LDS Writer Blog Fest: An Ocean to Cross

Today is Kayleen Hamblin's LDS Writers Blog Fest. Here's my contribution.

It occurred to me recently that when Lehi's family reached the land of Bountiful after eight years of wandering in the wilderness, they probably thought they had reached their promised land. (See 1 Nephi 17:4-7) But the Lord had something better in store for them, and first they had to cross an ocean. No wonder Nephi's brothers were skeptical. I would be too. (Yeah, I have a lot more in common with Laman and Lemuel than I care to admit.)

I think writing (and life) is a lot like that sometimes. We get an agent or get published or achieve some other goal and think we have arrived, but God says, "Hang on. I have something better in store. You just have to cross this ocean."

And crossing an ocean can be tough! Good thing God will carry us across. So, whatever the ocean is in your life, don't be afraid to cross it! Happy sailing!






Don't forget to visit the other participating blogs:

Thanksgiving Giveaway Winners!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the Thanksgiving giveaway. Think of all the good we did in the world! Way to go.

The winner of the drawing is:

Rochelle Rudd!  

Rochelle wins Checkin' It Twice, Stolen Christmas, and Sing We Now of Chirstmas!

Congratulations. =D

And as a special thanks from me, everyone who commented on the giveaway post gets a free e-copy of my Christmas novelette Joy Ride! (Just as soon as it's available, which should be shortly. Before Christmas anyway.)

Once again, thank you! I hope you all had a marvelous Thanksgiving.

Now on to Christmas!

A little thanks and giving

You would be hard pressed to find anyone more excited about Christmas than me. I'm kind of like the Whos down in Whoville. Can't wait for trees and lights and carols and shopping and Christmas stories!

But I also love Thanksgiving. I love the food and being with family. But most of all I love the thankfulness. The opportunity to humbly thank our Creator for the bounty all around us. A season of gratitude is just the thing we need to curb the greed that can creep into the Christmas season.

So I thought, why not put some thanks and giving into our Thanksgiving?

Now being grateful and giving to help those in need is it's own reward, but I thought I'd offer a little incentive. Everyone who participates in this little Thankfulness blogfest will be entered to win (what else?) Christmas story collections!

A signed copy of Checkin' It Twice, which contains my story "Broken Things."

A signed copy of Stolen Christmas, which contains my story "Shepherds and Kings."

An e-copy of Sing We Know of Christmas. (I'm not in this one, but all proceeds go to benefit kids with Down's Syndrome.)

Here's what you need to do.

Comment on this post with five unique things you are grateful for. Try to think outside the box. (1 entry)
Donate something to a charity (money, food, clothing--anything). It doesn't have to be a big donation. (1 entry)
Do something kind for someone else. Again, it doesn't have to be big. Just do something to make someone else's day a little brighter. (1 entry)

Fill out this form letting me know you did these, and you'll be entered. In fact, as many times as you do these things, you'll get another entry!

So let's get out there and put some thanks and giving into Thanksgiving! I promise you'll be glad you did.

Giveaway runs through Thanksgiving Day (November 22). Winners will be announced Saturday, November 24!

The Next Big Thing Blog Chain

I was tagged for this fun blog chain by David West at Nephite Blood, Spartan Heart. I get to talk about my WIP, or one of them anyway. So here goes!

What is the working title of your book? Shattered Skies. I got that from the hymn "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" from the line that says, "Ere long her king will rend the skies..."

Where did the idea come from for the book? It's the third in the series that begins with Defenders of the Covenant. (The second is called The Ransomed Returning.) I just put all my characters into another crazy, difficult situation to solve. I came up with a villain I really love--a woman who is passing herself off as a goddess and trying to take over the world. I also wanted the main characters to continue to grow and change.

What genre does your book fall under? LDS science fiction adventure.

What actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? I really have no idea. I'm not all that familiar with actors names. Angelina Jolie might be good for the false goddess. That's kind of how I picture her. Only bald...

What is the one sentence synopsis for the book? Ha ha. I really haven't come up with one yet, so here goes. When a terrible illness and a beautiful goddess threaten the peace across the world, Derek Halstead and the rest of Zion must once again rise to the challenge. (Wow. That's bad. I'll have to work on that one.)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?  Neither. I assume it will be published by my current publisher, Walnut Springs. I don't have an agent.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Fifteen months. I'm hoping to shorten that for my next project.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Is it bad that I can't think of any? My genre is not that big. But really it has the same elements as any sci-fi adventure novel, just with religion added in too.

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest? It's the last of the series and wraps up all the characters' stories. I am so going to miss them when it's all said and done!

Now to tag some others!

TM Hunter at The West(ern) Chronicles
Terry W. Ervin II at Up Around the Corner
Jackee Alston at Winded Words
Tyrean Martinson at Tyrean's Writing Spot

And anyone else reading this who wants to participate.

Never Surrender Blogfest!

In celebration of the release of Elana Johnson's second novel, Surrender, she is hosting a blogfest this week!

"Never give up. Never surrender!" That seems to be the theme of my whole life.

I could have given up on getting good grades and going to college, but I didn't and I'm glad.

I could have given up on keeping my scholarship and graduating from college, but I didn't and I'm glad.

I could have given up on my marriage a long time ago, but I didn't and I'm glad.

I could have given up on getting my novel published, but I didn't and I'm glad.

I could give up on writing or publishing any more books. There are times when I think I should. But you know what? If I've proven anything to myself, it's that I don't have to give up. I won't surrender, and I'm glad!

LDS Writer Blogfest: Avoiding Envy

Kayleen Hamblin of Kayleen's Creation Corner invited me to participate in the 3rd annual LDS Writer Blogfest. I chose one of the talks from our recent general conference to blog about. It is from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about the Savior's parable of the laborer's in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-15. I chose this talk since it concerns an issue that I think is relevant to us writers. Envy. We may not talk about it, but I know from personal experience how easy it can be to feel envious of the success of others in this business. Don't get me wrong. I love this writing community. It is so supportive and terrific. But I have felt those envious feelings stirring in me on more than one occasion. Here's what Elder Holland had to say:

Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him “all that he hath,”2 as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.

So true! That really touched me when I heard it. I don't think I have a huge problem with envy, but I know I've felt it at times for sure. And I am happy for all of your successes. We're all in this together, my friends!

Read the entire talk here.

Go check out the other entries!
Amanda Sowards
Ben Spendlove
Britanny Larsen
Cami Checketts
Charity Bradford
Danyelle Ferguson
Giselle Abreu
Julia Keanini
Julie Coulter Bellon
Kasey Tross
Kayeleen Hamblin
Kelly Bryson
Krista Van Dolzer
Laura Johnston
Melanie Standord
Rachelle Christensen
Rebecca Belliston
Sierra Gardner
Stephanie Worlton

Favorite Character Blogfest: Introducing Derek Halstead

I don't sign up for many blogfests, but this one sounded fun. Plus, I figure it's time to start introducing the Defenders of the Covenant to the world. Laura Josephsen is hosting this one and there are even prizes up for grabs. Go check out her blog to read the other entries.

We're supposed to pick our favorite character (Oh, so hard!) and introduce them to you with a little snippet. There are even prizes up for grabs! So here goes. Introducing my personal favorite, Derek Halstead. (Though, I must say I love all my characters. Really. I feel like a mother asked to choose a favorite child!)

Derek is eighteen years old, smart, nerdy and shy. He's about 5' 8", has dark hair, brown eyes, and can't see without his glasses. Sounds like your typical nerd, huh? But Derek is far from typical. Here's a little snippet from Defenders of the Covenant. Derek, Hannah, Jeremy and McKenzie have just left their hidden refuge for the first time in their lives, and Derek realizes that they won't be able to return:

************

Derek slapped his hand against the stone wall and hung his head. He chastised himself for letting Jeremy taunt him into leaving the refuge. The whir of the flying machine outside echoed through the cave. He pressed his hand harder against the rock. The gritty roughness bit into him, controlling the fear and frustration that threatened to undo him.
 
Hannah stood beside him, whispering through the dark, "The leaders will come for us, won't they?" Her voice shook. She wanted reassurance that Derek couldn't give her. Oh, he longed to put his arms around her, to comfort and protect her, but he was smart enough to know that she didn't want that from him. And he couldn't tell her everything would be fine when he knew it wouldn't. More frustration knotted up inside him. Without answering, he walked away and crouched at the cave's entrance.
 
"Yeah," Jeremy piped up. "We'll just hide in here until they do."
 
The idiot. "Be quiet," Derek hissed back at him. If the leaders opened the doors now, the refuge would be exposed. He could see the machine out there, hanging in the sky, a dark orb barely distinguishable from the night. No one came out of it, though. Probably a probe, he thought.

**************

Well, that's Derek. Defenders of the Covenant will be available from Walnut Springs Press in February or March of this year. In case you've missed my previous posts, here's a description of the book:

Hannah and her friends have been warned about the danger lurking outside of their secret refuge, but some things, like friendship and freedom, are more important than staying safe.

Hannah and Derek have spent their lives hidden underground, out of the reach of the alien invaders who devastated the world years before. When McKenzie and Jeremy decide to run away, Hannah and Derek follow, determined to bring their friends home.

Once outside, the four teens soon realize they cannot return to their refuge without endangering everyone there. Captured, enslaved and separated, Hannah, Derek and McKenzie each learn the unique role they must play in liberating the Earth, because even an alien invasion cannot stop the work of God. 

P.S. The Writing Speculative Fiction series will return on Friday!

All the Magic in the World...

Happy Halloween, everyone! Welcome to the Darkspell Launch Spookfesta!

Today my friend Elizabeth Mueller is celebrating the release of her YA paranormal romance Darkspell! I'm so, so happy for her. To celebrate, Elizabeth is hosting the Spookfesta blogfest. I get to post a picture of what I would do if I had all the magic in the world.

Wow. What a thought. All the magic in the world? Would I end hunger? Bring world peace? Tempting possibilities. However, even if I had all the magic in the world, I still wouldn't have the wisdom to know how to bring changes like that. (I think it's up to us to do those things without magic. Just sayin'.)

So, if I had all the magic in the world to do something a little selfish, I'd conjure up one of these for my very own. And give myself the ability to fly it!

So what about you? What would you do with all the magic in the world? You can join the Spookfesta here. And be sure to check out Elizabeth's new book:

Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . .until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.
As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.
Will love prove thicker than magic?

Happy Book Birthday, Elizabeth! Visit her blog and website or order the book here!

Blessings Blogfest

While I pull together the results of the Out of This World Adventure, I'm participating in Tyrean Martinson's Blessings Blog fest. Tyrean has been posting her daily blessings for a whole year! I have found her posts to be inspiring and uplifting and they always make me smile. To celebrate the end of her 365 days of blessings, Tyrean is hosting the Blessings Blogfest. Here are my ten blessings for today:


1. The response to the Out of This World Adventure. I'm really pleased with the number of people who read and entered.

2. Summer has begun! The weather may not agree, but the kids are out of school and the summer fun can begin.

3. Went to a great convention over the weekend. Met lots of people and learned lots of great stuff.

4. Going out with my husband last night. We saw Thor and then had a yummy dinner.

5. My husband. He knows computers, he plays piano, he cooks, he washes dishes, he lets me go to conferences...

6. Writing. I am about to start a new novel, and that's always so exciting! =)

7. Writing/blogging friends. I have gained so much love and support from you guys.

8. Mindflights. I have learned so much from editing there, and associated with some really terrific people.

9. The power of prayer. I couldn't get through the day without it.

10. God's tender mercies. I experience more than I can count each day.

Tyrean always includes a scripture blessing, so I am too:

1 Corinthains 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Be sure and check out the other entries too. And stay tuned for tomorrow's announcement of our Out of This World Adventure winners!

Romance Blogfest: First Meeting

Happy Valentines Day, everyone! Love is in the air. It's my nineteenth wedding anniversary too. (Love you, Sweetie!) Here's my entry for the Romance Blogfest hosted by Jordan McCollum.

Here is a scene from my latest novella, "Renegade." It's the first meeting of two survivors of a devastating alien invasion. Technically, it isn't their first meeting. They were acquainted before this, but it's a  first-time meeting after never thinking about or expecting to see the person again. I think it counts, but I'll let you judge for yourself.

"Put your arms up and turn around slowly."
Kwetoo'unuv flinched in surprise and did as he was told. The woman had a shotgun aimed at him. "Don't move," she said. She was an Indian. He recognized her.
"You're Beth. Beth Stone, right?" Her face hardened. She didn't answer.
"I'm Kwetoo'unuv remember? You were friends with my mother. Nancy Walker?" Her expression didn't waver. "I—I think you canned peaches together once." Maybe he didn't want to bring that up. Beth still didn't speak. She held the gun on him without wavering.
"Do you remember me?"
Nothing.
He sighed. "Look either shoot me or say something, 'cause I have things to do."
"You've changed," she said.
"Yeah, well," he shrugged. "I grew up. Can I put my hands down now?"

So, there you have it. Pretty romantic, huh? Trust me. Things get better between them eventually.

Rainy Day Blogfest (Oops)

Hey, look at that! I hit 250 followers. Sweet! I love you guys! Welcome to the Writing Chair. It's comfy here.

Today, Christine H over at The Writer's Hole is hosting the Rainy Day Blogfest. I signed up to participate, but I forgot until the last minute, and then I couldn't find any rainy scenes that I felt like sharing. *blush*

I do love the rain. I love the comfortable twilight of a gray sky and the sound of the rain on the roof. I love the powerful beauty of lightning and the sound of thunder rumbling through me. It reminds that there are bigger things than me in the world. I love the sweet, sharp scent of a rain shower. I love sitting in a tent in the mountains playing cards while the rain pounds outside. I love the clean air and the rainbows when the sun comes out. I live in a desert and every drop of rain is precious.

So, go check out the other entries in the Blogfest, who are hopefully less flaky than me. (So sorry!)