Chasing a Dream

 I'm guest blogging on the FaithWords blog today about my writing dreams. Here's a snippet.

As a young girl in Texas, I didn’t think of my life as being anything but ordinary. My dad worked in a petroleum plant. My mom sold Avon so she could save up for a piano and pay for lessons for my two younger sisters and me. And more often than not, she spent any extra money on new dresses for us girls while she wore last year’s style. . . . read more here.

Who knew that someday my dream of writing a book would be realized? This weekend I'll be returning to my home stomping grounds for a brunch reception and then a book signing at the Guymon Public Library. I'm proud of the area where I grew up amid the most nurturing, encouraging people on earth, and I hope I've made them proud as well. I'll let you know how it goes. 

What is special about the place you grew up?  

Confessions of an ACFW Conference Junkie

I'm a guest today on the ACFW Conference Blog. It's no secret that I love the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference. Come see why on today's installation of the ACFW Blog.

Writing Dreams, Partners in the Journey, and OCD

My friend Tiffany Colter did a fun interview with me which is now live in the

AFICTIONADO ONLINE MAGAZINE.

Also featured are some quotes from my writing friends and a few little known facts about me. Take a look if you dare. And thanks, Tiffany, for putting this all together!

A Full and Busy Life

Things have been quite hectic around here lately. Can anyone relate? I've know that April would be a busy month, and it has been. Great things going on, but sadly I've not taken the time to share them with you here. So, this is the short version.

First-born Grandson's 13th Birthday: We didn't make it to Texas for the actual day, but we had a wonderful time seeing the kids, relaxing at the hotel pool, and having "Chocolate Dipping Stix" at Pizza Hut in lieu of cake. Such a cool kid. Happy 13th Birthday!



Writing Workshop with Susan May Warren: This was our local WIN-ACFW writing group's annual mini-conference, and WOW! Susie is just a bundle of energy. She is a fount of ideas and practically glows when she is teaching. I came away from the Friday evening and all-day Saturday event ready to tackle my next book. Honestly, though, it wore me out. My brain simply cannot hold all the info that Susie shared. If you have the opportunity, please take a weekend course or a conference class from Susie. AKA Susie May and Susan May Warren and the Book Therapist. It wasn't all work, though. The officers of our group took Susie to eat at Los Cabos on the Jenks Riverwalk and enjoyed a perfect spring evening talking about . . . what else? Writing.

Writing News: I'm counting the days until the release of Chasing Lilacs. 54.5 days right now. I've been blessed with a lovely review in Library Journal and found out yesterday that Chasing Lilacs received a 4 1/2 star rating from Romantic Times Magazine (the highest rating they give). Sometimes I feel like I'm living someone else's life and that I'm going to wake up in a strange house one of these days. I'm so grateful to all the people who've cheered me on. God is good.

Milestone Day: This is news that I'm whispering. Tomorrow I step into a new decade of my life. I'm not going willingly, but hopefully with grace. I only know that if the next ten years are half as amazing as the last ten, it will still be a wonderful life.

So, is it just me, or is the earth turning faster? Why are the days going by in a blur? And please do not tell me, it's because I'm older.

CHASING LILACS has a new cover

I've been anxious to unveil this fun news for a week or so. CHASING LILACS has a new cover. The design concept folks at FaithWords felt that a different look would convey the essence of Sammie's story better with this new look. As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it.


While I could almost smell the lilacs in the fruit jar on the original, this one captures the story even better. You may still see the old cover popping up here and there, but it's the same story, just with a new look. And there's still a nice little bouquet of lilacs in Sammie's hand.

A side note: Some of you have already pre-ordered Chasing Lilacs. Thank you. It means a great deal to me. If you've been thinking about it, but haven't had a chance, I wanted to tell you that Barnes and Noble and Amazon both have it at a nice price. You can also read more about the story and see some of the lovely things people are saying about the book. Stay tuned for other announcements about book signings and my book launch which are in the works. The time is fast approaching for the release date - just a fraction over two months.

So tell me, don't you love this creative new design?

MY WRITING JOURNEY - Waiting on the Lord

Today I'm once again blogging at

SERIOUSLY WRITE

Join my friends Dawn Kinzer and Annette Irby and me as I share my writing journey
and what "Waiting on the Lord" means to me.

A Chat with Canadian Friend, Koala Bear Writer

I'm also chatting today with a special friend and lovely writer from Canada.

THE KOALA BEAR WRITER

She asked about my "getting the call" and wanted a sneak peek at Chasing Lilacs.
Please stop by her blog and say hi!

CHASING LILACS and Other Fun Stuff

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about the release of my upcoming book, Chasing Lilacs. The truth is, I’m not all that comfortable tooting my own horn. I don’t want people—meaning you, my readers—to grow weary of it before it even hits the shelves. And yet, it’s never far from my mind, so please rejoice with me on these latest updates:

I’ve been blessed by endorsements from several fabulous authors that simply take my breath away. You know who you are, and I thank you.

The ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) have been sent to reviewers. Biting my nails on what might come of that.

The Christian MomLogic Book Club has chosen Chasing Lilacs as its next selection, and will be reading the book in late February (pre-release). Thank you FaithWords for providing ARCs for this group.

The FaithWords Spring/Summer Catalog is out, and the cover art of Chasing Lilacs is on their cover. No words to describe how humbling and exciting that is. Also a terrific write up in the New Release section inside. This somehow makes it seem more real that my book is on the precipice of being out there. My prayer is that it blesses the socks off those who read it.

The book is available for pre-order here and here and also available on Kindle.

Marketing and publicity seems to be the next big thing, and I’ll give you links from time to time on where I’ll be guest blogging. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter @ChasingLilacs, stop in and say hi on Facebook, or if you’re new here and want to know more about my book, visit my website.

Now for the fun part:

In honor of Chasing Lilacs being set in 1958, here’s a rundown of what things cost back then:

Car: $2,200
Gasoline: 30 cents/gal
House: $18,000
Bread: 19 cents/loaf
Milk: $1.01/gal
Postage Stamp: 4 cents
Stock Market: 584
Average Annual Salary: $5,500
Minimum Wage: $1.00 per hour

The Ford Edsel was released in 1958, and “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry was the No. 1 song of the year. This song, though, was the one playing at Sammie Tucker's first dance. I think you'll enjoy it too.



Ah, the good old days . . .

Since most of you probably don’t remember 1958, tell me what childhood year you do remember and what made that year a standout. Can’t wait to hear your answers!

TAKING THE PLUNGE: PLATFORM ANYONE?

Remember when you were a kid splashing in the kiddie pool looking over at the ten-year-olds jumping off the side, laughing and having the time of their lives? Two summers later, there you are, heart pounding, plunging into water that’s two feet over your head.

You sign up for swimming lessons, learn the strokes, and hang around the pool afterward, watching the lithe, stringy teens swan dive off the high board, and you promise yourself that someday that will be you.

Becoming a writer is a lot like becoming an accomplished swimmer. You don’t go from the kiddie pool to being a published author in a heart beat. But there is a passion born in the tenderness of youth, a desire to one day realize your dreams. At least there was for me. At a young age, books became my best friends, and someday I knew I would write my own book.

Then, one day I did. Wrote another one. Looked for some seasoned coaches. Sought out others who shared my passion. And after several seasons of practice, competition, and more practice, I had a manuscript I believed in. Before long, someone offered me a chance to be on the team. An agent. Then a publisher who wanted to pay to publish my book. In no time I knew I'd be swimming in the fast lane.

Uh . . . not so fast. No one knew me from the thousands of other contracted authors.

Enter the unknown waters of marketing. I’m back in the kiddie pool. Things are a little murky, but everywhere I turn, I keep hearing the same thing.

“What’s your platform?”

“Well, a few people read my blog.” (THANK YOU, friends, who faithfully read my drivel and still come back – you are my life raft).

“What else?”

“Umm. Facebook?”

“Good start. How about Twitter?”

Ugh. Too personal. I have nothing interesting to say. No one wants to know what I had for breakfast or the latest adventures of my doxie, Zelda. What can I possibly say in 140 characters?

“But this is the best way to create buzz about your book.”

Yeah. Yeah.

I don’t jump into deep waters without considering the cost and the reward: time, learning new technology (not to mention a whole new set of vocabulary words), finding people who would follow me. Following other people. Making new contacts. Building a platform. Learning more about the industry I’m honored to be part of. Yes, it’s clearer now. It's time to jump off the high dive. Twitter, here I come.

Okay. Today was the day. I slowly climbed the steps one by one. Only looked back a couple of times, then stepped onto the board. Crept to the end and took a couple of practice bounces and four deep breaths. Then I took the plunge and made my first tweet.

I’m taking it slow, dog-paddling in the oceanic water of Twitterdom. I have less than a dozen followers and am following a few more than that. Care to join me? If you do, my user name ChasingLilacs. I’d love to have you on board.

TOP FIVE INSPIRATIONAL DEBUT NOVELS OF 2009

I am fortunate to be sharing my writing journey with other authors whose first novels released this year. Although I’m not personally acquainted with all the debut authors on this list, I’ve been entertained with a great variety of inspirational fiction. These ladies have set the bar high for me and others trying to break into the magical world of publishing.

For your reading enjoyment, I present – in no particular order – my Top Five Debut Novels for 2009: Inspirational.

• One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson
• The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry
• The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin
• The Bartered Bride by Erica Vetsch
• Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove
  

Lovely books from some great up-and-coming authors.

Next week – Ten Great Novels from 2009!

And to round out the year, the last week in December – Top Four Amazing Novels from 2009 and why you should read them.

I can’t imagine a world without books, can you?

"My First Sale" Article

A lot of people have asked me about my writing journey. Here you can read it all in the current issue of the ACFW Afictionado Ezine. Tiffany Amber Stockton did the interview and made me sound way more together than I am. ACFW is a wonderful organization where almost 2000 members learn together, cheer each other on, and promote one another. I'm truly blessed to be a part.

WHEN SUMMER ENDS

Here's a section of my garden only a few short months ago. It’s hard to believe the days are already growing shorter. I’m not a fan of heat and humidity and find the end of August tolerable at best. But here we are: the dying days of summer, and I’m feeling in limbo. Today I realized my life the last few months has echoed the season. After a hot season of writing and writing, last week I finished the third round of revisions on my current manuscript. It’s not due until January, but I rely on others to read over it and point out the absurdities so I can have another month or so to revise before handing it over to my editor.

Even while writing, I squeezed in several weekend trips to see family and friends, attended two weddings, and enjoyed visits from the grandkids. Our lives were bursting with activities – things that come with the season. Now the kiddos are back in school, my flower garden is a shambles of deadhead blooms and overgrown lilies and Russian sage. Even the cicadas, whose serenade continues deep into the night, are shedding their summer coats leaving their “pork rind” husks scattered about the patio.

Last night, a gentle breeze blew over, bringing with it a newness to the air. Cool. Dry. A hint of autumn’s promise. It’s time to sweep the dusty cobwebs from the corners of the patio and the nether regions of my brain. My next writing project? I can’t decide, but already several ideas are vying for attention. Perhaps it’s time to take my yellow pad outdoors and scribble the ideas on paper while they’re still fresh. Let the characters who are shouting the loudest, “Pick me! Pick me!” have their say.

Another season on the calendar and in my writing life. You know, I’m glad they coincided. And I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner. Maybe I’ll meet you there.

DRIVING A MAC

I come from a long line of PC users. My youngest son cut his teeth sitting on his dad’s lap in front of a TRS-80. We’ve wandered through a number of different incarnations since then, each one smaller, faster, and smarter. Nowadays, we each have our own PC laptops. Mine has been a trustworthy companion and friend for four years.

A while back, though, I began talking about making a change, building my case for why I wanted to get a MacBook the next time around. Eyebrows shot up. Murmurings about going to the dark side rumbled. I held my ground, citing my reasons. Macs aren’t as prone to viruses. They are faster, giving instant gratification when you click from one app to another. If I have to learn a new system (aka the dreaded Vista), why not put my time into learning the Mac? It’s highly recommended by other writers. Did I mention no viruses? I didn’t push the envelope on this, but waited patiently, letting the idea soak in.

Then, on a recent weekend, my hubby said, “Wanna go to the mall and pick out your new Mac?” I had my shoes on and my purse dangling from my arm before he’d had time to blink.

So now I’m driving a Mac. Or at least I have a learner’s permit. It wasn’t the “snap” everyone said. When we brought it home, I managed to unpack it from its lovely designer packaging and find the power cord. Filled out the owner registration and connected to the Internet. Then, I had no idea what to do next. It looked like I’d stumbled into a foreign market and nothing on the shelves looked even remotely familiar.

Being the loyal love that he is, Max came to the rescue. He downloaded a tool to capture all my data from my sad-faced, rejected laptop, and somehow through a series of magical tricks and two glasses of wine got everything in its proper place—all my documents, my emails, my contacts, my calendars. Hallelujah!

Some things I’ve discovered. There’s a dashboard. I know I saw it once, and I betcha I could locate it again if someone told me I needed to. There’s a dock where all the things I need are nicely parked, ready for a test drive. Soon we’ll be cruising along, shifting gears, taking little side trips into places I’ve never been or even knew I wanted to go. Hairpin turns ahead? No worries. I’m driving a Mac. A zippy little thing that I hope will take my writing to new heights.

The only problem I see is that without FreeCell and Spider Solitaire as the muse I used to rely on (ahem), I now have no excuse for not writing.

And that is a very good thing.

CHASING LILACS

Chasing Lilacs

Ta-Da! The new title of my debut book. Someone asked me why I'd gone from a weed (see previous post about my beloved Dandelion) to a flower. Actually, I didn't make the decision on my own. My wonderful publishers with marketing and sales expertise that I don't possess, wanted a title that suggested the essence of the story. This is perfect.

And as some of you have asked me to tell you about my publishing journey, I will share a couple of things here. After the initial angst of getting the physical contract and pinching myself that my dream was soon to come true, I had a number of things to do right away.

• Submit book covers ideas that I liked. Alas, the dandelion ones have been snuffed, but I'm all over that. Completely. I haven't thought about it once. Honest. This was a fun exercise that took up some anxious moments while I was waiting on my first round of edits.
• Have a professional photo made for the back cover of the book. THANKS, Sarah, for a great job.
• Substantive edit. These came on the eve of my going to Dallas to the CBE. I read over them briefly and let some of my editor's comments filter through my head all weekend. Many positive comments (for which I am grateful). Quite a few things to fix and muddles to clear up. I spent about ten days doing this, and two days before turning the edits in, I panicked! Up-until-the-wee-hours panic. Since my story is set in 1958, I had weather scenarios around holidays. Perfectly feasible weather incidents (like heat waves, blue northers, and blizzards). WHAT IF someone remember the Christmas of 1958 and distinctly remembered that the blizzard that December came on the 29th of the month and not the 25th?? I researched the temperature (highs and lows), the moisture, and noted whether it was rain or snow for every single day from July 2 until the following April. Many cups of coffee and a couple dozen tweaks later, I was satisfied that I had gotten it right. Lesson learned: Check the weather if your story is time sensitive.
• Title change requested. This was another one of those marathon searches. Two trips to Barnes and Noble to look at every title on the General Fiction, Literature, and Inspirational Novels shelves. I wrote pages and pages of titles, combining words in some rather clever ways, thinking of every subtle angle that my story contains. I hung out for hours of Amazon searching for similar titles. I really wanted a title that had not been done before. I submitted a few to my editor. Chasing Lilacs was chosen unanimously by my editor and the marketing board. This pleases me for a couple of reasons. It does fit the story, but now I also feel that I am part of a team that is trying to make my book the best possible. Gratitude clings to me like a favorite sweater.
• My edits were accepted - contented sigh here - and I await the copy edits. They won't be done until June, so now I have more than two months to return to my unfinished book that has waited patiently at the edges of my consciousness. I can't wait to see what happens with my new characters.

I probably won't tell you every detail that happens along the way, but when the cover is ready and other exciting news comes along, you'll be the first to know.

In the meantime, there are other folks' books to read, writing lessons to learn, and lilacs to enjoy. The buds on my backyard bushes are just beginning to open. Soon they will be in full bloom and I'll be chasing the scent of lilacs in my own backyard. Lovely.