Possibly Another List, Pics, and Great Deals on Books

Okay, so I think I'm changing my stance on the whole not-liking-lists thing I mentioned last week. That was a quick and easy way to breeze through lots of topics, and I pretty much covered everything I needed to in one fell swoop.

Maybe James Dashner has it right. (As long as I've known him, he is the KING of making lists.)

So yeah. I might make another one. Just because the last one was more fun than I anticipated. But this one won't be as long.

Okay, here we go. A new, shorter list of spring things.

1. In my last list, I forgot about the tulips. Tulips are some of my very favorite flowers, but I haven't seen any growing in south Texas. So I had to take a picture of these ones at Thanksgiving Pointe in Lehi, Utah. Aren't they gorgeous? They just make me all kinds of smiley.

2. It's possible I have neglected some of my favorite parts of Texas in the spring. So there's this.

And this.

And also this. (Why yes, that is a baby pineapple plant! Tell me that's not the cutest thing you've ever seen.)

3. Tomorrow, check back here and you will see some AWESOME deals on books that have dragons in them. If you've read DESCENDANT and/or BIRTHRIGHT, you know that my dragons are of an entirely different variety from most. But DESCENDANT is listed for a smokin deal for just ONE DAY. So be sure to come back.

4.  If you've read and loved BIRTHRIGHT, but haven't left a review yet, you might want to gather your thoughts about it. Anyone who posts a review between now and June 7th will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card. *Details to come soon.

5. Let's talk about summer vacations. I'm feeling a Disney vibe in my house these days. It's been years since we visited a Disney park, and I have a weakness for fairy tales and anything Disney-esque. But so far, no solid plans. What about you? What fun summer activities or trips are you planning?

My Spring in a List of Things.

It’s been a while since I posted a list here. Honestly, I am not a big fan of making lists on blogs. But I am finally back from my travels, and right now, my brain is one ginormous list of THINGS. And the only way I can think to clear out some of those things is to list them here.

You don’t mind, do you? Thanks.

1.       BIRTHRIGHT is now available! You can purchase it wherever your favorite books are sold, however, not all retail stores will actually have it in stock, so you may have to request it or order it. Either way, you can now get it. (All links in the sidebar.)

2.       Last week (or two weeks ago-ish?) I spent some time in Utah conferencing with the LDStorymakers and Authors Incognito. Guys. These people put on the BEST conferences for learning and networking, and all around inspiring. I was so lucky to be on staff for this conference. Talk about feeling special.

Authors Incognito 2014 group shot

3.       I hung out with some people I have missed SO. Much.

4.       It snowed while I was in Utah. The temperature at my house that day? Got up to 100 degrees. HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?

5.       The day before I left Texas, I went with my family to a wildlife reserve in San Antonio and got up close and personal with some wild beasts. And wildebeests. And also zebras and long horned goats and ostriches other things I can no longer name. T’was awesome.

6.       School. Almost out for the summer. My oldest daughter graduates high school this year. I’m not old enough for this. Neither is she. I’m pretty sure her preschool teacher would agree. 

*attempts to turn back the clock* 

*gets in a fight with father time* 

*loses* 

But summer = my favorite season. Bring on the swimsuits and sunscreen!

7.       Kneaders café makes the BEST bread in the world. And cookies. I ate there three times while I was in Utah. If there’s one near you, you should go in my honor. The San Antonio location is still dirt and concrete, which means it won’t be opening for months. My family mourns with impatience.

8.       Sunday is Mother’s Day. I miss my mommy more on Mother’s Day. And also my step-mother. And my Grandmothers. And for that matter, my sisters and sisters–in-law, and all the other mothers in my life. Happy day to all! And hugs and flowers and virtual chocolate. Because you deserve it.

9.       If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, youcan do that here. It’s a great way to stay up to date on all my news and be among the first to see exclusive content. Plus, it’s fun to be part of the cool kids club, so you really should consider joining. 

*ducks rotten tomatoes* 

No, really.  It’ll be fun!

10.   I went to a parade in Corpus Christi last weekend. It was at night, and very cool. Check out my favorite float. *Hi, my name is Nichole and I’m a Dr. Pepper addict*

Okay, that’s enough for now. But what about you? What have you been up to while I was away? 

This Week and That and Also the Next

You know every once in a while when you have that week where everything kind of runs together? When you are so crazy busy that you forget what day it is, and all your deadlines are cut down to the very last second and you forget silly things like scheduling blogs and eating breakfast?

That week is happening right now for me. It's FINALLY time for my all-time favorite writer's conference, the annual LDStorymakers conference in Utah.

I'm already in the state, finishing last preparations and squeezing in as much visiting as possible. This actually involves planning down to precise minutes in some cases. It's a good thing, trust me.

And good news! Despite a few troubles with the printing company, my copies of BIRTHRIGHT have arrived! I will have them at the conference. Also, I've been watching Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Kobo, and am seeing the links pop up live in all of them now. Even the paperback is available. You can officially buy BIRTHRIGHT at your favorite online retailer and start reading.

If you do, and you enjoy it, please consider leaving a review. As much as we authors wish it wasn't so, reviews make a huge difference in the sales of a book. Plus, if you do, and you come back here and leave me a link, I will send you a signed, double-sided bookmark.

I may not remember to post next Tuesday, since I am heading home that day, but if you follow me on social networks, I'll try to post pictures of my journey. Or at least of the conference. Or other interesting things. Like the wildebeest that tried to eat me last week. (Yes, that is how it's spelled.) I'm just random like that.

Happy spring!

Totally Random Thoughts (October 2013 Edition)

Fear happens when we have something to lose. So how brave would we be if we believed—even for just one day—that we would win?

Trust is a gift of faith that is, more often than not, destroyed by imagination and insecurity, rather than reality.

A hero is someone who you know will always show up for you, even when they can’t necessarily save you or your world.

The most popular TV shows, movies, and books elicit strong emotions from people watching/reading. It is those strong emotions, along with strong questions, that keep us those characters in our heads, feeding our need to continue returning to watch the next episode, sequel, or volume. Or, barring that, it feeds our desire to continue watching or reading things by those same creators.

Sometimes a walk on the beach or a drive to nowhere is the best way to see the best parts of the world.

Any thoughts you’d like to add?

Actually, it IS Personal

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been given a lot of reasons to reflect on personal connections and how important they can be to my career. Or anyone’s career, no matter what they do. In fact, connecting with people can potentially have an enormous impact on our personal lives as well.

Here’s the thing. When someone knows you, remembers having a conversation with you—however brief—you become a person rather than a random face in a crowd. And believe it or not, it’s a lot easier to think compassionate, fair, happy thoughts about a person you’ve actually met, as opposed to a random face you’ve never seen.

Easier to think good things, and harder to think bad ones.

Easier to respond positively rather than negatively.

Easier to understand that person, well, personally.

For instance. Say you’re querying agents (or editors or publishers), and somewhere along the way, you’ve met one. Spent a little time talking to that person. Made a connection with something the two of you have in common, or even just had a good discussion about business. You see them as a human being, and they see you in the same light. Then, when you send that person your query, they think, “Hey, I remember her.” And even if they must ultimately reject you, they’re far more likely to do so with a personalized note, maybe some advice, and perhaps a recommendation that you submit to XYZ who might be a better fit.

This can potentially extend your reach to other networks, other avenues, other possibilities. All because you took the time to talk to that one person when you had the opportunity.

The same thing can happen in any situation. Even if nothing huge ever comes from those connections, our lives will most definitely be richer for them.

Think about it. What connections have you made that have made your life (professional or personal) fuller?

Conferences, Projects, and Insanity!

Not to brag, but tomorrow morning, I will be heading out of town for World CON in Reno, otherwise known as RENOvation. I was going to schedule a bunch of blogs to post while I'm gone, but I'm not sure I'll have time so I think I may have to take the week off.

You can survive without me for a week, can't ya? 

In the meantime, if you're feeling sad about not being able to attend a conference yourself, you can! This week is the second annual WriteOnCon, a completely FREE online event which teaches all about writing and publishing for young adult audiences. I attended last year (will also try to catch some events this year if possible) and it was fantastic. So be sure to head on over and check it out.

While I'm gone I'll also be working on some editing projects for others, and one polishing one of my own. Cross your fingers that I'll be able to be productive and learn at the same time, cuz there are deadlines coming at me from all over the place.

And, holy moly, school starts for my kids the day I get back. Yikes! 

Summer is coming to a close with warp speed, people. I hope you're wearing seat belts, because it's time to slam on the brakes and go educational or something. 

See you on the flip side! Have a great week.

Rachel Morgan Tagged Me!

It’s been a long time since someone tagged me, but last week, Rachel Morgan did just that. And since it’s my birthday this week, I figured there’s no better time for a fun party game. So I hope you’ll forgive me for indulging myself.

1. Do you think you’re hot?

Of course. Someone should call 911, because I’m on fire, peeps, FIRE! (Okay, seriously, it’s like 95 degrees outside, it’s Independence Day week, so there are fireworks happening all over the place, and since it’s summer, we’re firing up the grill for some serious BBQ. How much hotter does it get?)

2. Upload a picture or wallpaper you are using at the moment.
Hawaii, January 2010 (This was the view from our hotel Lanai/balcony.)

 Washington DC in December 2010, and yes, that is my family all bundled up in all those layers of clothes.

3. When was the last time you ate chicken?

Last Friday night at a Chinese restaurant. It was mixed with zucchini, broccoli, and mushrooms, topping a bed of fresh noodles, and topped with spicy brown sauce. Delish! (And actually, mine had shrimp, but my husband’s had chicken, so I stole a piece of the chicken off his plate. It counts, right?)

4. The song (s) you listened to lately.

Oh man, what a question. You all know how much I love music, right? But, considering Independence Day celebrations, I have listened to The Star Spangled Banner a few times, Garth Brooks’s We Shall Be Free, and Toby Keith’s Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.

But aside from the patriotic songs I’ve had in my head (and also because I posted one on Monday) this is my new current favorite.

Linkin Park, Iridescent


5. What were you thinking while doing this?

Black Forest juicy oozers are quite delicious, and make very tasty blog-writing treats. I should stock up. Also I should get some Dr. Pepper to keep in the fridge in my garage.



6. Do you have nicknames? What are they?

Nicki, Nick, Mom, babe, and Fab #3 (but only people who know what that means get to use it!)

7. Tag 8 blogger friends

Okay, I’m going to pick some people I’ve never tagged before, or whose blogs I have recently started to follow. (No offense to my regular, long-time friends—you can be tagged too if you want!)

Jemi Frasier
Donna K. Weaver
Heather Cashman
Matthew MacNish
Michelle Davidson Argyle
Jeff King
Christine Fonseca
Theresa Milstein

Can't wait to see your answers!

Books, Events, Contests and Rain

1. First and foremost, before I forget, tomorrow from 1-4 pm, Barnes and Noble in Orem, UT, is holding a huge event called Authorpalooza. I will be there, along with about 40 other authors. If you’re anywhere in the area, you should come. It promises to be huge and fun and a great opportunity to meet your favorite local authors.

2. I just finished reading The Forgotten Locket, by Lisa Mangum. You want this book. It’s fantastic.Come back next Wednesday to see what I thought and what I might be giving away. (That's not an obvious hint or anything!)

3. Speaking of fantastic books and author events, put this one on your calendar, too. June 8th, The King’s English in Salt Lake City, epic launch party for Elana Johnson’s Possession. This place will be packed, so be prepared for buckets of awesome.

4. Guess what? My kids get out of school in three weeks. I am very excited about this, because it means less carpooling, more sleeping in, and zero homework. So yay!

5. You can now get my book The Sharp Edge of a Knife on your Kindle for $6.95. Just sayin.

6. Some areas of Texas have been over a hundred days with no rain, and some areas of Utah have been a hundred days with nonstop rain (or that’s how it feels). Just so Texas knows, we’re completely willing to share. Let’s petition Mother Nature to work out a swap of some kind, shall we?

7. Ever since the big blogger crash of last week, I’m paranoid that I’m going to lose my posts and comments. Is this paranoia or practicality? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.

8. Since the LDStorymaker conference two weeks ago, I have like, 10 new books on my TBR pile. Tends to seriously cut into my writing time. Sigh. What’s a girl to do? The good news is I've already tackled two.

So what plans do you have this week? Fun events? New books you’re reading? Rain or sun?

March Monday Randomness

1. Thanks to the appearance of the sun, I’ve been thinking about life and spring and new babies. I drove around with my convertible top down for three out of the seven days this week. Well, okay, actually, I put the top down for a short amount of time, got cold, then put it back up. But it was still really nice.

2. The new baby thoughts come with my itty-bitty new nephew, who was born six weeks early, but thanks to modern medicine is doing very well. He’s the tiniest little person I’ve ever, ever seen. It’s miraculous to think that someone that small can breathe on his own and open his eyes and be alert. Just. Amazing. Can’t wait to hold him.


3. This weekend, I got the bug to clean out my closet. Not only is it purging to thin out the junk, but it’s so much fun to find stuff I forgot I had or that’s been “lost” for a while. Like a mini treasure hunt. I wonder if I can live in my closet and ignore the rest of my house, which is also in desperate need of thorough cleaning. No? Dang.

4. I got something in the mail on Friday. It made me very happy. In May, it might make you very happy, too. Coolest. Prize. Ever. Pay attention, ya’ll. This super-sekrit-giveaway is going to be EPIC. (No, I’m not telling you what it is. Yet.)

5. In January, I made a sort-of goal to read approximately a book a week this year (in addition to writing and critiquing and being the mom and living my life). So far, I’m keeping up with that. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. I have fantastic taste in books. And I read fast. Tonight I’ll finish Brenna Yavanoff’s The Replacement, and holy scary/beautiful/amazing/thought-provoking. #booklove peeps. Seriously.

So. How was your weekend?

A Post of Randomness (Not about love--for once)

1. Last weekend I was watching the SAG awards on TV. I was struck by how different every one of those actors looks. Yeah, I know. Life isn’t all about how people look, but in that profession, look actually matters. Okay, so my profession is totally different. But it made me think. Do I look like an author? Does anyone? For that matter, what do authors look like?

2. Also, I wonder why that statue guy they give out at the SAG’s doesn’t wear any clothes. Neither does the giant one they show in every segue. And why are they all male? Not that I’m complaining, but seriously, how about some clothing and a little equality? #Kthxbai. (Translation: Okay, thanks. Goodbye.)

3. Speaking of actors, my kids don’t know what a Smurf is. Or who is Rainbow Brite, or He-man or She-ra. I think they’ve actually heard of the Care Bears, but it’s been years. YEARS. They’re so spoiled with high-tech, fast-paced animations that they’d probably be completely bored by my old favorites. I sometimes wish their lives could be so innocent as those cartoons.

4. My family is newly addicted to The Game of Things. It’s like, the funnest board game I’ve played in years. Buy it, try it, love it. You’ll laugh your tail off, and your teens will want to stay home and play it instead of going out with their friends. It’s that fun. That is all.

5. My new favorite song is by Pink, and part of the title is Perfect. Great song. LOVE the clean version of it. But it begs to be asked. Why, why, why would she make an explicit version, that can never be played on the radio, or as a music video, or as a theme to any book, movie, or life and offer ONLY the bad version of it on the album? Also, why is the cleaner version not just titled Perfect? Why put the bleeped out bad word in the title? It doesn’t really make a statement, it just deters people from listening. Really. You can use the language if you want, but why cut down your fan base? Off my soapbox now.

Here's the clean version if you're curious:

P!nk - New Music - More Music Videos

That is all the randomness for today. Be sure to stop by on Monday to find out what’s on my mind next time.

Random Stuff I'm Thinking About

1. If you let it, life will pass you by. So take action, pay attention, and live now. You never know when your tomorrows will come to an end.

2. Everything we experience in life is a lesson learned. The difference for writers (and also musicians) is that we take those lessons and share them with others through our work. Sorry friends and family, you’re all liable to end up in a book or story at some point. That’s just how it works.

3. It’s okay to have a great idea for a book or plot or character while nothing else in your head gels as coherent. Sometimes, that’s how it goes. Take it when it comes.

4. Just about when you want to quit, you realize you couldn’t if you tried. So you take a little nap and then keep going.

5. Thanks to social networking, news (good or bad) spreads with super-lightening speed. (Big, huge thanks to everyone who has sent words and thoughts of sympathy and kindness this last week. They’ve all been much appreciated.)

6. Ben and Jerry’s makes the best ice cream, barely beating out Häagen-Dazs, who makes a really good mango sorbet. (Thanks, Becky!)

7. Retail therapy only works for stress. It doesn’t necessarily help with grief, unless you’re shopping at a bookstore. Otherwise, you’re better off going to a movie.

8. Sometimes it takes a wedding or a funeral to bring out all the family members you haven’t seen in years. Why is that? And can it be changed? And while I’m on the subject, why does it take a family tragedy to remind us to tell the important people in our lives how much we love and appreciate them?


Anything else that should be on my mind? I’m trying to get back on track, so help me out here.

The Defining Factor

I’ve been thinking this week about fear, and passion, and battles worth fighting. In real life, everyone has struggles. All of us. That’s kind of what life’s about. But it isn’t necessarily our trials in life that define us. Is it?

Trials may shape us, but passion can, and often does, define us. A passionate person will fight for something they want, something they believe in. I dare say that passion has been a big factor in war and revolution in our world. If the American people didn’t feel passionate about their freedom, the revolutionary war would never have been fought, and especially not won. We were then, and remain still, a passionate country. Why else would elections become so heated? Debates so nasty?

It’s all due to passion.

Granted, that doesn’t mean people don’t often take things too far. That’s a given. Still, passion is an important thing to feel, to own, to have. Unfortunately, along with passion, we also have fears. Fear of reprisal, retribution, consequence. What will happen if we follow our passion? What will happen if we speak our minds? If we rock the boat? If we change the norm? What if we follow our dreams?

Fear can bind passion more tightly than steel, paralyzing us, removing us, restraining us. But there comes a time when some battles need to be fought. The trick is figuring out which battles are worth fighting, and which ones are best to let die.

Do we fight the revolutionary war or run and hide from the redcoats? Do we speak up about injustice or wait for someone else to do it for us? When someone pushes us in the wrong direction do we step away or push back? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always cut and dry, isn’t always easy.

I believe that our passions decide our life path and make us into stronger people. It makes us who we are, or even better, who we want to be.

Forgive me, I’m about to forge into literary territory again. Can’t help it. It’s what I do. I’m going to use The Hunger Games as an example. **Spoiler alert** We have three characters.

1. Katniss, the main character. From the very beginning, we know what she feels passionate about: Her family, and more specifically, her little sister. We know this because right off the bat, she’s hunting, working hard to feed her sister and mother so they don’t starve.

2. Then we have Gale, a secondary character. Throughout the book (as well as the sequel, Catching Fire) we see him expressing anger toward the Capital, the laws, the disgust at the conditions under which his society, his family, is forced to live. Gale feels passionate about change. And he recognizes that in order to bring about that change, eventually, there will have to be a revolution.

3. Character number three is Peeta. At first, I wasn’t sure what Peeta felt passionate about. It took a little more thinking on my part before I saw the obvious. Peeta may want revolution, or he may not. He likes art, and baking, and he’s strong. But none of those things are his passion. The one thing he wants most in life is for Katniss to survive. She is his passion. (Le sigh.)

If you look closely, you’ll notice how the motivations and actions of each character are driven by passion. Personality, disposition, and reaction all play a part, but passion is definitely the driving force behind everything, behind all of them. And it’s what makes this such a compelling, great story. The goal may change in each book, but the driving passion remains the same.

So, yes, passion is definitely important in writing. Not to mention that an author will never succeed unless he/she feels passionate about what they are writing, or about writing itself. But even more than writing, passion is a huge important part of life. No matter what your goals, passion is the driving force that will ensure you succeed. Without it, the goal becomes an empty shell. There is nothing to win, lose, or gain.

What are you passionate about? And how does fear paralyze you? Is your battle (internal or external) worth fighting? Why? Really, I want to know. And no, I’m not just talking about writing for a change. I’m talking about life in general. Let’s have a sharing moment.

Discuss!

**UPDATE: In my contest post the other day, I originally forgot to mention Karen Hoover, who's book, The Sapphire Flute, is also being released next week. She's hosting an ongoing contest on her blog in which she draws a winner every Saturday this month. Check it out here. Sorry, Karen. Bad, bad me.

Lots of Random

What is it about fate that makes certain weeks extra busy, and others extra slow? And why haven't any slow weeks been thrown my way lately? Seriously, sometimes I think it's a miracle that I get any sleep at all. Just saying.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm actually very excited about everything I have going on right now. But, you know, there aren't enough hours, yadda yadda. The good news is this is a cool, fun, interesting week. Here's the rundown:

1. Today I blogged on Writing Fortress (aka Cedar Fort Authors) about why networking is important. Click here to read more.

2. The winner of the $20 Barnes and Noble gift card has been posted, along with a few random Monday comics on LDS Humor. (Yes, posted by yours truly.) And while I'm talking about winners, the contest winners for all the other contests I posted about last week have also been chosen. I'm not one of them, but scroll down and click on the links to see if you might be one of the lucky ones.

3. Tomorrow, right here on this blog, I'll be reviewing a book called Love Your Body by Brooke Parker R.D.. It's a short read with excellent suggestions on how to rethink your eating and dieting habits. PS This is NOT a diet book! I'm not a big dieter, but I do think eating right is important. Check back on Tuesday to read more about it. Also, as a bonus, enter to win one of five copies of the book, being given away by the publisher. Yahoo! More free stuff.

4. Wednesday I've been asked to present at the League of Utah Writers meeting. This is a great honor. I'll be bringing my coauthor Cindy Beck with me, and we're speaking about our journey From Proposal to Publishing and Promotion. (Aka how Mormon Mishaps and Mischief came to be.) The meeting is being held at the library in Provo, UT, room 201 from 7-9 pm. Oh yes, and it's free to the public. That is, unless you're a heckler. Then you'll be forced to buy my books as payment.

I'll also have a few books handy for purchase, and will sign them for you if you ask nicely. Or if you bribe me with chocolate. Either way.

5. Thursday is my regular posting day at LDS Writer's Blogck. Since I've been busy taking care of Monday-Wednesday's obligations, I have no idea what I'm blogging about there. I'll surprise you. But still come leave comments. They make me so happy.

6. Friday I'm jumping on a plane bound for Phoenix. (Okay, not literally jumping. We all know what happened when Kramer did that.) Yahoo! Off to the ANWA Writer's Conference. I'll be spending the rest of the weekend hanging with my ANWA sisters, learning, relaxing, and writing. Along with some other authors, I'll be signing right after the conference, probably somewhere in the hotel, so if you're in the Mesa area come by and say hi. I'll even sign a book for you. **Crossing my fingers I'll have copies of The Sharp Edge of a Knife before Friday**

7. What else?  Oh yes, March 5th is the day I'll post about my next way cool giveaway. This is in conjunction with a blog tour for my good friend Rachelle Christensen's new release, Wrong Number. You don't want to miss this one, people. So mark your calendars. Also, you MUST read this book. It's a page turner, I tell ya.

8. I'm also still looking for a way awesome, incredible, cool grand prize to give away on my blog tour for The Sharp Edge of a Knife. Speaking of that, I'm also STILL waiting for confirmation on the launch date. I have a tentative schedule, but it all depends on how fast the bookstore can get books. One way or another, I'm launching in mid-March, even if I have to change locations. I'll let y'all know asap.

9. There's still time to register for the LDStorymakers Conference in April. And if you hurry, you'll be able to just squeak by inside the deadline for the first chapter contest. Great prize this year, too. Check it out and register, if you know what's good for you. I'm going, which means all the cool people will be there.

Am I missing anything? Seriously? Because I know I am--not including my kids' indoor soccer games, basketball, music, yadda yadda yadda. What is it? Remind me already!

In Case You're Wondering...

My tree is up and decorated to not clash with the scarecrows and turkeys on the piano.

My house is mostly clean--except the bathrooms which I will tackle head-on first thing Wednesday.

My fridge (both in the kitchen and in the garage) is full of good food ready to be prepared.

Dinner is planned, people invited, time set, and the turkey is out to thaw before brining. 

The launch party plans are coming along nicely, and the promotional items ordered.

I have officially passed the 50,000 word mark on my National Novel Writing Month project, though I'm still hard at work aiming for the two magic words, the end.

During the month of November, I've had very little sleep, my house has been a wreck (until this week) and I didn't actually go to the grocery store until we had absolutely no food for the kids to eat. But I started a new book, which is now close to finished, I edited my other book and sent it to press. The launch is scheduled, along with some signings, and Thanksgiving, the day of eating, being thankful, and strategy planning, is in one day.  Friday?  We shop. Heaven help us! And yes, I'll be bringing my notebook to pass the time waiting in line.

In case you see me, notebook balanced on a cart overloaded with stuff, trying to write sideways with a pen that keeps running out of ink, don't try to talk to me--I'll be writing!

Note to Self:

Before stomping in the house and yelling at the kids for leaving a pool of water in the garage, first notice parked in the driveway, the shiny, clean truck with fewer little fingerprints on the windows.  Surprise, Mom!

Fairies in My House?

It's Sunday evening, and I realize I haven't posted a blog here all week. I'd like to give a good excuse like I've been working on one of my books, or that I went on an awesome tropical vacation, or that I've accomplished a whole lot this week.


I can't even say I'm all caught up on my laundry, or that I shampooed my carpet or anything--that would be fiction, not fact. Darn. Anyone who wants to come over and do those things for me is totally welcome. Just be forewarned that my pile of clean-but-unfolded laundry is nearly as tall as me.


So, where have I been? Um, really, just hanging out, being the mom. In my defense, I wrote about half a chapter in Cursed and did get some cleaning done this week--and it was so desperately needed I can't even tell you. I peeled, cut, and froze a bucket of peaches, and picked and froze lots and lots of raspberries. Oh, and I've been doing some reading. I'll be reviewing several books in the next few weeks, so keep watching. This Wednesday is my tour stop for Rachel Ann Nunes's upcoming release of "Saving Madeline," and soon after that, I'll be reviewing "Alma" by H.B. Moore. (Both excellent and extremely well written books, BTW.) So, watch for those reviews and some possible contests and giveaways.


Also, I now have a fan group on Facebook, so come on out and join me there.


The good news of the week: Both my girls (and their teams) won their soccer games and we're heading into tournaments with lots of possibilities, all my kids are becoming quite skilled at both piano and guitar, and my oldest son didn't wreck my car when we went out driving this weekend. (Let's all sigh in relief together.)


More good news: When my refrigerator went out, it somehow luckily turned out that the compressor (an expensive, major part, I'm told) was under warranty, even after five years. Hooray! And when the speedometer on our truck decided to become stuck (sometimes on zero, others on one hundred twenty) that turned out to be recalled, and so is also under warranty. Apparently, I have a community of fairies living in my house because they're taking good care of me these days.


I wonder if they now expect some kind of thank you gift? Hm. I'll have to think about that.



Anyway, even though I haven't posted anything worth reading here, I still always meet my deadlines on the other blogs on which I participate. I blogged here last Thursday, and here Monday the 14th.



Have a wonderful week, and write on.



Nichole

Strength and its Measures: Quote #4

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

~Lao Tzu

From the mouth of my nine-year-old this afternoon: "Mom, you should send us to Hawaii for school. Then you and dad could move there too, and we could skip school and live in a happy house." ~McKay My response: Oh boy, I couldn't agree more! Let's all skip school and move to Hawaii!

Don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of The A-MAZE-ing Book of Mormon by Arie Van De Graaff. If you don't remember the details, click here or scroll down to the post below this one. The contest is open until Midnight Wednesday night (or Thursday morning, technically.) Good luck!

Kreativ Blogger Award

My good friend Ali gave me an award this week, and even though I had another blog idea floating around in my head, I decided to blog the award instead.

Why? Well, because Ali is a super smart, super fun friend, and it’s an honor to get such an award from her. Oh all right. I like getting awards from anyone, but still, it’s an honor. So, here it is.

The Kreativ Blogger Award . . .

I'd like to pass this award on to
Tristi Pinkston
Cindy Beck
Christine Bryant
Heather Justesen
Danyelle Ferguson
Kim Job
Keith Fisher
Connie Hall
Rachelle Christensen

Each one of these bloggers has influenced me in a very positive and creative way. I appreciate their feedback—which is given freely and regularly—and consider each of their talents unique and special. They are beautiful, creative artists, and I’m glad to have them as part of my writing circle.

You’ll notice I gave the award to more than seven bloggers. But if you’ve been reading for a while, you should know I can’t stick to the numbers given for these things. I always have to sneak in a few extras—because in my book, all the blogs I read are top quality, valuable blogs.

If I had my choice, I’d award a lot more people—but I know it’s only fair that I leave a few of my friends for others to award. This is a chain award, after all.

So…I’m leaving it to you, my trusted awardees, to pass this highest honor on to the other creative bloggers like you.

Thank you again Ali!Now, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might not know.

5. Nominate 7 Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

All right. So, now you’re wondering about my list of seven things. Well, here it is at the very end. (I know, something a little different, huh?) The question is, are there seven things left that you all don’t already know?

1. My family (husband, kids, and myself) used to collect Fisher Price Little People. Not the new kind, the vintage kind that were made in the 70’s and 80’s. They are now officially antiques. More about this in a future blog—it’s a long, and somewhat funny, story.

2. I love a good road trip. Granted, my tolerance for length depends on who is in the car, and how much room we have, but there’s something amazing about watching the scenery change as it flies by from town to town and state to state. When my kids are older, I plan to often get in the car with my husband and just drive to wherever suits us at the moment.

3. My eyes change color depending on my mood, what I’m wearing, and the weather. (Blue to green to gray.)

4. I watch the food network every night as I’m winding down before bed. Not that I’m big on cooking, but it’s better than a whole lot of other late night stuff, and mostly pretty interesting.

5. My favorite drink (and also my biggest vice) is Dr. Pepper. When you see me with that drink in my hand—that’s what it is. Unless it’s a water bottle with colored stuff. Then it’s my daily dose of green tea. You know, anti-oxidants to combat the bad stuff in the pop.

6. There’s always a soundtrack playing in my head, and it varies depending on my mood and emotional well being. Here’s where I’m like Ali—when my emotions get stuck, I also turn to music for the much needed release. It’s amazing how the right song, or grouping of songs, can bring out my feelings.

7. Since Ben and Jerry’s discontinued my favorite ice cream a few years back (Island Paradise) I haven’t had a true favorite. But since they came out with the new Key Lime Pie flavor, it’s seriously growing on me. I think it may be the new winner.

There you go! Have fun, kids. Until next time, write on.

Random Stuff for Random-ish

First thing’s first. If you didn’t notice, I’ve changed the name of my blog. Nichole’s Musings just felt so…boring. And, being a writer, I knew I could come up with a more creative name than that. Still, it’s hard to know what to name the place where I post so many random tidbits of life for all the world to see.

Random. That was a keyword in all my thoughts. My fifteen-year-old son uses it often, and because of that it’s a word not easily forgotten. But my thirteen-year-old daughter (who, by the way, is now about to surpass me in height) finds it necessary to attach an “ish” to every word or phrase she uses. Living with these two brilliant minds, and hearing their teen-lingo on a daily basis tends to combine and imprint such words into my writerly head. Therefore, as I considered the idea of renaming my blog, Random-ish seemed a natural transition. After all, everything I post is rather randomish.

Now that I have explained that, a few other minor things. This past month, I have accumulated a stack of books and music that I intend to review over the next several weeks. Along with these reviews, I intend to give away some great prizes, so keep your eyes open for more free stuff. (Because, lets face it, we all want free stuff!)

All right, what else? Oh, I don’t know if I mentioned it or not, but this is not the only blog on which I regularly post. Along with other authors, I also post every Thursday on LDSWritersBlogck, and every second and fourth Monday on Writing Fortress. This week, I’ve posted in both places. Click here to see my recent blog about emotional writing, and here to see one about the transition between being called a writer and an author.

Moving on. Valor Publishing has recently announced the release of Am I Not A Man: The Dred Scott Story by Utah State Attorney General Mark L. Shurtleff. They are offering a discount to everyone who pre-orders their copy before Labor Day. Also, on top of the discount, the pre-ordered copies will be signed and numbered, limited editions. There are only 5000 available special-edition copies of this awesome book, so click here to order yours and get the lowest number possible. Very cool stuff!

Here’s the blurb:

An illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, "Ain't I a man?" Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had "no rights a white man was bound to respect."

Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation.

Dred Scott's inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.

Go ahead, order it. You know you want to!

Finally, The Leteiner Gang Book Review Spot is holding a contest to give away an Advance Reader’s Copy of James Dashner’s new book, The Maze Runner. The much anticipated release on this book is October 6, and by entering, you might be the lucky winner who gets his or her copy before it even hits store shelves. Even I am entering this contest, because James has been talking about this book for three years and I want an ARC, too! Click here for more details. (Don't forget to tell them I sent you!)

Okay, so I’m thinking there were more things I intended to mention, but since I’ve been forced to stop four times in the process of writing this post (once to pick up kids from the pool, once to answer the door, once to break up a fight, and the last to cook dinner) everything else I wanted to say has fled my mind. I guess that’s another post for another day.

Have a great weekend my friends!

Nichole

Five Random Things

By Nichole Giles

1. My eleven-year-old daughter is the candy-keeper in our house. We buy her bags of candy (to replace all the candy my husband and I eat while she’s at school) and she dumps it all in a basket, then doles it out to the family whenever she thinks we need it. (Which is all the time for some of us, and her timing is usually perfect. She must be psychic or something.)

2. Our youngest dog—who by all accounts is technically still a puppy—is going through a digging phase, right in time for garden planting season. Yipee! She’s spending a lot of time locked in the kennel lately, which breaks my heart—but not enough to let her destroy my veggies.

3. I decided the other day that my new vacation goal for the future is to visit Italy, or more specifically, Rome. Well, that’s not definite. I’d really love to see Venice as well. Both seem like such romantic places, filled with rich history and incredible art.

4. It’s impossible for me to fill out forms (including Facebook quizzes) that include the question: What is your favorite book. How in the heck am I supposed to choose just one? It would be easier for me to tell what I’m currently reading, or post a picture of my overflowing bookshelf or something. I love them all, and for different reasons. The ones I don’t love don’t stay in my mind long enough to matter, and the rest have their own special space on the bookshelf in my head.

5. I drove around town with my convertible top down yesterday, even though it rained a little bit. Seriously, you don’t even really get wet if you’re going faster than fifteen miles an hour. Not that I would’ve minded if I did. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. That car was way cheaper than therapy!

Bonus:
I finally got an iPhone last month, and can I just say, I love it! It’s like a pocket computer—minus the keyboard. I mean, it has a keyboard, but there’s no way I could type an entire book on it—or could I? Hm. I may have to try that…