New and Improved: 50 Followers Contest

Since that last post was so lengthy, I've decided to re-post the contest here on it's own. In the name of new author promotion AND in celebration of my blog reaching 50 followers, I am having a little trivia contest. There will be two prizes: one a maple syrup-themed gift box in honor of Andrea Pearson's magical elixer in her new book, THE KEY OF KILENYA, out this July;

and the other a cherry-themed gift box, in honor of my book, THE ORCHARD, each chosen randomly. They will be delicious! The contest will run until midnight, Saturday, June 12. I have also simplified the requirements to enter (because I'm new at this and went a little crazy). Here is what you need to do to win one of these fantastic prizes:

1. Leave a meaningful comment to let me know you were here. 1 point
2. Tweet or Facebook this contest and let me know in a comment. 1 point
3. Send me the answer to the following silly questions in an email at kristalynnej at yahoo dot com. 2 points

a)What kind of fruit grows in the orchard in Krista's novel?
b)What must Andrea's hero retrieve to save those he loves? (see my interview of Andrea here)
c)What is Krista's made up pen name? (See her interview of me here)
d)Why doesn't Andrea speak Canadian, eh?

EXTRA TWITTER BONUS POINT: What is Krista's husband's pen name for her? #answeronKristasTwitterProfilepage 

Congratulations to Melissa Nielsen, who was my 50th follower! Thanks, Melissa. You get a bonus point in the contest and your name indelibly emblazoned in my memory forever. Yay!

Thursday Authorial: Andrea Pearson & 50 followers Contest!

Welcome to this week's Thursday Authorial! I've invited new author, Andrea Pearson, to be my guest here today. Actually, it was her brilliant idea to swap interviews, so you can find me on her blog today, too!

K: Welcome, Andrea! It is so great to have you here. I have to admit, I know very little about you, so I’ve been looking forward to this little chat, sans Twitter. Although, I hope you’ll understand if I break into hashtags (#) every now and then. #habitforming

A: Ha ha ha! I LOVE Twitter. I'm completely fine with the occasional hashtag. :-)

K: Tell us a few things about yourself.

A: I'm a Utah native—have lived here nearly my entire life, minus the year and a half I spent up in Toronto Canada, serving the Spanish people. I love biking (not mountain biking, though), music, watching movies and basketball, and hanging out with my family and close friends.

K: I don't know why I find it surprising that there is a Spanish-speaking mission in Canada. #likeIthoughttherewereonlyCanuksehwhatahoser 
A: I was shocked that my mission was in Canada speaking Spanish, too. But I was even more shocked that there are 89,000 Spanish speakers there! It's crazy! #wheredotheyallcomefrom? :-)

K: I know, like me, you are fairly new to all this publishing biz. What inspired you to write seriously?

A: The story of Jacob, my main character, actually. I wanted to share it with everyone—wanted it to be loved by more than just myself and my family.

K: It's a writer thing. A compulsion to tell the story to anyone who will listen. What is your favorite part of the writing process? What was a surprise?

A: My favorite part would be the excitement which comes from a well-written scene: when the words flow from my fingers like maple syrup onto pancakes (I'm hungry right now. Can you tell? :-)). This usually happens in the intense parts—my favorite parts. Surprises come when what I'm writing leads somewhere I didn't foresee, and I actually like what has happened. What could be better than that?

K: "Like maple syrup..." I love that. We'll have to do something with that later... #blatantforeshadowing You have a book coming out this summer. What can you tell us?

A: Nothing. Absolutely nothing. #FBIgovernmentsecret. Okay, kidding. It's the story of a fourteen-year-old guy named Jacob who is pretty average. He wants to try out for his high school's basketball team, and nothing will stop him from doing so. Except vicious wolves who chase him into a completely different world full of strange and magical creatures. The people of this world know all about Jacob already—and that he possesses magical abilities. They ask him to retrieve a stolen, magical key, and he must do so, or else everyone he loves will be in danger.

The Key of Kilenya, published by Valor Publishing Group, is coming out July 6, 2010. I'm thrilled, and can't wait to share Jacob's story!

K: What do you love about The Key of Kilenya and how is it different from other things you’ve written?

A: I really like the bad guys—the Lorkon. Developing their history was difficult and exciting, and trying to understand why they'd do what they do was hard. But, as with all such things, I feel like I truly know them, and more importantly, I know WHY they are that way. Not all back history ends up being shared with the readers, but I hope theirs will be. I also love the history behind who Jacob is and where he got his magical abilities. The readers will discover this along with Jacob through the entire series—six books in total.

This book is different from other things I've written in that it isn't a business letter or a legal document. Nor is it a research paper for an ornery professor. :-) It's my first attempt at creative writing, and, at first, I really had to stretch myself to figure out how to pull it off. Luckily, I soon got into the “swing of things” where creative writing is concerned.

K: Six books! Which one are you working on one right now?

A: I'm writing the second book in my series and hope to get it finished soon. It's been so much fun! #funyesbutstressfultoo

K: Where can we find your book?

A: Right now, since my first book hasn't been released yet, you can pre-order it through my website, or through Valor's website. It'll also be available through Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble, and in other bookstores when it's released.

K: Very exciting! I bet you can't wait to hold it in your hands. 
A: I've found most authors become a little like Gollum when they hold their first book. #myprecious #cantwaittoshowittoeveryoneIsee 
 

K: We met through Twitter, and now we're Facebook friends. Has blogging and social networking (Twitter, Facebook) influenced you as a writer?

A: Most definitely! I'm still pretty new to the social networking aspect of being a writer, but I've been so happy with what I've found. Twitter is the best way to meet other authors and to get to know them. Where Facebook is concerned, I'm a little weird: I never delete friends. First, it was because I was too lazy to go through and take off “so and so” who I haven't talked to in over four years and only met once, but now, I won't ever do that sort of thing. Some of my best beta readers were found through Facebook friends I hadn't talked to in a long time—some I'd only talked to once my entire life.

K: You never delete friends? Aww. That could be on a Hallmark card. #careerbackupplanNOTthatyoullneedone Any advice for aspiring authors?

A: Krista, you really crack me up. I'd considered doing Hallmark cards at one point. . . But, thank goodness I got over that. :-)
Now, #Wherewerewe? Advice. First, don't just write the first draft and call it good—take a break if you need to, but make sure you polish it until it shines like the top of the Chrysler building. Good writers aren't born, they're developed through hard work and practice.

Next, start building your social platform now. Don't wait until your book is finished, until you've got a publishing contract, or until your book is released. It's too late then. Well, not too late, but it will take a lot of hard work to get up to speed. Get a Twitter account, a writer's blog (a blog where you talk mostly about writing. Can be your personal blog), and, of course, a Facebook account.

Last, follow people who know how books inside and out. I strongly encourage anyone serious about writing to follow Nathan Bransford (both his Twitter account and blog). Most every author will agree: he really knows his stuff.

K: I follow him and he is GREAT. Solid advice. Rachelle Gardner is another one I like. Next question: If you could be a character in any book, who would you be?

A: Hmmm. Good question. Possibly Hermione—I think I tended to be a know-it-all as a kid, and I would've fallen for Ron, too. :-) Or, of course, Elizabeth Bennett, or Jo from Little Women.

K: I love that answer! Hermione is such a strong character. #teamwonwon #prettygeekssavetheday

Andrea, thank you so much for visiting my blog!

A: My pleasure! :-)

K: Now, one last thing. You mentioned maple syrup before and I can't help but wonder if we should give our readers a little morsel of a contest? Because, and correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't maple syrup play a part in your novels?
A: Yes, it does. It has uber-cool powers and gets used multiple times in the series.

So here's what I'm proposing. Since Andrea and I have one anothers interviews posted on our blogs, AND in celebration of my blog reaching 50 followers (thanks, Melissa!) I wager a little trivia contest. There will be two prizes, one a maple syrup-themed gift box, and the other a cherry-themed gift box. They will be delicious! The contest will run until midnight, Saturday, June 12. Here is what you need to do to win one of these fantastic prizes:

1. Follow mine or Andrea's blog. Let us know back here. 1 point per follow
2. Tweet or Facebook this contest and let us know. 1 point
3. Mention this contest in a blog post,and let us know. 2 points
4. Email me at kristalynnej at yahoo dot com and answer the following trivia questions, 3 points:

a)What kind of fruit grows in the orchard in Krista's novel?
b)What must Andrea's hero retrieve to save those he loves?
c)What is Krista's made up pen name?
d)Why doesn't Andrea speak Canadian, eh?

EXTRA TWITTER BONUS POINT: What is Krista's husband's pen name for her? #answeronKristasTwitterProfilepage

Have fun!

Places to find Andrea Pearson:
Twitter: @andreapearon2
Blog: Andrea Pearson Books
Website: Andrea Pearson Books

Tuesday Edit Crunch: A Killer Story Structure

Welcome to this week's Tuesday Edit Crunch.
Sounds like a breakfast cereal made of old typewriter keys.

Tuesday Edit Crunch is an informative, fresh, and important part of this nutritious... blog...



I've been excited about this Edit Crunch because I get to name drop. That's right, I know some people. Well, I Tweet some people. Sometimes, these people even Tweet me. It's AWESOME. I am learning so much through Twitter connections and the encouragement and advice I am getting from some great authors is invaluable. If you are a writer and wish for these connections, I highly recommend getting aboard Twitter. There is a whole group of witty, wise, and wonderful people who are sharing their publishing journeys, their blogs, links, sarcasm and hopes, and even what they had for lunch and whether or not it was a good idea. @robisonwells is good at that last one. But this post isn't about Rob (go see him here, anyway, though because now he's a big shot... but do that later).

This post is about his brother, Dan (or on Twitter, @johncleaver).

Dan Wells is the author of I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, its sequel, MR. MONSTER, and the newly titled but not out yet third book of this horror series, I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU.

(Did anyone else just shudder and glance out the window?)

Several months ago I was led (by a Tweet) to a presentation given by Dan on Youtube, called Dan Wells on Story Structure. It's a Five part series filmed at the Life, The Universe, and Everything convention, 2010, at BYU.

IT. ROCKS.


I'm not going to break down the entire presentation for you (although I highly recommend watching part 1, then following the link there to part 2, and then so on until THE END... but do that later. This is my time.). What I am going to do is talk a little about part 1 and my a-ha moment.

Some of you followers know I have been tackling revisions of my novel THE INN, the second book in a trilogy I wrote. The first book in the series, THE ORCHARD, will be coming out in Spring of 2011, and I'll get to work on that again very soon. But right now, after feedback from readers at Covenant, my publisher, I am hard at work on THE INN. And after initial fixes of sequel transition, clarification of some confusion of who is doing what when, I have now been focusing on the ENDING.
If any of you recall, with THE ORCHARD, the first novel, I was told to chop 30 pages off the ending. It went on and on. I didn't want to let it go. TME: Too Much End.
So, when I wrote THE INN, I think I was a little paranoid and just... ended it. Wrap up, done, the end. And in this case, it wasn't quite enough, a little too neat. The last thing I want is for a reader to roll their eyes and say, "Duh," as they close my book. So now I'm in Opposite Land and what am I going to do?

Then it happened. A-HA! I remembered a point made by Dan Wells in his Story Structure class! What was this point, accompanied by angels' song and light breaking through the clouds?

START AT THE END.

I will admit when I first heard this advice, I said, "Huh? How...what?" But it was Dan Wells, so I kept listening. And then I thought about it and, since I'm an outliner, I usually do have a scene in my head about the ending, and I scribble it down in my notebook, barely legible. I just don't pay much more attention to it until I get there. So I told myself I'd probably try it the next time I began a new draft. And time went by and stuff happened.
But, when so recently challenged with the revision of my ending for THE INN, this advice had made enough of an impression on me that the A-ha moment came, and I pulled out my notes, and went back to Youtube for part 1/5.

START AT THE END.

• Everything leads to this moment.
• What is the story about? Where is it going?
• KNOW WHAT KIND OF RESOLUTION YOU WANT.

Although Dan's lesson is on writing the draft, I just knew I could apply it to my revision. Because now I not only knew what kind of resolution I didn't want, I knew what a reader or two didn't want. I made decisions about my characters and the Hero's arc, incorporating how they'd developed through what I learned here. Then I rewrote the ending to fit those decisions, the ending I want. The ending I hope will bring a satisfied sigh when the reader closes the book. Not an eye roll.
Not only that, I was able to go back and vamp up several scenes, give them better direction, foreshadowing, or suspense, and lose some clutter that didn't advance the story to THE ENDING I WANTED. I'm excited again.

So thank you, Dan Wells. I hope my editor thanks you, too. We shall see!
Listen to Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and Howard Tyler (all Tweeps of mine) on Writing Excuses, a weekly podcast, for great writing discussions and more than a few laughs.

Any A-ha moments during revisions you'd like to share?

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Tuesday Edit Crunch. And be nice to Dan. His character may not be a serial killer, but why would he have to insist that in the first place? Just saying.
And remember, watch out for the K's. They're especially crunchy.

I Like Crossing Things Out

In lieu of Thursday Authorial, and because it's Friday (when did that happen?) I am re-posting my frazzling May to-do list, with the appropriate markings. Just because it makes me feel better to see stuff crossed off.

1) Regional and State track meet for daughter #1. Husband went with her to Casper, her relay team took 3rd. Yay!
2) Piano Recital for Son #1.He performed his piece very well. Yay!
3) Baseball for son #2. This goes through July.
4) Band Concert for son #2.He looked great in his tux and his 2-person trumpet section rocked. Yay!
5) Spring Dance recital and Don Quixote Performance for daughter #2.Very fun, very lovely little dancer.
6) Having to meet with dance teacher to tell her daughter #2 no longer wants to dance. I will cry.
7) Babysitting all week. Baby loves puppy. Puppy doesn't love baby. UPDATE: Puppy+Baby=Trulove4ever; Puppy+Baby+3&4 year-olds I watch today=Chaotic Loud Mayhem
8) Chaperon field trip for son #2. Why, oh why...
9) Son #1 diagnosed with Pectus carinatum. Yeah, that's still happening.
10) Expensive operation to correct above will most likely be billed under "cosmetic". Insurance coverage looks bleak. We're going to Primary Children's for evaluation.
11) I will not allow Pc to turn my son into a quivering mass of adolescent fear and self-doubt.
12) I realize there are worse things, but I would have crumpled into a quivering mass of adolescent fear and self-doubt if I were diagnosed with Pc at the age of 14.
13) Just learned same son, the "gifted" child, lied about a term paper. Because he didn't see the point in doing it. A TERM paper. LIED. To me. To his teacher. To his dad.
14) He meets with the assistant principal today.
15) Have I mentioned his dad is the assistant principal?
16) And his bishop? Yeah, I have a slave for the entire summer, and he is SO unplugged.
17) Daughter #2's baptism and family coming. (I know, it's a wonderful thing!)
18) GARDENING (I love it, but WHEN?)
19) Tackling revisions of THE INN. Almost done. ALMOST. I can TASTE it.
20) Son #2 and husband's birthday. Plan: Daytrip to Yellowstone, awesome picnic. There will be cake. Perhaps a movie when we get back. 

That felt good. Thanks! Next week I'll be on top of things here, with a great Edit Crunch and a new author to interview!

Tuesday Edit Crunch: Your MC, Your Hero, Your Target in the Crosshairs

Welcome to this week's Tuesday Edit Crunch.
Sounds like a breakfast cereal made of old typewriter keys.

Tuesday Edit Crunch is an informative, fresh, and important part of this nutritious... blog...

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of being followed by @WritingNoDrama on Twitter and so checked out who she was and what she was about. Her Tweets begged me to follow her back. Carolyn McCray holds nothing back and believes in what she is selling. I can take what I need and leave the rest for another day, though I might not tell her that. What is she selling? A simple, sensible writing formula that fits in easily with other Hero's Journey methods. And she's a crack-up. She's the World Government teacher you had in high school who put you in your place while making the other students laugh behind their hands, and you even had to chuckle, because she was right. The cost for her drill-sergeant with a wink approach? For FREEEEEE!

I've been focusing on my hero, my protagonist, in my revisions of THE INN, and so I reviewed some of Carolyn's Tweets on the subject. Yes, I remembered them. Have a look:

WritingNoDrama Your Hero really wishes you'd go easy on him. Your Audience wishes you'd go harder on him. Which begs the question... #whopaysthebills

WritingNoDrama Your Hero must be hesitant about donning his mantle. You, however can be anything but tentative about forcing him to accept it!

WritingNoDrama Don't be afraid to punch someone in the stomach... Sorry, I meant your Hero. Punch him #hard My blog: http://bit.ly/dBYr6s

WritingNoDrama Your Hero hates his arc, but it is kinda like medicine for a kid. He tries to spit it out, but it's what's going to heal him.  

So you see, what Carolyn has taught me about my hero is that she is reluctant. She doesn't want to be the hero and if she is enjoying being the hero, I am doing it wrong. Now, I have seriously tried to think of a story I could not apply this to and... *crickets* 

As I have this in the back of my mind during revisions, I am finding my hero a much rounder, deeper character, and her direction and drive are much clearer. Cool.

Carolyn also addresses the "Sidekick", "Love Interest", "Magician", "Villain", the "Opportunity", the "Darkest Hour", and the "Climax". When I am in need of direction for those elements of a story, you can bet I will give Carolyn's blog, Writing Without the Drama, a visit. More on that later.

Next week, I'll be sharing what Dan Wells, aka @johncleaver, author of I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER and the newly released sequel, MR. MONSTER, taught me, personally, about Story Structure, and how I am applying it to my revisions. Okay, it was through Youtube, but it seemed like he was right here. Which gives me shivers now that I think about it.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Tuesday Edit Crunch. Give your Hero a good pounding. He'll thank you for it! And remember, watch out for the K's. They're especially crunchy, and quick with the roundhouse!



UPDATE: I just heard from my editor. MY EDITOR. Hee hee. I have my own editor. Thank you, Covenant! Thank you, Samantha!

May... Work It.

1) Regional and State track meet for daughter #1.
2) Piano Recital for Son #1.
3) Baseball for son #2.
4) Band Concert for son #2.
5) Spring Dance recital and Don Quixote Performance for daughter #2.
6) Having to meet with dance teacher to tell her daughter #2 no longer wants to dance. I will cry.
7) Babysitting all week. Baby loves puppy. Puppy doesn't love baby. Jealous much?
8) Chaperon field trip for son #2. Why, oh why...
9) Son #1 diagnosed with Pectus carinatum.
10) Expensive operation to correct above will most likely be billed under "cosmetic". Insurance coverage looks bleak.
11) I will not allow Pc to turn my son into a quivering mass of adolescent fear and self-doubt.
12) I realize there are worse things, but I would have crumpled into a quivering mass of adolescent fear and self-doubt if I were diagnosed with Pc at the age of 14.
13) Just learned same son, the "gifted" child, lied about a term paper. Because he didn't see the point in doing it. A TERM paper. LIED. To me. To his teacher. To his dad.
14) He meets with the assistant principal today.
15) Have I mentioned his dad is the assistant principal?
16) And his bishop?
17) Daughter #2's baptism and family coming. (I know, it's a wonderful thing!)
18) GARDENING (I love it, but WHEN?)
And last but not least...
19) Tackling revisions of THE INN.

I think it's a good month to channel tension into my scenes. Would you agree?


(Umm, I forgot son #2 and husband's birthdays are next week, and our volleyball championship tournament, which we just won tonight. Vented some tension there, I tell you what.)

Thursday Authorial: Inspiring People

I don't mean this is a post on how to inspire people. This is a post on people who inspire. People who feel a desire, an urge, a prompting they can't let go of, and act on it with full heart. With passion.

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Mitch Albom

There's so much discussion about aspiring authors who feel the urge to write something important, but they don't follow it through. Excuses can be valid, I know, but if you feel such a pull, feel you might have what it takes, feel your idea or dream would be something special if you only... Well, why do you feel that way? Is that for nothing? Or is it for something?

These people are some examples to me, to follow my dream with passion.

Jessica McComas at I Am What I Do

I have the blessed fortune to have known this woman since her birth. Jess is my cousin and we share the same shy giggle and dimple. When I hear myself on a home video, sometimes I hear her. It makes me smile.
Several years ago, Jess was touched by the story of babies in China in desperate need of homes. To Jess, they are in need of love, and I think she'd give just about anything to supply it to all of them. Her story is an incredible journey of passion. And it's not over.

Stephanie Nielsen at NieNie Dialogues

I don't know Stephanie personally, but it almost feels that way. Whether you think her decision to stay or go was right or wrong, she has followed her prompting, no holds barred, as much as she is capable, with full purpose of heart, fighting every inch of the day, loving.
And lives are touched many times over because of it.

Shelli Larson at HAPPY GIRL

This lovely would ask why in the world she is on this list. I don't care, I'm the big sister and I'm putting her on here. She's been through a lot of the same crap the rest of us have, and she is one of my biggest inspirations in living this life.
She may or may not mind that I am telling you that at 38 years this week (Happy Birthday, Shell!), my sister is one heckuva tennis player. She played in high school, loved it, but then she got busy with college, marriage, 4 kids, an assortment of animals, jobs, moves, etc... and then about 3 years ago she picked up a racket again, because she remembered how much she loved it. She took a class, and was persuaded to join a team. Now she's in championship games all over the Northwest. She rocks. She's my rock. She's grounded, compassionate, wise, and will cry with you or laugh her cute little butt off. Passion.

So, we worry about priorities and the value of time and effort. But if what you haven't recognized as passion is culminating into one thought, one urgent desire to manifest some semblance of creation by your hands, your power, isn't it worth something to see where it could take you? It might be worth more than you ever imagined. Or maybe you have imagined.

Find your passion. Make it for something.

Tuesday Edit Crunch: A New Beginning

Okay, so maybe that subtitle has been done, but it's back! Remember this?
Introducing Tuesday Edit Crunch.
Sounds like a breakfast cereal made of old typewriter keys.

Tuesday Edit Crunch is an informative, fresh, concise, and an important part of this nutritious... blog...

It's back, baby! Know why? Because I tackled the critiques, the requested revisions for my first ms, and learned so much along the way, and then, last week, I received the critique and requested revisions for the second ms!
And it's a whole other ball game.
Point of interest: The editor sent me two of the reader's feedback questionnaires (I have no idea what the technical term for these 6-8 page surveys full of questions the readers answer about the ms they've been given to read and break down, but it was very interesting to see this part of the process). The catch? These readers had opposing feedback for major points of the book, including pace, tension, twist, climax, and resolution.

Doh.

The good thing? They both liked it, urged its completion, and expressed confidence in the author's capability to do so.

Why did the editor send me these somewhat confusing documents, causing me to scratch my head? Here are some of my ideas:

•  I can take the "Wow, incredible, exactly as it should be" (and I'm totally paraphrasing there) feedback and use it to bolster myself as I face the "was this meant to happen, lost momentum, eye roll" feedback.
• I need to learn I cannot please everybody while blowing others' socks off.
• I need to address the confusion, clarify, let the true direction show, because I really don't want to mislead anyone through the story.
• I was right about certain worries about the plot. Now I have some feedback about those exact same issues.
• One reader knew this was a sequel, and had read the first book, and expressed how the flow worked. The other was unaware of this being a sequel, and needed more info and history to embrace the character/story. I've already worked on this, trying to find the balance in transitioning from one story to another, and making things clear enough to be understood by someone who hadn't read the first one, but avoiding the info dump that would bore someone who had.
• Both readers expressed praise, encouragement, and trust that this will be loved by the audience. Whew.

I had several questions for the editor concerning some of the comments and their contradictions, word count, etc. The editor's answer?

Do what you think is best with the comments, and use your best judgement in the rewrite. And cut the prologue.

Which I knew they would say, and I did. CUT. No more prologue. Better.

The next few weeks I'll be sharing what I'm learning this time around. Lesson #1? You never stop learning (yeah, I already knew that one), and it's great, and scary, to hear that people trust you to trust your gut.

Any "trusting your gut" stories out there? Share 'em!

I hope you enjoyed this new edition of Tuesday Edit Crunch. I'm looking forward to next week's lesson already! And remember, watch out for the K's. They're especially crunchy!

A Peek Into My Head: The Conversion Story

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.  ~Toni Morrison

(warning: this is about as controversial as I get)

People are beginning to ask me what I write. My general response has been, "Inspirational Romance". It's true that all my stories so far have a religious undertone, and that religion is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's what I know. Though the conversion story is a theme in THE ORCHARD and THE INN, the other novels (THE LAKE, REMNANT, GRACE & CHOCOLATE) have their other issues to explore.
I read in an interview a while back that it was an opinion of one author (and I'm sure there are more) that LDS fiction needed to steer away from the conversion story... enough already. And I could see how that could be believed, knowing the source and their demographic. It's been done: Good girl converts bad guy and they live happily ever after, etc... I agree. The diversity we are beginning to see in LDS fiction is exciting, and it's about time the expansion manifests itself.
But I want to discuss the idea of labeling the conversion story as obsolete, and I mean no offense, and my tone is not argumentative. After all, when I tackled THE ORCHARD, writing a conversion story was the last thing on my mind. The story just took me that way. I simply wish to share my ideas on the subject, because ever since I read that interview, it's been stirring around in the back of my mind.
Most of the Church resides outside Utah and Idaho, though the concentration of members in those two states is, shall we say, dense. We could possibly include Arizona and some of Nevada as states with large, condensed numbers of Mormons. I've never lived in what these areas are often referred to as "Zion", though I did attend BYU Provo for 1 1/2 years. The culture has its own stigmas, myths, idiosyncrasies, beauties, and wonders. Having your entire ward (congregation of 200-400 members) living within four square blocks flanked by a church building on either end is common in Utah, from SLC, to Provo, to Hooper (pronounce hupper, like book). Everyone knows who the members aren't, and most people living in these areas assume those they see in the grocery store, the library, the gym, are members, or are related to members, or were once members. The kids in high school are predominantly LDS, but still making the same choices kids in other high schools are, still facing the same challenges, to a point (I have an image of an LDS youth from Queens placed in a Bountiful high school and have to chuckle).
But the rest of us don't live in that climate. And we're fine with that. I think it's safe to say the time has passed for those of us who don't live near these places to long to "get to Zion." We're happy in our towns and cities with Stakes of three to twelve wards (as opposed to seventy-five wards in one stake), a youth group of fifteen to thirty, twenty-five kids in Primary classes on Sunday, and one nursery of seven toddlers, two classes of early morning, or if we're lucky, release-time seminary at the high school, and knowing we're the only LDS members in a four block square, flanked by Lutheran and Church of the Nazarene buildings. Our nearest LDS bookstore is an hour+ away, wherever the nearest temple is, and our only link (and usually the only time we think about it except when gift-giving needs present themselves) is the Deseret Books flyer we get in the mail because we once ordered a set of scriptures through them. Did I just hear you gasp? No need. We're fine.
We serve our communities, we teach in our homes and in our church buildings. We wear our beliefs on our sleeves (because we have them in the summer months) and our support networks are strong because they have to be. We look forward to general conference via satellite. We hold sometimes two callings. I once held three. We have the church down the hill preaching against us and we preach against no one. We have smokers, drinkers, drug-dealers, porn solicitors in the adult communities as well as in the youth. Profanity is everywhere. Pre-marital sex is an odd phrase because isn't it just sex and isn't everyone doing it? We are repeatedly called non-Christians by our friends, and prayers are uttered for our eternal salvation. And we love our communities.
And we are invited, and compelled, to share what we have with others, and some of us wonder... How? And with who? And Why them? I have the faith, I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, my testimony is strong, but where is my courage?

And as these thoughts have stirred in my head, I have repeatedly come to the same conclusion.

The conversion story. There is a need. If there wasn't, I wouldn't have written it.

Thoughts?

Tuesday Testimonial: The Kiss

Maybe it's because I'm sick, or maybe it's because my husband was sick before I got sick and now that he is better he doesn't want to get sick... whatever, but my mind has been meandering on The Kiss. Maybe because I miss it.
As you may know, I have been editing. Editing editing editing. Several different stories. And my heart still always skips around and pounds when I get to The Kiss. And I got to thinking, is this what I love about the Romance genre?
No. It's not the only thing. I love the meet, I love the chemistry, I love the conflict, the symbolism, the banter, the fight, the play, the devastation... I love it all.
But I tell you what... I was pretty ticked off at the end of Clash of the Titans. WHAT? A side hug? OH COME ON.
Sheesh.

So, yeah, maybe The Kiss is pretty high up there on my priority list.

Actually, my first experience with writing a kiss (you thought I was going to share a personal story, didn't you? Ha.) was also my first experience with my characters taking off on their own. I had no intention of a first kiss taking place at that particular point in the story, and then my male lead said, "Uh, yeah, I think so," and I gasped, really, out loud, and said, "Oh my gosh he's going to kiss her," and my fingers kept on flying over the keyboard, detached from my intentions.
After I finished the scene, my husband walked through the room.
"Honey, you will never guess what just happened."
"What?"
"Derick just kissed Alisen and there was NOTHING I could do about it."
"Good for him."
"No, you don't understand. I did NOT mean for it to happen then. They're not supposed to kiss until later."
"Hm. Well, sometimes, we just can't help ourselves." He grinned, sauntered over, and planted one on me. Mmm.

But he totally missed the point. And besides, it took HIM four weeks to kiss me the first time.

I was astounded by what had happened.
I took it to my writing group, and they agreed. Though it was a breath-taking moment, Derick had jumped the gun. It was too soon. I cut The Kiss. Fortunately for him, and me, the perfect time came not too much later, and since I had already written the breath-taking moment, it was easy to slip it in. Er.

So, as a treat, I'm sharing a kiss from THE ORCHARD. It's not the first kiss, because I don't want to give that away. Enjoy.

He’d had enough of two things: One, her father’s mind games, intentional or not, angered him, had his defenses up, and he didn’t want to feel that way right now; and, two, Alisen was so close, playing with his hand, turning her face up to his, opening herself up to him so honestly. His arm around her shoulder constricted, pulling her up to him.

His mouth met hers, the salt on her lips accentuating the sweetness of her skin. She responded and her hand traced his cheek to his jaw, his neck, then reached around and fingered his hair. He stopped kissing her and brushed her eyelashes and cheekbones with the tip of his nose.

“Alisen?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“Derick?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll tell you anything.”

Her lips found his again.

They were a little lightheaded when they left the rock.

Whew. Anyway, I've been wondering, do you have a favorite Kiss moment, from movies or literature? Share it!

In the meantime, I'm high-dosing the Vitamin C.



*UPDATE: I just got word on my submission of THE INN! Covenant likes it, the rewrite suggestions are where my concerns were anyway, and I can breathe as my mind works to address the revisions! HOORAY!! *skip around the room*