Sydney's note

Sydney will often bust out random thoughts like- why Jesus want me to live in Wyoming?
This day she had something to say... and at first she wanted to write it out herself, but one word into it she asked me to write down her thoughts. And they were pretty cute. She's a thoughtful girl who loves Jesus.

Creative Writing for Teens

Heidi and I taught a new BOCES class this summer. Creative Writing for Teens. I got the idea a few months ago when Heidi's daughter Rachel asked me to read one of her stories and edit for her. We had so much fun talking shop that I thought what a fun class to teach. And it really was a blast. Heidi and I had so much fun planning and teaching and the kids had a blast too.

At the end of class I let them each pick one of my books to take home.

We made smash journals and played games and wrote!

Writing Sweater

I've been having a lot of good writing days lately--and it's chilly so I always seem to be wearing this sweater.
Maybe it's lucky. :)

Editing

I have been editing up a storm lately--which makes me sooo happy! Knowing Amelia is off to a great start! Denice, my editor is doing an amazing job and together we're making it better. It's so exciting! I love this part!!

Two Pages and a lot of background noise

These two.
I was trying to write.
Seth was telling me all about a TV show. And I was trying very much to act interested. :) He was super excited about it all.j
And Sydney was on the ground sobbing because she wanted more water in her mop bucket. She loves to mop, but she makes a mess, so she's only allowed a little bit of water. 
Somehow, through all that I wrote a couple of pages. I went back hoping they made sense! haha! And amazingly they did!

Another contract...

Last week I signed my second book contract! This time for Knowing Amelia. We're supposed to start editing in June and I am really excited to get started.

My buddy Marc was my notary again. I love that kid. He is way too good to me. I had flyers made for my launch party and he wouldn't let me pay for any of it. 

My other Editor

Heidi.

Heidi is one of my best friends. 

She is smart and funny. She is kind and loving. She gives great hugs. She loves her family, chocolaty gooeyness from Domino's, my yummy chicken salad and a good book. She's also an English nerd. :) (I say that lovingly, as well as adoringly).

And I am lucky blessed enough to have her for my friend and my other editor. She helps me so much and she makes me want to put on my writer's cap!

She just finished editing Knowing Amelia for me (it might be my favorite book I've written) and she sent me this email.

How do i know a book is amazing??..... it leaves me wanting more... an epilogue, a really long one that gives a day by day account of every other awesome thing that happens in their lives... the way the rest of their lives went... you know it turns out amazing for them, but we all want that ending... we all crave the beauty of hope and love and joy. We become so attached to the characters, we feel that they are our friends. You hope for them, you cry with them, you root for them. You wish them the best. It leaves you pondering about their lives, the moral and lesson learned long after the last page has been turned. I'm a blubbering idiot right now, still crying even though i'm done with it!

Jen, you have done amazing with this book! I loved it before, and I love it even more the 2nd time through. I can't stop crying! I can't stop thinking about it! This book needs to be plastered in every bookstore and on every shelf... it is one of the sweetest books i have ever read. I also know a good book when it makes me want to be better. In this case, to love more fully, to not take life/family/love for granted. To have faith. To trust. And to curl up a little more often in sweats with hot coca and enjoy those little moments that are precious beyond measure.....

i'm seriously still crying my eyes out as  I type this, as I am sure I will be for much of the day. I really cannot thank you enough for letting me read this, to be a part of it, to be a part of your life and friendship! I love you my dear girl! I am so very very grateful :) xoxo

love heid 

Here are a few quotes that express my feelings better than I can:

 the best thing about this one is that  I do!!! ALMOST 30!!!!!! :)

Vegas {A few things I learned}

I learned a lot.

A whole lot. :)

And my brain still hurts from it all {literally}.

So, I'm sure I'll miss a few things, but here it goes:

One of the greatest things I learned was I had my genre all wrong.

And that's a big thing.

I have been calling my genre Romance. Which I never ever felt super comfortable with. When I think of Romance I think of a raunchy Harlequin. Or little story and lots of making out.

And that's not what I write.

After talking to a publisher I learned that my books are actually in the genre: Women's Fiction, with a sub genre of Chick-Lit.

When she said that I immediately thought of: You've Got Mail.

Total Chick Flick. Love story with an actual story!

And yep, that's what I write.

 

One of my favorite classes was a DIY publicity course. She talked about how to advertise for yourself and she said getting a website/blog/fb fan page after your book comes out, is too late!

 

Something kind of fun- they do a first page read. You can submit the first page of your book and it's read while a panel of 5 publishers/agents raise their hands to tell you when they'd stop reading the page, when all 5 hands are up they stop reading the page, even if they're only a line through. Then the panel tells why they stopped. It was super interesting and helpful. Most pages didn't make it even half way through, but mine made it all the way. :) A couple hands were up, but not all and that was pretty cool. :)

Afterwords the President of the Henderson's Writer's Group and the publisher for Ink and Quill publishing asked to speak to me. She kindly edited my first page and then she asked me to send her a few chapters. :)

 

I also learned that author's travel all over and all the time. :/

One author there was on a 6 month tour, signings and conferences. Six months away from her family.

I couldn't do that.

5 days about did me in.

 

Ahh, yeah, I learned a bunch of things- a lot more then mentioned. I felt my whole heart on my sleeve as I pitched my book for the first time. It was quite the experience. It was good.

 

And someday, somehow I'll have a published book one day.

 

Vegas {WHAT I DID}

I did a lot.

 

I spent hours in a classroom.

Talked to publishers, agents, and editors.

I pitched my novel to a publisher and an agent.

I talked to other aspiring authors.

I didn't leave the hotel for days... ate, slept and conferenced there.

 

But that's what I drove 9 hours for.

That's what I paid for.

That's what I left my family for. 

 

And I learned a lot.

 

I also got so see my sweet friend Cindy Jo for a few hours and the Bellagio flowers and water show in one quick evening.

 

Good stuff... I'll share more later. :)

Coming in April...

I've wanted to be a writer since I was 8 years old.
At 14 I sent my first book off to a publisher.
So, it doesn't seem I've gotten too far. 35 and I'm still unpublished. But really, I didn't have a clue how to go about it all. I've learned a lot in the last 20 years. Actually a lot in the last 6 months. So, it's all good.

In April I'm going to a writer's conference.

I'm excited.

I'm nervous.

I've been getting ready.

I'm nervous.

I'm anxious.

I'm nervous.

haha

 

I've been working my tail off.

On my book.

On my pitch.

On my synopsis.

On my query.

On my log line.

It's getting there...

 

I'm nervous. (Did I mention that?)

Nervous to leave my baby girl for the first time and for a long time!

Nervous to be away from my family. (not just my girl)

Nervous that I have one pitch to one person.

 

 

I am just so grateful.

I'm grateful for my loving husband, who is excited for me. Who is so very supportive.
I'm grateful for my kids. Who are so sweet and patient with me and often ask: Hows your book mom? :)

I'm grateful for good friends. Who I've neglected somewhat. Thank you for being so understanding.

I'm grateful for my sisters. Who have read and reported and listened to me cry and whine.

I'm grateful for Janell. Who's taught me a lot. Edits for me weekly and trusts me to edit for her.

I'm grateful that when I'm gone away from my favorite little people it'll be their grandma with them.

 

O April.

Opinions :)

I have been writing forever... and I still don't have it right.

 haha

I probably never will. I've been trying to prepare somewhat for a writer's conference. It's slow going. Most of my attention goes to my baby girl, my boys, my husband, my calling, my home, (now) Christmas duties/fun... and little of it is left for writing. That isn't how your supposed to do it... You're supposed to treat it like a full time job if you want to be successful. And I do. But I'm not there yet. I can't wake up in the wee hours of the morning (which is probably my best option) and I can't neglect my family. So... my books are on the back burner. It's okay. I'm choosing not to go to bed with my kids and wake up hours before them... I'll get there, one day...  hopefully.

 

Anyway, even though it's pathetic preparing, I've still been preparing. One thing I need to do is write queries for each of my books. Here's the one for Knowing Amelia-

 

Olivia Benson’s life was headed down a clear and steady path. Attentive boyfriend, respectable major, loving family. But when a buried secret surfaces Olivia is led to the hidden journal of her estranged grandmother and finds herself questioning it all.

 

Any thoughts?? It feels too short, but it isn't supposed to be long. 3 sentences max. Does it make you wanna read a book??