Update on what's been keeping me crazy, busy, exhausted, and laughing

So toward the end of last year, I thought it would be awesome to pack this April as full as possible, with big events every week. Actually, when I first planned it, I mostly just hoped that I'd still be alive at the end of the month. I didn't expect to love every minute of it so much, or to end the month being fine to keep going at this pace. Probably because it all ended up being so. very. awesome. Here's a recap:

The first week of April, Liesl Shurtliff (author of RUMP and a pub-mate of mine) and I decided to go on a school visit tour together in Texas. We had gotten to be friends online and had even met once, but we don't live near each other (she's in Chicago; I'm in Utah). But when you're going to another state, that doesn't seem to matter so much. :) We planned a killer presentation that we did together. Not only was it so many kinds of fun doing it together, but it also gave us a buddy to navigate the freeways of San Antonio.

For the record: Texas is awesome. Doing school visits there is like nothing I've experienced. 

We had a lot of fun, signed a lot of books for a lot of different schools....

Got to visit some who did completely awesome things like decorate the doors with welcome signs...

Gave us a basket of treats (including cookies, because they let the kids check out our websites before we came. Is that not the coolest thing ever?! LOVE this school)...

 And made great big welcome banners that we faced while we spoke.

I made the nastiest food combination EVER, and double-dog dared Liesl to eat it. And she did! Liesl's the best.

We also got to hang out on the riverwalk in San Antonio a few nights. It was such an incredible place to be.

And we took a selfie right before going on stage for our last performance of the week, after speaking with nearly 3,000 kids in four different school districts.

It was an amazing place! But at the end of the 7 day trip, we were definitely ready to get back home to our families.

And I actually got a couple of days to recuperate before it was time for SALT LAKE COMIC CON!! (Trust me-- it was so huge, it deserved the all caps.) I spent three days hanging out with 100,000 of the faniest fans around, checking out fabulous costumes, great booths, speaking on eight panels, and totally enjoying the geekfest.

And got to fan-girl myself while listening to Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin speak. (In case you were wondering, yes it was awesome, and yes, they are both incredible people, and yes, I grinned the entire time.)

Then I came home for four days--- just enough time for the germs from MASSIVEST HEAD COLD EVER to kick in. (Side effect from hanging out with 100k people. Still worth it.) Then I headed off to LDStorymakers, and got to hang out with this lovely crowd:

And promptly lost my voice, just in time to do my two hour-long presentations. It was awesome, because I had a mic, so my voice was coming out all chipmunky but loud. At least I didn't have to resort to interpretive dance to get my presentation across, so I'm counting it as a success!

All of the presenters donated a picture for a "Talk to the Hand" advice video. Here was my advice:

Then, on the eve of the conference, my hubby drove up and joined me, all dressed up, for the Whitney Awards Gala....

Where I got to wear these fabulous shoes. (One of my favorite perks of being 5'2" is being able to wear five inch heels.)

And in the middle of it all, my daughter's youth group decided to do a pinewood derby, and she somehow got assigned to make two of her team's cars. We promptly forgot about it until the night before, then pulled off these two babies in less than 24 hours. She had a ton of fun making them, and she won! Who says procrastination is a bad thing? I call it putting out the nearest fire first, and it's something I've become an expert at.

Around that same time, I found out that I was in my old high school's paper! The last time I was in the Viking Crier was when my hair was blonder and curlier (and much taller in front). It was kind of cool to see it.

Then, three days after returning from Storymakers, my family and I headed off to Vegas for Jessie Humphries's book launch for KILLING RUBY ROSE. I got to hang out with her and my other writing bestie, Erin Summerill, on Freemont street with Jessie's publicists who had flown in for the event. It was a blast.

The next day, we went to Container Park before the shindig started. It was the most amazing launch party I've ever gone to (and likely will go to). There were bands playing, a scavenger hunt going on, ice cream being given away, books being sold, signing lines, photo ops, and all around fun for the whole family.

The next night was the awards ceremony for the high school aged winners of the writing contest Jessie had. A few people performed, including the beautiful and talented Kathryn Purdie. She killed it! 

Then Jessie spoke and did a Q&A. She was funny and gracious and amazing and touching. (Plus, her hair glowed purple in the lights. I kind of wanted that hair for me. Permanently.) It was a fabulous weekend, and I'm so glad my family got to join me.

Since I've been home, I've been writing like crazy (finally!), and visiting several more schools in my area, including this awesome one where two students showed up before school started to save me the best parking spot in the house. Awesome, no?

And that's been my crazy past seven weeks. How about you? How the heck are you? What have you been up to?

Welcome to the Forest! Cover reveal for Tara Tyler's BROKEN BRANCH FALLS

It's time for the highly anticipated, most spectacular cover reveal of the day!

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy)

by Tara Tyler

Release Date: June 24, 2014

Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He's in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. Gabe's closest friends are goblins like him, but Gabe is tired of being a goblin - he'd like to try other things. And he has his eye on the new ogress at school. It's against all beastly rules, but there's just something about her.

When a prank goes wrong, Gabe is forced to join the football team as punishment - but finds a way to make it work. Soon the whole school is getting in on the fad of mingling with other species. Too bad the adults have to step in and ruin things by threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. And Gabe is their scapegoat. With help from friends, old and new, Gabe sets out on a quest for the Book of Ages, which holds the laws of all beastkind and hopefully the key to saving Broken Branch Falls. After all that trouble, it better work.

Add it to your GOODREADS list!

Twitter ~~~ Facebook ~~~ Blog

Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,

The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL

Tara Tyler started out as a math teacher. After having a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering and living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy) She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!

AND you can get up to five entries in this fun raffle just for commenting on five of the many cover reveal posts (see below) - This week only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Participants! Thanks you guys!! You the Beast!

A K Morgan	Book Bliss
Alex J Cavanaugh	Livia Peterson
Amanda Northrup	M J Fifield
Angela Brown	Meli Landry
Elizabeth Seckman	Michael Di Gesu
Elsie Elmore	Michelle Wallace
Fida Islaih	Peggy Eddleman
Heather M Gardner	Rae Quigley
Jen Estes	Sharon Bayliss
Julie Flanders	Sheena-kay Graham
Katie Teller	Trisha F

On writing to trends

It seems that anytime I'm at a conference, the question gets asked "What's selling right now?" or "What trends are you seeing?" or some variation of it.

And even if the question came from someone who may currently be on sub, and the reason for their question was really, "Are editors buying right now what I'm currently selling?," it's always interpreted as "I want to know what's hot right now, so I can write that."

And we all know that's a bad question to ask, because the books coming out right now were bought two years ago, and whatever trend there was two years ago is no longer what's trending right now, and you'd always be behind the eight ball if you went off that.

But really, the better reason not to follow a trend is that the people who really do well in writing are the people who SET the trends. Because trying to write what people are asking for isn't always the best idea. Writing what people want, when they don't even know what they want yet is where the best successes come from.

I ran across this quote that I absolutely love, because everything it implies illustrates this so very well:

"If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."

~Henry Ford

Yep. I say that like it's a piece of cake. (Or a tasty cookie. ;)) When really, it can be far from easy. *Raises cookie* Here's to hoping that we all become trendsetters!

photo credit: cacaobug via photopin cc

Have a great weekend!

The last 5 books I've read

Things have been a little crazy lately, and although I pretty much think daily "I should really update my blog!," I just haven't gotten a chance. I've been doing a lot of events lately, which have been so much fun, and I've been working on proposals for a new series. (Also so much fun!) Instead of an update post on what I've been doing, though, let's do an update post on what I've been reading! Here's the last 5 books I've read:

There was a lot of buzz about this book, and it's from my publisher, so I figured I had to pick it up. (Plus, I'm rather in love with the snow on this cover and the windows in the background.) It had a fairy tale quality to it (and not just because it was a fairy tale retelling) that I quite enjoyed.

I have a friend that has been begging me to pick up this book for FOREVER, so I finally did. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it.

I am in the Lucky 13s with Ryan, and was thrilled to read her book. It had a fabulous setting (London, and you really felt like you were there), and a fascinating secondary character (the king), and a main character who was his guardian fae. Great read!

I feel like a heel for not having been able to read this book before now, and not just because I've heard it's fantastic, or that Chad lives in the same state as me, or that we have been on this publishing journey at the same general times, but also because Chad is a genuinely good guy. This book was every bit as good and exciting and amazing as every has been saying it is, and I'm glad I read it.

This is another of my Lucky 13s pals. Mindy is a comedian at her day (or, I guess, night) job, and it shows in every bit of her writing. There were so many laugh out loud moments! It had some great lessons for teenage girls, too, without feeling at all like it was being preachy.

What books have you read recently?

Breathtaking boxed set

One of my writing BFFs, and an all around amazing and fun person, Kim Krey, has a novel included in a boxed set with a bunch of other great authors. If you're a fan of romance, you should definitely check this out!

Breathtaking: Seven Bestselling Novels of Love and Suspense

Boxed set is only $.99 March 24th through March 29th. 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes * Kobo * Smashwords

Unbelievable by Sherry Gammon

Deliah Dreser's in town to take care of family business. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but there's more to Lilah than meets the eye. Cole's in danger of losing his heart when this firestorm throws sparks his way. Is she simply playing him for the fool in order to exact revenge for her brother's murders?

Bestselling author Sherry Gammon's reviewers exclaim; "She has a gift for touching her readers with beautiful, gripping stories that you can’t put down."

Home Before Dark by Christy Barritt

Nothing good ever happens after dark. Those were the words country singer Daleigh McDermott’s father always repeated.

Now her father is dead, and Daleigh finds a hidden journal hinting that his death was no accident. Small town mechanic Ryan Shields is the only one who seems to believe Daleigh. As the two work to unravel the mystery, it becomes obvious that someone wants them dead. They must rely on each other—and on God—if they hope to make it home before the darkness swallows them whole.

Award-Winning Suspense Novelist and Bestselling Amazon Author, touted as "scary, funny, passionate, and quirky" by USA Today.

Baggage Claim by Amanda Tru

Rachel Saunders is looking forward to her all-expense paid weekend trip to New York. But, when her luggage is lost and she is accosted by an infuriating Homeland Security agent, events take a dangerous turn.

Amanda Tru, Bestselling Amazon Author of Romance and Suspense. Discover the author who, as an Amazon reviewer raves, “continues to impress me and dominate my time with a book I can’t put down even after it’s ended.”

Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey

In a moment of weakness, Shane steals a kiss.

In return, Cassie steals his heart…

When Cassie is forced to join the witness protection program, she fears her life is over… but then she meets Shane Emerson — the hunky cowboy posing as her husband. Will this sham marriage turn into the real thing, or will a hidden danger put it all at risk?

Kimberly Krey writes romance that’s clean without losing the steam. What’s Beyond Forks calls this Best-selling Western Romance author “the master of romantic tension.”

A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis

Cami DiCarlo is not happy when her father forces her into heading up guest services at his newest five-star hotel and unveils the existence of four half-sisters at the same time, insisting they live together while they launch the new resort.

When she meets Vince, the sweet, sexy landscaper her father would never have approved of, Cami can’t say no. If only she could be sure she is on the right track—and that they will be able to stop the person who is trying to destroy everything.

You Belong with Me by Shannon Guymon 

Layla Kendall is a burned out social worker one step away from a major depression. When she and her sisters inherit their grandmother's bakery, she doesn't know if she can trust her good fortune or not. But the chance to be with her sisters and get away from the heartache and pain she's faced day in and day out is a chance she's going to take. With Layla's new life, come new friendships, including Michael Bender, a single dad. She doesn't trust men but Michael's little girl grabs her by the heart and won't let go.

Shannon Guymon is an Amazon Bestselling Author of lighthearted and clean romance who according to her many fans, has the ability to paint pictures of her characters so real that readers would know them if they saw them walking down the street.

Blog This by Cami Checketts

Devastated by the loss of her brother, Natasha Senecot exposes the dangers of Matthew Chrysler's violent video games, bankrupting and humiliating him. Chrysler sends a hit man after her. In a race against time, can Natasha expose Chrysler before his assassin murders her family and shatters her world?

Bestselling author Cami Checketts has been touted as, "A genius! She writes about topics that aren't widely discussed, and she does such a brilliant job of crafting these things into wonderful stories that touch your heart and remain with you for days afterwards."

Giveaway of an ebook of ACEA AND THE ANIMAL KINGDOM!

Looking for a great MG fantasy? An author who lives not far from me graciously donated one filled with action and mystery for your winning enjoyment.

Twelve-year-old Acea Bishop was always the kid who would rather go to the library during recess to read about animals instead of playing basketball like the other boys. Now, after waking up inside of an ancient kingdom strangely resembling a zoo, Acea is running from those same animals he used to love reading about.

Worse yet? Acea’s not just on a quest to get home – his mom and the dad-he-never-knew are both being held hostage inside by an evil sorcerer with a vendetta. Realizing that his odds of survival and freeing his parents are dim, Acea raises an army of animals to combat the sorcerer and regain control of the kingdom.

Follow Acea as he travels through the exotic zoo habitats and unlocks the secrets of the kingdom’s mysterious past that hold the key to his fate.

Acea has secrets. Big ones. He just doesn’t know it yet.

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Want to learn more? Go to Kyle Shoop's Website.

Cover reveal & giveaway for Jessie Humphries' KILLING RUBY ROSE

I am so thrilled to be a part of my girl Jessie Humphries's cover reveal! This book is going to knock your socks off. It's the most amazing blend of uberly smart and incredibly funny, all wrapped up in an amazing thriller. Much like Jessie herself, actually. Here's officially what it's about:

In sunny southern California, Ruby Rose is known for her killer looks and her killer SAT scores. But ever since her dad, an LAPD SWAT sergeant, died six months ago, she’s also got a few killer secrets.

To cope with her father’s death, Ruby has been trying to stay focused on school (the top spot in her class is on the line) and spending time with friends (her Jimmy Choos and Mahnolo Blahniks are nothing if not loyal), but after months of therapy and more than a few months of pathetic parenting by her mom, District Attorney Jane Rose, Ruby decides to pick up where her dad left off and starts going after the bad guys herself.

But when Ruby ends up killing a murderer in defense of another, she discovers that she’s gone from being the huntress to the hunted. There’s a sick mastermind at play, and he has Ruby in his sights. Ruby must discover who’s using her to implement twisted justice before she ends up changing Valentino red for prison orange.

With a gun named Smith, a talent for martial arts, and a boyfriend with eyes to die for, Ruby is ready to face the worst. And if a girl’s forced to kill, won’t the guilt sit more easily in a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps?

See what I mean? It's amazing, and you're definitely going to want to pick this baby up in another two months when it comes out. But let's get on to the cover!

(Hint: Amazon has it for an UNBELIEVABLE price right now!)

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Jessie Humphries was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She received a BA from San Diego State University, where she cultivated her love of the beach, then lived in France, where she cultivated her weakness for shoes, and finally earned a law degree from UNLV, where she cultivated her interest in justice. After practicing law for several years she began writing, and, appropriately, her debut novel Killing Ruby Rose is a thriller about vigilante justice set in sunny southern California with a shoe-obsessed protagonist. Jessie currently writes and practices law in Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband and children.

Jessie's links:

Website | Blog | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads