MEET & GREET!

 

IDEAL HIGH

Contemporary YA--75,000 words

Complete manuscript available upon request

 

 

In another attempt to get my YA manuscript, IDEAL HIGH, "out there" I've jumped into a Blog Hop sponsored by Deana Barnhart of the self-titled blog, Deana Barnhart. Throughout the month of September, she is offering pitch-to-agents-and-small-publisher opportunities on her blog.

Today is the informal Meet & Greet, complete with get-to-know-you questions...so, welcome to visitors old and new!

Where do you write? Almost anywhere, even while driving, but the serious, save-able stuff happens at my desk in my office.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see? My orange "Page Up Original." If you don't know what that is and you are a writer, Google it. You'll wonder how you lived without it.

Favorite time to write? When everyone's gone to school & work & the house is quiet. Really though, my favorite time is whenever the creative juices are flowing and the story "works."

Drink of choice while writing? Ice water or nothing.

When writing, do you listen to music or do you need complete silence? I sometimes listen to music as I'm settling in to write. I have a playlist that gets me in the mood of my story, but while writing it can be distracting. Music leads to singing, which leads to dancing...

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it? I started out trying to write a poem (never a good idea if you're not a poet) wherein I apologized to a girl from high school that no one ever spoke to. I don't think she was bullied, she was just "invisible." Around that time I noticed a short mention in the newspaper of an accident where high-schoolers were killed and those two elements inspired IDEAL HIGH.

What's your most valuable writing tip? When in doubt, take it out.

http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2012/08/gutgaa-meet-and-greet-sign-ups-and.html

Yeah, it's like that...

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/08/the-publishing-process-in-gif-form.html

I laughed till I cried.

"A Night on Moon Hill" and a contest

 

 

Swimming is Daphne’s one refuge–until the night she finds a body in her pool.

University professor and renowned author Daphne Lessing has never felt at ease in society. But a disturbing occurrence in her once calm and controlled existence suddenly unearths events from her past and thrusts an unusual child into her life.

Ten-year-old Eric has Asperger’s syndrome and is obsessed with fishing and angels. Soon, Daphne finds herself attached to him–and faced with a choice: Does she leave him and return to her solitary, ordered life, trusting others to do right by him, or does she allow this bright child to draw her into the world she has tried to shun? And what about the man that came into Daphne’s life with Eric? Will she be able to shut him out as well?

 

 

Here's the link to winning tons of prizes... http://www.tanyaparkermills.com/moleskine-monday-a-contest/

AND THE WINNER IS...

JOAN SOWARDS!

Please email me your address...actually I already have your address here somewhere, so I will forward it to the author and he'll get the book to you in the mail!

All around the world, Latter-day Saint children go to church, sing songs, pray, read scriptures, participate in family home evening, and get baptized. We may meet in different types of buildings or speak different languages, but we have a lot in common. Why? Because no matter where we live, we all love and believe in Jesus, and He loves each one of us just the same. Are you like Pablo, Dimitri, Bayani, Junpei, and Shamara? Do you believe in Jesus too? 

Just one look at the cover and I knew I would love this book.

Inside, the illustrations are even more beautiful, and the text? As beautiful as the pictures.

It's a simple read that children will love hearing over and over. My youngest is 11, so while she did read it, I see this as the kind of book I will want to give to each of my grandchildren as I get more of them. It would be a great tradition to give as a gift to celebrate a milestone--like when each child starts Primary at the age of 3.

Author Mark S. Neilsen has been teaching Seminary for the last 10 years in Mesa, AZ and has been writing children’s books on the side. This is his first to be published. Find him at marksneilsen.com. The illustrator is Craig Stapley of northern Utah.

And LUCKY YOU for visiting my blog today! Author Mark is offering a GIVEAWAY! One lucky commenter (maybe that's not a word because no matter how I spell it, it looks wrong) will receive a copy of his book. I'm pretty sure it will even be a signed copy.

RANDOM RULES:
Regular old comment = entry
Facebook mention = entry
Twitter mention = entry

Basically if you spread the word about the book and the chance to win it here on my blog and then tell me about it, you can be entered mutiple times to WIN.

I'll take comments until Father's Day this weekend (midnight Sunday), then announce the winner next Monday, the 18th--on my dad's birthday!

 Easy Peasy.

Million Dollar Diva

I know what you're thinking...the title, the cover...this looks like the perfect breezy, girly novel for your beach getaway this summer. Well, you'd be right about one thing...it is a great read, while lounging on the beach or otherwise, but it isn't a novel. Check the subtitle: The Smart Woman's Guide to Getting Rich Safely. It still catches your interest, doesn't it? It did mine. In fact, I read it almost in one sitting--it was that easy to read. Don't think for a second, though, that the info found on its pages is light and airy and easily discounted. This is packed with great, very-doable advice. Sure I read it in a few hours, but now I'll go back with pen and paper (and spouse) in hand, ready to make a plan.

Authors Tristi Pinkston (whose financial journey this is), Brett Kitchens, and Ethan Kap (the financial whiz-kids) have a great offer going until June 15th. If you go to their website at http://www.milliondollardiva.com you can get a free copy of the book and only pay for shipping and handling---$5.95. Offer expires June 15th.

You are also invited to follow Tristi's continuing success on the blog portion of the site. She will share her journey as she and her family apply the financial principles found in the book.

NOTE: If you miss out on the free book (but why will you, go to the website right now!), here's the purchase link from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-DivaMoneyMillionaire/dp/097943405X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335017881&sr=8-1

Celebrate the reason for the season

May we remember Him.