The Next Big Thing

I am not participating in NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) this month, but to all of those who are, get to it! GO, GO, GO! I have never done NANO for various reasons, the main one being that I've hosted Thanksgiving/company the last few years, and a lot of my energies go there. Also, I've only KNOWN about NANOWRIMO the last few years, so . . . Anyway, this year I have a different reason. I just finished a big novel and so I am between submitting that work and waiting on edits for my next book, THE ORCHARD. I didn't get to read all summer, so I am enjoying this limbo time reading other people's writing. Yay!

The other day I was tagged for The Next Big Thing blog meme by my friend, Jordan McCollum. So in today's post I will be answering some questions about the novel I just finished. I haven't been asked many questions about this book so I'm curious what the answers will be . . .

Thanks, Jordan!

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:

What is your working title of your book? SILK. Or SILK: INHERITOR.

Where did the idea come from for the book? I wanted to write a YA, and wrote this opening scene of a girl chasing after her little brother and then they run into a stranger. It was contemporary, but I wasn't liking how it was going. After thinking about it, and apparently dreaming about it, I woke up and changed the whole idea to fantasy, and dove into world-building.

What genre does your book fall under? YA Fantasy. It's my first time writing fantasy, but I grew up on the stuff because of my dad's love for it. I've learned so much about writing in this genre. I'm sure I have much more to learn!

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Rafe: Steve West. The wicked Elunid: Christina Hendricks. Myrick: Clive Owens. Alyra: Young Jane Seymour. But my main heroine, Jessamyn? So far she hasn't found a match for who she is in my head. Yes, I have pictures of all these characters and more.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? A privileged silk merchant's daughter accidentally summons an ancient enemy and to save those she loves, and the world, she must accept that old stories hold truth and that magic runs through blood . . . and silk.

(I have no idea why that type is so small but it sounds good, huh?)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I'm shopping agents RIGHT NOW.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Two years. Two years ago I was having lunch with Rob Wells and his wife, Erin, and he asked why I wasn't writing a national. I couldn't answer him. And every time I began to give him an excuse he'd interrupt me and say, "Do it." I'd say, "But I--" "DO IT." He's so pushy that way.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? My other books are written in another genre (contemporary LDS romance), so that's an interesting question. There is definitely romance in SILK. And I always use at least two POV characters. SILK has FIVE. I think. Maybe six. Eep. I seem to gravitate to stories of hope against all odds.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? As I said, Robison Wells was a huge influence in getting me out of my comfort zone. I'm really glad he did. I heard somewhere that if a story idea scares you, that's the one you should write. This story scared the wahoozies out of me. I'm terrified of writing the sequel. And totally excited.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Magic, humor, danger, new mythology, battles with nature, men, and immortals, and umm . . . genealogy? Ha.

Did I mention Rafe?

On Submission

Hey, new post! And new look for the blog. I had some new author pics taken. My oldest son went with me for his senior pictures and pulled some genuine smiles from me. He's really great at that. When I get the rest of the proofs I'll post a few and you can help me decide which one will go at the back of my books.

The BIG news is, I finished the revisions on SILK, my YA fantasy, and it is currently on submission! To national agent/editor type people! And even better, I'm really good at waiting now! Kinda.

Also, ALWAYS recheck EVERY page of your manuscript before you send it off. I got so excited I left some notes dangling like dingle-berries after the last "page" of the story. Blah. But, as a couple friends said, the lovely person reading it will already know whether they like it or not before they reach those. Right?

Right.

Writing the Author Bio. DUN Dun dun.

I've been asked to rewrite my author bio. Make it fresh. Basically, not boring. 

© H. Armstrong Roberts/CORBIS

I researched a bit online and there was so much conflicting information! What to do, what not to do, adding in what my publisher is looking for. One of the best tips I did find, though, was to remember that we are writers! We write prose and description and emotion for people we make up, but when it comes to bios, we sound like boring history professors. So write like you write!

*No offense to the exciting history professors. Great job.* 

Google creative commons images

So, I'm posting the before and after and I'd REALLY like to know what you think. 

Before (*note: I've never liked this one. Urg.):

Krista Lynne Jensen grew up in Washington State, attended Brigham Young University, lived in Oregon for many years, and now lives in Cody, Wyoming with her husband Brandon and four children: Chelsea, Braeden, Jacob, and Maren. She loves to cook, garden, read, and explore the inspiring beauties of the country. Her laptop always comes along.

Growing up, Krista loved the English language, read constantly, and wrote poetry and journal entries. But she didn’t begin writing seriously until her youngest child started school full-time and she joined a writing group, where she quickly rediscovered her passion for words. She places her characters in the settings she loves and challenges them to dig deeper and fight for what they want. Her family life is busy, but she keeps up with the stories playing out in her head while trying to ignore the dishes and laundry.

After:

Nearly every one of Krista Lynne Jensen’s elementary school teachers made a note on her report card pointing out that she was a “day-dreamer”. It was not a compliment. So, when Krista grew up, she put those day dreams down on paper for others to enjoy. When writing, she fuels her creativity with chocolate-covered cinnamon bears and popcorn. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, her family, and sunshine. But not laundry. She never day-dreams about laundry.

What do you think? Any more tips? Writing a bio is hard, and most authors don't care to talk about themselves anyway, but it's a great way to connect to readers in a simple paragraph at the end of your book. What do you like to know about an author?

Heyyy a Blog Post...

Have you ever wondered how things would be if you'd chosen differently? Of course you have. Happy or sad, we wonder, "How would it have been?" One choice. One reaction. A turn left when a turn right was also before us.
I've been wondering about this a bit. How have my choices affected who I am today, and how would they have been different if I'd chosen differently? I like who I am today. I like me. But I'm very different from the woman I was twenty years ago, seven years ago, even four years ago. But I liked her, too.
Four years ago I began writing seriously. Twenty years after college and I found myself.

Late. Bloomer.

What if I'd found myself earlier? What if I'd had the support at home to go after a far-fetched dream? What about all those struggles, defeats, climbs, triumphs, disappointments between then and now? How would I have been molded to be who I need to be?

And I need to be.

So I guess it doesn't matter. What matters is moving forward. Learning, growing, knowing that giving up is not an option because a writer is what I need to be.

I always wondered, seeing people, friends around me knowing what they were to do, and I wondered, next to being a mother, when would I know what I was to do? Why didn't I know?

I'm so grateful. It's been four years. I can't imagine not doing this.

News: My next book, THE ORCHARD, is slated to come out March/April 2013. This is the FIRST one accepted by Covenant Comm, but will be my SECOND release. I'm so excited to see it again. I've missed it!

I just finished the first draft of the YA fantasy I've been working on titled SILK. It's out to alpha readers right now, so my stomach is a bit knotty. I look forward to the feedback, though, to make it better. I had so much fun and hair-pulling and hand-wringing and shouts of exclamation getting it down. I can't believe it's all down. I hope it's good. Even a little.

I also started a new on-line critique group with some other writers and I'm very excited about it! WordPlay is Becca Wilhite, Abel Keogh, Melanie Bennet Jacobson, Julie Wright, Kate Palmer, me, and sometimes, Marion Jensen. I feel very fortunate to have found these people needing exactly the same thing I did!

OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE is still selling well for being out for almost a year. I love this little book! I still love seeing the cover. I still love hearing that readers love it and shared it and are still wanting me to sign it. I love the emails that come in thanking me for writing it. I have received several emails from readers who could relate to having a loved one with an addiction problem. It means a lot to me when they say, yes, that's how it feels. So go, little book. Go, Jill and Scott and Shiloh.

My daughter's wedding was beautiful and she and her new husband are settled and starting school. The other kids are back in school, as is my husband. The ruptured disc in my back is healing and though I still can't lift much of anything, I can do most things with much less pain and I'm thankful every day.

The writing comes in longer stretches now.

So I love that.

If OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE Had a Soundtrack

Brad Arnold, lead vocalist & lyricist for 3 Doors Down

Some people have asked if I write to music. I don't, unless it's instrumental and very soft in the background. I'm a lyrics girl and I find myself distracted by the words of songs if I'm trying to write. Really easily. It's like being distracted by bacon. That easy.

But, being a lyrics girl, as I'm writing a story and I'm doing dishes, working out, driving my car, I catch songs that resonate with what I'm working on. So when I come across a song or two that work really well with a character, scene, a choice, a mood, I add it to that book's Playlist.

I was sewing today, working on the last bridesmaid dress for the wedding, and pulled up my Playlist for OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE. I tweaked it a little, moved a couple songs around, and I think it does a pretty good job of capturing the novel. Wanna listen? Here you go. Afterward, I'll tell you why I chose each song, if you're interested. *may be spoilers, though I'll try to be careful*

CLICK: OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE PLAYLIST

Times Like These, Foo Fighters. This song is a great summation for the whole novel.

It's times like these you learn to live againIt's times like these you give and give againIt's times like these you learn to love againIt's times like these time and time again
And the song isn't about good times. It's about turning points, trials, decisions.
Breathe In, Breath Out, Matt Kearney. Taking things one breath at a time. Jill's very set world is crumbling and she has to do this, learn this.
Hold on, hold tightMake it through another nightAnd everyday, there comes a song with the dawn.
Away From the Sun, 3 Doors Down. This song actually makes an appearance in the book, and the band does as well. It's Scott's ringtone. Jill isn't the only one who's had it rough. I hesitated to put an actual song and band in the book for fear of dating it, but this song is pretty timeless, in my opinion. And later when a concert was needed, I didn't want a made-up band.
I'm over thisI'm tired of living in the darkCan anyone see me down here
It Doesn't Matter, Alison Krauss and Union Station. Jill's mother was an alcoholic. This song is for the tricycle scene. It just is. 
If you've made up your mind to goI won't beg you to stayYou've been in a cageThrow you to the wind, you fly away
It doesn't matter if I cryDon't matter if I bleed
Best of What's Around, Vitamin String Quartet. This reflects Scott's upbeat attempt in asking Jill out. It's a nice break from the more serious tones. I wish I'd found more songs like this for the lighter parts. I'll keep my ears open.
So Long, So Long, Dashboard Confessional. Perfect. Costa Rica. Flashback. Song.
How the girls can turn to ghosts before your eyesAnd the very dreams that led to themAre keeping them from dying
And how the grace with which she walked into your lifeAnd stayed with you in your stepsAnd paced with you a whileFor so long, so long, so long, so long
That I Would Be Good, Alanis Morissette. Introduction to Evie. This song tears at my heart every time, and I think it's what a lot of young girls yearn for.
That I would be loved even when I numb myself.
Your Arms Feel Like Home, 3 Doors Down. Scott and Jill find each other.
I felt so many things this weary soul can’t takeMaybe you just caught me by surprise.
The Only Exception, Paramore. Jill is breaking her own rules.
The Road I'm On, 3 Doors Down. This song reminded me of Trey and Evie.
What you thought was real in lifeHas somehow steered you wrongAnd now you just keep drivin'Tryin' to find where you belong.
Blinding, Florence and the Machine. Evie makes her choice. No more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undoneNo more crawling like a crow for a boy, for a body in the gardenNo more dreaming like a girl so in love, so in loveNo more dreaming like a girl so in love with the wrong world
It Stops Today, Colbie Caillat. Jill makes her choice. This is such a stark contrast to the above song, but both girls are attempting the same thing: to face their fear.
You can hide from all the pain but it will find you anywayYes I know, now I know
That I can't keep on running.
Plastic Bag, American Beauty Soundtrack. The alley scene. All the movement, the lights, the sound, the terror, all muted and slowed . . . bittersweet.
Better Off Alive, Train. End credits. These guys are lyrics people, too.
Hey, thanks for being interested enough to stick around! I really do love the emotion songs can lend to writing. What do you think?

You Can Tell Doubt to Go Soak Herself

I have some fun news. Of Grace and Chocolate has received official nomination for the 2012 Whitney Awards! There is still a voting process for narrowing down the initial nominees, but this is a bucket list item for me and I didn't think it would happen so soon. I'm just very happy about it.

*happy dance*


Also, I've received news that my next book, THE ORCHARD, will be released sometime around April, 2013! It's so nice to have a general timeline! Even if it seems so FAR WAY!

Also, I am nearly done with SILK, the YA fantasy I've been working on for over a year. I'm really trying to hit it hard and make this story amazing. Then I'll be prepping it to send out. I have knots in my stomach just thinking about it! Good knots. Kinda.

While writing SILK, I've been thinking a lot about character arc. I attended Dan Well's workshop on writing a series at Storymakers and what I loved about it was his breakdown could be applied not only to series, but each book, and each chapter within that book, each scene, and also, the characters.

In SILK, there are 2 main characters, a villain, and 3 more key characters. And they all have POV scenes. At first this worried me, but the more I remember, study, and read fantasy, the less I worry about this. Now my concern is making sure that there is a clear point to giving each of these characters a POV. That they each have definitive character arcs. When I get excited about each one's story, I think I'm on the right track. I find when I'm floundering, it's because I'm not attacking their arc, their growth. When I think about weaving their stories together . . . I get goose bumps.

And then doubt lifts her head and says, "Uh, this is not exceptional."

Yes, Doubt says that. Doubt is a dummy-head.

So I'm still working on it. Don't tell me I can't pull this off. I have to make the attempt.

Storymakers Writers Conference 2012

I cannot believe 2 weeks have passed since one of my most favorite events of the year. This writers conference is so much creativity, inspiration, know-how, and motivation packed into 2 1/2 days, if you ever have a notion to go, just GO. It's open to anybody. And it's a good deal. LDStorymakers works hard to keep it that way. This year I got to be an instructor at Boot Camp, an intensive critique camp. I got my own table with my name on it and everything. And it filled up with people! So that was GREAT. My classes each day were so good and I learned a ton, again.
Did you want to see some pictures?
Okay.

Fun dinner after boot camp with my adopted writing group plus Eric Swedin and Kirk Shaw, Senior Editor at Covenant. Glad I got to sit with him, as just after the conference he announced he's trading editing for law school. Good luck, Kirk! Kendra, Margot, Eric, Marion, Chris, Christy, and oh my gosh I forgot his name, me, and Kirk. Oops.

Our talented, and angelic emcee, Sarah Eden. You see the halo, right?

The lovely Becca Wilhite, who sat next to me at the authors' book signing. Tons of fun!

The amazing Ali Cross, who sat on the other side of me at the book signing. We laughed way too much.

Abel Keough , who came over and told me it was so nice to see me behind a table this year. :) I agreed.

Angie Lofthouse and Stephanie Black, yay!

Dan's bestest smile. Thanks to TJ Bronley who went around with my camera and snapped pictures.

Ronda Hinrichsen, Michelle Holmes, and James Dashner.

I enjoyed dinner my 1st night in Provo at Bombay House with Howard and Sandra Tayler. They rock.  So does Bombay House. And Dan Wells' hat.

Nicole Giles and somebody, and Shanda Cottam, who I didn't see near enough of!

I love this picture of Josi Kilpack and Lisa Mangum!

My long-time friend who tags along with her husband, Dylan, at this conference. Angela Kennedy. So great seeing her again!

Stephanie telling Daron Fraley, Heather Moore, and Gregg Luke to scoot in. Gregg was my bad back buddy, and we both toted around our stuff on wheels.

Three awesomes. James Dashner, Jeff Savage, and Robison Wells. I went to the midnight premiere of Avengers with Jeff and his family on Thursday. This was such a fun panel. I tweeted it live.

Most of our Cody group, plus Sally who meets us every year. Sue, Carla, Leah, and Sally. Leah moved to the Seattle area last year so it was great to have her with us again, too!

The Whitney Gala, and the woman running the show, Josi Kilpack. She's a wonderful example to me.

We get to dress up. Me and Margot. Isn't she pretty?!

Annette Lyon. Love. Her.

Hi, Marion. *waves*

The losers' dessert shot. Awww, but they're so cute.

Jordan McCollum and Heather Justesen. Love seeing these ladies. Heather was co-chair for the whole conference along with Jaime Theler. Huge job and they did it well.

Chris Miller and I matched. :)

A couple of my inspirations: Brandon Sanderson and Jessica Day George. I was kinda fan-girling it in this picture.

I think this was Stephanie's 5th Whitney win and Dan's 3rd. Awesome juju right there.

h

Lisa Mangum, who totally helped me with my pitch to HarperCollins that morning. She's SO GREAT.

This is James Dashner's stuff. He asked me to watch it for him while he visited the restroom before he left. No really he did.

See? Then he told me not to Tweet it. So I didn't. What did you think of the conference, James?

Me, too. I didn't want to leave such an amazing atmosphere. See you next year, Storymakers! *blows kiss*




Coming soon, an Austen Tea Party...

Book Signing in Tri-Cities Washington

Last night I was happy to be part of Far West Books 30th Anniversary Ladies Night celebration! This is a book store I have visited since my early teens and is located in my hometown of Kennewick, WA. The invitation to do a book signing there on this night made me smile very big.

I arrived 20 minutes early, but the store was already packed! So much so, that I was already set up and signing before the staff even realized I was there. They gave me waves and smiles from their busy counter and we just went with it!
I saw several familiar faces, people from my childhood coming to wish me luck, have me sign their book, take a picture. Some who didn't get the connection until my mom showed up. My sister was great and took a bunch of pictures. I was able to see my future son-in-law's mom, who is a  long-time family friend as well, and it was fun to talk about our kids and the coming wedding. I met a bunch of new people and loved their enthusiasm and willingness to try a new author. My sisters-in-law made me laugh and took more pictures. My mom brought me flowers, even on her birthday. It was a very happy night and I drove back to my sister's house with a smile on my face.

Visiting with my niece and bunk mate, Gracie.

My beautiful sister, Shelli Larson. This girl is one of my biggest blessings. Which is interesting because she's quite petite.

Laughing with my sister-in-law, Jenn Anglesey.

My mom, Debby Anglesey, and my nieces Skylar and Gracie. I finally got to sign my mom's book, and then it left with her friend so she could read it!

Still laughing with my sisters-in-law, Jenn, and Carrie Anglesey. I need a picture of them because they are adorable.

My mom brought me flowers. :)

Gigi Bare, my lovely soon-to-be in-law. Her adorable son is marrying my daughter. We're all pretty happy about it.

"blah blah blah talk talk..."

One of my besties growing up, Mara Floyd Kraus. Love her!

 Thanks so much, Tri-Cities! I hope you love my story!

I Answer Fifteen Questions...

Hello! I know it's been a while but life needed a bit of attention. Fortunately, this post kind of fell in my lap. My oldest is away at college and she was reading Of Grace and Chocolate before and after classes, toting it around with her on campus. It caught a few of her classmates eyes, and one of the girls in her Spanish class asked if she could interview me as part of an assignment in a different class. I think it was for career research or something like that. It was a good little interview and I thought I'd share it with you! Maren Bishop is my interviewer.

 
1. How did you decide to do what you are doing now?
I've always toyed with writing poetry, essays, journals. But after my youngest child started school full time, I joined a writing group. I loved it. One of our assignments was to do something we hadn't tried before. For me, that was fiction. I wrote an entire novel in eight weeks. Nine months later it was accepted for publication. That is a rare story and I'm grateful. In the mean time, I wrote three more. I guess you could say I was hooked.

2. What do you do during a typical day? I read that an author has to write at least 2-3 hours a day. Is that true for you?
On a good writing day, I get the kids off to school, then sit down and write until lunch. Then there are chores and errands and life to get to. If I can, though, I'll come back to the manuscript as often as I can. That doesn't happen every day, but I try. Sometimes, if I hit the zone, I'll write until two in the morning. I don't notice the time.

3. What do you like most about your job?
The most amazing thing is hitting "the zone". I'll sit down with my laptop and get into a scene and everything disappears but those characters and their setting, and I'm lost. The best way to explain it is suddenly, the characters and the plot take on a life of their own, and I'm no longer directing, but watching this movie play out and writing it down like crazy. I love the "gasp" moment. Something happens I didn't know was going to happen, but it's absolutely perfect and moves the whole story forward. The other thing I like most is having a huge network of author friends. We get each other and the support is tremendous.

4. What are the disadvantages of your work?
Being patient is a hard lesson to learn. The publication process can be very drawn out, even after acceptance. It took three years between my first acceptance and my first publication, which, interestingly enough, are two different books. My publisher and I just felt that a later submission would be a better debut. So patience is tough. And working from home isn't easy, either. Lots of distractions and priorities to juggle.

5. What was it like to be an author when you first began?
When I first began writing seriously, it was all a big question mark. Success is very abstract in this field. Is completing the work a success? Is submitting, and continuing to submit after rejection a success? Is the acceptance the success? Or high sales? Or any sales? I decided to commit to this as though I couldn't fail. I blogged my experiences as "an author", even though I hadn't received an acceptance yet. I pursued it as though success, in any form, was inevitable, and celebrated as it came.
At the same time, you are creating this piece of art from something inside you, and then you send it out into the world to be judged and sentenced. Writing with intention to submit is a very scary undertaking at first and throughout. A lot of hand-wringing. A lot of butterflies. But there is this excitement. 

6. What is it like now?
My first book is out and it's doing well. I have two more accepted books waiting in the wings. I have three more in various stages of construction. Definitely, seeing the success of the first book is encouraging. I'm not as focused on the acceptance as I am in writing a really great story. Submission is still a scary thing, but, as with anything, experience builds confidence. And knowledge fortifies against self-doubt. I've learned so much since I first began. Researching how to write was like getting a whole second education.

7. How does your job affect your life-style (family life, leisure time, social life, vacations, material possessions, personal happiness, etc.)?
I sure do carry around my laptop a lot more! I need an iPad. Before I started writing, I was very much a full-time mom, housekeeper, cook. My energies were there. My house isn't as sparkling clean, now. Meals are often very simple and quick. I have a whole new community of writer friends. Before, when people I met asked me what I did, my answer was, "I'm a stay-at-home-mom." I was proud of that answer and loved that, but my kids are growing up and I wondered how that answer would feel when the kids were not home. Now, I get to answer that I'm a writer. For some reason, people find that a very fun topic. I feel that I've finally, after so many years, figured out who I am as me, not as mom or wife, which are wonderful things I wouldn't trade for anything, but as me, Krista. If, for whatever horrible reason, those other things were taken from me, I would still have this. Me. Before, I wasn't sure who I'd be without my family. It's a comfort.

8. What opportunities exist for advancement in terms of money, responsibility or personal growth?
If I keep writing, keep improving, keep self-promoting (by the way, another disadvantage--writers would generally rather hole themselves up somewhere than be out front and center), I'll sell more books. The more books sold, the more my name will be recognized for my work, the more budget my publisher will spend on promotion. Along the same lines, the more I'm responsible with deadlines, follow-through, being open to critique, the more my publishers will work with me and want to keep me around. Also, if the first printing sells out, and the publisher decides to do a second printing, my percentage goes up. So to write a quality book is a win for everyone. Because writing is such a personal field, writers tend to be emotional roller-coasters. But that also creates opportunity, you hope, to hit the highs. It's a tremendous opportunity for growth. But, it's also a very humbling field. So you keep working hard.

9. What type of training is best for becoming an author? What did you study in school?
I loved my high school English classes. Language and writing came very naturally to me. Maybe because I was so shy. It was much easier to express myself on paper. I was actually an art major in college, but again, I loved my English classes. If I could do it over, I would pursue an English major, Lit classes, creative writing, playwriting. My friend, Sarah Eden, actually majored in research, and now she writes amazing Regency era novels. Some writers have their BFA or MFA, but most don't. A lot of my friends are teachers. Annette Lyon's father is a linguist, and that inspired her. I think the atmosphere of education can be, in itself, very creatively stimulating. I would also recommend learning to edit. Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure. If a story is great but an agent can't get past messy script, he most likely will move on. I often hear, "Well, that's what your editor is for, right?" Wrong. That's a myth.  The cleaner the manuscript (MS) the more chance the agent will give your story a chance. Editors get paid by the publishers by the hour. If your MS looks like it's going to take a while to clean up, that works against you.

10. How do people find out about openings in this work?
I'll translate "openings" into "the submission process". I learned how to submit through my writing group. Let's say you've written a novel. You can go online and research what publishers/agents may be a good fit for you and your genre. Publishers Weekly is an excellent source, as is Writer's Digest magazine, and word of mouth. Once you find a few publishers/agents who might fit, you then MUST research their guidelines for submission. Though there is a general idea of how to submit a manuscript, these businesses receive a hundred submissions a day and going through them is exhausting and they each wanted a particular way of making things easier for them. So find out (on their website they will have a "submissions" link) what they require and do that. One may want a query letter and synopsis, while the other may ask for a synopsis and the first five pages. Agents have been known to fill their trash folder because of the way the subject box is filled in or how the query letter is all about the author and not the book, or the genre is not what the agent represents, or the font is obnoxious. So read the guidelines.
Most publishers in the national market require you to have an agent, and they work with them. You submit to an agent just as you would a publisher, and the agent shops your book. LDS publishers are different and most work directly with the author, as opposed to an agent.

11. If you were to hire someone to do your job, what qualifications would you look for?
A sense of humor. Patience. Endurence. A belief that you never stop learning. Open to critique. Humility. A level of perfectionism. Not someone with a lot of time on their hands, necessarily, but someone who makes time for the things they are passionate about. Voices in their head.

12. What are some related jobs that you could do with your training?
I've thought about being an editor. I know several writers who are, in fact. Copy-editing or freelance. Newspaper columnist. Book reviews. Teaching. Many authors present at workshops and schools. But really, being a writer leaves me open to any day job I might need. I currently work part-time at a quilt shop. I have friends who have full-time day jobs. Some have been able to quit their day job, like Jeffrey Savage and Dan Wells. And James Dashner. I want to be them when I grow up. Only a girl.

13. If you had to do it over, would you make the same career choice? Why?
Yes. And I would start sooner. Writing is like a second skin to me. It fits.

14. How many years have you worked at this job?
I started writing seriously in 2008. So almost four years.

15. How do you motivate yourself to keep working?
Setting a deadline works really well for me. For example, this month I set a goal of adding 30,000 words to my work in progress (WIP). This month is crammed full of life stuff outside of writing. If I didn't have that goal, it would be easier to fill up surprise free-time with other things. When I get discouraged or think my writing has taken a detour to Lame, I step away, listen to some music, watch a favorite movie, read, and just reboot. The problems generally work themselves out, sometimes talking to my writing group, sometimes bouncing ideas off my husband, or sometimes in the shower. But my passion for writing is a pretty good magnet in itself. I keep getting pulled back to my laptop. I really could use an iPad, though. Maybe when my royalty check comes in . . .

Also, Of Grace and Chocolate recently climbed to #22 on the Deseret Book fiction list. I'm very happy about that! My next book signing is coming up. I'll be in Tri-Cities, Washington at Far West Books on March 31 from 5:00-7:00 pm. It will be so fun to do a signing in my home town! More soon!

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?