Cami's Books

Over 300 followers

2012-01-30T11:48:00.000-08:00

We got home from our cruise late last night. It was fabulous. I'm already feeling deprived of good food, warm weather, and no stress! But I was so excited to open my blog and see I have over 300 followers. Thank you!
I hope you all have a wonderful week. If you haven't already entered to win Brandon Mull's new book Beyonders, click here. There aren't many entries and it is amazing.

Shades of Gray by Rachel Ann Nunes

2012-01-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

Rachel Ann Nunes has been one of my favorites since I was a teenager. Shades of Gray, the third book in the Autumn Rain series, is another great story from Rachel. The book was intense. I love the heroine, Autumn. She's quirky and fun. She never wears shoes and everything she eats has to be unprocessed. Definitely different from me - my feet ache without good support and I must have ice cream at least once a day - but I really enjoy Autumn and her perspective.
If you haven't read the series start with Eyes of a Stranger.
More info on Rachel's books here.

Time to Cruise

2012-01-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

We fly out in the morning for Miami. Sunday we'll be boarding a cruise ship for the Caribbean. I hope you all have a wonderful week. I'm planning on being warm and un-stressed! I have a couple of posts scheduled and will try to check in, but the internet fees can be spendy.
If you haven't entered to win Brandon Mull's latest book Beyonders, click here. There are hardly any entries and it's a fabulous story. My boys have loved all of Brandon's books but this one is their favorite.

Recovered Data

2012-01-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

My husband brought home my salvaged computer (with extra hard drive for backup) and all of my recovered files last night. I'm so excited! This might sound nuts but I felt like a piece of me was missing. I'm not supposed to ask how much it cost to retrieve those files. It must've been awful for my husband to say that! I'm just so grateful to be able to work on my writing again and look at cute pictures of my boys. Gotta go search through the recovery data some more. Thanks for all your prayers and well-wishes!

Book Giveaway - Beyonders by Brandon Mull

2012-01-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

My boys loved Beyonders by Brandon Mull. My 9yo received a second copy of the book as a Christmas present and said I could give it away on my blog because, "Other kids deserve to read it too." Of course this altruistic move was motivated by Mom promising to let him choose a new book from Scholastic Book Order.
Beyonders was a fabulous story. It was a bit violent, I found myself skipping over some descriptions when reading it aloud to my younger boys, but the 13yo thought those same sections were great.

Enter to win Beyonders by Brandon Mull:
Must be a follower of this blog to enter. Please leave a comment below with your contact info.
For extra entries:
Follow me on Twitter or Facebook. Share the contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your personal blog.
Contest ends: January 30, 2012

Brandon's Website
Buy Beyonders

Self-Publishing?

2012-01-11T12:47:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine is trying to talk me into self-publishing one of my novels. I'm dragging my feet because the whole process seems time-consuming and honestly I feel like I've accomplished some daunting task when I fold my laundry. Extra time is not easy to come by with four cute boys.

Yet I keep hearing amazing success stories with self-publishing and it does sound nice to make more than seventy cents per book sold. I just heard about another author, Regina Sirois, who self-published On Little Wings and is doing so well she's featured on Amazon's home page.

What are your thoughts? Those of you who have self-published, is it as hard as I'm fearing? Are there still negative stereotypes regarding self-published books or is that a thing of the past? Would the work and money spent be worth having control over your own book?

I hate decisions and would love some input here. Thanks!

Winners - Hot (Sweaty) Mamas

2012-01-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Mel and Andrea each won a copy of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas. Congrats! Thank you to Kara and Laura for donating the books. Check out their blog here.

Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston

2012-01-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

I finished Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston last night. I hate to sound cheesy but it was delightful. I loved the protagonist, Ida Mae, and felt like I personally knew every character in the book. I laughed so hard at Ida Mae trying to shut off her negative thoughts. I can relate. The other day in Relief Society the instructor was explaining that we would be judged by our thoughts as well as our deeds. The instant she said it I was having a negative thought about the ladies not signing up to substitute for primary. Yikes!
If you haven't started Tristi's Secret Sisters books, try them out. Very fun and a quick read.

Win Hot (Sweaty) Mamas

2012-01-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Last day to enter to win one of two copies of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas. They are surprisingly few entries and the book is fabulous. Click here to enter.

Putting off the resolutions

2012-01-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas. I was well-rested, energized, and ready to start my New Year's Resolutions. The #1 resolution - finish my next book. Yesterday morning my computer completely crashed. Our computer genius friend had no clue what to do. Stan took the hard drive to the recovery experts this morning but they don't know if they can recover anything - my books, articles, pictures and videos of the boys, journals I've written to my boys. I've been so sick I could hardly get out of bed this morning.
I'm trying to refocus and find a positive attitude about the situation. Instead of getting started on my rewrites during baby's naptime I'll get to read Josi Kilpack's latest culinary mystery. How fun is that? I'm going to be forced to learn how to use the IPad my honey gave me for Christmas. Not as much fun as a Josi's book but a good thing. And maybe instead of burying myself in my writing I'll cook some dinner and do some cleaning while the boys are in school. Wouldn't they be surprised to not come home to a huge list of chores?
How are your resolutions coming?

Book Review and Giveaway - Hot (Sweaty) Mamas

2011-12-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to host a giveaway for Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom.

This book is a fabulous how-to manual for any mom who wants to begin a fitness program or for the mom who wants to improve her fitness level. I've been in the fitness industry for over sixteen years and I still learned some new tricks and ideas from this book. I would highly recommend it to new moms and those of us who have a child or two or seven.

My favorite quote from the book: "All we have is this moment, the present. And it's that art of mindfulness that teaches you to turn your attention to the present moment, whether it's to gaze lovingly into your child's eyes or work up a sweat. Learning how to make the most of each moment, being a mindful mama, is one of the basic skills of all fit moms."

I love that thought. It's something I struggle with in my multi-tasking mind. Hot (Sweaty) Mamas is full of not only pearls of wisdom for getting you to workout and making that workout effective but wisdom for life.

I am giving away two copies of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas. Yes, that's two, just in time for those New Year's Resolutions!

Here are the rules:

Mandatory Entry: Follow my blog and leave a comment.

Extra Entries:

(+2) Follow me on Twitter or Facebook
Share the contest on Twitter or Facebook

(+4) Share the contest on your sidebar or as a blog post.

Open to residents of U.S. and Canada

Contest closes: January 4, 2012

Buy Hot (Sweaty) Mamas

Hot Sweaty Mamas Blog

Winner - Cold River by Liz Adair

2011-12-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

Heidi won Cold River by Liz Adair. Congrats Heidi and thank you to Walnut Springs Press for donating the book.

The book is always better than the movie

2011-12-10T22:10:00.001-08:00

I just finished watching, The Help. I laughed and cried and vowed to be a better mother, a better Christian, and a better person, but I have to admit that I still think the book is better than the movie. It's just not possible for a movie to give all the insights and depth that a book can give. I also love imagining the characters and scenes in my head. No television screen can match that.

The only exception I would make is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I loved the book but I'm a romantic, I much prefer the way the movie ended with Edmund and Mercedes together. Plus James Caviezel as Edmund Dantes was an extremely good choice. Very nice-looking man.

What do you think? Book or movie?

Guest Post - Hot Sweaty Mamas

2011-12-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

On December 20th I'll be reviewing and giving away a copy of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas. Today co-author, Laurie, shares some fabulous tips for us.

"Act Like Others Are Watching–Because They Are 10 Tactics for a Fit Family"
by Laurie Lethert Kocanda

It’s the last secret we mention in Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom (Andrews McMeel, 2011), but perhaps the most important of them all: Act Like Others Are Watching–Because They Are. We’re talking about mentoring here, both having a mentor and being a mentor. It’s about having another woman to look up to, one who seems to manage the messiness of life while still getting sweaty on a regular basis. It’s also about being that woman others look to for inspiration.

But obviously the most important role you have as a mentor is providing a healthy and encouraging example for your children. Being a fit mom lets you demonstrate (actions speak louder than words) that fitness is a priority in your life. Dr. Todd Smith, a family practice physician in Cottage Grove, Minn., encourages parents to get out and get active with their children. “Kids see what their parents do and don’t do, so it’s important that parents take time to show their children the importance of physical activity.” Smith adds that genetics alone do not determine a child’s health; parent modeling and overall activity level are equally, if not more, important.

Getting a little territorial? Maybe you like to think of your workouts as your much coveted “me time,” a chance to escape. Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to give up that solo time altogether. Keep your solo sweat, but consider adding in activities that let the whole family in on the fun. There are lots of ways to workout with your kids. Schedule time as a family to participate in fitness and outdoor pursuits, perhaps on a weekly basis. By spending family time together in an active setting, you are showing children the importance of family togetherness as well as health and fitness.

Here are a few tactics to add to your fit family repertoire:

1. Let the kids help develop a list of potential activities. Create a list for each season so you’re never incapacitated by inclement weather. Head outside whenever possible, away from the TV and computer.
2. Focus on time, not intensity. Remind your kids that fitness is about endurance—a lifetime of activity. Enjoy the time and don’t worry about the caloric burn.
3. Invest in gear. Frisbees, bats and balls, even a water sprinkler can get the family moving. Just make sure there are lots of options. Investing in the (practical) essentials is worth your dollar, too. While positioned in a jogging stroller or bike trailer, kids get a similar adrenaline rush as you. The final blocks back to your home are the perfect place to let little legs work off energy.
5. Be creative. With the right attitude, simple tasks like washing the car, raking the yard, gardening, and snow shoveling can be fun family activities. Be creative with your time, too. If your children are taking swim lessons, think about jumping in an open lane yourself. Consider running around the soccer fields while your kids are at practice, or do some sit-ups and push-ups from the sidelines (who cares if other parents are looking… they probably want to join you!).
6. Look for local road races that offer opportunities for kids to compete too. When you run a race on your own, make arrangements so your kids can watch you cross the finish line (or cross the finish line with you). It’s important that they see you accomplish your goals and experience the rewards of hard work.
7. Hit the park, recreation center, or nature center. Just bringing your children to the playground on a regular basis encourages them to use their large motor skills and burn off energy. Look for nature paths, or paved park trails so kids can walk, run, or rollerblade with you in sight.
8. Let your children investigate sports alternatives in organized league play. Most community centers offer recreational leagues for soccer, basketball, and more. Call your local center to get a seasonal list of athletic offerings. Volunteer to coach if you can swing it and remember to focus on fun.
9. Encourage older kids to join you on runs, bike rides, or trips to the gym. Invite them to ride their bikes along with you as you run on local trails. Let them run with you at the track where they can go their own pace.
10. Emphasize fun. In order to build long-lasting behaviors, make sure kids are enjoying their physical activity. It is, after all, about building life-long habits and behaviors for the entire family.

This guest post comes from Laurie Kocanda and Kara Douglass Thom, co-authors of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom.

Eccentric Son

2011-12-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

My 5yo insists on reading Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott or Star Wars by George Lucas. I cannot imagine he can follow either one very well but he loves these books! He begs me to read them during the day, at storytime, at bedtime. Hilarious. How do I encourage him to read on his level without discouraging this obsession with some fabulous books?

Book Giveaway - Cold River

2011-12-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to give away Cold River by Liz Adair. It would be a fabulous Christmas present for yourself or for that sister-in-law that you can't think of a good present for or better yet your child's teacher (think of the brownie points).

To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Follow my blog and leave a comment.
Extra Entries:
(+1) Follow me on Twitter or Facebook
(+2) Share the contest on Twitter or Facebook
(+4) Share the contest on your sidebar or as a blog post.

Open to residents of U.S. and Canada
Contest closes: December 16, 2011

Thanks for stopping by!

Cold River - Book Review

2011-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds.

My review:

Liz Adair is a master at creating delightful and intriguing characters. I loved every character in the book and kept guessing and pondering on who was trying to kill Mandy and who she was going to fall in love with. The setting of this book is delightful, the town one that I would love to visit. Cold River is another well-written book by Liz Adair.

What I liked: Loved the people, the setting, and the author's voice.

What I didn't like: I wouldn't have touted the book as a suspense. The plot was definitely intriguing and well-done but from the publisher's description I was looking for more suspense.

Audience: I would recommend this book to everyone.

Where to buy Cold River: Amazon or Deseret Book.

Liz Adair's Blog

Check back tomorrow, I'll be posting a giveaway of Cold River. What a fabulous Christmas present that would be!

Working during the holidays

2011-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been out of it the past week. It was too much fun having all my boys home through the Thanksgiving break. Then I had to catch up with ten loads of laundry and a cute baby who thinks Mom shouldn't be more than two inches from his side at all times (usually he prefers in my arms, he's a 32 pound 15-mo who can't walk so it's a fabulous workout to carry him everywhere).

I do have some exciting things coming up though. On this blog I'll be reviewing and giving away Liz Adair's new book, Cold River.

I'm also really close to declaring my latest manuscript finished and sending it off. I promised myself it would be done by January, so I'll have to force myself to actually work instead of just bake December away.

How do you fit in work during the holidays or do you just relax and enjoy and figure January is for working?

Changing my Attitude

2011-11-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

My oldest son broke his foot last weekend and two of my other boys are really sick. Usually my oldest is my greatest helper, so without him I've been running ragged and not very happy about it.
Last night I got everybody to bed and opened Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans. The people in this book have just been through horrific things, the girl in this excerpt was severely abused and shuffled through foster care. See if this doesn't inspire you to appreciate life.
"I heard someone say, 'There's no problem so big that whining won't make it worse.'"
I laughed.
"The way I see it," she said, "everyone has problems. It's how you choose to deal with them. Some people choose to be whiners, some choose to be winners. Some choose to be victims, some choose to be victors."
I put my hand on her shoulder. "You're the type who thinks of the glass as being half full instead of half empty."
"No," she said, "I"m just grateful for the glass."

I read that to my 12yo and we both sat and thought for awhile. The I opened The Ensign and found this suggestion by President Thomas S. Monson to Elder Carl B. Cook, "It is better to look up."
It hit me that I've been looking down, dealing with the drudgery of sickness and sadness and not turning to the Lord to help me through my trials. Because I truly believe that He cares about us through every trial, big or small.

How do you keep a positive attitude and keep looking up?

Jabberwocky and Hatter by Daniel Coleman

2011-11-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

I've been searching for fun reads for my 9 and 12yo boys. Lo and behold Daniel Coleman shows up to my critique group last week. When I heard about Jabberwocky and Hatter I knew I must get them for the boys. The books sounded interesting, are a very good price (.99 & 2.99) and based on the excerpt Daniel read to us that night he is an extremely talented writer.

Jabberwocky's back cover blurb:
“One, two! One, two! and through and through the vorpal blade went snicker-snack!” Blood pounded in Tjaden’s ears as he breathed in the acrid odor, and his sword didn’t falter. Not after the convoluted road that had led him to set out alone to find and slay the manxome Jabberwocky. But the secrets he’d learned about the Jabberwocky’s sorrowful past made it a sour victory.

How different would the situation be if the girl he loved wasn’t at risk? Why didn’t anyone tell him the dark secrets surrounding the Tumtum tree?

Jabberwocky, a short novel by Daniel Coleman, is the untold story behind Lewis Carroll’s beloved poem. Meet the characters and creatures that inhabit the world long before Alice ever fell down the rabbit’s hole.

While staying true to every detail of Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece, Jabberwocky provides twists that will keep you turning pages. You might know how it ends, but you won’t believe how it happens. .

Hatter's back cover blurb:
There’s nothing wrong with a touch of madness. – Cheshire Cat

Someday Hatta will save the kingdom. In his mind, at least. But his talents of uncharacteristic kindness and a passion for colors hardly qualify him for such a destiny. In a kingdom that doesn’t need saving, a young man ignorant of social norms is the unlikeliest of heroes.

Along the way, the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts, White Queen, and other familiar characters emerge to fill their eminent roles as well.

Witness literature’s most lovable lunatic’s tangled ascent into madness.

Prioritize

2011-11-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

Lately I seem to be spending less time working on my writing and more time reading Facebook posts. In my mind I'm not giving up on my dreams but I'm definitely not working towards them very quickly.
Ian S. Ardern said, "With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another."
"Prioritize our choices." I love that. There was once a time when I would get the baby down for his nap, read an article in the Ensign, and then focus on my manuscript until the baby woke up. Now I'm wasting time on social networking, folding laundry, or taking a nap myself. Sometimes I need the nap but the laundry and social networking can wait. I'd really like to become focused again.
How do you prioritize your choices? How do you teach your children this concept?

Winner - The Broken Path

2011-11-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

Brenda Jean won The Broken Path as part of The November Giveaway Hop. Thank you to all of you for entering and following the blog. This has been a really fun few days. Congratulations Brenda!

November Giveaway Hop

2011-11-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be a part of the November Giveaway Hop hosted by Tristi Pinkston and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.

I will be giving away a copy of The Broken Path. It's no longer possible to buy the book in print form. Actually there is one copy available on Amazon for $999.97. So you could win my copy, resell the book (after you read it, of course), and have a very nice Christmas.

Involved in a debilitating accident at age six, Ethan Searle believes women eye him with a mixture of pity and disdain. He’s tried love before. He won’t again. Autumn Reader escaped her abusive marriage with her daughter, a stack of debt and fear. Autumn’s precocious two-year old becomes enraptured by Ethan. Autumn is on the path to following her daughter’s example when her ex-husband reappears.

You can enter three times for the giveaway.

Mandatory entry: Must be a follower of this blog and leave a comment below. (Open to US residents)
Optional entry: Follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook.

The hop runs from November 8th - 11th.
Participating blogs:

Middle Grade Book Help

2011-11-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

My 9yo and I just finished the Peter and the Starcatchers series by Ridley Pierson and Dave Barry. Love those books! It's my second time through and they were still fun. But now I'm not sure which direction to go. Should we start Fablehaven or Harry Potter? Are those series still a bit above his level? My oldest (now 12) read Fablehaven and Harry Potter at nine but you all understand how each child is a bit different. My 9yo is very smart but hasn't been as passionate about reading as his older brother. I hate to start a series that's too advanced for him and frustrate him.

Any suggestions for fabulous middle grade book series? My son likes adventure, humor, and scoring lots of points on AR tests. Maybe we'll just read Chickens in the Headlights again. He hasn't done an AR test on that one yet and Matthew Buckely is always great for a laugh.

It's Autumn Time

2011-11-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

Fall is officially here - my leaves have fallen, I don't want to get out of bed in the morning because it's dark and cold, everybody but me is doing NaNoWriMo, and I've gained five pounds.
I'm not doing NaNaWriMo because I'm polishing and not ready to start something new (good excuse, eh?). I've gained five pounds because of hot cocoa and cookies. I don't want to get out of bed because I stay up late reading to my boys (while drinking hot cococa and munching on cookies).

Despite the five pounds and my barren trees I love autumn. What's your favorite thing about this time of year?

Tribute Books New Young Adult Line

2011-10-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Nicole Langan from Tribute Books offered to share with all of us a little about their new venture as an ebook publisher of young adult titles.

We're looking to work with authors who are savvy with social media - those who blog, tweet and update their Facebook status on a daily basis.

Our preference is for authors who already have a book(s) published through a royalty-paying press. We want to work with those who are familiar with the ins and outs of the publishing process. We seek those who have experience having their work edited and know the effort required for successful book promotion.

There would be NO charge for authors, and those selected would receive 50% of the net retail price in royalties.

To begin, we're looking to work with 12 authors in 2012, publishing one per month.

Cami: Are you willing to look at books that have already been published and are out of print?
Nicole: Our preference would be for never released material, but if an author can provide proof in writing that a former contract is no longer active we would be happy to consider a previously published work.

Cami: Would these books only be sold as ebooks or could print versions be obtained for friends, family, and book signings?
Nicole: All of our YA releases in 2012 will be available only as ebooks.

Cami: What number of copies sold would denote a bestseller for your company?
Nicole: Since we are such a small press, a best seller would average about 25 e-copies sold per month. However, we are hoping to increase our sales figures by tapping into a larger YA-enthused readership. My hope is that we are able to recruit some talented writers of well-written, well-crafted stories in order to develop an eager fan base for the titles we publish. We want readers to be excited about the ebooks we produce. Young adult authors have the most devoted fan followings out there, and we'd like to introduce that audience to a whole new host of talent.

Cami: What do you feel is the best form of promotion for an author?
Nicole: I am a big believer in the power of social media. I even conduct monthly blog tours for outside publishers and authors in order to help them increase the online presence of a book. Book bloggers are a powerful force in the book industry. With more and more book stores closing and book review columns being cut from major newspapers, readers are depending on bloggers to help them find the books they want to read. They are turning to the internet as a reference point to fill this information gap.

In my opinion, social networking is the bread and butter of any author's promotional efforts. Without it, it's like trying to paddle upstream without a canoe. Readers want to connect with the person who wrote the book. They crave interaction with an author. Nothing beats getting a writer to comment on a blogger's book review post or getting a personalized thank you tweet from your favorite author. The days of authors being isolated from their fans is over. They're now able to build an online following and receive instant feedback for their work. They have the opportunity to take part in creating their own literary community.

We try to keep an active online presence with our web site , Facebook, Twitter, and blog. We'd love to have anyone who loves young adult literature to join us for the ride.

Thank you, Nicole, for stopping by my blog. This looks like a great publisher for all the young adult fiction authors out there.

Workout Swap

2011-10-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

For any of you workout nuts out there I am doing a workout swap on my fitness blog. It should be a lot of fun and hopefully motivate me to get out of bed and go to the gym. Lately there's been far too much cookie baking and far too little sweating.

If you're interested in sharing or stealing workouts, please go to my blog and leave a comment.

Thanks,
Cami

Winner - The Alias

2011-10-25T20:40:00.001-07:00

J. Lloyd Morgan has won The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack. Congrats!

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans

2011-10-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

One of my secret dreams is to walk across the nation. Sadly I don't have the time (my four boys and husband might protest) or anybody willing to do it with me. In Richard Paul Evans book, The Walk, Alan Christoffersen sets off from Seattle to walk to Key West. He goes alone and quite often camps along the way (I'd only do it if I had a nice bed to sleep in each night). I also hope I never have the reasons Alan has to walk across the nation.

I really enjoyed The Walk. Richard Paul Evans does a fabulous job of making a heartbreaking story into something that isn't just a learning lesson but is an intriguing and enjoyable story. I'm excited to read the rest of the series.

What's your favorite Richard Paul Evans book? (The Sunflower is one of my favorites but I love them all.)

Do you have any desire to walk across the country? (I think I've got my little sister talked into backpacking across Europe when all of our children are raised, but I'm still looking for a friend to cross the U.S. so let me know.)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2011-10-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

I finally made time to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I thought it was phenomenal. I loved the characterization, the theme, the setting, the story.

As you read a book like The Help it's impossible not to come up with your own ideas about how to change some of the heartbreak and prejudices in this world. The thought that kept coming back to me was that change has to be from inside. As we each try to be less judgmental and selfish and more loving and kind we'll treat people the way the Savior would. In my opinion that's when true change will come. The other thought I kept having was I didn't want to be a rotten, neglectful mother like some of the women portrayed in the book so I was a lot more conscientious about how I responded to my wild boys.

If you haven't read The Help I definitely recommend it. If you have, what ideas came to you as you read?

Print copies of The Broken Path

2011-10-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

I've had requests for a print version of The Broken Path. I searched and found that there are no print copies available. On Amazon you can buy a used copy for $999.98. Hilarious. Like anyone would buy that.

I bugged the publisher and found that I could buy author copies of the book even though they aren't willing to release more print copies. If any of you are interested, please email me camichecketts(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Sad to have one of my books go out of print. Have any other authors experienced this? What did you do?

Book Giveaway - The Alias by Mandi Slack

2011-10-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

If you read my review of The Alias, you're probably searching for your own copy. Today is your lucky day, you can win The Alias just by leaving me a friendly comment.

For extra entries:
1 extra entry for following either this blog or my fitness blog, or following me on Twitter or Facebook.
2 extra entries for sharing the contest on Twitter or Facebook.
4 extra entries for sharing the contest on your personal blog or adding the contest to your sidebar.

Contest ends October 22, 2011
Open to residents of U.S. and Canada
Please leave an e-mail address with your comment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Winner - Seven by Paige Agnew

2011-10-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Heidi, who has a wonderful blog called Big Laughs, won Seven by Paige Agnew. I think it was the tattooing on the forehead that made random.org draw her number out. Congrats, Heidi!

Book Review - The Alias by Mandi Slack

2011-10-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey thinks the worst is over. Little does she know she'll soon be forced to go undercover to protect her family, and in the process, she'll risk losing her identity, her future, and her heart.

My review:

As a mother I was immediately captivated by this book. My heart ached for Jacey and her son, Blaze. I loved seeing Blaze come out of his punk state (my 12yo lives here half of the time) and flourish on the ranch. Jacey's best friend, Melissa, was a fun character. She added a lot to the story. I'm hoping there's a sequel with Melissa as the protagonist.

What I liked: I loved the touching relationship between Jacey and Blaze. I loved feeling at home on the ranch. The plot was interesting, the pacing was good, and there was just the right amount of romance. Definitely my type of story.

What I didn't like: It's always heartbreaking to read about women escaping an abusive relationship. The author did a good job of showing Jacey's recovery and growth.

Purchase The Alias here. The Kindle edition is only $3.99. Sweet deal.
Mandi's Blog

Interview - Cynthia Kocialski

2011-10-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I have Cynthia Kocialski, author of Startup From The Ground Up, answering some questions about entrepeneurs, business, and her book.

What inspired you to write the book?
Many entrepreneurs come to me looking for suggestions and advice. I’m afraid I disappoint them most of the time because they are usually looking for the magic or secret that will instantly propel their company and product to success. And it doesn’t exist, overnight business success doesn’t happen. What they need more than anything is inspiration. They need to know the challenges they are encountering are not unique to them, that they can work through them and prevail. Friends and colleagues encouraged me to write a book because they like hearing the stories about start-ups and what it is really like inside one of those famous successes. I think it’s the stories that are most helpful to the budding entrepreneur and their early stage businesses.

What advice can you give other entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed by the business, especially when a lot of things are going wrong at the same time?
Every entrepreneur feels overwhelmed. It never seems as if there are enough hours in a day and everything seems to take longer than wanted. Until the new business takes on a life of its own, the entrepreneur will always feel as if they should be doing something more. The way to get past this feeling is for the entrepreneur to ask themselves whether what they did today moves their company closer to their milestones and goals. If it has, then you’ve done a good job, even if there is still lots more to do.
My advice is to automate as much as possible. A working, highly productive computer is still less costly than labor. If something isn’t getting done because the entrepreneur can’t seem to find the time, then outsource the work. Eliminate tasks that don’t move the start-up closer to its goals.
Lastly, realize that entrepreneurs are the captains of their ships. They set the tone and direction of the new business. Spending time thinking about the big picture and where the start-up is going may not have a tangible work result but is important. In this case, doing nothing is doing something.

What other advice can you give women entrepreneurs?
I ran into a researcher who was doing her doctorate dissertation on serial entrepreneurs. This candidate told me that before they started interviewing these entrepreneurs, they would not have hypothesized how different women and men approached entrepreneurship. While these entrepreneurs were all successful in the end, the paths they took were quite different. And this is what I’ve seen in my personal experience with women in business. As a woman entrepreneur you have to accept that “women are from Venus and men are from Mars”, and it’s unlikely you will reach your goal by emulating a path that a man took to success, which is unfortunate because the bulk of the proof points are men. As a woman entrepreneur, you are far more likely to have to take the path less trodden or forge a new path, and this requires creativity.

How does this book help startups?
It shows entrepreneurs how to think about creating a business, what are the basic elements beyond the product that they need to focus their attention on. It also shows entrepreneurs how other entrepreneurs have solved challenges and how they have addressed these challenges in creative ways, not in common industry methods because an early stage company can’t act like an established company.

What marketing advice do you give new business owners?
Marketing should be started as soon as possible, even before the product is ready for customers. Marketing creates demand for the product or service. Marketing builds awareness for your company and product. Like it or not, products don’t sell themselves. Customers always prefer to buy the familiar. In the customer’s mind, that which is familiar is less risk.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I find that writing forces one to organize and consolidate one’s thoughts. I found it immensely helpful to write about how to transform an idea into an early stage company. It made me think about all those start-ups, and what I’ve seen work and what I’ve seen not work, and question why. The thought process was enlightening and made me better understand the keys to making a company thrive and succeed.
While not the actual writing of the book, I often relate my personal experiences to the creation of a new business. Like a first time entrepreneur, I had to learn about the book process as a first time author. The process of bringing a book to the readers and attracting an audience is a micro-version of an early stage start-up company. The book writing is the product development, and while a substantial effort, it is far less than the task of marketing the book and gaining an audience. The book process is also about assembling a team of various editors, publishers, consultants, marketing firms, and setting up sales and distribution channels.
I’ve met many authors, who wrote and published books. Some told me few people bought their books. They quickly followed that up with how they weren’t willing to spend money and time to market and promote their book. That they didn’t realize at the onset what would be required of them. It’s just like an entrepreneur who believes, “If we build, they will come”. And then the realization sets in, that creating and building a company is a long, involved process. I’ve met successful authors and they talk about how long it took them to be successful, how they tried various different marketing avenues, and how they were forced to hire assistants and outsource tasks because as their audiences grow, there is more demand on their time.

The title of your book what does it mean?
The title is meant to imply the seed stage or early stage start-up company, those new businesses just opening up. The subtitle shows that it is a how-to business book, and was chosen to embrace target keywords for search engines.
The book title itself was crowd sourced. I conducted surveys and asked recipients to name the book. I selected the best ones and conducted another survey to see which title was the best choice. My original title was Start-Up In The Sky, a variant of pie in the sky. I thought it was clever, but nobody liked it.

How important should money be as a motivation for succeeding in business?

Most entrepreneurs aren’t driven by the money. They are driven by their desire to create something and achieve a goal. Money is simply an indication of how well they’ve met their goals. For an entrepreneur money is like their Olympic gold medal. It’s not the medal itself, but what is represents and the accomplishment that matters. Entrepreneurs should focus on building the company and winning in the market place.

If the entrepreneur aspires to be funded by investors then money as the end goal is very important. Investors care about the exit strategy and the return on their investment. Once the entrepreneur takes investors’ money, it means the stopwatch is ticking and the race is on. Investors mean oversight and the pressure to perform.

Describe your book in 3 words.
Practical Business Creation

Why did you write Startup from the Ground Up?
I see entrepreneurs and listen to their stories all the time. First time entrepreneurs follow the same paths. Often, the first phase is develop the product and then simultaneously try to market and sell it, and attracts investors at the same time. They eventually realize that marketing is not easy and investors aren’t impressed by a product alone. Investors point out that their proposal is a product, not a company and this leaves entrepreneurs in a state of confusion. After all, they’ve incorporated, they’ve named the company, they’ve got a product to sell, what do the investor’s mean by this statement? A second common approach is the entrepreneur starts by presenting the product idea to investors, hoping to get funding, and realizes that investors aren’t impressed by vapor designs, ideas, and non-existent, potential customers. The third approach is to go it without investors, to self-fund or bootstrap the company.
In the second phase, the entrepreneur accepts that the product isn’t enough, they need the everything else that makes the project a company and not just a product (or the entrepreneur declares the non-believers to be idiots because the value and potential of their product is blindingly obvious to them). The entrepreneur starts delving into marketing, sales, distribution, pricing, finance, accounting, funding options, and every facet of a business. And while the general statement of needing marketing is good, the detailed and specifics become more than the entrepreneur can handle – attracting customers and convincing them that to pay for your product is never easy. The entrepreneur begins to feel overwhelmed with all the facets of business that needs to be addressed in detail, the workload is mounting, and entrepreneur is drowning and needs help.
Here’s where the projects begins to fall apart, when the founders take on too much and no single effort gets enough attention to be done well enough to succeed.
This is the purpose of my book. What the entrepreneur needs is way to simplify what they need to focus on and in a way that is doable and manageable for them, not an army of staff. Most implement the various aspects of a business because the other companies in the market are doing it, but that doesn’t make it the right choice or direction for their small start-up. What a big company like Microsoft can do, or a venture-backed company like Facebook can do, may not be what a bootstrapped start-up can do. Just because a company is mentioned in your competitive analysis doesn’t mean your start-up can act like them at this stage of your corporate life. The reality is best industry practices become common practices, and a start-up needs to differentiate itself from the crowd and not be common.
My purpose is to get the newbie moving in the right direction from step one without getting them to be overwhelmed by the largeness of creating a company. Stop looking at the big companies as a model for a start-up, to build a company with a small staff you need get down to the basics and focus on a few key areas.

How does this book benefit the reader?
Hopeful, it gets the entrepreneur thinking in the right direction about building a business, not just a product. Every business is unique and there is no single way for a business to thrive, it’s impossible to tell an entrepreneur what to do about every aspect of every business. Startup From The Ground Up intent is to show the first time entrepreneurs HOW to think about creating the business and gives examples of how other entrepreneurs have tackled different hurdles.

Who is your intended audience?
The intended reader is the first time entrepreneur. It is mostly geared towards tech companies but applicable to small businesses that intend to stay small as well. The reality of the matter is tech companies are predominantly founded by 20- or 30- something men.
It’s not intended for the seasoned entrepreneur, who has already encountered much of the challenges discussed in the book.
It’s not intended for the person working in corporate America, which focuses on process improvements, efficiency, and optimizations. Even if they start a new product line, established companies have the power of their brand and the financial might of their balance sheets behind them. This is completely different than creating something from nothing.

Thanks, Cynthia, I really appreciate you stopping by my blog and sharing such great information. If you're interested in Cynthia's book, click here for more info.

Guest Post - Cynthia Kocialski

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Kocialski, author of Startup from the Ground Up, is my guest today, sharing with us how to be a more successful enrepeneur.

The Many Shades of Entrepreneurship
By Cynthia Kocialski

All entrepreneurs want to be successful. Everyone knows it’s not as easy as it seems. Every entrepreneur begins a new business with high hopes and enthusiasm; each believes they have the right stuff to be what success stories are made of.
Before embarking upon their venture, each would-be entrepreneur is faced with choices. Do you begin with nothing and build a business from the ground up? Do you purchase or take an equity stake in a company that has gotten past the initial stages and just needs to be grown? Perhaps, do you purchase a franchise with a proven formula that simply needs execution? How big is your dream? Do you just want a very comfortable income or do you want to create the next Google and have fame as well? In my experience, these represent different people with different skill sets.
The first step to becoming an entrepreneur is to know who you are, what you are best at doing, and what you want from the experience. Put a great entrepreneur in the wrong start-up, the new business will fail. People who like to build something from nothing thrive in ambiguous environments and like to create something of their own design. This type of person is creative, is very good at reaching out to search for answers, and is best when they are handed a general direction without detailed instructions. They like the challenge to see if they can pull it off. They are confident that they can figure it out or find the right people to advise them. They resent being micro-managed. At the opposite side, franchisees are more about execution. They like to be handed step-by-step instructions that are to be implemented according to someone else’s design. A franchisee feels comfort in knowing there is someone in headquarters to help them through the hiccups. Put the ground up person in the franchise, and they will try to change the system. Put a franchisee in the ground up environment and they will be lost, not knowing what to do, or how to effectively go about figuring out what they should be doing.
Here is a simple example of creativity versus execution. Two chefs return to their homes at night to make dinner. The first has no specific plans. He opens up the refrigerator and then the pantry, and surveys the possible ingredients. He ponders for a moment, selects a handful and creates a fabulous dish to enjoy. The second chef returns home, opens a recipe book, and takes out all the ingredients he had earlier purchased just for the recipe. He makes a delectable dish too.
While many people call themselves entrepreneurs, they are not all cut from the same cloth. It’s the start-up that choses the entrepreneur, not the other way around.

About the Author
Cynthia Kocialski is the founder of three tech start-ups companies. In the past 15 years, she has been involved in dozens of start-ups. Cynthia writes the Start-up Entrepreneurs’ Blog (www.cynthiakocialski.com) and has written the book, “Startup From The Ground Up - Practical Insights for Entrepreneurs, How to Go from an Idea to New Business” (www.startupfromthegroundup.com).

Witch Song by Amber Argyle

2011-09-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

Brusenna is a teen who lives in the forest alone with her mother. The villagers shun them because her mother is a witch. She is shamed and humiliated and basically afraid of contact with other people. An unexpected visitor comes and her mother leaves to try to defeat a truly "wicked witch".

Brusenna lives alone until danger faces her at home, it is her turn then to take up her mother's mantle as a witch and try to right the wrongs that have been inflicted due to the evil witches influence. This means that she must face her fears and venture into the outside world, alone.

I don't usually read fantasy unless my boys beg, so the fact that I loved Witch Song by Amber Argyle is saying a lot. The pacing is quick, the story is intriguing, the description is vivid, the heroine tugged at my heart (facing danger with only her dog and being pretty tough about it), and the hero is really, really cute.

If you enjoy young adult fantasy this is a must-read, if you don't typically read that genre this may be the book that will hook you. I'd definitely recommend Witch Song.

Buy Witch Song here.
Amber Argyle's website

Winner - Missing in Mexico

2011-09-22T15:13:00.001-07:00

Karen won Missing in Mexico by Stuart Gustafson. Congrats Karen!

Winner - Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

2011-09-21T10:23:00.001-07:00

Amber won Bloodborne by Gregg Luke. Congrats Amber and thanks to everyonne for entering!

Book Review and Giveaway - Seven by Paige Agnew

2011-09-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

Seven strangers.
One purpose.
One horrible thing in common - kidnapped.

When seven people are pulled from their ordinary lives to be pawns in a madman's game of chess, the only way they will make it out alive is to put aside their differences and work together to escape to freedom.

My review:
This is one of the most intriguing books I have read. Paige Agnew's imagination is unreal. Seven is a book I didn't want to put down but also found a bit creepy (in a good way). I don't honestly know what to say without giving away too much information and ruining the novel for you. Read the book and then e-mail me so we can chat about it.

What I liked: Loved the crazy plot twists. Very impressed with the way the author developed seven different characters so well.

What I didn't like: A lot of typos and grammatical errors.

Audience: Any age would enjoy the book but definitely targetted to the young adult market.

Paige Agnew's Website
Buy Seven here.

Win a free copy of Seven.

Please leave a comment below to win Seven (must be a follower of this blog).
For extra entries:
1 extra entry for following me on Twitter or Facebook.
2 extra entries for sharing the contest on Twitter or Facebook.
4 extra entries for sharing the contest on your personal blog or adding the contest to your sidebar.

Contest ends Septmeber 26, 2011
Open to residents of U.S. and Canada
Please leave an e-mail address with your comment.

Facebook Pre Virtual Book Tour Contest

PRIZE - $25 Barnes and Noble gift card and other goodies for book lovers
Submit your answers to StarlessSky2010@comcast.net Deadline September 12th
Answer this question correctly to enter the drawing: If life without love is like a starless sky, what is the moon?
Learn More Here http://paigeagnew.com/contest_284.html

A.R. Tests

2011-09-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

My 9yo asked me why I was reading a book that was obviously outside of my preferred genre. I told him I had been asked to review it on my blog. He cocked his cute head to the side and said, "Oh, so you take an A.R. test on it and then if you do good on it other people will listen to what you think about the book." I laughed and told him I graduated from college and was done with tests. He didn't like that very much!
I explained to my son that Book reviews are mostly a personal opinion. There is no formula or test to show if the reviewer understood what they read. It made me think that I need to work harder to understand each book I've been asked to review and make sure my review is helpful to both the author and the reader.

When's the last time you took a test?
Do you think an A.R. test for reviewers would be helpful or just a waste of time?

Fall by Jennifer Hurst Book Review and Giveaway

2011-09-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Women and construction shouldn’t mix. At least, that is what the client, Mr. Blackwell, thinks when Twenty-one year old Julia D. Halstead is promoted to project manager and tasked with remodeling a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast in the tourist town of Torrey, Utah. However, the schoolhouse contains a dark secret that has been hidden for over a hundred years. A secret that will unleash the furies of Hell and cause the Angels in Heaven to weep as ethereal brothers, Matthew and Nathan battle over Julia’s very soul.

My Review:
Yesterday I realized that my review of Fall was scheduled for today and I was only halfway through. I put the boys to bed early and read until midnight. The truth is I would've read until midnight even if the review wasn't scheduled for today. This book was amazing. I loved the romance, the suspense, the characterization, the paranormal aspects (which is saying a lot for me, I usually only read paranormal for my boys). There were so many wonderful twists woven into this book. This book kind of reminded me of the Twilight series but for me it was more realistic (I actually believe in guardian angels but werewolves? Not so much).
I can't wait to read the sequel. My only hope is the author doesn't take too long getting the next book out.

What I liked: I liked it all.
What I didn't like: That I had to read it so fast. When I have some time I'm going to read it again (slowly).
Audience: Young adult on up

Buy Fall here.
Jennifer Hurst's website

Thanks to Tristi Pinkston Blog Tours for including me in this tour.

In conjunction with this blog tour, Jennifer is holding a contest. It will involve any of the blogs that Jennifer visits or where her book is featured and will close on December 31st, 2011. The entrants have to answer three questions about the book they’ve read (bought, borrowed, or stolen - shame on you) and post a link to Jennifer's website on their Twitter, Facebook, or blog (need link for verification).

Then the names will be entered in a random name picker generator (http://textmechanic.com/Random-Line-Picker.html) and announced on Jennifer's website (www.jenniferhurst.com) on January 31st, 2012. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a night’s stay at the actual bed and breakfast where the story takes place.

Other prizes include an autographed copy of FALL, and she will randomly select 3 contestants’ names to use in the sequel to FALL. Plus, they will receive a free copy of that book when it is published.

Each blog that Jennifer Hurst visits will have a different set of questions people can answer, and they may enter as many times as they want - but they can enter once per blog site that they visit. So the more sites you visit, the more you can enter your name, thus increasing your chances of winning the gift certificate, a copy of the book FALL, and your name in the sequel.

Get the book, read the book, and then read over the questions below. Once you have your answers, e-mail them to Jennifer. fall.jenniferhurst@gmail.com

Your privacy is respected and your email address will NOT be used for anything but the contest. Once the contest is over - your email address will be deleted from the database.

Here are the questions for you to answer:

Who captured Quabin the first time?

Who is the youngest Parker child?

What kind of work did Matthew do for the project?

If you would like to visit the other sites, go here for the master list of all participating sites: http://fallbyjenniferhurst.wordpress.com/

Best of luck, and thanks for participating!

Book Giveaway - Missing in Mexico

2011-08-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

Today I'm sharing an interview with the author of Missing in Mexico, Stuart Gustafson. You can win a copy of his novel by entering below.

Cami: What is the one thing you hope your readers take away from Missing in Mexico?

SG: I’m going to beg for indulgence and sneak two in. The first is what every writer wants – that the readers truly think the story is an entertaining story. The second one is that the readers feel that San José del Cabo, Mexico, is a warm and enchanting place where they would feel welcome, and a place to put on their “Let’s go visit there in the next couple of years” list. We go there every year for several reasons: it’s convenient to get to from Boise, Idaho; the beaches are nice; the people are very nice; the food is great; the culture is charming; it is THE SAFEST PLACE to visit in Mexico. That’s not a plug from the Tourism Bureau – it is a fact that I can easily explain if people want to contact me privately. We love it there, which is one of the reasons I chose it as the primary setting for my debut mystery novel.

C: I love finding a place like that to vacation. It sounds fabulous. I like that this book is more than a mystery, can you tell us more about that?

SG: Of course. One of the complexities in Missing in Mexico that has come out in some of the reviews is the relationships that occur. I’m guessing that some people could probably come up with a half dozen different genres for the book, all perfectly justified in one place or another in the book. What is it? Is it Travel, Mystery, Intrigue, Foreign, Romance, Suspense, Fiction/Non-Fiction. See what I mean? Actually, all of these genres come into play into the book, which makes it really hard to classify it into one particular heading. Which one would you choose?

C: That's tough. I really like the Travel Mystery. So, have you ever second guessed yourself in the writing process?

SG: Please introduce me to the writer who’s never second guessed himself, and I’ll show you a writer who’s not been willing to show his work to others. Writing is all about taking chances, and if you’re always second guessing what you’re doing – nothing will ever make it from the keyboard to the page to the reader. Maybe it’s because I’m not taking on risky subjects that I don’t worry about second guessing myself, but I think most authors also realize the requirement to put yourself “out there” unless you want to be just like others who sit inside a lonely cocoon.

C: I do that sometimes. It is wonderful to get out and meet other writers. Are you already at work on your next book?

SG: Thank you for asking. The next mystery novel is underway, if you’ll pardon the pun. It’s set in Sydney, Australia, and I visited there 5 times last year conducting research on the general area as well as certain locations to ensure their descriptions are “spot on” as they say down there. The book introduces a new character that will be a featured character in future books as well, so it’s fun to bring him into the mix. I haven’t asked him where he wants to go next, but I think I know where it is, and it’s someplace that artists love. Hmmm, where could that be?

C: Cabo, Sydney, and another amazing vacation spot soon, I want to be your research assistant. Thank you for dropping in and having a short chat with me. Is there anything else you would like to share?

SG: Yes, my love of travel. I do love to travel, and I have the US Registered Trademarked name of America’s International Travel Expert®. Give me a reason to jump on an airplane, and I’m on it. I love to fly, and I’ve flown over one million miles on a single airline. I believe in sharing information, and I send out a free e-newsletter about travel; signing up is quite easy on my website, and you even get a great travel bonus just for enrolling – www.stuartgustafson.com.

C: Thanks, Stuart. Best of luck with your writing and traveling.

Please leave a comment below to win Missing in Mexico (must be a follower of this blog).
For extra entries:
2 entries for sharing the contest on Twitter or Facebook
4 entries for sharing the contest on your personal blog or adding the contest to your sidebar.

Contest ends Septmeber 16, 2011
Open to residents of U.S. and Canada
Please leave an e-mail address with your comment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Giveaway - Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

2011-08-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to do a giveaway of Bloodborne by Gregg Luke. I loved this book. Read my review here.

Please leave a comment below to enter (must be a follower of this blog).
For extra entries:
2 entries for sharing the contest on Twitter or Facebook
4 entries for sharing the contest on your personal blog or adding the contest to your sidebar.

Contest ends Septmeber 12, 2011
Open to residents of U.S. and Canada
Please leave an e-mail address with your comment.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Book Recommendation by Christine Connor

2011-08-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to share this book recommendation from Christine Connor.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day – A Hidden Gem

Most true book lovers have so many books that, after a time, one wonders if their breeding behind your back. You decide that it’s best not to ever move house ever again because of the tremendous amount you’d have to spend on truck rental and you start to keep books in places no ordinary person would: kitchen cupboards, the garden shed or maybe even in your pillow cases. Anywhere that spreads out the tidal wave of paperbacks and makes your book habit look more like a vague interest than an all-consuming obsession.
Although all of these books probably mean something to you there’s bound to be one that means more than all the rest. One that you will read time and again and each time it will make you laugh or cry or both just as it did the first time. That book, for me, is Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson.

The Background
Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is a little-known gem of woman’s fiction written by Watson right before the war in 1938. When Watson originally wrote the work it was rejected and she had to barter with her agent just to get it published. Considering the intricate beauty of this work this is quite astounding. Once it was published, however, it did become a success and it was so well-loved that producers began planning a musical film version of the book. Unfortunately just as the film was about to go into production Pearl Harbour happened and the book and the film became buried as people focused on more important day-to-day concerns. For years it remained all but forgotten before, recently, being republished by Persephone Books who specialise in women’s fiction. Since then a film version has been made starring Frances McDormand in the leading role, originally, back during the war, it was supposed to be Billy Burke. Sadly we’ll never know how that version turned out. The 2008 film did its best to live up to the fun of the book but, like so many book to film translations failed to capture its spirit. The problem with turning Miss Pettigrew into a film is that it’s a very pacy book in a lot of respects and has you wanting to read the next chapter even though you’ll be late for work. Again. It’s quite difficult to recreate this on film.

The Plot
Like all the best stories Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is a simple tale about a very poor nanny who accidentally goes to the wrong address when she’s given a job by an agency. Little does she know as she knocks on fortune’s door that a wonderfully exciting world waits behind it. Over the course of the book Miss Pettigrew, who is at the beginning insular and unsure, gradually grows in confidence through a serious of hilariously uncomfortable social situations and makes a big difference to the lives of the people she has happened upon. These people immediately accept her into their circle which is something Miss Pettigrew, being a poor nanny, is not used to at all and over the course of the book she finds new life-long friends.

Reasons to love it
When I picked up this book for the first time I wasn’t at all expecting the glorious journey it took me on. A friend had found it by accident at the library and had then begged me to buy it and read it for myself. It’s absolutely the best book purchase I have ever made. Not only is the story sweet, the characters genuine and well-rounded and the conclusion well thought out but the writing is actually very, very good. It’s delicately phrased without being too flowery and its witty, dry tone is guaranteed to have you smiling with every page you turn, I know that’s what happened for me.
Perhaps the biggest reason to love this book, however, is Miss Petigrew herself. The character of the retiring nanny isn’t necessarily something we can all identify with but her persona is. She is constantly unsure, constantly hoping for the best but expecting the worst and in a way this reflects how a lot of us feel about our lives for a lot of the time. We’re always hoping that there’s a happy ending somewhere around the corner but never quite dare to believe it until it really happens for us. I won’t give away the ending but I do promise that, if you see this book through to its conclusion, you won’t be disappointed.

Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

2011-08-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to timely intervention from a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realizes the attack was anything but random. Erin can’t make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn’t know that her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bio-weapon or that her recent research holds a key to his success. And she doesn’t know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.

Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with help from the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets — the bio-terrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.

My Review:

Definitely my favorite read of the summer. This book is intense, well-written, well-researched, and intriguing. It was one of those books that I kept reading even when it was one in the morning and I had to wake up at four. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced suspense.

What I liked: Loved the storyline and the main characters. Amazing how a male author could develop a female protagonist so well.

What I didn't like: I didn't enjoy the backstory dump as it interrupts pacing and I'd rather get to know the character slowly through dialogue, thought, and action. I always skip the backstory (someday I'll learn some patience).

Audience: I would recommend it to any adult.

Author's Website

Buy Bloodborne

Back to school blues

2011-08-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

I struggle with my boys leaving me for school. I love having no schedule, laughing at all their crazy games, and knowing the baby will be spoiled and protected when I take a shower or change a load of laundry. At the same time I have to admit I'm excited to have a semi-clean house, save on the grocery bill (you would not believe how much four boys can consume, $1.55 for school lunch is sounding mighty good) and maybe fit in some writing time.

I wanted to do an informal poll. Do you want your children back in school or are you in mourning (or somewhere in the middle like me)? There are no wrong answers. It doesn't make you a bad parent if you're sick of cleaning up gooey popsicle sticks.

Please leave a comment and share how you deal with back to school.

Winner - Just Shy of Paradise

2011-08-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Nancy Davis, winner of Just Shy of Paradise by Carole Thayne Warburton. Thank you to Walnut Springs Press for sponsoring this giveaway.

Winner - Boost Your Revenues

2011-08-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Jessica Davis won Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away by Alison Silbert. Congrats Jessica! Thanks to all who entered!

Don't forget to enter to win Just Shy of Paradise by Carole Thayne Warburton. The giveaway ends tomorrow.

Book Giveaway - Just Shy of Paradise

2011-07-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Walnut Springs Press has offered to give one copy (signed by the author I might add) of Just Shy of Paradise to one of my blog followers. Lucky us!

Please leave a comment below to enter (must be a follower of this blog).
For extra entries:
2 entries for sharing the contest on Twitter or Facebook
4 entries for sharing the contest on your personal blog or adding the contest to your sidebar.

Contest ends August 6, 2011
Open to residents of U.S. and Canada
Please leave an e-mail address with your comment.

Good luck!

Read my review of Just Shy of Paradise here.

Just Shy of Paradise by Carole Thayne Warburton

2011-07-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

When Lily's valuable fishing pole is stolen, her Native American friend, Sky, is charged with the crime. But things are not always as they seem in this intriguing tale of romance, secrets, and betrayal.

I was thrilled to find a new book by Carole. I loved False Pretenses and A Question of Trust. Just Shy of Paradise is a different style than her others but I still loved it. The hero and heroine are both people you want to cheer for and get to know better. The storyline is very intriguing. Carole weaves a tragic historical event, The Bear River Massacre, into the storyline in a very effective and touching manner.

I would definitely recommend this book.

What I liked: Fun and interesting story with great depth of characterization and plot. I loved Lily (she eats a lot of ice cream, we could be pals).

What I didn't like: Sometimes it moved a bit slow for me, but you all know how impatient I am.

Audience: There is some graphic description of the Bear River Massacre so I would recommend sixteen and up (but I'm a bit overprotective of my kiddos).

Carole's Blog
Buy Just Shy of Paradise

Book Giveaway - Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away

2011-07-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was so impressed with this book I decided I needed to do a giveaway so one of my wonderful followers can be inspired to update their website like I was (give me a few weeks, I'm still working on it).

Boost Your Revenues By Turning People Away is a fabulous how-to book. I learned a lot about how to startup or update a website but I also learned about promotion, marketing, and general internet info (that I probably should've known but didn't). I would recommend the book to anyone who is selling a product online.

So how do you win?
Must be a follower of the blog to enter.
1 entry for leaving a comment on this post.
2 entries for sharing the current giveaway on Twitter or Facebook.
4 entries for posting about the giveaway on your personal blog or putting it on your sidebar.

Please include an e-mail address or other contact info.
Contest closes August 1st.
Contest open to residents of U.S. and Canada.

Check out the Ideal Visitor website.
Read my review of Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away here.

Don't Give Up

2011-07-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

"The harder I work, the luckier I get." Michael Jordan

One of my favorite nephews graduated from high school this year. He's a smart, good-looking, talented boy. He's also one of the nicest, hardest-working kids I know. The Michael Jordan quote was on his graduation announcement. I'm convinced his brains and talent (can't change the beauty part) have been developed to such a great extent because he learned to work hard at a young age.

There are many different aspects of life where hard work is essential. My husband is riding his bike in a race called Lotoja. From Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the race is 203 miles and almost 10,000 feet of vertical gain. In one day! I hurt just thinking about it. Other riders who have completed the race have told him it is 90% mind over body. Of course you have to train well and have the right equipment but the most important thing on race day: Don't give up.

No matter what you want to succeed at, it is imperative that you put in the time, train hard, and get the right equipment or help but the most important thing: don't give up.

Below are a few areas of my life that I want to succeed at but sometimes find myself becoming discouraged.

Fitness: Becoming fit is extremely tough. Many people start an exercise regime and quit because they get injured or sore or just plain sick of it. Please don't give up. I promise you it will get easier. As you do an activity you will enjoy it more. I'm finally recovered from my fourth baby and I completely understand how hard it is to get back into shape. It hurts. But it gets easier and more fun. Keep a positive attitude, keep making yourself get out of bed (I know, I love my mattress too), and keep trying different kinds of exercise. The variety will help you become more fit and keep you mentally excited about exercise.

Healthy Eating: As I exercise each morning I am convinced that I will eat healthy the entire day. By two p.m. my taste buds are hollering for their ice cream fix. I'm embarrassed to admit that most days I succumb. But it's okay to give in once in a while. You don't have to be perfect to be a healthy eater. I like the 90/10 diet plan (i): if you eat healthy 90% of the time, 10% of the time you can eat what you want. I try to eat low fat meals loaded with veggies so I can splurge on ice cream. Don't throw in the towel just because you slipped up on your diet. Enjoy the treat and do a little better next time. Or better yet, plan for the treat so you don't feel guilty or out of control.

Writing (or any worthy goal): I know of many writers who keep a file filled with rejections from agents and publishers. Not me. I toss them in the trash, delete them from my computer, and try to erase them from my memory. Writing is a tough industry. It's rare to hear of a successful writer who didn't deal with rejection. It's brutal, but no matter what kind of industry you're trying to succeed at, you have to keep going. Learn from the setbacks and get up no matter how many times you get knocked down.

Family: As a parent I repeat myself so often I get tired of hearing it. No wonder my boys tune me out sometimes. Parenting is one of those areas you can never give up on. Even though it seems like they're never going to get it we have to keep working, trying and praying. "No success can compensate for failure in the home." (ii) My focus has to be on my boys. When I start having those selfish nudges like wanting to eat a meal sitting down, I remind myself that they're growing up fast. I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to teach them but I also don't want to miss out on the fun.

Spirituality: Endure to the end. How many times have you heard that one? It's always when I get kind of comfortable and think I'm doing things pretty well that the Lord reminds me of several areas I can improve. Never fun, but as we obey the commandments, pray our guts out, and listen to those promptings we can become more like the Savior each day.

What goals or dreams are important to you? How do you keep going when you feel like giving up?

(i) "The 90/10 Diet" by Joy Bauer
(ii) Quote by David O. McKay, ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Book Donations for CAPSA and CFSC

2011-06-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

When my boys are having a hard day I read them a funny book. When I'm feeling depressed I reach for a favorite novel. When we just need a break from reality we turn to books.

What if you were experiencing the toughest time of your life? Would you want to escape into a fantastic suspense or intriguing paranormal novel? Would you want to hold your child on your lap and laugh, cry, or teach them with a book?

CAPSA (Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency) and CFSC (Child and Family Support Center) help families through nightmarish experiences the rest of can't even imagine or understand.

The other night I sat thinking about the amazing people who run these agencies and wondering how I could help more. The families always need the basics: food, shelter, clothing, money. I know we all try to donate when we can. But it hit me that it would be very nice to provide these mothers, fathers, and children with books. Books might not be necessary for survival but they can comfort, teach, entertain, inspire, and bond.

How can you help?

Donate new or gently used books (they would appreciate children's, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction and nonfiction) to one of these fabulous organizations or to your local family support or crisis center. If you want to donate to CFSC or CAPSA, email me camichecketts@yahoo.com. I can take the books in for you or give you the contact info you need.
Whether you donate to CFSC, CAPSA, or your local organization, post a comment on this blog and let us know how many books you donated. I'll add the number to the counter on the right.

Please help spread the word and share the number of donated books. I can't wait to see that number grow.

Thanks for caring about the children,
Cami

Author Interview- Alison Silbert

2011-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

I learned so much from Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away that I wanted to know a little bit more about the book and author. I hope you'll enjoy picking Alison's brain as much as I did.

1. What inspired you to write the book?
A colleague had suggested I put commonly asked questions into a book that I could hand out to prospective clients. It seemed like a good idea, so I went ahead and wrote the outline, then found potential book publishers (two of which showed interest in the outline). I completed the copy of the book, resubmitted the full manuscript to the same two publishers outlining the pre-qualifying process I had already completed, and signed a deal.

2. How do you determine your ideal client?
“I” determine my ideal client by asking myself “who do I want to help?”, “what
characteristics are included in my definition of an ideal client?”, and “what are the top 3 problems my ideal client has that I can solve quickly and easily for him/her?”

3. How important is choosing the right business?
Imperative. If you are marketing to the wrong business you are wasting time, energy and money.

4. What advice can you give other entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed by the
business, especially when a lot of things are going wrong at the same time?
Have faith. Regardless of your beliefs, things have a way of working themselves out.
There are numerous experts available, at various different price points, who are more than willing to assist you in generating the results you want.

5. What other advice can you give women entrepreneurs?
Keep doing what you love.

6. The title of your book, what does it mean?
Simply this: in spite of what most people use a website for (a glorified brochure
available for everyone to see), it is possible to write website copy that builds ideal prospects’ trust in you and your business, and leads them to take some step towards starting the sales cycle for you.

7. Tell us about “Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away”.

“Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away” is a compilation of all kinds of
experiences I have had with clients over the past 10 years woven between many useful
tidbits of information about how to get a website created and optimized so that it speaks only to your ideal client, rolled into one small book you can reference at a moment’s notice. Jam packed with useful tips on how to clarify the definition of your ideal client, three easy ways to put a website together and where to get the tools, and simple things you can do to increase your search engine ranking, this book is a must-have for any entrepreneur – seasoned or brand new. This book is also ideal for college/university graduates who want a leading-edge in a competitive job market.

8. How does this book benefit the reader?
This book walks the reader through three distinct phases of creating a website. Phase 1: Clarifying who you want the website to speak to (i.e. clarifying who your ideal client is) and what message you want to convey through the website (i.e., what do you want your readers to know? What do you want your ideal prospects to do from your website?).
Phase 2: Three simple ways to construct the website (choosing a professional, using a content manager and using a template).
And Phase 3: Simple things that an average business person can do to increase the likelihood that the website will be seen by its ideal visitors (the business’s ideal clients).

9. Who is your intended audience?
Anyone interested in learning for himself/herself how to put together an effective website that starts the sales cycle for them.

10. Tell us where “BOOST YOUR REVENUES BY TURNING PEOPLE” is available.
The book is available from amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and from.
http://idealvisitor.com/idealsite/book-2/.

Thanks, Alison, for stopping by my blog. Best wishes for a successful book launch. I'm sure many other business owners will enjoy the book as much as I did.

Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

What’s the best way to increase your business? Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away: How to Sell More to Your Ideal Client Online provides the answer in a nutshell. This informative guide that’s backed up by real-life situations is chock-full of business advice that makes success as easy as ABC, with C standing for Computer! Just how can you achieve your business goals? In three simple steps, you will learn to identify your ideal client, see how to design a website, and publicize properly so your ideal client can find your site!

If you are setting up or revamping your website, you need this book. The book has everything you need to make an amazing website that will bring the clients your business needs. I read it from an author's perspective and found help not only for me but for my husband's mortgage business. I would definitely recommend it.

What I liked: Easy to read and answered many questions I've had about website or internet issues.

What I didn't like: Now I have to get to work updating my website!

Audience: Targetted to business owners and anyone who maintains a website

Ideal Visitor Website (you definitely want to check this out)

Buy Boost Your Revenues by Turning People Away

Youtube Video

200 followers!

2011-06-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

While I was on vacation I crossed the mark - 201 followers. Amazing. Thanks to all of you who take the time to click on that follow button and even more thanks to those who comment. You're all wonderful!

Alaska was amazing. I really needed that time to enjoy my husband. We had wonderful weather and spent most of our time hiking and biking which was a good thing as we ate and ate and ate. I gained four pounds. Don't want to think about how much I would've gained if we hadn't stayed active.

Thank you again for following.

Pieces of Paris by G.G. Vandagriff

2011-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to forget who you once were?
Annalisse and Dennis seem to be living the American dream until Annalisse's secret past threatens to destroy their family.

This skillfully crafted novel from Whitney Award winner G.G. Vandagriff explores the long-term effects of personal tragedy in haunting flashbacks of Annalisse's former life—flashbacks that are interwoven with a passionate romance to reveal a person entirely different from the woman Dennis thought he had married.

But as Annalisse struggles with long-buried memories, Dennis's investigation of a toxic waste incident ignites the wrath of a former political ally and an industrial firm that will go to any lengths to cover up a shocking crime.

Can Annalisse reconcile her past and present before it's too late? And can Dennis find a way to save his family and the town they've called home?

I enjoyed this novel. It was different than anything I've read before and I really, really liked it. The author used flashbacks to Dennis and Annalisse's previous loves and it was effective. I usually don't like flashbacks but G.G. writes so well and the flashbacks were intriguing, I found myself looking forward to finding out what had happened in the past.

What I liked: I loved how the author dealt with a very serious subject without depressing me. I also loved that Dennis and Annalisse worked through their issues (and they had huge issues) together. They didn't give up on their marriage and they turned to the Lord for help. It was wonderful.

What I didn't like: The end felt a little abrupt. I wonder if the editor cut it because it didn't feel like something the author would do. But it ended well, no worries there.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Buy Pieces of Paris
G.G. Vandagriff's website

Slowing Down

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a summer girl. I love having my boys out of school. I love being outside day and night. I also love writing out a list of chores we're going to accomplish each summer. The boys and I are going to deep clean and repaint every room in the house. The lawn will be free of trash and dandelions. My garden will feed the entire neighborhood. I will park my van and we will ride bikes everywhere (think of all the gas money I'll save). Summer reenergizes me. I usually update my New Year's Resolutions and plan to conquer my corner of Cache Valley. But life changed at the Checketts' home last summer. I used to feel I was efficient and organized. I used to have monthly goals and daily to-do lists and if I didn't work towards each goal every day I would get frustrated with myself.

Baby number four has flipped our objectives and made us so much happier. I still want to deep clean the house (though maybe not repaint) and have a garden (thank heavens it's at the back of our property so no one will see how weedy it is). After having four children I finally conquered my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Because I have no choice. My baby needs me. My older boys need me. My husband needs me. My goals had to change. My new goals focus on my family, serving the Lord, and savoring each moment with this chubby baby. If I don't make it to the gym, turn on my computer, or fold the laundry, I try not to obsess over my lack of ambition.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.” (i)
Prioritizing is the hardest thing for me. Of course I'm not going to give up on my goals: my dreams of a garden, finishing my next novel, saving gas money by biking, or actually having a clean house. These are important things to me and I like to be motivated. We should always be trying to improve ourselves and the world around us. But sometimes we can go too far, get so wrapped up in the to-do list and forget about what's most important.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said he feared that we might "feel the busier we are, the more important we are - as though busyness defines our worth." Slowing down so we can meditate, ponder, and pray more can help us focus. President Gordon B. Hinckley recalled that his father "never ceased growing because he made time for thinking, meditating, and pondering." (ii) Maybe as we write our list of summer dreams we can focus more on improving our spirituality and making it possible for us to slow down and enjoy family, serving others, and the things that matter most.

This is especially true if you and your family are on overload (and who isn't most of the time?). Slowing down and focusing on the essentials will make it possible to accomplish the important things - scripture study, prayer, family meals, family activities, serving others, etc.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this.
Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions.
Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most.
Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship—the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace." (iii)

I pray each of you will have a wonderful, productive summer and be able to accomplish the goals you're setting for yourself and attain your dreams while still focusing on what matters most.

(i) "Good, Better, Best." Dallin H. Oaks, http://lds.org
(ii) "Don't be in a Hurry." by John C. Thomas, Ensign, June 2010 (This is a fabulous article. I re-read it every time I start feeling frantic.)
(iii) "Of things that matter most." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October, 2010, Church News

Cruising

2011-06-03T15:23:00.001-07:00

We leave in a couple of hours for an Alaskan cruise. I can't wait to enjoy my husband, see the beautiful scenery, and eat the terrific food, if I just didn't have to leave my boys.
Hopefully the trip will also be good for the muse. The voices in my head haven't been chatty since I had my baby.
Does a vacation help you with your writing or do you just go relax, enjoy, and not worry about anything?

Comments

2011-05-30T12:39:00.001-07:00

Blogger will not allow me to post comments on my blog or anyone else. I apologize if I don't respond to comments. I was going to ask if anybody else is having this problem but I guess if you are you can't post comments either! Hopefully we'll get it figured out soon.

Grateful I'm a Reader

2011-05-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

I don't enjoy television. I'd much rather read a book, play with my boys, exercise, or be outside. The exception to this is The Biggest Loser. I love that show. We record it and watch it Friday or Saturday night. But last night I had to find out who won before somebody slipped and told me. Big mistake. My boys were wrestling, making up funny names for the contestants, giggling, and generally just driving me crazy. I actually said, "If you can't be quiet and listen to the show then go to your rooms!" Oh, ornery Momma. It hit me then how grateful I am that I usually spend my nights reading chapter books to my boys and I don't really have any must-watch shows (besides Biggest Loser). I like my sleep too much to stay up late watching television and I'm not sure how anyone watches with their children. But maybe the boys were just extra rambunctious last night.

Do you have any favorite shows? If so, how do you fit them in?

Reading on the level

2011-05-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

I love reading aloud to my boys, especially when they're ready for chapter books. My boys have figured out if they want to stay up late they just have to say, "One more chapter, it's so good!"
Last night Double Fudge by Judy Blume made it so I didn't fold the laundry, clean up the kitchen, or get enough sleep.

We have so much fun with different books, but I have to be careful about reading above their level of understanding. Today my five-year old asked me to read him the Star Wars Trilogy. Um, probably not something he's going to understand or enjoy.

Is it wrong to read a book above their level of understanding? Parent's Corner has a great article about choosing "Just Right" books. Basically it's important for the subject matter to be something your child will enjoy and not be too far above or below their level so they stay interested. I usually try to follow these guidelines but after I've read picture books with my five-year old he climbs onto the top bunk and listens to his older brothers' books until he falls asleep. I hope I'm not messing him up somehow, but that's just how it works right now.

How do you keep your children interested in reading yet challenge them?
What works well for your family as far as a reading aloud schedule?

Keeping Up

2011-05-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'll sleep when I'm sixty. At least that's what I tell myself as I drag my tired body out of bed at five a.m. each morning. I love my crazy, busy life but there is a small part of me that dreams for those days when I don't have so many responsibilities when I can sleep in and still fit in a workout and get some writing done. Then I talked to my mom the other day (who is sixty). She told me a list of all the things pulling at her - work, children, grandchildren, church callings, friends with cancer and other awful diseases, home, garden, etc. etc. I almost cried, "You mean I'm never going to get to sleep?"
It comes back to what we already know - enjoy the journey. Keep a positive attitude through it and maybe some days sleep in just because your poor body needs a break.

How do you keep up and still keep a smile on your face?

The Fairy Thorn by Dorothy Keddington

2011-05-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

Dorothy Keddington has been one of my favorite authors since high school. I read and reread Shadow Song, Jayhawk, and Return to Red Castle. I was thrilled to find a new book released recently, The Fairy Thorn. It was classic Dorothy Keddington: romantic, suspensful, fun. But I did decide I'm getting too practical when I thought, "Oh, come on, her insides turned into melted butter just by looking at him. Again?" I used to melt myself over expressions like that. Looks like I'd better set up some dates with my honey and leave the wild boys home for once.

Read what other Dorothy Keddington fans are saying.

Portrait of a Mother by Michael Young

2011-04-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

This book is the perfect Mother's Day gift. I cried. It was a very good cry. The kind born from gratitude for my mom and gratitude for the blessing of being a mother to four crazy, adorable boys. I have to share one line from the booklet: "The life you will have depends largely on who your mother is." That has been so true for me. My mom has loved me and been my greatest example. A young lady who worked for my mother said, "When I'm around you I think I know how Jesus would act." I can't imagine a more true comment. I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day. Buy Portrait of a Mother Michael Young's Website

Aren't people wonderful?

2011-04-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

A beautiful lady who has followed my blogs showed up on my doorstep a couple of days ago for "Happy Cami Day." She gave me a small gift and told me how much I'd blessed her life. Amazing. I vowed all over again to get out and do more for others. I am impressed constantly by all the wonderful people in this world who touch my life and give and give and give. Thank you!

Save Magic City by Rocsanne Shield

2011-04-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

I appreciate Rocsanne Shield being my guest today and sharing a little information about "Save Magic City."

The Story Behind "Save Magic City"

While I was working for a big corporation, ten-hour-days seemed the only way of keeping up with the work load. However, after retiring, I got lots of time to look around me and take stock of the changes that had taken place while I worked.
The world is dominated by corporations who conduct their business in a globalized way. They change work forces the way we, plain humans, change clothes. As soon as a new poorer country offers better conditions, the factories and offices move and the old work force is "let go". That means that men and women are left without the means to continue life as they knew it. The process of finding new jobs entails such stress that families split and children suffer.

I believe firmly that people should help each other when misfortune strikes; the need to put something on paper became an obsession. How to help people in a small community, where the major work supplier left and has taken their living means away?

Leo, eight, needs a father figure, to love and grow to resemble. Edmund fills the role to perfection. Leo is the glue; he unites all the characters around their common goal -- to save their town from death.

Squirrel, a vivacious girl of eight, is one of Leo's best friends, and she is always there to help with communications among teams. She is a powerful telepath, and finally, through Edmund's cooperation, she finds the courage to tell everybody about her talent. She stops thinking of herself as a freak and proves her usefulness in the collective effort. At the end, she is the one who finds a way to communicate their dire straights to Edmund. Without her effort, the town's children would have been left to perish by their abductor.

Raccoon, the oldest of the trio of friends, is calm and ponderous and lives most of the time he is not with his friends in front of a computer. He helps the grownups with their problems with the Internet and sets up the website for their town. He also is the one to find, through the Internet, a lawyer to volunteer his services for the problems that are sure to crop up in their strife for a new, independent life.

The town becomes a unit and they might as well adopt the Musketeers' logo -- one for all and all for one. The children surely live by that. To read their story, go to my website, www.rocsanneshield.com. You will find an excerpt of "Save Magic City"; if you are intrigued to hear more, you can purchase my book there as well.
Save Magic City is also available for purchase at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble

"Save Magic City" is an excellent book for adults who want to teach their children the importance of caring for each other and the environment they live in. My book makes great reading and you will, I hope, tell others about it too.

Thanks, Rocsanne, for including me in your blog tour. I love stories that not only entertain but teach. I can't wait to read "Save Magic City" and share it with my boys.

The Death of Borders

2011-04-19T09:49:00.001-07:00

I stopped at Borders one last time Saturday afternoon. I wanted to cry. Losing our Logan Borders is a tragedy for everyone who loves books. In our little valley Borders was the largest bookstore and the most friendly to authors and readers. They worked hard to promote local authors and I never met a staff member who wasn't willing to help with a smile. My niece, Mykelle, promised me she'd opened a bookstore like Borders when she grew up. Oh, I love that girl.

Have you ever had a store that you love have to close its doors?

Writing a negative review

2011-04-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Black shared some insights on how to write a negative review on the blog Six LDS Writers and a Frog. She talked about Nathan Bransford's "sandwich rule" where you sandwich a negative comment in between two positive comments. She also suggested that you be specific and polite in your criticism. As an author it does hurt when you get a negative review so I always try to think of that as I review books, but it doesn't help anyone if the reviewer isn't honest about their opinion of the book. How do you balance criticism or honesty with kindness?

Double Minds by Terri Blackstock

2011-04-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

The young girl with the Bohemian style was on the floor where she'd fallen, between Parker's computer case and her file cabinet. She wore a long, flowing skirt---lavender, the color of calm---and camel-colored Uggs. She lay on her back, her long, wavy blonde hair matted with blood. For struggling singer/songwriter Parker James, the music business has just turned deadly. Her desk in the reception area of a busy recording studio has become a crime scene, and Parker finds herself drawn into a mystery where nothing is as it seems. Unraveling the truth puts her own life at risk when she uncovers high-level industry corruption and is terrorized by a menacing stalker. As the danger escalates, Parker begins to question her dreams, her future, and even her faith. Double Minds is a double treat---combining a compelling suspense novel with an inside look at the world of the Christian music industry in Nashville. Terri Blackstock grabs readers at page one and keeps them riveted until the final plot twist is untangled.

I really enjoyed this novel but I have to admit it took me almost a hundred pages to get into it. That may have had something to do with being in a car with my four boys for twelve hours and trying to read while repeating, "Stop licking your brother." I'm glad that I was able to focus and read this book. It's an amazing story. I liked the insight into the music industry and the heroine's family.

What I liked: A great Christian suspense novel with a very interesting plot line.
What I didn't like: The heroine was almost too nice. I loved that she was such a great example of Christian charity, but I cheered when she finally stood up for herself.
Audience: Appropriate for anyone.

Terri Blackstock's Website
Buy Double Minds

Depth of Deceit - Book Review

2011-04-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

Blonde and beautiful, fledging attorney Stephanie Saunders vows to protect the innocent even though as indigent defense attorney her clients rarely are. Does that include Josh Durrant who seems to be following her? Stephanie is dismayed when her peers begin calling her “Prom Queen” as her boyfriend, Todd Saxton, often does. Desperately trying to prove her worth, she falls prey to those who steal her innocence. Although she plans to forgive Todd for his ultimate betrayal, she is never given the chance. Her boss, Attorney Charles Connelly, offers solace, but is Stephanie’s welfare, or his own, top priority? The only thing that keeps Stephanie sane in her insane world are the horses she loves but does not own, especially the abused mare, Riskie Business, whose example helps Stephanie make the most difficult decision of her life. Relying on wit and courage, Stephanie must save herself and another during the final showdown where she proves a loyalty of which she never knew herself capable. This book kept me guessing. I love guessing. When I wasn't reading I would ponder: who was really the "bad guy" and how much danger was Stephanie in? It was such a fun read because of all the unknowns. I was also impressed by the way the author handled some heartbreaking turns in the story. As I reader I was sad about what happened but it didn't make me depressed, instead I wanted to keep reading to see how Stephanie was going to plow through. What I liked: Good, clean romance with a unique plot. What I didn't like: The resolution dragged on a bit, but I think I felt this way because my perception was off. When I saw that the suspense had been resolved I assumed something else was coming, especially because there was one more bad guy unaccounted for. Instead, I got a lot of happy times with the heroine and hero. Not a bad thing at all, just not what I was expecting. Audience: Young adults on up would enjoy this book, especially if they like horses. Buy Depth of Deceit Betty Briggs' Website 2010 Winner of the Silver Quill for second place in the Fiction category for the League of Utah Writers Publication Awards.

Dress for success

2011-03-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

My 8yo begs every day to wear athletic pants to school. I used to say no, until I volunteered at his class. Now we have to clarify which days are "dress up" days. Sometimes I wonder if dressing so casually affects the students level of respect and productivity. I love to hang out in sweats, but I find if I don't get ready for the day I feel lazy and slobby. I know many authors write in their sweats but for me the way I'm dressed can have a bearing on my productivity and quality of work. What about you? Do you feel more productive when you're dressed nice or is being comfortable always top priority?

More Children's Books Suggestions

2011-03-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

I asked my Facebook friends for some suggestions on funny children's books and got some fabulous ideas.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Crowell
Judy Moody books by Megan McDonald
Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benton
I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (I have to say that my boys adore these, but I'm lukewarm)
Skippy Jon Jones by Judy Schachner
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
The Pig's Picnic by Keiko Kasza (we love everything she writes)
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald (we read these and I found myself laughing then having to explain things to the boys, like what a privy is)
Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
Franny K. Stein by Jim Benton (I'm glad to know these are cute. I've never read them to the boys because quite honestly I didn't like the cover. We're going to have to try them out.)
A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon
Contrary Bear by Phyllis Root
Books by Judi Barrett
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch
McBroom's Ear by Sid Fleischman
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton
Pet's a Pizza by William Steig
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
The Ugly Truckling by David Gordon
The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death by Daniel J. Pinkwater
Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky

Please feel free to add to the list. Thanks!

Sex in YA Novels

2011-03-22T10:15:00.001-07:00

I had to share this very well thought out blog post: Sex in YA: One Naive Mom's Opinion.
Don't let the title fool you, she is not at all naive. This is one of the best blog posts I've read about the subject and inspires me all over again to try to do something about getting publishers to disclose sex, violence, and language in novels.
Parental Book Reviews is a great site for revealing a book's content, but I don't want to stop and search the internet when I'm in the bookstore with a 4yo and infant trying to find something for their big brothers to read.
Would any of you be willing to support some sort of petition for book disclosure or ratings, maybe on Facebook or through a blog?

Reading for laughs

2011-03-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Once in a while (two or three times a day) I get irritable. My sons are usually pretty good at rescuing me from (and sometimes putting me into) these moods. Quite often we rely on funny books to restore the happiness. Here's a few of our favorites:

Chicken in the Headlights - Matthew Buckley
Superfudge - Judy Blume
My Lucky Day - Keiko Kasza
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs - Jon Scieszka
Junie B. Jones - Barbara Park

I'd love some other ideas, epecially for chapter books. Please share.

The next great idea

2011-03-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

My brother called me last week and said, "You're a great writer, if you could just come up with that million dollar idea." I thanked him for his encouragement and wondered what he thought I was trying to do - write any crazy thought that came into my head without pondering, praying, and hoping that it was the right idea to hit the market at exactly the right time?

Most writer's conferences and workshops I've attended preach to write what you're passionate about and not write to the market, but there definitely has to be a balance.

Have you ever forced yourself to write (or in a different career spend your valuable time on) something because you think (or know) it's going to be a good career move? Did it cheapen the experience or was it worth it in the end?

Stephanie Black

2011-03-08T10:18:00.000-08:00

I loved Stephanie Black's novels Methods of Madness and Fool Me Twice, but I didn't enjoy Cold as Ice quite as much. The book is very well-written, fast-paced, and keeps you intrigued from start to finish. Yet I found myself a bit depressed as I read it. For me it wasn't a feel-good kind of book. That said, I truly would recommend you read it because the theme of forgiving yourself and not making quick judgments of others really gave me a lot to ponder. Cold as Ice may not be a rosy, happy book but it definitely sticks in your mind and makes you want to be better.

The 39 Clues

2011-03-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

My 8yo bought The 39 Clues set from Scholastic Book Order. We've been having a great time reading the books, collecting the clues, and playing the game online. I'm amazed that each book is written by a different author yet the voice feels fluid. Some of the authors I recognized were Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, and Linda Sue Park, but there are also authors we'd never read, giving us some new names to try out. For a list of the authors, click here. If you haven't read The 39 Clues with your children I highly recommend them.

Critique Groups

2011-02-26T20:46:00.001-08:00

There are many reasons I love getting together with my critique group. It's wonderful to be around other people who understand a writer's life, I love the input I get on my manuscript, but my favorite part is the exitement that returns to my writing. I'm on a writer's high for at least a week. It is definitely worth the hassle of leaving the family for a night.
What do you love about your critique group (or any other group you meet with - book club, cooking, quilting, etc.)?

Don't Think About It

2011-02-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

As a writer my brain is constantly swirling with ideas and plotlines. My gray mass is so busy thinking that sometimes it gets me into trouble - not paying attention to my driving and pulling in front of a bus, I didn't even notice the yellow beast until he took out my passenger side, didn't he know I needed to get home and write down my latest idea? And we won't even get into the story of the fabulous scene I'd concocted when I absentmindedly stuck my fingers into the lawnmower, maybe someday that will make a good story.
A huge problem with my super-crazy brain is when my family and friends need me for a sounding board. Instead of just listening (like I know I should) I'm dissecting, scheming, and coming up with all kinds of ideas to solve their problem. What I really need to do is shut my brain up, listen, and love.
Do any of you have trouble turning your brain off?

Reading Outside the Box

2011-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

My oldest son loves to read and has cruised through many YA paranormal books. Lately I've been bringing him books that I've loved. Suspense novels by Davis Bunn and Robert Marcum. Historical fiction by Gerald N. Lund and Ron Carter. I haven't dared share my favorite romance (they're clean but he is a 12yo boy) but it's been fun to see him reading in different genres and loving the books.
My boys have also helped me read outside my comfort zone. I wouldn't choose a paranormal or fantasy book on my own but I've read plenty to my 8 & 12yos. My 8yo also loves nonfiction. The only nonfiction I read are fitness, writing, or religion, but I'm now learning about trains, submarines, animals, and all kinds of weaponry.
I'm grateful my boys expose me to new things, maybe someday I'll pick up a book about giraffes on my own. Then again, maybe not.

My Issues with Electronic Entertainment

2011-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

"Mom, can we play the Playstation?" Like most moms, I only hear this question a dozen times a day. Every once in a while I smile and say, "Sure." Thinking, "He's done his chores and homework and only hit his brother a couple of times, why not reward the kid?" But most of the time I curse Santa and wish the North Pole had a better return policy. Santa is the one who got us into the video game mess. Two years ago the boys wrote letters and e-mails and even prayed for a Playstation as they were the "only kids in the whole world without one." So we had a very fun Christmas morning, all faith in Santa was instantly restored (they knew their mom would never buy a Playstation), and I have been wishing we could redo that Christmas morning every day since.

My boys often ask what I have against video games. The boys are good to not play violent games and they only fight over the two controllers and claim they could beat the level better than their brother every five minutes or so. Basically video game time at our house is a pretty peaceful stretch of thirty minutes where Mom can run around and catch up on chores or Facebook uninterrupted.

My issues with video games (or computer games, television, texting, etc.) only comes into play when an excessive amount of time is spent on said activities. I'm afraid if I don't limit electronic time my boys won't learn to work hard and improve themselves during their time here on earth. "Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause." (i) This includes children. The best time to teach correct principles is when they are little. I want my children to learn so many things: how to interact well with others, a great knowledge of the scriptures, faith, how to be hard workers, how to serve others, how to love to read and do well in school. My list, like yours I'm sure, could go on and on. But how am I going to teach them all these things if they are so busy with school, athletics, Scouts, friends, and electronic entertainment? You'll probably agree that most of the things on my sons' lists are good activities. About the only one I want to cut back on is the electronics. Now I'm not saying the boys will never play another video game (if I tried that they'd run away to Granny's). But I might say no to the Playstation a little more often and actually stick to the thirty minute time limit.

The church I belong to (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) has asked our local leaders to have fewer meetings and place less demands on families. Our general authorities have asked us to slow down and eliminate excessive extracurricular activities so we can spend more time together at home. (ii) These are wonderful ideas if the family takes advantage of that extra time to teach, love, and play with their children. But if my boys use that extra time to conquer more levels on Star Wars Battlefront and I use that extra time to surf the blogosphere, we would be better to be off playing more basketball games or doing more Scouting activities. I believe our leaders are encouraging that extra time at home so we can build better family relationships and prepare our children to succeed in an increasingly evil world. These things won't happen if we are all plugged in.

So what's my solution? I have to be a more involved parent. It's easy to be a lazy Mom. Children can be endlessly entertained, they can make their own food in the microwave, and they can put themselves to sleep watching television (we've only done that a few times, promise). I have to work harder. It's hard to say no to Playstation, get myself away from my computer, and go outside to play a game of Lightning with the boys, read the latest 39 Clues book to them, see if I can finally beat them at Monopoly, or go pick up some of their friends for a fun late night. I'm so busy right now I've given up on folding laundry (it works if you just throw it all in a basket for each child and they somehow find what they want to wear), but laundry, housework, and even writing can wait. Teaching and enjoying my boys has to be the first priority. Maybe if I do a good enough job I'll only hear, "Can I play the Playstation?" five times today.

(i) Doctrine and Covenants 58:27
(ii) "Good, Better, Best," by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, October, 2007

Starless Sky by Paige Agnew

2011-02-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

Starless Sky is about a girl, Kahlen, who is experiencing the loss of a friend. Kahlen feels alone and lonely, but she also gets tired of people feeling sorry for her and giving her sympathetic looks. Going to Dean's Creek is the only place she finds solace. Well, at least it WAS the only place until Kennley showed up. Now she can't even find solace there...or can she?
In the midst of loss, there is life; a sentiment Kahlen was not quick to accept. But in the process of the daily routine of school, dropping grades, frustrated parents, and pain, Kahlen begins to gain insights (the kind that comes from fortune cookies or good friends). Her new found wisdom and the strain of dealing with Kennley and his troubling past lead her to an exciting new phase of life.
Starless Sky is a genuine portrayal of grief and loss, yet comforting and filled with hope and expectation. It is a book of encouragement through following the lives of high schoolers.

Starless Sky is a great young adult novel. I loved that the characters dealt with real issues of loss of a best friend, drugs, and staying morally clean. Starless Sky is a story of second chances, love, friendship, and humor. I will recommend it to the young people I know.

What I liked: I loved the interactions with Marissa. Kahlen thought she was annoying at first but then when she gave her a chance she realized what a great friend Marissa was. Whenever my boys tell me that someone at school is a "jerk" I tell them to give the person a chance. The other day my oldest told me that he'd made a new friend who he once thought was a "jerk." He said I was right about giving him a chance.

What I didn't like: I felt some of the scenes could've been shortened or deleted. I found myself skipping a few times, but I'm big on brevity so this probably wouldn't bother other readers.

Audience: Young Adult

Available at

www.paigeagnew.com

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.schulerbooks.com

Help out your local library

2011-02-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

Squeaky Clean Reads is giving away packages of books to the library of your choice. Enter to win and help out your local library.

Unlearn Your Pain by Howard Schubiner, MD

2011-02-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Do you suffer form chorinc pain that appears to have no medial cause? So many suffer needlessly from pain diagnosed as migraines, tension headaches, fibromyalgia, or chronic neck, back, abdominal, and pelvic pain, when the real cause is Mind Body Syndrome.

Using cutting-edge research, this book demonstrates that the underlying reason for much chronic pain is nerve sensitization and learned nerve pathways, rather than actual tissue destruction. Dr. Schubiner has used this new understanding to develop a unique program to actually reverse pain - research studies support the effectiveness of the program. By reading this book, you'll be able to deterimine if you have this syndrome and how to overcome it. The program in this book gives you therapeutic writing exercises, a meditation CD, and everything else you need to unlearn your pain.

I have dealt with a few episodes of chronic pain and after reading this book I realized how to overcome my issues (well, not all of them but the ones that caused me physical pain). My chronic pains aren't a big deal - a neuroma in my foot from running, upper back pain from holding a chubby baby day and night, but reading this book helped me realize why I was having these pains and how to stop them.

This program truly can reprogram your brain and help you get rid of unnecessary pain. I realize that sounds a bit overzealous, but I hate to see people suffering needlessly. This program is safe, effective, easy to understand and implement, and inexpensive. I recommend everyone read this book and see if it couldn't help you.

Buy Unlearn Your Pain

Blog Design

2011-01-27T09:21:00.001-08:00

I tried out a new blog background. Not sure if I love it. Any votes?
I always go through Cutest Blog on the Block. Are there other sites that have free uploads of fun backgrounds?

Devil's Food Cake by Josi Kilpack

2011-01-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

I finally made the time to read Devil's Food Cake the third in Josi Kilpack's culinary mystery series. Loved it. A terrific cozy mystery. I adore her heroine, Sadie Hoffmiller. My only problem with the story is the cover. As you can see, it's my weakness. The first weekend I had the book I baked devil's food cake. After eating three pieces I had to force the rest of the cake into my boys' mouths and hide the cover under other books.
Besides the temptation to eat as you're reading, the series is wonderful. Lemon Tart is the first followed by English Trifle. Key Lime Pie (#4) was released in August so I'm a bit behind. If you can resist the recipes or aren't on a diet, I would highly recommend the entire series.

Still waiting for January

2011-01-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

We're doing well with our family goal this year - being clean (in mind, body, spirit, and home). My husband thought of that after my sis called my boys "dirties". She retagged them "grubbies" when I complained about the "dirties" title. She'd watched the boys while Stan and I were in the NICU with the baby. They came to her house disgustingly dirty. She asked when their last shower was and none of them could remember. She opened their bag to find clean clothes (they promised me they packed well) and found only Nerf guns. After she got them and their clothes clean she asked, "Now doesn't that feel better?" Their response, "If it makes you feel better, Aunt Abbie."
Hence the decision to be clean this new year. It's worked well all the way around being clean in body and spirit. But I also set goals for myself to start writing again and stop using the cute baby as an excuse. It hasn't happened yet. I keep putting it off, telling myself the baby isn't old enough for me to get with it. I guess I'm still waiting for January to officially start.
I would love some motivation if anyone has something to share.

Questioning my inspiration

2011-01-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

My book ideas always originate from nightmares. Last week I had a doozy and was certain I'd found my new book idea, but then I started questioning myself. Was the idea solid? Was it intriguing? Do I really want to invest a year on this idea?

My question to you is: How do you know an idea is golden (an idea for a new novel or for anything that you enjoy creating)? Do you stew about it for weeks before you take the plunge or just go for it and pray you aren't being led astray by new idea euphoria?

Radio talk shows

2011-01-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

As I drove home from the gym this morning the song ended and the morning talk show hosts started chatting. I immediately changed the channel, then I felt a bit of guilt. As an author I've been featured on different radio talk shows and hoped that someone tuned in. My unconscious reaction of changing the channel when I heard talking instead of music made me wonder if anyone is listening to the chat anymore or if we all just want to get back to the music.

The Time is Now

2011-01-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, let me do it now; for I shall not pass this way again." S. Grellet

I always get excited this time of year to be on top of my life again. I make all kinds of goals and plans: To have an effective schedule for homework, chores, family fun time, bedtime, etc. To eat healthier, eat smaller portions, and exercise harder. To meet my writing goals. To serve others more effectively and more often. To clean my house (no, not really, that's still way down the priority list).

Even though I get really excited about my goals, it's always easier to plan for tomorrow rather than today. Tomorrow I'll study and ponder my scriptures instead of just reading them. Tomorrow I'll be fun and play with my boys for longer than five minutes. Tomorrow I won't eat a bowl of ice cream (but I really need one tonight). Tomorrow I won't sleep in (but the baby was up a lot last night and right now I really need to snuggle my pillow). Tomorrow I'll make the boys clean their rooms (then I'll redo them while they're at school).

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." Thomas Jefferson

"When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no, I'll start tomorrow. Tomorrow is disease." V.L. Allineare

It's great to make goals and to plan for tomorrow, but we need to live for today. I love having many lofty goals but to be effective in accomplishing those goals I try to break them into easier, daily goals. I also like to write them on the calendar so I know what I need to accomplish today.

Today I will make a healthy dinner for my family and resist chocolate (oh, the torture). Today I will revise five pages of my manuscript instead of check out Facebook posts during computer time. Today I will get out of bed when my alarm goes off, drive to the gym, and not come home until I sweat. Today I will go visit my adopted grandma. Today I will respond with patience and love when my four-year old is flailing on the ground screaming for a donut (that only happened twice so far).

It's easy to get overwhelmed if we think we have to do everything perfectly for the rest of our lives, but if we can take it one day at a time it seems more manageable. If anyone told me I could never have a bowl of chocolate ice cream covered with chocolate fudge again I'd probably eat ten bowls to stock up on the sensation, but if I just tell myself that I'm not having a bowl today but on Friday I can have a treat, I don't go quite so crazy.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful call to action in the May Ensign: "Now is the time to adjust your lives to be able to have a temple recommend and use it. Now is the time to have meaningful family home evenings, to read the word of God, and speak to our Heavenly Father in earnest prayer. Now is the time to fill our hearts with gratitude for the Restoration of His Church, for living prophets, the Book of Mormon, and the priesthood power that blesses our lives. Now is the time to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, become His disciples, and walk in His way." (i)
Now is the time to accomplish our goals, improve ourselves, and love and enjoy our family and friends.

The other day in the grocery store, the young man at the deli counter handed me my meat. I mumbled, "Thanks. Have a nice day." He grinned and said, "No. You make it a great day." We each have a choice. We can choose to make it a great day or we can choose to become bogged down with frustrations, offenses, and a to-do list that we can't accomplish.

"There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most." Thomas S. Monson (ii)

Today is the gift we have been given. Make it a great day and let tomorrow take care of itself.

(i) Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Way of the Disciple," Ensign, May 2009, 75-78.
(ii) President Thomas S. Monson, "Don't procrastinate what matters most," LDS Women's Conference, May 2, 2008.

Book Rating made easy

2011-01-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Common Sense Media? My friend, Matthew Buckley, referred me to it. They rate and review books, movies, TV, music, and video games. It's a great site to make sure you're getting safe and great entertainment for you and your family.

Yahoo group for readers and authors of romance

2011-01-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

I found this fabulous Yahoo group for readers and writers who love romance. They are keeping the books PG-13 which is really nice. Hope to see you on the loop.

Yahoo Group: Authors and Readers of Romance
Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Authorsandreadersofromance
Group Moderator: Joanne Troppello
Website: http://www.joannetroppello.weebly.com
Next Author Chat on facebook: Tuesday, January 11 • 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=180167605335673

We are a group of authors and readers who love romance novels. This is a group for authors to promote their novels, share contests they're hosting, post excerpts and network with other authors. This is also a group for readers to connect with romance authors and ask questions, as well as learn about authors' upcoming releases etc.

***Please note, we'd like to keep this group PG-13 rated. We are accepting members in all genres of romance and want to find a happy medium of "PG-13 rated" content when posting. Thanks! :-)

We’d love to have you join our discussions!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2011-01-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

Have any of you read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson? I realize I've been out of it with the baby but I honestly can't remember hearing about this series and I just read on Publisher's Lunch that it's the top book of 2010. Entertaiment Weekly hated it saying there was far too much description, which I personally have a hard time with. Mostly Fiction said it was suspenseful and the reviewer "couldn't put it down."
What do you think? Is it worthy of the top book of the year?

Mockingjay - too violent?

2010-12-29T14:35:00.000-08:00

I finished Mockingjay last night. I've devoured all the books in The Hunger Games series, even though I've cringed at the violence and sadness of each one. Suzanne Collins is an amazing author, everything just feels so real as you read those books. But as I read them I realize I am a hypocrite. I saw nothing wrong with me reading the stories and visualizing the destruction, but my 12yo came home and told me read The Hunger Games at school. I was sick. I told him the books were far too violent and I didn't want him reading them. He just shrugged and said, "Okay, Mom."
Am I being too protective? How do you keep your child's innocence and yet let them grow up? Okay, that's a weighted question but I'm referring to what they read not the whole scheme of things. And seriously, why don't they rate books so we can at least have a guidance system of some sort. My 12yo wouldn't think of watching a PG13 or R-rated movie, but I think some of the books he's read have been violent enough to be R.

Christmas Jars

2010-12-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

Last year we read Christmas Jars and gave away our very first jar. The boys loved leaving the jar on a doorstep and "doorbell ditching." This year we're excited to give away another jar.
My mom gave me Christmas Jars Reunion a few weeks ago. My 12yo and I just finished reading it. I'm still wiping away tears so I can write this post.

What is a Christmas Jar?
"A Christmas Jar is a pickle jar, peanut butter jar, Mason jar or whatever else you have around to collect your spare change each day. All coins are dedicated to the jar, and during the week before Christmas you carefully select someone to give it to anonymously."

For more information and stories about Christmas Jars that have changed lives, click here.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and find many opportunities to give and love.

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

2010-12-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

I haven't been the most ardent Nicholas Sparks fan. Don't get me wrong, I think he writes touching and romantic stories, but I've always felt the pace was too slow. Maybe I'm getting more patient because I loved, The Lucky One. It's a really touching story with fabulous characters. If you haven't read it, I would recommend it.

When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

What I liked: A fabulous romance, mostly clean (they do have premarital relations but the author doesn't describe it), great plot.
What I didn't like: There were still parts that were a bit slow for me, where I was thinking, "I know how to make homemade ice cream, get back to the story."
Audience: Adult

Shudder - Book Review

2010-12-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

I've adored Jennie Hansen's books since I was a teenager and was thrilled to read her newest, Shudder. It was different than her others, but still well-written and almost impossible to put down.

Back Cover Blurb:

Darcy and Clare grew up as best friends, sharing trials and triumphs from preschool through college graduation. Now they’re sharing an apartment in Boise, Idaho, where Clare just landed a great job and Darcy is pursuing a teaching certificate. There’s only one problem: Blaine, Clare’s boyfriend. His chauvinistic, know-it-all ways set Darcy’s teeth on edge. Darcy vows not to let Blaine ruin her lifelong friendship with Clare, but when Blaine insists on moving in, Darcy suddenly finds herself alone.

The estranged friends forge ahead on seemingly separate paths. Engaged to Blaine, Clare becomes trapped in ugly family politics and vicious treatment from her fiancé. Darcy finds a temporary home with Karlene, an accident victim seeking live-in help, but a twisted plot soon threatens their safety. Clare’s wedding briefly reunites her with Darcy, yet the friends have never been farther apart. And when Clare finds herself in mortal peril and finally calls on Darcy to help, it might be too late.

What I liked: Fast-paced, intriguing story, and I really loved Darcy and Karlene.

What I didn't like: The abuse was awful. It honestly gave me nightmares.

Audience I would recommend to: I wouldn't want a teenager reading this, but I think it teaches many important lessons for adult readers.

Where to buy:

Amazon

Deseret Book

A Winter Solstice Celebration - Book Review

2010-12-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

A Winter Solstice Celebration takes young readers deep into the forest, where they discover how seemingly harmless human activities can wreak havoc on the natural world.

When I get the opportunity to review a children's book I take it to the experts (my sons). The 4yo liked the animals. The 8yo said the story was "interesting." The 12yo said, "She taught a good lesson through a picture book, but I think Moms and Dads need the lesson more than kids." In a way I agree with him, I learned a lesson while reading this story but I hope he learned a lesson as well: children standing up for what's right can make a difference and help teach their Moms and Dads.

What I liked: I loved the illustrations and loved that Miya stood up for what was right and made a positive change that helped others.

What I didn't like: I felt a bit of guilt about the trees we've chopped down for Christmas and the fact that I was the one whining when my husband bought me a beautiful fake tree!
I also felt the story could've been trimmed a bit to hold the interest of my 4yo better, but for the older boys it worked.

Audience I would recommend this book to: 4yo to 94yo would truly enjoy this book. I'm glad to have it with our other Christmas keepers.

YouTube Video
DiDi LeMay's Website

A Winter Solstice Celebration is available for purchase at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble