Angie Lofthouse's Blog, page 15

Pep Talk!

We all need a pep talk once in a while, don't we? Tomorrow is Write Here in Ephraim. (If you're in the area, you should totally come. It's free and it's going to be fabulous!) It's my first real conference teaching experience. I've been on panels, but having an hour all to myself to try and impart something important about writing is a little daunting.

So, I've been giving myself a pep talk today. I can do this! I know a lot about writing! I can be fun and entertaining! Right? Right? Funny enough, it actually is working. I feel a lot more confident than I did yesterday.

So, here's a pep talk for you, for whatever might be daunting you at the moment. Finishing your WIP, writing a query, submitting, getting started...whatever.

You can do it! You are awesome! Just look at how far you've come already! I believe in you! I know you can succeed!
So there you go. Now go forth and conquer!

LDS Writer Blogfest: Avoiding Envy

Kayleen Hamblin of Kayleen's Creation Corner invited me to participate in the 3rd annual LDS Writer Blogfest. I chose one of the talks from our recent general conference to blog about. It is from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about the Savior's parable of the laborer's in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-15. I chose this talk since it concerns an issue that I think is relevant to us writers. Envy. We may not talk about it, but I know from personal experience how easy it can be to feel envious of the success of others in this business. Don't get me wrong. I love this writing community. It is so supportive and terrific. But I have felt those envious feelings stirring in me on more than one occasion. Here's what Elder Holland had to say:

Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him "all that he hath,"2 as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord's vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.
So true! That really touched me when I heard it. I don't think I have a huge problem with envy, but I know I've felt it at times for sure. And I am happy for all of your successes. We're all in this together, my friends!

Read the entire talk here.

Go check out the other entries!
Amanda Sowards
Ben Spendlove
Britanny Larsen
Cami Checketts
Charity Bradford
Danyelle Ferguson
Giselle Abreu
Julia Keanini
Julie Coulter Bellon
Kasey Tross
Kayeleen Hamblin
Kelly Bryson
Krista Van Dolzer
Laura Johnston
Melanie Standord
Rachelle Christensen
Rebecca Belliston
Sierra Gardner
Stephanie Worlton

A Brand New Bag

The writing bag then...I loved my old writing bag. Loved it! My sister made it for me. I loved the soft yellow fabric, the cheerful daisies, the mint green interior. I loved the many pockets and the large space inside. I loved it so much that I loved it to death. The handles are threadbare. They are coming unstitched from the top of the bag. There are holes in the bottom corners. I knew it was time for a new bag.

...and now. I need something that can carry multiple notebooks and has lots of space for all the pens, mp3 player, phone, carmex, sunglasses, flash drive, scraps of paper, camera, and everything else I need in order to write. I decided on this awesome vintage messenger bag.



I. Love. It. No offense to my darling sister or the memory of my other beloved bag, but this one is also perfect. It has pockets and roominess and sturdy canvas. And a bio-hazard symbol. So far, I'm very pleased with my bag.

And yes, having the right bag does help me write better!

What about you? Do you have a special object--bag or something else--that you need to get your writing done?

A to Z Guest Post

I'm sort of sideways participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge today with a guest post over on Angela Felsted's blog. 

I'm talking about (what else?) Defenders of the Covenant for the letter D. Go check it out!

Launch Party!

My launch party last Friday went better than I could have imagined. It was so much fun! My sweet, talented husband put together a video of some of the highlights of the night. Enjoy.

Cool Stuff I Want to Share

Only a couple more days left for Kindles for Kids. Visit Danyelle's website to see all the great prizes she is offering. You could also pick up a signed, limited edition hardcover copy of Catspell. This would make a wonderful gift or donation to a library or a great addition to your library. She won't be offering hardcovers after this, so don't miss out!

I am so looking forward to Elana Johnson's next book, Surrender. If you preorder it now, you could win one of 50 booklets with never-to-be released character content and fabulous character illustrations. That would be so incredibly cool to have! Check it out.

Maybe you noticed over on the sidebar already--my publisher is giving away three copies of Defenders of the Covenant on Goodreads. Pop over there and enter to win! And while you're there, mark it "to-read." That'd be great.

Tomorrow is the big day! My launch party. I am crazy excited and nervous, too--like stomachache inducing nerves. I really need to settle down and just enjoy myself. Anyway, if you're in the neighborhood, I'd love to see you there!

Right now on Amazon, Defenders is only $14.81! Great price. You can also order it from Deseret Book, or pick it up at your local Deseret Book store.

Also, Defenders of the Covenant has it's own Facebook page now. The characters have taken over, so go "like" it, if you want. I'd sure appreciate it!

Side Note: I feel like this blog is dying an ignominious death, and I'm not sure what to do to revive it. Tell me, what sort of stuff do you most like to see on the blog? Posts about writing, my book, life in general? Giveaways, blog fests, guest posts, interviews? I know I haven't had much time for blog reading myself lately, and maybe that has something to do with it. What do you think? What do you like most about my blog? (If anything.) Your input is appreciated!

The Ebb and Flow

What with all the excitement and hubbub of Defenders of the Covenant being released, writing on my next novel went down the drain for a few weeks. Sure, I was doing lots of other important writing related tasks, but I still wanted to meet my weekly and monthly writing goals, and it just wasn't happening. Every time I thought I had gotten myself unstuck, I'd write two pages and come to a dead halt again. At that point, it was a lot more fun to go do some "marketing" or something rather than try to work on this book. I felt bad about it. I seriously wondered if maybe I were destined to be a one-hit wonder.

But, I have been through this kind of stuck-ness before, so I knew I could get out of it, if I just kept plugging along. I did. I made myself take time for writing every day even if I got nothing done.

I am happy to report that the writing is flowing now, and it is a great feeling! I just reached page 375, and hope do be to 400 by the end of next week. (I had hoped to get to 400 by the end of the month, but one week back isn't so bad.)

How do you get through periods of writer's block?

Lucky 7 Tag!

I got tagged twice for this little game, first by T.M. Hunter of  The West(ern) Chronicles, and then by J. Lloyd Morgan on Facebook. So, here goes!

To play along, here are THE RULES:
1. Go to page 77 of your current ms.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy and post the next 7 sentences as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other victims, er, authors.

This is from my WIP, Shattered Skies, and ironically enough the first part of  Chapter 7.

I know that's what Eleni believes." He stood up and paced in front of the sofa. "No wonder. Look what happened." Oh, Dori. Oh, Eleni. He had the urge to put his fist through a wall.
 
"Sit down," Mariane said.
 
Wesley stopped mid-stride and looked at his mother. She nodded her head toward the recliner across from her. Wesley sat.
 
"Tell me why you came here," she said.


So, there you have it. Be sure and check out T. M. Hunter's newest release Death Brings Victory (I got to beta read this for him, not to brag or anything), and J. Lloyd Morgan's book The Hidden Sun (which I have reviewed here). Thanks for tagging me, guys. That was kinda fun!

I don't feel up to tagging seven people, so if you'd like to play along, consider yourself tagged. =)

Check This Out!

Author Tristi Pinkston announces the publication of hertenth book, Women of Strength, anonfiction inspirational novel geared for the LDS market that is perfect forMother's Day gift-giving … or as a very thoughtful present for yourself on anyoccasion. She's holding an online book launch on her blog all day on Saturday,March 24th, and you are invited! Every two hours from 10 a.m. to midnight, Tristi will be holdingmini-contests, answering trivia questions, and giving away great prizes.  Head on over to http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.comto enter and to have a great time!

The Best Moment

My books arrived on my doorstep yesterday. It was perhaps one of the sweetest moments of my life!

The books!
The culmination of years of writing, waiting, hoping, dreaming, persevering finally arrived, and, yeah, I totally cried. No one was home but my darling four year old, who just didn't get it, so I called my best friend, Suzette, to whom the book is dedicated and told her to come over and get one!

Suzette and Me with the first signed copy!
My first signed book! It's only appropriate that it should go to her, since she is a huge part of the reason this actually came to pass. Thanks, Suzy! I love you.

Then I called my husband and cried on the phone to him for a few minutes. =)

It was really a sweet day!