number of years. It seems the publishing world doesn't have a big demand for picture book authors, especially ones who don't illustrate their own work. Because I really wanted to get my picture book stories out there, a few months ago I began learning how to use Adobe Illustrator to help my marginal sketches come to life.

After I created the first few pages of one of my favorite stories, Crook and Nanny, I decided it might be best to test the POD waters by creating a personalized picture book for my grandson for Christmas first. This way I could work out the kinks before I got serious about picture book publishing. I really had fun making it and I learned a lot. I plan on having Crook and Nanny out by next Christmas.

I hope my grandson, Hunter will enjoy it.












If by chance you'd like to buy a copy, it is available on Lulu  (I found Amazon/Createspace was not as conducive to printing picture books as Lulu).

Too Preachy? Opinions please.

I just finished my NaNoWriMo novel this past Monday--a 50,000 word book in nineteen days.  One of the beauties of writing a novel so fast, is that it tends to take on a life of its own, often taking you to places you hadn't contemplated when you started.

That's exactly what happened with my NaNo nove, the second in my Tree Boy series.

As Sprout, a boy who was sprouted from a seed (book one), discovers his super powers, his adoptive brother and sister try to convince him to become a super hero (book two). They form the Super Hero and Detective Organization, or SHADO, and they try to dig up acts of service that might require a superhero, or solve crime mysteries so Sprout can step in and "save the day." But he longs to know who he is and why he is here on this earth.

From the onset, I knew this was the protagonist's struggle within the book. But what I didn't really know was his true purpose in being here. By the end of the book, almost like magic, his purpose emerged: He was planted on the earth by the Creators in case mankind grew heartless over time. He would be a catalyst to restore the earth to a point where it was ruled by love of nature and of neighbor, rather than by deviousness.

I liked this purpose as it emerged. but I'm worried that it might be too preachy for a kid's book. I would love some opinions.

Blog Tour Stop/Review of Cindy Hogan's new book: Created

I am honored to be an official stop in the book blog tour for Created, by Cindy Hogan

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A spy school.
A choice.
A destiny discovered.

Created is the third book in this fun, teen suspense series by Cindy Hogan. I had read and enjoyed her previous two books, Watched, and Protected. But in this third novel, it seemed as if Cindy bumped her writing up another notch and gave me a story with even more exciting twists and turns that made it hard to put down. In Created, the main character, Christy is sent to Belgium to hide in a spy school because The Witness Protection Program is failing to keep her safe. While there, test scores reveal her true abilities and the director wants her to become a spy. Once the terrorists back home are all caught, and the danger gone, she is forced to make the decision to either go home and live a normal teen life or use her gifts and become a spy. Of course there is some romance in there. And lets not forget a traitor or two to keep you on your toes.

I would easily recommend this book to anyone who likes a good suspense novel, whether your are sixteen, or sixty. One thing I really like about Cindy Hogan's books, is that they are good, clean entertainment, proving once again that you don't need sex and dark stories to draw and audience.

Author website: 

http://cindymhogan.blogspot.com/

Places to purchase:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Check out some recent stops and the next few stops on the tour:

8 Donna McNicol http://donnamcnicol.blogspot.com/
Karly Kirkpatrick http://www.karlykirkpatrick.com/
Tristi Pinkston http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com

9 Shantal Hiatt Sessions http://shantalhiatt.blogspot.com/
Stacey Benefiel http://staceywallacebenefiel.com/

10 Jennifer Jensen http://jenniferjensen.com
Christine Bryant http://www.ckbryant.com/

11 Gaynell Parker
Elle Strauss http://www.ellestraussbooks.com/

12 Renae Mackley http://renaeswritespot.blogspot.com/
Deanna Henderson http://deannahenderson.blogspot.com/


13 Tamara Heiner http://tamarahartheiner.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Frank http://franklycreative.blogspot.com/

15 C.Michelle Jefferies http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/16 Deborah Davis
RaShelle Workman http://www.rashelleworkman.com/

17 Arla Cook http://leavemommyalone.blogspot.com
18 Melanie McCullough http://melaniemccullough.blogspot.com/
19 Monique Bucheger http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com
20 Canda Mortensen http://candamortensen.blogspot.com/

21 Rachelle Christensen http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/

Do You Consider Yourself Creative?

A friend pointed me to this video. I loved every minute of it, totally relating to her message. If you are the creative type, you'll want to watch this. It inspired me.

That's why I'm sharing it.

Freedom to Follow Your Dreams

Okay, it's election day. You might think I would post something about the importance of voting. Though I feel this is a very precious right that we should all value, I feel moved to discuss a different blessing we have as citizens of this great country. That being the freedom to follow our dreams and earn a living at what we choose to do.

I am a writer. A newly self-published author. I have only begun to taste that freedom. Very little has made its way into my pocketbook in the form of money. But my drive to write is able to move forward unencumbered by the fear that it will it will do no good, or get me nowhere.

Two days ago I returned from a writers' retreat; four days and three nights of answering only to the call of my muse. I came close to composing half of my next novel. True, it was a very rough, NaNoWriMo draft, but it opened my eyes to my potential. It showed me that I truly have the ability to become successful and my chosen new profession if I am willing to put in the time.

And as I prepared to go and vote, I reveled in the greatness of this country, thanking God for my freedoms. It was then my mind wandered with gratitude to the above revelation. I am free to publish my books, use my talents to make the world a better place and possibly be the means of inspiring a child through uplifting literature.

Now I want to finish this post and go write.