Look at what I’m working on! 

I could certainly use your help. I’ve completed the first draft of book #3 of the PRINCESS KANDAKE series and cannot, for the life of me, come up with a good title. So I really need your help. 

I’ve put together a contest on my other blog to entice you to lend your assistance. Follow this link: Writing YA and Other Things I Love and you’ll find all the important details. I’ve even included a coupon code for FREE digital copy of the first book.

Give is a shot! You could win a first peek at the new cover, your name in the acknowledgements, and an early release print copy of book #3!

Here is another author friend reading from a wonderfully spooky book about a boy who has become friends with a rat. No, this is not like Willard. This rat is actually a pirate whose brain was transplanted into a rat and now they’re visiting a haunted bog. Weird…in a really good way. Sorry for the background noise, she’s reading in the children’s section at Barnes & Noble.

A few weeks ago I joined a great group of authors who, like me, write for the ‘Tween audience. That would be the lower end of young adult and the upper end of middle grade. We call ourselves the Emblazoners! Here’s the great part.

To introduce ourselves and our work, we’re offering everyone who participates an opportunity to win one of our books. We have print and digital formats floating in the great prize bowl for the winning!.

Follow this link to find out the details!

I walked into Curves in Prescott Valley this morning for my workout. The owner, Vicki Shroyer said, “Look! You’re in the newspaper. We have our own celebrity.” She showed me her clipping from the local newspaper. What an awesome feeling to belong to a gym that shows this level of interest and support in its members!

Of course I had talked about doing the author visit at Glassford Hill Middle School, but I didn’t expect anything beyond friendly conversation. To top it off I had no idea the librarian, Ann Carey was going to send it to the paper! What a cool thing! I got to visit with some really great kids. Then to get local publicity was the cherry on top.

Has your plate ever been so full that you’re wondering if life is serving you on a platter? Of course you have…you’re a parent, after all. Well this has been one of those weeks for me. I have been working so hard that I can’t see what I’ve gotten accomplished, so I resorted to one of my all-time favorites–lists.

I’m at the height of my book promotion season so that means I’m doing a lot of traveling. Just because I’m traveling doesn’t mean I get a break from the rest of what I have to do. Sound familiar? I bet it does. 

There’s so much that I have to stay on top of that I bought a small computer to take on trips with me. And the only way I can remember what I have to do is to write it all down, and I mean all. 

I put everything on the list, from what time to get up to what time to go to bed, and everything in between. I have list for packing. I have list for setting up my author exhibit. I even have lists for the readings that I’m going to be doing. It’s really sad, my lists are now almost as long as some novellas.

Now I’m adding creative writing courses for kids. Sheesh! I must be a glutton for punishment.

Do you make lists? What kinds of things do you put on yours?

A friend of mine, Claudia Greenwood, shared one of her beautiful poems with me. It so struck my heart that I had to share it with all of you. This is the world I choose to live in.

Children of the World

They were        

truly children of the world

raising arms,

clasping hands,

celebrating their many colors,

many languages,

many histories.

They sang with the joy

of shared life experiences

in the Colorado village

that is raising them,

salad bowl of our country

where they mix without noticing,

without realizing the promise

they bring to the future:

a perfect blend

I was listening to an author friend of mine, Maria Cisneros Toth, read a chapter from another friend’s book, Flyer by Judith McAllister. Listening to Maria brought back the magic of being read to years ago. I wonder if this is part of the magic of audio-books.

While thinking about this, an idea hit me. What if I had author’s record their reading from a chapter of their books and posted it on my website? Then I could do two things at once: have samples of books for moms (and dads) to choose from and help my friends promote their books!

I think I’ll do it! So now I’m off to get my friends to start recording! I’ll be back soon to let you know when their samples will be posted.

C’ya!