Christmas Celebration Winners!

I just selected the winners for the Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration--Christmas Edition through random.org! And the winners of a 2 lb. bag of chocolate-covered cinnamon bears and a shiny new copy of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE are:

Kathy and Stacie! Thank you for spreading the news about the book and sharing the trailer! Please send your home address to kristalynnej at yahoo dot com. Remember, I won't be shipping your prizes until after I have the book in my very own hands. SOON!

And thank you to everyone who participated during such a busy time of year! We are not through with giveaways or celebrations! The countdown continues! Sarah M. Eden and I will be promoting our book launch over the next few weeks so stay informed for more chances to win! The easiest way to catch all the latest news is to "LIKE" my Facebook page, either in the box in the sidebar to the right, or here: AuthorKristaLynneJensen. Hooray!

Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration, Christmas Edition

photo by paparutzi, creative commons-flickr

I've been waiting for this one! But first, the latest news:

Our spectacular BOOK LAUNCH has been scheduled! Sarah M. Eden and I will be launching our books together on Saturday, January 14th at the Ft. Union Deseret Book store! You don't want to miss this! Anybody in the Salt Lake City/Provo area, pass the word and mark your calendars!

AND

My local book launch is scheduled for Thursday, January 26th at The Thistle in Cody, Wyoming! Yay!

AND

I'm having a book signing at Every Needful Thing in Billings, Montana somewhere around the first of February.

AND

I'll be at Far West Books in Kennewick, Washington in April for Ladies Night and their 30th Anniversary Celebration! That's where I grew up, and Far West is where I bought my first LDS fiction. Aww.

More details to come! BUT I HAVE A CONTEST TO ANNOUNCE!

The PRIZES: There will be TWO winners for this contest. EACH will win a 2 lb. bag of chocolate-covered cinnamon bears AND A COPY OF MY BOOK, Of Grace and Chocolate! Yay! The books won't be available until January, but they will be available and THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART!

How to WIN:
1) Share the book trailer. Blog it, Facebook it, Tweet it, Google+ it, Email it. Post a link to the book trailer here or on YouTube. Help me get the word out!

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhiG8YwPsAM
Link to website and trailer: http://kristalynnejensenwebsite.blogspot.com/

2) Share this contest. Blog it, Facebook it, Tweet it, Retweet it, Google+ it, Email it.

Link to contest post: http://kristalynnejensen.blogspot.com/2011/12/grace-and-chocolate-countdown.html

Do either or both of these things and let me know in the comments below. You get an entry for each method, and another entry for each time you share it, up to one entry a day.

This contest will end Christmas Eve at midnight. *cue jingle bells*

Now, enjoy the season! Go!

Winners Announced and THE BOOK TRAILER

I'd like to think that I woke up at 4 AM because I was so excited about today's post and not because my dog was barking to be let outside. UGH. So let's just say I was so excited I couldn't sleep, like on Christmas Eve . . . when you're a kid. *looks around*

First, I'd like to thank everyone again for spreading the word about Of Grace and Chocolate and all these contests. Self-promotion is not something I'm all that comfortable with and you are helping to make it fun. So THANK YOU.

Second, congrats to the winners of my latest contest! Janine Jensen will be getting a 2 lb. bag of my favorite chocolate-covered gummy bears! ENJOY! And Emily Clausen (@EGClausen on Twitter) will receive a copy of EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton. Gotta love authors whose books are coming out in January 2012.

Third, I'd like to thank my son, Braeden, for helping me put together this next project. Without him, all I'd have is a bunch of creative commons images, a song, and some words, sitting in a file on my laptop. Because of his know-how, talent, and iMovie, I am now very happy to present the new book trailer for Of Grace and Chocolate. I hope you like it.







I'll be hosting another contest very soon! Stay tuned . . .

December Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration, Part 1

It is December! I can't believe it. The Christmas tree is up, the lights are on the house, it's 17 degrees outside and it is time for another Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration giveaway! Hooray!

First, I have some FANTASTIC news: I will be sharing the BOOK LAUNCH of Of Grace and Chocolate with none other than the unstoppable SARAH M. EDEN and the launch of her next title, Friends and Foes! She and I will be celebrating the release of our books with a party and signing for all of you, so start spreading the word! So far, the launch will take place during the 2nd week of January, 2012, and it will be somewhere in the Salt Lake City area. It's going to be EPIC. I can't wait!

To celebrate, I'm giving away another 2 lb. bag of chocolate-covered cinnamon bears!!! Yayyyy!

I'm also giving away a copy of . . . EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton! This one is definitely on my wish list! But just so you know, it isn't out until January 24, 2012. Don't worry! It will be worth the wait.

Everneath is a unique re-telling of the Persephone and Hades myth. Go see the trailer here. You must. It gives me goosebumps.

To enter, please leave a comment below listing one of your favorite Christmas traditions, then "like" my Facebook page! That's it! You must do both to be entered once. To enter again, share this contest on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc. There will be two winners drawn, one for the chocolate, and one for the book! Exclamation points galore!

Contest open until midnight, Wednesday, December 7th.

We're getting closer, people! I can almost taste it!

It tastes like chocolate.

Playing Pickle

What have I been up to? Running. Most of it's mental. Did you play pickle when you were a kid? I feared that game, squealed and cheered, waiting for my turn with dread. But I'd play, accept the challenge, laughing as I kept just out of reach of that dumb ball. Ugh, I hated and loved it. Lately I feel like I've been playing pickle again.

In the month of October I was caught in the strange place of having turned in my edits for Of Grace and Chocolate and waiting for the proof. After frantically applying feedback to revisions and turning it in on time, I found I had free-time.

We'll call it that.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I also started working 30-40 hours a week at a health food store. Stop in and see me in my green apron. We have amazing chocolate. Among other things. I haven't worked out of the home in 19 years. It's been a big adjustment.

And though we have one less child at home (my oldest went to work for her uncle and starts college in January), we also have one less driver. With my husband working about 12-14 hours a day, it makes for some dicey scheduling, and more organization than I have the capacity for, apparently. We're getting better.

So about that free-time . . .

I decided I could either work on other projects, or read. Hmm. I guess I could have put housework in there. Oops. I split it down the middle. I reduced my "to be read" pile by four five. I forgot one. Oops.

The Third, by Abel Keogh

Devil's Food Cake, by Josi S. Kilpack

Captive Heart, by Michelle Paige Holmes

Seeking Persephone, by Sarah M. Eden

The Legend of Shannonderry by Carol Warburton

I'm also in the middle of Possession, by Elana Johnson. Yeah, things got crazy again. And I have about two-dozen more books on the teetering pile. Thank goodness for Kindle.

Also, I devoted some of that valuable free time to writing. I opened up the fantasy I began in June. I haven't worked on it in a couple of months because of getting Grace and Chocolate going, and I wasn't sure I was in the mood to write fantasy after so much focus on a contemporary romance, but I'd been thinking about things in the back of my head and went for it. I'm up to 44,000 words and it's been so fun. A perfect break from all that is real and impending.

Isn't it pretty?!!!

And, if you've been a visitor here recently, you know I received my cover! That was crazy. As an author, you try not to have expectations, but you do anyway, and you try not to guess, but you do anyway, and then you get it and STARE FOR AN HOUR. And make it your laptop background. And post it everywhere. And start thinking of whether or not you'll do bookmarks or business cards. And POSTERS and BANNERS and ADDRESS LABELS and . . .

But I'm back to real and impending now. And really exciting. I'm working on the Grace and Chocolate proof and it's due in 3 more days. Then, IT GOES TO PRINT! GAH! My kids still don't quite understand the whole "Mom has a deadline" concept and wander in and out, asking if they can have a glass of milk, where the scissors are, how do you spell "organ", or just coming in, sitting on the exercise ball, bouncing up and down while chewing a piece of licorice and kicking the guest bed (where I am situated since my desk chair is about as good for my back as a cement block). And they promise in a whisper, "I'll be quiet." Chew chew chew.

After the tenth kick to the bed, they're out of here. But I'll see them again soon. I love them. They love me. My kids are very sign oriented. I'm making a sign:

I LOVE YOU. NOW STAY OUT.

So, this is me, playing this game of pickle, trying to stay ahead of the ball. It's anxious, thrilling . . . it's being an author. And for the most part, I'm laughing. Sometimes maniacally.

I have no idea what happens if I get tagged . . .

Of Grace and Chocolate Cover Reveal!

 

If someone told Jillian Parish moving on is easy, she would argue that it depends on what someone is leaving behind, and how much chocolate is available.

Jill has worked hard to build up a life far different than the one scarred by her mother's alcohol abuse. She works at a busy publishing house, is writing the novel of a lifetime, and goes home alone every day to a little dog, a spotless apartment, and a piece of 70% cacao and sugar. But in one day, Jill’s phone is stolen, she is tackled by a childhood love who has no idea who she is, and finds her long-lost sister on her front doorstep. In two days, Jill’s carefully controlled world is turned upside-down. In three days, she wonders if chocolate will ever be enough again.

When Scott Gentry moves to the city of Portland, Oregon and spots Jillian at church, he learns her reputation as a lost cause. But something compels him to get Sister Parish's attention, no matter how difficult that may prove. As Scott stumbles, crashes, and falls into Jill's guarded world, he finds himself with more attention than he bargained for, and more willing to do anything he can for the woman who is not made of stone, but of strength.

Grace brings Jill and Scott together, but can grace erase the past, or save the abandoned hearts left in its wake?

I knew this was coming, I just wasn't sure how soon. But it's here. Finally. And I love it. I LOVE IT! I can't tell you enough how well this cover embodies the feel of this story.

I think it's time for a celebratory giveaway . . . maybe some chocolate. Maybe more books . . .

And what could be better in showing how I feel about this cover, than giving away a decadent assortment of Chocolove bars?

Delicious Belgian chocolate in a wrapper with a love poem written on the inside. Four of these babies could be yours. You may want to think about giving one of them away yourself. See what happens... ;)

And the book giveaway? A rollicking romance set in the Old West. Michelle Paige Holmes' Captive Heart is adventurous, sassy, and warm.

I'm changing the entry rules a little bit for this contest. All that is required to enter is:

1) "Like" my Facebook Author page, here: Krista Lynne Jensen Author, or go to the Facebook box in the sidebar on the right and click "like". Easy peasy.


2) Leave a comment here telling me what you think about the new cover. Am I just asking for trouble or what? :)

3) Share this contest on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, email to your family, post it on the bulletin board at work, send it in a note to your kids' teachers, sky-writing, that kind of thing. Let me know what you did in a comment here. You will be entered for each mode of sharing the love, each day you share. The more you share, the more entries you'll have!

Contest will close at midnight, Wednesday, November 9th.

*Just a note: If you entered a previous contest, you do have to share the new contest and leave a comment for your follow and "like" status to count. That's a possible 4 entries right there!

Now, I'm going to sit back and bask in the wonder that this is really happening. A couple more months and I'll be holding this book in my hands! Eeeeee!

Of Grace and Chocolate Sneak Peek and Bonus Giveaway!

First of all, congratulations to Sarah and Megan, the winners of this month's Countdown Celebration giveaways! Hooray! As an extra treat, here is another sneak peek into Of Grace and Chocolate, coming in January!

Picture by Vincent Lock - flickr

He dropped his eyes to the ground and kicked at a tuft of grass growing along the road. “I’ve been reading your book.”

“I asked you not to—”

“I know. But after this morning, I had to go back and reread.”

“Why?”

“Because before . . . I didn’t know you.”

“And now you do?” She searched him warily. Before this morning, she was just some woman who had snubbed his attempts. Now . . .

“Yes. I mean, of course I don’t know you as well as—but I know more about where you come from, where you were once.”

He knew where I was once. The truth warmed and frightened her. How many people in her life could say that? She wrapped her arms around her body as she sensed the danger of letting him get closer, the risk of getting hurt.

She swallowed and straightened her shoulders. “So now you’re a biased reader who thinks my writing is wonderful because you feel you owe me?” She gave him a small smile, but she meant what she said. If her friends and coworkers had all been correct in their glowing reviews of her writing, she should be a bestseller by now.

“I don’t think your writing is wonderful.”

Her heart dropped, and she hated that she cared what he thought.

“I think it’s soulful and poignant and funny. I think it’s genuine.”

She stared at him, soaking in his words but trying not to. He began to walk again, and it took her a second to make her feet move.

 

*sigh*

Now onto the news.

The Christmas anthology I'm part of, A Christmas to Remember, is now available in both Kindle and paper formats! My author copies arrived Friday night. I got home from work, tore open the box, gazed lovingly, then left again for a movie. On Sunday I snuggled up and read all the stories. What a warm and cup-filling collection! I hadn't seen the other stories until then, and it was wonderful to have so many different and fresh perspectives on the true meaning of Christmas. It really is a beautiful compilation. I'm ready to put up the Christmas decorations, but it's a bit early, even for me.

The Deseret Books catalog arrive yesterday. We turned the pages, scanning each, and turned, and turned . . . and there it was, in the bottom right corner of page 15! My name is very tiny and fuzzy and a little shaded, but it's there and people will be reading a little true story I wrote about the Christmas we lost our baby girl and the strength we found in that holiday. It's my hope it will bring comfort and reassurance to anyone who has experienced loss. This really is such an unexpected way to begin my published works, but I'm grateful and delighted.

In celebration of my first publication, I'm throwing in a Bonus Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration giveaway! The prize?

A COPY OF A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER and a bag of COCOA-DUSTED ALMONDS.

This will be one giveaway of both a book AND chocolate! And just so you understand, these are organic roasted almonds, double-dipped in creamy chocolate, then dusted lightly with rich cocoa powder. You may keep these gifts for yourself or give them away! You may have a hard time doing that, though.

All that is required to enter is:

1) Become a follower of this blog.

2) "Like" my Facebook Author page, here: Krista Lynne Jensen Author, or go to the Facebook box in the sidebar on the right and click "like". Easy peasy.

3) Share this contest on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, email to your family, post it on the bulletin board at work, send it in a note to your kids' teachers, sky-writing, that kind of thing. Let me know what you did in a comment here. You will be entered for each mode of sharing the love, each day you share. The more you share, the more entries you'll have!

*Just a note: If you entered a previous contest, you do have to share the new contest for your follow and "like" status to count. :)

This contest will close at midnight, Friday, October 21st.  Remember, I'm giving away prizes every month until the release of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE! And then we'll have even more giveaways! HOORAY!

October Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration!

I sure picked a long name for this event.

Anyhow, I am very excited about this month's giveaways! But first, a little news update:

I am almost done with the book trailer my son, Braeden, and I are putting together. I am very excited! When I say "almost done", I mean the images and music have been chosen, and the narration is complete. I really don't know how long it will take to put it all together, but I can't wait to see how that happens and what it will look like when we're done. Here is an example of his work. We are just waiting on one more image, which leads me to my next bit of news.

I should have a peek at the COVER of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE soon! I don't know when I'll be able to show it to YOU, but the idea that a story I wrote will be given a visual tie-in is FANTASTIC. *big grin*

Also, I heard somewhere that A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER is coming out this month! This is the true story anthology I'm part of. If you hear something before I do, give me a shout.

And now, for the October Celebration giveaways:

The book: VARIANT, by Robison Wells.

Suspense, action, mind-blowing twists, and a touch of romance. Trust me.

 And the chocolate giveaway is:

It's cooling down out there, folks, and this is delicious hot cocoa. Hello, "cacao with sugar cane & bits of premium dark chocolate". If this isn't grace, I don't know what is.

Here is a review of how to enter. To enter for prizes you must:

1) Become a follower of this blog.

2) "Like" my Facebook Author page, here: Krista Lynne Jensen Author, or go to the Facebook box in the sidebar on the right and click "like". Easy peasy.

3) Share this contest on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, email to your family, post it on the bulletin board at work, send it in a note to your kids' teachers, sky-writing, that kind of thing. Let me know what you did in a comment here. You will be entered for each mode of sharing the love, each day you share. The more you share, the more entries you'll have!

*Just a note: If you entered a previous contest, you do have to share the new contest for your follow and "like" status to count. :)

This contest will close at midnight, Friday, October 14th.  Remember, I'm giving away prizes every month until the release of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE! And then we'll have even more giveaways! HOORAY!

Book Academy and Variant Launch 3...2...1

This week I had the pleasure of driving down to Orem, Utah, for UVU Book Academy AND the book launch of Robison Wells' VARIANT. It's a long drive, and I had it all to myself and a book on CD, and it was worth every hour on the road. Sarah M. Eden, whose book SEEKING PERSEPHONE was last month's giveaway for the Countdown Celebration, started off my morning at UVU with a WOOHOO even before breakfast, when she told me she'd just learned her next book was coming out in January, same month as OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE, and asked if I was interested in doing a book launch TOGETHER.

INTERESTED???

You bet your sweet BIPPY.

So look out for that because it's going to be the best double book launch EVER.

Sarah M. Eden points out our infamous keynote speaker, Dan Wells, who managed to pull off a vampire joke despite pre-speech doubts. Well done, Wells. And nice haircut.

Emily Clausen and Julie Bellon, writers and Twitter friends!

It's always so great to see my friend Abel Keogh, author of Dating a Widower, and THE THIRD. He was a tremendous help with revising THE INN (about a woman and a widower), before we ever met!

THE BOOK on my lap, waiting for Robison Well's signature at Kings English bookstore in SLC. This particular copy goes to my son, who has been waiting very (im)patiently.

Look at the pretty colors. Here is part of Marion Jensen's writing group, who were kind enough to let me tag along from Orem to SLC. Thank you Cory Webb, Tresa Ruger, Marion Jensen, Chris Miller, Margot Hovely, and the rest not pictured!

Michele Paige Holmes and Annette Lyon waiting for Rob's opening remarks. Michele's book, CAPTIVE HEART, will be November's giveaway for the Countdown Celebration. Yay!

Howard Taylor is usually more animated than this. @maijasmumblings, a Twitter friend, and Dan Wells are talking about how hungry they are. They must not see the eclairs. But I see Jessica Day George behind Howard. Smile, Howard!

Sarah Eden, who was gracious enough to live in Provo and give me a ride BACK to Orem, and Margot Hovely, who is THIS CLOSE to getting her own book out.

Sarah, Me, Margot, and Marion, who thinks we have cooties.

Just kidding.

Made it to the man himself. Rob declared me to have traveled the farthest. Totally worth it. Really proud of you, Rob. And I'm in the acknowledgments. It's like I wrote the book. *snort*

Finally officially met Jeff Scott Savage. His wife was great to take this picture. Very fun meeting them both! And Shanda Cottam from LDS Womens Book Review is ALWAYS so good for me! You make-a-me smile, lady!

Don't forget! I'm announcing the October giveaways for the Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration tomorrow!

Winners Announced and a Sneak Peek

I've drawn the first pair of winners of the Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration, thanks to random.org.

Sarah M. Eden's SEEKING PERSEPHONE goes to Afton Grant!

And the Chocolate-Covered Cinnamon Bears go to Michelle Teacress!

Winners, please send me an email at kristalynnej at yahoo dot com!

Thank you to everyone for entering and spreading the word about the release of OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE! The response was amazing, with 75 entries! You all deserve to win! As a bonus, I'm giving you a sneak peek into the book:

“Have you ever been to Pacific City?”

Jill shook her head. “We would go to Newport, mostly. Once, though, we went to Lincoln City.”

“Well, that makes sense, being from Lebanon. And everyone goes to Lincoln City. Did you like it?”

“Mm-hm. I remember the kites. And the wind.” The breeze brushed her hair as they passed the dark houses and rose over the dune. The beach grass swiped against her jeans. She paused, bending down to pull off her shoes and socks. Laura joined her, and they rolled the hems of their pants while the kids caught up.

Her bare feet sank into the cool of the dune then flipped little puffs of it up as she walked. The sound of the waves grew louder, and her feet hastened to get her to the top.

The night stretched out, black sky meeting black water in motion, the moonlight bouncing off the gentle crests of each low wave running to the shore. Jill took a deep breath as she stood, absorbing it.

Laura sighed. “I never get over it.”

         Neither did Jill. The beach was the one place—the one place—with only happy, peaceful memories. Her mother must have loved it enough. They hadn’t gone often as a family. Maybe that was a factor. “It almost makes it all go away,” she whispered, unsure if she meant the last couple days or her troubled past.

October's prizes will be announced on October 10th, and they are FABULOUS. Please come back and enter again, and tell your friends!

Until then, I'll be posting more news about OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE, and I'm especially excited to bring you more details about the Christmas anthology I'm part of, A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER.

Wheeeeee!

The Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration is going very well! Your responses have been so encouraging and the word is getting out. THANK YOU!

I just got some REALLY GREAT NEWS! Aaaahhh, I can't stand it! But I'm not going to tell yet. You have to wait. But not long, I promise! Eeeeeee!!!! *spins around in spinny chair*

photo by rickremington. Flickr.

Continue on! And don't forget to go here to enter in the Countdown Celebration.

I am so mean.

Grace And Chocolate Countdown Celebration!

It's here! The Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration! *blows party horn and tosses confetti*

From now until my book launch in January 2012, I will be celebrating EVERY MONTH, starting with this one, even though it's almost over! I don't care! Yay, September-October-November-December! I'll be giving away books by Covenant authors, books by other fabulous authors, Christmas goodies, and lots and lots of CHOCOLATE! And THEN, when it's finally here, I will be giving away my debut romance, Of Grace and Chocolate, just in time for Valentine's Day! Hooray! *tosses more confetti*

I'm going to keep this simple. To enter for prizes you must:

1) Become a follower of this blog.

2) "Like" my Facebook Author page, here: Krista Lynne Jensen Author

3) Share this contest on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, email to your family, post it on the bulletin board at work, send it in a note to your kids' teachers, sky-writing, that kind of thing. Let me know what you did in a comment here. You will be entered for each mode of sharing the love.

That's it! Giveaways will be twice a month, so if you share this contest for each giveaway, you are entered every time! Visit often and enjoy!


September's Kick-off  Giveaways:


Seeking Persephone, by Sarah M. Eden

Heavenly regency!

2 lb. bag of Chocolate-Covered Cinnamon Bears

Heavenly, also!

 Have fun! This giveaway will expire on September 30th at midnight!

I HAVE A RELEASE DATE!

Several {EXCITING} items of note:

1) My final revisions for OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE were accepted! Next, it goes to the copy editors. And I'll get a cover. A COVER!!!!

2) Did I tell you the official title is OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE? This is big news, because for a minute there, the title committee mistakenly thought the book was a suspense, and this is NOT a great suspense novel title. So after the genre mix-up was fixed (see below), not only did the title committee see that yes, this is a ROMANCE, they decided to go with my submitted title, but made it EVEN BETTER! The novel is not about a woman named Grace, as some people have asked, but the act of grace, and the "OF" clarifies that. And OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE is a delicious name for a romance, is it not? Perfect!

3) The title committee, in considering my (and my editor's) alarm when we learned of the genre mix-up, requested I give them a b-liner. Or b-lines. I forget what they're called. Yes, I'm the newbie. Anyhow, I got to write a draft of how the back of the book might read. Wanna see?

Of Grace and Chocolate

Because grace isn’t always . . . graceful.

If someone told Jillian Parish moving on is simple, she would argue that it depends on what someone is leaving behind, and how much chocolate is available.

Jill has worked hard to build up a life far different than the one scarred by her mother's alcohol abuse. She works at a busy publishing house, is writing the novel of a lifetime, and goes home alone every day to a little dog, a spotless apartment, and a piece of 70% cacao and sugar. But in one day, Jill’s phone is stolen, she is tackled by a childhood love who has no idea who she is, and finds her long-lost sister on her front doorstep. In two days, Jill’s carefully controlled world is turned upside-down. In three days, she wonders if chocolate will ever be enough again.

When Scott Gentry moves to the city of Portland, Oregon and spots Jillian at church, he learns her reputation as a lost cause. But something compels him to get Sister Parish's attention, no matter how difficult that may prove. As Scott stumbles, crashes, and falls into Jill's guarded world, he finds himself with more attention than he bargained for, and more willing to do anything he can for the woman who is not made of stone, but of strength.

Grace brings Jill and Scott together, but can grace erase the past, or save the abandoned hearts left in it's wake?

4) I HAVE A RELEASE DATE!!! I know I told you that in the post title. But it's TRUE! And it's not a release year, or a release season . . . it's a DATE! Okay, it's a month, but STILL. And, it's just around the corner!  In JANUARY! J-A-N-U-A-R-Y.

So, what this means is, I get to pump up the book promotion. Which is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I'm going to start by giving away a book every month until January, at which time I will give away MY book! Yay! I will also give away a chocolate prize every month until January, at which time I will give away MY chocolate. Wait. At which time I will give away MORE chocolate. And, I may throw in a few surprises here and there. Yay surprises!

I'm going to start this month, so the first contest will be posted VERY SOON. Be sure to check back! I'll be setting up a blog tour as well!

7 Things I Learned From This Revision

I've been working hard on my revisions for Grace & Chocolate and just sent them to my editor this morning at 2 am.

I know, what??

Last night we got back from our annual fruit run where we drive to a fertile valley in Idaho, overload a giant UHaul with boxes of peaches and pears, then drive it back to not fertile but ruggedly beautiful Big Horn Basin, WY, where I live. It's a fast, whirlwind of a trip and we've been doing it for 5 years now. And I happened to finish my revisions just before my turn to drive the last leg home, from West Yellowstone, through the park, and out the East gate, then on to Cody. We saw a grizzly just off the road totally chowing down on some bushes, and that was awesome.

After we unloaded way too much fruit into our garage and the truck continued on to the other side of the Basin, I skimmed through the manuscript again, catching little things here and there, hoping that, after the 8th or 10th time through, this story was still fresh, that it was still the same story I started out with a year ago, only better, tighter. Finally, I realized I couldn't do any more to it without input from my editor, so I wrote the email, attached the ms, and hit "send". Oy.

A few things I learned from my very first editor-managed revision:

1) 85% of my editor's fixes and suggestions were really great. I stumbled over a few ideas and stressed about not pleasing her. This was okay. I'm allowed.

2) Asking for advice from a few author friends who had done this a few times was critical, and gave me confidence, not only in addressing issues with my ms, but also in how to communicate with my editor, and paying attention to what feels right for my story.

3) My editor listens to me.

4) Beta readers are essential to making a story better. I had some writers, and I had some readers, and a variety of different styles of feedback, from simply needing to know more about characters and background, to eagle-eye critique where everything is questioned. Some paid attention to little misses in detail and grammar, and some had me pushing to fill a plot hole. One highlighted every "looked" I'd written in the 1st few pages. Yikes. Lots of looking going on. EVERY SINGLE READER had something that helped make my writing better.

5) At one point, I was a quivering mass of WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING THINKING I CAN WRITE A NOVEL. I started addressing critique, one issue at a time, keeping what worked, what made me excited about the story, and setting aside what didn't feel right. It didn't take long for me to feel excited again.

6) Sending a revised manuscript is almost as scary as sending a new one.

7) When you are given a deadline, you will also find a job with more hours then you intended to have, you will get the flu, you will be in the middle of fruit orders, and it will be back-to-school shopping time.

So, I'm still learning, still trying, and still thinking about what comes next. In the meantime, I have a link with some information on a Christmas story anthology I'm part of. I'm very excited and nervous about being a part of this book with so many wonderful authors! Thanks, Traci Hunter Abramson, for sharing the love.

That's my name right there. See?

Just Beta Readers and Stuff Like That...No Biggie

It's happening.

"What's happening?" you ask?

Last year, Annette Lyon described the process of getting published as "Wait wait wait wait wait deadline OH CRAP!"

I have been waiting for that last part for a very long time and with great anticipation.

GRACE & CHOCOLATE has a deadline. I've been working on edits for the last two weeks, a process about which I will blog soon, and just now began sending off the revised copy to beta readers. BETA READERS. Up to this point, I've only BEEN a beta reader. Once. It was awesome (*see Rob Wells' VARIANT).

Now, I get to HAVE beta readers.

I'm very excited. Giddy, in fact.

"What is a beta reader?" you ask? Well, I've found that it can be different for different authors. For me, when I write a first draft, I self-edit 2-3 times, then have my writing group and an online crit-partner read it. These are my alpha readers. I also send it to my mom and she cries. In a good way. I'm pretty sure.

Then, after I get their feedback, I rewrite, revise, fix, switch, add, take-away, and self-edit all over again. Then, I submit. And then, the book is accepted. HA. Actually, that's happened. Three times.

It's pretty awesome.

THEN, my editor is FINALLY given the go ahead to start working on my novel. YAY. She made all kinds of line edits and suggestions for clarity and strength and that was very interesting and stressful yadda yadda, she sent it back to me. I worked with all of her feedback and now, before I send it back to her, I need to know it looks good. No, I need to know it looks AMAZING.

Enter BETA READERS. *claps hands* *throws confetti*

So like I said, it's a little different for every author. I'm just really happy to have reached this point. Just think, any time now, I'll be yelling, "OH CRAP!"

(My mom doesn't like me to use that word.)

I can't wait.

Why I Play Games

Last night I listened to my favorite podcast (okay, I only listen to two, and the podcasters are my friends, but it's still my favorite), The Appendix, and as usual, they ended the episode with a writing prompt challenge to listeners. Now, when they issue the challenge, Robison Wells, one of the hosts, always says something like, "Now we have something for our lovely listeners," and I always think, "Well, that's me." Not because I'm egocentric, but because I'm the only listener to accept the writing prompt challenge in the comment box. I don't know if listeners make the attempt on a notepad at home, or if they think about what they might do with the crazy prompts, or if they roll their eyes and think, "Those crazy kids," and get on with writing their manuscripts or updating Twitter. I even thought that maybe nobody else posted their challenge story because I took up too much space or ideas or something, so I stopped for a while. Go ahead. Go look.

Nope. Nobody else plays the game and posts it in the comment box. So...does that make me weird? Well, that's always up for debate, but here's the thing:

I LIKE PLAYING THE GAMES.

When I first joined a writing group, we started our meeting with a writing prompt, fifteen minutes on a timer, paper and pen. We worked individually, quietly. It got our juices flowing, had us connecting seemingly impossible ideas, resolving problems, and opened up fun, provoking, haunting ideas in our heads.

One of my favorite games was choosing 5 random words out of a dictionary, writing them on the board (with their definitions if necessary), and then having to use them in our short story. That made for some pretty crazy ideas. We laughed a lot, and everybody's ideas were amazingly different.

I have a less structured writing group now, and we don't do the writing prompts, so I look forward to the games on The Appendix. They clear my head, especially if I've been at a long edit or I'm stuck in my WIP. Answering a crazy writing prompt reminds me I can do other things, allows me to laugh at myself, makes me stretch and try things I haven't yet, and then wonder, "Can I do that?" I've considered writing in other genres because of writing prompt challenges.

Some of my favorites are pretty goofy, but I was smiling as I wrote them. They're rough. I don't write them on paper first and then copy them into the comment box. I just go for it and maybe go back a couple times to make something connect, but it's pretty much an online freewrite. A risk, I know, but isn't that practice, too? If I can post this stuff up for anyone to see, I can certainly post the stuff I refine, put my whole heart into. So go ahead, go check them out. Remember, PRETTY GOOFY. But also short. Please remember that certain characters, items, or plot ideas HAD to be included.

Expected Wedding Gifts Online giving is so much easier.
LotR Fan Fiction Dragons, anyone?
Murder at Whiskey River Gulchwater Creek A mystery in the old west.
Casting Aspersions This was a fun one. I take some liberties using our hosts as characters. Arrr.
The Tortoise and the Ostrich A Tall-Tale. Move over Paul Bunyan. A little more. A little more.
Thank You, Thank You Very Much A wig can make all the difference.

There are more on other episodes, but don't just read comments. Listen to the podcast. I'm learning a lot from those three hooligans.





My best writing game story? I mean a story about what happened from accepting a writing prompt challenge? I'm not sure I remember the prompt, but I think it was "Martha Stewart gets an unexpected visitor" or something like that. I wrote a story about a frazzled perfectionist woman who'd had a bad day and was about to leave to tackle another necessary errand, then opened the door to find a unexpected visitor on her doorstep: her younger runaway sister, who was crying. The story itself wasn't one of my best, or even one of my favorites.

But the idea became a major plot point two years later when I wrote my fifth novel, my first published novel, GRACE & CHOCOLATE, coming in 2012, through Covenant Communications, Inc.

So maybe you can understand why I'm sold on writing prompt games. You just never know.

I'm Still Here!

Hey LOOK! I have a BLOG! And it's darn well past time I get back to it. What is this, SUMMER VACATION? Shyeah right. Like THAT would ever keep me from my BLOG. *looks around*

So, what have you all been up to? I think I officially dropped out of the Summer Poetry Challenge. There is just too much going on and I need my memory capabilities running at full capacity. I did enjoy it, though, and I'm sure the exercise strengthened that part of my brain. A B C D E F G ... see?

So, what is keeping me so busy, you ask? Life, family, house, garden, kids, yadda yadda yadda. But I do have some news on the writing front.

Right this very MINUTE (okay, maybe sometime today) my EDITOR is working on GRACE & CHOCOLATE!!!! Real live edits by MY EDITOR! On MY book! And then, next week, she's going to send them to me! And after I have a small anxiety attack, I work on those edits! THIS IS THE NEXT STEP, PEOPLE! AAAAAAUGH! *spins in spinny desk chair* It will be so GREAT to be doing something after all this time!!!!! And I really LOVE this story!!!!! Can't wait for you to read it.

Also, I received the final proof of my story, AFTON'S SNOW, in my publisher's (Covenant) true Christmas stories anthology. It was beautiful! Scrolly lettering for the title with some flourish and then my story with page numbers in the corners and everything! So look for that this Christmas! I'll keep you posted.

Until I get the G&C edits, I'll continue working on the REMNANT revision. I'm halfway through, and hit a major milestone in realigning a battle scene that used to jump all over the place. Still not losing as much as I need to (it was 734 pages, now 723, needs to be about 650), but it's coming along. It's such a different project than the others, but still has a strong romance story. I haven't been able to work on it in a week, but I need to get through as much as I can before things really kick off with GRACE & CHOCOLATE. WOOHOO!

Dang, it's good to be back.

Summer Poetry Challenge: Week 8

The lullaby was a good choice for last week. Light, soft, and rhythmic, easy to get down over vacation. This week's poem:

Hold Fast Your Dreams by Louise Driscoll

Hold fast your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And, sheltered so,
May thrive and grow
Where doubt and fear are not.
O keep a place apart,
Within your heart,
For little dreams to go!

Think still of lovely things that are not true.
Let wish and magic work at will in you.
Be sometimes blind to sorrow. Make believe!
Forget the calm that lies
In disillusioned eyes.
Though we all know that we must die,
Yes you and I
May walk like gods and be
Even now at home in immortality.

We see so many ugly things—
Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings;
We know, alas! we know
How quickly fade
The color in the west,
The bloom upon the flower,
The bloom upon the breast
And youth's blind hour.
Yet keep within your heart
A place apart
Where little dreams may go,
May thrive and grow.
Hold fast—hold fast your dreams!

Waiting this long for publication (close to 3 years since my first book was accepted) brings with it a lot of different emotions. Impatience, anticipation, self-doubt, confidence, excitement, questioning reality, hope, facing looks of doubt in the eyes of others as time goes on, clinging to words of encouragement. I'm still holding fast--with both hands.

Summer Poetry Challenge: What Week Is this?

I've been on blog hiatus, and will be this coming week as well. But I wanted to check in to share some news and present this week's Summer Poetry Challenge poem. Yes, I skipped a week. I am not ashamed. We were having fun with family. BUT this week, I am going to memorize something that takes me back a few years. My oldest kids are well into their teens, but when they were tiny I read them lots of books. One of these was an illustrated version of the poem, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, by Eugene Field. They loved the sing-song rhythm of it and the dreamy, fantastical imagery and I often wondered if I could memorize it. But I never tried. Until now.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod (Dutch Lullaby)

by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

 

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
   Sailed off in a wooden shoe---
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
   Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
   The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
   That live in this beautiful sea;
   Nets of silver and gold have we!"
                     Said Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
   As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
   Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
   That lived in that beautiful sea---
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish---
   Never afeard are we";
   So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
                     Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
   To the stars in the twinkling foam---
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
   Bringing the fishermen home;
'T was all so pretty a sail it seemed
   As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 't was a dream they 'd dreamed
   Of sailing that beautiful sea---
   But I shall name you the fishermen three:
                     Wynken,
                     Blynken,
                     And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

   And Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies

   Is a wee one's trundle-bed.

So shut your eyes while mother sings

   Of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things

   As you rock in the misty sea,

   Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:

                     Wynken,

                     Blynken,

                     And Nod.

I received some happy news from my editor at Covenant. I was invited to submit an entry for their annual True Christmas Stories novella, and my submission was accepted! It's a little scary, putting out a true story about such an emotional time of year, with so many meanings for so many people. But the story I submitted is a small piece of one I hoped to share with my readers anyway, somehow, so this is my chance. I am so excited! I'll share more information about it when I know more. It will be out this Christmas!

Have a beautiful week. I'll be playing in the water, enjoying my family, reading, and editing. Perfect.

Summer Poetry Challenge: Week 4

Fragmentary Blue was lovely to memorize. Now, on to this week's poem. This is for my daughter, Chelsea, who just graduated from high school and will be starting life's next big adventure soon. She's a bit of a worrier, this one, and has every reason not to be. Relax, child. You're doing well.

LIVING
by Unknown

To touch the cup with eager lips and taste, not drain it;
To woo and tempt and court a bliss--and not attain it;
To fondle and caress a joy, yet hold it lightly,
Lest it become necessity and cling too tightly;
To watch the sun set in the west without regretting;
To hail its advent in the east--the night forgetting;
To smother care in happiness and grief in laughter;
To hold the present close--not questioning hereafter;
To have enough to share--to know the joy of giving;
To thrill with all the sweets of life--is living.

One Muppet to Rule Them All

*Sorry about the spacing glitches. I tried to make this cleaner, but Blogger is being stubborn.

Some of you know I love Twitter. I've met an amazing, funny, talented group of people there, most of them writers. So what better way to spend a cold, blustery June morning, than hanging with my favorite Tweeps?

It all started with this, a simple Tweet about an exchange between me and my husband:

KristaLJensen 

Me: I need to amp up my fantasyNO I'M NOT ASKING YOUR ADVICE. Hubs: Trolls. Giant Eagles. A magic ring. Muppets. #thisiswhyIdontask

Funny, right? My husband is so supportive. I'm laughing on the inside.

But then this happened:

KristaLJensen 

Okay now I'm obsessing about a Muppet LOTR, with Kermit as Frodo and Fozzie as Sam. Sam the Eagle is Saruman. Crazy Harry is Wormtongue.

And I got this:

johncleaver Dan Wells

And Sweetums as Gollum, because why not?

robisonwells 

I'd prefer Crazy Harry as Gollum, if only for the voice.

howardtayler 

Special Guest of the Week as Gandalf... might as well get Ian McKellen.

So I said this:

KristaLJensen 

That king prawn needs a part. Pippin, I think. "What about elevensies, okay?"

And I got this:

Brucewriting bruce eschler

Have you cast Boromir? May I suggest Bobo the Bear.

johncleaver Dan Wells

The Electric Mayhem excel at Lothlorien-style scenes: you show up, we sing and give you presents.

SandraTayler 

Don't make Beaker be Sauron. I like Beaker.

writerdc Donald J Carey

I'm thinking Sweetums as Gimli, because juxtaposition is very Muppet.

I asked others:

KristaLJensen 

And who would you propose as Gimli?

And got:

jaredgarrett 

Swedish Chef?

KristaLJensen Krista Lynne Jensen

BINGO! 

And much, much more!

Somewhere along the way, Dan Wells posted this:

johncleaver 

I prefer Lew Zealand as Legolas. And @KristaLJensen, I expect a full blog post on this. I'm trying very hard not to steal it.

So here we are.

This poster is awesome. 

So is this one.

Would you like to see the full casting for Krista Jensen's (sorta rhymes with Jim Henson's) Muppet Lord of the Rings? 

Of course you would.

(In no particular order)

Frodo: Kermit the Frog. Who else? It isn't easy being him.

Samwise: Fozzie Bear. Loyal, and comical. Important traits to have under duress. Not to mention, directionally challenged.

Gandalf: Ian McKellan. Because really, he is Gandalf.

Aragorn: Viggo Mortensen, because he makes me melt.

Elrond: Beaker. Noble. Straight. Mysterious (difficult to understand).

Haldir: Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. Why would we break up this duo? Everyone knows Haldir is Elrond's go to guy.

Eowyn: Miss Piggy. There was some debate about this, but I'm sticking with it. You'll see why in a minute. And, she gets to kick some serious Nazgul tail.

Saruman: Gonzo. Can't you just picture his hands out, fingers all crooked, eyes rolling to the back of his head?

Wormtongue: Beauregard. Feckless, bumbling, loveable. What?

Gollum: Serious debating on this key character. Sweetums? Rizzo? I went with Crazy Harry. Rob's right. The voice and over all creepiness wins him the part. Plus, he already talks in third person.

Sauron: Sam the Eagle. We did some switching around for this part. Nailed it. We won't tell Sam he's the bad guy, just big government.

Pippin: Pepe the King Prawn. I love Pepe. I love Pippin. It's meant to be, okay?

Merry: Animal. This, I must say, is brilliance. With Miss Piggy as Eowyn, the tension between these two "friends" is bound to be riotous. "E-O-WYN . . . E-O-WYN . . ." I guarantee you Merry is going to be thrown off that horse.

Orcs: The Chickens. C'mon, Gonzo is Saruman. You had to see this coming.

Legolas: Lew Zealand. "Throw the arrow away, and it comes back to me."

Gimli: Swedish Chef. "Un de tu de three de four, four did urks yip yip yip."

Uruk-hai: The Rats. They're RATS. I'd be up on the table.

Witch Kings: Statler and Waldorf. Too obvious? I think not.

Boramir: Bean the Bunny. Wouldn't see that coming, would you?

Faramir: Bobo the Bear. Because everyone likes him, and he and Bean could seriously be brothers.

Denethor: Rizzo the Rat. Rizzo can do crazy. Can't you just see him eating and eating, while Pepe--er--Pippin sings him a Spanish--er-- Celtic love song? I see Oscar potential here.

Lothlorien Elves: Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Rob and Dan agreed on this one. How could I not give it to them? Groovy. Like, fer sher, really.

Galadriel: My first choice would be Madeline Kahn. What she would have done with this part I can only imagine. I miss her. My next choice would be Kristen Chenowith. Or Patrick Warburton. Yeah, that's right.
Bilbo: Robin. Kermy's little nephew. The ring's going to be heavy for him, anyway.

Eomer: Scooter, because he has to go somewhere.

Theoden: Ralph the Dog. At his piano throne.

 And Arwen. Ah, Arwen, lovely and in love with Aragorn. This part goes to: 

Sweetums. 

Because this is my movie.

Please, post your comments and own ideas. You bow to no one.