Christene Houston's Blog: Christenehouston.com, page 3

Music to My Ears

This is what I’ve been listening to…turning it up too loud while driving carpool, listening to it on repeat whenever I get the chance, and generally obsessing. I can quit whenever I want…

 

Another thing I’m obsessing about – sharing this! A HEART SO BROKEN is the perfect summer read full of romance, fist fights, basketball showdowns and a little bit more romance. Take it from me, you need a copy of this beauty to keep you up on a warm summer night!

{Recipe} 15-minute Lasagna

Congratulations to Lindzee for winning the signed copy of The House at Rose Creek by Jenny Proctor!

I’ve been a little MIA lately due to Disneyland, Memorial Day, a birthday tossed into the fixings and then this wonderful teasing thing called Summer Vacation. We start soon…I can taste it! But we still have a couple days filled with award ceremonies, blatant flash photography and trying to get out the door on time.

In the meantime, I had to share a little something with you. Last night I made a dinner I think needs to be in your hands. It’s DELISH and even though we ate it like a herd of rhinos on stampede (grabbing a bite before rushing out for the preschool graduation) it was amazing and simple. How many times do those descriptors come together over a LASAGNA recipe. Not often if you ask me. But here you have it. Easy and delicious.

 

15-minute Lasagna from Kevin and Amanda’s Recipes

Of course, I always make slight changes, but overall I stayed true. I subbed in some breakfast links for the precooked sausage crumbles, ground turkey for the beef and pulled off hunks of fresh mozzarella instead of getting the pearls. Nothing big. Oh and my pan must be a little small because I always end up with saucy blurps on my stove top, unlike the pristine photos on Kevin and Amanda’s blog. (Oh, blurp isn’t it your dictionary? My bad.)

Here’s the link: 15 Minute Lasagna Recipe

Go take a look and then put this on your list of meals to make when you can’t stand to be in the kitchen for too long. Add a tossed salad and steam some fresh green beans and you’re good to go. 

Stop by and grab a copy of A HEART SO BROKEN to read while you’re lounging around after this ridiculously easy dinner. I know you’ll love it!

Author Interview {Jenny Proctor}

I met Jenny Proctor at the Whitney Gala in 2013. Since then I’ve been following her release of THE HOUSE AT ROSE CREEK. Her book was a finalist for a Whitney Award this year and Book of the Year! She’s also working with the talented Melanie Jacobson to organize LDStorymakers Conference 2015. I know it’s going to be even more amazing than this year!

Jenny Proctor

Jenny’s here today to tell us about THE HOUSE AT ROSE CREEK and her other works in progress. She’s also giving away a copy of her book to one lucky reader! Enter below.

CH: Your first book THE HOUSE AT ROSE CREEK is out now, and another coming out soon. Tell us about them and where we can find them.

JP: The House at Rose Creek was released last July. I just learned this month that it’s a Whitney Finalist in the General Fiction category. I’m honored, and very excited about that. I will always have a special place in my heart for The House at Rose Creek because it’s the first novel I’ve ever written. You could almost call it the first anything I’ve ever written, first fiction anyway. It bloomed out of a handful of stories from my own family history and developed into something that I hope can reach people, touch them in a way and inspire them to think about things they might not have considered before. It’s a conversion story, and it deals with family history… topics I realize make a lot of people shy away or yawn, but the story has a lot of heart in it, and there’s some romance in there too to keep things interesting. It’s set in North Carolina which gives it a bit of a different twist. Being Mormon in the south is very different than being Mormon out west… not better or worse, but definitely different.

My second book, Mountains Between Us, will be released in August 2014. It’s set in Rose Creek, the same small, mountain town as The House at Rose Creek and so has a few characters that overlap. If you read the first book, you’ll recognize a few people and be happy to get a peek into what’s going on in their lives, but it’s still a definite stand alone book. Confession? I love Mountains Between Us even more than the first book. It’s about an English teacher who’s taken a job at a rehabilitative boarding school, deep in the mountains, to be closer to his 7 year old son after a pretty painful divorce. He’s got some stuff to work through and he meets this amazing woman who challenges him and makes him crazy, but manages to help him in ways he never expected. It’s a true romance–a story about redemption and forgiveness and I’m so excited for people to get to read it.

CH: What are you working on now?

JP: Right now, I’m working on final revisions on my third novel, titled Nearly Nell–my first attempt at mainstream fiction. So I’ll just be totally honest. I’m a little terrified! This book is different in that it has a little bit of a speculative edge and some twists and turns that will make your heart skip around a bit (at least, that’s the PLAN. If I’m able to write the words as well as they sound in my head, maybe we’ll get there). It’s another book set in North Carolina, no religious themes, but some pretty deep questions about fate and destiny and how they play into the choices we make. My ten second elevator pitch? A girl who believes she receives messages from fate risks everything to fulfill a destiny that only she can see. Kind of exciting? I hope?

CH: You live in North Carolina and your stories take place there as well. Tell us some things you love about your home.

JP: Okay, so my editor at Covenant loves to tease me about how much I LOVE North Carolina. I think I’ve mentioned in our emails no less than ten times how much I worry about the cover design people putting the wrong mountains on the cover of Mountains Between Us. Because mountains in North Carolina and mountains in Utah are totally different! I’ve lived in the mountains of NC all my life and really truly, I think it’s the most beautiful place on earth. There are trees everywhere, and everything is green and lush. Even though North Carolina is a southern state, because I’m in the mountains our summers are pretty mild. It always cools down at night, even when it’s hot during the day. And the noises… oh, how I love the cicadas and the katydids in the summer time. My family loves to hike and we spend a lot of time outside… playing in mountain creeks, enjoying the views. It’s a great place to live if you enjoy the outdoors.

CH: You’re on the hunt for an agent for your newest book. What does that look like? Where do you find the agents you focus your queries on?

JP: My agent hunt for Nearly Nell is just beginning. I’m finishing up the final polishing right now, and will have the opportunity to get some feedback from an agent at the Storymakers Conference this year. I’ll probably wait to start pitching until after I’ve gotten his feedback. I DO have a list of agents I’d like to query once I reach that stage. Believe it or not, Twitter is a useful resource. I follow many agents that are pretty open on Twitter about what they are looking for, what sorts of things bug them about queries. If you pay attention, you can learn a lot in 160 characters or less. I also read a lot and pay very close attention to the author acknowledgements, where most of the time, agents are mentioned. When I read a book that I love, that I think feels similar to what I’ve written, I make sure and find out who the agent is and learn all I can about their submission requirements. It can be a tedious process, but agents aren’t generally mysterious. They are usually very bold and very specific with what they want. If you do the research, it’s not hard to narrow down the list to those you think will be a good fit. I don’t recommend blanket pitching… writing, and finding a good agent is never going to be one size fits all.

CH: What is your writing process? What do you listen to, where do you go, and how do you find time?

JP: My writing process involves lots and lots of preparatory thinking. I have so little time to actually sit down and write that I like to really know where my story is going to go before the words hit the page. I’ll brainstorm for weeks… in the car, while I’m working out, on the phone with my sister, bless her for letting me ramble on and on about imaginary people… I’ll think and study out plot problems until they feel clearly defined and then, the writing can happen. I don’t necessarily outline, but I think and think, then right down some notes, and go from there. I love to listen to music when I’m thinking/plotting, but absolutely no music with words. Most of the time, I choose William Joseph… an amazing pianist who never fails to inspire me. When I’m actually writing, I need silence. Which is why I rarely write during the day. My house is never silent and is FULL of distractions. I either stay up insanely late to write, or I get up ridiculously early. Most of the time, I pick early but it doesn’t always happen that way. I can definitely pull a few late nights when I need to.

CH: I love that you’re a mother of six, writing books and getting them out there. As a fellow mother (of five) I know it is a delicate balance, a crazy dance to get in the creative time that gives us peace and fulfillment while also being true to our first calling as mothers. Can you share three tips for making it work when your juggling a lot?

JP: I’m so glad that you asked this question, because as much as I love writing, I’m still absolutely certain that mothering is the most important work I do. It’s hard to find a balance and the honest truth is that sometimes I don’t. But I’ve learned to go easy on myself and be honest about what’s realistic. So three tips for writing and mothering at the same time: First, give yourself permission to NOT write everyday. General writing advice is to set a goal and hit your word count every single day. For me, I can’t deal with that kind of pressure. With six kids in the house there are so many things that have to be priority. I’m sure there will be a time and a season in my life where writing every day is a possibility, but for right now, it’s much easier to relax and not put that kind of pressure on myself. Second, talk to your kids about your work. My kids are my biggest champions. They love to ask about my stories, to get excited about the thing that so clearly makes Mom happy. One of my proudest Mom/writer moments? I had a plot problem that I couldn’t get worked out. I had my oldest son read the chapter I was struggling with, we talked it through, and he totally came up with a solution. It was so fun, and I could tell he was really happy to be a part of it. It doesn’t have to be this thing you do on your own… let it be something your kids can be proud of. And finally, regardless of how much writing you do or don’t do, make sure you SEE your kids everyday. I know from personal experience you can be with your children all day and not ever actually see them. Look them in the eye. Ask them how they are feeling, what they are thinking, what is making them happy or sad. Make sure they SEE you, SEEING them. It’s important.

CH: I read that on your last blog you had cookie recipes. Now I’m curious…would you share your favorite recipe with us (or two…don’t hold back!)

JP: My favorite cookie recipe?! OH, that’s so hard! My two go-to favorites are my standard Chocolate Chip Cookie, and then a Chewy Oatmeal Cookie. Both recipes are easily adaptable which makes them fun to change up and experience new flavors. Both recipes are posted on the blog, with links included below.

http://jennyproctor.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/chocolate-chip-cookies-by-me/

http://jennyproctor.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/chewy-oatmeal-cookies/

CH: The diary of an ancestor plays a prominent roll in your first book, THE HOUSE AT ROSE CREEK. I’m a huge proponent of journaling, so I love that! So I have to ask: 1. Do you keep a journal? 2. Have you ever read from the journal of one of your ancestors? 3. Why do you think journaling is important?

JP: I kept a journal from age 12, all the way to age 18 religiously. I have a chest at the foot of my bed that is full of journals… probably 10 or 12 different volumes. Sadly, I’m not near as good about journaling now that I’m a Mom, though I suppose blogging and Facebook take care of some of that. I don’t have actual journals of ancestors, but I have read letters and one particularly fascinating write up about the wedding of one of my great great grandparents. There are so many things that separate us from our ancestors… obviously the technological world that we live in is extremely different than life 200 years ago, but at the root of it, the human struggles, the relationships, the challenges and trials we face, those are pretty timeless. If I can write something now that might help my great granddaughter going through a similar struggle 80 years from now, that’s a pretty amazing thing, yeah?

CH: What did you read growing up that you feel shaped your writing or desire to write, and what are you reading now?

JP: Right now, my future reading schedule is FULL of Whitney finalists. I’d like to vote in as many categories as possible so I’m reading lots of really wonderful fiction by fellow LDS authors. The last book I finished was a lovely historical fiction by Anne Fortier called Juliet.

I read so much as a kid, it’s hard to really quantify what influenced me the most. I loved the Bronte sisters. Jane Eyre is still a favorite but it was quotes from Wuthering Heights that I carried around in my notebooks at school.

I loved the passion behind the words. When you read something that really stays with you… That’s when you know an author has done their job well.

CH: Here at ADDICTED, we like to know what you’re addicted to. Tell us something you can’t live without.

JP: I can’t live without my four basic food groups… Fruit, bread, cheese, and chocolate. I really love good food. But that means, by necessity, I also really love to exercise too. I also love to laugh in the company of people I cherish.

Now for the fun part! Like I said, Jenny is offering a signed copy of her lovely book for one of you! Click on the Rafflecopter link below to enter and then share, share, share! Good luck friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Killer Launch Party

I’m still recovering from a weekend of Ultimate Writerly Fun at the LDStorymakers Conference. Being with some of my favorite people doing some of my favorite things was amazing! But more on that later. I have info you NEED to know. This weekend we’ll keep the party going by helping our friend Jessie Humphries celebrate the launch of her YA Thriller, KILLING RUBY ROSE. Here’s the info you need to know to make this a Killer Weekend!

 

All the details for both events can be found on Jessie’s website. Just remember this: the Launch is Friday night and FREE to the public. The Saturday night concert is a ticketed event (totally affordable!!) and you get your tickets here. Hope to see you there!

 

Author Interview {Sarah M. Eden}

I’m nursing a cold and feeling…bleh.

You know that moment when you sleep terribly even though your body is exhausted. You wake up from bad dreams in the middle of the night but can’t remember them in detail later, only the feeling of being disturbed.

And your baby has a blowout that could have been disastrous had you not had ninja like reflexes.

Yeah, that’s when my day took a turn for the better. You’re laughing, but successfully navigating a baby blowout is the perfect way to make your day happier. Oh, and snuggling said baby after an impromptu bath to clean up said blowout and then hearing him coo to you in gratitude for making him all nice and clean and snuggly. Hmmm…happy moments, people.

As far as the cold, I self medicate with Jane Austen on such days. There is probably some kind of scientific explanation for why reading Regency comforts me, but I won’t delve into the research. Instead I’ll share with you an Author Interview with one of my favorite Regency writers.  In 2014 she’s releasing a number of beautiful books much to her readers’ enjoyment. She’s also a Whitney Award Finalist. Here’s more about the lovely and talented Sarah M. Eden:

CH: I adore a great Regency, so your prolific writing in this genre gives me great pleasure! What inspired you to choose the regency era and what inspired your first book?

SE: I first began studying the Regency era in high school. I had read my first Jane Austen (Sense and Sensibility) and was so fascinated by the social strictures and expectations that I wanted to know more about the time period. I dove in head first and have never lost my love of this era. It’s now been almost twenty years since I first began an in-depth study of the Regency era, and with the knowledge I’ve gained along with the adoration I have for those tumultuous two decades of English history, I can’t imagine abandoning the Regency romance genre any time soon.

I wrote my first Regency in response to a challenge issued by my mother. I had spent a long afternoon complaining to her about how hard it is to find the kind of romances I most enjoy–solid writing, detailed and believable characterization, romantic tension without ratcheting up the steaminess factor–and she suggested I write one of my own. I took up the dare wholeheartedly and spent a lot of time studying the craft of writing before trying my hand at it myself. The book I wrote in response to that challenge was later published as “The Kiss of a Stranger.”

CH: The Jonquil brothers are swoon worthy in the best ways. What do you have in store for the rascally youngest brother?

SE: Oh, Charlie. I am actually really looking forward to eventually writing his story–it should be a whole lot of fun. There’s not much I can tell you about it that wouldn’t be a spoiler, either for his story or for the three brothers whose books will precede his. But, let’s just say, the course of true love does not run at all smooth for Charlie Jonquil. At all. At. All.

 

CH: Two books out this year – how do you do it while juggling family and even health issues?

SE: I have had 5 books and 5 novellas released since January 2013, with 3 more novellas and one more full length novel out before the end of this year. So, I guess it’s fair to say things have been a little crazy.

One thing that makes that possible is the slow turning wheels of publishing. Four of those full-length novels were written more than five years ago, while the other two were completed in 2011 and 2012. So while I did have to go through multiple rounds of editing, which is no small thing in and of itself, none of these books were started and finished in such a short time. That simply wouldn’t be possible without sacrificing either the quality of writing or my sanity, probably both. The novellas were all written in this time frame, but at 12,000 words instead of 80,000-100,000 words, that is considerably more doable. When I write the novellas, I do a very detailed and tight outline, which allows me to write them fairly quickly.

Now that I have more or less caught up with my backlog of books, the real time crunch begins. With my health issues, I am no longer a fast writer. Whereas I could once churn out 3 or 4 books in a year, I struggled to finish even one in the past thirteen months. I can no longer physically type (though we are hopeful that will change), so that has changed the process of writing. The mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that comes from a chronic illness slows down productivity considerably. And I have kids who need their mom, who have busy schedules requiring the mom-taxi, a husband who really likes having conversations and spending time with me, a house to run, other responsibilities, etc. I have learned out of necessity to be very organized and to do what I can to make good use of my time. Even with all of that, however, I can see that my publishing schedule will slow down from this point forward.

by Sarah M. Eden

CH:  At the Whitneys last year, you wore a beautiful sash. Tell me about your personal heritage and does it color your writing?

SE: That sash was my clan tartan, actually. Shout out to Clan MacBean!

I have ancestors hailing from a small handful of countries, including Scotland (hence, the tartan), Ireland, England, and Germany. I have always loved studying my cultural heritage and gaining a better understanding of where my people came from, how the places they lived would have influenced their lives, what they experienced, etc. That certainly shows up in the stories I write. Longing for Home and Hope Springs were such a joy to write in large part because I was able to call upon my own Irish roots and celebrate that part of my ancestry. I often use family names and locations where they lived in the stories I write. It’s a fun way for me to connect to my own past.

CH: Tell us about your process for writing a book. I once saw an awesome outline (blurred, I might add, to keep up from getting any spicy tidbits!) for one of your stories. How do you work from start to finish? What is your go to book or source for research in this era?

SE: I always begin with the characters: who are they, what are their goals, what obstacles get in their way, why is reaching those goals so important? Without good, solid answers to those questions, there’s no story.

Once I’ve answered that, I work on a 9-point plot map–it’s an overview outline of the story in which I identify key events, turning points etc. in the story, all shaped by the character’s goals and motivations.

With that in place, I do a scene map, which is the image you saw. I write out a few bullet points of each of the scenes in the story and pin them up on a bulletin board, moving them around as necessary until the shape of the story is right. I sketch out any maps and floorplans that are key to the story as a way of preserving continuity. I fill out my character bible, which is a reference guide for information on the various characters. I identify overarching themes. I make a list of significant supporting characters.

Then I take a nap.

Then I get to start writing. I do a more detailed outline of the scene I’m working on, and then I write the scene. The story always evolves as I write and I make adjustments to the pieces as needed, but the characters and plot map are the backbone of the story.

I don’t have a single reference book that I rely on for research. I have mountains of sources, all covering different things. I have a few books that give a good overview of the eras I write in, but to truly write something authentic and accurate, I need details and primary sources and a lot of confirmations that what I’m finding is correct. I have never been the kind of writer who was satisfied with writing a historical novel that only kind of captured the feel of an era or that was basically accurate. I wanted my books to have that truly authentic feel from the very first page, and I knew that couldn’t happen without a lot of work. So I consult with museums and archives. I’ve spent countless hours reading letters and newspapers from these eras, pouring over scholarly journals, pushing through law books, era-accurate medical books, personal journals, etc. It is a lot of work, but I think it makes a difference in the end.

CH: Have you ever been to England? Do you plan to visit for “research purposes?”

SE: I haven’t been to England, though I very much want to. I have already mapped out my dream research “vacation” to England and Scotland. I’ll get there someday.

I did, however, go to Ireland at the end of 2012, which was a lifelong dream come true. While I was there I was able to do a great deal of research as well as simply enjoy the beauty of the country and the warmth of the people. It was amazing and I am anxious to go back again.

CH: I’ve loved the Proper Romance series out now. What a relief to read juicy romances without the fear of crossing lines into bodice ripper territory. How did you get to be a part of that new line?

SE: When my agent read Longing for Home, she immediately thought of Shadow Mountain’s “Proper Romance” line. She felt it was a good fit there and so she pitched it to them. They loved the story and agreed that it was a good match for their vision of this romance line. I’m excited to see where this line goes in the future. There are a lot of readers who enjoy a non-bodice-ripper romance but struggle to find them. Having an entire line dedicated to providing those kind of stories is a welcome and much needed addition to the romance industry.

CH: Tell us how you got your agent. Any tips for those still seeking the right agent for their work?

SE: My agent had mentioned on Twitter that she was interested in representing historical romance. A Twitter friend of mine saw that and responded, suggesting she check out my work. So, unbeknownst to me, I had an agent perusing my website, reading my blog posts, checking out my social media presence, etc. She liked what she saw and, via Twitter, asked if I would be at that year’s national RWA conference and would I like to meet up and chat. We worked out the details, she actually read one of my books that was already published so she would know if I was any good. We met and talked, asked each other questions, got a feel for what the other was looking for, and in the end it was a perfect fit.

In terms of advice for those looking for an agent… keep at it. Opportunities will present themselves when you least expect it. The key is being ready for them when they come. No amount of querying or cultivating connections will get you representation if the writing isn’t there. Work on your craft. Always be improving. Being a good writer won’t guarantee that you’ll find your dream agent, but being a poor writer will stand in your way every time.

CH: What have you been reading lately? Are there any books that really stuck with you growing up?

SE: I am currently reading for two different awards programs. I’m neck-deep in books I need to finish reading in the next few weeks. It’s been great to be exposed to so much writing–it is one of the keys to improving as an author–but has also meant I haven’t done any reading for pleasure in a while.

The book I remember best from my growing-up years was Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins. I read it in 6th grade and was blown away. I was totally engrossed in the heroine’s plight and pulled into the story. It was the first time a story did that for me and it changed my whole perception of reading. Until then, reading was always a chore, an assignment I did because I had to. But after reading that book I realized that reading could be exciting and enjoyable, even though it was hard for me. It pushed me forward and kept me reading at a time when I hated to read. I’ll always be grateful to Mr. O’Dell for writing a book that helped me over that hurdle.

CH: Finally, here at ADDICTED, we’d love to know what you’re addicted to? Is there anything you can’t live without?

SE: My first thought was step stools. I have one in every room of my house. Not as the result of an addiction, though. It’s really more of a necessity. I’m what’s known as “really short.”

Second thought: pointless online quizzes. I’ve taken enough to know what Jane Austen character I am, what city I should live in, which color best describes my inner child, which incarnation of Star Trek fits my personality, and which Harry Potter character I probably should have married. But this is more of a procrastination tool than a true addiction.

My third answer was Ireland, but that’s really an obsession, which isn’t quite the same thing.

Then, looking back over this list I thought maybe I’m addicted to lists. But in the interest of not looking like a total nerd, I’m going to reject that answer as well.

I think I’ll go with growing roses. That’s probably almost as nerdy as lists, but at least it’s true. Back when we lived in Arizona, we bought a house with thirteen rose bushes growing out front. I learned how to care for roses out of necessity and discovered that I loved doing it. So when we moved to the house we live in now (in a climate much more conducive to roses) one of the first things I did was clear out a flower bed that was ideally positioned for roses, and started planting bushes in my favorite varieties. The arthritis I now have in my hands makes this work hard, even impossible on some days, but I get so much joy from it that I’ve kept at it. I have had to scale back the vision I had for a long row of rose bushes, but I am enjoying the ones I do have.

 

I enjoyed Sarah’s writing before this interview, but now I absolutely adore the woman. As a fellow “fun sized” person, I appreciate her step stool addiction. I have a thing for lists too.

As I was posting images of Sarah’s latest books, I kept thinking, “This one is my favorite,” only to find another and think the same thing. I resonated with the stories in GLIMMER OF HOPE, DROPS OF GOLD, and AS YOU ARE and just loved reading them. Go check out Sarah’s website , follow her on Facebook and Twitter and pick up her books on Amazon. If you’re planning to be at the LDStorymakers Conference in less than a week, make time for her classes too. I personally can’t wait! Thanks again, Sarah, for visiting Addicted!

Ah, Jane

I love the comedy and romantics that go on between the lovely Emma and her dear friend Miss Smith as she endeavors to find her a perfect match. A twist on Jane Austen’s most humorous writing is what I had in mind with my own Regency romance (deep in revisions as we speak!!). One of my favorite scenes from this story inspired a scene in my own novel, A HEART SO BROKEN. It’s when Mr. Knightley reproves Emma after her unkindness to Ms. Bates at the strawberry picking party. He pulls her up short, not because he delights in finding fault with her, but because he cares about her and the influence she has on her community.

In A HEART SO BROKEN, Jenna has stumbled upon an inconvenient truth, something that Cooper neglected to tell her and for which she cannot seem to forgive him. After a summer of recovery she is on the precipice of launching back into the darkness. Cooper’s older brother and her friend, Jackson, comes upon her on a dark mountain road and has the audacity to put her in her place:

I started to protest, but Jackson cut me off. “Look, I know you’ve got it. You’re strong, you’re capable, you don’t need anyone else. We’ve all got the message loud and clear. But there’s going to come a moment when you have to let yourself be rescued, not just from jerks like Colt, but from this whole mess.”

“I don’t need rescuing,” I said angrily. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Sure, because I’ve never lost anything, have I Jenna?” He shook his head in disgust. “You know, all this time I have you the benefit of a doubt. I treated you like a sister because I knew how amazing you were. But now I can see you’re just a selfish, hurt little girl. Isn’t that why you never said ‘I love you’ back?”

“That’s none of your business,” I snapped.

“When I find my little brother wandering around broken hearted, it becomes my business,” Jackson said, “just like it becomes my business when jerks like Colt try to take advantage of a girl I respected.”

The past tense of the word made me cringe, but I didn’t let it show. Everything he said made me want to crawl under a rock, but there was no way I was giving in.

“You didn’t say it because the whole time, you were looking for an escape clause. The minute things got real, you bailed. I don’t care if you get mad and hash it out, but you didn’t ask questions. You didn’t fight for it. You ran away from the guy who’s been there this whole time, holding your hand and drying your tears. And you know what? I feel sorry for you. Because you’re never going to have a life worth living until you learn to forgive.”

A Heart So Broken by Christene Houston

Want to find out what happens next? Go get your copy of A HEART SO BROKEN paperback or e-book and clear your calendar. Already read it? Take a minute and share your thoughts at Goodreads, Amazon, or here on my website! Reviews are an author’s best friend.

 

A Little Inspiration

Kay, so last Friday I got some good news, good news that had me up until 2am writing and revising like crazy to get a query letter and first ten pages as good as I possibly could before my brain turned to complete sleep deprived mush.

You see, I’m going to this Conference in a couple weeks…ten days to be exact (not that I’m counting!!!). When I signed up for LDStorymakers, my goal was to register the moment I could in order to be a part of these awesome new Agent Workshops they’re having this year.

What’s so cool about an Agent Workshop? you might ask. Of course this is a good question, one I am happy to explain to you.

Instead of a 10 minute, nail biting, make-it-or-break-it session with your proposed agent, several agents are meeting in an intimate group to give you an in-depth analysis and critique of your query and first 10 pages. Um…AWESOME!! This means 90 minutes of talking with, learning from and gaining insight from a professional who knows how to get you published.

You can imagine my chagrin when I had to run and get my credit card and in those two point five seconds, my hoped for spot was swiped out from under me by another prospective author with better possession of their desired payment method. BOO-HOO!!

Well, that all changed Friday night. Someone in Laurie McLean’s group got an agent (congratulations to this unknown helper of my dreams!) and pulled out of the workshop. Yours truly was next in line. I AM SO EXCITED!!

Laurie McLean is pretty awesome. She reps some pretty neat authors. She appreciates the hybrid method of publishing that is growing so quickly these days (Indie + Traditional) and she’s got a substantial amount of experience under her belt.

For the next ten days I’ll be revising and perfecting my Regency romance so that when Ms. McLean falls in love with the first ten pages, I’ll be able to send her the rest for publishing.

That and throwing a birthday party for my girls, playing in the sun and generally enjoying Spring Break. What are you up to this week?

 

Author Interview {Peggy Eddleman}

I met this lovely lady while sitting at last year’s Whitney Awards. She showed me a picture of her book cover on her phone and it took my breath away! Since then we’ve become friends, we’ve sprinted together (writing, not running, though she could probably sprint physically too!), and we both share an appreciation for a well baked cookie. Now Peggy has a second book coming out in September and is teaching at the LDStorymakers Conference in a couple weeks. Peggy was nice enough to let me ask her a million questions about books and writing and everything in between. Take a look!

 CH:     Sky Jumpers is on my to read list – where did this idea come from?

 PE: The idea for the setting (which is usually what I start with when I write a book) came from looking out the window of an airplane at the clouds, and imagining how unbelievably fun it would be to jump off the plane and into those clouds, and have them slow my fall.

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman

CH:  I love the premise of someone who stands out from the crowd because they don’t have that common trait. Why do you think she makes a good hero?

PE: I think she’s a relatable character because we all have those times when we feel like we aren’t good at something that is important to be good at. It’s a common thing to compare your weaknesses to other people’s strengths, and sometimes it’s hard to see what you are really worth. I think she makes a good hero because she isn’t afraid to make decisions and act on those decisions. She doesn’t let fear– including fear of failure– stand in her way.

CH:  When we were together last you had a whole list of great books. Please give me the top 5 books I HAVE to read.

PE:  Thank you for not limiting me to one or two! Five is hard enough to narrow down. Some of the books I read last year that still get me whenever I think of them are these:

Young Adult:

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by April Tucholke

TAKEN by Erin Bowman

Middle Grade:

RUMP: THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPLESTILTSKIN by Liesl Shurtliff

THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen

THE VERY NEARLY HONORABLE LEAGUE OF PIRATES: MAGIC MARKS THE SPOT by Caroline Carlson

CH:  I’ve heard you say you enjoy painting. Would you be willing to share a picture of something you’ve painted?

PE: Sure! My favorite thing to paint is full room murals, and right now there are two in my house (although there have been many others throughout the years).

My daughter’s room has a castle that fills the biggest wall and half of the two side walls, with rolling hills and sky covering the other walls and the ceiling. These are pictures of a couple of dragons that grace the walls.

My boys have both loved volunteering at the space center near our home, where the missions are based off Star Trek. So I did a space theme in their room, complete with a Federation ship and a Romulan ship mid-battle.

 

 

CH:  You’re going to be everywhere this year. Which event are you anticipating the most?

PE:  Oh, gosh. That’s a very hard question. I’m very excited to go to Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference, especially since I’ll be doing school visits while I’m there. (I love doing school visits!) I’m coming to your stomping grounds three times (!)– for Jessie Humphries’ book launch (I hear it’s going to be Killer :)), for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference, and for the Vegas Valley Book Festival. I’m excited for all of them. I’m doing events in Utah that I’ve never been to before, and I’m revisiting some of my favorites. I’m excited for all of it, to be honest.

CH:  The Whitneys! What fun to be a Finalist with your debut book! How do you decide what to wear?

PE:  A fellow writer, Shelly Brown, dared me to accessorize with this fine piece of jewelry. So I guess it’s a matter of finding something that’ll go with it….

(I kid, of course. I’m pretty sure that necklace costs thousands of dollars and is possibly one-of-a-kind. Plus, you know, disturbing.)

CH: Now on to business. How did you sell Sky Jumpers to an Agent and was there a working title different from this one?PE: The original title was THROUGH THE BOMB’S BREATH, and there’s still a special spot for that title right here. My agent (Sara Crowe) requested my full manuscript after a live pitch session, but I didn’t send it to her until I was ready to start querying four months later. When another agent I queried first requested my full, I sent it to both of them. They both offered representation, and I chose Sara because she’s awesome.

CH: You seem to be pretty disciplined. How do you work writing into a busy family life?

PE: I am still so far away from finding the magic balance! The only thing I have gotten down is treating my writing time as precious. I don’t let things like a messy house or bare pantry get in the way of it. I figure that there are a lot of things that can be done while still giving my family attention, and writing isn’t one of them. And if I spend my writing time doing other things, it means I have to spend my family time writing.

CH: Cookies are a main theme in your blog. Can you share your favorite cookie recipe?

PE: Sure! My favorite is pumpkin chocolate cookies, because they’re more light and fluffy. My kids figure that they’re pretty much a vegetable, so that makes them okay for everything from snacks to breakfast. I’m inclined to agree.

Peggy’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/3 c. Butter

1 ½ c. Sugar

1 Egg

1 c. Pumpkin

1 tsp. Vanilla

½ t. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Baking Powder

½ tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Nutmeg

1 tsp. Cinnamon

2 ½ c. Flour

1 c. Chocolate Chips

Cream together sugar and butter. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and mix. Mix in pumpkin. Mix in flour. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

CH: You recently wrote 7 Tips for Pitching to an Agent for Writer’s Digest. I loved it! What was your first Pitch Session like?

PE: Thanks! I did everything wrong. Including remembering to breathe. I was so nervous by the time I walked into the room, I forgot most of what I was going to say, didn’t go prepared with any questions, my hands shook the whole time, and I’m pretty sure my voice didn’t come out anywhere close to normal-sounding. It was fabulous.

CH:  You’re on a roll with your second installment of Sky Jumpers: THE FORBIDDEN FLATS. The cover is AWESOME! Any teasers you’d like to share with us?

PE: Hmmm. Just that there’s a gigantic earthquake that triggers the Bomb’s Breath lowering (and fyi– that’s a really bad thing), a trip across the Forbidden Flats, a few unique and fascinating cities, danger, excitement, adventure, and Sky Surfing on the Bomb’s Breath (which is even cooler than sky jumping). It was a very difficult book to write and a very difficult book to get just right, and I’m insanely excited for it to come out.

CH: What are you writing right now?

PE: Proposals for a new MG series, which has been so much fun to daydream about.

CH: What are you reading?

I’m about 2/3 finished with OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY by Karen Foxlee, a fellow Random House author.

CH: When you write, do you listen to anything? Is there a playlist to go with your books?

PE: I only listen to music if I’m somewhere that I have to drown out talking. Otherwise I write in silence. I don’t have a playlist– just a Pandora station that gets me in a creative mood.

CH: Here at Addicted we want to know – What are you addicted to? What are the things you can’t live without?

PE: My husband and our kids. Because they are an awesome and highly-addictive substance.

Thanks so much for visiting ADDICTED today, Peggy! I have to say I shivered even posting that picture of your “proposed neckwear”. Eeek! Thanks for sharing your books and how you write. My first pitch session must have been much like yours, though I think I’m blocking out the worst parts of it. Ha ha! I am SUPER excited to have you down to Vegas for the Vegas Valley Book Festival in the fall and Jessie’s Launch on May 2nd. As for FORBIDDEN FLATS, that’s out in September. Feel free to go preorder your copy today!

And since we’re talking about great books and we’re moments away from enjoying SPRING BREAK here in Vegas, let me recommend a copy of A HEART SO BROKEN! The perfect combination of romance, regret and redemption to keep you up tonight!

A Mysterious Case of Mondays

You might think I’ve been hit with a case of the “Mondays” as I write this post. Symptoms include:

Baby waking up early thinking he’s some kind of celebrity who needs a 5am feeding
Dead car battery after charging it all weekend (cause someone left the door ajar…)
Canceled plans
Calling for rescue in the carpool

It sounds like Monday struck again – but really, I’m taking it as a nudge. A nudge to write. A reason to stay home and get some much needed work done. So this morning I’ll be breaking out the tunes, getting inspired, and writing every moment I can.

Music is such a useful medium for creating. These are a couple of songs that have been inspiring me lately:

Dark and dangerous like the story I’m writing now…And this:

For editing my Regency romance. I know…completely different. What can I say! I’m addicted to music, it’s true. So tell me, what inspires you?

 

A {Killer} Review

Some weeks you’re the groundhog, down in your den and only peeking out when there’s something of interest – or in Punxsutawney’s case, when you’re dragged unceremoniously into the light to witness your shadow and condemn the nation to more winter or not see it and fuel our hopes of Spring. Either way, your job isn’t too glamorous. That’s kind of what writing is like. You have a lot of fun when you’re in the limelight, signing books and meeting wonderful readers, but there is a lot of unglamorous Punxsutawney moments.

Things like writing query letters, ripping them up cause their crap and then writing some more, all in hopes of selling your amazing book to an agent. There’s the fun of researching agents and trying to figure out if your book has “a unique voice” (umm…does not compute…need more accurate definition). There’s the editing which can be shades of fun and shades of misery. There’s the sneaking into your bedroom and hoping none of your five monkeys notice so you can possibly write one or two coherent sentences before their little radars go off and they come searching for you needing their apple cut (because you don’t let them use the sharp knives), their bums wiped (because they’re that age) or your opinion on a very long version of a very short story. Ha ha. It’s a good life, for sure, but there are those moments when you’re hiding, working away and don’t necessarily want to be dragged into the light to make decisions about the fate of nature. That’s kinda where I’ve been.

But this week is different. Today I couldn’t help but shout out to my girl Jessie Humphries. She’s been doing amazing things in preparation for her upcoming book launch on May 2nd here in Las Vegas, Nevada. Things like having an amazing Book Trailer created, hiring models (for Liam and Ruby) for her book launch, kicking off a great writing contest for LV high school kids and much more! Let me emphasize that you do NOT want to miss this event. Even better you can get YOUR copy of her YA Thriller KILLING RUBY ROSE on Amazon right this very minute. If I’m not mistaken, it’s still at the rockbottom price of $1.99 or um...FREE if you’re a Prime member. Yeah, a good deal.

I read this book last week while hiding in my groundhog den. Here’s what I liked:

Ruby Rose is a quirky teen enchanted with designer shoes and her own closet full of them.
She loves to name inanimate objects and I adore this part of her personality.
She’s super comfortable with deadly weaponry after her father’s careful tutelage. 
Her little romance with Liam – in fact I think he is downright adorable.
How she tucked things in The Cleave. I don’t know why. I just thought it was hilarious.
Ruby’s BFF shows up in her saddest moment and really helps her to remember herself. Isn’t that what best friends are all about?
Not knowing how it all would end until the last scene. The secrets underneath Ruby’s manipulation were only barely hinted at along the way and finally, everything comes to light in a huge revelation. 

The romance is just enough to keep an addict like me happy. There is violence (obviously) and some language but I would call it mild.

I don’t read a lot of thrillers, but I liked this one. It’s such an interesting concept and a struggle for Ruby when she is basically being turned into a serial killer despite her best efforts to help those she loves and innocent bystanders caught up in this web. It really made me think about what I would do in a similar situation (given the same training and more importantly, the same shoes!). Go check out KILLING RUBY ROSE and tell Jessie I sent ya. Then mark your calendars, because in less than a month, Vegas is going to have quite a party on their hands!