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?