Writers with Writers

We had a fabulous time at the writer's workshop. I have to thank Wendy Christianson for telling me about it and coming. It was nice to know someone there.

The Workshop was held on August 28th at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. There was at least 30 writers and illustrators that participated. After the first hour of meet and great in the theater they split us up into groups of about 25 and were paired with authors: Dan Webb, Bree Despain, Sydney Salter, and Shannon Hale. We got to ask questions which was so awesome. Then they split us more pairing us with to authors for our Manuscript critique: Dan Wells and Shannon Hale - can you BELIEVE my luck? The authors went through our first page and gave some advice. I got so nervous reading my first page to Shannon Hale I started stumbling over the words. It was so much worse than reading out loud in 7th grade English. But my critique was pretty positive. They did give a few good pointers, which I followed.


After lunch they had book signing and I stayed around to Chat with Shannon - I didn't care about getting anything signed, I just wanted to talk with her. I didn't want to regret anything. Turns out we have a lot in common, even my friend Wendy went to college with her. But she was very encouraging and I'm excited about actually doing this.

I do feel like I am applying for a new job... which I guess I am, but at a more tender scale.

Here are some authors I met - Don't know the guy in pink in the front, Sydney Salter, Wendy Toliver, Dan Wells, Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George (The Red Head)

Brandon Mull was on the other side. He's like 7 feet tall!!

Totally worth it!! Next year my goal it to BE one of the authors invited!
Wish me luck!

Stinky!

Mommy: I going to go take a shower. I'm all stinky and dirty.

Later -

Julia came up and patted my bum.

Julia: You still poopy Mama?

Mommy: What? oh... no honey. I'm not stinky anymore.

First Day!

My Mia started Kindergarten this August. Everyday I ask her what did you learn in school and she tells me, "I don't really what to tell you."

Here she is in front of Stansbury Elementary, the same school her daddy Kevin went to school.

And here is Derek Walbom, a freind and neighbor in her class... and if you knew Christian Walbom he is his son, which helps explain the mohawk.

They all lined up before entering. Julia lined up right with them. It nearly broke her heart when I pulled her out of the line. She slunk her shoulders back and put her head down like Charlie Brown. It was so sad.

Book Cover Take 2!

Sorry to keep boring everyone with my stupid book, but I'm so sick of it, I just want it to be done. Here is the cover... take two. I had to try and make my niece older. I think I got it pretty good, without making her look like a heroine addict. I'm getting ready to sell it on Amazon.com. I'll let everyone know when I have a release.

Book Cover take 1

Here is my first attempt at my book cover. I'm trying to gear this more as a teen novel then a juvenile. But if I want boys to read it, I might need to change it. It is made long for the jacket cover. Maybe I'll write a little blurb on the other side and make it look totally official. And yes, that is my beautiful niece Lily posing as the heroine Naomi. I'm still sticking with my goal of having the final edit done on Friday. After that I will be formating it for sale through Amazon.com. But more on that later. Love to know what you all think.