Friday, May 28, 2010

Interview with the amazing Janette Rallison and her new book, "My Double Life." ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF HER NEW BOOK!


I'm so excited to have the awesome, talented and very wonderful author (and person) Janette Rallison featured on my blog today. She was gracious enough to agree to being interviewed and share a little about herself and her books.

I've been a fan of Janette's for many years and have read almost all of her books. Each and every one of them are remarkably unique, fresh, fun and memorable. When you read one of Janette's books you feel like you are curling up with an old friend and you are guaranteed to be entertained, to laugh, and sometimes even to tear up.

If you haven't met her yet, here is a little background on today's guest:

Janette Rallison is the award winning author of 10 teen novels, including Playing the Field, Walker; All’s Fair in Love, War, and High School; Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Free Throws; Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List Which was put on IRA’s Young Adults' Choices List 2007 and It's a Mall World After All Which was put on IRA’s Young Adults' Choices List 2008. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend Which was put on IRA’s Young Adults' Choices List 2009 Revenge of the Cheerleaders; Just One Wish; and My Fair Godmother which was just optioned for a movie. Her latest, My Double Life came out May 13th.

Most of her books are romantic comedies because hey, there is enough angst in real life, but there’s a drastic shortage on both humor and romance. She lives in Arizona with her husband, five kids, and enough cats to classify her as eccentric.

This is what My Double Life is all about:
Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!


Let's get to know Janette:

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Janette: I’ve wanted to be an author since I was a little girl—but then, I wanted to be a ballerina and an astronaut too. Somehow those other things never panned out. About a year ago I did a school visit in my hometown of Pullman, Washington, and the Junior High librarian looked up the yearbook from my eighth grade year. Under future profession I had written: Writer. The librarian thought that was neat. But I think about that and shake my head. I had no idea what a hard goal I was setting for myself.

M.B.: As much as I would love to see you in a tu-tu, I'm glad you became a writer! Tell me Janette, what is your writing and educational background?

Janette: I went to BYU and majored in English. Which means I read lots of books that were popular a hundred years ago but would have never been published today. I learned how to write from going to conferences and reading books on writing. Thank goodness other writers are willing to share their secrets!

M.B.: What makes you passionate about writing?

Janette: The creation process. I’ve always loved to make up stories. If I don’t write them down, they disappear because my memory can’t hold them.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Janette: I wrote an LDS book first because I thought it would be easier to get published in that market (probably not true, by the way) and that it would be a stepping stone to the national market (also not true). I’ve really loved the six LDS books I’ve written (Four under my name and my pen name, Sierra St. James) It’s fun to write about your own culture, but I’ve also enjoyed writing for the national market. Good books are needed everywhere!

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Janette: Along the way? Hey, I get discouraged now after publishing 16 books and selling over 900,000 copies. It’s a tough business because you always have a quantitative measure of how you’re doing—your latest book sales. There are also a lot of catch 22’s in this business. Your publisher doesn’t want to put a lot of time, effort, and money into promoting your book unless they think it will be really successful, but it won’t be really successful unless your publisher puts a lot of time, effort, and money into promoting your book.

I deal with discouragement by trying to keep myself centered as to what is really important in life. In the long run, it doesn’t matter how successful any of my books are because I’m not writing for fame or money, I’m writing because I love to write. I’m writing because God expects us to use our talents to bless others. I don’t think it will ever matter to him whether or not I hit the New York Times bestseller list.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Janette: I get the kids off to school, tell myself I’ll check email for half an hour, two hours later I get off and start writing. I write until the kids come home from school, or until I need to run errands, take someone to the dentist, etc.

M.B.: We have so much in common. I operate the same way. Somehow though you make it look easier. So, where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Janette: Ideas come from everywhere. The trick is writing them down before I forget them. I know an idea is good enough if it has enough conflict and tension and if it’s something I’m going to want to write about for the next six months. I’ve had some good action/horror ideas but I just don’t like writing scary things.

M.B.: When did the idea for this book first come to you?

Janette: My Double Life was different in that I threw out a one line premise to my editor and he wanted me to write a book on it: A girl doubles for someone famous. I had to brainstorm to come up with a plot I liked. I wouldn’t ever want to do it that way again, but maybe I should, because the book turned out really well.

M.B.: What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Janette: On the surface the book seems to be all about teen girl wish fulfillment. A girl gets to live the celebrity life—but really the book is all about the importance of family. It’s Alexia’s search for her father.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Janette: I do a little bit of both. I need to have some basic things outlined—what the story problem is, what the main character’s goal is, what will happen at the climax and a few obstacles the character has to overcome. But beyond that, I just write. A lot of times the story goes in places I hadn’t anticipated.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Janette: Usually once or twice during any given book, I’ll run into some sort of snag. Then I sit down and brainstorm possible solutions. I’ll also ask friends and family for their ideas.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Janette: I need absolute quiet now. Back when my kids were smaller, I was better at tuning out noise.

M.B.: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Janette: Chocolate works well . . .

M.B.: Yes, we have a lot in common. Chocolate works wonders! So, who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Janette: My parents and husband have always been really supportive and proud of my writing. They always encouraged me instead of acting like it was a waste of my time. Writing is a profession where you have to put in a lot of practice before you see any results so it’s important to have people around who see your potential.

M.B.: What’s your secret to making the characters in your books come to life?

Janette: Point of view is an author’s biggest tool as far as getting the reader to connect to the main character. Get us in that main character’s mind and let us see what the character is thinking and feeling.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Janette: I’ve had a critique group since before I got published 14 years ago. They not only give great feedback, they come to my signings. I highly suggest critique groups.

M.B.: Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Janette: That’s hard to say—It’s like picking a favorite child. My Fair Godmother was the most fun to write. I had a kick adding dragons and ogres to the storyline.

M.B.: If I had to pick a favorite, My Fair Godmother would be my choice. I loved that book. What is something about yourself people don’t know?

Janette: Hmm, if they read my blog, not much. Oh, here’s something. I have a story I’m working on (meaning that I pick it up on and off over the years) which I have no intention of ever publishing. It’s a story I’ve told myself since I was little and I just want to get it recorded so I’ll always have it.

M.B.: What is your favorite snack to have while you are writing?

Janette: Chocolate—I wish it were something healthier.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their manuscripts become books in print?

Janette: Put in the time learning the craft of writing. There are a lot of great books out there about writing. They’ll save you a ton of time in revisions.

M.B.: What are you working on now?

Janette: The sequel to My Fair Godmother—and three other books. (Yes, I am insane and waaay busy.)

M.B.: Any final words you would like to share?

Janette: Read a lot—it’s one of the perks of this business, you can count reading as work.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

Janette: Any good bookstore should carry them. If your local bookstore doesn’t have them, inform them that they are lacking in the “good” department and insist that they order several. You can also find them online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Deseret Book.

Also, make sure you check out Janette's darling blog. Go HERE and watch her book trailer.

CONTEST INFO:
If you are interested in winning a copy of Janette's book . . .
1 entry - comment on this post
1 entry - follow this blog or indicate you already follow
1 entry - follow Janette's blog or indicate you already follow
1 entry - blog about the contest on your own blog
1 entry - tweet about this blog
1 entry - facebook about this blog

GOOD LUCK. Winners will be announced in two weeks!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

2nd Annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig For Clues and Win” Contest!


CRAZY COOL CONTEST!

Welcome to our second annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win” Contest! Last year, some author friends and I put together a month long contest where we gave away a prize a day for the entire month of June. The contest was so successful that my friends and I have decided to do it again…only this time we’ve gathered together enough prizes to last through the first week of July! Again, we have something for everyone: romance, fantasy, mystery, suspense, historicals, contemporaries, young adult and middle grade fiction; children’s picture books; and a variety of non-fiction titles. We also have some exciting non-book prizes: a hand crocheted book tote and cell phone case; a book/jewelry combo; a Mary Kay cosmetic assortment; a The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe DVD; and (you aspiring writers won’t want to miss this one!) a free edit/critique for the first 50 pages of an unpublished novel by a three-time published author!

How can you enter to win one of these awesome prizes? Just follow the rules below!

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:


You can send in an entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.


(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, Day 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, Day 2, etc).



(3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST



(4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.



All winners will be “drawn” by WWW.RANDOM.ORG.



You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2nd-July 9th to read the names of the winners.



If you have any questions, feel free to email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com.


And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

June 1
SPONSOR: Donna Hatch
PRIZE: Queen in Exile, (fantasy romance), autographed by author
QUESTION: The princess must rely upon her magic to save whom? (Hint: Look under “Bookshelf” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.donnahatch.net
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Amber Nielson of Vermont
ANSWER: Herself and her people from death and tyranny


June 2
SPONSOR: Laurie Lewis
PRIZE: Awakening Avery (women's fiction), autographed copy
QUESTION: Avery's signal that she isn't handling her husband's death very well comes to her when she tosses what into what? (Hint: Look under “books &reviews, then click on the cover to Awakening Avery and read the first chapter)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.laurielclewis.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Barbara Stilwell
ANSWER: The remote into the TV

June 3
SPONSOR: E.A. West
PRIZE: Riley's Mission (PDF: romantic suspense)
QUESTION: Where does Jade sit after she sees Aziz Khadoul? (Hint: Click on “Books” tab, then on “excerpt” link for Riley’s Mission)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://eawest.mcphitty.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Judy Cox of Louisiana
ANSWER: An empty wheelchair

June 4
SPONSOR: Jenna Dawlish
PRIZE: Sprig of Thyme (Victorian romance), autographed copy
QUESTION: What is the name of the hero in Jenna's first novel Love Engineered? (Check out “The Library” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.jennadawlish.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Ginny Romney of Arizona
ANSWER: Charles Lucas

June 5
SPONSOR: Rachael Renee Anderson
PRIZE: Divinely Designed (contemporary LDS romantic comedy), autographed copy
QUESTION: What is the title of Rachael's second book, being released in August? (Hint: scroll down to Rachael’s “Goodreads” titles on the right hand sidebar))
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://rachaelreneeanderson.blogspot.com/
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Karin Tillotson of Pennsylvania
ANSWER: Luck of the Draw

June 6
SPONSOR: Linda Kay Garner
PRIZE: Some Secrets Hurt (picturebook), autographed copy. This picture book is for all ages. It is simple enough to be understood by a very young child, meaningful enough to appeal to teenagers, informative enough to be helpful to parents, and powerful enough to reach out to a wounded adult.
QUESTION: The only thing worse than finding out that your child is being sexually abused is ____ ____ ____? (Hint: Listen to 5 minute KSL TV interview on the right side of the website or dowload the free Parents’ Guide)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.somesecretshurt.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Laura Lewis of North Carolina
ANSWER: Not finding out

June 7
SPONSOR: Danielle Thorne
PRIZE: (New/Sealed) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (Widescreen DVD)
QUESTION: In Danielle Thorne's novel, Turtle Soup, what is the name of the marine biologist who inspires Sara Hart to name her deli Turtle Soup? (Hint: read the blurb for Turtle Soup on Danielle’s website homepage)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.daniellethorne.jimdo.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Carol Rainbolt of Arizona
ANSWER: Jack Brandon

June 8
SPONSOR: Larry Hammersley
PRIZE: Lab Partners (sweet 1950’s romance), ebook
QUESTION: What are the first names of the hero and heroine in the short story Lab Partners? (Hint: Check out “WIP Report” post for April 4, 2010)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTIRES
WINNER: Mina Gerhart
ANSWER: Leroy and Jody

June 9
SPONSOR: Linda Weaver Clarke
PRIZE: Melinda and the Wild West: (historical romance, YA and adult), autographed copy
QUESTION: What was Melinda doing when she first met Gilbert and why did he act flustered and then abruptly turn and briskly stride away? (Hint:. Click on “Sample Chapters” tab, then on the book title for Melinda and the Wild West to read a sample chapter.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com
OPEN TO USA AND CANADA ENTRIES
WINNER: Cassandra Cantrell of Utah
ANSWER: She was wading in a stream and her skirt was hiked up showing her legs and bare feet



June 10
SPONSOR: Angela Morrison
PRIZE: Taken by Storm (Penguin/Razorbill 2009), YA romance, autographed hard cover
QUESTION: A legendary LDS author of over 30 books for teens called Taken by Storm, "An amazing story written with a clear, refreshing and creative voice." Who was it? (Hint: check “Taken By Storm” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.angela-morrison.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Diana Donahoo
ANSWER: Jack Weyland

June 11
SPONSOR: Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
PRIZE: Trapped (romantic suspense with a hint of paranormal fantasy), autographed copy
QUESTION: The first trap Emi Warrin encounters is a mysterious letter. To where does it lure her? (Hint: Read the book summary under the Trapped tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: rondahinrichsen.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 12
SPONSOR: Anne Patrick
PRIZE: Journey to Redemption (inspirational romantic suspense), free download
QUESTION: What did Royce use to do for a living in my upcoming release, Out of the Darkness? (Hint: Look under the “My Books” link for Anne’s new release, Out of the Darkness)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 13
SPONSOR: Rebecca Talley
PRIZE: Altared Plans (contemporary LDS romance), autographed by author
QUESTION: What is unique about my youngest son? (Hint: Watch the YouTube video Extra C posted on the right side of Rebecca’s blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.rebeccatalleywrites.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 14
SPONSOR: David J. West
PRIZE: Heroes of the Fallen (historical fiction), autographed hardcopy)
QUESTION: What is the name of my favorite author? (Hint: Scroll through David’s June blogs. He promises you’ll find the answer!)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://david-j-west.blogspot.com/
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 15
SPONSOR: Jennifer Stewart Griffith, author of Choosing Mr. Right and Delicious Conversation
PRIZE: FREE edit and/or critique of first 50 pages of a novel
QUESTION: What is the Japanese word for the hairstyle worn by sumo wrestlers? (Hint: Check out Jennifer’s favorite sumo blog, Sumo Beautiful. Look for Hama Bijin’s April 13th post)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://sumobeautiful.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES as long as the manuscript can be emailed to Jennifer and is in English
WINNER:
ANSWER:


June 16
SPONSOR: Rebecca Irvine
PRIZE: Family Home Evening Adventures (non-fiction book of FHE lessons), free e-book on CD
QUESTION: What is the title of the first book written by Rebecca Irvine? (Hint: Read “about me” on Rebecca’s blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.rebeccairvine.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 17
SPONSOR: Marilyn Bunderson
PRIZE: The Mark (YA Fiction), autographed copy with a bookmark
QUESTION: In a deleted scene from my book, The Mark, Jon loses a bet to Shae. What does he have to do to pay up? (Hint: Found in post titled "Deleted Scenes From The Mark" dated April 15, 2010)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.mrbunderson.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 18
SPONSOR: Heather Justesen
PRIZE: Winner’s Choice: The Ball’s In Her Court (contemporary inspirational) or Rebound (contemporary romance), autographed by author
QUESTION: How much did the FBI agent expect John's bail to be set at? (Hint: Click on "My Books" tab, then "read more" about Rebound.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: HeatherJustesen.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 19
SPONSOR: Nichole Giles
PRIZE: The Sharp Edge of a Knife (inspirational historical, based on a true story), autographed copy
QUESTION: What is the correct title of the humorous anthology I coauthored? (Hint: Look in the right hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 20
SPONSOR: Karen Adair
PRIZE: Trendy blue/brown crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case (Check out Karen’s “Diva Strings” website for examples: http://www.divastrings.com/index.html)
QUESTION: Where did Karen learn how to type and what speed did she finally top out at? (Hint: Check Karen’s “Bio” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 21
SPONSOR: Lynn Parsons
PRIZE: (dis)Abilities and the Gospel (nonfiction), autographed copy
QUESTION: What are three of the topics I list on the parent page of my website? (Look on “Parent Page” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.lynndparsons.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 22
SPONSOR: Kinzie Monroe
PRIZE: Reservations for Two (inspirational romance), autographed CD
QUESTION: What was Maggie doing when she and Carson first met in Reservations for Two? (Hint: click on the “Excerpts” link on Kinzie’s blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://kinziemonroe.blogspot.com/
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 23
SPONSOR: Michele Ashman Bell
PRIZE: Summer in Paris (YA romance), autographed copy and Eiffel Tower bookmark
QUESTION: What is Michele "dreaming of"? (Hint: found on sidebar above picture of Eiffel Tower
WEBSITE/BLOG: micheleabell.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 24
SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant and JaysDesign Jewelry
PRIZE: A signed copy of Redemption, a Regency romance by Jaimey Grant, and a 19" hand-knotted strand of freshwater pearls ($45 value) handmade by Jay T Lyons of JaysDesign Jewelry.
QUESTION: Artist Jay T Lyons did a sketch for the cover of an upcoming Regency romance of mine. What is the sketch of and what is the title of the upcoming book?
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://sites.google.com/site/jaimeygrant/jaytlyons
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 25
SPONSOR: Christine Thackeray
PRIZE: Lipstick Wars (LDS Women’s Fiction), autographed copy
QUESTION: What is the name of the angel who needs a vacation in my recent pamphlet, “Could You Be an Angel Today? (Hint: Play the book trailer for “Could You Be an Angel Today” on Christine’s home page)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.christinethackeray.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 26
SPONSOR: Bonnie Harris
PRIZE: Mary Kay Satin Lips Set, Travel Size Satin Hands Set and a set of mineral eye colors
QUESTION: What is the name of my African Gray and African Desert Tortosie? (Hint: Read “About Me” in the left hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 27
SPONSOR: Teralee Deighton
PRIZE: Cup of Comfort for New Mothers (personal essay anthology)
QUESTION: Name the editor of Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.adamsmediastore.com/category/cup-of-comfort-series?r=COC_Bookstore
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 28
SPONSOR: C. LaRene Hall
PRIZE: Martha’s Freedom Train (middle grade historical), autographed by both author and illustrator
QUESTION: How many short stories has C. LaRene Hall published in the humorous anthology, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief? (Hint: Look in the left hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.clhall.blogspot.com/
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 29
SPONSOR: Sarah M. Eden
PRIZE: Courting Miss Lancaster (Regency romance), autographed copy
QUESTION: In his "I Need Friends Friday" interview, what reason does Edward Cullen give for not sleeping at night?
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.sarahmeden.com/2009/11/i-need-friends-friday-edward-cullen.html
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

June 30
SPONSOR: Marcia Mickelson
PRIZE: Reasonable Doubt (LDS Suspense), autographed copy
QUESTION: In what country was author, Marcia Mickelson born? (Hint: Click on “About Marcia” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.marciamickelson.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 1
SPONSOR: Kimberly Job
PRIZE: I'll Know You by Heart (romantic suspense), autographed copy
QUESTION: What is the title of my current work in progress? (Hint: Look under “My Books” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.scribbledscraps.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 2
SPONSOR: Joan Sowards
PRIZE: Haunts Haven (an LDS ghost story), autographed copy
QUESTION: What is the name of the town in which the story of Haunts Haven takes place? (Hint: Found on sidebar synopsis of story)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://joansowards.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 3
SPONSOR: Margaret L. Turley RN
PRIZE: Save the Child (Reality Fiction), autographed copy
QUESTION: Where can you listen to an audio interview with Margaret L. Turley about her book, Save the Child? (Hint: Click on link at the bottom of Margaret’s bio on her “About the Author” page)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://margaretturley.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 4
SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena
PRIZE: Illuminations of the Heart (sweet medieval romance, a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist), autographed by author
QUESTION: Who were gifts usually given to on Epiphany during the Middle Ages? (Hint: Click on “Stolen Christmas” tab and read excerpt from “An Epiphany Gift for Robin”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.joyce-dipastena.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES:
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 5
SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams
PRIZE: Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today (Arizona Glyph Award Finalist and Southwest Book Awards Finalist), a snuggle, giggle children’s picture book
QUESTION: There is a picture of Cindy holding two dragons on her website, www.cindyrwilliams.com. The names of the dragons are in the caption below the picture. What are their names? (Hint: Look on the “Book” page)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.cindyrwilliams.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 6
SPONSOR: Gail Pallotta
PRIZE: Love Turns the Tide (inspirational romance with suspense), free e-book on CD
QUESTION: Who comes to Cammie O'Shea's rescue after she has a break-in at her unit in Destin, Florida? (Hint: Scroll down to: MORE ABOUT THE BOOK)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.gailpallotta.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 7
SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson
PRIZE: (dis)Abilities and the Gospel (non-fiction), autographed copy (Yes, this is your second chance to win a copy, this one signed by the co-author)
QUESTION: Danyelle is going on her first book tour this summer (July to August). Name three of the cities where she'll be signing books. (Hint: Check out Danyelle’s May 10, 2010 post)
WEBSITE/BLOG: www.QueenOfTheClan.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

July 8
SPONSOR: Karen E. Hoover
PRIZE: Sapphire Flute (YA Fantasy), autographed copy
QUESTION: How many bloggers have posted their reviews of The Sapphire Flute? (Hint: Check out the list under “Sapphire Flute Blog Tour” in the right hand side bar and count ‘em up)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://karen-hoover.blogspot.com/
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER:
ANSWER:

Friday, May 21, 2010

Interview with Trudi Johnson, author of Souls of Valor -- WINNERS ANNOUNCED Donald Anderson book giveaway

Trudi Jackson has her bachelor’s degree in English from Utah State University and has written technical manuals for the last 14 years for various computer software companies. Soul’s of Valor is Trudi’s first work of fiction. Besides writing, Trudi also loves to play with glass and makes her own lampwork beads, fused glass jewelry and stained glass pieces. Trudi currently resides in Clinton, Utah.


A little bit about the book, Souls of Valor
Elizabeth Randolph is a newly baptized member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She has left all she
knows behind in Boston, Massachusetts to become a teacher
in a one room schoolhouse in Grays Lake, Idaho. Elizabeth
struggles to adjust to her new home and is starting to succeed
when Alex Cannigan, an embittered, former soldier wounded in
a battle in the First World War, crosses her doorstep.

Elizabeth attempts to help Alex overcome his pain by
teaching him about God. As trust slowly develops between
the two, a devastating pandemic sweeps the world killing
millions. Alex and Elizabeth both learn that the only way to pull
themselves from the darkness is to follow God into the light.

Yes, what a nailbiter! Let's get to know Trudi better now.

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Trudi: When I was very young, I remember my father reading the Hobbit to me and my siblings for Family Home Evening. I loved the story and all of the rest of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. From that moment on, I was hooked on books. I love to read. It opened up a fascinating world to me that I otherwise would know nothing about. I never really thought about being an author, but I always had stories running through my mind. After telling my brother yet another idea I had that would make a great book, he told me that I should try actually writing one. So, I did.

M.B.: What is your writing and educational background?

Trudi: I have my bachelor’s degree in English. Since I love to read and write, it seemed natural for me to go into English. After I graduated, I was hired by a computer software company to write technical manuals. Although that type of writing isn’t as exciting as writing fiction, it has helped me hone my writing skills over the years. I have been a technical writer for 14 years and have worked for several different computer software companies.

M.B.: What makes you passionate about writing?

Trudi: I think everyone needs a release and writing is one of mine. When I write, I can discover new things about my world, especially when writing historical fiction. I had to do a lot of research when writing Souls of Valor and learned a great deal about the early 20th century. I also love to think of the great “What If?” What would happen if I walked out the door and a new world was before me? Writing helps me to achieve that new world. It opens my mind to new possibilities.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Trudi: My first work of fiction, Souls of Valor, was actually based on my grandmother. She lived during the time period when World War I was fought and had the 1918 flu. Although she didn’t die, she lost most of her hearing from it. Even though I had other ideas for a novel, this was the first one that held my attention. The story that I wrote is mostly my imagination, but it was her story that triggered the idea. There are a lot of people who know nothing about the 1918 flu, yet over 50 million people died from it. That actually was the reason that the First World War ended. When I decided to write this book, my first thought went to the drama of the 1918 flu. I thought of writing about the actual flu and how it changed into a hemorrhagic disease. As I studied more about the flu, though, I realized what was really important about that period of time. It was the people who were affected by both World War I and the 1918 flu. So, my story concentrates on the people who lived during that time period. I have attempted to capture what the world was like for them and how devastating both the war and the flu were to those people. I also attempt to emphasize how people were able to triumph over their trials.

Once I finished writing the book, I decided that it was worth a try to see if someone would publish it. I had many people read through my book before I felt I could send it to a publishing company. Once I had it where I wanted it, I sent it to an LDS publishing company. They read it and liked it, but after a year of debating, they decided in the end to not publish it. So, I decided to try a second publisher and see what they thought of it. At that point, Granite Publishing was only printing non-fiction works but told me they really would like to eventually publish it. I heard from them this year, when they decided the market was ready for a book like mine. They decided to take a chance on me, and I am extremely grateful to them for doing so.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Trudi: Writing can be discouraging. First you have the idea, which seems great. When you attempt to put that idea down on paper, it doesn’t always work the way you want it to, which can be frustrating.

It is also very discouraging when you work for a year with a publishing company who keeps telling you that they will publish your work once you change certain aspects of the story. So, you change the story and resend it to them and are told yet again that they will publish it if you change another aspect of the story. After this went on for an entire year, I finally received a generic rejection letter from them. That was extremely discouraging. The company dangled a carrot after me for a year, and then yanked it back at the very end. At that point, I didn’t know if I wanted to even try submitting it again. But I decided that I’d take one more chance on that particular book, and it worked out great. So, don’t let rejection get you down. If one publishing company doesn’t want your work, try another one.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Trudi: My writing schedule is sporadic. Being a technical writer, I write every day. When I get home at night, it is sometimes hard to want to write some more. So, I usually end up writing late at night a couple of days a week. The one thing I have found is that you do have to just make yourself sit down and write some days. Otherwise, it is easy to get into the habit of not writing.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Trudi: Ideas just seem to run through my mind. I am constantly asking myself, what if this were to happen to someone. I think it is hard to know if an idea is good enough to write about until you start writing. It is my belief that all ideas could eventually be great stories, if they are handled right. But some ideas make better short stories than novels. You may not know that, though, until you start writing the idea out.

M.B.: When did the idea for this book first come to you?

Trudi: The idea for this book came to me several years ago when I actually had a dream about my grandmother. It was a very vivid dream about her struggles during the 1918 flu and how hard it was to lose her hearing. When I woke up, I decided I should write a book. Once I started writing it, I just couldn’t seem to stop until the story was done.

M.B.: What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Trudi: I hope that readers will gain an understanding that although we may go through really hard things on this earth, we are not alone in our struggles. Heavenly Father will help us through our hard times, if we let him. Usually, the tough things are not removed from our lives, but we can get through them and become better people because of those experiences.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Trudi: My process is to sit down and start writing. I was never good at outlines. When I was in college, the teachers were always telling us to write an outline first and then write the story, but my mind doesn’t work that way. I usually ended up creating the outline after I wrote the story.

I have figured out that it is a good thing to create character profiles, though. They can help you figure out what you named your character, what their eye color is, their hair color and who their parents were. When I found myself having to scroll back through the story to remember those things, I discovered that it is good to keep track of the characters in a separate document. That way, you can just reference that document, rather than having to scroll through your writings to figure out what you called the character who ran into Elizabeth at the store.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Trudi: It is frustrating to have a great idea for a story and be unable to move that story along, because you can’t get your mind to think of where to take it next. Usually, when I hit that wall, I take a break from writing. I have a lot of other interests, including making my own lampwork beads and fused glass jewelry. When I feel frustrated with my writing, I usually will move to my glass work. After a while, another idea will enter my head that helps progress the story.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Trudi: I actually like to write with background noise. I found when working at a computer company, that it can become really quiet while everyone is busily working. I also found out that it drives me nuts. So, I usually will listen to music when I write, whether it’s at my computer software job or when I’m home writing fiction.

M.B.: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Trudi: Life inspires me. Beauty inspires me. The potential of a new world opening up and becoming real to someone else who reads my words inspires me. There are ideas everywhere. When I am creating my story, I watch people and see how they act. I ask questions of people. I do a lot of reading. I can’t go to sleep at night without reading a book, so when I read a book, other ideas open up to me.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Trudi: My parents always encouraged me to read, which is actually the biggest factor in why I write. My mother was always quoting poetry when I was young, which had a huge influence on me.

I must also say that when I was in high school I had a teacher who made me feel as if I couldn’t write. Because of her, I felt that writing was not one of my talents. When I decided to go into English in college, that was my one hesitation in choosing English as a major, because I didn’t think I could write based on that one teacher’s opinions. When I got an A, and not only an A, but praise for the first paper I wrote in college, I realized that teacher was wrong and that I could write. It is amazing how much another person can influence what we think about ourselves.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Trudi: After I finish writing, I have several people read through my writings to see what they think. It is important to have other people read what you write to make sure that it doesn’t just make sense to you.

M.B.: Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Trudi: Since Souls of Valor is my first published work of fiction, that has to be my favorite so far. Although, I am working on several other stories that could become my favorites when I get them finished.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

Trudi: I think that the best advice that I ever received was from my brother. He told me that I should write, because I am a writer. If you are a writer, you write because you love writing. That should be the reason that you write, not to get published. It may sound strange, but I believe once you let go of the stress of trying to get published, it is easier to write something that is worth publishing. Sometimes we get overly concerned about whether our works of writing will ever be read by anyone but us. That stress can be our worst enemy. So, write those stories and don’t worry about whether it will be published.

M.B.: Any final words you would like to share

Trudi: I am grateful that I was able to write a book that someone thought worthy of publishing. I hope that everyone enjoys reading it as much as I did writing it and that it will open up a world to someone that they didn’t know existed.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

Trudi: You can order my book, Souls of Valor on Granite Publishing’s website at: http://www.granitebooks.com/catalog.html?Iit=2821&Ict=4. It should also be in Seagull Books and in Deseret Book in the near future.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED:

The two winners of Donald Anderson's book, "Hanging by The Thread" are . . .

Robin Ribbit and,
Cami Checketts

Email me at micheleabell at gmail dot com and I will get your books sent.

NEXT WEEK'S AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT . . .
(DRUMROLL ....................)

*****JANETTE RALLISON*****

I'm just so excited! She'll be giving away a copy of her new book!!! Don't miss it.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

BOOK COVER and COUNTDOWN of HOMETOWN GIRL, PLUS awesome contest and giveaway!


The long awaited sequel to "A Modest Proposal" is just a few weeks away. Read about the Butterfly Girls; Lauryn, Chloe, Emma, Jocelyn and Andrea as they face challenges, eat chocolate and help each other find love and happiness. Hometown Girl focuses on Jocelyn's story and finally reveals the secret she's kept for 14 years. The girls find that life doesn't always go as planned and the help and support of good friends gives them strength to face whatever comes their way. The mystery surrounding Ava's death continues . . . was it an accident? Read Hometown Girl and find out!

Hometown Girl is scheduled for release the tenth of July. Watch for more information about launch parties and signings!

Also, to kick of the summer right, I'm having a sale on my book "Summer in Paris." Now is the chance to buy it at the incredibly low price of $11.00, plus shipping. Order the book now and your name will go into a drawing for a free copy of "Hometown Girl" when it is released. To order just email me at micheleabell@gmail.com. That way you will receive an autographed copy.

And last but certainly not least:

Interview with Author Anne Bradshaw and book give away for “Famous Family Nights,” a book that entertains and teaches us how to have a successful Family Home Evening with our children. "Anne Bradshaw has collected a smorgasbord of ideas to delight any and every family. From foil dinners to teaching scriptures and songs -- this book is full of ideas to make family time the best it can be. Ideas come from families worldwide, a sampling of ways to love those that love you the very most!" - Amy Freeze, Fox News Chicago. Visit http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com/2010/05/interview-with-author-anne-bradshaw.html to enter the contest. Don’t forget to add your e-mail to your comment.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Interview with Nichole Giles, author of The Sharp Edge of a Knife ALSO contest for two copies of "Hanging by The Thread" ENTER NOW!

Nichole Giles is one of those people who brightens a room just by walking into it. She is vivacious, beautiful and extremely talented. Her warmth and wit make her a delight to be around and she is sincerely the nicest person I've ever met.



Here is a little background about Nichole . . .
Nichole Giles (aka D. N. Giles) was born in Nevada, and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the Midwest, mostly staying in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Her early career plans included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

Nichole has had a new book released recently. I would highly recommend it!


The Sharp Edge of a Knife
by D.N. Giles
Most people would have panicked, sitting bound and gagged on a boulder in the middle of the desert as I was, but for some reason, I didn’t. A strange kind of reassurance washed over me from somewhere deep within. Whether it was peace that I’d go quickly, or comfort that I was being protected, I wasn’t sure.
When Mel Petersen leaves for work on the morning of February 7, he has no idea what awaits him. A few miles from his house, Mel picks up a pair of young men who appear to be college students, hoping to prevent them from having to walk in the cold. What Mel doesn’t know is that the men are actually convicts on the run from the law who are desperate to get away by any means necessary.
When one of his passengers holds a knife to Mel’s throat, he has no choice but to submit to the demands of the criminals. Mel hopes he has what it takes to talk his captors into letting him live so he can return to his wife and children, but fears they will kill him before he has the chance.
Based on a true story, The Sharp Edge of a Knife follows Mel and his captors on an unforgettable ride that will have you questioning the depth of your faith and sitting on the edge of your seat as it grabs your attention from the first sentence and keeps you riveted until the very end.

Here's a little about her book, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief

Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, Hilarious Stories for Saints
by D.N. Giles and C.L. Beck
Ward meetings have never been so funny!
This collection of humorous anecdotes from celebrated LDS authors shows off Church members at their finest. From primary pranks to cheeky comments made by Zion’s youth to high priests hijinx, no age group is immune to the potential for humor.

Though it may not be in the official Word of Wisdom, laughter really is the best medicine. Whether you’re a senior missionary, or an eight-year-old graduating to senior primary, you’re bound to get a kick out of these silly stories.

Read about:
*The preschooler who was afraid of being eaten by ‘Sunbeans’
* Establishing Zion in Cougar Stadium
*The ‘oddmonition’ of Paul
*The 14th article of faith
*Doing battle with the “Laman Knights”
*A young women outing that almost landed the class behind bars…and lots more!

Perfect for those long Sunday afternoons, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief will keep your family laughing all week long!

Here is my interview with this incredible woman.

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Nichole: When I was a young mother with nursing babies, I used to spend a lot of time reading while I spent hours in my rocking chair. At some point, the idea occurred to me that I might be able to write stories or books myself. By the time my youngest started pre-school, the idea had taken root and I decided to take a distance-learning writing class.

M.B.: What is your writing and educational background?

Nichole: After that class I took, I realized first that I had a lot to learn, and second that I couldn’t get enough. So I took another class and started attending as many conferences as I could find and afford. Along the way, I also joined writers groups and critique groups, and started blogging. All of these things have contributed to my learning journey. I’ve published some short stories and articles in magazines, hundreds of blogs, and two books, including Mormon Mishaps and Mischief and The Sharp Edge of a Knife.

M.B.: What makes you passionate about writing?

Nichole: I just love words, and the way they can make a person feel when fitted together just the right way. Also, I love being caught up in a story of human emotion.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Nichole: My first book was Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, and I did that with my coauthor Cindy Beck. It was a long, long process and took about two and a half years from inception to publication, but every step along the way was a lesson I needed to learn, and every moment of hard work has been worth it.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Nichole: I get discouraged daily. Really. In reality, we all do. I think it comes down to attitude. Will we let our fears or frustrations make us quit? Or will we use them as fuel to make us work even harder. I’m the person who does the latter. I still consider quitting every so often, and those moments cause me a lot of thought and reflection. But when I really think about it, I could never do that. I just couldn’t follow through with being a quitter.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Nichole: I write whenever I can, which often means choosing between writing and sleep. I’ve promised myself that as long as I write something every day—even if it has nothing to do with my current works-in-progress—that is what matters. And when I’m in editing mode, the rules change to editing so many pages or lines per day.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Nichole: My ideas come from life, from things I’ve experienced or that I’ve witnessed in other people, especially the people I love. Usually, I combine experiences from many different people and create characters or situations from there.

M.B.: When did the idea for this book first come to you?

Nichole: The Sharp Edge of a Knife is a true story about my grandpa, who was kidnapped in 1958 and left in the desert to die. I remember hearing something about this as a child, but I never knew many details until after my grandpa died and my grandma gave us all a copy of his life history. As I read it, I came across about a two-page section that touched on this story and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to look into it farther. Originally, I’d planned to write an article about it, but then it became much longer and fuller.

M.B.: What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Nichole: I hope readers will realize how their own faith can help them through the toughest situations life will throw at them. Also, how important it is to make good decisions. And maybe I hope they’ll remember the importance of family.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Nichole: I’m definitely not an outliner. When I write fiction, I sit down and write to discover character, plot, and story. This method is messy, and generally requires months and months of cutting and rewriting to find the heart of the story, but it works for me. I’ve tried outlining, and it’s just not for me. At least, not when it comes to novels.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Nichole: All the time. When I hit a wall with one story I do one of two things. First, I go back and read previous chapters to see where I might have made a wrong turn. If that doesn’t work, I set that story aside for a while and work on something else. Eventually, I’ll have a brainstorm—usually at a very inconvenient time—that brings me back into the original story and gets me moving again.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Nichole: It depends on the day, and sometimes the scene. Quiet is always good. But I find that sometimes I need music in the background to help me find a certain mood. I’ve been known to work both ways.

M.B.: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Nichole: I do a lot of driving, especially with my convertible top down, always with mood music of one kind or another. I go for walks, hike, do yoga, watch movies and read books. But music is huge for me when it comes to inspiration. And I listen to a well rounded variety, depending on what I’m working on.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Nichole: I can’t say that it’s just one person. I have so many writing friends, and I credit them all. I will say that my writer’s group, Authors Incognito, has been the biggest influence in my writing life. I would never be where I am without them. (How’s that for fitting about 200 people into one?)

M.B.: What’s your secret to making the character’s in your books come to life?

Nichole: I have to feel them first before I can write them. Sometimes I don’t really know them very well until after I’ve finished a few drafts, but once I do, I’m able to go back and edit them into the people I’ve come to know and love.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Nichole: Um, yes. Several. Because if I didn’t have other people to help me find the problems with my writing, I’d be completely lost.

M.B.: Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Nichole: The one I’m currently submitting, Gifted. Because it has so much of my heart and soul in it.

M.B.: What is something about yourself people don’t know?

Nichole: When I was sixteen, I sang with my high-school choir in Carnegie Hall in New York. It was an amazing experience.

M.B.: What is your favorite snack to have while you are writing?

Nichole: I don’t generally eat much while I’m typing—cuz I need both my hands to type—but when I do, it’s usually going to be licorice, bite-sized chocolates, or dried fruit.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

Nichole: Never give up. You will be rejected. Many times. You will be criticized and critiqued and shot down. You will feel hurt. But the only way to see your name on a book is to pick yourself up and move forward. Never, ever, give up.

M.B.: What are you working on now?

Nichole: I’m usually writing more than one novel at a time, and right now I’m working on two. Only one has a title, though. It’s a sequel to Gifted, called Cursed. I’m very excited about it.

M.B.: Any final words you would like to share

Nichole: Sure. I’m an avid blogger, so if you or your readers would like to see more of my work or know more about me, you can always find me at www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com, or www.ldswritersblogck.blogspot.com.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

Nichole: Both of my books are available on Amazon, but I also believe Mormon Mishaps and Mischief is available online at Deseret book, Barnes and Noble, and Borders. The Sharp Edge of a Knife is also on the shelves at Seagull Book and Tape, as well as online at most book selling locations, such aswww.BarnesandNoble.com"> BarnesandNoble.com.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Sharp-Edge-of-a-Knife/D-N-Giles/e/9780979434020/?itm=1&USRI=The+Sharp+Edge+of+a+Knife

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mormon-Mishaps-and-Mischief/Nichole-Giles/e/9781599552972/?itm=1&USRI=mormon+mishaps+and+mischief

To read a sample chapter of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, visit my website www.nicholegiles.com.

To read some sample anecdotes from Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, visit the LDS Humor blog at www.ldshumor.blogspot.com.

I have two copies of "Hanging by The Thread" a great suspense novel by Donald B. Anderson. If you would like to win a copy:

1 Entry - leave a comment on this post
1 Entry - leave a comment on the post with Donny's book review and interview

I will announce the winners on next week's author spotlight. GOOD LUCK!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Giveaway and Contest

Go HERE and enter to win a copy of Mormon Mishaps, great book by Cindy Bezas and Nichole Giles.

Also you can enter to win $150 advertising space for a year on LDS Neighborhood! A great way to get the name and address of your website or blog out there :) Plus you also can get a chance to enter to win the book. Just head over to my Book Giveaways Blog and read all about it. Love You Lots! Hope you have a very Happy Mother's Day :)

Interview with Donny Anderson, author of "Hanging by The Thread" -- AND . . . Winner of the Daron Fraley, "The Thorn" giveaway announced!




Donny was born in Payson, Utah, lived in Orem until age ten, then moved to Orlando, Florida. Donny's last two years of high school were in Ocala, Florida, where he lived before moving to Angleton, Texas (near Houston) the day after he graduated from High school.

Donny served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Colorado Denver North Mission. Following the mission, Donny transferred from Alvin Community College to Brigham Young University.

While at BYU, Donny married the most ideal person he's ever known-Mollie Johnson. Donny taught at the MTC and graduated from BYU with a Bachelor's Degree in Business.

The Church hired Donny into the Church Educational System upon his graduation. Donny and Mollie were assigned to teach Seminary in Taber, Alberta Canada at a one-man seminary. The two years they lived in Canada form a cherished part of their lives. Their oldest child, Sadie, was born in Canada.

Donny and Mollie moved to Logan, Utah. Donny taught seminary in Brigham City for three years before transferring to Cache valley, where he continues to relish the chance to teach the gospel daily to the young people of the Church.

While living in Logan, Donny completed his Master's Degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Public Administration.

Donny and Mollie are now the parents of five children (Sadie, Myriam, Packer, Hunter, and Holland) and make their home in Millville, Utah. They love their town, neighbors, ward, career, and life in general.
Becoming an Author

When Donny completed his Master's Degree, he had time to pursue a study of one of his intellectual obsessions: economic freedom. For two years he put himself through what he refers to as a self-appointed Master's Degree in Freedom Studies. He came to love the stories of the nation's beginning and the teachings of people like Ezra Taft Benson, Marion G. Romney, J. Reuben Clark, Milton Freidman, Friedrich August Hayek, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, and many others.

After those two years, his wife, Mollie, was talking to her mother about how badly they wanted to pay off their mortgage as quickly as possible. Jolene (Donny's mother-in-law) said to Mollie, "Donny needs to write a book." Mollie looked at Donny and said, "Mom says you need to write a book." He had always wanted to write a book, and Mollie knew that. But this little statement was the catalyst he needed. He simply said, "Okay." (That same mother-in-law, Jolene Johnson, would eventually create the cover for Hanging by The Thread)

Starting the next morning, Donny woke up early and got started. Having decided to write a book, Donny had to settle on what to write. Because of having studied freedom for two years, the choice was easy. He wanted to teach about economic freedom. And he thought the best way to do that would be to package the concepts in a thrilling story.

For the next two weeks he woke early and sat on the couch for two hours every morning with a notebook and plotted out Hanging by The Thread.

Thus began a love affair with the creative process of constructing and writing a story. Donny has come to love 4:00 A.M. His children have offered many prayers that "Dad's book can get published," but they have seldom seen him writing his books.

Donny wrote his first draft in eight months and spent the next six months cleaning it up. After his first rejection, he finally mustered the courage to follow many people's advice and trim the "fat elephant" of his manuscript down to a much sleeker "lion." He was thrilled when the better version sparked interest from publishers. But rejections and revisions continued. Finally, Granite informed him in January 2010 that they will publish his first book in May of the same year.

A highlight of his life was thanking his little ones for their incessant prayers for the publication of their dad's book and telling them it's getting published.

I love books that grab me up front and pull me into the story and keep me up till all hours of the night reading. Hanging by the Thread did exactly that. Many times I had chills and felt anxious as the action-packed plot grew more intense with the turning of each page. Anderson has woven a complex and terrifying plot, filled with enough detail and fact to give a strong sense of realism to it. The characters were believable and real and I felt their urgency and sense of danger as they discovered a document filled with dangerous information, not just for them, but for the entire country. Anderson's strong interest in economics legitimizes the premise of the novel and I must say, by the end of the book I felt a stronger sense of patriotism and an urge to get involved. The story was alarming and inspiring. Hanging by The Thread would make a great movie.

Here is my interview with Donny Anderson:

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Donny: Long before I had any writing skills.

M.B.: What is your writing and educational background?

Donny: I received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Brigham Young University. I later received a Masters in Social Science with an emphasis in Public Administration from Utah State University. As far as books go, this is attempt number one. I have very little writing background.

M.B.: What makes you passionate about writing?

Donny: Two things make me passionate about writing: communication and creation. I love to communicate ideas. And I think God hard wired human beings are to create. It’s part of our nature. Writing offers the chance to creatively communicate. What a thrill ride that can be!

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Donny: I submitted first to one publisher. That manuscript had some major problems. It was quickly rejected. That rejection gave me the courage to really do some badly needed surgery.

I submitted a much better manuscript to four publishers at once (including the one that had previously rejected it). The first publisher rejected it again in record time, but the other three expressed some level of interest. One those three rejected it, but gave specific feedback and left the door open. But as that was happening, Granite Publishing was expressing great interest. I was also able to revise Hanging by The Thread along the way so that it kept getting better.

Finally, after more than a year of revising and hoping, Granite accepted for publication a book that was now so much better than my first submission. I am glad it went through rejections and revisions. It was through that process that I learned a bit about writing.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Donny: I wouldn’t say discouraged, because I had more hopes than expectations since this is my first attempt. But that hope was tested and the process forced me into more patience than I am comfortable with.

M.B. What gave you hope along the way?

Donny: Two things. First, my children’s prayers. When they pray, things happen. Second, some early readers saw great potential. Family and friends can give false hope. But some comments like, “This will be published, you just have to find the right publisher,” from certain family members really carried me. Also, one reviewer who did not know me commented that “this book should be in every home.” I agree. And having someone who doesn’t know me say that gave me the motivation to dedicate a lot of personal effort to marketing Hanging by The Thread.

M.B.: Who is the target audience for Hanging by The Thread?

Donny: I didn’t think I stood a chance at writing to a national market, so I wrote an American book to the Latter-day Saint market and submitted to LDS publishers. But just before the book went to print in early April of this year (2010), Granite asked me to revise the book so they could market Hanging by The Thread beyond the LDS market to a national audience. So, I guess my market is now all freedom-loving Americans.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Donny: With five little ones age 8 and younger, I did not want to abandon them or my wife with an obsession with writing. My solution has been 4:00 A.M. I now love the wee hours of the morning. The mind is alert, the body is rested, and things are quiet. I’d rather lose sleep than family time. The funny thing is that my children seldom see me write. They just know I’ve written a book.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Donny: The main theme of Hanging by The Thread stemmed from personal studies about freedom. When I decided to write about freedom, and chose to use an adventure to do it, the rest became a thrill. I asked myself, “How would you go about destroying freedom?” The answers to that turned into the bad guys’ plan. Creating the plot took two weeks of staring at a notebook. That was fun.

M.B.: When did you decide to write this book?

Donny: My wife and I were building a house that could better accommodate a growing family. We hate debt. My wife expressed her frustration on the phone to her mother about taking on more debt. My mother-in-law (who would later design the cover of Hanging by The Thread) said to my wife, “Donny needs to write a book.” Mollie looked at me and relayed the comment. I said, “Okay.” And the next morning, I woke early and began the adventure.

M.B.: Tell me about your marketing team.

Donny: With Granite Publishing taking my book, they take on the marketing. But I did hear once that a publisher’s marketing effort gets books into stores, then the author’s efforts gets people into those stores to buy the books. I was dreading marketing, but found it as obsessively fun as writing. In fact, it became distracting.

The best thing I have going for me is that marketing team. My wife’s mother designed my cover. My wife’s brother built my websites. My wife’s other brother built the trailer. And another of my wife’s brothers built from scratch a clip for that trailer. A friend pointed out that I married the right person for marketing a book! Family in both directions have been outstanding marketers.

M.B.: What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Donny: I want readers to have a blast reading. Then, when they finish, I want them to put the book down and say, “Wow, I just learned a lot about freedom.” I want people to feel more capable of interpreting the world around them and discerning political leaders and economic policies.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Donny: I outline first. I like to first make a skeleton, and then put flesh on the bones. But one of my favorite aspects of writing is when a character does something I wasn’t planning on. That is entertaining when characters I fully control begin acting for themselves.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Donny: Time. A nap. Research.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Donny: Because of when I write, I get absolute quiet. But I have a great ability to zone out. That is why I avoid working when the family is awake. I tend to tune out things that are more important than my book when I do.

M.B.: If you could use one word to describe Hanging by The Thread, what would it be?

Donny: Timely. It seems like everyone who reads it uses that word. And although the principles in Hanging by The Thread will always be timely, they may well be more timely now than ever before.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Donny: A reviewer for a publisher that rejected my book. They gave feedback. That is rare. It was eye-opening, and has changed my writing in a big way.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Donny: I do have a brutally honest collection of family and friends.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

Donny: Be more concerned with getting better, learning more, and improving than you are with defending what you have already produced. If you think you have something worth selling, persist. You may be right. Keep creating.

M.B.: Are you working on any new projects?

Donny: Yes. I am writing a three novel series that will show the full splendor of the Law of Consecration and compare Consecration to capitalism and communism. The first book will be out in late 2011.

M.B.: What is the best way readers can know whether they will like your book?

Donny: Watch the trailer. They can also read the first three chapters and two of the ten lectures from the appendix. They can access all these at www.hangingbythethread.com.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

Donny: Soon, many bookstores. Granite will get Hanging by The Thread into as many stores as they can. For now, go to:

www.hangingbythethead.com

www.donaldbanderson.com

www.granitebooks.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN A COPY OF Hanging by The Thread here's what you do:

1 entry - follow this blog
1 entry - follow Donny's blog
1 entry - leave a comment on this blog
1 entry - leave a comment on Donny's blog
2 entries - blog about this interview and contest on your blog

GOOD LUCK! Winners announced next week.

WINNER ANNOUNCED! The winner of "The Thorn" giveaway is . . . ELIZABETH!

Elizabeth, email me at micheleabell@gmail.com and I will get the book sent out. Congratulations!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Giveaway for booklet - "Writing Your Family Legacy."

Read “The Importance of Promoting Your Book” and an interview with Cheryl
Malandrinos. Enter a give away for “Writing Your Family Legacy.” It is a
small booklet with Linda Weaver Clarke’s complete lecture that she teaches
throughout the U.S. What is the booklet about? Read the information below.
If you’re interested in this booklet, leave a comment about the interview
at Linda’s Blog:
http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com/2010/05/importance-of-promoting-your-book.html.

What Is Family Legacy?

It’s important to teach our children their heritage. Who are your
ancestors? What were their traditions? Did they fight for a cause and what
was it about? Each of us has a story from our ancestors or even our own
story to tell. If these stories are unwritten, then how are your children
going to know of their parentage? It’s up to us to write these experiences
down. Turn your family history into a variety of interesting stories,
something your children will be proud of. For a sample of what you can do
with your family histories, read the short stories on my website.