Sara R. Turnquist's Blog, page 29

PLANTSING: How I Wrote A Novella In 3 Days

Plantsing…

What a weird word, huh? Especially to those of you who are not in the writing world. But even for those of you who are writers, this word may not look familiar. It is what happens when a pantser begins to bring plotting into their process or vice a versa.

Hold on a minute…what is a pantser? What is a plotter? I’m lost… Let me help.

Pantser: A pantser is someone who “writes by the seat of their pants”

There is no planning, there is no outlining, they just sit and write and let the story come as it may.

Plotter/Outliner/Planner: Someone who, to the opposite extreme, plans out the entire novel, sometimes down to the most minute detail. Plotters can have pages upon pages of notes, diagrams, charts, and whatnot before they ever write one word of the manuscript.

Pantsing tends to be more work on the back end, giving you a pretty rough first draft. While plotting is a heavier work load on the front side, giving way to a more polished first draft. I’ve heard it said that for a pantser, the first draft is just a very detailed plotting session. Take from that what you will.

So, what are you? What am I?

It is said that what you are in life (a list maker, a scheduler, etc) you tend to be in your writing. That is soooo not true of me. The idea of going to the grocery store without a list makes me anxious. Not having my day planned and a “TO DO” list in hand would probably give me a panic attack.

But I was a total pantser when it came to my novels. I would just sit and write with very little idea about where I was going and how things would turn out. Vague ideas, I tell you…very vague. I loved letting the story unfold and surprise me this way…setting the characters in motion and having them take over the story in a way. Once you have established their character, the way they will react/interact is pretty set. You can’t have them do something or react somewhat outside of the character you’ve established, right? So, through the twists and turns of the plot, you can let your characters lead you where they will go. Pantsing is exciting and exhilarating.

But…

As I have learned more and honed my craft, I have begun to see the wisdom in taking time to plot some. Not a whole lot, but sketching out my characters. This deepens the character, and thus the readers experience with them. And as I began to do some plotting with characters, I found that the novels went deeper and flowed out of me faster. The most recent novella I wrote, was completed in 3 days. And that’s not 3 long, arduous, 10-K-craziness kind of days…I put in probably 5 hours each of those days.

What does that process look like?

First, you have to pull out your hero and heroine, your POV characters. Then you do character profile sheets on them and some preliminary daydreaming. Then, I get down to business. I love Susan May Warren’s The Story Equation. This is how I begin to really drill down and deepen my characters. I have to find their Dark Moment Story (you just have to read Warren’s book).

Then you can take that, and sketch out a basic plot outline, which is discussed in her book. I do one of these skeleton outlines for each of the POV characters. (More character development.)

Now I’m ready to dive in and begin writing. Unless I’m still feeling stuck. Then I might go to the Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method and go through the first 4 steps. This will help wrap my mind around what the novel is really about.

At this point, I have deeply developed characters. I have the whole iceberg, so to speak. Am I going to put everything on the page – no. The reader will only see the tip of the iceberg…what’s above the surface. But I truly need to know the entire structure in order to make that piece the reader interacts with feel three dimensional.

And with my characters firmly in my mind, I can let my pantsing take off. Since I know them well, I can give them more freedom to “take over” the novel and go places I never could have imagined.

 

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Too Many Irons in the Fire & The Need for Rest

My view this morning

 

Illness

This has been a season for illness for many people. My family in particular has been in a holding pattern. A close family member has been in the hospital, in critical condition, for quite sometime. She came home for only a couple of days just to find herself back in the hospital with more infections. Another member of my family has a severe case of the flu, at risk for pneumonia. Please be in prayer for my family.

Medication Challenges

One of my children is on the autism spectrum, in the Asperger’s range. He has also been diagnosed with ADHD. Not a rare combination, as I’ve come to understand. But finding the right medication at the right dose can be even more tricky. We are on that merry-go-round.

Writing Fun

As many of you know, I have two books in the process of being published: The Lady and the Hussites and A Convenient Risk. As well, I am working on an untitled novella right now. I also have two works backlogged (The Diary and Trail of Fears) which need attention. And I’m winding up for Turnquist’s Troupe (which you can still join by clicking here).

I am actually running a mini-contest to name the hero and heroine in my novella. Whoever suggests the name I choose for either character will win a $5 Starbucks or Lasaters (for Clarksville locals) card. But you have to be a part of Turnquist’s Troupe to participate (there is no cost to be part of Turnquist’s Troupe – all fun).

Speaking Engagements

Our writers group in Clarksville is gearing up to host another Workshop in May. We will be teaching about self-publication and marketing. Then, come this summer, I will be preparing to facilitate a couple of workshops at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. I am honored to be listed amongst such amazing talent as Brandilyn Collins, Cara Putman, Twila Belk, and Hallee Bridgeman!

The “Routine” Stuff

This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of my normal day-to-day life. I have the everyday laundry, menu-planning, grocery shopping, kid-managing, snuggling, time-outing, all-encompassing life to continue to lead apart from these things. All in all, this makes for one full day/week/month.

So, what’s a girl to do?

Head to Gatlinburg on Spring Break! I need a break. My kids need a break. My husband needs a break. A break from the norm. To escape the humdrum of our daily routine and sneak off, enjoy each other. Run outside with the mountains as our backdrop and a tucked away cabin as our sanctuary. Ah, God is good. My soul is at rest. And I am refreshed.

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SPOTLIGHT: Krysten Lindsay Hager’s “Dating the It Guy”

Emme is a sophomore in high school who starts dating, Brendon Agretti, the popular senior who happens to be a senator’s son and well-known for his good looks. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon’s world and it doesn’t help that his picture perfect ex, Lauren seems determined to get back into his life along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend cheated on her and her whole world is off kilter with her family issues. Life suddenly seems easier keeping Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you’re dating the it guy.

Book Trailer

Enjoy an Excerpt

He put the magazine between us, and when I moved forward to see it, he put his arm across the back of my chair. Now lots of guys did put their arms on chair backs, even Kirk did that with Rory, and he definitely wasn’t interested in her, but I couldn’t help but hope it meant something. I got this shivery feeling, and he asked if I was cold. I shook my head. I always got a feeling before something major was about to happen, and it has nothing to do with being cold, but I didn’t know why I got the feeling. Grandma used to do the same thing and always said, “Somebody just walked across my grave.” Somehow I didn’t think Brendon would understand if I told him I needed to move my future burial plot to a less high-traffic area.

“Are we still on for the art fair?” he asked.

I had only been circling it with hearts on my calendar since he asked.

“Sure, I think I’m still free,” I said.

We finished up our work, and he walked me out to meet Kylie.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up at three tomorrow,” he said, walking off.

“Can I ask a stupid question?” Kylie asked as soon as Brendon was out of earshot. “What’s he like? Because he’s so well-known, and I can’t imagine what it’d be like to grow up with your whole life under a microscope. I mean, my mom remembers his first birthday party pictures being shown on the news. And he’s hot, but he’s not like I-know-I’m-a-hottie hot, but more like a confident, ‘Yes, I am hot. Any questions?’ I mean, he has to have noticed there aren’t any guys who look like him walking around.”

“I should tell him what you said.”

“Don’t you dare,” Kylie said.

“I get what you mean—he’s grown up with everybody knowing his dad and watching him, but he’s pretty down to earth.”

“So what’s up with you two? You guys didn’t do any work last Saturday, and now you’re going to an art fair.”

“I dunno. He just asked me to go with him.”

“Asked you to go with him as his study buddy or asked you to go with him because he’s desperately in love with you?” she asked.

I said we were just friends, but she wouldn’t let it go.

“Okay, duh, obviously I like him, but let’s be honest. He’s out of my league. He’s out of most people’s league. It’s weird because normally if I like a guy then one of two things happens—either he likes me and asks for my number…or I find out he’s not into me and I cry in my pillow and listen to man-hating music for at least three days,” I said. “But this time’s different because he’s, I dunno, not just ‘some guy.’ I mean, I’m not putting up a shrine to him in my room, and I haven’t rooted though his garbage can, but I have as much chance of going out with him as Kirk does of getting an ‘A’ in this class.”

“You listen to man-hating music?” she asked, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “Whatever. Anyway, Em, he’s asked you out once already, and you are seeing him tomorrow. Plus, he’s always staring at you.”

I said he was probably just bored in class today, but she wouldn’t let it go.

“I’m not just talking about today. When we watched the movie on Monday, he watched you instead, and whenever I see you guys, he acts like there’s no one else in the room,” she said.

I couldn’t hold back the big, stupid smile spreading across my face. “He does? For real?”

She nodded. “You know, it’s weird. Here you were all upset you didn’t have a partner at the beginning of the semester, and then you ended up with like, Mr. Perfection, as your partner.”

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About the Author

Besides mining her teen years and humiliating moments for her novels, ​Krysten is a also a book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes young adult, middle grade, new adult, and adult fiction as well as humor essays. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in southwestern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows (she’s addicted to American Dad to the point where she quotes episodes on a daily basis and also loves Girl Meets World). She’s also a third generation Detroit Lions fan.

Krysten writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, and Competing with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2). Her debut novel, True Colors, won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book. Krysten’s work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times and on Living Dayton.

Connect with Krysten Lindsay Hager and her books

Website: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystenLindsayHagerAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrystenLindsay

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClIQCsRcKc97-25oXvabZ8A

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TURNQUIST’S TROUPE: Anyone want a FREE advance e-copy of my next release?

Hey, everyone! I have some great news. Well, a couple of things that are great to share. I spent this past weekend at the Mid-south Christian Writers Conference in Collierville, TN (just outside of Memphis). I had a great time and learned quite a bit. And I had some good one-on-one time with mentors. Both mentor sessions, I spent talking about marketing/promoting. And I have decided to put together a Launch Team for my next book. So, if you would like to:

get an advanced reader e-copy of my book
enter to win contests
be a part of a secret Facebook page and get sneak peeks
learn more about my writing journey as it happens



Then, “Turnquist’s Troupe” is for you!! I will send out FREE advanced reader e-copies to the members of my launch team. There will be a secret Facebook page and a private newsletter just for this team. I will offer opportunities for contests to this group and give them a little more insight into the writing process. Ever want to help name a character? Join my team!
What am I asking of the members of Turnquist’s Troupe?

I am encouraging the members of the team to participate in this journey with me by sharing their honest opinion in reviews, tweeting and posting about what they are reading, and the like. For the most part, being a part of “Turnquist’s Troupe” is about having fun, reading, connecting, and learning more about the author journey and process.

How do I sign up?

Follow this Google Doc Link to sign up: https://goo.gl/forms/2GUBeblarWfVbIQm2

Thanks and I hope to see you in the secret Facebook page!!

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Pre-editing: The Nitty Gritty

Hey, all! So, my writing tends to go in ebbs and flows. What I mean by that is…either I’m doing a ton of writing, or all editing. Two months ago, it was a lot of writing. These last couple of months, it’s all editing. I have a manuscript that is just newly under contract. So, I have to do a round of pre-edits before it’s turned over to my publisher’s team of editors. And I have one I’m self-publishing that I had to self-edit before turning over to my freelance editor. Edit, edit, edit… So today’s blog is about editing. Imagine that.

I’ve talked before about self-editing and the importance of it. Today, I want to get into the trenches with you and discuss some of the nuances of pre-editing. (Self-editing and pre-editing are essentially the same thing, I believe. For me, “self-editing” is what I do every time I look at the novel and that last round before I submit the manuscript to my publisher, “pre-editing” is when I take a fine-tooth comb and the publisher’s list of preferences and go back through the novel again.)

Adverbs

What’s the deal with adverbs anyway? What’s so harmful about a few -ly words? You’ve probably heard all the typical answers: “It indicates ‘lazy writing'”, “there are better ways to say that”, “it’s telling, do more showing”… Mark Twain encouraged writers to avoid them as an exercise in being “simple and straightforward”. Stephen King has quite a bit to say about the use of adverbs. Bottom line – in most cases, they are not needed. Here is a quote from Stephen King’s On Writing:

Consider the sentence He closed the door firmly. It’s by no means a terrible sentence (at least it’s got an active verb going for it), but ask yourself if firmly really has to be there. You can argue that it expresses a degree of difference between He closed the door and He slammed the door, and you’ll get no argument from me … but what about context? What about all the enlightening (not to say emotionally moving) prose which came beforeHe closed the door firmly? Shouldn’t this tell us how he closed the door? And if the foregoing prose does tell us, isn’t firmly an extra word? Isn’t it redundant?

So, check for adverbs in your manuscript. You can do a search for “ly”. Sure you’ll turn up words like “only” that are not adverbs, but it will help you pull out the adverbs more easily. How many should you have?The truth is, there is no “right” answer. That is between you as an artist and your agent/publisher. My publisher’s rule of thumb is one, maybe two per page.

Extraneous Words

These are words that are just that–extra. You don’t need them. But you wrote them. As well you should have. During the first draft phase, you’re writing like a maniac and just putting it on the paper/word processor document. You aren’t thinking about each word and it’s necessity. But now is the time to do that. I’m talking about the “that”s. About the “to her”, “from him”, the dreaded “up” and “down”. Here’s a couple of examples from the manuscript I am working on, my A Convenient Risk,

The silhouette of the figure became visible to her.

The “to her” here is not necessary since we are in her point of view.

“I’ll help.” He knelt down next to the glass and picked up the shards.

The word “down” is not needed here. We understand that he is kneeling on the ground level.

Overused Words

Wait…didn’t we just talk about this? By “overused words”, I’m talking about words that are specific to you. As you read through your manuscript from top to bottom, you may come across a word, or maybe two or more, that you use more than you’d like. Words that may or may not be necessary (i.e. not all are extraneous). I apparently love the words “over” and “toward”. Most of the uses of the word “over” can just be taken out. But I have to replace/rewrite several of the “toward” occurrences. It’s amazing how often I use these words! And, knowing this about myself, I now do a global search during the pre-edit phase for these words to find and hopefully eliminate as many instances as I can.

Holding her chin high, she maneuvered Samuel over to her right hip so she could look the preacher square in the face.

This is but one example of MANY I found in pre-editing where “over” is inserted, but not needed.

Flow

It is important to have good flow, rhythm, and pacing to your manuscript. Flow can be helped by varying sentence beginnings. Making sure you don’t start consecutive sentences with the same word. Or multiple sentences in a paragraph with the same word even. And check consecutive paragraphs to ensure they don’t start with the same word. It just makes things more pleasant to read. It can be very off-putting if every other sentence starts with “she”.

Rhythm and pacing is something that comes with your voice. And that is developed as your write. Think about how you would tell your best friend a story. (It’s way different than how you would testify in court about the same event, yeah?) That’s hitting on your voice. You adjust pacing by shortening and lengthening sentences, paragraphs, and scenes. The shorter the sentence/paragraph/scene, the faster the pace and action.

All Time Good Tips
Read it aloud

You should always, always, always read your manuscript aloud. It’s amazing what you can catch this way. There’s something about the way it rolls off the tongue and to the ear that helps you catch mistakes (especially mistakes in flow and pacing) that you may have missed otherwise.

Use multiple word processors

I write in Scrivener.  That software catches a certain set of grammatical mistakes. My publisher and beta readers speak Microsoft Word. So, I convert it into Word before sending it. But before attaching it to an e-mail, I run another spell check in Word. Because Word catches a different set of mistakes. I also can (and usually do) run it through LibreOffice (another word processing program similar to Microsoft Word) which will catch another set of things. Some of these “catches” of course will overlap, but some will not (i.e. Word will catch things Scrivener did not and vice a versa.

In Conclusion…

I know you are all ready to head out, grab your red pen (or track changes) and tear into your manuscript. Many blessings upon you! Happy editing!!

 

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FEATURED GUEST: Author Elle Marlow

Hello, everyone! I am pleased to welcome fellow author Elle Marlow onto my blog today. She is here today sharing a clean historical romance with us (right up my alley!). If pirates and adventure and romance intrigue you, this seems like the book for you. So, let me get out of the way and let you hear more about it (and the author) from Elle:

Thanks for being on the blog today, Elle. First, can you tell us a little about The Black Raven, White Dove?

I’d love to! The Black Raven, White Dove is a sweet, historical romance with light adventure and suspense. It is about 40k words in length, making it a larger novella. The time period of the story is in the 1700 when Portugal ruled the trades, especially by sea. After doing some research into the coastal area, I was completely taken by the beauty of it, and so, decided that a romance must take place!

There’s always room for romance! Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you were a child?

When I was a child, I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader! LOL. But somewhere around my 20’s I started writing. I have written (and lost) more manuscripts over the course of the years, but one of those I kept, and it sat on a shelf for over 15 years until it finally found a publishing home. So, even if you set your dreams aside for a bit, never give up. I’m an example of better late than never.

Isn’t that the truth! It’s never to late to pursue your dreams. I know that, while writing is something we enjoy, that not all of it is roses and sunshine. There are parts of the process we don’t love so much. What about you? What part of the writing process do you dread?

The synopsis. Seriously, dread the synopsis.

I totally understand. Not my favorite either! I have learned myself that we hone our craft through workshops and conferences, but also through reading. Always reading. Some of what we learn about writing is intuitive I think. What are you currently reading?

Right now, I’m reading A.J. Kohler’s romance titled Repeat. It’s fantastic!

I love a good recommendation! Now when I need to get in the mood to write, I need to have the right atmosphere, but I also need the right music to get in the right headspace. What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?

My all-time best selling romance is a contemporary western, Josey’s Mountain. I wrote that novel to country music hottie, Luke Bryan’s song “That’s my kind of night.” Okay, we can argue that he isn’t real country, but that book produced real results, so I kind of love him.

Can’t argue with results

Swag: I Want My Book Cover On Everything

I just had the privilege of celebrating my nine year anniversary with my husband. Yes, it’s been a wonderful, eventful nine years. And I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. And I will share an example of why. He knows me so well. As evidenced by the present he gave me: book swag. But not just any swag. Take a look:

Yes, those are bracelets of all my book covers, including the one that will be coming out in the next few months. Isn’t he super sweet and thoughtful? I think so, too!

When I first published, I was just like anyone else…I wanted swag, swag, and more swag…I wanted it all! But that can get quite pricey. So, you have to be really choosey. What’s the biggest bang for your buck? I started with bookmarks and postcards that I could hand out easily at conferences and whatnot (and, of course, business cards). At this point it was all about what I could justify to pass out. The bookmarks were wonderful. I handed those out everywhere. I continued to order bookmarks for every book I published.

Then I added notebooks and notepads. Which quickly turned into some playing cards (for myself). And magnets for my friends and family. I had caught the swag bug. But I was really making stuff for myself, not so much to be passed out…unfortunately. This is not so much the point of swag. But I didn’t care at the time, I wanted my book cover on everything. I was a newbie author. I was proud of my cover!

So, I turned my thinking cap on…what could be passed around that would interest people in my book? Maybe entice them to buy? Then I heard about these handouts that were basically the cover and the first chapter of the book. That, I needed to check out. So, I had some done. They were fabulous. Great pieces to hand out. I even put the blurb for my next book on the back. No harm done, right? I might even interest them in that book as well.

And so I got carried away again. Why shouldn’t my stationary be my book covers? Of course, it should be! So every book cover up to that point became a piece of stationary. It’s a disease, I tell you. It gets in your system and you can’t hardly stop it.

That brings us to bracelets. And I’m now researching pens. My goal is to have swag bags–reasonably priced bags that I can pass out at conferences and other functions which would include some of these things (pens, my business card, the one chapter pamphlet, and other things I might think of).

What do you think? What is your favorite piece of swag you’ve gotten from an author? As an author, what is your favorite piece of swag to have? To pass out?

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“A Convenient Risk” COVER REVEAL!!!

It is that time again, my friends! I am preparing to send another novel out into the world. This will be my second venture in the world of self-publishing and I am very excited!

The Cover. This cover is the work of the very talented Cora Graphics. I will tell you, I can be rather detail oriented and a little on the demanding side, but she is so easy to work with and so very gifted. Just amazing!

The Story. For those of you who are subscribed to my mailing list, you have already had access to the first chapter of this new adventure. If you are not on my mailing list (getting my newsletters), you can subscribe here. But, let me give you an overview of the story:

He never imagined her heart would be so hard to reach.

Forced into a marriage of convenience after her husband dies, Amanda Haynes is determined she will never love again. Not that it bothers Brandon Miller. He needs her husband’s cattle ranch and life insurance policy. She needs financial stability and long-term support for her son and herself. But she never expected to care so much about the running of the ranch.

Butting heads over the decisions of the ranch, adding to her frustration and grief at her loss. Her wellbeing is soon threatened as their lives become entangled with Billy the Kid and his gang. What has she gotten herself into? What kind of man has she married? Is there any way out?

Once love is gone, will it find you again?

Here it is…and so, I have rambled on about all these things. Now, I present to you the unveiling of this cover:

 

http://saraturnquist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Second-Changes-cover-reveal.mp4

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A LITTLE OFF TOPIC: Why am I soooo tired?

I love these little off-topic posts. I am sorry if you are missing the writing posts…I promise you one on Friday…maybe a cover reveal! But today I wanted to talk about something serious and real. But something that traditional medicine is struggling to catch up with: Adrenal fatigue.

There are a few pieces to this medical puzzle for me. I have a thyroid condition. I have for many years. And have been on medication for it. But I still had symptoms of an underactive thyroid (tired, always cold, hair loss, etc), though my blood work consistently showed I was in “treatment range”.

About a year and a half ago, I was also undergoing treatments for vericose veins. I ended up with a superficial clot in one of my legs. This led to blood thinners, which led to iron deficient anemia, which I still struggle with today, though I’ve been off the blood thinners for more than a year. This does not help with the fatigue situation.

I noticed that whenever I worked out, I would feel bad (NOT sore) for several days. Just fatigued, yucky…low mood. I talked to my doctor…”you’re working too hard”. Well, I’m not huffing and puffing, I’m not even sweating, I’m not sore after, but okay. I’ll lighten up. Even then, I’m feeling terrible after for days. I work through it though.

Fast forward, I mention this to my chiropractor (when I start going to one about two months ago…I’m just waking up to holistic medicine…still got one foot in the holistic world, one foot in the traditional world), she mentions adrenal fatigue. She says especially if I’ve had a thyroid condition for a while, it’s a real possibility. Who knew the two were connected? They are.

So, she gives the names of two supplements I can find several places, including our favorite online retailer. I order them, thinking “I’ll give it a try”. I kid you not, SIX days into taking these supplements, I felt like a new person. SIX days. I will never go back.

I contacted my Primary Care Physician…after all, I do want to make sure these supplements don’t interact with my other medications. “Is it possible I’m suffering from adrenal fatigue?” I write in my e-mail communication. “I’m not familiar with ‘adrenal fatigue’,” he writes back. “I am more familiar with ‘adrenal hypofunction’ and ‘Adison’s Disease’.” Because, of course, if it can’t be seen on a blood test, traditional medicine has a difficult time wrapping their minds around it, right? This is not a criticism, but a recognition of the facts.

They need to be able to quantify. To measure. In order to medicate. And I get that. There is a place for that. But there is a place for the realization that something is not working the way it’s supposed to and it needs help. And you may not be able to quantify that.

I will tell you that my doctor is amazing and is very open to non-traditional approaches to health in general. So, I did schedule an appointment with him to bring in these supplements and talk with him about my symptoms and how these supplements have helped me.

Bottom line: you have to be advocate for your own health. You know your body and you know when something is not right. Don’t give up on yourself. But please have someone that is on your team who, even if they don’t always see eye-to-eye with you, can be your medical expertise and at least give you a professional opinion. Someone you trust and respect. If you don’t trust and respect your doctor, you need to look elsewhere.

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Sara’s Hiatus: Mini Blog Tour and Other Things

Hey, all! I have been out of touch for a bit. Sorry about that. It seems life has really taken me by storm these last few weeks. So, what exactly has been going on, you ask? Well, let me tell you…

Mini Blog Tour for Hope in Cripple Creek

At the end of January and into February, I was on a mini blog tour for Hope in Cripple Creek. In case you missed it, you can check out the links below. Read more about the novel, get some tips on self-editing and becoming a writer from a newbie’s perspective, and find out who I think would win in a superhero battle (and read my answers to other random questions).

http://www.hannahrconway.com/search

http://ellemarlow.blogspot.com/2017/01/today-on-elite-blog-author-sarah.html

http://www.smfordbooks.com/best-words/so-you-want-to-be-an-author

Guest Fox Sara R. Turnquist

http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/sara-r-turnquists-hope-in-cripple-creek

 https://authordanaprovo.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/author-interview-sara-r-turnquist/

http://relaxingwithsixpack.blogspot.com/2017/02/twenty-questions-with-sara-turnquist.html

New Cover Design

A couple of my works in progress got new names. And one got its cover!! The sequel to The Lady Bornekova is now titled The Lady and the Hussites. It is in the final self-editing stages and will be submitted to my publisher this month (hopefully this week)!

My most recently completed work, Second Chances, was renamed. Mostly because I decided that this name was too general, not unique enough. The new title is A Convenient Risk. I also added a page to the website for this book (on the left sidebar with my other titles). This novel should make an appearance in the world in the coming months. The cover will be revealed in the coming weeks!

New Opportunities

I have also been booked to teach at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference this coming summer. And I couldn’t be more excited! I have attended this conference for the last two years and have fallen in love with the people who run it and its mission. It is quite an honor to be asked onto the faculty this year.

And, of course, being sick…

What would “winter” (since it’s 70 degrees in February…can we really call it that?) be without a viral infection? I got the “flu-like” virus everyone has been talking about. It is no joke. I was just relieved that none of my kids got it. But I had my oils (RC and THIEVES diffusing constantly) and some traditional over-the-counter meds for symptoms (why yes, I do have a foot in both worlds).

So, how’ve you been?

The post Sara’s Hiatus: Mini Blog Tour and Other Things appeared first on Sara's Desk.