Illuminations of the Heart BLOG TOUR

Next week the fun begins as Joyce Dipastena's recent release, Illuminations of the Heart begins its blog-hopping jaunt through the blogosphere. Monday, August 10th through Friday, September 18th (except weekends and Labor Day), you can find daily reviews and the occasional author interview with Joyce herself. And guess what? If you leave a comment, you'll be entered in a drawing for an autographed copy of the book. You can comment on more than one review and thus be entered more than one time. Click here for an exciting blog tour kickoff Joyce is hosting on her own site August 7th. Let's just say, prizes are involved!

Here's the schedule: (Be sure to visit me on my blog August 18th!)
August 10 Mormon Hermit Mom's Book Habit
August 11 Amesbury Reads
August 12 Heather Justesen
August 13 Rachelle's Writing Spot
August 14 Cami's Books and Fit Mommas
August 17 Jewel's World
August 18 Of Writerly Things
August 19 Frespa Fan
August 20 Of Good Report
August 21 Rachel Rager
August 24 Boojoos and Aprilcots
August 25 Musings from an LDS Writing Mom
August 26 Queen of the Clan
August 27 Write Bravely
August 28 Dreams of Quill and Ink
August 31 *Trisit Pinkston
September 1 Vicissitudes
September 2 Tangeled Words and Dreams
September 3 Random-ish by Nichole and LDSwritersBlogck
September 4 SeriouslyŠ and latterdayauthors
September 7 Lu Ann's Book Review
September 9 Reading for Sanity
September 10 Taffy's Candy
September 11 The Write Blocks
September 14 Why Not? Because I Said So! and LDSWomensBookReview
September 15 Ink Splasher
September 16 Romance Old School
September 17 Blog the Day Away
September 18 Walnut Springs Press

Writerly Humor

For a sample of what writers laugh at check out this video on Sarah Eden's website. It will be funnier if you have read the books shown in the video. They are listed at the end.

BTW, Sarah's the very talented author of "Seeking Persphone."

Note: I have tried all kinds of ways to link to Sarah's website so that one click would take you right there, but the linky-link thing refuses to work today. You'll have to do it yourself...sarahmeden.com. Look for "What Do You Get When You Ask Me to Present at a Writer's Retreat?"

WHAT?...!! It's not "THE END"?

Last weekend I read a book. After being 39th in line on the waiting list at the library for this particular book, my turn had come! Friday evening, barely before closing time, I checked the book out and that night I began to read. I was hooked from the start. It was a pleasure to read such a well-written book. My life for the next 24 hours revolved around this book. I raced to the end...how would it all be resolved? I had to know. As the pages became fewer and fewer, I wondered, how is the author going to be able to do it? How can she tie up all these loose ends to my satisfaction? What can she do in so few pages? She must be a genius.

Well, she is a genius in a way, and only following a general trend in publishing of leading into the all-mighty SEQUEL!

AHHHHHH! I was so angry. I got to the last page and instead of "THE END," it said "END OF BOOK ONE." What??????? No closure? Now I can only HUNGER for more?

The title of the book is fitting...



[Originally posted at anwafounder.blogspot.com]

Debbie West Coon

Another contest to promote! This time the winner receives this beautiful CD. How can I say it's beautiful when I haven't heard it before? Because I have her first CD, that's how. It's one of my favorites for Sunday listening. At the Not Entirely British blog you can listen to a sample and enter the contest. That's what I'm doing. Wish me luck! ;)

Rubbing Shoulders at the Writer's Retreat

Last week it was my privilige to attend the annual writer's retreat of The American Night Writer's Association. We wrote, ate chocolate, attended workshops, chatted about writing and everything else all day long, and stayed up late chatting and eating chocolate, oh... and writing some more.

The authors of these books were there...

Joyce DiPastena


Cindy R. Williams


Marsha Ward


Tina Scott


Donna Hatch


Sarah M. Eden


Janette Rallison


Pretty cool! Maybe some of their book-writing-and-publishing smarts will rub off on me...

I want to win this, don't you?

But don't enter here because it affects my chances. You can also click on the snazzy pink and blue button that you'll find as you scroll down my sidebar. But again don't do it. (Just kidding, Danyelle--I really am promoting your blog contest--wink, wink)

The author of Agent in Old Lace, Tristi Pinkston, is such a crazy, fun person that if even just a pinky-full of her personality is in this book, it's gotta be a great read. I'll win it, you go buy it. Deal? I'm sure you can go here and find out where to purchase it.
See. I'm nice. I share information.

Story of a Homecoming

Waiting, waiting...

Where is he?

I see him! It's him! It's him!

There he is! (no, not the guy with the baby)

Mom gets the first hug...

Together again!

Home at last!


Stay tuned for the second installment coming August '09 when another cute Elder Ipson returns from Italy!