Something really cool happened to me recently. I was lucky enough to get to read an upcoming release from a new author at Cedar Fort and invited to write a endorsement for the cover. The book is called The Mark by M.R. Bunderson, and I really enjoyed it-- YA romance and suspense and an otherworldly twist all wrapped into one. The release date is March 8th, but if you want to get a sneak peek, you can read the first chapter and synopsis here. www.marilynbunderson.com/books/the-mark
By the way, I got to meet Marilyn at Authorpalooza yesterday, and she was so down-to-earth and nice. I'm really excited for her and I hope she has as much fun with her first book release as I did with mine!
Which brings us to the second part of the blog-- the contest. Marilyn Bunderson is having a series of giveaways to celebrate the release of The Mark that you don't want to miss. Right now, she's giving away a copy of My Fairy Grandmother. So if you want a chance to win, go here. www.mrbunderson.blogspot.com And make sure to check her blog for some other really cool books she's giving away.
That's all for now. Congratulations, Marilyn! :)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Authorpalooza!
I will be signing books at Authorpalooza on Saturday, February 6th at the Sandy Barnes & Noble from 1-4 PM! (Thank heavens because I was having a really hard time coming up with something to blog about, so this was about to be the shortest New Year's Resolution ever.) For more information about all the cool authors who will be signing, go here. http://ldsauthorevents.blogspot.com/
Oh, and a surprising blog from an agent about what's hot right now in the publishing world...
Amish fiction. Really?
http://ow.ly/13bPi
Oh, and a surprising blog from an agent about what's hot right now in the publishing world...
Amish fiction. Really?
http://ow.ly/13bPi
Monday, February 1, 2010
My New Year's Resolution
Yes, I realize that it's February 1st, not January 1st. I'm a little behind this year.
Can anyone guess what it is?
Hmmm, that might be kind of fun, actually. I think I'll give a mystery prize to the person who guesses what my belated resolution is. If no one guesses it right, I'll start giving hints. In fact, I'll give you a little hint right now: given my past history, this resolution probably won't last very long, despite my good intentions.
Guess away-- I promise I won't be offended. :)
Can anyone guess what it is?
Hmmm, that might be kind of fun, actually. I think I'll give a mystery prize to the person who guesses what my belated resolution is. If no one guesses it right, I'll start giving hints. In fact, I'll give you a little hint right now: given my past history, this resolution probably won't last very long, despite my good intentions.
Guess away-- I promise I won't be offended. :)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Book review: Second Chances
Must begin with apologies to Linda Chadwick, who kindly gave me a copy of her book, Second Chances, to review two MONTHS ago. Unfortunately, between NaNoWriMo and the holidays, life sort of pounded me into the ground and I'm just now beginning to resurface. So thank you, Linda, for your patience!
Cover blurb:
He slowly sat down in the porch swing. Even though it was not raining, he thought he could hear the rain falling softly from a darkened sky. He imagined Barbara sitting beside him, a sweet smile on her beautiful face and her silky brown hair blowing in the breeze.Suddenly, the front door opened, and a small, elderly woman stepped out onto the porch.
"Can I help you?" she asked abruptly. Embarrassed, Larry jumped out of the swing. "I . . . I used to live in this house . . . I was . . . reminiscing . . ." he tried to explain. He quickly came to his senses. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll be going now."
Still grieving over the loss of his wife, forty-one-year-old Larry Porter is facing challenges that no father should ever have to face. Almost overnight he becomes both father and mother to his three children, and they aren't having anything to do with him. A former workaholic, he now regrets being an absentee parent, but doesn't know how to make amends. Soon, Larry comes to understand that his children are more important to him than anything else. He must change the path they are on or lose them forever.
This tender and thought-provoking story will bring you face-to-face with the realities of losing a loved one. It will touch your heart, lift your spirit, and inspire you to tackle your own challenges with determination and hope.
Linda does a great job with characterization. It was easy for me to picture Larry and his children, and to sympathize fully with the different sense of loss that each feels for their newly deceased wife and mother. I found it very interesting to see how each character dealt with that loss in different ways. Although Barbara had already passed on when the book begins, she is an important character with a solid presence throughout the story, if only in the memories of her family. I thought that it was fascinating to see how Larry develops from a workaholic father who knew very little about his children to the glue that holds the family together. He struggles with a crisis of faith and kids who have a difficult time putting their trust in him and manages to persevere through hard times. Things definitely get worse before they get better, so be prepared for a rough ride-- the second half of the novel deals primarily with Chris, the son who suffers a brutal attack and becomes inadvertantly addicted to prescription pain medication.
I don't want to give away too much of the story, but by the end of the book, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel as the family begin to rediscover their faith and love for each other. I read an interview that Linda gave where she said that her next novel is a humorous romance, and I'm excited to see how she deals with the lighter side of life.
Cover blurb:
He slowly sat down in the porch swing. Even though it was not raining, he thought he could hear the rain falling softly from a darkened sky. He imagined Barbara sitting beside him, a sweet smile on her beautiful face and her silky brown hair blowing in the breeze.Suddenly, the front door opened, and a small, elderly woman stepped out onto the porch.
"Can I help you?" she asked abruptly. Embarrassed, Larry jumped out of the swing. "I . . . I used to live in this house . . . I was . . . reminiscing . . ." he tried to explain. He quickly came to his senses. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll be going now."
Still grieving over the loss of his wife, forty-one-year-old Larry Porter is facing challenges that no father should ever have to face. Almost overnight he becomes both father and mother to his three children, and they aren't having anything to do with him. A former workaholic, he now regrets being an absentee parent, but doesn't know how to make amends. Soon, Larry comes to understand that his children are more important to him than anything else. He must change the path they are on or lose them forever.
This tender and thought-provoking story will bring you face-to-face with the realities of losing a loved one. It will touch your heart, lift your spirit, and inspire you to tackle your own challenges with determination and hope.
Linda does a great job with characterization. It was easy for me to picture Larry and his children, and to sympathize fully with the different sense of loss that each feels for their newly deceased wife and mother. I found it very interesting to see how each character dealt with that loss in different ways. Although Barbara had already passed on when the book begins, she is an important character with a solid presence throughout the story, if only in the memories of her family. I thought that it was fascinating to see how Larry develops from a workaholic father who knew very little about his children to the glue that holds the family together. He struggles with a crisis of faith and kids who have a difficult time putting their trust in him and manages to persevere through hard times. Things definitely get worse before they get better, so be prepared for a rough ride-- the second half of the novel deals primarily with Chris, the son who suffers a brutal attack and becomes inadvertantly addicted to prescription pain medication.
I don't want to give away too much of the story, but by the end of the book, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel as the family begin to rediscover their faith and love for each other. I read an interview that Linda gave where she said that her next novel is a humorous romance, and I'm excited to see how she deals with the lighter side of life.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Random observations
Just so you know, this is one of those posts where I don't really have anything super urgent to say, but I know that the longer I go without blogging, the more likely it is that I will slide into permanent blog inactivity. That being said, here's a few things I'm liking lately:
1) I'm not really a huge white chocolate fan, but I've been eating those Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses at an alarming rate. It's a good thing they only stock them seasonally.
2) Has anyone besides me ever seen Monarch of the Glen? It's sort of a Scottish soap opera that used to be on the local public television station. It's kind of cheesy but in an endearing way, and with their accents, I could probably listen to them read the phone book and not get bored.
3) Just finished The Maze Runner and it was awesome! If you like Ender's Game, don't miss this one. My only complaint is having to wait for the next book in the series to be released.
4) Speaking of good books, the next book in the Hashbrown Winters series is out; Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness. If you haven't had a chance to check out the first one, you should-- it was imaginative and hilarious. I can't wait to pick up my copy of the next one.
5) Sarah Eden moved to Utah. Need I say more?
6) Getting really close to finishing the pudding novel.
7) The last season of LOST starts February 2nd!
Well, that's it really. I'll try to come up with something a little more earth-shattering next time. Happy New Year, everybody! :)
1) I'm not really a huge white chocolate fan, but I've been eating those Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses at an alarming rate. It's a good thing they only stock them seasonally.
2) Has anyone besides me ever seen Monarch of the Glen? It's sort of a Scottish soap opera that used to be on the local public television station. It's kind of cheesy but in an endearing way, and with their accents, I could probably listen to them read the phone book and not get bored.
3) Just finished The Maze Runner and it was awesome! If you like Ender's Game, don't miss this one. My only complaint is having to wait for the next book in the series to be released.
4) Speaking of good books, the next book in the Hashbrown Winters series is out; Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness. If you haven't had a chance to check out the first one, you should-- it was imaginative and hilarious. I can't wait to pick up my copy of the next one.
5) Sarah Eden moved to Utah. Need I say more?
6) Getting really close to finishing the pudding novel.
7) The last season of LOST starts February 2nd!
Well, that's it really. I'll try to come up with something a little more earth-shattering next time. Happy New Year, everybody! :)
Friday, December 18, 2009
What happens when you go Christmas shopping by yourself late at night...
Am embarrassed to say that I mistakenly got in what I thought was a really long check out line at Old Navy... behind a couple of mannequins strategically grouped at the front of the store.
Just one of those proud moments in my life.
Just one of those proud moments in my life.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Is drool bad for my keyboard?
Running a little behind today. Having dental work done really takes it out of me. Now, I have to say that I have an EXCELLENT dentist who is really great about humoring me because he knows what a wuss I am. Still, as nice as he is, I'd rather see him in the grocery store, you know? But there are four words that make going to the dentist almost bearable.
I. Want. The. Gas.
I've figured out that if I get the nitrous when I'm having work done, it's a lot easier for all involved parties. It makes me forget that my first impulse is to bite and ask questions later. In fact, if I get enough in my system, I find that I don't much care what's happening to me anymore. I want them to calculate how much it will take to put me in a coma and then back it off just a smidge. My favorite part is when I get out to my car, forget that I currently have no control over my face, and reach for my water bottle. It's like a really crappy magic trick; water's in, aaaaaand it's out again. Now, that's classy.
As soon as I left, I went through the drive-thru window at the bank, and I kept trying to smile at the teller, who responded by giving me an alarmed look. Like, I know it's really none of my business, but do you really think it's safe for you to be driving while you're having a stroke?!?
Long story short, I survived the dentist this morning, and I can almost smile again without bystanders running to call an ambulance.
And now, the winners! (If you're one of the few that managed to hang with me through the dentist story, I really hope one of you won.)
Yay for Marcia, who won a copy of Santa Maybe, and hoorah for Anna, the winner of a copy of Stolen Christmas! Marcia, if you'll email me with an address, I'll get your book in the mail this weekend. And Anna, get in touch with Sarah. Thanks to everyone who entered-- I know that you were all hoping for a book and not just the warm feeling inside reserved for commenters, but we really do appreciate you!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think the numbness has retreated enough that I could eat something without risking the partial loss of my tongue.
I. Want. The. Gas.
I've figured out that if I get the nitrous when I'm having work done, it's a lot easier for all involved parties. It makes me forget that my first impulse is to bite and ask questions later. In fact, if I get enough in my system, I find that I don't much care what's happening to me anymore. I want them to calculate how much it will take to put me in a coma and then back it off just a smidge. My favorite part is when I get out to my car, forget that I currently have no control over my face, and reach for my water bottle. It's like a really crappy magic trick; water's in, aaaaaand it's out again. Now, that's classy.
As soon as I left, I went through the drive-thru window at the bank, and I kept trying to smile at the teller, who responded by giving me an alarmed look. Like, I know it's really none of my business, but do you really think it's safe for you to be driving while you're having a stroke?!?
Long story short, I survived the dentist this morning, and I can almost smile again without bystanders running to call an ambulance.
And now, the winners! (If you're one of the few that managed to hang with me through the dentist story, I really hope one of you won.)
Yay for Marcia, who won a copy of Santa Maybe, and hoorah for Anna, the winner of a copy of Stolen Christmas! Marcia, if you'll email me with an address, I'll get your book in the mail this weekend. And Anna, get in touch with Sarah. Thanks to everyone who entered-- I know that you were all hoping for a book and not just the warm feeling inside reserved for commenters, but we really do appreciate you!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think the numbness has retreated enough that I could eat something without risking the partial loss of my tongue.
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