Rapunzel's Revenge

On Saturday my family and I attended the Rapunzel's Revenge release party. For anyone who doesn't know about Rapunzel's Revenge check out Shannon Hale's blog http://oinks.squeetus.com/

It was a great turn out and not only did we get to meet Shannon and her husband Dean (who co-authored the book with her - both very friendly people) and Nathan Hale (the artist) we were able to meet several other wonderful authors that joined in the fun:

- James Dashner (13th Reality)
- Ann Cannon (Loser's Guide to Life and Love)
- Jessica Day George (Dragon Flight)
- Mette Ivie Harrison (Princess and the Hound)
- Kimberly Heuston (The Book of Jude)
- Sara Zarr (Sweethearts)

I must admit I was quite giddy to meet so many wonderful authors. I highly recommend that, if you ever have a favorite author come to your town, you should really go and meet them. It is so worth it.

Book Contest

Ahhhhhhhh! I love books...I mean I really love books. So when Anne Bradshaw announces on her blog that she is doing a book contest to give away a copy of Room for Two by Abel Keogh (signed by the author thank you very much) I just had to give it a go.

This contest is open to one and all (though personally I wouldn't be totally upset if you didn't participate because that makes my chances that much better) and its free (free is good).

Just kidding, really, everyone should participate in this contest. I love books and therefore am ecstatic to spread the word about anything to get a Free book, let alone one signed by the author.

So here are the rules according to Anne (http://www.annebradshaw.blogspot.com/):

Rules: 1) Post information about the contest on your blog with a link back to mine.
2) Leave ONE comment back at this post telling me you've completed #1.

A winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, September 4th 2008, and announced the same day. The book will be signed and mailed directly to the winner by the author.Spread the word about this fine give-away--it's another book well worth reading.

Ok everyone...ready?...set...go....meet you on September 4th.

Joy, Pain & Opportunity

Wow, it has been nearly two weeks since I've posted anything, but with good reason. One of the few things women are told when they become pregnant with their first child is the strain that can happen on her back after the baby comes while taking care of that little bundle of blessing. I cherish my daughter. We worked and waited a long time to have her in our lives, however, I should have prepared myself for the sleepless nights on the couch with a child who does not feel well. If you don't lay just right you can find yourself in the morning with a strained back. So many wonderful people have helped out tremendously with doctors appointments and with my daughter.

So in those quite moments when my sweet angel is taken care of and I'm resting on the couch icing down my back, I take a moment to be thankful for the difficult parts of life that bring us round about opportunities. Because I had hurt my back I now have met some wonderful people in this new town that we live in. Plus, because of an injured back, being forced to rest on my couch with ice and a hard book behind my back (yes books can be multi-purposed - though I still prefer reading them the best), I responded to a friend to join a chat room (first time for everything). Now as a result of that chat room I have been asked to consider providing a short story for an on-line magazine that reaches readers world wide and they agreed to help promote my book, and this website if I am published. It is a strange and wonderful thing where opportunities can come from trials. We just have to be looking for them and be open to accepting them.

So my advice for the day...if life is rough, then look out for the opportunity that is hidden in all of that mess to make your life better. Good Luck! I am rooting for you!

The Olympics vs. Quantum Physics

The last two days I have split my time equally between watching the Olympics and reading James Dashner's book The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters during those few moments when my sweet adorable, but tired and sick and sick of being tired and sick daughter finally falls asleep. During those sweet few moments that I can hold my baby, having been able to calm her enough that she is sleeping fitfully, but still sleeping, I would read a few pages of the book during the commercials that break up the Olympics, oh and throw in some house cleaning (talk about multi-tasking), and a pulled muscle in my back.

Needless to say, I've actually quite enjoyed myself. Yes my child isn't feeling well, but I have the magic ability of getting her to smile even when she feels ill, then help her calm enough to eventually fall asleep. Now that is a lovely super power to have. Plus I still have had time to read a little, watch amazing people accomplish fantastic things all in a country that I have longed to visit for umpteen years (amazingly fabulous opening ceremonies by the way), and tag-team clean the house with my fantastic husband. Granted in this marvelous forty eight hours the sleeping part of things has been minimal and fitful on my part. Oh well, sacrifices must be made if I'm ever to become a great writer.

"What?" you might ask. Well, doesn't a greater writer get most of his/her inspiration from life - living it, reading about it, or watching others live it? If I could just avoid the necessity of sleep imagine what an incredible author I could be come in say 10, 20 or 30 years. Oh well, in the meantime, I will pick up where I left off on my endeavors to review my notes for book 2 for the Nedaran Prophecy series.

My final words of wisdom from this stranger on one minor blog page - Don't be afraid to face life and live it. In the end it will be worth it -- eventually. I truly believe this and will not give up on this belief. I promise, cross-my-heart...

Poll Results

Last week I asked you two questions, here is how you responded:

- If you could have a super power what would it be?

a) telecommunication 20%
b) teleportation 40%
c) laser beams shoot out of your eyes 0%
d) flying 20%
e) you name it 20%
- If you could shape-shift into anything (and I do mean anything) what would it be?

a) an animal 20%
b) an element 20%
c) another person 40%
d) you name it 20%


So it looks like the majority people would either really like someone else's life or the chance to easily get away from your own life (even for a moment) to some other place. Sounds like reading is a great hobby for the most of us who lack any super powers or abilities (though I have some friends who have some seriously cool multi-tasking abilities that shall remain nameless).

Check out this week's poll below and keep up reading, writing, and living it up!

Manuscript Away

It is official. I shipped my manuscript off to the publisher this morning.

So cross your fingers and cross your eyes
That they will read it and want to buy

All right, really lame poem I know, but I'm so excited/nervous at this moment, but it is all worth it. I'll either become a published author or/and a more experienced writer either way.