"I Am Pale"

I found this over on YA Outside the Lines...

Emma Thompson & Stephen Fry as Elizabeth Barrett Browning & Robert Browning:

Foto Friday

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Agents & Queries

AgentQuery Connect has put together a list of literary agents you really should check out if you are sending out queries.

Agent Cheat Sheet

I also found this article from AgentQuery very useful on writing the your query letter.

How to Write a Query 

Let me know how you're doing!

LOVE this quote!

People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains,
at the huge waves of the seas,
at the long course of the rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean,
at the circular motion of the stars.

And yet they pass by themselves without wondering.

Augustine

(You are amazing and talented! Keep up the good work!)

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Winner, Winner, Don't Eat My Dinner

CONGRATS!

To Sarita for winning a copy of Meg's Melody right here on Taffy's Writings.

Foto Friday

What Do Highly Paid Authors Do?

They write lots and lots of books. Last I heard, James Patterson churns out one book a month. While many don't like his writing style, many do. Many writers use the "beach book" formula and get their books published. So write and write and write!


They write more than one book. What do Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and Mary Higgins Clark have in common? They've written a series that have the same characters we readers like to follow.  While I personally am getting annoyed with all the trilogies (I'm not very patient. Ask my hubby about a certain Christmas season many years ago when I opened my presents to see what I was getting. I couldn't wait!) they sell not one, not two, but THREE of your books.

Patience my young padawan. It takes time to write and publish a book let alone get your name recognized. Name ten authors. How long have they been around? But don't be discouraged. Find your pace and move!


Do you have a favorite author that you would read no matter what?

What's Your Fate?

What are you doing in 2011?
How will fate run your year?
Wait a minute!
Fate does not run your life! YOU DO!
Nor should fate run your writing. YOU DO!

With a whole new year stretching out in front of you, how will you master it?

Here are some ideas for you:

Finish your book
Write
Begin a blog
Write
Find a new genre
Write
Find a new market
Write
Send your queries out
Write
Go to a writing conference
Write
Get in a critique group or start one
Write
Submit an article to your favorite magazine
Write
Become someone's writing partner
Write

Take charge of 2011. 
Be the master of your fate.

Meg's Melody by Kaylee Baldwin TOUR & GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the blog tour of Meg's Melody!

She paced the small confines of her bathroom as she waited the obligatory two minutes for the result. Yet, part of her sensed the truth. Not only did Austin take her self-esteem and plans for happiness, but he also took her get-out-of-this-marriage-free card.

The plus sign glared at Meg from the white plastic frame of the pregnancy test. The test fell from her hands and clattered into the bathtub as Meg’s back slid against the wall until she reached the floor.

“I’m pregnant,” she said into the quiet.

Meg never imagined she'd end up like this. With nowhere else to turn, she's forced to rely on the family she pushed away, the church she abandoned, and an unexpected friendship to help her find her forgotten melody. Meanwhile Matt is still mourning the loss of his wife. But determined to keep things together for his daughter's sake, he decides starting over in a new place might be just what his family needs.

This touching story combines romance with redemption and real conflict to remind you it's never too late to find joy. Kaylee Baldwin's capable hand renders a sincere, heartfelt story of rediscovery and hope. Perfect for romantics of all ages, this book will captivate your heart and rekindle your belief in the magic of music.


I received this book to review it and I'm glad I got it. Meg's Melody is a good, clean, LDS book with many themes woven throughout. Grief, repentance, forgiveness, finding yourself, love and family are a few themes I found.
Meg's marriage was a sham and she was divorced in less than a year. In the meantime, she has pushed her family and church away from her life. She feels she has to find her path alone, that her family couldn't forgive her. Then she finds out she's pregnant and her lonely, bumpy path just took a sharp turn. She has to learn to trust again, in herself mostly, as new people come into her life. Meg's family loves her and they close ranks around her, giving the support she needs.
The characters and relationships develop through the story. I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't preachy either. It was funny at times, sad, moving and fulfilling.
Good job Ms. Baldwin!


Now for the giveaway:
Leave a comment at any one of these blogs on their blog post about Meg's Melody and you will be entered into a drawing to win Meg's Melody. You can leave comments on multiple blogs for multiple entries.
Kaylee will also give you another entry if you become a follower of her blog!

I'm going to give away my (gently read) copy too! So just leave a comment about music. Anything music. And your email.
I thought about keeping my copy but I wanted to pay forward all the goodness that has happened ot me in the last month.
GOOD LUCK!

January 10th

Shanda at LDSWBR

January 11th
Tristi Pinkston

January 12th
Jolene Perry

January 13th
Shaunna Gonzales

January 15th
Taffy Lowell

January 17th
Heather at Fire and Ice

January 18th
Marsha Ward

January 19th
Alison Palmer

January 20th
I am a Reader Not a Writer

January 21st
Rebecca Talley

The contest will run until January 22nd.

Foto Friday & Have a Great Weekend!

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Winner, Winner, Taco Dinner

Today I'm the winner.
And because Tristi's doing her book launch tomorrow I thought I would show you what I won on her blog-o-love.
But first! I have to tell you about my dream last night.
Tristi was doing her book launch at Thanksgiving Point. I was hanging out as moral support, helping collect socks and whatnot. Then I started handing out chocolates for my books that weren't there.
I felt really stupid. There was a table set up for me but it was empty. Sad. (After I write this post I'm kicking it into high gear on my WIP).
Heather Moore and Nicole Giles showed up with their books and sat next to Tristi.
James Dashner was sitting on a bench nearby talking with Rob Wells. They waved at me as I went to hide in the bathroom.
Any takers on analyzing my dream??
Be gentle :)

Here is what I won from Tristi:

Foto Friday

Tristi Pinkston's Newest Book

You are invited to the release

of Tristi Pinkston’s new novel

Dearly Departed

on Friday, January 14^th,

at Pioneer Book

858 S. State, Orem

6 – 8 pm

Refreshments, prizes, and fun!

Bring a package of socks to be donated

to the homeless, and you'll be entered in an

additional drawing.

Hope to see you there!

True Story

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Can You Stop Comparing?

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." Lao Tzu

What is one habit that is destructive to writers?

What do you think?

Here's one: Comparing yourself and/or your writing to someone else and their work. 

Every author is different. Their words, characters, ability to build tension are unique to that writer. 

By comparing yourself, negative feelings build up and build up and by the end of the day you've given up your dream of writing.

How do we stop comparing or at least get it under control?

1. Give back.

By giving back, you are thinking of others and not focused on yourself. You've come along way in your goals and talent of writing. Has someone helped you along the way? 

Our local writers community has sooo many authors who are willing to help newbies like me. They give advice and help and humor. They give back because they were where I am now and someone helped them too.

So giving back is a great way to refocus on the positive.

2. Don't fall into the trap of being perfect.

Seriously. How many books have you read that are perfect? The grammar is perfect. The characters have amazing arcs, etc. etc. etc. Right. You haven't either. You and your work don't need to be perfect. BUT you do need to do your best. By doing your best you will feel empowered which will make your brain work and your story will grow up and be amazing, right?

3. Give up comparing.

If you can't give up on comparing yourself negatively, give up comparing positively too. You don't need to compare yourself to feel better about yourself. Both sides of comparing are often connected (interesting concept, isn't it?).

If you can't stop doing the negative comparisons then stop doing them both. You may need to give up the positive to move away from the negative.

4. Compare you to you.

The best way to compare is yourself to yourself. 

I saw this concept work in my husband. He's a very competitive athlete. He's fast, thinks quickly and acts. He's a natural athlete. He's also short for most sports. Instead of comparing himself against the taller guys, he compares himself against his progress. 

Through his sports days he worked on running faster, making free throws, interceptions, drawing fouls and making lay ups. On the court and field he's not a hot head who thinks everyone else is to blame for losing the game. He looks at what he could do better next time. 

(There is one exception: of course the refs and umps are to blame 95% of the time, right??)

He's also positive about his talents. Not cocky. He appreciates what he can do and then he pushes the limits to do better.

5. There are worse.

If you're a writer, find a book that is horrible in writing and grammar etc. I know, I know. This is comparing. This is the last resort. You know you can do better. So do it.

WINNER! Winner Cheeseburger Dinner

Marcie Turner is the winner of HUMAN BLEND! Congrats! I emailed her and am awaiting an address.
Thanks to all (4) who entered.

I'm doing a giveaway around Valentine's Day and we will discuss why you hate or love that holiday.  And maybe your favorite romance/love/chick books.



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Foto Friday

http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/cool-photos-and-artworks-for-your-inspiration-8/

My 2010 Reading List

I took the reading challenge to read 100 books in 2010 and I accomplished it!

I need a new reading challenge for 2011.
What are your reading goals for this year??


This is the list of the books I read this past year, starting from the books I finished this week.


1. Book of Mormon
2. Nightshade
3. A Time To Die
4. The Silence of God
5. Legend of Shannonderry
6. Book of Mormon
7. Human Blend
8. The Limit-MG
9. Pathfinder-YA
10. Dangerous Connections
11. The Christmas Shoes
12. Cross My Heart
13. Promise Me
14. A Return to Christmas
15. Imprints
16. The Fairy's Mistake
17. The Forgotten Garden
18. Scorch Trials-YA
19. Emotional Intensity
20. Clockwork Angel-YA
21. Forbidden Sea-YA
22. English Triffle
23. Shiver-YA
24. Paranormalcy-YA
25. Outlive Your Life
26. Out Of My Mind-YA
27. One Hand, Two Hands-PB
28. How To Ditch Your Fairy-YA
29. The Rising Tiger-YA
30. Mockingjay-YA
31. Red Queen
32. The Last Book In The Universe-YA
33. Crossing the Tracks
34. Believing Christ
35. The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln
36. Let's Do Lunch
37. The Adoration of Jenna Fox-YA
38. The Remarkable Soul of A Woman
39. How To Take The Ex Out Of Ex-Boyfriend-YA
40. Sea-YA
41. The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda-MG
42. Before I Fall-YA
43. Look Again
44. The Cinderella Society-YA
45. The Iron King-YA
46. Eve and The Choice Made In Eden
47. Golden Spiral-YA
48. Incarceron-YA
49. Trapped
50. The Body Finder-YA
51. Alma the Younger
52. The Short Second life of Bree Tanner
53. Princess of Glass-YA
54. Chocolate Roses
55. My Double Life-YA
56. Queen in Exile
57. Hex Hall-YA
58. Courting Miss Lancaster
59. As You Wish-YA
60. Spells-YA
61. Friendship for Grown-Ups
62. The Saphhire Flute
63. In the Company of Angels
64. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon-YA
65. Heartbeat-YA
66. Missing
67. Front and Center-YA
68. When You Reach Me-YA
69. Beautiful Creatures-YA
70. The Way He Lived-YA
71. The Thorn-Chornicles of Gan
72. City of Glass-YA
73. City of Ashes-YA
74. I'll Know You By Heart
75. Along for the Ride-YA
76. Book of Mormon Women
77. The BookThief-YA
78. The Off Season-YA
79. Speaker For The Dead
80. Listening For Lions-YA
81. Beauty-YA
82. Winter's Child-YA
83. Shudder
84. Love Your Body
85. The Girl Who Could Fly-YA
86. The Chosen One-YA
87. Hush, Hush-YA
88. Shiver-YA
89. Lock Down
90. The Sugar Queen
91. Eyes Like Mine
92. The Dark Divine-YA
93. The Peacegiver
94. Mormon Mishaps and Mischief
95. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X-YA
96. Dear John
97. City of Bones- YA
98. Dairy Queen-YA
99. They Saw the Future by-Jr
100. The Magicians Elephant -Jr
101. Maze Runner-YA
102. Calamity Jack-YA
103. King's Equal-Jr
104. Wintergirls-YA
105. Mistborn
106. Linger-YA

Inspiration

 

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Just So You Remember...

“You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own and you know what you know

And you are the one who’ll decide where to go.”