day dreamer

C.K. Bryant is an award winning author of YA Paranormal, Romance & Fantasy who blogs about life and writing. I enjoy reading her guest interviews and one of my favorite blogs she's done recently is about fingerless mittens! I've long been a fan of fingerless mittens and gloves because my fingers get claustrophobia in the fingered ones. C.K. posted several photos of cute and stylish mittens that have got me longing to go out and buy more. She even made a pair of her own which are beautiful. I wish I had her talent so I could make lots and lots of them!

I'm honored to be a guest on Day Dreamer today and you can read the interview here.

Thank you, C.K.!

review...The Stone Traveler by Kathi Oram Peterson

The Stone Traveler
Kathi Oram Peterson
LDS Fiction,YA Fantasy
August 2010
Covenant

Sixteen-year-old Tag can’t believe he’s in this much trouble. He’s not actually a member of the gang known as the Primes—all he did was spray paint some graffiti that caught their attention. In all honesty, ever since his dad and brother left, Tag just wants to be alone. And it’s certainly not his fault that the Primes nearly beat up his goofy cousin, Ethan. But his mom is furious about these gang-related activities and insists that Tag spend the whole summer at his grandpa’s lakeside cabin, which is not Tag’s idea of a good time. So he does what any self-respecting teenager would do: run away. But he doesn’t get far before he encounters three strange men carrying an even stranger object—a stone that glows with radiant light as bright as a thousand sparklers.

Tag doesn’t steal the stone—not exactly. He feels like he is supposed to take it. But he doesn’t expect the stone to transport him through space and time to a place he’s never seen before—a place that looks an awful lot like the ancient lands described in the Book of Mormon. And he definitely doesn’t expect to join Sabirah, the entrancing daughter of Samuel the Lamanite, on a quest to rescue her father and brother from the evil King Jacob. And he absolutely doesn’t expect to be captured by Jacob’s minions and prepared as a sacrifice to the evil idol of the city. But just as Tag faces his death, a terrible storm begins to break, and the ground cracks into jagged pieces. And he’s not sure which event will impact his life more: his captor’s knife coming at his body, the violent tempest sweeping the land . . . or the men who later appear, glowing even more brightly than the traveler’s stone.

My review:

Beneath his tough guy, gang member exterior—dyed black hair with black eyeliner and fingernails to match—Tag Quincy is a modern-day teen battling feelings of guilt and shame. He believes he doesn’t fit in anywhere, and his sense of worthlessness leads him to make choices that impact him in negative ways. Landing in trouble he is exiled to his grandfather’s Idaho cabin for the summer. A strange turn of events ultimately causes him to consider his life in a new light and helps him realize how much he loves his family.

At the first of the book, Tag’s voice doesn’t resonate with me—words and phrases he uses seem unnatural for a sixteen-year-old. However I was drawn into the book by the Kathi’s vivid descriptions and her talent for keeping up a lively stream of action as her characters face daunting trials and obstacles.

Tag becomes acquainted with a girl from another time—Sabirah—who is fighting for what she believes in. He joins her on a mission to piece her family back together. The author weaves historical detail from the Book of Mormon together with page turning adventure in this time travel saga, and also touches on some powerful emotions. As Tag endeavors to help those he comes in contact with, he learns that he is of value. He finds genuine joy in his relationships and discovers the importance of his life. It is here the author really shines. As in her other works, Kathi demonstrates her ability to portray her characters vulnerabilities in a heart-rending manner. In the final chapters of the book I felt Tag’s voice begin to ring true and I was touched by his transformation.

Though targeted for young adults, this book is suitable for all ages. My twelve-year-old also enjoyed it and remarked that it is on her to-read-again list.

CONTEST

Kathi is holding a Stone Traveler contest! Click here for details on how to win fabulous prizes including a Kindle!!!

Click here for my review of Kathi's last book, An Angel on Main Street, and an interview I did with her. Find out if she likes dogs or cats, chocolate or vanilla!

computer...book...

My main computer crashed Friday. The good news is that it happened after my awesome editor put the finishing touches on my novel and sent it off to print.

I didn't get a chance to post this update on my picture book, and two book signings last Saturday. I have lots to post, but little time to do it since I'm so far behind. Here are some highlights:

I visited a lavender farm where I did research for my next novel.
I attended LDSBooksellers and met lots of wonderful people.
I had a birthday lunch with my granddaughter who is turning seven!
I fractured my finger, but it's better now.
I was invited to join a new company as an artist and designer--more info to come.
I got the chance to hear my friend author Haley Hatch Freeman speak on anorexia and self-worth!
I was offered a column with our local newspaper.
Valerie and I had two wonderful signings on Saturday--photos here.

If you've sent me an email, sorry if I haven't responded. Only a fraction of my email is trickling in. I hope to have everything back in working order by next week.

review

The Butterfly Girls are back in Michele Ashman Bell’s new release Hometown Girl. The second book in the Butterfly Box Series, the much anticipated sequel to A Modest Proposal opens with Lauren, Chloe, Emma, Jocelyn, and Andrea endeavoring to navigate the twists and turns of their individual lives. Though they are each pulled by the varying forces in different directions their determination to support one another through thick and thin is as strong as ever.

In this book we find out more about Jocelyn, her life, and the forces that have shaped her. The book gets off to an unhurried start with a Butterfly Girl Reunion; for readers who haven’t read the first volume the ample back story helps each woman come into focus. As the story builds steam, Jocelyn departs and, despite misgivings, attempts to begin a new life. Michele has penned a cast of affable townspeople in the small community where Jocelyn finds herself after inheriting her grandmother’s house. The characters keep the story moving forward and the town itself comes alive through Michele’s vivid description and attention to detail. With Michele’s knack for intriguing dialogue we follow Jocelyn as she faces a series of difficult decisions.

When a secret she has kept woven into the depths of her soul for fourteen years begins to unravel, Jocelyn turns to the Butterfly Girls. Though they nurture her with support and understanding, she must summon inner courage to steer her life back on course. Handsome Jack Emerson is appealing to her, but he has secrets of his own and doesn’t get too close. Michele tackles some difficult subject material with tact and we see Jocelyn emerge as a strong and capable woman.

All in all I found the Butterfly Girls to be an enjoyable read. I look forward to more installments in this series and to discovering more about Ava’s mysterious death.

From the book:

Jocelyn Rogers’s life is in a rut. Maybe she should step outside her comfort zone and move to Milford Falls, where she has inherited her grandmother’s house. With the encouragement of the other Butterfly Girls, Jocelyn musters her courage and starts a new life.

However, when she arrives in the small town that holds both good and bad memories for her, she discovers the house in worse shape than she expected, and getting repairs done is anything but easy — especially when it comes to dealing with Jack Emerson, a man who seems to be agitated by Jocelyn and everyone else within a fifty-mile radius.

To make matters worse, she has begun to worry that moving back to the place where she once spent a troubled summer will expose the deep personal secret she has kept hidden for fourteen years. But Jack also has a hidden secret that has prevented him from getting close to anyone in a long time. And now it seems that interfering neighbors may prevent both Jack and Jocelyn from moving forward with their lives.

Michele is having a launch party today!

Saturday, July 17th
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Redwood Seagull Book
(1720 S. Redwood Road, SLC)

Giveaways, gift baskets, Utah Truffles, refreshments, fun, prizes. Don't miss the party!




Read more about Michele and her books on her website or blog.

Read my August 2009 interview with Michele here.

book cover

I just received an email from my editor with the cover of my new novel.

Wow!

Thanks, Sam. You made my day.

These past few weeks have been a jumble of trying to merge old commitments with new responsibilities.

In the middle of it all my website went down--permanently it seems--and I had to change email servers. Comments for the book contest I ran a few weeks ago got lost in the shuffle. Deleted. I know they were there . . . once . . . I just don't know where they are now.

Humble apologies!

If you see your comment here with the original contest post, you're okay. Entered in the book giveaway. Not lost. Counted among the commenters, etc.

If your comment is not there, you can assume your remarks were unintentionally lost in cyberspace. Poof. Gone. Misplaced without intentional misplacement. Please, if you see fit, feel free to comment again.

I'll try not to lose you . . . again.

For those lost, I'm extending the contest to July 31.

Sincere thanks for your understanding.

contest

I've been wanting to give away a signed copy of the new book I illustrated What Are You Thinking? in preparation for its release in July.

It's been almost two years since Valerie and I first met and started to toss around ideas. In some ways that seems like a long, long time ago. In other ways like it was just yesterday.

Initial response to the book has been wonderful, and we couldn't be more thrilled to finally have it in our hands. Valerie is a talented author whose message is sure to touch many lives. I'm honored to have been given the opportunity to be a part of her vision.

A couple of reviews:

"Fantastic! I love to see these principles taught in a fun way to kids. I will definitely share this book with my children, and strongly recommend that if you want to give your kids a tremendous advantage for reaching their highest potential, you'll do the same." --Garrett B. Gunderson, Entrepreneur and New York Time best selling author of Killing Sacred Cows

"At the earliest age our children need to be introduced to the idea that their thoughts are powerful. They need to be taught how to become more aware of how their thinking affects every aspect of their lives. Our children are not taught how to do this. I applaud this simple but powerful book for introducing this critical concept at the earliest of ages." Gordon S. Bruin, M.A., L.P.C., American Board Certified, President, Innergold Counseling Services, Inc.

In celebration, I'm giving away a copy of the book. All you need to do is comment on this post and tell me:

1. Why you'd like like to have a copy--either for yourself or a child in your life.

AND

2. Why you believe positive thoughts are so important.

The deadline is two weeks from today: midnight (mountain) Wednesday, July 7. U.S. residents only.

laugh

Author Tristi Pinkston serves up a winner!

Ida Mae Babbitt is a cookie baking widow with an oven full of good intentions. When trouble seems to be simmering in the lives of a family in her charge, she determines she will rise to the occasion and speed to their rescue. Empty refrigerator? Starving children? Not on Ida Mae’s watch. With the assistance of her techie nephew, Ren, she assumes the role of an elderly Nancy Drew, ready to aid and assist in the name of service and goodwill.

This cozy mystery is laugh out loud funny, a delightful character driven romp that kept me turning pages—I never knew what to expect next. Though Ida Mae and her sidekicks, Arlette and Tansie, are members of an LDS Relief Society, religion is only a backdrop to the story. There’s no preaching or proselyting in this little mirth packed volume. The unusual glimpse—espionage and intrigue–into the women’s organization is pure satire.

Tristi blends wry humor and razor sharp writing to create lovable characters who make you giggle and touch your heart. I appreciated the introspection Ida Mae navigates when she realizes she was quick to judge a young girl in her community. The later part of the book is sprinkled with light romance that while predictable doesn’t bog the story down. The ending winds up with the bad guys held at knitting needle point a bit too conveniently, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Secret Sisters is the first in a series worth looking forward to. You’ll find a sneak preview of book two, Ida Mae Rides Again, tucked in the back. I hope that during her next set of adventures the spirited matron of benevolence will share one of her cookie recipes.

Three cheers for Ida Mae!

Secret Sisters on Amazon

More about Tristi on her website, and on her blog.

My May 2009 interview with Tristi here.

read

I'll Know You by Heart: A Novel by Kimberly Job

Stephanie Roberts is a victim of abuse, but making the decision to leave her abuser--her husband Mark--isn’t easy. Time and again she forgives his emotional and physical cruelty; she loves him and wants the marriage to work. However, when Mark lashes out at their teenage son, hitting him repeatedly, Stephanie decides she must act to save her children.

I’ll Know You by Heart, the debut novel of author Kimberly Job, struck a nerve with me because I once found myself in the same situation. My husband of five years was domineering and manipulative. He frequently beat me and I feared for my life. I didn’t leave him because I didn’t think I deserved anything better. It was only when I began to fear for the life of our daughter that I found the courage to depart. That was only the beginning of a turbulent ordeal. My ex-husband was good at showing remorse, he wanted me back under his control. But his good intentions were repeatedly washed away on tides of anger. In some ways similar to that of Stephanie Roberts, my passage to healing was long and painful.

I’ve read that this novel is based on Kim’s own experience—my heart goes out to her. Enduring spousal abuse, being trodden into submission by the man who is supposed to love you, is heart wrenching and demeaning; one of the deepest betrayals of trust. To relive abuse through committing it to paper is something I haven’t yet attempted. I admire Kim for her willingness to journey through turmoil and pain as she constructs the lives of Stephanie Roberts and Jared Wakefield, the man Stephanie falls in love with. Jared has endured his share of heartache as well. After losing his wife in a car accident he struggles to find himself again and to define his role as father to his young daughter.

Kim deftly shows the inner struggles both Stephanie and Jared experience as they strive to maintain emotional equilibrium. And she has penned a cast of well-crafted family members, from children to in-laws, whose lives are also impacted by the inherent anguish and scars of violence, divorce, and loss. The story is testament of the power of love and the strength of the human spirit.

I appreciate the invitation of Kimberly Job's publisher to read and review I'll Know You by Heart. I look forward to reading more of Kim's work.

From the back cover:

The day Stephanie Roberts met Jared Wakefield, she didn’t realize they’d met before. Running from an abusive marriage and trying to safeguard her children, she turns to Jared for support, but he needs more from her than she might be capable of giving. With her abusive husband looming in her past, the difficulties they must overcome to be together seem insurmountable.

Is it possible for love to conquer all? I’ll Know You By Heart is a timeless romance that explores the possibility that relationships span the entire realm of eternity. A story about abuse, hardship, and betrayal, it is ultimately a story about the healing power of everlasting true love.



Price: $16.95
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group, LLC
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Binding: Trade Paperback
Pages: 275
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1-935546-13-9

Kimberly Job's Website

voice

"If you're a writer, you're giving a voice to the people who have struggled all their lives to give words to the same thoughts you think." --Holly Lisle

Joy and Celebration: The Best Days of My Life

Can I back up a minute?

Can I post something else today?

Here's what I want to tell you: two weeks ago my youngest had a very important audition. The fact that it even came about was nothing less than a miracle. It wasn't something she asked for or even anticipated.

It fell into her life like a star shooting from heaven.

She held it in her hands with wonder. And a good deal of fear. This stuff only happens to other people, doesn't it? Like in the movies? Her questions caught me off guard.

I am a master of self-doubt, prone to view the miracles in my life as accidents--meant for someone else because I'm not deserving enough to receive them. Why? Back when I was not much older than my daughter I remember having one of the best days of my life. Everything was going well. I enjoyed a run of success in my schoolwork--things I hadn't before understood that finally came into view--and I'd recently made friends with several kids who enriched my life immeasurably. I asked my mother, "Why is this happening to me--all this good stuff?" Her response was simple and to the point: I don't know. She shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

I stood on the back porch steps and felt like a fool. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb! The impression left by my mother was that it was all an accident and I was a fool to think anything good could be intended for me. I've carried that experience around with me ever since.

Back to my own daughter. Her audition went well, better than expected. When the doors closed behind us she was overjoyed. She'd done the thing she never imagined possible. She'd conquered her fear and come out victorious. She wanted to jump and shout right there in the hallway. I told her no, let's wait until we get outside. Why? Ghosts from my past cast shadows I felt powerless to dispel. By the time we left the building she was feeling the phantoms of self-doubt herself. She didn't jump. She didn't shout.

Last Friday, I completed my YA manuscript. It's been six long months of agonizing over whether or not I was writer enough to do it, to finish what had been burning in my heart, but what had been held down by fear. Fear of failure. Fear of not measuring up as a writer. Fear of so many things I can't even name them all. When the finished novel was ready to go and I hit send I didn't jump. I didn't shout. Why?

I feel joy for myself. I feel joy for my daughter. Why is it so hard to let it out? Still, after all these years? I don't want it to be. I want to be able to celebrate, and so this morning I'm making a choice: chase away self-doubt.

Jump.

Shout.

Celebrate.

Live.

As soon as my daughter wakes up we're going to make this the best day of our lives. The first of many.

Out of the Shadows and into the Light

It's March. Spring is on the way. Life couldn't be better.

I'm in debt to many of you for your kindness,
prayers, and emails.

I'm back out among the living. My manuscript is finished and
in the hands of the agent who requested it; one small step
in the world of writerly things perhaps, but a huge step for me.

Thank you.

Author Interview: Rick Walton

Rick Walton

Visit him on his website: www.rickwalton.com

Lori: Rick, who are you as a person, versus an author?

Rick: My passion is creation. I love creating anything. The creation process just gets me excited, thrilled. It could be picture books, sure. That is what I do for a living of course. It could be crafts or new uses for something normal around the house, or forms of humor. I especially like to come up with innovative solutions to the world’s problems. Of course, nobody listens to them, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that 500 years from now people will look back and see that I was way ahead of my time. Either that or a raving lunatic.

Lori: Do you seek to educate or entertain?

Rick: Both. Primarily entertain, but I think it is important to improve the world with your writing in some way. And if you’re going to educate, you need to entertain also anyway.

Lori: Where do you write your best stuff, and when?

Rick: Anywhere, anytime. I don’t notice a specific place or time that works best for me. I’m always working on multiple projects. I play with them, work with them, sweat over them, day and night. I drop them for a while, come back to them, fit them into the nooks and crannies of my life. I wish I had a specific time when I worked best, when I turned off everything else and just focused on the writing, and then when the time was up turned off the writing and focused on everything else. But no, I have to be obsessed. So I’m working on everything all the time, which is sometimes annoying.

Lori: Why do you write?

Rick: Because of the thrill of creating something new, something that never existed before. Besides, I like words. I like playing with them, reading them, writing them, thinking about them, I’ve liked words since I was a young kid.

Lori: What do you read? Why?

Rick: I don’t read nearly as much as I should. I’m a workaholic, and if the book doesn’t have something to do with a project I’m working on, I can’t talk myself into taking the time to read it. I want to be able to read more, I want to be able to stop the responsible, task-oriented focus and kick back and enjoy a novel just for the sake of enjoyment. The last full novel I read, was The Road by Cormac McCarthy, which I thought was brilliant. Wouldn’t recommend it to a lot of people since it is so dark, but I loved the language, and I’m into post-apocalyptic fiction anyway.

Lori: Vanilla or chocolate?

Rick: Hmmmm, difficult. Chocolate for its own sake. Vanilla because you can mix anything into it and it tastes delicious. I love taking vanilla ice cream, mixing jam into it, throwing in some cashews, maybe some banana slices. But chocolate, just by itself, chocolate is perfect.

Lori: Laptop, PC, Mac, longhand, other?

Rick: I use a PC, but my primary method of writing now is sometimes in longhand, but mostly dictation. Why? Debilitation. I used to be able to type 120 words a minute, my fingers could fly and I could type faster than I could think. Those were the days. Then I took to voice recognition software, but I’m also developing incomprehensible speech (I should be a politician!). So now, I dictate a lot of my stuff, and hope that the people that transcribe it can understand me. Eventually I’m just going to have to go straight to a machine that can read my thoughts, though that could be dangerous.

Lori: What is your current book?

Rick: My next book is called Mr. President Goes to School. It is being illustrated by Brad Sneed. It is the story of a president who gets tired of dealing with the daily battles, and sneaks away to a place where he was once happy, kindergarten. He has a great day, then comes back to the White House where he uses what he learns to help deal with his problems. Kind of a cross between the movie Saving Grace, and Everything I Know About Life I Learned in Kindergarten. It’s coming out from Peachtree, my editor is the illustrious, highly talented, Carmen Agra Deedy. You should buy it begins you never know when you're going to become president, and when that happens, you'll need this book.

Lori: What's coming up?

Rick: Besides, Mr. President Goes to School, I have another political book, sort of, How to Create Your Own Country being published by Bloomsbury. I also have another book called Baby’s First, coming out from Putnam.

I would love to publish two types of things that might seem opposite. They probably are. One would be bizarre silly collections of strange humor. I have a couple such manuscripts making the rounds--The Big Silly Kitty Book, and How to Deal with Clown Bites and 100 Other Life Skills Every Kid Should Know. On the other hand, I would also like to do books that help save the planet. I have some ideas on those.

Lori: One piece of advice/wisdom for the world?

Rick: Talk, don’t fight. Try to understand before you get angry. Contention is ruining the planet, the country, relationships, and often your ability to get published. Assume the best in others, you’ll seldom be wrong.

Lori: Dogs or cats?

Rick: I think the perfect pet would be a combination of both. Cats are there, not too demanding, soft, warm, relaxing. Dogs treat you like you’re the most important person on the planet. I like my pets, and my friends, a combination of both.

Lori: What do you want to be remembered for, or as?

Rick: Interesting question. Oddly enough, I don’t care about being remembered for my writing. I want to be remembered for having made the world a better place, and for having helped others achieve their goals and become better people. I just want the world to have been a better place because I was here.

Oh yeah, and I want to be remembered as the master of stick worm art.