Julie Wright's Blog, page 8

Revision

I'm revising. Last night I tore through thirty pages of edits and feel good with the progress made on my manuscript. I'm hoping to be done tonight. Hoping–but not holding my breath.

A long time ago, when I was doing a book signing for my first book, I met another author–Carole Warburton. She was with a bigger publisher (the one I'm now with), and I was in awe of her. She gave me some advice, advice that is useful every day in my career.

She taught me about edits.

"Edits aren't evil," she'd said. "Edits are a chance to prove you can do it better."

So when it comes time to do an edit on a book I've written, I repeat her words in my mind. Edits are a chance to prove I can do it better. I love a challenge. Of course I can do it better! Just watch and see.

I only wish I could manipulate my reality the same way I manipulate my written world.  I wish I had a delete button when I say something completely stupid. I wish I could rearrange parts of my day so they fit better and accomplish more, the same way I rearrange paragraphs on a page.

In reality, just like with writing, of course I can do better when I don't get it right. Of course I can be more patient. Of course I can speak words of compassion, love, and respect. I can edit my  future, but that doesn't delete the deeds of the past. It's vexing–this reality thing.

The important thing is knowing where we can do better and working towards that. Thanks Carole. The advice is useful all these years later.

Cross My Heart actually has a book launch date–November 4th! It'll be food, fun, and prizes so be there! The address and details will come in the next few days. Sorry about the delay on that. I'm heading to California to do  a book signing at the Disneyland Hotel and we're making a family trip out of it so it's been tough to get all the scheduling to work out. Thanks for being patient with me.

Cross My Heart

Shameless advertising ahead because it's my blog and I can

Cross My Heart is adorable and available in stores near you! If you are a library person, make sure you ask your local librarian to order it in.

And once you read it and like it, feel free to nominate it for a Whitney award:http://whitneyawards.com/wordpress/

The Whitney Awards are a big deal, so if you've read any of the eligible 2010 releases and loved them, please nominate them. There are a lot of great books out there to be read that maybe not everyone knows about. Make your opinion known by nominating today!

My register at my store had been in the death throes for a long time, and finally cha-chinged its last a few weeks ago. So we brought in a "register doctor" to see if he could revive the monster machine–which he did. The problem with reincarnating our machine is that it has no memory of its former life. This meant I spent a day and a half learning how to program the thing.

I am not a programmer. I can barely set my alarm clock. I married the clever-and-so-smart Mr Wright so I didn't have to EVER do things like this. This isn't just helpless-female or damsel-in-distress stuff. I know I *can* do these things if left with no other choice, but the actual desire to do these things has never struck me–not once. But sometimes desire has nothing to do with it and you have to roll up your sleeves, take the ibuprofin, and deal with what needs doing.

Today, the register is working, happily cha-chinging, and without a glitch.

Is it lame that I am almost as proud of that as I am of the release of a new novel?

Yeah, I thought so.

Don't forget Cross My Heart!

The first man is Geoffrey—in Boston, which is Jillian's hometown. Hazel-eyed Geoffrey, the brilliant ad exec who Jillian would've married if he hadn't stolen some of her best work (and gotten her promotion as a result).

The second man is Jack in Los Angeles. Insecure Jack, who signs Jillian up for a love study at a local university "just for fun" but secretly intends to find out if she still loves Geoffrey. Flaky Jack, who splits as soon as her brain neurons fire an emphatic yes.

The third man is Allen on the airplane from L.A. to Boston, where Jillian's boss has ordered her to investigate the underhanded dealings of a competing agency (and where Jillian's crazy parents still live). Allen, the electric-blue-eyed dentist who hates the advertising industry because his ex-girlfriend, Nicole, recently dumped him for some hotshot ad exec.

Head spinning yet? Just wait until Allen's nemesis, Nicole's fiancé, and Jillian's target turn out to be the same guy: Geoffrey. Yes, that Geoffrey. Forget about love triangles— this is a full-blown love quadrangle that quickly becomes a high-stakes game with savvy players, snappy dialogue, and a plot that won't stop twisting . . . until another love study delivers surprising results.

Funny

My son saw an advertisement for a KISS concert and I made the comment that KISS had been around when I was his age and even longer than that. He squinted up at me, his face twisted in disbelief.  "They're old guys?"

"Yep . . . really old guys."

"What are a bunch of old guys gonna sing about? Is their title song going to be Get Off My Lawn?"

One of our neighbors was in the store at the time of this conversation and we laughed at him. Encouraged, he titled the rest of the songs in the album.  I wish I was as quick witted as this kid, but since I'm not, I'll content myself to share his wit:

Get Off My Lawn
My Walker's Broken
Dentures Really Bite
Wheelchair Races
Got a New Hip Today
Don't Slap my Bald Spot
WhipperSnapper Brats
My Achey Brakey Back
Turn Down That Radio!
Don't Rush Me; I Don't Walk That Fast

Joy For its own Sake

My parents went out of town, and that left my daughter guardian-less for a week, which means I had an excuse to put everything else aside and spend several days with the little girl I hardly ever see anymore. For those who don't know, my daughter chose to go to a performing arts high school so she could get the training she wanted for acting. Letting her go was the hardest thing I ever did, but  watching her grow and BECOME, I cannot regret the decision. She's the sophomore class president, she's kicking butt in grades, and developing her talents where she is. If I'd made her stay home, she would never have been able to realize her potential.

Sometimes the best growth comes from breaking away from the things that make us most comfortable.

We went to the store yesterday after school and got matching jammie bottoms. And when we both put them on last night, I couldn't help but feel grateful. She *wanted* to get matching Jammies. I know, it's lame that such a small thing gets me teary, but it does.

And getting away meant I had a little time to read. I'll be posting more reviews over the next few weeks. There are some darn good books out there. Today is just a good day and though I miss the rest of my family (Mr. Wright in particular) I am seriously so grateful for today. Thursday I am presenting at UVU's Book Academy, and I hope that if any of you are going to be there that you'll come by and say hi. Friday,  Kevin Wasden and I are meeting our editor, Kirk Shaw, to go over the design details and illustrations for The Hazzardous Universe which is coming out in February. Since Cross my Heart releases on October first, I'm sorta kinda hoping they'll have copies of my book at the publishers and I can peek at them when I meet Kirk. Maybe I can even take one home. Oh please . . . oh please . . .

Today is just great so I decided to do a top ten list of things that make me happy TODAY

matching Mickey Mouse pajama bottoms
finished manuscripts
broccoli and cheese soup for lunch
Jane Austen
J. Scott Savage
Talking with Mr Wright on the phone
Orance cream popsicles
Janette Rallison
Cream cheese chicken rolls
other people's fun blogs

As I look over the list, I realized it's all about family, food, and reading/writing.  That pretty much sums me up. Have a great day everyone!

LUW

So I went to League of Utah Writers this last weekend as part of the Precision Editing Group Posse. We taught the self editing workshops on Friday. Sometimes I am just in awe of the aligning planets that allowed me to be part of this group of women who are all so smart and amazing.

Made some new friends, got to know more about old friends, and had a great time in general hanging out with writer people.  I taught the class on emotions and dialogue–my two best subjects as far as writing goes...

Key Lime Pie

Because it's pie and it's a book, and Josi Kilpack is awesome.

Now that I'm done writing a book (and putting off editing that book) I am in read-and-review other books mode. It won't be long before I have to get back to the grind, so go ahead and be shocked that I'm posting more than once a month and know that the once a month schedule could pop up again at any moment.

The only thing more awesome than me loving a book, is one of my kids loving a book. I've read Key Lime Pie twice now (once...

Mockingjay Review

Spoiler Alert!!!!!

Real or not real? This book was awesome.

Real.

I finally had the chance to read this. It was my reward for finishing my latest work in progress, and was a well chosen reward. Finished this at 3:30 am. It was a satisfying read all the way around. The conclusion worked for me and no everything wasn't perfect, but it was *right*

My quibbles were with the whole capital infiltration. It was all for naught because Katniss arrived at the same time as the rebels. She could've just...

Not even winter yet

But that doesn't mean I haven't been a flake.

Lee Modesitt commented to me that I was one of the least consistent bloggers on the planet. And he's likely accurate on that assessment. But my excuses are good. I could be either writing on my blog, or writing on my new book.

I chose the book.

See? It is a good excuse. And I just finished it! The book I'd meant to make 60,000 words finally came to its conclusion at 96,000 words. I really need to work on my brevity. I'll let it sit for a week or...

Cross My Heart cover!

Isn't it adorable???

I got a peek at my new cover for Cross My Heart a few weeks ago. I was in a situation where Internet wasn't available while I was out of town, so I was hanging out in Barnes and Noble when the email came through. The cover was so awesome, I had to bite my tongue to keep from girl screaming in public. Anyway, I figured I should share it, now that I'm back in town, have met the various deadlines required of me, and have Internet access again. YAY.

Seriously, out of all my...

The Hazzardous Universe

The phone call from my editor: "Hey Jules, how are you doing?"

"Good . . . I am good, aren't I?"

"Well that depends on if you're okay with an early 2011 release of The Hazzardous Universe . . . we were thinking February."

This is where I rupture my editor's eardrums with my girl screams and do a happy dance that makes me look maniacal on the front porch of my country store.

This moment has been a long time in the making. In 2007, I went to LTUE (Life, The Universe, and everything). I spoke on...