Home Again...More Proof

It's been an incredible couple of weeks. Along with the launch of Of Grace and Chocolate, the book signings, a couple of interviews, and navigating the freeways of Insanity the Salt Lake valley, I was also swimming the emotional waters of a dear friend's upcoming wedding, the announcement of my own daughter's engagement, and the passing of my husband's grandfather, all while wearing a back-brace as I tried to heal from a back injury I sustained during Christmas break.

O_O

I did use the word incredible, which does mean unreal. Unbelievable. But is used so often as a synonym for wonderful, amazing, fantastic. Which it also was.

Me and the soon-to-be Sherrie Willley

Ready or not...

But, my friend's wedding is tomorrow (best wishes, Sherrie!), my daughter is engaged to a kind, smart, incredibly grounded young man who adores her and we have a great start on wedding plans, my husband's grandfather was 99 years old and had lived a very productive life, and his passing brought a lot of family together to celebrate that life.

My nephews and my own two gumballs after the funeral.

And the book signings were fun, full of anxiety and laughter and lots and lots of smiles. I got to see so many friends, my time in Salt Lake was adventurous and rewarding, and the food was wonderful, amazing, fantastic.

Ruth's Diner. Thai Village. Bombay House, anyone? *my mouth just watered*

Marion Jensen, me, and Robison Wells talking shop. And eating butter, apparently...with ketchup...

...at Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon.

My signing table at Spanish Fork Seagull Books. A dozen people came in while I was there. I sold 3 books. I'm calling it a success.

Pretty.

Carrie Moeaki and Leah who was half that size last time I saw them!

This happy customer bought FIVE books!

Meet my cousin, Jill Hammond, my main character's namesake, who gave one of those books away in a drawing at her book club where I was a guest author!

But before book club she took me to Bombay House for dinnerI WANT SOME NOW.

After all that, I came home to my family who missed me, and friends who treated me to a hometown book signing here in Cody at The Thistle, my favorite gift and book shop. It was such a great turnout the books at the store sold out in the first hour, and the owner bought my stash from home! There were still a couple of people who have to wait until more books arrive. It was a very welcome "welcome home".

Rochelle Slight, the driving force behind the signing, Cathy Okada, whose last name I used for a character in the book, and Carla Parsons, who made me write fiction. THAAAANK YOOOUUUU.

Friends and their daughters enjoying the store.

My friends Brook and Lisa, yay.

Sweet Arlene and Susan. Arlene got the last store copy.

Rebecca and Afton. See? No more books on the table!

Lette, who is SOOO ready to have that baby.

My lovely host, Carol Bell of The Thistle. We had so much fun!

I'm. So. Tired.

And grateful. And happy. Can we do it again?

Being an author is kind of awesome. And scary. Who knew?

Book Launch Pictures: PROOF

It happened! It was fun! I want to do it again!

Before the launch at my friend Sherrie's house. I told her I felt like I was 5 years old and it was the 1st day of kindergarten. I look like it.

Annette Lyon and myself. I am the one laughing. Can you find Annette's book behind us?

We stole an interlude to take a picture. Sarah and I at our book launch! Have some chocolate! Win a prize! Thank you so much, Sarah! It was perfect.

My cousin Katie came. I haven't seen her for... 10-15 years? Holy smack. She was so great to come! This is her daughter Quincy who clearly doesn't know why strange people are trying to get her to smile.

I'm pretty sure I have a picture of me somewhere as a 3 year old looking just like this. Only I'm wearing a purple dress and my hair is longer.

This is Howard Tayler trying to figure out my camera.

These are dear friends from high school, some I haven't seen since I graduated! Thanks for coming, Heather, Debbie (who I thought was her sister, Terri, at first oops, Marci, Me, LeAnn, and Danny!

These are some of the chatty tables. Love chatty tables.

Aubrey Mace, who I met for the first time, Shanda Cottam, Heather Moore, Howard Tayler, and Sheila Staley. So fun to see them all!

Becca Wilhite, who I also met for the first time, and Sheila Staley! Yay!!!

We didn't have much time to take pictures, but I was able to snap these few. And my camera was on the wrong setting. HA! Howard wasn't the only one with camera issues. I was sad I didn't get a picture of others who came: Robison Wells and his wife Erin (YES IT HAPPENED), my cousin Heidi who I haven't seen since college, Jordan McCollum, another first-time meet-in-real-life, TJ Bronley, his wife Mary, and Sarah Simonsen, and Karen Amsden (except I think she took pictures so SEND THEM TO ME KAREN) (please), and Kate Palmer, Stacie Larson, and lots of others and it was fun and happy and kind of a blur and I really liked it. A lot.

These are my next two events here in Utah, so if you wanted to come Saturday but couldn't make it, try one of these! I'll be so happy to see you! Just look at these pics!

January 17, 4:30-6:00 pm 
Spanish Fork Seagull Book
1052 North Main Street 
Spanish Fork, UT 84660
(801) 798-0401


January 19, 5:30-7:00 pm 
Provo University Parkway Seagull Book
2250 N University Pkwy 
Provo, Utah 84604
(801) 377-5265

Book Launch and Signing Schedule

Hope to see you at one of these events!

Book Launch:

Book Signings:

January 17, 4:30-6:00 pm 
Spanish Fork Seagull Book
1052 North Main Street

Spanish Fork, UT 84660

(801) 798-0401


January 19, 5:30-7:00 pm 
Provo University Parkway Seagull Book
2250 N University Pkwy

Provo, Utah 84604

(801) 377-5265

January 21 Winter Gathering Wyoming Author Event at Cody Public Library (time to be announced)

January 26 5:00-7:00 Hometown Book Signing, The Thistle, Cody, Wyoming

Find My Book, Win a Prize!

Congratulations to Debbie Montgomery, who found Of Grace and Chocolate on the shelves at Seagull Book in American Fork, Utah! Looks like I'm in good company, too. And we're on sale! :)

I'm clear up here in Wyoming, and I've come to the realization that I need a picture of my book on a book shelf in a store that is selling my book. I'm not even sure if it IS in stores yet, but if you see it, snap a picture and post it to me on Facebook or Twitter, or send it to my contact email address at kristalynnej at yahoo dot com! The first one to send me a picture will win their choice of Of Grace and Chocolate, OR Friends & Foes, by Sarah M. Eden. WHAT COULD BE EASIER?

But you have to find it first!

And don't forget this:

Hooray!

I'm a guest Blogger at LDSWBR

Today you can find me here:

Thanks to Shanda and the ladies at LDS Womens Book Review for inviting me over!

And don't forget this:

Hooray!

It's a Book! It's Two Books! It's a Double Book Launch Party!

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.