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.