Monday, March 31, 2008

Surprised at the Pain

Some people know I lost a child in an auto accident. A lot of people don't.

It happened 17 years ago, and I thought I was fine . . .

until I read something today that somehow, I'm ashamed to say, I had not read in all the intervening years--maybe subconsciously avoiding the task.

I don't even know how the file got on my computer, and I have far less idea how it came to be on my flash drive, but there it was, staring me in the face. It simply said KAREN. I thought to myself, Oh, maybe there's a photo in the Word file, so I opened it, since I've been looking for photos of that daughter. Odd that I don't have any pictures of my dead daughter or husband on this computer, but it was built long after they passed on, so maybe it's not so odd.

Anyway, I know I'm wandering, but maybe it's because I'm avoiding getting to the point of all this. The point is, the file is an account of the accident and the aftermath, written by the driver of the car, my then-teenaged older daughter.

I'm surprised at the depth of the pain I felt as I read her words. They brought me back to that terrible November day, the call that woke my husband and I from a drowsy Saturday nap, the awful horribleness of facing a parent's worst nightmare. Even now, a half-hour or more after reading the file, I'm not sure I can complete this post. I'm overwhelmed by the pain that's been lying dormant for years.

We tell ourselves that we have gotten over a tragic event, and perhaps we think that's so. Perhaps not. Maybe the grief just sits hidden away, pushed deep down inside ourselves until we unexpectedly run across something that brings it to the surface again, like this account has done to me.

I'm not sorry I found that file. I should have read it years ago. I'm glad it was written. I'm glad I have a copy. It simply blindsided me to read it.

Feeling grief isn't a bad thing. After all, I'm a writer, and I use the emotions I've felt to make my fiction live for other people. I've discovered that I can use my experiences to help other people get through a time of sadness in their lives, to realize that all is not lost, that adversity can be surmounted and overcome. It adds a rich dimension to my work.

I just need a minute here to regroup and regain my equilibrium.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

And Now, For a Bit of Weirdness

Last night I had the strangest dream.

Now, the fact that I dreamed, and remembered it, is in itself remarkable. I seldom do so, but I'm glad this was the exception. It means I got some good quality REM sleep last night. I must have gotten enough oxygen, despite my stuffy nose-due-to-spring-allergies.

But I digress.

I dreamed that I was in my twenties again, and dating. I don't recall the young man's name, but I understood that this was someone I'd been seeing regularly. From the tempestuousness of the relationship, I think he was a stand-in for a real person I dated after my mission, but I won't read anything into that.

We went to some kind of theme or amusement park on Phoenix's west side--something that did not exist in the time period, and still doesn't, as far as I know, today. There was a lot of conversation, quite crazy, if I recall, a red roadster of the type that was popular during the 30s (and I don't go back that far!), a misunderstanding, a long walk by myself through dark streets to find the car or another way home, and my errant boyfriend, who had actually NOT driven off in a huff after all, but was waiting for me, repentantly, at the roadster.

I don't recall anything more physical between us than me resting my head on his shoulder with his arm around me, but that felt very nice.

Oh well.

At this time in my life, I don't envision myself remarrying, so I don't know why this dream included a relationship. I don't rule it out, but I'm by nature a solitary soul, and I need a lot of time for my writing. I don't know if I'm capable of investing time and effort in a marriage right now. For me, the ideal prospective spouse would have to be pretty self-sufficient.

Even so, the feel of a man's shoulder under my head and a caring arm around me was comforting. But it was only one night, and only in my dreams.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Very Good news!

Highway 87 has been reopened by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Our local paper, The Payson Roundup, has breaking news on the reopening on its website (it's virtually the same text, but gives you a hometowny feeling to see it as a news story).

Although motorists will use only the northbound section of the highway with one lane going in each direction, this will save hours of time and miles of travel for us in Central Arizona. Hurray!

Compare the photo above with the one below to see how extensive the area of slippage is. The crack you see in the top left above is the same one below the M-shaped cut at the top center in the photo below. The chasm marking the slide makes a backward C-shaped line all the way around the bottom of the darker foliage in the center right of the photo before it goes back toward the highway.

How about a roller-coaster ride on this pavement?


Since I have a family event in Mesa on Saturday, it's a blessing to me that the highway has reopened. Otherwise, I could have looked forward to nine hours of driving and about two hours with my family. Now it will be around five hours of driving and more time to spend with the birthday boys.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Natural Disaster

I've blogged with pictures over here (click and you'll go to a new browser page) about a major highway-closing landslide that took place this weekend while I was out of town. I suppose in the long run, it's just a minor--though potentially long-term--inconvenience to me and to the people in the area where I live. It will probably drive up prices, though. And instead of thinking of running down to the Valley on a quick trip to go shopping, we may have to head up the hill to Flagstaff, instead. The detours necessary to reach Phoenix or Mesa will almost double the time investment, not to mention the cost of gasoline.

Coincidentally, I read a piece in a local newspaper about how a trip along the original highway between here and the Valley took a minimum of eight hours--over winding, unpaved trails where the norm was to expect at least one flat tire and the possibility of the radiator boiling over. Very interesting.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

LDStorymakers' Conference--Saturday Classes

On Saturday, I attended the four breakout sessions as well as the panel on getting an agent. The first class was on self-publishing, given by Jewel Adams and me. We discussed the reasons and book-types that best suit self-publishing, the available options, and why each of us chose self-publishing. We also told about how to get editing done, book and cover design options, and publicity and distribution avenues. We had a blast!

The second class I went to was given by Tristi Pinkston and Candace Salima on the power of Internet promotion. Tristi covered blogging, online reviews, and virtual book tours. Candace talked about podcasting. She then introduced the topic of book trailers, and we got to see the premier of a book trailer done by a new company, ReelLine Productions dba LDS Bookscreeners, for James Dashner's new book in "The 13th Reality" series, The Journal of Curious Letters. Or is it the other way 'round? Anyway, what an exciting concept! We also saw an interview with Candace herself by the same company. A guest speaker from yourLDSneighborhood.com finished up the class.

Gordon Ryan presented on writing historical fiction. He emphasized that historical fiction is written about people, places, and human drama, not history, pointing out that ancient people were not stupid just because they didn't know about Broadband Internet access. Choose a period of history that you know or like or want to learn about, he counseled. A sub-genre of historical fiction is alternate history.

Research is not just for historicals, said Julie Coulter Bellon and Michele Paige Holmes. Their class included tips on how to research, where to find resources, how to store and organize the gathered material, and when to quit! I found their ideas to be most helpful--although I do write historical fiction.

I had a lot of fun and highly recommend this writers conference. King Jeff announced that information for the 2009 LDStorymakers writers conference would be up on the website on December 1st, so if you get the chance to save up the money to attend next year, don't let the opportunity pass you by!

Monday, March 24, 2008

LDStorymaker's 2008 Writers Conference Roundup

Whew! What a weekend!

When I registered, I was informed that during the day on both Friday and Saturday, Janette Rallison's and my room would be used for the pitch sessions to Lisa Mangum of Deseret Book and we were to stay away. I guess that was only fair, since LDStorymakers paid for the room because we were out-of-town presenters. I was a bit nervous about all our stuff strewn around (neither Janette nor I are very neat hotel guests), but at least housekeeping got there first and the beds were made.

On Friday, editor Tim Travaglini spoke on getting out of the slush pile. I attended three classes given by Rachel Ann Nunes on writing in spite of a busy life, Kirk Shaw of Covenant on ten things that get you noticed by an editor, and Shirley Bahlmann and Jaime Theler on finding your niche in non-fiction. The schedule included Q&A with a panel of publishers.

Some of Tim's observations were that three things contribute to a writer's success: Natural Talent, Training, and Perseverence. You need two out of the three to succeed. He urged us to get into a writer's group for support and help. Don't be afraid to revise: your words are not gold. When submitting, don't overlook junior, that is, acquiring editors. They are hungry to find good projects. He also gave the opinion that the days of exclusive submissions are over. Recession-proof books include non-fiction and children's books.

Rachel's excellent suggestions included to define yourself as a writer and choose to write. Get rid of the things that take time from that commitment, like doing things others can do for themselves. Learn to say no. Make a goal sheet. Don't waste time at the computer. Take care of your body. Learn to write in snatches.

Kirk Shaw gave ten ways to lure an editor to your story and to keep him reading until he's hooked. They include a well-written cover letter, following guidelines, sending your best version, top-notch first three pages, characters you'd invite out to lunch, conflict, climax, uniqueness, talking up a storm, and words worth writing.

Shirley Bahlmann and Jaime Theler pointed out that non-fiction is the easiest route to publication, over 70% of the books sold are non-fiction, and that many non-fiction books are written by first-time authors. Non-fiction books last much longer on the bookseller's shelf, and there are many niches to fill.

Saturday including giving a class on Self-Publishing with Jewel Adams, and attending classes given by Tristi Pinkston and Candace Salima on Internet promotion, Gordon Ryan on writing historical fiction, and Julie Bellon and Michele Paige Holmes on research. Four authors with national contracts discussed finding an agent, and agent Jamie Weiss Chilton gave a talk about her work and agency at lunch. The final general session was on how to have a dynamic book launch, given by MaryAnn Jones of Deseret Book's publicity department. I'll blog more about Saturday's classes later.

The conference wrapped up with the crowning of next year's Conference King, Jeff Savage aka J. Scott Savage. He looked so cute in his crown and robe, waving his silver oven mitts, uh, ahem, his gauntlets of power around.

Then it was back to the room for costume changes for the semi-formal Whitney Award Gala.

I cannot begin to do justice to the splendor of the room or the electric atmosphere. I urge you to go here for the awesome live blogging done by four Storymakers to help the Storymakers who could not attend the Gala to feel included. The rest of the world was also invited to look in. Scroll down to the "beginning" at the end of the blog and work your way up to the "final thoughts" at the top.

I blogged here about the Whitney Award Winners.

Below are more blogged anticipations, summaries, and thoughts by other folks about the conference and the Whitney Awards.

I had such a good time seeing friends again, meeting others for the first time, getting acquainted with new people, and learning more or re-learning things I had forgotten about the whole publishing industry.

I can hardly wait for next year's conference!
---

http://latterdayauthors.blogspot.com/2008/03/storymaker-writers-conference.html
http://candacesalima.blogspot.com/2008/03/whitney-award-winners-announced.html
http://ckbigelow.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-big-news-for-zarahemla.html
http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com/
http://blog.annettelyon.com/2008/03/what-weekend.html

Friday, March 21, 2008

Friday March 21--LDStorymakers' Writers Conference

Sandy, Utah--The day has dawned over the snow-crowned Wasatch Range with patchy clouds in the sky. My roommate, Janette Rallison, has gone to be a member of the Boot Camp Staff. Fortunately for me--the late riser--my only responsibility this year is as a class presenter, and that will occur tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Jewel Adams is my co-hort in telling all we know about self-publishing. It will be good.

The lineup here is outstanding: Timothy Travaglini, Senior Editor of G. P. Putnam's Sons and Jamie Weiss Chilton, Agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc., are the headliners. Chris Crowe and Mary Ann Jones will also speak, and David Nibley will entertain us tonight. There will be panels and workshops galore. 200 participants eagerly await Registration at 10 a.m., except for those who are already sweating it out at Boot Camp. We all hope they get a chance to shower before joining us for the main festivities.

More details later.

UPDATED: Chris Crowe had a death in the family and had to cancel. His replacement was the very funny Jessica Day George.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

LDStorymakers Conference

I have arrived safe and sound in Sandy, Utah--although my Arizona Garmin lied to me the whole trip about my arrival time. It kept insisting that I would arrive at 6:02 p.m. I kept telling it that was impossible, as I still had 116 miles to drive, and it was already 5:45 p.m. I didn't want to pull over to the side of the road and fiddle with the settings, getting it to recognize Daylight Saving Time, so I kept driving. I was only half an hour late to the LDStorymakers' Reunion Dinner, which made me happy. I got to hug a whole lot of friends I haven't seen since last year.

Robison Wells has set up a blog for live commentary during the Whitney Awards. Check it out on Saturday at about 6 p.m. MDT. Go look at it now, to see who will be doing the blogging.

More later.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Author Interview: Stephanie Black

LDS Suspense author Stephanie Black is my guest today. Her new novel, Fool Me Twice, has just been released by Covenant Communications, Inc.

Welcome, Stephanie! What made you start writing?

I've always loved a good story. My mother reports that even when I was very small, I would sit and turn pages in books. When I got a little older, my love for stories extended not only to reading, but to playing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger and strange goings-on. I loved Barbies--it was my favorite game. I think it's only natural that my love for creating stories in Barbie games would develop into a love for creating stories in print!

What a creative use for Barbie! How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?

When I was a kid, my sister and I wrote a couple of plays for ourselves and younger siblings. When I was a senior in high school, I took a creative writing class. My stories were incredibly dull. I was good with spelling and grammar and could construct a decent sentence, so somehow I thought that was enough. I hadn't figured out that my stories needed plot, conflict--all those things that I enjoyed in the books I read. For my last story in the class, I finally came up with a fun idea. The teacher gave me an A--hooray!--and wrote, "Interesting--don't stop!" on my story. I didn't stop. I played with that story for years, expanding it, writing random scenes, just generally having fun with it. After I graduated from college and my first daughter was born, I started using her nap time as writing time. Eventually, I decided to try to take the ideas I'd been working with and form them into a novel, start-to-finish. I got a couple hundred pages into the first draft before I figured out that the novel was going off in three different directions. There was a lot more to writing fiction than I'd realized.

I started reading books on fiction technique. The first one I read--and this is still one of my favorites--was The 38 Worst Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them), by Jack M. Bickham. That book opened my eyes. I scrapped my first attempt at a novel and recycled many of the story ideas, altering them to create a stronger, more focused plotline. Five hundred pages later, I had the complete first draft of a novel. I spent years working on that manuscript, rewriting it over and over, reading more technique books, gradually learning how to shape my story into a salable novel. That book, The Believer, was published by Covenant Communications in 2005.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?

I'm a combination of both. I need to have a general idea of where the story is going, or I'll just be stuck. But my outlines are very broad. I won't know exactly how the book will unfold until I write it, and new ideas and connections and plot ideas will come to me while I'm writing. I keep a brainstorming file where I can type my way through roadblocks in the story.

With my first book, I spent ages on every scene, polishing as I went. Consequently, it took me a very long time to write anything--and sometimes I'd go back and cut out big chunks of text that I'd spent ages perfecting. I've learned now that it works better for me if I just throw down a sloppy first draft without worrying about making it good. Then once that draft is written, I'll have a much better idea of what the story needs and what it doesn't, so I won't waste endless amounts of time polishing scenes that are destined to be cut. My first drafts are now incredibly messy and inconsistent. When I change my mind about plot issues, I usually don't go back and fix them--I just press onward, leaving the inconsistencies, knowing I'll fix them later. I might make a note for myself, but if I keep going back to fix things before I reach "The End," it'll take me forever to finish my draft.

How do you choose your characters' names?

I have a couple of favorite websites that help me. The Social Security website for baby names is a fantastic resource for choosing first names. It lists the most popular names by decade, so if I need a name for a sixty-year-old man, I can see what names were popular sixty years ago.

For my protagonists, I choose names that I like and that seem to fit the character. I try to be careful not to have names that are too visually similar to each other (like Sarah and Sheila) so readers won't get confused (in early drafts of Fool Me Twice, I violated that rule and named the twins Kira and Kristen, but sure enough, my test readers found it confusing. Kira became Megan).

I have the worst trouble with villain names because I'm always thinking things like, "I can't name the villain Katherine--I have a niece named Katherine!" I can be somewhat neurotic about this, and it can get kind of ridiculous, especially with minor characters. I should just pick a name and get on with it!

For villains, I use the names of people who send me spam email. What is your daily schedule like?

Writing time usually comes either in the afternoons while my youngest child is napping and the older kids are at school, or in the evenings after the decks are relatively clear.

How do you handle life interruptions?

I have five children, so life isn't boring. I suppose how much chaos I can handle when I'm writing depends partly on where I am in a project. Drafting is the hardest thing for me, requiring the most concentration. If I'm doing light editing or proofing, I can do that in small snatches at various times throughout the day, but if I'm struggling with a story and need to work my way through it, I probably won't even attempt to work on it until I have some (relatively) uninterrupted time. Of course, that's probably just my way of procrastinating--if I'm struggling with a story, it's easy to say oh, I'll wait and work on it later, whereas if I'm excited about the story and it's going well and the adrenaline is flowing, I'm going to be much more willing to work on it, no matter what else is going on in the house!

Do you write to music? If so, with lyrics or only instrumentals?

I don't usually write to music. The only time I might turn on music when I'm writing is if I'm doing very light editing that doesn't require much brainpower. And I've been known to play songs to try to amuse my preschooler so I can snatch some more time at the keyboard.

What food or snack keeps the words flowing?

Anything chocolate . . . or filled with sugar . . . or . . . well, actually, snacks are a lot less likely to keep the words flowing than to stall them. If I get up during writing time and go root through the pantry in search of goodies--especially if I do so repeatedly--that probably means I'm not as focused as I ought to be. Hunting for a snack is a good way to stall (so is checking my favorite blogs and--my personal favorite--reading e-mail!).

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

I love rewriting. I know some authors hate it, but I love it. I love working with an already-written manuscript and watching it grow more polished, deeper, richer--just all-around better. Since my first drafts are so sloppy and inconsistent, I expect to do a lot of rewriting. I'll do at least two complete drafts before I even think about letting anyone give me feedback on a manuscript (if my test readers tried to read one of my first drafts, their brains would melt). After I get feedback and revise accordingly, I'll do a few more drafts before I'm ready to submit the manuscript.

One thing I dislike is struggling to find a story, which is what's been plaguing me on my current work-in-progress. I've had a heck of a time creating this plot, and even though I'm nearing the end of the first draft, I still haven't wrapped my mind around the whole plot. Among other problems, there's some crucial backstory that I haven't figured out how to weave into the current action of the story. I know I'll get it worked out, but this draft has not come easily. I can't wait until it's finished, so I can (you guessed it!) start rewriting.

What is your next project?

My work-in-progress is another contemporary suspense novel aimed at the LDS market.

What is your advice for other writers?

Write. Don't be afraid to plunge in. Your words don't have to be perfect the first time you write them down. Don't edit yourself into oblivion on the first draft. Write and rewrite, get outside feedback, and rewrite again until your work is as good as you can make it.

Study technique. There are a multitude of excellent technique books available. Along with the book I mentioned above, Jack Bickham's Scene and Structure is one that I highly recommend.

Learn the market. I was just reading in literary agent Nathan Bransford's blog about how many calls he gets from people who want an agent but don't have the first clue how to go about getting one (if they did know, they wouldn't be wasting his time by calling--they'd be sending a query letter). Understanding how the market works can not only help keep you from wasting time (yours and agents'/publishers') but can help give you a realistic view of what to expect. If you think that only bad books get rejected and that if your work is good, it will definitely get snatched up by a publisher the first time you submit it and you'll instantly be rich and famous--you might be in for a reality check! There is a ton of information available both in books and online, and the more you know, the more successfully you'll be able to operate in the publishing world.


Tell us about your new book.


Fool Me Twice is a contemporary suspense novel that centers around Megan O'Connor, a young woman whose difficulty in standing up for herself when it means disappointing others has stalled her dreams and trapped her in an increasingly frustrating life situation. When her estranged twin sister shows up and proposes a plan that will get Megan the money she needs to break free, she decides to go for it. She's edgy about the plan--a scheme to coax an inheritance out of a sickly great aunt--but convinces herself that they aren't hurting anyone. Soon, Megan's decision lands her smack in the middle of a web of danger, deceit and revenge.

What other work of yours has been published?

As mentioned above, my first novel was The Believer, published by Covenant in 2005. Believer is a semi-futuristic thriller--sort of a George Orwell-meets-the-Book-of-Mormon type of story. Pretty intense. I'd love to publish a sequel to The Believer someday.

Thanks for being my guest today, Stephanie.

My pleasure.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Author Interview: Tristi Pinkston


Our Author Interviewee today is award-winning LDS historical fiction author, blogger extraordinaire, and media reviewer, Tristi Pinkston. Her latest novel, Season of Sacrifice, was just published by Golden Wings.

Tristi's very popular blog is found here and the blog index for the work she does for Families.com is here.

Welcome, Tristi. It's good to have you here. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?

I've been writing since I was five years old, but I've only been writing anything good since the year 2000. I sold my first book, Nothing to Regret, in 2002, after two years of submitting and waiting.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?

I make a careful timeline of the historical dates and facts, and then I fly by the seat of my pants within that structure. The timeline tells my characters when they need to be where, but I give them a lot of free reign the rest of the time. I'm what they call an "organic writer," meaning that I feel my way through the story.

How do you choose your characters' names?

I like checking out baby name books from the library. I also read credits on television shows and hit the baby name websites online. Any time I hear a name I like, I add it to a list I keep. Then, when I need a character name, I go to the list and find a name that fits. The Internet is great for finding names for older characters. Say I have a grandma who was born in 1910. I can go online and find out what names were popular for babies in 1910, thereby adding even more realism to the story. You wouldn't name a grandma something like "LaKeisha," for instance -- that name didn't come about until later.

You're a homeschooling mom. What type of writing schedule do you have?

I do the bulk of my writing at night between nine p.m. and two a.m. Because I home school my children and they're home all day, I write after they're in bed. Sometimes it takes them longer than other times to go to sleep, so I do what I can when I can. I can edit with them up and around, but if I'm writing a difficult scene, it's easiest to wait until the house is quiet. I don't write every day, but when I'm in the groove, I tend to put in a lot of hours. I get kind of obsessed.

I do tend to write my blogs during the day -- they don't require the intense concentration.

How do you handle life interruptions?

The same way I handle anything else -- with a hammer!

No, just kidding. Life is all about interruptions. Our plans are never someone else's plans. We have to be flexible or we'll never get anything done.

I essentially expect interruptions and work around them. I write blogs for Families.com, so I'll write a blog, make a sandwich and change a diaper. I'll write another blog, switch the laundry and check my daughter's math. I'll edit a chapter, fill the dishwasher and stop a fight. It's a constantly fluid effort. That's the only way it works.

Do you get blocked? Any hints on how to stave it off?

You bet I get blocked. I don't know how to stave it off, but the best way I've found to get rid of it is to put it to the side and not think about it for a while. Then I'll get in the shower or a hot tub and just soak and let my brain wander. When a writer gets blocked, it's usually because they're trying to rush the story. If you take a step back and just make conjectures -- what if the character did this instead of that, what would happen?

My very best ideas have come while in the shower or in the bath. I don't know if it's the fact that I'm actually alone and that it's quiet, or if it's the healing and rejuvenating properties of water, but I rarely remain blocked after spending some time in the bath.

What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?

I have got scads of ideas for books from contemporary to more historicals to nonfiction. I have an idea for a book I'm longing to write, but I have to wait until certain people die first. (Don't we all have one of those?) But you know what's great -- the things I want to write the most are the things I've written and am currently writing. It's the perfect job for me. Well, I don't really get paid for it -- so I guess it's the perfect volunteer effort for me!

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

I love spilling my guts out onto a sheet of paper and having someone read it and really "get" it. I love being able to share my thoughts and feelings with others. I love researching the historical aspects of the story and learning from the experience. I really enjoy getting out there and promoting (I know that makes me weird)

What do I like least? Small royalty checks. Having to go back and edit for the 47th time to make sure I caught everything. Discovering later that I still didn't catch everything. How numb my bottom gets when I spend too long writing—my bottom always gives out before my ideas do.

What is your next project?

I'm working on two projects simultaneously. One is a contemporary comedy mystery (if there is such a genre) called Secret Sisters. The other is a Vietnam era book which also focuses on the Kent State Shootings.

What is your advice for other writers?

Write from your gut. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't write. Have knowledgeable people read for you and then take their advice, as long as it makes sense to you. Don't be so prideful that you can't make suggested changes. Don't be afraid to let others see your work. Don't be afraid to get out there and promote yourself. Have fun with the process and don't let it intimidate you.

Tell us about your new book. I understand you're going with a different publisher this time.

My new book, Season of Sacrifice, is the true story of my great-great-grandfather Benjamin Perkins, who engineered the passage through the Hole in the Rock in southern Utah. I have taken his life story and the family history stories that have been written about the event, cross referenced them with nonfiction texts on the topic, and written a dramatized version of the true events. It's a wonderful book, my favorite that I've written so far, and contains some of my very best writing.

I've chosen to self-publish this book. The LDS market is a little skittish of polygamy right now (stupid Warren Jeffs) and Benjamin did become a polygamist. But you know, that part is the best part of the whole book. I was able to explain it in a way that ties into the spiritual devotion these marvelous people had. That explanation came to me after a lot of study and prayer.

I'm excited to get this book out there. My good friend BJ Rowley of Golden Wings is allowing me to use his imprint and is helping me in more ways than I even understand to get the book on the shelf. It's kind of cool—his great-great-uncle was also a Hole in the Rock pioneer and features in my book.

What other work of yours has been published?

My first book is Nothing to Regret and was published by Granite in 2002. It's about the Japanese internment camps during World War II.

My second book is Strength to Endure and was also published by Granite, this one in 2004. It's also set in the World War II era, but over in Germany.

I have three other completed novels that have not yet found a home, as well as the two I'm currently writing and I have over twenty still on the drawing board.

You're awesome, Tristi. Thank you for the interview. Good luck with the book.

It was my pleasure.

To order your copy of Season of Sacrifice, contact Tristi at tristi@tristipinkston.com or visit the book page at her website.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Sunday Musings

Today dawned cold and with drifting snowflakes. I thought, Oh goody, we're going to get that snowstorm the weatherman promised. Well, that didn't happen. We had intermittent flurries during church, but nothing stuck to the ground. Now at 11 p.m. we still don't have anything happening. I am grateful for my warm coat, though. The house was icy when I returned. It took a while to warm up, and the coat served me well.

It was branch conference today. For those not of the LDS faith, it's a once-a-year occasion in the local congregation when the next-higher tier (stake) leaders--both the ecclesiastical and auxiliary leaders--come and give the lessons. The stake president also gives a talk in the worship service. These lessons and talks contain insights the leaders want to share with us, and encouragement for further advancement in faith during the coming year.

Our choir leader choose a special arrangement of a well-beloved hymn for the choir to prepare and present. Mind you, our choir generally consists of about ten people. The arrangement she chose was written for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of over three hundred singers. Most of the choir members don't really read music, especially the men. The Mack Wilberg version of the hymn is quite complex, including several key changes, and eight voice parts at the end.

Well. We don't have any tenors to speak of, and eight parts into ten people generally leaves 1+ person per part. Our chapel isn't huge, so that's okay. It wasn't volume that concerned me. I worried about our ability to render the arrangement in any recognizable fashion. Not that amateur singing was my paramount concern. I know that the spirit the choir brings to the congregation's worship experience is much more important than whether or not a few sour notes get produced. I worried that Lynn would be disappointed, that the choir would feel deflated, or that God would not accept our puny efforts to do the arrangement justice.

Why do I bother to worry? Lynn did her due diligence to recruit visitors and more people from the branch to sing today. Some had practiced with us a time or two; others had not. The results: awe-inspiring!

The sound was full--angels must have joined us, as they have in the past. The spirit of God was in the performance. I felt it so strongly that when I sat down I cried for the overwhelming sense of love it brought. I'm crying now as I recall it.

The hymn?

"The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning."

Friday, March 14, 2008

Frustrating Day


I woke up with a scratched cornea, not too bad, as it turned out, but very painful. With swollen eyelids, as well, I wasn't about to undertake a trip to Southern Arizona, as I had planned on doing for a book signing.

After cancelling my hotel and sending my regrets to the book fair coordinator, I went back to bed. I woke up this afternoon feeling much better, but glad I hadn't tried to drive with such painful eyes. I might have been able to go on a trip by then, but time was not on my side, and I'd cancelled the hotel and the appearance.

It's okay. I've learned to become resolved to the day-to-day happenings with my eyes. On some days they are fine. Other days they ache, or burn, or the eyelids are swollen and peeling from the dry air and allergy to the drops I used to use.

I'm learning (re-learning?) patience. There are other things I can accomplish this weekend. Maybe they are more important than a road trip today.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Author Interview: Kerry Blair

Today's Author Interview is with the very well-beloved and way-too-humble LDS author, Kerry Blair. I am highly honored to count Kerry as a dear friend and colleague.

Kerry's newest book, Counting Blessings: Wit and Wisdom for Women, was just released by Covenant Communications, Inc.

Welcome Kerry! What made you start writing?

Somebody gave me a pencil (or perhaps it was a crayon) and taught me letters. I’ve been writing all my life. (My epic poem “Peanuts the Puppy” is practically famous in some circles.) In elementary school I wrote plays for all the neighborhood kids to perform. In high school I wrote three novels – none of which have been published, thank goodness. After college I took a very long hiatus during which I mostly wrote roadshows, letters from the Tooth Fairy, and collaborated on more school reports than I really should have. My first novel was published when I was 40, thus fulfilling a lifelong dream to be a writer when I grew up. (It takes some of us longer to grow up than others.)

I can certainly relate to the mother-input on school reports. Guilty as charged! What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?

Honestly, Marsha, your writers' interview series has saved my sanity! I used to fear I was the only person on the planet who sat down with a vague idea and a ton of enthusiasm and took it from there. To know that I am in very talented company gives me hope! It never ceases to amaze me when characters I never considered wander into my stories – or when characters I thought I created take over and do whatever they please. It’s a fun way to write a book, truthfully, but a simply terrifying way to begin one!

What is your daily schedule like?

Let’s see, I wake up when the rooster crows, disentangle the cat from my pajamas, and stumble over the bunny on my way to let the dog out. Then I feed the fish, look around to see what’s left over from dinner for the chickens, and . . . oh, wait! I’ll bet that’s not what you mean! If you’re talking about when I write/edit/ghostwrite/consult, I don’t have a daily schedule. (I can’t stick to a 30-minute schedule, frankly, but I never admit it in public. My husband might read the interview and he’s a guy who has everything from gargling in the morning to death and resurrection carefully enumerated in his Day Planner.)

I hate to tell you, sweetie, but this is about as public as it gets! How do you handle life interruptions, especially from your dog and cat?

Life was designed to be rich and diverse, and mine is particularly blessed. I have family, friends, neighbors, animals, Cub Scouts . . . you know, it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between those last two things. (I’ve always thought that “leading” Cubs is rather like herding kittens.) Anyway, life doesn’t interrupt my writing any more than writing interrupts my life. They have become hopelessly entwined in my heart and soul. I can’t imagine a day without writing any more than I can imagine writing without constant interruption. As for the dog and cat, Bandi is a dream – my most devoted fan. But if you can figure out a way to keep that darn cat off my keyboard when I’m trying to type, well, I’d probably be able to double my output and we could split the royalties.

Do you write to music? If so, with lyrics or only instrumentals?

If I put on music while I write it’s classical – pretty crazy since I work six-and-a-half galaxies away from the place where literary fiction is conceived. I have, however, revised more books than you would believe to the soundtracks of “Matlock” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Those years when the choice was between spending time with my dying father or meeting a deadline, I chose both. Simultaneously. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. I could probably write to the strains of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the bottom of the 7th at Chase Field with the score tied 5-5 in the last game of the World Series if I had to. Unless Greg Maddux was on the mound, of course.

Of course! What food or snack keeps the words flowing?

Oh, gosh. What food or snack doesn’t? I will say that I have found it particularly difficult to type while eating buttery crab legs and/or spaghetti with thin marinara sauce. Pretty much anything else I can eat at a keyboard with aplomb.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

At the risk of coming across as a control-freak, I like the control. I particularly loved writing fiction when my son was in Iraq. (Both times.) Two or three times a week I would start or end the day with a condolence letter to another “Marine Mom” who had lost her child in that awful place – all the while knowing that my youngest son was out guarding convoys and deactivating roadside bombs, and that those two men in dress blues could arrive at my door next. At a time in life when I faced the most, feared the worst, and had the least control, I can’t express what a balm it was to have a place where I could go and know that no matter how bad it got, I could fix it in the end. There are so many crazi-fying things about being a writer. I think God gave us that gift of perfect (albeit make-believe) creation to make up for all the rest!

As for least – I hate promotion. And bad reviews. And even good reviews because I always think, “What if they’re just being nice?” Truly, if I could release a book and then spend the next six months on a beach in Aruba without Internet, I would be happy.

What is your next project?

Does every writer work on an opus? Well, if they do, that’s what I’m doing now. It has, however, come to my attention that perhaps I’ll never finish it, so I might take another stab at genre fiction this year, just to help pay the tuition.

What is your advice for other writers?

Read. Write. Obsess. Revise. Repeat. (It would be nice if we could do it without the obsession, but I have yet to meet anybody who can.)

Your new book is a bit different than your previous ones. It is a book of essays. Was this your idea or did your publisher ask for it?

Counting Blessings is a collection of articles, talks, essays, and blogs from the Six LDS Writers and a Frog site. An editor from another publisher had visited our blog and suggested I do a compilation. I took the advice, but offered it to Covenant first, of course. (Love those guys!) To my utter delight they’re taking a chance on it – and me!

Tell us all about your new book.

The book itself is beautiful – hardback and with a simply lovely cover. (Kinda spooky because I nursed along an orchid the whole time I worked on it.) It’s designed to be a gift book, and yet priced reasonably. To say I’m thrilled with what Covenant has done is an understatement. That said, this is the most terrifying project I’ve ever done. I have nightmares about it, even. Novels contain much of an author, but not in an overt sense. (Nobody in their right mind would see me as Sam Shade – although even that might be a little more believable than Jeff Savage as Shandra Covington.) But the writing in Counting Blessings comes from my soul. It’s very much as if I pulled a personal journal off my shelf and said, “Here. Who wants to read this?” Now that my book is on its way to shelves worldwide, I’ve started to obsess about what strangers, my Visiting Teachers, extended family, editorial clients – most of whom are not LDS – and even my mother, will think. I think I’d move to Aruba if I were smarter than a 5th grader and knew precisely where Aruba is!

What other work of yours has been published?

Hurray! An easy question at last! (I don’t know why interviews feel so much like examinations to me, but there you have it.)

The Heart Has Its Reasons – 1999
The Heart Has Forever – 2000
The Heart Only Knows – 2001
Closing In – 2002
Digging Up the Past (with Christine Wolfe) – 2003
This Just In – 2004
Mummy’s the Word – 2005
Of Infinite Worth (compilation) – 2006
Ghost of a Chance – 2007
Counting Blessings – 2008

Most are still in stores, and all are available on my website in one form or another!

Thank you for the delightful interview, Kerry.

THANK YOU ONE HUNDRED MILLION TIMES, MARSHA WARD! YOU ARE MY HERO!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Stamps, Stamps, and More Stamps

Postage, that is.


You all know the cost of mailing a bill or a letter will go up by one cent in the US in May. I don't recall the exact date, but it's May for sure.


Let's see. Last year the postage went up, too, right? I'm informed that the changes are going to happen on May 12, and every May thereafter!


Due to all the postage increases in past years--and it seems like, nay, it's verily truth, that it's happening every year--I have an awe-inspiring, eclectic collection of postage stamps on hand. I'm not talking about a collector's collection. I'm saying I have this two-box supply of stamps of every denomination you can think of.





I have one cent, two cent, a couple of three cent, four cent, five cent, ten cent, 17 cent, 22 cent, 23 cent, 29 cent, 32 cent, 33 cent, and on and on and on up to 57 cent stamps in my boxes. I have an unopened roll of 29 cent stamps, several Yoda stamps, a couple of 80 cent stamps, and even a dollar stamp. I also have a ton of 41 cent Forever stamps that the PO claims won't ever go out of style.


I may cover the entire envelope with stamps, but as long as I can get my hands on one cent stamps, I figure I'm good to go making up the right postage on my future cards, letters, and any bills I can't pay automatically or online.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Self-Doubt

Over the years, it has been my pleasure to meet and work with many outstanding writers. These are some of the best in their writing genres. Yet, almost without exception, they are, from time to time, wracked with intense feelings of insecurity as to the worth of their writing, doubting their ability to put together even one more intelligible sentence.

I'm talking excellent, intelligent, creative writers of multiple novels.

While I can't pretend to rise to the level of their sterling prose, some folks think I'm capable of stringing a few good paragraphs together once in a while. But there come times when I think I don't have another thing to say, no story to tell, no ability to sway or entertain or uplift. I too doubt my ability to write. These bouts of self-questioning can be debilitating, depressing any desire to write, and often leading to a sense of self-loathing for presuming to aspire to authorhood.

Fortunately, I'm not currently in such a slump. I was just looking back on some of the bleak times that I've gone through in the past, remembering other writers who actually swore off writing when in the throes of such doldrums.

Where do these awful, dreadful, terrible periods come from?

Possibly writers, like many other creative people, are slightly manic depressive, what we now call bi-polar, or given to other forms of depression due to chemical imbalances. This gives one explanation. Another might be that powerful writers have the ability to thwart the work of darkness, provided they have a light that leads them towards truth and beauty.

I know there is a force for evil abroad on this earth, just as I know there is a power for good. I call them, respectively, Satan and God. I believe Satan wants us to fail in our endeavors to do good. Therefore, I believe Satan is behind much of our self-doubt, our despair, our discouragement.

So, how do we writers get rid of the despair?

Barring chemical imbalances that cause clinical depression (been there, done that), I think filling our wells with goodness and uplifting influences is exceedingly important in such times of trial. Singing or listening to happy songs, classical music, joyful sounds, can help. Reading good literature and the Word of God has its powerful place. Prayer and meditation are good for the soul. Sharing our feelings with trusted friends can bring blessed surcease to the pain.

Now it's your turn. What remedies for self-doubt work for you?

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Rules of the West!

Candace Salima got this in her email and posted it. I like it so much that I've borrowed it to post here.

Rules of Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and the Wild West are as follows:

This applies to the rural parts of Arizona, as well.

1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.

2. Turn your cap straight, your head ain't crooked.

3. Let's get this straight: it's called a "gravel road." I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're gonna get dust on your Lexus and maybe a rock chip in the windshield. Drive it or get out of the way.

4. They are cattle. That's why they smell bad to you. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-10 and I-40 go east and west. Pick one.

5. So you have a $60,000.00 car. We're not impressed. We have $250,000 combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.

6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.

7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during the hunts, we WILL shoot it outa your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.

8. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer, and elk. You really want sushi and caviar you can get them at the bait store on the corner.

9. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.

10. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women, regardless of age or looks!! (except maybe Billary)

11. No, there's no "vegetarian special" on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham, turkey, & bacon.

12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup! Oh, yeah.... We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!

13. You bring "Coke" into my house, it better be brown, wet, and served over ice. You bring "Mary Jane" into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.

14. College and High School Football is as important here as the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.

15. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards -- it spooks the fish.

16. Colleges? We have them all over. We have State Colleges, Universities, and Vo-techs. They come outta there with an education plus a love for God and country, and they still wave at everybody when they come home for the holidays.

17. We have more folks in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines than all of you put together, so don't mess with us. If you do, you'll get whipped by the best.

18. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump crap ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1!

Friday, March 07, 2008

Wind

Yesterday, the wind blew like the proverbial lion of March is supposed to do. I kept praying, "Please, don't let the electricity go out. Please don't let the phone line go out." Since I'm pretty much a self-imposed hermit in this tiny hamlet on the side of a mountain, the power and the phone line combine to keep me in touch with the world. High winds are my enemy.

I guess my Heavenly Father heard my prayers and didn't think they were too trivial. No power lines went down. The phone stayed on so I was connected to the Internet. I am so grateful!

Dial-up may be awful, but it's all I've got! I was able to send my manuscript for Trail of Storms out to a couple of readers. Today I will send it to a couple more. As soon as I get their comments, and make whatever changes they recommend that will strengthen the book, I'll be sending it to a publisher.

Wish me luck!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Author Interview: James Dashner

My Author Interview today is with a fabulous young adult fantasy writer, James Dashner. James lives with his family in Utah.

Welcome, Dashner Dude. It's certainly exciting that you're on your "Change the World" Book Tour. What made you start writing?
Well, I've always loved it, but I got really serious when I found out we were having our first baby. I thought it would be cool to write stories for my own kids.

How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
My whole life, but seriously the last 9 years. My first book came out in 2003 (A Door in the Woods) but it was with a really small publisher.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?
I'm a little bit of a mixture. I definitely do a basic plot outline, and figure out the ending. But I also make up a ton of stuff as I go.

How do you choose your characters' names?
No real process here. Either I name them after people I know or put down whatever pops in my head. Still not sure where "Mothball" came from. :-)

You work a full time job, so when do you write?
Evenings and Saturdays mostly. But I hope to go full time in the near future.

Do you get writer's block? If so, how do you stave it off?
Honestly, I rarely get The Block. It's never been a problem for me.

Do you write to music? If so, with lyrics or only instrumentals?
I love writing to movie soundtracks. Especially LOTR, Braveheart, Aliens, Dances with Wolves, etc. I also love Enya for writing.

What food or snack keeps the words flowing?
Drinks actually. I can't eat and type at the same time!

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
Most: Coming up with the storylines.
Least: Rewrites.

What is your next project?
I'm working on Draft #2 for the sequel to Book 1 of The 13th Reality.

What is your advice for other writers?
There's a lot on my blog, but here's a sample: Rejection is part of the game. It hurts, and it will always hurt. But no matter how good you are, no matter how brilliant your work, the odds are astronomical that you will never receive a rejection. Or 10, or 20, or 100. If you learn to accept it and keep submitting, reworking, when necessary, what you've written, you'll find a home.


Tell us about your new book.
It's called The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters and it came out March 3rd! The best and most fun way to learn about it is to visit the website: www.the13threality.com. The publisher is Shadow Mountain. Check out my blog or website to see the many events scheduled for the next month or two.
I know you live in Arizona - well, I'll be there on March 10th and 11th, so come see me!

What other work of yours has been published?
A Door in the Woods - 2003
A Gift of Ice - 2004
The Tower of Air - 2004
War of the Black Curtain - 2005
All with Cedar Fort.

Thank you for the Interview, James. Good luck with the Tour, and come home safely!
Thanks, Marsha!
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