Angela Shaeffer's Blog, page 4

Journaling

My first journal entry was written a few days after my eight-year-old birthday. My second was a year later when I rewrote that first entry in my much more impressive nine-year-old handwriting.

From the beginning, even at eight years old, writing was how I got to know myself better. 

When my oldest children were teens, I thought it would be fun to share with them parts of my journal so they could see what was on my mind at their age. They were lazing in our family room when I brought out the letter...

June 12

Thirty-six years ago today, when we were just eighteen, Dan and I had our first date.It was the summer after our freshman year of college.Campus was relatively quiet, our class schedules were relatively easy. Long days eased into perfect Utah nights.
We met in Geology 101. I was smitten with his confidence even though it bordered on cocky.One day he passed me a note that read: Make me dinner tonight.With no hesitation I dashed off a response: You make me dinner.He agreed.

He made me dinner, which ...

If You Want to Buy Local

The Things They Didn't See is now available locally!
The beautiful Four Lemons art gallery in Holladaythat also features the work of the talented Shelly Colemanwho painted the cover scene.

Adored and charming, The King's English Bookshop, in Sugarhouse.

And Frost's Books in Millcreek, which not only sells new books, but used books, cards, calendars (plus a snow cone hut in the parking lot and Feldman's Deli and Cactus & Tropicals across the street).

I'm still waiting to hear if TTTDS will be accepte...

Release Day!

It's not a dream...Ten years to get here and now I'm holding my real book! 

I've loved every minute of the process. All the writing--including a four-day stay in a hotel in the mountains where I worked uninterrupted to finish the second draft. In addition to writing: classes, workshops, conferences, my writing group and books--all to learn about writing, then querying and then publishing.
I "finished" numerous times only to realize I wasn't finished.Two professional developmental editors, five bet...

Attic Space

 When we designed our home, I imagined a crouchy attic, because isn’t that what all attics are?

.

With more headroom than expected, two rooms originally designated for storage became my office and a…library! If you can’t find me, I’ll be sleeping amongst the books. 

I Can't Find the Words

 I love writing dialogue and working to convey a character’s emotion. Describing setting, on the other hand, is terribly difficult for me. “Who cares?!” I sometimes think. Let’s get to the conflict. When I groaned about my limited vocabulary, a teacher told me not to fret, Ernest Hemingway kept it simple too..I was thrilled when Liane Moriarty—one of my favorite authors—claimed “I’m not good at describing landscapes,” and prefers writing about people’s personalities. Same, Liane. Same. Thank you...

Goodreads Giveaway

If you love tracking your books on Goodreads, like I do, enter to win a copy of 
The Things They Didn's See!
Link to enter below. Contest runs now until June 11.
Clarion says: “heartrending” and “cathartic,”  “4 out of 5 stars.” 
Kirkus says: “An affecting narrative about the strength it takes to recover from tragedy,” with the verdict, “Get It.” 
Booklife: “...eloquent prose and deeply felt narrative captivates” and “exquisitely crafted debut.” "Editor's Pick"

Goodreads Book Giveaway ...

ARCs Have Arrived!

I'm holding my book in my hand -- something I've dreamed of my entire life!

These are my Advance Reader Copies -- books I'm distributing
for marketing purposes. Some I'm sending out for an upcoming virtual Book Tour.
Others I'm giving away to people who have agreed to read ahead of time and leave a review.And also, books I can sign and give to many of the people who helped me on this journey.

Who Will Love The Things They Didn't See?

Who will love The Things They Didn't See?

Mothers and fathers or anyone who has raised a child and second-guessed their parenting decisions. 
Teenagers and everyone who remembers how challenging those years can be. 
Especially grandparents who have learned to let go and just love. 
And everyone who has been misunderstood by the people you love most, 
but you keep trying, because family is everything.

Clarion/Foreward Rates 4 out of 5

 "Heartrending..." "Cathartic...""...candor, stripped of sentimentality is written to let people's weaknesses unfurl.."
Clarion (indie author division of Foreward) rated The Things They Didn't See 4 out of 5!