Saturday, July 30, 2011

Kicking Off the Hang 'em High Hoedown!

Welcome to my Hang ‘em High Hoedown, a two-week countdown to the release of my third Secret Sisters novel, Hang ‘em High. Ida Mae, Tansy, and Arlette are at it again, this time solving a mystery on a dude ranch in Montana. This case promises to be Ida Mae’s toughest yet as her family loyalty is tested and her ability to wear blue jeans is called into question.

You are invited to participate in this hoedown by visiting my blog every single day from August 1st to August 13th to learn about great prizes donated by awesome sponsors. All the prizes will in some way be related to horses, because Hang 'Em High takes place on a dude ranch. Follow the trail from start to finish, enter all the contests, and be entered for the grand prize at the end—a free copy of each of the books in the Secret Sisters Series: Secret Sisters, Dearly Departed, and Hang ‘Em High.

And then on August 13th, come on down to Pioneer Book in Orem for a rootin’-tootin’ good time at the Hang ‘em High book launch and August Authorama. Keith Fisher, world champion Dutch oven cook, will be serving up cobbler, and I’ll be joined by authors Nichole Giles, Heather Justesen, Cindy Hogan, and J. Lloyd Morgan. There will be balloons, face painting, and games for the kids. There will be books upon books for the adults. There will be door prizes. There will be madness, mayhem, mirth, and merriness. So! Come back Monday and be prepared for two whole weeks of prize-winning, blog-visiting, clue-gathering, question-answering fun.

And if you’d like to put my button on your sidebar, you’re more than welcome to. Here’s the code:





Grab My Button!









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Contest Rules:

In order to win, you must do the things listed for that day. Those things are listed here on my blog and on the sponsor's blog. You must leave comments to be entered, and you must leave an e-mail address if it's not linked into your Blogger profile. I have to be able to contact you to tell you that you've won! All comments for that day's contest must be received by midnight of the specified night, and that is Mountain Standard Time. Sponsors can enter contests on the days they are not sponsoring. Winners are chosen using Random.org.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Friday Funny

This may not be the most effective evacuation plan, but I think it's stinkin' funny.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Some Very Fun Things!

Hey all,

I've been one busy little beaver lately, and I'd like to take a minute to share with you what I've been doing.

First of all, I announced a few weeks back that my low-sodium cookbook would soon be available for purchase. Well, that time has come! Here it is:



If you're tired of low-sodium food that tastes like cardboard, you really should check out this cookbook. Every recipe is tasty, is quick, is affordable, and you will be able to serve these dishes to your entire family, and no one will complain! It's the perfect answer for those who are seeking to improve their heart health.

But you can also protect your heart from future heart issues by lowering your sodium now - so even if you haven't been diagnosed with anything, this book is for you. It's better to prevent heart disease than it is to try to cure it when it strikes.

You can purchase Bless Your Heart by clicking here. You get over eighty fantastic recipes, plus a sample menu and information about heart health, for $9.99.


My next exciting piece of good news has to do with this:


I am releasing my Hole in the Rock novel as an e-book. I'm not sure when it will be available, but it's coming soon, and I'll post all the purchase links, etc. It has a different cover than the hard copy, just to be more visually appealing to an e-book customer, who generally browses through thumbnail images to find what they are looking for.

I also hope that you've got August 13th marked on your calendars. That is the day of the August Authorama at Pioneer Book in Orem, from 12 - 4. I will be joined by fabulous authors and I'll be launching Hang 'Em High - and kicking it all off with a contest. Come back here on Saturday for the contest announcement and all the rules - you will want to participate as I give away a prize every day for almost two weeks!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Book Review: Generations by Lori Folkman

When I accept a book for review, I never really know what I'm going to get. Will it be badly written, will I hate the characters, will I wish I'd never agreed to review it ... anyone who does book reviews knows what I'm talking about. It's always a gamble. I have to tell you, I really, really liked the young adult novel Generations by Lori Folkman.

My Synopsis: Our main character is Kat, a sixteen-year-old girl who has a major crush on rockstar Ben Wilder. She has pictures of him all over her room, she loves all his songs ... it's pretty major. When Jackson, her best friend, wins a contest and gets to design the concept for Ben Wilder's new music video, she begs Jackson to get her on the set. She's just got to meet Ben. But Jackson can only bring family, so they invent a story - Kat is his step-sister. With this excuse, she comes on the set, meets Ben, and discovers that he's actually everything she'd believed him to be, and more.

Ben Wilder is used to having girls fall at his feet. He's rich, he's talented, he's mega good-looking. But there's something about Kat that draws him to her. She's pretty, but in a more wholesome way than the girls he usually sees. She's not out to dazzle him with makeup and jewelry and bling - she's just quietly herself, and he can't stop thinking about her. He's got so many things cluttering up his past, though, that he's not sure if he's the best person for her. After a while, though, it seems he has no choice - he has to be with her, even if it makes things difficult for his career.

This first book left me at a cliffhanger and I really wanted to keep reading. So, um, Lori, when you finish the second one, you're going to send it my way, right?

My Thoughts: This book was a lot of fun for me to read. I loved the author's voice and unique turns of phrase. The little side comments throughout were hysterical, snippets of humor I didn't expect but totally loved.

At first, I thought the plotline was perhaps something that's been overdone, but no, it hasn't. The voice of the story makes it unique, and then we learn that Ben is keeping some secrets of his own which take the story in a different direction. Then, right at the end, something else is revealed, and we realize that there's even more going on here than we thought. This book has a lot of layers and dimension, and you wrap it up in a package of quirky humor and deep emotion - it was great.

A minor thing - there were typos and formatting issues throughout the book, but nothing that pulled me away from my enjoyment of the story.

If you're looking for a fun story with a lot of humor, clean romance (with some really good kisses) and a plotline that will leave you wanting to keep reading long after you've turned the last page, I recommend Generations.

FTC: Hi, guys!! How are ya? You know me ... I don't accept bribes for good reviews. I got this book for free from the author, and if I hated it, I'd say so. There ya go.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Book Review: Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon by Dennis Gaunt

I was inclined to like Dennis Gaunt the first time I met him. He is, after all, the brother of Lisa Mangum, who is one of my very favorite people in the world - not only is she an amazing author and editor, but she's a genuinely fabulous person - and of course her fabulousness had to run in the family, right? Well, it does. Dennis is a great guy, and we made friends immediately. And when I learned he was writing a book, I was even more intrigued. Did Lisa's amazing talent with words run in the family? When I was asked to review Dennis's book, Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon, I got the chance to see for myself, and you know what - this family is seriously blessed with talent.

To start with, how can you not love a title like Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon? You know exactly what you're getting - a book about the scriptures, but one that's a little bit tongue-in-cheek. Dennis goes through the Book of Mormon and discusses each of the bad guys and the things they do that show just how bad they are, and then likens those things to experiences we might have today. Yes, we can read the Book of Mormon and learn from Nephi and think about his courage (hey, I think there's a Primary song that goes something like that) and we can admire Helaman and want to be as his armies (another Primary song moment), but sometimes we need to look at things a little differently - what do the bad guys have to teach us? Laman and Lemuel, for instance, show us what can happen when we are too doubtful, too disbelieving, and yes, too whiny.

There are two sides at work in this ultimate battle of good vs. evil, and in his book, Dennis shows us the ways in which the wicked operate. They've done it this way for centuries - hey, why stop when it's working? If we know and understand the stories in the Book of Mormon, we can be on the alert for wickedness in our lives today, and know how to put a stop to it.

The thing I like best is the perfect balance Dennis strikes between humor and seriousness. He makes jokes all the way through, creating a doctrinal book that's not boring, if you can imagine such a thing, but he never treats sacred topics lightly. That's a tricky thing to accomplish, and yet he does it. It's a lighthearted read that is never lightminded.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon, about our Heavenly Father's plan, and/or wants a good, uplifting read.

FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way. To do so would be following along in the footsteps of the Gadianton robbers and those who seek wickedness in dark corners.

Cast Your Vote!!

Okay, folks, here's where you make your voice heard!

Wait, not yet - I haven't told you what I need your voice for.

I self-published Season of Sacrifice two years ago, and here is the cover:



The picture is a shot taken looking straight down the Hole in the Rock, which is the topic of my book. My great-great-grandfather engineered the passage down that hole, and this is a major part of my family history.

My good friend (and hyper-in-Costco-squealer) Jenni James is uploading this book to e-book for me, and she came up with this cover:




She explained to me that in e-book, you need to be able to tell what a cover is from the thumbnail, and the first cover might not be as eye-catching to a buyer.

So, my questions for you are this:

1. Do you like the second cover?

2. Do you think it's strange to have the print version of the book and the e-book with two different covers?

3. Do you think I should use the canyon or the girl for the cover of the e-book?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts - I look forward to hearing what you think!!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Facebook Saved My Skin

In the Native American culture, the art of making an arrow has been passed down from generation to generation. I say "art" because it truly is - selecting the perfect wood for the shaft, the perfect feathers for the fletchings, lining everything up just so in order to ensure that the arrow will fly straight and true. It's a skill that is practiced for years to get it right.

In today's Cub Scout culture, we buy arrow kits at the Scout store, and when the Cub Committee leader is out of town, she asks the Cubmaster to make the arrow.

I'm a crafter from way back. Assemble an arrow? Piece of cake. Everything was going great until I had the bright idea to make the fletchings a little more secure with a bit of Super Glue. It adhered beautifully. That fletching isn't going anywhere.

And neither were two of my fingers.



Embarrassed? Yes. Amused? Sort of. There I sat in my jammies, thinking about the inevitable trip to the emergency room with makeup smeared under my eyes and my hair in a ratty ponytail.

The Super Glue package said to pour vegetable oil over the adhesion and rub the oil into the skin. Ten minutes later, I was still rubbing.

Then the idea hit ... like a bolt out of the blue.



The place where I have thousands of friends at the click of a button. I sent my son to the computer with a distress signal, and within seconds, I had the answer:
Fingernail polish remover.

My daughter grabbed the bottle, and seconds later, I was free.

Free at last! Free at last! Thanks to Roger and echoed by Midge, Debbie, Angie, and Kendra, I'm free at last!

Some people knock social networking. They say it's a waste of time, that nothing good ever comes out of it. Well, if it weren't for social networking, I'd either still be glued to myself or sitting in the ER in my jammies right now.

And would you like to see the final product?



This is going to be a very personally meaningful Arrow of Light ceremony, I assure you. I've put a lot of myself into it, including, I'm sure, a few skin cells.

Voice of the Spirit

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Adventures with Guns and Adventures at Costco

I haven't really been posting about myself lately, so I thought I'd take a minute to catch you up on some things. Yes, there have been adventures with guns, and adventures at Costco, but thankfully, there weren't any adventures with guns at Costco.

First off, at the end of June, the very amazing Nichole Giles set up a shooting activity for members of our critique group and then extended it to other author friends. We all met at the Orem Police Department shooting range and were taught the basics of shooting by Nichole's husband, Lieutenant Gary Giles. He was really awesome (and patient, which is what I badly needed).

Here we are in our cool Charlie's Angels poses:



And here I am, trying not to totally stink at this, but I think my technique needs some serious work. I somehow think one is not supposed to wince when one pulls the trigger, and one is definitely not supposed to squeal like a girl when the recoil hits. But considering I'd never even touched a gun before, I have to give myself some props.



And I got to hold a WWII sniper rifle with a bayonet on the end. This made me very happy. I don't know why, exactly - but it did.



Thanks, Nichole, for arranging all this! I now feel a lot more prepared to flesh out the book I'm currently writing, where my main character is a female FBI agent and a weapons expert.

Now, as you probably already know, I've been doing a lot of Costco signings lately. I mean, a lot. I'm rather becoming a fixture there. Here are some of the fun things:


Awesome person Amy Dahlke came to see me at Costco - thanks, Amy!

Here's my amazing stack at the Orem Costco store - exciting to have such a huge display, but a little intimidating to try to sell them all. (If any of you want to swing by and buy one, that would be helpful ...)

And some funnies that have happened in Costco as well:

* A little boy was doing donkey kicks as his family walked past my table. He got a little carried away and nearly caught a passing customer right in a very compromising place. Thankfully, that customer was able to shield himself with a bag of salad lettuce. Who knew lettuce could come so in handy?

* I told a customer the premise of my book: "My main characters are three little old ladies who infiltrate a nursing home to solve a murder." His reply? "Nursing homes are terrible places. I can totally see a murder taking place in one."

And ... the #1 thing I overhear people saying on their cell phones as they walk past? "Where are you? I'm over here in the book section. What? What are you doing clear over there? Well, come find me. No, I'm not coming to you - you come to me."

I'm sure there will be many more adventures yet to come ...

Friday, July 15, 2011

Book Review: The Book Blogger's Cookbook

What do books and food and blogging have in common? Well, Tristi, of course! And so what better place to find a review of The 2011 Book Blogger's Cookbook than here? There are other sites reviewing it, and doing a mighty fine job of it, and I think it makes total sense that I should be included on that list. Seriously, my middle name is BooksandBlogsandFood. But it was hard to fit on a birth certificate, so my mom decided to cut her losses and use Paige instead.

But I digress.

The 2011 Book Blogger's Cookbook is a compilation of recipes of foods mentioned in books that have recently been published by some of the most exciting up-and-coming authors I've seen for a long time. Compiler Christy Dorrity had a unique idea - she found book bloggers who had reviewed those books, asked their permission to quote the review, and then partnered the review with the recipe and a bit about the book. What a great way to join together the things that feed our bodies with the things that feed our minds.

You might notice as you flip through the book that two of the quotes are from me. That was a lot of fun. It was also fun to read the other reviews and then to salivate over the recipes. Yes, salivating can be fun.

If you like books, if you like to eat, if you like eating while you read, this book is a must-have.

Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win a Kindle!

FTC: I received a free download of this book in exchange for my review and was compensated in no other way. I was not paid for the quotes inside the book, nor was I paid to review the original books.


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Author Interview: Elizabeth Mueller

Today I'm interviewing the beautiful, talented Elizabeth Mueller. I forget how I first met Elizabeth - some author thing somewhere - but she and I just clicked. I was immediately taken with her sweetness. Now I'm tickled to death to help support her as she's always supported me. Her first novel, Darkspell, will be released this fall.

Let's head into this interview so you can get acquainted with my friend and see why I think she's so awesome.

***

Tristi: Elizabeth, how did you get the idea for Darkspell?

Elizabeth: If you venture into Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic, on page 4, there is a writing prompt. It is the 5th one down if you want to see how Darkspell was born! As I jotted the prompt down, I let my muse take full control. Since I love romance, the first thing I thought was how would it be if the second person was a girl? And what if the first one fell in love with her? What if there was something special about her that lured him to her that she didn’t know? My mind deepened so wide, I didn’t think on the 2 dimensional level of these questions, but I felt them stirring as people bursting to be born on paper.

About Darkspell:
Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own. Will love prove thicker than magic?
Tristi: How long did it take you to write it?

Elizabeth: It took me about 2 months after the kids went to bed. I’m fond of the memory of writing that novel. I spent every night on the floor of my daughter’s room while listening to the beautiful song of crickets.

Tristi: Do you remember how many rewrites it went through?

Elizabeth: I believe about 3 major headachy ones! I was once told that it sounded very similar to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight and I was horrified, so I changed every element that matched. I’ve given Alex about three makeovers, and Winter only one.

Tristi: What's the hardest part of the rewriting process?

Elizabeth: I think it’s the initial shock of it not “feeling right.” The first time was the hardest, it made me feel that I wasn’t good enough. I cried. The last time gave me a HUGE headache because I was worried it would embarrass me out on the shelves. I didn’t care if I had to delete thousands of words. Interesting the mindset of readiness, isn’t it?

Tristi: What is the most enjoyable part?

Elizabeth: Creating! I love the flowy magic of escapism as I write my story.

Tristi: You have many talents - for one, you are an artist as well as an author. Has your art helped you become a better writer, or has your writing made you a better artist? How do the two talents aid each other?
Elizabeth: I was going to say my art has made me a better writer, but my writerliness has also made me a better artist. As I write, I can see what I am describing in great detail because as an artist, I’ve learned to appreciate the details in everything I see. As an artist, I can depict images I’ve written about, or characters in my books, which ultimately give me an edge to creating something with a story behind it.

Tristi: You are a very devoted wife and mother. Do any of your children share your artistic or literary talents?
Elizabeth: Ooh, I love to talk about my kids! My oldest loves to write. She completed her first novel this past April. She’s been writing for as long as I can remember. She also enjoys doing book reports and turns them into reviews on our mother and daughter blog! She enjoys drawing, too. Kidlet #2 has a passion for drawing. He’s even impressed me with his creative masterpieces. My youngest daughter loves to create stories with her art, and the baby of the family really gets into his story telling with his toys.

Tristi: What is one thing about you I might not know? Do you snore? Do you wear fuzzy purple socks when you write? Come on, spill the beans ...

Elizabeth: You made me laugh when I read this. I’m scared of worms and don’t know how to ride a bicycle!

Tristi: I can teach you how to ride a bicycle. You're on your own when it comes to the worms. Any last words?

Elizabeth: Please join me in my celebration for Darkspell’s fall release all July long! A pre-booklaunch party, if you will. Click here for details.

Fantastic!! Best of luck, Elizabeth - I can't wait for your book to come out this fall!

As a July pre-order special,
go here and place your order, and get it for the amazing price of $12.95 plus shipping!

Here's an excerpt:

Alex reached out and took my hands. A spark of magic passed between us. I didn’t resist and his gaze deepened. Another wave tore through me and I felt his powerful drive to protect me and the desire to share the rest of his life with me. I could see forever, eternity was wide and deep.

I would never be alone again.

Having tasted Alex so strongly, so close, so dear, left me empty; a starving sensation that could only be filled by him. I had no idea he felt so intensely for me. His love washed away all doubt from me.

I leaned into Alex as my world spun fast on a crooked axis. I breathed him in. I was intoxicated with his burning hold, I was so alive. Every sound was louder, the wind richer as it flowed through me. I was so free, so alive, so untainted by any wicked thing. I closed my eyes, shivering with desire, and imagined the breeze encircling us; bringing us to our feet and drawing us closer like a child’s ribbon.

Just as I opened my eyes, he whispered, “Listen, Winter. Listen to me.”

He brought me to him and gently pressed my face to his heart. It was a wild thing, trapped and yearning to be free. My blood sang and my eyes drifted closed. It felt as if my feet lifted from the ground. One hand was soft in my hair as he caressed my back with the other.

“How have you come by such magic? Such power to control? Can I come into your world? Can you teach me?” I trembled, savoring every sensation.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Fundraiser for the Christian Youth Theater in Kansas City

My good friend Danyelle Ferguson is holding an amazing fundraiser and asked me to repost her information so you all can learn about what she's doing. If you don't live in Kansas City, well, you can still participate!! Read below for all the details ... and I now turn the time over to Danyelle.



I am so, so, so excited about my upcoming signing and fundraiser for the Christian Youth Theater - Kansas City! First, the important info:

Date: Saturday, July 30th

Location: Barnes & Noble @ Oak Park Mall
11323 W. 95th St., Overland Park, KS

Time: 11 am - 4 pm

Book signing: 2-4 pm
Of course, I'll sign books for anyone during the event as well. 2-4 pm is my official man-the-table-and-sign-books time. =)


This fundraiser is Nation-wide. A portion of every purchase* at any Barnes & Noble in the United States that uses our Book Fair ID # 10512580 will go towards the HEART Program scholarship fund.
*There are a few items that do not count towards the fundraiser - magazines, ebooks, and some electronics. BUT books, Nooks, cafe purchases, audio, book marks, and just about everything in the store DOES count.

What's the HEART Program?

It's a scholarship program that allows children and teens with special needs to participate in acting, dance, or singing classes WITH an aide for FREE. The scholarship recipients also have the opportunity to be in plays, productions, and dance recitals.

Do they need to earn a certain income to qualify? NO. The program is for any child with special needs who wants to be involved with the Christian Youth Theater- Kansas City. My daughter has taken dance classes with some of the special needs kids & they just absolutely love the program! The Christian Youth Theater also sets an example for all their youth about how to love and work with their peers with special needs. Many great friendships have been forged through this program.

And now here's the FUN stuff! Fundraiser Events:

A fundraiser isn't fun unless you have events! Check out all the awesome stuff we'll be doing. Trust me, you want to come and bring your kids!!!


11 am – Barnes & Noble Story Time
11:30 am – CYT Performance featuring favorites from Annie, Wizard of Oz,Mulan & The Sound of Music
12 noon – Meet the Author and Q&A with Danyelle Ferguson
Christian Youth Theater’s H.E.A.R.T. Program and Q&A with director, Josie Strickler
H.E.A.R.T. is a full inclusion theater program for youth with special needs
1 pm – Tea Party with your favorite Storybook Princesses and characters from Seussical, Alice in Wonderland, and more!
1:30 pm – Cookie Decorating contest with special guest judges
2-4 pm – (dis)Abilities and the Gospel book signing with author Danyelle Ferguson
2 pm – CYT Performance featuring favorites from Peter Pan and Seussical
2:30 pm – Dr. Seuss Story Time featuring The Cat in the Hat and other guest readers
3 pm - Kids in Theater Intro – Have you wondered what it is like to audition and be in a show?
3:30 pm - Intro to Theater Make-up – From realistic to fantasy to bumps and bruises.

Can't make it on July 30th? Don't live in Kansas? No problem!

The Book Fair runs from July 30th - August 3rd. Any purchases made at Barnes & Noble - in-store or online - AND uses our Book Fair ID # 10512580 will go towards the HEART Program.

Visit bn.com/bookfairs to support us online. Be sure to enter Bookfair ID 10512580 at checkout.

My goal is to raise at least $2000 for Christian Youth Theater's HEART Program. Please share this event with your friends and family and give them the opportunity to help youth with special needs develop their talents.

Friday, July 08, 2011

My New Cover!


Ida Mae, Tansy, and Arlette are going off on a rootin'-tootin' vacation at Keith Babbitt's dude ranch. Come join in the fun! The book will be released near the beginning of August, with the launch party August 13th from 12 - 4 at Pioneer Book, 858 S. State in Orem. Stay tuned for more details on that ...

Friday Funny

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Whatcha Doin' This Weekend?

You who are in the north part of the great state of Utah, listen up!!

I will be signing at The Book Table in Logan on Saturday from 12 - 3. I'll be joined by authors Marie Higgins, Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen, and brand-new author Wanda Luce. Then all four of us will head down to Brigham City for a signing at Reflections of Utah from 4:30 - 6:00. It will be a busy day, but so much fun!

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Guest Blog: Michael Young on Immersing Yourself

Today's guest blogger is Michael Young, author of The Canticle Kingdom and shortly to release a new novel, The Last Archangel.

He is also a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (how cool is that?) and can be seen in the background of this flash mob the choir did recently (again, how cool is that?)

Michael's a super-nice guy and let me feed him breakfast burritos without complaining about it.

Now, with no further ado, here's Michael.

***

“If you stuff yourself full of poems, essays, plays, stories, novels, films, comic strips, magazines, music, you automatically explode every morning like Old Faithful. I have never had a dry spell in my life, mainly because I feed myself well, to the point of bursting." -Ray Bradbury

I love this quote, because I think it’s a great way to go about being an author or artist. Not even Old Faithful can produce it’s incredibly consistent show without any water. Writing is about people, relationships and conflicts. If you live your live in a vacuum to other’s creativity, chances are you won’t be able to foster your own, and you’ll never get the nickname “Old Faithful.”

I became interested in writing because I immersed myself in books, music, art, and even fantasy video games when I was young. All of these things helped my imagination to grow and my desire to share that imagination. That’s not to say that you should just copy what others do, but you can let other forms of art get you into the mindset mentally and emotionally to create yourself.

I find this works well for me with music. Before or while writing, I often immerse myself in some piece of music that evokes the proper emotional state. Movie soundtracks are great for this, because that is exactly what they are for: evoking certain emotions.

What do you think about this quote? Do you find that this is true in your creative process or do is another way better for you?

The Last Archangel is a high-speed adventure about a destroying angel with intense job dissatisfaction, but no choice for a career change. His term of service is “Until the End of the World” and so he’s very interested in getting that to happen. When an evil group approaches him with a plan to do just that, however, Xandir has to make tough decision: partner with evil or finally overcome the choices that caused his fall in the first place.

“The Last Archangel” releases on July 14th in both paperback and Kindle. You can find out more about at it http://thelastarchangelbook.com or at my blog http://www.writermike.com or my Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/authormichaelyoung. You can order it on Amazon.com at http://amzn.com/1599558947.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Book Review: The Healing by Wanda E. Brunstetter

The Healing by Wanda E. Brunstetter is part of the Kentucky Brothers series about a family of Amish brothers who have chosen to leave their Pennsylvania farm and move down to a community in Kentucky to start over. In this novel, we meet Samuel Fisher, a young man who has recently lost his wife in a tragic accident - she fell down the stairs and broke her neck. He not only lost his wife that day, but an unborn child. Now a widower and with four other children to care for, he feels hopeless. His entire world had been held in his wife's capable hands, and his grief for her is too much for him to bear.

Living in Pennsylvania and daily seeing the sights that remind him of his wife is too difficult for Samuel, so he decides to move down to Kentucky, where his brother Titus relocated some time before. Titus takes him in, but Samuel's depression puts too great a burden on Titus, and he has to demonstrate some tough love to get his brother back on his feet.

When the opportunity comes for Samuel to help remodel an old house and turn it into a bed and breakfast, he's grateful for the work. It keeps his mind occupied. But then comes the problem of who will take care of the children?

Esther Belier is a kind, dedicated young Amish woman in need of a job, and caring for Samuel's children is right up her alley. At first, she's appalled at the way he ignores his children, his own pain seeming to come first, but as time passes and his heart begins to heal, she develops feelings for him. But will he heal enough for a new relationship?

My thoughts: I have always enjoyed stories about the Amish, and I never fail to put one down without thinking, "I want to go buy a farm somewhere." These stories are always so down-to-earth, without all the complications we tend to heap on top of ourselves by getting caught up in the rush of modern technology. That said, I would miss my computer ...

The story was sweet and enjoyable. I did wish for a little more emotional resolution at the end - we see Esther struggle with her feelings throughout the whole novel, and we see Samuel try to move on, and we are rooting for them. When we finally reach the conclusion, it felt just a little too pat and easily resolved. However, I enjoyed the journey a great deal, and appreciated the demonstration of faith, family values, perseverance, and true charity throughout.

FTC: I received a download of the galley from the publisher, and have not been compensated in any other way.


Monday, July 04, 2011

Book Review: Blank Slate by Heather Justesen

When Adrianna Mueller wakes up in the hospital after a bus accident, she knows that something's not right. It's more than just her aches and bruises -she honestly can't remember who she is. Her brother, her sister-in-law, and her fiance do their best to help her regain her memories, but as she's released from the hospital into their care, she still doesn't remember who they are.

Gavin, her brother's business partner, never liked her much. Yet after her accident, he finds himself getting along with her really well, and, in fact, starts developing feelings for her. Maybe amnesia isn't so bad if it leads to true love ... but the more time that passes, the more they all start to realize that there's more going on than just amnesia.

Blank Slate is Heather Justesen's third published novel and contains the elements we all want in a good read - engaging characters, twists and turns, emotional conflict, and best of all, a romance that continues on long past the last page.

This novel is available in paperback, for Kindle, and on Smashwords. And, from right now until the end of July, if you go to Smashwords and use code WV49Z, you can get the book for $1.49.

FTC: I received a free copy of this novel for review, but that does not influence my opinion. Nor does the fact that Heather is in my critique group and I've seen the story grow up from infancy. Nor does the fact that I feel like this novel's proud aunt. Nor does the fact that Heather makes me delicious cake.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Guest Blog: Stephanie Fowers on The Classics

Stephanie Fowers is one of those fun, quirky, beautiful, talented people that you just feel blessed to know. Every time I've had the chance to hang out with her, I've come away feeling energized and like I want to go sing something or film something or dye my hair.

When I was writing Secret Sisters, I wanted to bring in a character who would appeal to a younger demographic and would be able to do some of the things that my elderly detectives couldn't. I invented the character of Eden, a fun-loving brunette with guts. I didn't realize it until later, but I had based Eden off Stephanie Fowers.

Without further ado, I bring you Eden ... er, Stephanie.

Thou Shalt not Question the Classics

It all started when I read Bram Stoker's Dracula—and that's when I started questioning the classics. It's a dangerous business. LET ME GET SOMETHING VERY STRAIGHT, I'm just as afraid of questioning the classics as you are—to do so brings down the wrath of all English teachers past. They will come down and curse you to live in a cave as an illiterate boor, forcing you to make ooh ooh noises and scratch your armpits like a monkey.

But the temptation to question was too great: I just felt really bad for Dracula. You see, Lucy sees him standing on a grave in mid-day. MID-DAY! And sure, Dracula won't crumble to dust under the heavy sun because it was the grave of a suicide and according to this book, such unholy ground keeps a vampire safe. But then I got to wondering…how did Dracula get to the grave in the first place? Was he standing there all day because he was stuck and he couldn’t get anywhere else? And how did he get off the grave after scaring Lucy?—did he have to play hot lava and jump from gravestone to unholy gravestone, giggling the whole way because he gave Lucy such a fright? It would take a lot of planning and premeditation. And really, Dracula? Was the danger worth it? What if the suicide was a frame? You were really playing with your mortality here.

And yes, I understand I shouldn't be doing this! The classics are untouchable! And even I hesitate because of the English teacher's curse...but let's talk about Raoul in the Phantom of the Opera for a second. He's kind of a whiny pansy. And I defy you to count all the times he cries in that book. Now compare him to the corpse-like Erik—who is a REAL serial killer who tortures people and is NOT dashing at all! AND can you BELIEVE how many tangents Les Miserable goes off on! I mean, Eponine's my favorite character of all time, but your tangents, Victor! No critic would let anybody today get away with that! And did you know Jane Austen's first book was self-published? Okay, so that was kind of inspiring...

But I forget myself. We know the authors of the classics walk on water; they're superhuman with no typos and pure continuity. WE ALL KNOW THAT! But what is up with the Brontë sisters? Heathcliff is NOT romantic at all! You think Edward is controlling, people? Can anyone say psychotic? I wouldn't trust Heathcliff alone with my dog—yeah, he KILLS dogs! I didn't appreciate the romantic interest in Jane Eyre either. Yeah. I said it. And now I'm paying for it. Already I feel the curse taking hold. Even now as I write, my knuckles itch to drag across the ground...and I haven't even got to Hemingway yet. You must excuse me while I go discover fire. My cave is calling. But before I leave...Shakespeare anyone?

Stephanie Fowers is the author of two books for the LDS market - Rules of Engagement and Meet Your Match.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Guest Blog: Jennifer Walker on My Life, My Books

Today's guest blogger is Jennifer Walker, author of Bubba Goes National, Bubba to the Rescue, and others. She also sets up virtual book tours for clients, and if I recall, that's how we first met - we bumped in to each other somehow while we were both promoting authors, and we made Internet friends. I imagine we'd also be pretty decent real-life friends, too, if we ever got to meet. That would be way fun.

She has been really awesome to interview my clients on her blog, A Cup of Coffee and a Good Book, where she helps promote authors from all over the place. In fact, if you'd like her to interview you, just head on over to the site and contact her about it.

I now turn the time over to Jennifer.

***

I have two rules that all of my books must obey:

1. I don't write anything I wouldn't let my mother or my daughter read.

2. I never want a reader to come up to me and say, "There's no way such-and-such could ever happen."

The first is important to me because I want to be able to share my work with my family and friends without blushing, which is the easy part. The second is important because I hate reading books that are so far out there (barring appropriate suspension of belief) that I can't read for all the eye rolling I'm doing. This rule takes a little more effort to follow. I want my books to be real, so a lot of the subject matter comes from real life.

I have been a horse lover all my life. I haven't always had a horse (I do right now), but I have ridden them for much of it. I have also worked in the industry and spent many, many hours caring for, grooming, riding, and showing. I guess what I'm trying to say is, while I may not be a professional horsewoman, I know a little bit about that world. Therefore, when I decided I should write a book, it was pretty clear what it should be about: horses. Write what you know, right?

In my books, the main character, Leslie, works for a horse trainer to pay for her lessons and because she wants to be a trainer herself one day. She's a lot like what I wish I was when I was her age. It's pretty cool, because Leslie gets to do a lot more than I ever did, so I can live vicariously through her. She's even a better rider than I am, which is totally unfair.

Some of the things in Leslie's life come from real scenes from my own life, some are simply inspired by real events, and others are completely made up. In any case, I try really hard to make sure everything is accurate. There was a lot of veterinary care in Bubba to the Rescue, the second book in the Green Meadow Series that just came out, so I had my vet, Linda Lauper of HAPPEE Horses, Inc., look through it to make sure I had it all right.

If you know nothing about horses, I hope you read my books and learn a little something. If you are a lifelong horse lover, I hope you enjoy the realism that is absent in so many horse books. In any case, I invite you to give them a read and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun you won't be ashamed to share with your mother...or daughter.

Bubba Goes National: When 13-year-old Leslie Clark finds an Arabian horse at a livestock auction, she never dreams he'll soon take her to the national championships.

Bubba to the Rescue: After an abandoned horse follows Leslie home during a terrifying forest fire, Leslie tends his wounds and soon falls in love with him...but does she have the strength to give him up when his true owner turns up?

The Green Meadow Series is available on www.TwinTrinityBooks.com, Amazon.com, smashwords.com, and other online retailers.

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