NOMINATED!

I'm not purposely keeping secrets from my blog, but I realize there are several fun writing things I haven't even mentioned here. I mean what's the purpose of a blog if it doesn't know all so that it can tell all???

In an effort to inform, I'll start with something super fun that happened last April concerning my novel IDEAL HIGH...

While this is just the first step in the process (the finalists will be announced next February) it still means a lot to me. I remember so vividly attending my 1st LDStorymakers Conference in Provo, Utah all those years ago. I felt such a great writerly camaraderie there, and that excitement literally exploded at the Whitney Awards banquet held at the close of conference. (No, not literally, it's just a pun.) To have my very own book honored by the Whitney Committee is a huge deal. 

The ANWA Writers Conference

Time Out for Writers

is open for registration NOW!!!!!

 

The American Night Writers Association, Inc. is hosting its 21^st Annual Writers Conference here in Arizona at the Phoenix East/Mesa Hilton Hotel on Feb 21-23^rd, 2013. 

 

ANNOUNCING the PRESENTERS!!!

 

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER, JAMES OWEN!!!

 

 James Owen an author of more than a million copies of his publications in print, all over the world!   He has written and illustrated six books in the bestselling series The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica: Here, There Be Dragons; The Search For The Red Dragon; The Indigo King; The Shadow Dragons; The Dragon’s Apprentice; and The Dragons of Winter. The series is now being published in more than twenty languages!  James has also written and illustrated two dozen StarChild comics, the inspirational nonfiction book Drawing out the Dragons, and the award-winning MythWorld novel series.  James is the Founder and Executive Director of Coppervale International, an art and design studio that also published the periodicals International Studio and Argosy, develops television and film projects, and is redesigning an entire town in Arizona, among other ventures.   

Dr. James Blasingame is a professor of young adult literature at Arizona State University. He is coeditor of The ALAN Review, a journal devoted entirely to young adult literature and sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English. He also creates the Books for Adolescents pages of the Journal of Adult and Adolescent Literacy, which is sponsored by the International Reading Association. He is the author of Books That Don’t Bore ‘Em: Young Adult Literature for Today’s Generation, Teen Reads: Student Companions to Young Adult Literature, Teaching Writing in Middle and Secondary Schools, and They Rhymed with Their Boots On: A Teacher’s Guide to Cowboy Poetry. He has also published over 60 interviews with poets and authors of young adult literature and over 100 book reviews in VOYA, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, The ALAN Review and English Journal.
Erzsi Deak founded Hen&ink Literary Studio in 2011 as a traditional literary agency with the goal to work additionally across platforms and countries/borders -- from traditional publishing to design to multimedia. Currently, Hen&ink represents authors and illustrators from around the world as well as publishers Thomas Jeunesse (France), Epigram Books (Singapore), and Red Fox Literary (US). Erzsi is author of award-winning PERIOD PIECES: STORIES FOR GIRLS. Erzsi received the Member of the Year from the SCBWI in 1999 and 2008. Hen&ink represents children's and YA authors and illustrators and a few "grown up" projects. For more information, please visit: henandink.com
Dave Eaton is a Local Marketing Consultant and his recent ventures include Online Marketing and Social Media Marketing.  He is a business owner with more than 30 years experience building several multimillion dollar companies.
Lynn Gardner is an avid storyteller and author of ten books in the Gem series: Emeralds and Espionage, etc. and two Maggie McKenzie Mysteries: Vanished and Pursued.  She recently returned from a two week research trip to London, Portugal and Spain. 
Kathryn Jenkins Gordon is the managing editor at Covenant Communications and has thirty-eight years of professional experience in corporate and internal communications, public relations, media relations, marketing communications, and publications management. Prior to her current position, she was press secretary for a U.S. Congressman; vice-president of a Salt Lake City publishing company; manager of strategic communications for software manufacturer Novell, Inc.; director of public relations at a private college in Salt Lake City; and held communications management positions at a variety of national and international corporations. She is the author or co-author of more than seven dozen books and wrote an award-winning book-length poetry manuscript recognized by the governor of Utah. 
Jennifer Griffith is the author of four published novels, including her latest, Big in Japan, the story of an obese Texan good guy who accidentally becomes a sumo wrestler. She has a writing degree from Utah State University and has done writing critique for over 20 years. Professionally, Griffith served as a writer on staff for a U.S. Congressman.
Leslie Householder is the award winning, three-time best-selling author of The Jackrabbit Factor, Portal to Genius, and Hidden Treasures: Heaven’s Astonishing Help with Your Money Matters. Having worked on a team that helped Jack Canfield launch his best-selling book, “Success Principles,” she utilized what she learned to duplicate best-seller success for her own books. Her writings have since been published internationally in several languages and she has tips to share about online marketing and strategies for self-published authors. 
Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of several historical novels which are set in Ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She is also the author of two non-fiction books, Women of the Book of Mormon and Christ's Gifts to Women (co-authored with Angela Eschler). Heather co-authored the women's series The Newport Ladies Book Club (with Josi Kilpack, Julie Wright and Annette Lyon). Heather also manages the editing company: www.precisioneditinggroup.com
 Angela Morrison is the award-winning author of Taken by Storm (books 1-3) and Sing me to Sleep, a 2010 Goodreads Choice Nominee and USA Best Books 2011 Winner for YA Fiction. She graduated from Brigham Young University and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. 
Evan Neil is an award-winning screenwriter from Phoenix, AZ. He was the winner of the Best Original Screenplay competition in the Phoenix Film Festival as well as a finalist in the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriting lab in 2008. Evan has written over a dozen screenplays and stage plays. His work has been performed on national stages for the Kennedy Center Awards for the Arts as well as in many Arizona productions. He currently has 3 screenplays that have been optioned and one film slated to go into production in 2013.
Lara Perkins is an Assistant Agent and the Digital Manager at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She has been with the agency for nearly three years and works closely with Senior Agent Laura Rennert. Lara has a B.A. in English and Fine Arts from Amherst College and an M.A. in English Literature from Columbia University. She has been on faculty at various national writers' conferences, including Book Passage, the Big Sur Writers' Conference, and the Atlanta Writers’ Conference.
Aprilynne Pike, critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times best-selling author has been spinning tales since she was a child with a hyper-active imagination. At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.
Janette Rallison is the award winning author of 19 novels that have sold over a million copies. Her books have also been on the IRA Young Adults’ Choices lists, Popular Picks, and many state reading lists. Her latest book is a time travel dystopia called Erasing Time. In her blog, she discusses the funny side of being a YA author http://janette-rallison.blogspot.com/
Chris Schoebinger is the Publishing Director and an Acquisitions Editor for Shadow Mountain Publishing. He’s discovered and launched several New York Times best-selling authors and award-winning authors such as Brandon Mull, Jason F. Wright, Obert Skye, Tyler Whitesides, Lisa Mangum, and Ally Condie. He also acquires manuscripts for Deseret Book Publishing and is the brand manager for million-selling LDS authors such as Sheri Dew and John Bytheway. Chris is also the #1 New York Times best-selling author for the children’s adaptation of Glenn Beck’s The Christmas Sweater.
Marsha Ward is an award-winning poet, writer and editor, with over 900 pieces of published work, including her acclaimed post-American Civil War novel series, The Owen Family Saga. She is the founder of American Night Writers Association, and a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Pikes Peak Writers, EPIC, Rim Country Writers, and LDStorymakers. Visit her website at www.marshaward.com.
Stacy Whitman is the Editorial Director of Tu Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books that publishes fantasy, science fiction, and mystery for children and young adults with a particular emphasis on diversity. In 2009, she founded a small press named Tu Publishing, dedicated to publishing multicultural fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, which was acquired by Lee & Low Books and became Tu Books.  She holds a master’s degree in children’s literature from Simmons College.

 

Come meet, mingle, and learn from this fantastic and knowledgeable faculty!

Register now for the 21^st Annual ANWA Writers Conference in Phoenix/Mesa, AZ by going to the website at

anwa-lds.com/conference  

 

Pass this message along to any writer or teacher you know that may be interested in attending. 

WRITERS CONFERENCE INFO!

21^st Annual ANWA Writers Conference Coming to Phoenix/Mesa

 

The American Night Writers Association is hosting it’s 21^st annual, national writers conference, “Time Out for Writers,” at the Phoenix East/Mesa Hilton Hotel on February 21-23, 2013.  Registration is now open to all writers, whether novice or published, and teachers!

 

The “Time Out for Writers” Conference offers:

 

• Classes – 36 classes to choose from for beginners, emerging, and professional writers of all genres and platforms!
• Workshops – query and pitch workshops on Thursday night
• Faculty - nationally recognized presenters including NY Times best selling authors, agents, editors and publishers will teach the classes
• Pitch Sessions  - Pitch your manuscript to national editors and publishers
• Contests – Enter the Beginning of Book (BOB) Contest with the first 500 words of your manuscript
• Protagonist Ball – Come dressed as your favorite protagonist to mingle, network and have fun with faculty and other attendees
• All-star Breakfast – the first 25 to register early and book their hotel room receives the opportunity to share a special breakfast with the faculty
• Bookstore – sell your books and/or purchase others’ at our onsite bookstore

 

NEW - AZ Educator Licensing - “Time Out for Writers” now offers Professional Development hours for AZ Educator Licensing!  Receive up to 17 Professional Development hours that can be applied toward the renewal of your Arizona Educator’s License!

 

Come develop your writing skills, your teaching skills, your marketing knowledge, your networking base and your creativity!

 

 

Register now for the 21^st Annual ANWA Writers Conference in Phoenix/Mesa, AZ by going to the website at

http://anwa-lds.com/index.php/conference.html

 

 

Contact, for more information or questions:

McKenna Gardner, Communications Chair,
communications@anwa-lds.com
(602) 697-5022

WHAT-DID-I-WEAR?

Remember last year around this time when I was stressing over what to wear for my pitch session at the ANWA Writers Conference I was attending? (If you need a refresher, click-a here-a.)

Well I pitched again at this year's conference *TWICE IN FACT* and didn't give my wardrobe much thought. Didn't even purchase a single new item. I was much more at ease. (Thank you, Lisa & Linda!)

Here was my Friday pitch outfit:
(Pitched to Publisher Shadow Mountain)

Notice the comfy flats I wore this time around

And here was Saturday's:
(Pitched to Publisher Walnut Springs

Broke free of the must-wear black and wore dark brown. Daring I know!

BOTH REQUESTED FULL MANUSCRIPTS which is the goal for any pitch--get them to ask for pages!

I've also been sending my manuscript out to a few agents since the end of January. One rejection so far and it was a quick "Thanks, but it's not for me" rejection. Standard.

And I should note that my novel has graduated...it's no longer a WIP (Work In Progress). Something new is taking its place (YAY!) because IDEAL HIGH is DONE!!!*

*at least done till an editor asks for revisions!

2 WIDGET WINNERS!

Joyce DiPastena and Stacy Johnson are the winners of $20 worth of Vinyl Expressions Vinyl Lettering!!! I will be contacting you personally to get your order!

And while I have everyone's attention...please click on the sidebar widget to get all the information about the upcoming ANWA Writers Conference. It is open to the general public so please tell everyone you know that is interested in writing at all. We have something for everyone--fiction writers, copy writers, poets, magazine writers, blogging, news writing...the list goes on...

CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO RE-POST THE WIDGET ON YOUR OWN BLOG (if you're on Blogger)

1. Click "Get Widget"--found under the countdown widget.

2. "widgetbox" appears, click on "Copy," then X out of the box.

3. Go to "Design" in Blogger.

4. Click on "Add a Gadget."

5. Select "HTML/Java Script" and click on the +.

6. Paste the copied code in the box, add a title if you'd like and "Save."

7. Drag the widget to wherever you want on the sidebar before saving changes.

Don't forget to leave a comment, so you will be entered in the contest when you are through posting the widget!!!

$20 worth of Vinyl Lettering could be yours!!!

Will You Widget?

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!

Help us share the ANWA Writers Conference Love by posting this countdown widget on your blog sidebar!

Just click on "Get Widget" to get the code, then leave a comment giving your blog name and you'll be entered to win $20 worth of Vinyl Expressions Vinyl Lettering!

Vinyl Lettering makes a wonderful Christmas gift! (Visit my other blog for sample ideas: vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)

The contest will be open till midnight December 31st!

COUNTDOWN TO THE FABULOUS ANWA WRITERS CONFERENCE BEGINS

STAY TUNED...DETAILS TO FOLLOW ON MY BLOG...

Till then check out the conference page at anwa-lds.com.

WE'VE GOT A NEW YORK AGENT COMING!!!

REGISTRATION GOES LIVE OCTOBER 1ST!!!

LDStorymakers

We finally have internet at our new house, so I no longer have an excuse for not posting on my blog...unless you want to count the myriad of things still left undone here at the new house as well as over at the old. I figure over time everything will eventually get done, right? A little here, a little there.

Alas, the little here, the little there theory does not a finished novel make. I'm finding that out. Moving to a new house or not, I have to get all my novel's sharp edges smoothed because I've committed to sending it to an agent ASAP.

But wait, I was going to talk about Storymakers...

There was much to love about the conference this time around. Outstanding classes taught by agents Sara Megibow and Sara Crowe to start with. They know their stuff and gave actual, use-worthy information.

Sheralyn Pratt's class on marketing was the same way--actual things normal people could do.

I enjoyed Annette Lyon's class on show, don't tell. Believe me, after all the years of classes, conferences, and book-reading I've done on the subject of writing, it's so refreshing to hear something new. She talked about micro showing and macro showing, and it was an eye opener. Feel free to email me and I'll share my notes.

The highlight, of course, was connecting with writer-friend-people. I tried hard to meet everyone "on my list," so thanks to everyone for being so nice. Hanging with my roomie, Tamara, till the wee hours was icing on the cake. We ran into fellow-attendee (and my former boot camp partner from last year) Susan at the airport and shared the flight home to Sunny AZ. Just more time to talk about conference and writing!

Mother's Day

I woke on Mother's Day preferring Ibuprofen-in-Bed instead of the traditional breakfast offerings. I think it's the consequence of no sleep for the last several days and two full days of conference-attending. We just moved into a new house, sleeping there for the first time the night I returned from Utah, so it was appropriate, I guess, that I "christen" the toilet. Sorry to be graphic, but I felt better after throwing up and my husband observed that it was a fitting tribute to my motherhood as I spent many a morning doing the same while pregnant with my various eight.

It was a lovely day with calls from children and time spent with the others. And I did eventually eat the omelet my husband made for me.

Of course, I think of my own mother who has been gone a long 16 years now. I think of how she might have loved doing what I am doing...in a writers group, attending retreats and conferences, learning new things, meeting new people, submitting her work, pitching to agents.

I have no pictures of my mom on this computer, so I took this one from the family blog. This goes way back...I'm like 14, 2nd from the right.

My sister posted a poem of our mother's on the family blog, so I thought I'd repost it here. It's a good reminder...

Reflections on Praise
by Eileen Giberson

A word of goodly praise
Is a shot of sunshine,
Like a lizard on a rock
I bask in the warm rays,
Turning, toasting; thinking
This spot uniquely mine.

Father,
I know you are not displeased
with kind words from a friend,
But let me not linger too long
In this pleasant sunbeam,
Lest it become a beam of another sort.
Only you, as Hopkins fitly penned,
Know what to avow, what to amend.
So let me seek your approbation,
Let me shape my self-esteem
In the light of revelation.

How was your day?

Is Miley Cyrus right?

Down to the wire here...the writers conference is this weekend and with it my scheduled pitch with an agent. I'm only telling you this because you know it's my first pitch and no one gets accepted their very first time. (You do know that, right?)

Remember the motto:
HIGH PATIENCE...LOW EXPECTATIONS!

Anyway, major fail in the credibility department before I even sit down to pitch on Saturday because I went shopping for a collar shirt but did not purchase one. My writer friend said she heard collar shirts lend credibility, so I'm sure that's what all the successful authors will be wearing.

Dang it.

On the way home I heard "The Climb" on the radio. It's supposed to be a very motivational song unless you're pitching your novel this weekend and you hear lyrics like "sometimes I'm gonna have to lose" and "ain't about how fast I get there."

What??!!

It's not about what's waitin' on the other side?!

Is it really about the climb???!!!

No.

Please tell me Miley's wrong.

Help me spread the conference love...

How about one more contest before the big fat ANWA WRITERS CONFERENCE next week?

In my previous post (2/13) I listed class details of the conference schedule. Here's what you do..

1. Copy the info and paste it into a blog post of your own.

2. In your post ask others to do the same.

3. Everyone report back on my blog saying that you did it.

4. You will be entered to win VINYL LETTERING of your choice. (One quote, within reasonable size)

+Contest closes Saturday, February 19th at midnight, so HURRY!+

As always, go to anwa-lds.com for conference information and registration.

ANWA WRITERS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE PHOENIX CROWNE PLAZA

CAN YOU SAY AWESOME?

That's what this year's writers conference is all about.

Yep! All. About. The. Awesome.

The conference is sponsored by the American Night Writers Association, but totally OPEN TO ANY AND ALL WRITERS!

This means you. It's time to come out of your writing closet.

Admit it. You want to be a writer.

Check out the class list below and see if one or ten of these classes are just what you need to jump start your writing...

CLASSES (FEBRUARY 25 & 26--Click on the link at the top of the sidebar for registration and more information)

Friday workshops are interactive and hands-on. Titles of classes that will be presented twice are followed by an asterisk (*).

Writing A Killer Query Letter (Friday Workshop)
Elana Johnson, author of Possessions, and query letter guru
Every submission, whether for a publisher or a literary agent, starts with a query letter. You can craft a query letter that will hook an editor or agent to request more material in just a few steps. Bring your one-page query letter to share, receive feedback, and leave this two-hour workshop with a killer query letter that will generate requests.

Sonoran Desert Tales—Making Nonfiction Fun for Young Readers (Friday Workshop)
Conrad J. Storad, author of Don't Call Me a Pig (A Javelina Story), and Rattlesnake Rules
To become a better writer one must write. Then write more. (Class includes writing exercises, discussion, sharing of exercises, handouts, prizes, and a demonstration of how to present non-fiction to your readers in an entertaining manner. NOT a session on how to get a children's book published. BRING paper and pen or other writing tool from which you can read your class work.)

Pitching to Agents, Editors, and Publishers (Friday Workshop)
Elana Johnson
So you think you want to pitch to an agent or editor? You don't need a 90 mph fastball, just a clear picture of how to talk to another human being about your book. Come learn how to say all the right things in all the right places that will impress an agent or editor enough to generate a request.

Read Me A Story—Reading Aloud to Cultivate the Art of Listening (Friday Workshop)
Conrad J. Storad
The art of listening is an acquired one. It must be taught and cultivated gradually—it doesn't happen overnight.

A Match Made in Heaven: Finding the Right Publisher and Convincing Them It's So (How to Submit)
Kirk Shaw, senior editor at Covenant Communications, Inc.; and freelance editor for David R. Godine, Publisher; Northwestern University Press; and other publishers
Finding the right publisher is like courting a potential mate: both need to feel it's the right move. How does an author narrow down all the possibilities to find the best option for her/his manuscript, and then go about proving she/he is a fine fit for the publisher?

Unlocking the Mystery of Writing YOUR History: Discover Your Roots and Strengthen the Branches of Your Family Tree
Carolyn Murphy, Phoenix Genealogy Examiner for Examiner.com, and founder of www.FamilyTreeQuest.com
Explore a wide-variety of easy tips and tools that make it plausible to integrate Personal History and Family History writing into your already busy schedule. Writing Personal or Family Histories can seem mysterious. Where do I begin? What do I do? How do I maintain my motivation? The task may seem mountainous—too big to undertake, too daunting to attempt to explore. The good news is that, in today's world, there are time-saving ideas and tools that simplify the challenge. Unlocking the mystery is simply a matter of gaining knowledge, "zeroing in" on choosing a specific task (whether large or small), working it into your routine, then maintaining your commitment and momentum.

The Three P's of Publishing, Promotion, and Publicity; or How to make Your Writing Pay, Pay, Pay! *
Cecily Markland, owner of Inglestone Pubishing, editor of The Beehive Newspaper, and a published author
So many choices, so little time? Learn the practices, principles and important pointers for publishing smart in today's market. Discover how to map out a publishing plan, decipher the pros and cons of the various publishing options, and create a publicity program that pays off.

Avoiding Childish Mistakes When Writing for Children
Kelly Sonnack, agent from Andrea Brown Literary Agency
What are some of the mistakes writers make when writing for children, and how can you avoid them? What are the things that make editors and agents cringe and stop reading? Kelly will discuss the pitfalls to avoid when writing your children’s book.

Ten Tips for Terrific Talking: Dialogue and Humor *
Janette Rallison, national YA author
Good dialogue advances your plot, reveals characterization, adds tension, and can enchant—or if you do it wrong—bore your reader. Learn ten helpful techniques for doing it right. But wait, there's more! Come to Janette's class and you'll receive information about humor at no extra charge! Some rules and restrictions apply. Void where prohibited by law . . .

How to Start a Book and Get it Finished
Laurie Schnebly Campbell, author of Believable Characters: Creating with Enneagrams and noted teacher of online courses
For writers anywhere in the process from imagining a book to completing the final chapter, this class looks at how, when and why to start writing, roadblocks and solutions along the way, and what to do after reaching The End.

Barnes & Noble: Who Are We? *
J. Paul Deason, Community Relations Manager, Barnes & Noble
Barnes and Noble's roles in the book world, and the changes in book publishing. Avenues to take to get your book published and out there.

Write What You Know: Gleaning from Reality to Make Characters Breathe *
Angela Morrison, author of YA novels Sing Me to Sleep and Taken by Storm
Gather, delve into, and create, using Angela's favorite techniques to turn what we know, love, learn, and yearn for into living characters to populate our scenes.

Beginning Songwriting For The Versatile Writer In You
Chava Cannon, award-winning singer-songwriter and member of BMI
Calling all story-tellers! Did you know that songwriting is story-telling set to music? After this 1 hour class, you too will have the skills to write a song. You will learn basic song formatting, do's and don'ts, and how to get started. Pre-requisite: NONE. No musical skill required, just the willingness to step outside the "Novel" box. Come join in the FA LA LA and add songwriting to your resume.

Perils of Publishing: Extreme Makeover—Editing Edition
Kelly Gottuso Mortimer, agent and owner of Mortimer Literary Agency

Block-busting: Putting the Joy Back in Writing
Laurie Schnebly Campbell
At some point, almost all writers suffer from the inability to tell the story they want. Part of writer's block is a lack of joy in the process, so counselor Laurie Schnebly Campbell looks at the causes—including exhaustion, boredom and fear of success—and the benefits of this block. Take home new awareness of what works for you, and renewed inspiration for returning to the craft you love.

Write What You Live
Chris Stewart, best-selling author of The Great and Terrible series, and other books
There are a couple of things you really can't fake your way through, like rock climbing, flying airplanes, surgery, and yes . . . writing. That's why it's so important to write about the things you really know. The things you really feel. The things that matter to you most.

Panel
Kirk Shaw, Kelly Sonnack, Kelly Gottuso Mortimer, Cecily Markland, and J. Paul Deason

Hope you're as excited about the conference as I am!

WRITEONCON COMING TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU

I just heard about this crazy new idea over at Elana Johnson's blog--a Writers Conference ONLINE! It's for YA Writers and it's free, free, FREE! After viewing the vlog (Humor them. They went to all that trouble to make one and who wouldn't want to see Elana eating Oreos and bacon) click on the widgety-link image on my sidebar to get to a website spilling all the details.



"See" you at the conference!

I have not yet begun to procrastinate!

*A post in which I try to make up for not posting...in case anyone cares...*

So, yeah. I've been home from the Storymakers conference for a week now and still no witty and/or insightful posts on the subject. No need to feel cheated, though, it's everywhere. Truly everyone is talking about it.

Highlights...

--a class presented by Anita Stansfield--author of 47 novels.

47.

I don't believe I've read a single one, but the point is she wrote 47 novels while being a wife and mother. It gave me hope for my measly novel of 1 that I'd like to see published. (Who am I kidding...I'd like to even just see it finished--my current assessment [read "lie"] that I tell myself is that I only have three more chapters, then its done.) (And the truth is I've got way more than 1 novel idea gathering dust bunnies in my brain. This is what compels me onward--the other stories want their turn.) (It's a curse, I tell you.)

Wait, was I talking about something else...Anita. Yes. Probably the best thing she taught us was to place our families first and make sure they know that they are (that's key) and she taught us about prioritizing and having messy houses, etc.

--a boot camp assignment at Elana Johnson's table. In two words: She's good. (And she doesn't like italics where the author tries to tell the reader that they need to read a particular word or phrase with emphasis, so I purposefully italicized the words describing her!) I learned from every critique she offered, whether for my work or another's in the group. And she didn't totally tear my chapter apart--she said I was clever and it was overwritten in places. I loved that because I can totally go back and underwrite something. I can.

--literary agent Laura Rennert's class covering everything from query letters, creating a pitch, and key ingredients for successful fiction. She gave actual practical tips for succeeding in the quest for an agent. She boiled down the essential elements needed in a query--answer the questions WHO, WHAT, WHERE, AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? That's all an agent needs to know about your story. To come away from a class presented by a national market agent and not be terribly discouraged about my chances was also nothing short of amazing.

--Stacy Anderson's (She's an ANWA member) presentation on marketing and publishing. Again, actual useable information. That's what I longed for in some (many?) of the classes I attended, so hers was very refreshing. She had an excellent handout that she would probably share with you if you asked.

--hanging with friends/meeting new people/seeing famous people that I didn't take pictures of or with.

Regrets
-I wish someone would have told me how amazing Dave Wolverton was going to be and I would have signed up for his two-part presentation.
-Plus I missed out on Elana Johnson's query workshop which I knew would be awesome and afterward heard that it was. I just didn't sign up in time.
-feeling physically so tired and sickish the whole time. I was ibuprofen-popping everyday and that is so not like me. (Why can't we stay up late giggling and chiding Peggy for wearing an Edward shirt to bed (and talking shop) and then get up early for boot camp and attend classes aaaall-daaaay-loooong and feel just wonderful??!! It's not fair.)

There's more...so much more...plus I do have some pictures. There's always tomorrow...

[LDS Storymakers] Conference Weekend

Yesterday my sister asked if I was getting excited for my planned weekend to the LDS Storymakers Conference. "I'm getting nervous" was my reply and I launched into the varied reasons why writers conferences are so different than other seemingly similar venues.

Most conferences you attend, you choose your classes, sit in anonymity in each one scribbling notes on pads of paper, and then go away having gleaned copious amounts of information.

There's a whole other side to a writers conference.

There's the networking, the connections to be made (okay, that's redundant), the "see and be seen" factor (okay, kind of redundant, again). Generally we all have a finished work or work in progress that we want to "be seen," and, of course, we want to "see" all those writers who have crossed the line into the magical world of being called authors.

This is why I am nervous.

I will see authors.

People who have published actual books.

Fortunately, name tags will be employed, but still, if I come face to face with one (of them) don't I need to be able to match the name with their published work so as not to appear totally off the literary/Amazon/DB planet? I should have been cramming the entire last week with flash cards--okay, James Dashner-The Maze Runner-MC:Thomas, Josi Kilpack-Devil's Food Cake-MC:Sadie, Heather Moore-Alma-MC:Alma, Joyce DiPastena-Illuminations of the Heart-MC:Suri...oh, wait I know her! Whew! And bonus, I have actually read her book.

[Note to self: Stand near Joyce as much as she'll allow.]

In addition to authors, there will be a myriad of people there who I know only through their blog or through our online writing associations. So, see, I know their names and quite a bit about them, but have never spoken face to face. How do I approach them? "Oh, my gosh, it's you "Queen of the Clan" blogger ...um...um... thanks for that comment you left on my blog last February...um..." Of course, half the bloggers are also authors, so I need to remember their blog and published work.

Again, thank goodness for name tags because (and I'm not referring to anyone real or fictional) there's often a "lost in translation" moment when you go from knowing someone just by their little bloggy photo and then meeting them in person.

Just saying.

So that's the "see" aspect of writer's conferences.

Now as far as being seen and your work being seen, that ups the nervousness factor considerably.

There will be editors in attendance.

Actual people who make decisions about whether writers cross the line into the magical world of being called authors.

I daresay I don't need to elaborate, except to say if you come face to face with one (of them) WHAT WILL YOU SAY? It must be something half way intelligent and if it could be half way intelligent about your own manuscript, then all the better. You've gotta have a well-rehearsed pitch--one that's short and non-rambling. [See elanajohnson.blogspot.com today for her post on this very subject.] Even if you don't get to talk to an editor (or don't force yourself upon an editor) a thousand other people will ask you about your novel just in casual conversation.

Must. Be. Prepared.

By now you are beginning to wonder--why subject ourselves to the frenzy that is LDS Storymakers?

Because it's the most fun frenzy ever!

Imagine an entire Grand Ballroom of crazy people who get it.

They get writing and writers.

And anything anyone says about writing, no matter what it is, you have a whole ballroom-sized group of people nodding like bobble-heads in agreement. And because it's sponsored by a group with "LDS" as their first name, you also have a ballroom of people who are kind and so amazingly supportive of each other [and have standards] and can become your friends and critique partners and help you navigate your road to publication.

And if that's not all enough, then there is the choosing of classes, sitting and scribbling notes on pads of paper, and coming away with copious amounts of information.

I love that part.

Sightings at the recent ANWA Conference & Book Signing

Authors Joyce DiPastena and Donna Hatch

happy to talk about their books!

Children's Author Cindy Williams with something important to say.

Author Janette Rallison lending a listening ear.

Excited Karen E. Hoover with her new book

The Sapphire Flute--

set to be released in 2 weeks!!!

Peon writers begging for photo ops with

famous author Aprilynne Pike.

If you're on the ANWA board you may have to do things like this...



...but you also get to do things like this...

dinner with presenters after the conference!
(some skipped out before photo op)


And cake. Yummy chocolate cake!



Thanks to all who planned, presented, attended.

It was an amazing day!

May I expound?

On my sidebar I have been advertising a writer's conference that will take place in Mesa, AZ at the end of February. I don't know if you realize the awesomeness of the authors who will be presenting at this conference, so let me tell you...


J. Scott Savage--author of the Farworld fantasy series and very funny, entertaining speaker. He's flying in from out of state to be the keynote.


Excuse me. Author of the bestseller Wings! Aprilynne Pike from right here in Phoenix. I can't wait to hear about her writing journey that took her all the way to the top.


These is My Words author Nancy E. Turner. Another Arizonan. She is an expert on historical writing.


Magazine writer, Sara Fujimura She really knows the biz.


Dr. Pamela Goodfellow--writing coach, editor, and publisher. Here to share all the ins and outs of the publishing market.


What's hot right now? Ebooks! Marsha Ward has bravely delved into this new world and will teach us how. She's the author of the Owen Family Series--there's a trailer on my sidebar featuring her newest release Trail of Storms. She's the founder of ANWA and mentor to many.


Counselor and author, Helen Bair will show us how to unlock the creative mind.


Doug Johnston, Publicist and Owner of Little Red Ride Promotions, will address all you want to know about publicity for you and your book

Click the link for more info: Awesome Writing Conference
Conference sponsored by


Where else can you get so many successful authors at such a bargain price! I've been attending ANWA's conferences for years and always loooooooove them, but this one just may prove to be the best. (And I'm not just saying that because I am the General VP of this fine writing establishment.)

The Route by Gale Sears

Okay, so do you pronounce it route like "rowt" or route like "root"? Of course, people pronounce root two different ways, so that doesn't help. Anyway, for the purposes of this blog and so we're all on the same page, lets just say we're pronouncing it "rowt." Okay, I feel better knowing that is out of the way...

Gale Sears' The Route (remember "rowt") tells the story of a 50-ish (gotta love the -ish) woman who delivers meals to the elderly as a volunteer. Along the way, or rather, along the route, she learns about aging and death, but mostly about how to live. The story is told in first person, which is unusual, and admittedly a bit awkward (for me) at first, but then it totally works. You are right there in the front seat with Carol, the main character, carrying the basket of food, knocking doors, learning when to set it on the table or in the fridge, chatting about ex-husbands, and bracing yourself for ornery Viola's rebuke at the end of the line.

Reading this book was a total flashback for me because I volunteered for a semester with Meals on Wheels years ago when I attended Weber State. It was for college credit and they never let me actually drive or go on my own, but I think some of the people Carol met were the same ones I delivered to! :D Plus I had a visiting teaching route for a while in a nursing home. Now those were some wild times! I could write a book about it...

Anyway, the book was a fun ride. (And don't say you didn't know I was going to use that pun.) It made me ponder the age-old (and that pun, too) questions of why some suffer so much more than others and what can we learn from the elderly in our own lives. How will we treat aging parents when they can no longer adequately care for themselves? Carol changes and grows through her experiences and so do we alongside her.

Author Gale was kind enough to answer my intriguing interview questions: (I feel I can call her Author Gale because as you'll read later, I did meet her once in an elevator.)

>This book seems a departure from what you usually write, what got you excited about this particular work?

>>This book was actually written prior to my trilogy, but it was set on the shelf for a couple of years while I worked on other projects. I loved writing this book because I loved the people I served for two years on my meals-on-wheels route.

>Did the book “write itself” because of your personal experience and knowing the real characters the characters were based on?

>>The story did flow for me because I had so much inspiration from the wonderful seniors on my route. There were some real characters in the mix, as well as brave souls and sweethearts. How could you not love a cranky little 85-year-old who dressed in bright pink keds, fishing hats, and flowered dusters, belted by a man's tie? [Note from Blogger Me: You're right, Gale. By the end of the book I did love her.]

>A blurb on the back of your book by Kerry Blair says, “This is a book to read in one sitting...” How does that make you feel knowing a reader might very well read it in one sitting and you labored over it for...how long did you labor, by the way?

>>It took me about 7 months to get the book to a place I liked, and I don't mind at all when people say they read it in one sitting. It's actually a compliment. For me it means that the story was engaging enough to keep their interest.

>Give me one sentence from your book, no context.

>>"Over several months, Ladora has added a ceramic burro, an ugly Norwegian troll, and two more Chia pets to her collection." [Blogger Me: Dibs on the ugly Norwegian troll.]

Gale Sears is already an accomplished author with The Autumn Sky trilogy: Autumn Sky, Until the Dawn, and Upon the Mountains. Christmas for a Dollar, a children's picture book, with illustrations by Ben Sowards, will be released in October. Two books in the same year. Sweet! Now back to the questions...

>What’s your current writing project?

>>Currently I'm working on getting my finished novel published. It is historical fiction and take place in 1917 Russia during the Bolshivek Revolution.I'm also working on another Christmas story for publication in 2010.

>Do you remember me running into you in the elevator at the Marriot last April? I’m kidding—you an author of tons of books, me the author of none. What are the chances you would remember me? But what might someone say to you in an elevator that would be memorable?

>>You're so funny. You have to remember that I'm getting old and I barely remember the Marriot. What were we there for, anyway? [Blogger Me: If my memory serves it was the Storymakers conference. I didn't actually introduce myself, but tried to turn just right so you'd be able to read my name tag. I'm kidding, but I did say something inane...can't remember it either.]

Hmm...something memorable? How about, "Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Sally Fields?" I'd really laugh at that one.

You're kind to compliment me on having written a few books, but it truly doesn't elevate me above anyone. We're all writers together. Each of us has a story to tell: in letters, journals, personal history, magazine articles, short stories, first chapters, novels, poems...the list could go on and on. Working on our craft is the important thing. [Blogger Me: That's what I tell my kids... "Working on the craft, okay? Give me a minute." Maybe I'll put that on a sign on my office door.]

Anyway, thank you Gale Sears for the interview! And for the rest of you, here's how you can get your hands on this book:

walnutspringspress.blogspot.com
galesears.blogspot.com
deseretbook.com
amazon.com

LDS Storymakers Conference

Here's just a sampling of the crazy, fun kind of people I hung out with last weekend at the LDS Storymakers conference in Provo, UT. I hope you recognize some of them because they are all published authors and most are in the LDS Fiction market--and believe me, some are like rock stars to Mormon folk. If you want me to name drop, I will...

James Dashner
J. Scott Savage
Josi Kilpack
Rachel Ann Nunes
Tristi Pinkston
H.B. (Heather) Moore
Julie Wright
BJ Rowley
Annette Lyon
Jaime Theler

There were others, too, that weren't in the video, that I got to rub shoulders with: Matthew Buckley, Julie Bellon, Janette Rallison, Marsha Ward, Liz Adair... The conference was an overload of awesome information and RAH RAH RAH encouragment. I will blog about it soon...

Note that I figured out how to insert links so that you can click on a name and magically there you are at their website or blog! One small computer-technology step conquered...