Sunday, May 31, 2009

URL Shorteners

We all know how long URLs can get, those Uniform Resource Locators that point to website addresses. This is especially so when we're dealing with "absolute" URLs, or the unique addresses for exact blog pages or online magazine or newspaper articles.

Long URLs can be a nuisance. They can get so long in emails, for example, that they fold over into two or three or more lines, often "breaking" and causing problems for those unschooled in Internet use and how to reconstruct broken links.

With the popularity of social media sites and Twitter, where shorter messages are desirable or required, the problem of long URLs has become, well, a greater problem.

Thus, we have seen the growth in recent months of URL Shorteners, websites dedicated to converting the long URL to a smaller code that redirects the user to the absolute URL. One of the first--and still probably the largest--is TinyURL.com, but there are dozens to pick from. Some I have seen used frequently by people I follow on Twitter are:

is.gd
bit.ly
short.to
tr.im
hub.tm
and snipr.com

See how some don't use the dot com domain convention? Dot com is the business or "commercial" top-level domain (TLD) extension we see in so many URLs. But...there are many more, like dot net, dot biz, dot us and even dot tv.

Those last two, dot us and dot tv, are actually "country code top-level domains," or ccTLDs. The United States has been assigned dot US by the governing body of such things, the IANA, or Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. Dot TV is the country code of the nation of Tuvalu, whose Ministry of Finance and Tourism rents out the use of the code to the television industry!

So it is with other URL shorteners that don't end in dot com. Bit.ly uses a Libyan address, is.gd originates on the island of Grenada, short.to gets its code from Tonga, hub.tm (hubspot) is authorized through Turkmenistan, and tr.im is licensed by the Isle of Man.

There is much discussion on the competitive blogosphere of whether URL shorteners are evil or not, depending on if you need search engines to bump your site to the top of their lists to gain revenue or not. It appears using URL shorteners may confuse the issue of who gets the recognition for the visit to your site. Discussion also centers on whether longevity of the shortener sites will be a future problem.

I'd suggest that if you send an email or tweet or update your Facebook profile, using a shortener to suggest a link is of little concern, since those are momentary communications. If you post a link on your website--designed to be up and sending links to presumedly long-lived sites--you'd better use absolute, though long, URLs.

That's up to you to decide.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Comment Contest winner

CTW is the winner of the Comment Contest for an autographed copy of Kathy-Diane Leveille's Let the Shadows Fall Behind You. Please contact me to provide your mailing details and how you want the book inscribed.

Congratulations!

Author Interview: Kersten Campbell

My Author Interview today is with humorist Kersten Campbell, who loves books and chocolate doughnuts. Her humorous book, Confessions of a Completely In*sane Mother, was published earlier this year by Horizon Publishers. In it she regales the reader with stories of pink-striped laundry, buying a rock from her small son, adventures in sewing Cub Scout patches onto her son's shirt--and her pants--and more hilarious offerings. Kersten lives in Washington with her husband and five children.

I'm offering a Comment Contest drawing for Kersten's book with this interview, which will end a bit earlier than normal, as I will be out of town next Friday. The contest, for readers in the United States, will end on Wednesday, June 3. Make a comment about Kersten or her book in the comments, and you'll be entered in the drawing.

Welcome, Kersten. What made you start writing?
I needed a creative outlet, and so I started writing in the evenings. I tried to write a romance but it was terrible! Then I got this crazy idea to write funny stories based on the antics of my funny family. I posted the stories on a blog and people told me they laughed so hard they cried. That's when I decided I'd try and get them published.

How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
I've been writing articles for magazines, especially LDS Church magazines for about ten years. My first book, Confessions of a Completely In*sane Mother, came out this February.

How do you decide what topics to write about?
Like I said, I was a bad romance writer. Then I read this book about how to write humor and decided to try it! I found out I loved it and other people did too, thankfully!

How do you research your topics?
All my inspiration comes from my family. I keep index cards in all the pockets of my pants and coats. That way I can write down the funny things they say and do. They make me laugh so hard sometimes...although I do exaggerate their antics in my stories as part of the humor genre.

What type of writing schedule do you have?
I can only write during the time that my youngest child naps because I can't write with noise, and I don't want to take time away from my family. That is one problem writing has...it can consume you. But it works if I limit myself to that amount of time. It makes writing a book slow going, especially when I have to use that time to promote the book too! But it's worth it!

How do you handle life interruptions?
I don't. I can't write with interruptions, so I always do it when the littlest one is asleep and the others are at school.

What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?
A romance. HA HA! I know someday I'll get it right! I still haven't thrown that manuscript away.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
I love how it transports me to another world and makes time stand still. It satisfies my urge to create like nothing else can. I love how language is so beautiful and can move people. Even the language of humor moves people to feel better about themselves and their own lives. It is comforting and reassuring to know that everyone makes mistakes and has disasters in their lives. The thing I hate is how much work it takes to make that humor happen. It may seem like humorists just write random funny things, but it actually takes a lot of planning and work to make something really funny.

What is your next project?
I am working on another humor book. Those funny stories are so fun to write I just can't stop! Plus it's therapy to help me look on the bright side when things go wrong every day.

What is your advice for other writers?
My advice is to never give up! And be patient. I know from experience that sometimes it takes awhile to find the right genre that you were meant to write.

Tell us about your book, Confessions of a Completely In*sane Mother.
It's a book filled with humorous short stories about LDS family life. I have taken real events that happened in our family and hyperbolized them into funny caricatures. From Zucchini crime, to boobytraps, to a church bag* that hasn't been cleaned since 1970, readers will find laughter and therapy in the humor of these short stories. It was my intent as I wrote the book to help mothers stop feeling guilty and start finding joy in everyday life.

* Marsha's note: LDS women often carry a tote bag full of lesson materials, scriptures, Cheerios, and quiet toys to church. This is commonly referred to as a church or Sunday bag.

Readers can purchase the book at independent LDS bookstores and Seagull book stores or online. Or here on my publishers website.

Kersten has a Website at www.kerstencampbell.com, and a humor blog at www.kersten4.blogspot.com. Thank you for the Author Interview, Kersten.

Thanks so much Marsha!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A Stellar Review

I'm not sure that I mentioned the fact that Trail of Storms got another review that made me jump for joy. In fact, the reviewer, Jennie Hansen, who writes fiction reviews for Meridian Magazine, included her thoughts on the first two books in the Owen family series, as well.

Hansen begins by saying, "
Trail of Storms by Marsha Ward is the third book in a western series featuring the Owen family that takes place during those first years following the conclusion of the US Civil War."

In between, she says some very lovely things, then ends thusly:
"Historical and Western fans of either gender will enjoy this series from the compelling covers to the last word of this third volume. It's a series I'm glad I had the opportunity to read."

My reaction?

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend

Because I spotlighted a friend from the north yesterday, and because it's Memorial Day Weekend and one of my favorite poems speaks to our responsibility to always remember the sacrifices others make for our freedoms and to act to continue to protect them, I'm spotlighting that work of another Canadian here today.

Lt. Col. John Alexander McCrae was a Canadian physician serving with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade of the Canadian Army during World War I. The battle at the Ypres salient was fought to prevent German troops from overrunning that area of Belgium. The Allied troops were in a terribly dangerous position, and seventeen hellish days of battle resulted in high casualties and injuries that then-Major McCrae had to treat. After witnessing the death of a young friend and former student, Lt. Alexis Helmer, and presiding over his funeral service due to the absence of a chaplain, Dr. McCrae sat on the back of an ambulance and spent twenty minutes of his precious rest time penning the fifteen lines that became one of the most famous poems of World War I. Although Dr. McCrae discarded the poem, a fellow officer rescued it and submitted it to London newspapers. The Spectator rejected it, but Punch published it on 8 December 1915.

Lest we forget:


In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields
.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Author Interview: Kathy-Diane Leveille

Today's Author Interview is with Kathy-Diane Leveille, a former broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, who discovered the only thing more thrilling than reading a wonderful story is harnessing the power of the imagination to write one. Her short story collection, Roads Unravelling, was published to critical acclaim after a selection from its pages, “Learning to Spin,” was adapted to radio drama for CBC’s Summer Drama Festival. The tale “Showdown at the Four Corner’s Corral” was revised for the stage and performed by New City Theater in Saint John. Kathy-Diane is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death RWA and Crime Writers of Canada.

I'm holding a comment contest attached to this interview, for readers in the U.S. and Canada. Make a comment (more than "me me!") and I'll put your name into consideration. The prize is an autographed copy of Kathy-Diane's new novel, Let the Shadows Fall Behind You. On May 29, I'll draw and post a name from amongst the commenters to be the winner. Said winner has until June 3 to send me their mailing address. Email me here. Include instructions on how you want the book inscribed (who it's to, if it's not to you).

Welcome, Kathy-Diane. Tell us who you are and what you do.
I’m a former broadcast journalist with CBC radio. Seventeen years ago, when I was home on maternity leave with my youngest son, I dug out an old file of story ideas and started scribbling. By the time the date arrived when I was supposed to return to work, I had already decided that I didn’t want to keep putting my dream of writing fiction on the back burner. Since then I’ve done different jobs, including being a janitor and typing medical transcription, to give me the time and energy to pursue my passion. My first book, Roads Unravelling, a collection of short stories set on the Kennebecasis River where I live, was published a few years ago. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You, released this spring, is my first suspense novel.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?
I usually begin by simultaneously visualizing a situation that causes an upheaval in life (mysterious disappearance), and hearing a character’s voice emote their reaction to it. It’s a very strange process and definitely has my husband worried some days; especially when he dusts the books on my research shelf: Handbook of Poisons and Crime Scene Investigation.

I need a brief synopsis to get started, and short character and setting sketches; but I usually don’t like to over think it during the inspiration stage.

Do you write best at a certain time of the day?
I’m definitely a daytime writer. I journal early morning, and then get to work on my current fiction writing project either mid morning or mid afternoon.

What food or snack keeps the words flowing?
I don’t eat when I’m writing, but I mainline coffee and green tea. It provides psychological oomph.

What sparks a story?
My novels are sparked by a question surrounding a mysterious disappearance. I actually have a blog to record them all at a blog called unsolveddisappearances. In the case of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You, Nikki disappears. The scenario unfolds like this:

On a grey morning in Northern Ontario in 1978, when the first fat snowflakes drifted down erasing all the familiar landmarks, Nikolai Mirsky headed out the door of the haunted cabin he shared with his lover, Brannagh Maloney. And disappeared…

Brannagh, a Natural Science illustrator, struggled to collate the data from their bird count through the long winter. By the time the icicles began to melt, she was filled with a growing dread that the infamous wilderness preservationist wasn’t returning.

When Brannagh left New Brunswick, ten years ago, she swore it was for good. But now her best friend, Annie, won’t stop worrying about her, and won’t stop hounding her to come back for a reunion of their childhood all-girls club The Tuatha-de-Dannans. Brannagh finally relents, but she refuses to go to her childhood home and face her irascible Grandfather. Instead, she hides out at her Grandmother’s summer cottage, even though it is far too close to the woods where her mother was murdered. As Brannagh struggles to put to rest the questions surrounding Nikki’s disappearance, she finds it impossible to ignore the family secrets circling the most tragic disappearance of all. Brannagh learns that nothing magical will ever change her past, but the fierce love of friends holds the power to transform the future.

What was it about your genre that interested you enough to choose to write in it and not in another genre?
I don’t think I could have written this novel any other way. In my opinion, suspense novels are about facing your fears (entering the heart of the shadow that haunts you), and begin resurrected, after accessing hidden strengths, into the light.

Character you wish you had created?
Ben on the TV series LOST. He is such a fascinating villain with sympathetic and evil qualities. He infuriates me; then turns around and does something to make me like him. He always keeps us on our toes.

What authors do you look to as a role model and inspiration?
Ruth Rendell, Nicci French, Harlan Coben, Patricia Highsmith.

What's the best advice you ever received?
No matter what happens, no matter what life or the profession throws at you, always GO BACK TO THE PAGE.

I believe good writers read a lot. What do you use to mark your page when reading?
Whatever’s handy: bills, napkins, match sticks, coins, coasters, photographs, pillows, my husband’s sock.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
My favorite part is being published. Picture the arrival of Christmas morning, the thrill of hearing a newborn’s cry and the rush of your first kiss all rolled into one. My husband and I went out for dinner. He’s my number one cheerleader and gets more excited than I do!

My least favorite part is getting the rejection letter. Rejection of the work you’ve spent so much time on is always a blow. The only cure for my disappointment has always been writing. Before you know it, I’m caught up in the characters and the mystery of their journey again. Sometimes it helps to work on a completely different project. If anything, I figure I must have learned something by now to make this one come closer to the mark.

Your book is called Let the Shadows Fall Behind You, published by Kunati, Inc. Tell us what the book is about and why you wrote it.
At heart, this is a book about the power of friendship. When Brannagh returns home for a childhood reunion of the Tuatha-De-Danaans, despite Nikki’s vanishing, she finally confronts the shadow she’s been running away from. Nothing can change the past, but friendship holds the power to transform the future. It was important for me to write about this because it’s a lesson I’ve been processing, as is so often the case with writing. The story is a reflection of what life is teaching me. This is all very mysterious and happens subconsciously; and very comforting.

Why should anyone part with their hard earned cash and precious time to read your book? Sell it to us!
I think Let the Shadows Fall Behind You has the multi-layered depth that lovers of good psychological suspense are attracted to. I tend to discover a new author with an unusual slant on the genre and compulsively read everything they’ve written. Lately, I’ve been devouring the works of Nicci French, a husband and wife British team. Maybe I’m just intrigued that this collaboration continues without self-combusting. I really like sophisticated screen thrillers too like Fatal Attraction and Wall Street, and have watched both quite a few times. I love the mechanics of an intricate plot paired with superb characterizations. I think every movie I watch and book I read informs my writing to some degree, because when the story transports me, I’m always curious as to why, and try to nail it down. That seamless pairing of plot and characterization to heighten suspense is what I’ve tried to master with Let the Shadows Fall Behind You.

Where can readers buy your book?
You can purchase it on line at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indigo.

What is your next project?
The suspense novel I’m currently writing, In Cold Storage, is about having the courage to be your own hero.

What advice would you pass along at this point in your career?
Rule number one: Go to the page. Rule number two: Go back to the page. Rule number three: Go back to the page again. I think it’s important to exercise your true voice, test it, settle into its strengths and weaknesses, and learn to trust it BEFORE you attend workshops. If you attend ‘how to’ sessions too soon, the tendency is to try and act on the information with the left brain and copycat what is being taught. If, however, you already write in your true voice, you will trust your gut instinct to take the information taught and adapt any parts of it to your style to enhance it, and discard the rest. How do you know if you’re writing in your true voice? The words catch fire, the room disappears and you hum along on a magic carpet in your imagination.

Rule number two: Devote at least half as much time as you spend writing to learning the publishing business.

Thank you for being my interviewee today, Kathy-Diane.
Thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest and meeting all your readers. I encourage all of them to drop by my web site, kathy-dianeleveille.com, and let me know what you think of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You. I always love to hear from readers.

Every Thursday I chat with some of the generous authors I’ve met on the road to publication at lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

WELCOME TO THE "SUMMER TREASURE HUNT: DIG FOR CLUES AND WIN" CONTEST!

Some friends and I have put together an exciting contest to kick off your summer! Beginning June 1st, we will be giving away a prize a day. That’s right: 30 days, 30 treasures! There should be something for everyone: romance, mystery, historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction; children’s picture books; a variety of non-fiction; and just to liven things up even more, we’ve included a few exciting non-book prizes: a free 30 page manuscript edit, for you aspiring authors out there; an e-bay gift certificate; and a gift-certificate for a Vinyl Expressions Quote. PS: my offering is on the very last day, June 30.

How can you win one of these fabulous prizes? 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 mailing address to jdipastena@yahoo.com.

(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: 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.

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 1st to read the names of the winners. (I'll try to post the winners each day, but will be out of town for a while, so bear with me. You can always check at Joyce's site for 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: Aubrey Mace
PRIZE: autographed copy of my new YA fiction book, My Fairy Grandmother.
QUESTION: What is the title of my upcoming book to be released Fall 2009?
WEBSITE/BLOG: aubreymace.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Terry Fleming of California

June 2
SPONSOR: Rachel Rager
PRIZE: By Love or By Sea, romance, autographed copy
QUESTION: What question does the stranger ask Alice? (Hint: Read excerpt of By Love or By Sea on the “Reading Room” page.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: rachelrager.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Phyllis Lamken of Idaho

June 3
SPONSOR: Josi S. Kilpack
PRIZE: An autographed copy of culinary mystery Lemon Tart OR a pre-ordered copy of English Trifle (release date is August 2009)
QUESTION: How many original recipes are included in the culinary mystery, Lemon Tart? (Hint: click on “Lemon Tart” tab on website)
WEBSITE/BLOG: josiskilpack.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Debbie Lambson of Utah

June 4
SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams
PRIZE: Arizona Glyph Award Finalist: Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today, children’s snuggle, giggle picture book. Autographed by the author and the real Chase McKay.
QUESTION: What is the name of the dragon book Cindy is completing?
WEBSITE/BLOG: cindyrwilliams.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Gloria Lyons of Michigan

June 5
SPONSOR: Kersten Campbell
PRIZE: Autographed Copy of the motherhood humor book: Confessions of a Completely (In)Sane Mother
QUESTION: What does the dog beg for when he escapes into the neighbor's house in the book Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother? (hint: if they click on the book they'll find the answer)
WEBSITE/BLOG: kerstencampbell.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Wendy Steed of Idaho

June 6
SPONSOR: Lara Niedemeyer
PRIZE: $20 gift certificate towards merchandise and shipping at my store—8pizza on eBay
QUESTION: What is the lowest priced item and what is the highest priced item listed in 8pizza’s store? (Hint: use the “Sort By” feature).
WEBSITE/BLOG: stores.shop.ebay.com/8pizza
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Gayle Oreluk of Illinois

June 7
Sponsor's name: Kathi Oram Peterson
Prize: Autographed copy of The Forgotten Warrior, YA Inspirational Time travel
Question Who is Tarik?
WEBSITE/BLOG: kathiorampeterson.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Heather Justesen of Utah

June 8
SPONSOR: Donna Hatch
PRIZE: Autographed copy of paperback of the Regency Romance, The Stranger She Married
QUESTION: What is Cole accused of doing?
WEBSITE/BLOG: donnahatch.net (Hint: read the excerpt under “Bookshelf” tab for The Stranger She Married)
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES: IN THE CASE OF AN INTERNATIONAL WINNER, AN E-BOOK VERSION OF THE STRANGER SHE MARRIED WILL BE AWARDED
WINNER: Valerie Bongards of Germany

June 9
SPONSOR: Diony George
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Torn Apart, novel based on a true story. "If it could happen to Alyson, it could happen to anyone..."
QUESTION: What TV station interviewed Diony about her book? (Hint watch video for the answer)
WEBSITE/BLOG: diony-george.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: June Kirk of Arizona

June 10
SPONSOR: Tina Scott
PRIZE: autographed copy of Coyote's Grand Adventure, children's picture book
QUESTION: What did Coyote always dream of doing? (Hint: Look under “Library” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: tinascott.net
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Venetia Wilhelmsen of Arizona

June 11
SPONSOR: Cindy Beck
PRIZE: Winner's choice of one of the following anthologies featuring Cindy's stories (autographed copy): My Dad is My Hero, Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors, or Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers.
QUESTION: What was the name of my horse? (Hint: You can find the answer by going to the website and clicking on the button marked "Books."
WEBSITE/BLOG: bythebecks.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Scott Duncan of Pennsylvania

June 12
SPONSOR: Valerie Ipson
PRIZE: $15 gift certificate and free shipping for a Vinyl Expressions’ Vinyl Lettering quote (check out vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com for examples of prize)
QUESTION: What is Valerie’s personal writing quote? (Hint: see quotes in right sidebar under “OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF WRITERLY PEOPLE”: Valerie’s “personal quote” means just that…her very own quote!)
WEBSITE/BLOG: valerieipson.blogspot.com/
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Krista Darrach of Arizona

June 13
SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena
PRIZE: 2007 Whitney Award Finalist: Loyalty’s Web, medieval romance, autographed by author
QUESTION: What is Heléne’s prayer when Gunthar brushes her cheek with his thumb? (Hint: Click on “Excerpt” tab on website)
WEBSITE/BLOG: joyce-dipastena.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES: IN THE CASE OF AN INTERNATIONAL WINNER, A $20 AMAZON.COM E-CERTIFICATE WILL BE AWARDED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A COPY OF LOYALTY’S WEB
WINNER: Ginny Romney of Arizona

June 14
SPONSOR: Joan Sowards
PRIZE: LDS Word Puzzles
QUESTION: What is Bednar?
WEBSITE: joansowards.com/node/110
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Martha Lawson of Mississippi

June 15
SPONSOR: Anne Bradshaw
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Please, No Zits! & Other Short Stories for LDS Youth, but non-LDS youth enjoy it, too! - YA genre (12 upward)
QUESTION: What does author Jeffrey S. Savage say about Please, No Zits? (Hint: scroll down right sidebar on blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: annebradshaw.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Stacey Starley of Utah

June 16
SPONSOR: Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
PRIZE: an autographed copy of BOOK ONE of her Free Men and Dreamers series, Dark Sky at Dawn.
QUESTION: What current political situation has caused a verse of the Star Spangled Banner to be nearly forgotten? (Hint: click on “news” link on website)
WEBSITE: laurielclewis.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES: IN THE CASE OF AN INTERNATIONAL WINNER, A $25 AMAZON.COM E-CERTIFICATE WILL BE AWARDED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A COPY OF DARK SKY AT DAWN.
WINNER: LuAnn Morgan of Washington

June 17
SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant
PRIZE: FREE download of the eBook of your choice (Betrayal, Spellbound, Heartless, or Redemption)
QUESTION: What was the title of the very first Regency romance that Jaimey wrote from beginning to end? (Hint: Check out the post titled: "My Mind: What a Twisted Place to Live")
WEBSITE/BLOG: jaimeygrant.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Dena Walton of Washington

June 18
SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson
PRIZE: Free 30 page edit of your manuscript ($30 value)
QUESTION: How does Danyelle's business card describe her? (Hint: check right sidebar on blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: queenoftheclan.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES: Danyelle says: “If they live in the USA, I will print their 30 pages, hand edit, then mail back. If they live outside the USA, I will edit the .doc file and email back.”
WINNER: Julia Groves

June 19
SPONSOR: Walnut Springs Press
PRIZE: I Can't Believe It's Food Storage by Crystal Godfrey (non-fiction)
QUESTION: What is the most recent new release listed on our blog? (Hint: check out post for April 13, 2009)
WEBSITE/BLOG: walnutspringspress.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: John Ferguson of Missouri

June 20
SPONSOR: Caroline Gregory and Shawnette Nielson
PRIZE: Puppy Stew, children’s picture book. Finalist for Foreward Book Of The Year award. (NOTE: If you would like an autographed copy, please note that in your entry)
QUESTION: “In order to stay warm, what do you wear underneath your shoes?” (Hint: look under the “Witchisms” tab on website)
WEBSITE/BLOG: puppystew.net
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Carrie Lundell of California

June 21
SPONSOR: Marion Webb-De Sisto.
PRIZE: An autographed copy of her ground-breaking book, Crystal Skulls.
QUESTION: Does this book explore ancient crystal skulls or contemporary ones? (Hint: Take a look at “Books” in the main menu)
WEBSITE/BLOG: marionwebb-desisto.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Karen Haas of North Carolina

June 22
SPONSOR: Inglestone Publishing
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
QUESTION: What is the name of the main male character in Counting the Cost?
WEBSITE/BLOG: inglestonepublishing.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Auriette Lindsey of Florida

June 23
SPONSOR: Cecily Markland/Inglestone Publishing
PRIZE: Autographed copy of children’s picture book, If I Made a Bug, by Cecily Markland
QUESTION: Who is the illustrator of If I Made a Bug? (Hint: the “bookstore” tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: inglestonepublishing.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Shirley Bahlmann of Utah

June 24
SPONSOR'S NAME: Jacquie Rogers
PRIZE: Faery Special Romances (YA novel)
Autographed in USA, not autographed elsewhere.
QUESTION: Why does our family support Neurofibromatosis research? (Hint: Click on “Neurofibromatosis research” link and read Mercedes Rice’s story)
WEBSITE: www.jacquierogers.com/faerysr.html
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES: WINNER LIVING IN A COUNTRY NOT DIRECTLY SERVED BY AN ONLINE BOOKSTORE WILL RECEIVE A PDF COPY.
WINNER: Patricia Cochran of Texas

June 25
SPONSOR: Terry Deighton
PRIZE: Cup of Comfort for New Mothers (non-fiction, anthology)
QUESTION: Name any two titles from the Cup of Comfort series. (Hint: Look in the store.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: cupofcomfort.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Torren Wilhelmsen of Arizona

June 26
SPONSOR: Leatherwood Press
PRIZE: Messiah: The Little-known Story of Handel’s Beloved Oratorio, by Tim Slover
QUESTION: Who was the art designer for Messiah: The Little Known Story of Handel’s Beloved Oratorio? (Hint: see post for May 15, 2009)
WEBSITE/BLOG: jdp-news.blogspot.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Taffy Lovell of Utah

June 27
SPONSOR: Dawson Publishing
PRIZE: Copy of The No Cussing Club by McKay Hatch
QUESTION: How many members of the No Cussing Club are there to date
WEBSITE: nocussing.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Sandi Brown of Idaho

June 28
SPONSOR: Nicole Zoltack
PRIZE: Woman of Honor (fantasy romance ebook)
QUESTION: What color is Caelan's eyes?
WEBSITE/BLOG: nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Cindy Sampson Fleet of Canada

June 29
SPONSOR: Sarah M. Eden
PRIZE: An autographed copy of the Sarah M. Eden Regency romance of your choice
QUESTION: "Name all 7 Jonquil brothers." (Hint: check out "The Jonquil Brothers Series" tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: sarahmeden.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Eva Minaskanian of Virginia

June 30
SPONSOR: Marsha Ward
PRIZE: LDStorymakers Writing Secrets
QUESTION: Who is Rulon? (Hint: Click on The Man from Shenandoah under “Novels” in Menu on website)
WEBSITE/BLOG: marshaward.com
USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Rachell Hanchett of Arizona

Congratulations to all the winners!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Having a Happy Day

I've had a busy May. Not because I have children finishing up school, since I'm beyond that in my stage of life. It's because of the craziness related to having a new book come out, plus life in general. You can read about some of my adventures last week here or here.

Um, about that last link. Yes, I've taken on another blog. I've been asked to be a perma blogger at The Millennial Star. The Administrator joked about nepotism, since my nephew, Ben Pratt, already blogs there, but I don't think Ben lobbied to get me the post.

Last night I got word that a review of Trail of Storms had been posted on LDS Fiction Review. To my great delight, "Erin" (all the reviewers on the site are anonymous) gave me 4 1/2 Stars. The awesome thing about that is she doesn't even like historical fiction! Besides that, it's the highest rating she's given since she joined the site! The news made today a very happy one.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Book Signing Fun

I had a solo book signing today at the local library. It was four hours of fun talking to folks, checking my email, tweeting a bit, and selling a few books. Am I disappointed that the book sales were in the single digits?

NO!

Many authors mistakenly think book signings are about selling loads of books. Wrong. Book signings are about making contacts, sharing smiles, building friendships, directing people to the restroom, and getting to know the personnel in the location--in this case, librarians. They are about networking, building your brand, and reaching out to people to encourage them to read.

Too many people these days don't, you know. Read, that is. Too many other activities whirl them away in this fast-paced life of ours. They don't have time to sit down and relish living another life, perhaps another time, within the pages of a book.

That's really too bad, very sad. Humans need the recharging time, the relaxation and getting outside their own troubles for a while. I recommend reading for that respite.

Next time you see an author at a book signing, share a smile with them, even if you don't buy their book. They may not yet know that you can be friends for that brief moment, that they can enjoy the process of getting their name and their books known.

Friday, May 08, 2009

Author Interview: Heather Horrocks

Today's guest for the Author interview series is Heather Horrocks, who lives in the Salt Lake Valley with her family. Deseret Book is publishing her latest book, a romantic comedy entitled How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini, on May 13. Heather's website is at HeatherHorrocks.com.

Welcome Heather! Tell us who you are and what you do.

I’m an author who had a somewhat unorthodox upbringing. I was raised in South America and the Middle East, and wrote my first stories as a teenager in Kuwait, where my sister and I proved it really is hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. I wrote my first novel in three months on a typewriter when I was 21, I used every romance cliché possible (including amnesia — need I say more?), and never rewrote anything, which is why it’s so much fun to pull it out occasionally when I need a good laugh. I wrote sporadically until my youngest child (who is now 18) was two, when I decided it was time to either actually start writing, or to stop saying I was a writer. So I took a class and started doing the scary things that writing requires. Now I’ve written about twelve novels and several children’s books.

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

I used to be a seat-of-the-pants writer, but nowadays I have a fantastic ‘conspiracy group’(you know—two or more people plotting together). We meet every month or two and plot the skeleton of an entire novel each time, and every third novel plotted is mine. From those notes, I create an outline, and work it in that shorter form until I feel like it really works (you now–if this goes here then I need to mention this there)

Do you write best at a certain time of the day?

When I was younger, with a younger family and a full-time job, it was between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Nowadays, my body won’t allow me to think clearly after about 9 p.m., so I am forced to be more wise in my writing schedule. Actually, I try to get it done as early in the day as I can, so I don’t have that nagging in my mind all day that I need to get back to it. I walk early for the same reason.

What food or snack keeps the words flowing?

Probably nothing that I can eat nowadays, since I started eating more wisely so I could make sure I got healthier. I had quite a health crisis after my father died a few years ago, and that woke me up to needing to make those eating changes now rather than later.

What sparks a story?

Almost anything can, but I especially love to come up with really catchy titles and plot from there…things like Old Maid of Honor, Sunbeams On the Loose, Bat Out of Heck, Free Agency—And How to Enforce It, Holier Than Thou (Heavenly Donuts, Down-to-Earth Prices), and Remember the A La Mode, all of which are plotted and/or written, as well as others like Giraffic Park.

What was it about your genre that interested you enough to choose to write in it and not in another genre?

I love romances and I love mysteries, and so I actually am also working on two mystery series (the WhoDunHim Inn and the Bad Mothers Club), but for now I’m concentrating on these romantic comedies. I love romances that don’t have all the raunchy language and scenes that so many on the market have nowadays, which is also why I chose to place my babies with Deseret Book, because I knew they’d welcome the clean romances where perhaps a national
publishing house would not.


Character you wish you had created?

Harry Potter or Edward Cullen. (Laugh.) Actually, I aspire to create characters as witty as Jane Austen’s. In movies, I wish I’d created the Galaxy Quest crew, and the National Treasure folks. I also want to win awards for excellence in writing.

What authors do you look to as a role model and inspiration?

There are several, with different reasons for each. Anne George and her Southern Sisters for just plain fun between characters, Debbie Macomber for her businesslike approach to writing, Anita Stansfield for her warm and loving response to her fans, J. K. Rowling for showing us that even the sky is not the limit, Jane Austen for staying power and the original witty dialogue.

What's the best advice you ever received?

One of my former critique partners saw a tee-shirt with a hockey saying: “Forget the blood and get back on the ice.” That’s sometimes what writing and pursuing a writing career feel like. I allow myself 48 hours to truly feel any major discouragements, and then the pity party ends, I pull up my big girl pants, and get back to the page.

I believe good writers read a lot. What do you use to mark your page when reading?

An index card, because it doesn’t slip out. So when I had my business cards and bookmarks printed, I had them done with a matte finish so people could use them without having them fall out.

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

I love losing myself in the excitement of creating a story from nothing. Poof! We’re like magicians who are always discovering more magic in our pages, and that excites me. I love meeting all these cool new people who walk around on my pages.

What do I least like? Sitting down and forcing myself to face a tough scene, forcing myself to go through it five and six times, when the magic is more likely to happen.

Your book is called How To Stuff A Wild Zucchini, published by Deseret Book Publishing. Tell us what the book is about and why you wrote it.

Here’s the blurb on the back of the book (which I wrote, by the way, except for two half sentences, and I’m delighted they kept it as is): Sophisticated New York playwright Lori Scott feels like a failure when her producer boyfriend calls it quits on both their relationship and her first play. On a dare, she throws a dart at a map and ends up moving to Brigham City, Utah, where she plans to set aside writing, religion, and men to focus on her new career substituting as The Garden Guru for the local paper. But fate has something else in mind. When she accidentally lights her house on fire, Lori has no idea of the sparks that lie ahead. Will she be able to resist the charm and persistence of local firefighting hero John Wayne Walker? Will old hurts and fears cause her to turn her back on the best thing that’s ever happened to her? A delightful contemporary romance about following your heart, finding true love, and wrestling with a basket full of zucchini!

I wrote Zucchini for several reasons. I was working to create a line of romantic comedies for Deseret Book, novels full of witty dialogue, books that were entertaining as well as uplifting. I was playing around with titles, and when that old beach movie popped into my head: How To Stuff a Wild Bikini, I thought it would be funny to switch Bikini to Zucchini—and others seem to have agreed. Also, it was right in the middle of August and neighbors left a bag of zucchini on our porch…which got me thinking. Hmmm. And, yes, there is a zucchini-ditching scene in the book.


Why should anyone part with their hard earned cash and precious time to read your book? Sell it to us!

Because it’s a fun and funny read with uplifting story elements. Because I work hard to make sure my books have a satisfying ending, so I’m hoping you reach ‘the end’ and sigh with contentment. I love entertaining people, and I feel this book will do exactly that. It’s frilly and fluffy—but at its heart it’s a book about healing and forgiveness and working past our fears to get what we want out of life. And because there’s a delicious zucchini curry recipe in the back. : )

Where can readers buy your book?

How To Stuff A Wild Zucchini is currently for sale at Deseret Book and Seagull Book stores and online at DeseretBook.com. It’s also available for pre-order on Amazon.com and BN.com with an official release date of May13, 2009.

What is your next project?

Deseret Book already has my next two books, Sunbeams On The Loose and Old Maid of Honor, and I have four more plotted for them. I’m working on Old Testament stories for my next Women Who Knew book. And I’m excited to get the first book in my Bad Mothers Club mystery written.

What advice would you pass along at this point in your career?

Don’t lose heart. Keep going—despite every discouragement, every rejection, every disappointment. I just read a great quote by an accomplished mountaineer, Lincoln Hall, who scaled Everest on his second attempt, but then tragedy struck and he was left for dead so that all the men didn’t die trying to get him down—and then he was found barely alive the next day. Later, he said, “There may have been some luck involved, but luck is of no use unless you have a never-give-up attitude.” In addition to mastering the craft of writing and plotting, you must cultivate your own never-give-up attitude, because that might be all that gets you to the peak and back safely. To quote one of my favorite movies (Galaxy Quest): “Never give up. Never surrender.” So I wish you good luck in going for your dream, no matter what your dream happens to be.

Heather, what are the titles of your previous books?

I’ve written two inspirational books, Women Who Knew the Mortal Messiah and Men Who Knew, put out through my own company, Word Garden Press (that story is my walk in faith). I’m currently working on the third in the series, Women Who Knew The Great Jehovah, stories of women in the Old Testament who are also in Christ’s lineage. I’ve written a baptism book, You Just Turned 8, that I’ll be submitting, as well.

I’m planning two big book signings where I will give away 50 free copies of one of my inspirational books, Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, one to each of the first 50 people who buy How To Stuff A Wild Zucchini. I’ll post more information about that on my website.

Thank you for being my guest, Heather.

Thanks again for doing this, Marsha. I very much appreciate it.

And the Comment Contest Winner Is . . .

Kersten Campbell! She will receive an autographed copy of A Flickering Light, by Jane Kirkpatrick.

Kersten, email me your mailing address to marshaw@marshaward.com.

Thanks, everyone, for entering.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Comment Contest

Remember that I am running a comment contest with the prize being an autographed copy of Jane Kirkpatrick's new novel, A Flickering Light. If you live in the U.S. and make a substantive comment on the Author Interview with Jane before Friday, May 8, you will be entered in the contest.

Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things

I frequently get books on tape from the library, since the tape player in my car functions while the CD player doesn't. I like audio books. They help me while away the time that I have to spend in my car to reach civilization. I also "read" them at bedtime.

Sometimes, though, the cassettes can jam, or stall, and necessitate winding from one mini-reel to the other by hand. This process is slow using a little finger. It goes a bit faster using the handle of a spoon or fork, but it's not really fast. I've longed for a manual audio cassette rewinder to tuck away for these
occasions.

Last night was such an occasion. I'm "reading" Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, the unabridged version read by Martin Jarvis. It's a masterwork, but it comes on 120-minute tapes, and they are notorious for causing problems. If your tape player is underpowered, it can chug slowly along when it gets past the midpoint--slowing and distorting the reproduction, or lose power entirely. If you need to rewind the tape, forget it!

The tape stalled and needed to be rewound. I decided it was time to find my desired manual audio cassette rewinder, so went to my computer and googled the term.

The search came up with plenty of DVD cassette rewinders, and several for small video recorder cassettes, but the only options showing for audio cassettes were commercial products for up to six cassettes, running between $330 and $550.

Not exactly what I had in mind.

However, on page three was a reference and link to a book, Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, which promised that a manual audio cassette rewinder was within my budget. I clicked on the link and arrived at Google Books.









Complete instructions--with illustrations--ensued about how to turn a large paperclip into the device I longed for. I immediately got up, found a paperclip and a pair of pliers, and made the item. It works GREAT! (Notice the turned ends? That's MY innovation to prevent pokes!)



Then I clicked on the Amazon link to the book, by Cy Tymony, and put it on my wish list. The volume has two follow-ups: Sneakier and Sneakiest Uses, etc. I highly recommend these books for interesting reading and for following your inner MacGyver.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Author Interview: Jane Kirkpatrick

Today's Author Interview is with historical novelist Jane Kirkpatrick. Jane, who lives at the end of an eleven-mile-long dirt road in rural Oregon, is a prolific and award-winning writer. The list of her books are on her website. She blogs here. Jane's newest novel is A Flickering Light.

There's a substantive comment contest attached to this interview, for readers in the U.S. Make a comment (more than "me me!") and I'll put your name into consideration. The prize is a copy of Jane's new novel, A Flickering Light. On May 8, I'll draw and post a name from amongst the commenters to be the winner. Said winner has until May 13 to send me their mailing address. Email me here.

Welcome, Jane! Tell us who you are and what you do.
I’m a writer and rancher living in eastern Oregon, the dry side we like to call it. For a number of years I worked in mental health as a therapist, administrator and later as a consultant in early childhood programs on the Warm Springs Indian reservation in Oregon. My husband I raise hay now on our 160 acres along the John Day River. His son works for us full time. I’m a retired Clinical Social Worker.

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 mix of both. I don’t officially outline or plot but I spend a lot of time preparing for the book, making a timeline for the character, identifying the major life events in his/her life, creating the arc of the story. I have an idea of the turning point in the characters' lives and the beginning and ending. Since I write most stories based on the lives of actual people, their lives tell me much of the plot, but I get to fill in the blanks of why they did what they did when they did. That’s the fun part. The historical research also often changes my plot as I’m going along so I’m still researching as I’m writing. I also refer to the book Structuring Your Novel by Meredith and Fitzgerald and do some of the exercises they suggest before I ever start writing. I’ve done that with 15 novels now and it helps. If I have to write a synopsis, I have to write the whole book first and THEN do the chapter by chapter.

Do you write best at a certain time of the day?
When I’m in my writing mode, which is usually December through March, I write early in the morning, often from 4:00 a.m. until 5:00 in the afternoon with a break for lunch. When I’m in the promoting and researching mode which is the rest of the time, I may not get up that early, but I usually write every day for several hours. I can’t wait for inspiration. I have contracts to meet. :)

What food or snack keeps the words flowing?
Great question! String cheese. And almonds.

What sparks a story?
Could be anything! I once read a quote from a physicist (I’m not one!) who, when asked if he had any advice for young people, said yes: tell them to find something strange and thoroughly explore it. That’s what I do, I think, look for the unanswered question to something strange. We visited a beautiful state park one time and on all the kiosk information we learned about the man who developed this amazing garden, built the estate, and that he gave it to his wife. Her name was only mentioned once throughout the park and I wondered, what kind of woman would inspire this and why don’t people talk about her? That led me to A Gathering of Finches. Each book has some similar beginning like that. For A Flickering Light, it was wondering about my grandmother as a photographer and how she fell in love with her very married mentor…how did that impact her life and frankly, how might it have impacted my own all these years later?

What was it about your genre that interested you enough to choose to write in it and not in another genre?
I never liked history in school. Too many dates to memorize. In graduate school (my first degree was in communications and public address, not clinical social work) we had to study the great speeches of the world and explore why they were remembered. From Cicero to LBJ. Anyway, to discover the why of a speech, one had to know the context, what else was happening. That piqued my interest in history and I realized then that I had always loved reading historical novels and getting my history that way. I think of historical novels this way: history is the spine but the people, what they did, the landscapes they did it in, their relationships, their work and their faith, those things make up the blood and flesh of the story. Without the people brought to life, the spine is just a skeleton. I had written nonfiction and been published before trying fiction but once I went there, I didn’t want to come back so I do both. I’m sure the mental health part of me was intrigued too by exploring the landscapes of the mind, but that isn’t limited to historical novels.

Character you wish you had created?
Oh, Mamah Borthwick Cheney who was the paramour of Frank Lloyd Wright in Loving Frank by Nancy Horan or any of Molly Gloss’s characters in The Hearts of Horses.

What authors do you look to as a role model and inspiration?
Molly Gloss, Shannon Applegate, Irene Brown, Harriet Rochlin, Frederick Buechner, Kathleen Norris, Robert McKee, Ann Parker, and I just read my first Craig Johnson novel and was amazed at his depth and craftsmanship.

What's the best advice you ever received?
It isn’t about me, it’s about the story.

I believe good writers read a lot. What do you use to mark your page when reading?
Whatever I can find; a beautiful quilted bookmark given me by a friend, Kleenex, grocery receipts, dental floss – it’s based on where I am and what I can easily grab.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
I love being able to live inside the heads and times of others. I love speculating as I’m doing the research wondering what it must have been like then. I love discovering things about myself I didn’t now I needed to learn.
Least? All the extra stuff like posting things on Facebook or proofing my brochure or following up on whether a group I’m speaking to will have a microphone or not, the necessary parts that really don’t involve the actual “writing”. I guess I don’t look forward to the copy editing queries but I’m doing better with that. It isn’t about me. Its about making the story the best it can be.

Your novel is called A Flickering Light, published by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, a division of Random House. Tell us what the book is about and why you wrote it.
It’s based on the life of my grandmother who was a photographer in Minnesota at the turn of the century. She was trained to run studios while the photographers recovered from mercury poisonings. She fell in love with her mentor, a very married man. The story is told through her eyes, her mentor’s eyes and his wife. I wrote it because I so admired who she was, her spirit of “can do” and not letting the past hold her hostage. She lived to be in her 90s and her optimism was always an inspiration to me. Yet she never told the family she once owned her own studio. That was a bonus I found in doing the research and made me wonder more why that hadn’t been discussed. And then there was her mention that she’d married the same man twice….

Why should anyone part with their hard earned cash and precious time to read your book? Sell it to us!
It’s a story about temptation and faith, shadow and light and how creative people often sabotage their gifts. I’ve used several glass plate photographs in the first book and given my grandmother a first person voice as she tells us about that particular photograph, what was going on, the context etc. I’ll include several more in the sequel due out next year called An Absence So Great. Publisher’s Weekly gave A Flickering Light a starred review describing it as “exceptionally authentic, a compelling portrait, both aching and hopeful.” I hope that readers will discover things about their own lives and relook at photographs from their own family albums through new eyes.

Where can readers buy your book?
Everywhere…Amazon, Indies, Christian bookstores, even Costco sometimes.

What is your next project?
The sequel to A Flickering Light. Then I have contracts for three more books so I’ve got my ears out for that next story that says “choose me!”

What advice would you pass along at this point in your career?
Enjoy the journey; celebrate along the way, the little things like getting a personal rejection letter from an editor or having someone ask to see the entire manuscript or submitting an excerpt for a contest, or meeting interesting people to interview, who are passionate about their own specialties like weapons or art or quilts that expand the story and give it depth and add to our own pleasure, too. I’m fond of a Mary Oliver poem called “When Death Comes” and there’s a line that says and when that time comes for her that she wanted to be able to say “I was a bride married to amazement, a bridegroom who took the world into my arms.” I hope to be able to say that myself and I’d encourage people to live their lives in such a way that they pay attention to the gifts this passion for writing gives us.

Anything else you want readers to know?
I’ve been blessed with some award-winning stories (a Wrangler in 1996 and a WILLA Literary in 2008) and being on the short list for several, including a Spur in 2005, so someone besides my mom thought they were worth the price and I’m grateful. I also do a monthly essay called Words of Encouragement on my site. People might like reading that to see sort of how I write before they risk their time on a book.

Jane, thank you for the Interview!

Thanks for having me visit, Marsha.
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