I've been absent from blogging for a few months because I've been desperately working on my work-in-progress, Aura. I've been using the little time I have to write to work on Aura and try to finish it.
It's a YA urban fantasy about a girl who fights demons. Of course, there's much more to it than that, but I'm not quite sure what market it fits because while it's about fighting demons, the main character, Crystal, finds the strength to fight those demons from her virtue. Yes, I said her strength is directly tied to her virtue. Not just her virginity, but her choices to be honest, not cheat, and to do the right thing, even when it comes to her boyfriend trying to talk her into sleeping with him. See how it doesn't quite fit into any market? The national market seems to demand YA books about sex while the LDS market doesn't like demons. So there's the rub.
But I'm determined to finish it because it's the story that burns inside me and is yelling at me to get out. I'm currently doing my last (I hope) revision. I don't know if it will find readers, but I cannot not finish it and at least try to find a market for it. I've learned so much about myself during this book that I don't regret a moment of writing it.
I hope that Crystal will speak to young teen readers and that she can share a story that's important. A story about embracing the good to defeat the evil. A story about finding and using that inner Light to combat the evil that is so rampant in the world today. A story about finding your place and making the choice to follow your path.
And that's why I've been so absent from my blog. Not sure anyone noticed, but, just in case, that's what I've been up to.
Oh, and cleaning, organizing, taking kids swimming, camps, laundry, gardening, learning to cope with no water at times (been praying and fasting for rain), unexpected trip to UT, a family death (my husband's uncle) and just trying to enjoy some summertime fun with my kids.
How's your summer?
Monday, July 16, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Women of Strength by Tristi Pinkston
The need for courageous, faithful women has never been greater than it is today. As we draw nearer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, we are faced with temptations on every side. But we can prevail as we gain true strength from living the gospel.
In Women of Strength, Tristi Pinkston shares inspiring stories, as well as insightful quotes from Church leaders, to demonstrate the power and influence of righteous women. This book invites women everywhere to deepen their relationship with the Savior, rely on the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and learn what it really means to be strong.
I had the privilege of reading this book and I am very grateful I did. It is an amazing book. I LOVED it.
Tristi writes with courage and conviction and you can feel her strength in the pages of this book. She doesn't try to sugar-coat anything but tells it like it is. As women of God we must be strong and we find that strength in keeping the commandments. We find that strength in turning to Christ instead of the world.
Tristi shares examples and her conversational-style writing makes you feel like she's in the room with you teaching you these concepts. These aren't new concepts, but Tristi helps you see how they apply in your life, right here, right now.
I read the book while traveling to Florida to see my daughter and I'm sure some of the passengers on the plane wondered why I kept tearing up or why I'd say, "Yes, this is exactly how I feel" or "I love this." I kept pointing out passages to my husband and saying, "This one is great."
I highly recommend this book. I think every woman would benefit from reading it whether they are single or married, young or old. I especially loved the chapter on finding strength in talents. I love to write, but sometimes, I feel like I should be cleaning out the basement or organizing the linen closet or scrubbing the baseboards or sewing all the wardrobe for my kids instead of taking time to write and nurture that talent. However, Tristi reminds us that Heavenly Father has given us talents to nurture and to share and we can find strength in the talents He has given us.
Here is the link to Amazon to purchase this book. I think you'll love it as much as I do.
I was given a copy of this book to review, but it did not influence my review. I don't review many books and only post reviews of books I love. This book, I love.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Disney vs Universal
My oldest daughter is participating in the Disney College Program in Orlando, FL until August. We decided to go out to visit her for her birthday a few weeks ago. May is a perfect time to visit. We walked on most rides and compared to other times we have visited Disney World, the crowd was relatively small.
We went to all the parks: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. I like each of the parks for different reasons. My favorite rides are Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom and Rockin' Rollercoaster in Hollywood Studios.
I like Magic Kingdom, but I have to be honest, it doesn't have the same magic for me that Disneyland has. I'm sure it's because I grew up going to Disneyland regularly. I remember back in the day when we had to use tickets to get on the rides and the Matterhorn was the "big" ride. Disneyland makes me feel like a kid again. I have so many memories there and I love it. Magic Kingdom in Orlando is fun, just not as magical for me.
We also went to Universal's Islands of Adventure. Some of the coolest rides ever. LOVED Harry Potter World and I'm not even a Potterite (though my daughter is and she was in heaven--just like a little girl even though she's 23). The ride through the castle is probably the best ride I've ever been on because it makes you part of the world. You are following Harry through a Quidditch game and flying around Hogwarts, then you're in the spider's lair (which squirts water at you). We hardly waited in line, but going through the wait area is so cool because it has so many things featured in the books. AWESOME ride.
I also loved the Spiderman ride for the same reason. You become part of Spiderman's world and the ride is interactive--a bad guy plugs a big cord into the car you're in and it starts shaking, you feel heat when the Goblin throws fiery pumpkin heads, and you're sprinkled with water when the bad water guy comes after you. Of course, at the end Spiderman saves the day. AWESOME ride.
I also loved the roller coasters in Harry Potter World called the Dueling Dragons (I think). Fast, smooth, upside down at times. The front seat is the best spot. There's a blue one and a red one--my favorite was the blue one.
I did not like The Hulk Rollercoaster. Too jerky and each time I rode it, I ended up with a headache.
As for Disney vs. Universal:
Disney wins for atmosphere and ambiance hands down. But Universal wins for awesome rides. I wouldn't go to Universal with really young kids because they'd miss out on a lot of the rides, but for older kids and adults, you just can't beat those Universal rides.
A very fun trip!
We went to all the parks: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. I like each of the parks for different reasons. My favorite rides are Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom and Rockin' Rollercoaster in Hollywood Studios.
I like Magic Kingdom, but I have to be honest, it doesn't have the same magic for me that Disneyland has. I'm sure it's because I grew up going to Disneyland regularly. I remember back in the day when we had to use tickets to get on the rides and the Matterhorn was the "big" ride. Disneyland makes me feel like a kid again. I have so many memories there and I love it. Magic Kingdom in Orlando is fun, just not as magical for me.
We also went to Universal's Islands of Adventure. Some of the coolest rides ever. LOVED Harry Potter World and I'm not even a Potterite (though my daughter is and she was in heaven--just like a little girl even though she's 23). The ride through the castle is probably the best ride I've ever been on because it makes you part of the world. You are following Harry through a Quidditch game and flying around Hogwarts, then you're in the spider's lair (which squirts water at you). We hardly waited in line, but going through the wait area is so cool because it has so many things featured in the books. AWESOME ride.
I also loved the Spiderman ride for the same reason. You become part of Spiderman's world and the ride is interactive--a bad guy plugs a big cord into the car you're in and it starts shaking, you feel heat when the Goblin throws fiery pumpkin heads, and you're sprinkled with water when the bad water guy comes after you. Of course, at the end Spiderman saves the day. AWESOME ride.
I also loved the roller coasters in Harry Potter World called the Dueling Dragons (I think). Fast, smooth, upside down at times. The front seat is the best spot. There's a blue one and a red one--my favorite was the blue one.
I did not like The Hulk Rollercoaster. Too jerky and each time I rode it, I ended up with a headache.
As for Disney vs. Universal:
Disney wins for atmosphere and ambiance hands down. But Universal wins for awesome rides. I wouldn't go to Universal with really young kids because they'd miss out on a lot of the rides, but for older kids and adults, you just can't beat those Universal rides.
A very fun trip!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Life is Crazy
My life has been crazy lately so I haven't blogged much. Or at all. I'm going to hit a few highlights in my upcoming posts.
I attended the LDStorymakers writing conference a few weeks ago. A-ma-zing. Such a great conference. I loved seeing friends, meeting new people, and learning how to improve my writing skills. There's something so exhilarating about being in a room with hundreds of people who talk to themselves, write story ideas on pieces of paper, research how to kill someone with poison, and can carry on a conversation about their characters as if they are real people who live down the street.
This conference just keeps getting better. If you love to write, you definitely want to come to this conference. The classes are exceptional. The venue is great (Marriott Hotel in Provo, UT). The food is yummy. And you just can't beat the company!
I loved being an instructor at bootcamp. The ladies at my table were all so talented. It was a pleasure to work with them and learn from them. I had so much fun and the time just flew by. What a fun way to spend the afternoon talking about stories and characters and how to improve writing skills. Loved it! Bootcamp was definitely one of the highlights for me.
I attended the cover design class by Crystal Liechty and Sandra Tayler--very knowledgeable ladies who taught me a lot. I also enjoyed listening to the keynote speaker, Kevin J. Anderson. I'm an X-Files junkie and was happy to learn he's written a couple of novels for X-Files fans. He spoke about his productivity, which blew me away. That man writes like crazy--5-6 books per year. Wowza. I'd love to do that, but with a husband, so many kids to raise, a house to care for, and other commitments, it's not realistic for me. But it was great listening to him. I also loved hearing from the agents and editors. Holly Root is so bubbly and energetic. I pitched my current WIP to her and she was so fun and encouraging. I learned a lot from listening to their panels.
Great, great conference. So much fun!
You can check out information about the 2012 conference (as well as past conferences) and the 2013 conference dates at www.ldstorymakers.com.
This conference just keeps getting better. If you love to write, you definitely want to come to this conference. The classes are exceptional. The venue is great (Marriott Hotel in Provo, UT). The food is yummy. And you just can't beat the company!
I loved being an instructor at bootcamp. The ladies at my table were all so talented. It was a pleasure to work with them and learn from them. I had so much fun and the time just flew by. What a fun way to spend the afternoon talking about stories and characters and how to improve writing skills. Loved it! Bootcamp was definitely one of the highlights for me.
I attended the cover design class by Crystal Liechty and Sandra Tayler--very knowledgeable ladies who taught me a lot. I also enjoyed listening to the keynote speaker, Kevin J. Anderson. I'm an X-Files junkie and was happy to learn he's written a couple of novels for X-Files fans. He spoke about his productivity, which blew me away. That man writes like crazy--5-6 books per year. Wowza. I'd love to do that, but with a husband, so many kids to raise, a house to care for, and other commitments, it's not realistic for me. But it was great listening to him. I also loved hearing from the agents and editors. Holly Root is so bubbly and energetic. I pitched my current WIP to her and she was so fun and encouraging. I learned a lot from listening to their panels.
Great, great conference. So much fun!
You can check out information about the 2012 conference (as well as past conferences) and the 2013 conference dates at www.ldstorymakers.com.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
When twenty-three-year-old Courtney Beckham, the privileged daughter of a highly successful land developer, is abducted in the mountains near her home, FBI Agent Jason Edwards investigates the ten-million-dollar ransom and turns up more than just a kidnapping crime.
And when Courtney catches a glimpse of the caller ID in her kidnapper’s home, what she sees sends ice through her veins. Even if she escapes her captors, something much more dangerous lies ahead.
From the author who brought you Wrong Number comes another story featuring Agent Jason Edwards that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
You can learn more about Rachelle Christensen here.
Here's a link to the calendar to follow the blog tour.
To celebrate the release of CALLER ID, Rachelle is hosting a contest for a new Ultra Flip Video Camcorder (4GB memory, Records 120 minutes Value $149.99) and other great prizes. You can enter to win between now and April 14, 2012. Winners will be announced and notified April 16, 2012. For how to enter, click here.
Join the Book Bomb effort taking place Thursday, March 22nd. Click here for details.
You can purchase Caller ID here.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
World Down Syndrome Day
Today is World Down Syndrome Day. March 21st. 3/21. Trisomy (3) of the 21st chromosome.
Some things I've learned about Down syndrome:
1. It isn't scary
2. It makes me look at things differently
3. Those with DS still have unique personalities and aren't blobs
4. People with DS have talents
5. People with DS can learn, understand, and remember
6. There's still many misconceptions about DS
7. Those of us who love people with DS just want others to accept them for who they are.
8. People with DS don't want to be cured, they want to be loved and respected
9. People with DS aren't happy all the time, they experience a range of emotions
10. Though there are challenges, it's challenging to raise any child
In a perfect world, we'd recognize that those with DS are not the ones that are handicapped. They are not the ones who have the disability. Those of us without DS are truly the ones with the handicap and disability because too often we let things that don't matter get in the way of what's important. We decide we don't like someone because he/she was unkind to us. We hold grudges. We are judgmental. We have conditional love. We can't see past imperfections. We let pride color our decisions. We are selfish and self-centered. We don't want to be around someone who is different. We are too uptight to enjoy life. We don't laugh enough. We don't hug enough. We don't love enough.
Today, let's celebrate those who have that extra chromosome and realize it isn't a bad thing. People with DS can and do offer wonderful things to our society. We need to be willing to see the person inside instead of being distracted by what's on the outside. I have never met anyone who, after taking the time to know someone with DS, regretted knowing that person. I have never met a parent who wished he/she didn't have his/her child with DS.
Here are a few photos of my son who has his own distinct personality. He is full of love and life. He makes us laugh and brings a joy to our home that's indescribable. I am thankful every day that the Lord chose me to be his mom and only hope I can be the kind of mom he deserves.
Some things I've learned about Down syndrome:
1. It isn't scary
2. It makes me look at things differently
3. Those with DS still have unique personalities and aren't blobs
4. People with DS have talents
5. People with DS can learn, understand, and remember
6. There's still many misconceptions about DS
7. Those of us who love people with DS just want others to accept them for who they are.
8. People with DS don't want to be cured, they want to be loved and respected
9. People with DS aren't happy all the time, they experience a range of emotions
10. Though there are challenges, it's challenging to raise any child
In a perfect world, we'd recognize that those with DS are not the ones that are handicapped. They are not the ones who have the disability. Those of us without DS are truly the ones with the handicap and disability because too often we let things that don't matter get in the way of what's important. We decide we don't like someone because he/she was unkind to us. We hold grudges. We are judgmental. We have conditional love. We can't see past imperfections. We let pride color our decisions. We are selfish and self-centered. We don't want to be around someone who is different. We are too uptight to enjoy life. We don't laugh enough. We don't hug enough. We don't love enough.
Today, let's celebrate those who have that extra chromosome and realize it isn't a bad thing. People with DS can and do offer wonderful things to our society. We need to be willing to see the person inside instead of being distracted by what's on the outside. I have never met anyone who, after taking the time to know someone with DS, regretted knowing that person. I have never met a parent who wished he/she didn't have his/her child with DS.
Here are a few photos of my son who has his own distinct personality. He is full of love and life. He makes us laugh and brings a joy to our home that's indescribable. I am thankful every day that the Lord chose me to be his mom and only hope I can be the kind of mom he deserves.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Today is My Birthday
Yes, today is my birthday. I've had quite a few. Almost 20 more than my mother. 24 more than my father.
Age is a funny thing. In our society women tend to hate growing older. Some even go to great measures to hide their age. When I was a little girl my paternal grandmother would never tell us her age. She refused to give us her birth year. I finally found out and she will be 97 years old this year.
Do I love my graying hair? Not especially. Do I love my wrinkles? Not so much. But they both represent my life. A life that has been filled with so many amazing and profound experiences. A life I wouldn't trade for a younger looking face or streak-free hair.
As I look at my life thus far, I can't help but feel so very blessed. I have a wonderful husband that I love even more now than when I married him. He has seen me at my worst and he still loves me. He picks me up when I am down. He makes me laugh. He is my rock of support and always has an uplifting word for me. He loves our children and has never refused to change diapers, comfort a sick child, do homework and projects even at the last minute. I truly don't deserve him!
I have amazing children, including my wonderful daughter-in-law that I'll claim as my own any day--good, kind, compassionate children who seek to do the right thing. We have so much fun together. My kids have taught me so much over the years--they are far better than I was at their age. They bring me a joy I never knew existed until I had children. I love to watch them develop their talents and I love to see them do the right thing when they have a hard decision. I love each of them with all that I am.
I have a fantastic extended family that loves and supports me. They are the first to help whenever I need it. They are the first to buy my books. They have taught me so much about compassion. I feel so blessed to live near my sister and her family and to watch her kids grow up. I get teary when I hear her kids bear their testimonies and realize what good, good kids they are. I am also blessed to live near my husband's family. I couldn't ask for better in-laws.
I am fortunate to be able to live in a home that's warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A place that's a refuge from the world and provides safety and security when things get crazy. A place where love abounds and no matter what else happens, I know I am loved there.
I have been very blessed to have some books published. I love to write and feel so fortunate that some of my stories have found their way out into the world. Not everyone loves my books, but the notes from readers who have loved them are very precious and priceless to me.
Yes, it's my birthday and I'm sure I have a few new gray hairs and even a few more wrinkles. But I love my life and those hairs and wrinkles are a testament to my life--a life I love.
Thank you to all of you who have wished me a happy birthday. All of you make my life wonderful and add to it. Thank you!!
Age is a funny thing. In our society women tend to hate growing older. Some even go to great measures to hide their age. When I was a little girl my paternal grandmother would never tell us her age. She refused to give us her birth year. I finally found out and she will be 97 years old this year.
Do I love my graying hair? Not especially. Do I love my wrinkles? Not so much. But they both represent my life. A life that has been filled with so many amazing and profound experiences. A life I wouldn't trade for a younger looking face or streak-free hair.
As I look at my life thus far, I can't help but feel so very blessed. I have a wonderful husband that I love even more now than when I married him. He has seen me at my worst and he still loves me. He picks me up when I am down. He makes me laugh. He is my rock of support and always has an uplifting word for me. He loves our children and has never refused to change diapers, comfort a sick child, do homework and projects even at the last minute. I truly don't deserve him!
I have amazing children, including my wonderful daughter-in-law that I'll claim as my own any day--good, kind, compassionate children who seek to do the right thing. We have so much fun together. My kids have taught me so much over the years--they are far better than I was at their age. They bring me a joy I never knew existed until I had children. I love to watch them develop their talents and I love to see them do the right thing when they have a hard decision. I love each of them with all that I am.
I have a fantastic extended family that loves and supports me. They are the first to help whenever I need it. They are the first to buy my books. They have taught me so much about compassion. I feel so blessed to live near my sister and her family and to watch her kids grow up. I get teary when I hear her kids bear their testimonies and realize what good, good kids they are. I am also blessed to live near my husband's family. I couldn't ask for better in-laws.
I am fortunate to be able to live in a home that's warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A place that's a refuge from the world and provides safety and security when things get crazy. A place where love abounds and no matter what else happens, I know I am loved there.
I have been very blessed to have some books published. I love to write and feel so fortunate that some of my stories have found their way out into the world. Not everyone loves my books, but the notes from readers who have loved them are very precious and priceless to me.
Yes, it's my birthday and I'm sure I have a few new gray hairs and even a few more wrinkles. But I love my life and those hairs and wrinkles are a testament to my life--a life I love.
Thank you to all of you who have wished me a happy birthday. All of you make my life wonderful and add to it. Thank you!!
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