Last month one of my teenage daughters performed in a community musical. Just prior to the performance my husband and I attended, my daughter was playing around backstage with one of her friends. He tickled her and in her attempt to get away from him, she conked her nose on a sink. As we entered the theater for the performance, one of the directors told us what had happened and that our daughter was okay and wanted to perform. We sat in the back row and when she came on stage my husband said, "Wow, her nose is huge." All I could think about was The Brady Bunch episode when Marcia steps out of the house only to get nailed in the face by a football. Marcia's nose was enormous and so was my daughter's.
Two doctor visits later confirmed that she'd broken her nose. Of course, you don't really wear a cast on your nose so we had to wait for the swelling to go down, and to see how it healed before we could determine the next step.
Today she underwent surgery to correct her nose and, thankfully, all went well. She is now bandaged and showing signs of bruising and swelling. It has been quite the experience. (Note to self: Don't let said daughter be in a play with said friend if there is a sink nearby).
Since it's spring break, my kids have all been enjoying the outdoors. One of my other daughters was jumping on the trampoline and even though we have a safety net, she found a way to land, bottom first, on the metal rim. When she was telling my husband about it he said, "You must've broken your bottom."
She looked at him and said, "I did?"
"Do you know how I can tell?" he asked.
"How?"
"Because I can see the crack from here."
We all cracked up (I mean, laughed). Okay, so it's a little coarse, but is my husband funny or what?
So it's been Talley Hospital lately. I guess that's what happens when you have kids :).
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Conference Notes
The LDStorymakers Conference was amazing. I learned so much and it was great to see so many people all as excited as me about writing. It was fun to meet people in person, too.
The hotel was very nice, except there was much too much chlorine in the pool. My poor kids and husband all looked like their eyes were going to explode, but they loved every minute of it. I appreciated the nice big rooms and that we were able to have a connecting room.
I learned so much from the internet promotion class that Tristi Pinkston and Candace Salima taught. I'd heard about podcasting, but learned about how to do my own. We were also shown movie trailers about books by a new company. They showed us James Dashner's book promo movie and it was cool. They also showed us an interview with Candace that turned out great. It seems to be a new way to advertise books. What will they think of next?
I also learned a lot from Jaime Theler and Shirley Bahlmann about writing nonfiction. They were both entertaining and informative.
I enjoyed listening to Jessica Day George. She is hilarious. I loved her presentation.
It was so exciting to attend the Whitney Awards and hear who won. Josi Kilpack made me have tears and so did Michele Holmes. I was so excited for both of them and for Heather Moore. The dinner was delicious and it was great to see Dean Hughes, Jennie Hansen, and Anita Stansfield receive awards for all they've contributed to LDS fiction. All in all, the Whitney gala was exceptional.
It was well worth the six hour drive to attend the conference. I absolutely enjoyed every second of it.
The hotel was very nice, except there was much too much chlorine in the pool. My poor kids and husband all looked like their eyes were going to explode, but they loved every minute of it. I appreciated the nice big rooms and that we were able to have a connecting room.
I learned so much from the internet promotion class that Tristi Pinkston and Candace Salima taught. I'd heard about podcasting, but learned about how to do my own. We were also shown movie trailers about books by a new company. They showed us James Dashner's book promo movie and it was cool. They also showed us an interview with Candace that turned out great. It seems to be a new way to advertise books. What will they think of next?
I also learned a lot from Jaime Theler and Shirley Bahlmann about writing nonfiction. They were both entertaining and informative.
I enjoyed listening to Jessica Day George. She is hilarious. I loved her presentation.
It was so exciting to attend the Whitney Awards and hear who won. Josi Kilpack made me have tears and so did Michele Holmes. I was so excited for both of them and for Heather Moore. The dinner was delicious and it was great to see Dean Hughes, Jennie Hansen, and Anita Stansfield receive awards for all they've contributed to LDS fiction. All in all, the Whitney gala was exceptional.
It was well worth the six hour drive to attend the conference. I absolutely enjoyed every second of it.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Breaking News
For anyone interested in the Whitney Awards that will be presented on Saturday evening for excellence in LDS fiction, there's a blg now set up that will feature minute-by-minute happenings as the awards are presented.
Here's the address: whitneyawards.blogspot.com. Be sure to check it out on Saturday night.
Here's the address: whitneyawards.blogspot.com. Be sure to check it out on Saturday night.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Conference Time
The LDStorymakers Conference is this weekend. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. I'll be able to meet some of my bloggy (to quote Kathleen) friends as well as see other friends again. I'm excited to attend the classes and learn how to improve my writing. I know the guest speakers will be incredible and I'm very excited to learn who will win the Whitney Awards. I love just thinking about attending a "gala." Woo hoo, I'm going to a gala.
While I'm at the conference I'll be able to sell books and give away promotional items. Since Heaven Scent includes an important reference to perfume (hence the title), I've designed a fragrance with the help of Karlene Browning and I will be giving away samples at the conference. I love how it smells, just as I imagined it in my book. I also have beautiful bookmarks that Cedar Fort desgined and printed for me. And since I think chocolate is one of the four main food groups (next to ice cream, peanut M&Ms, and licorice) it's quite possible I'll have chocolate to hand out as well. Now that I've written it down, it all sounds like a bribe, which, I guess, it is.
I will also be selling my picture book, Grasshopper Pie, though I promise not to hand out any live grasshoppers :)
This will be a fun weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.
While I'm at the conference I'll be able to sell books and give away promotional items. Since Heaven Scent includes an important reference to perfume (hence the title), I've designed a fragrance with the help of Karlene Browning and I will be giving away samples at the conference. I love how it smells, just as I imagined it in my book. I also have beautiful bookmarks that Cedar Fort desgined and printed for me. And since I think chocolate is one of the four main food groups (next to ice cream, peanut M&Ms, and licorice) it's quite possible I'll have chocolate to hand out as well. Now that I've written it down, it all sounds like a bribe, which, I guess, it is.
I will also be selling my picture book, Grasshopper Pie, though I promise not to hand out any live grasshoppers :)
This will be a fun weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
News Article
I really haven't dropped off the face of the earth. I've just been so swamped with projects and trying to keep on top of the household chores. I'm also getting ready to attend the LDStorymakers conference next week.
I've been attempting to promote my book. I contacted the local newspaper where my kids attend school and asked if someone would be willing to do a feature article and/or review my book. I was told a resounding "no" because my book has religious/spiritual content and the Editor felt it wasn't right for the community. I then approached an area newspaper and asked the same thing. The Features Editor agreed to read my book.
Doug Johnston, the Public Relations Director at Cedar Fort, sent her a copy and within a week she contacted me. Not only did she enjoy the book, but she also mentioned she might pull out a Book of Mormon someone had given her and read it again. Is that cool or what? She was so complimentary and so kind. And, she wrote a great 1/2 page article for the Religion section of the newspaper. I'm thrilled she liked my book and I was very pleased to see the article with a large image of my cover. I've had positive feedback from people who've read the print edition and the online story.
In case you're interested, here's the link A message of hope: LDS writer makes debut with novel "Heaven Scent."
I so appreciate the article and all of the comments online about it. It was fun to see it in the newspaper and my sweet husband brought it home already framed for me.
I've been attempting to promote my book. I contacted the local newspaper where my kids attend school and asked if someone would be willing to do a feature article and/or review my book. I was told a resounding "no" because my book has religious/spiritual content and the Editor felt it wasn't right for the community. I then approached an area newspaper and asked the same thing. The Features Editor agreed to read my book.
Doug Johnston, the Public Relations Director at Cedar Fort, sent her a copy and within a week she contacted me. Not only did she enjoy the book, but she also mentioned she might pull out a Book of Mormon someone had given her and read it again. Is that cool or what? She was so complimentary and so kind. And, she wrote a great 1/2 page article for the Religion section of the newspaper. I'm thrilled she liked my book and I was very pleased to see the article with a large image of my cover. I've had positive feedback from people who've read the print edition and the online story.
In case you're interested, here's the link A message of hope: LDS writer makes debut with novel "Heaven Scent."
I so appreciate the article and all of the comments online about it. It was fun to see it in the newspaper and my sweet husband brought it home already framed for me.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
New Blog
I'm happy to announce the creation of a new blog.
A Ton of Authors and a Wannabe features posts by 20 Cedar Fort authors, including me, and Doug Johnston, the Public Relations Director (he's the Wannabe). It's quite a diverse group. You should check it out. We'll have new posts regularly as well as links to all the authors' websites, other blogs, and sites of interest. We're hoping this will become one of your favorite blogs!
Happy reading.
A Ton of Authors and a Wannabe features posts by 20 Cedar Fort authors, including me, and Doug Johnston, the Public Relations Director (he's the Wannabe). It's quite a diverse group. You should check it out. We'll have new posts regularly as well as links to all the authors' websites, other blogs, and sites of interest. We're hoping this will become one of your favorite blogs!
Happy reading.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Writing This and That
I've left my last post up longer than usual in an affort to entice you to read the first chapter of Heaven Scent and, hopefully, further entice you to purchase a copy. Did it work? Maybe I could try subliminal messages. (That reminds me of a Saturday Night Live skit decades ago that had someone--Kevin Nealon, maybe--talking and giving subliminal messages within the talk. Maybe I should do that as I talk to people. No, they'd probably just think I was looney. (They might be right!)
It's taken almost 2 weeks for Amazon to finally list my book accurately, but now it is listed as being available--woo hoo. I'm hoping bookstores will have it available soon.
A year ago I didn't know much about blogs, let alone write one. I now have my personal blog and I also contribute to the ANWA blog with several other LDS women. In about a week, we'll launch a blog of Cedar Fort authors to which I will also contribute. Lots of opportunities to write. I love it.
I'm getting ready, and very excited, to attend the LDStorymakers conference. I'm looking forward to meeting my "cyber buddies" and learning a lot from the conference classes. I'm also excited to attend the Whitney Gala. I can't wait to not only meet the authors whose books are finalists, but to witness the winners in each category. What a great idea to implement awards for the best in LDS fiction.
I've also joined LDStorymakers and have been enjoying getting to know the other Storymakers. What a fun group full of so much knowledge and willingness to help each other.
I love writing!
It's taken almost 2 weeks for Amazon to finally list my book accurately, but now it is listed as being available--woo hoo. I'm hoping bookstores will have it available soon.
A year ago I didn't know much about blogs, let alone write one. I now have my personal blog and I also contribute to the ANWA blog with several other LDS women. In about a week, we'll launch a blog of Cedar Fort authors to which I will also contribute. Lots of opportunities to write. I love it.
I'm getting ready, and very excited, to attend the LDStorymakers conference. I'm looking forward to meeting my "cyber buddies" and learning a lot from the conference classes. I'm also excited to attend the Whitney Gala. I can't wait to not only meet the authors whose books are finalists, but to witness the winners in each category. What a great idea to implement awards for the best in LDS fiction.
I've also joined LDStorymakers and have been enjoying getting to know the other Storymakers. What a fun group full of so much knowledge and willingness to help each other.
I love writing!
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