Storymakers Love Headed to the Midwest

I'm getting on the bandwagon to show my love for the LDStorymakers Conferences in order to get you excited for the new Midwest conference this Sept. 15th.
First, I have now been to two Storymakers conferences, both in Utah and both amazing and totally worthwhile. Every class has made me a better writer. I have also meant some totally awesome people who actually took time to speak to me and a few even learned my name. With attendance to your first conference you have the opportunity to join Authors Incognito. So, now I have this huge author family to draw knowledge and support from on any topic I can come up with and often lots I haven't even thought of.
Second, There's the saying that it takes a village to raise a child and I'd say it takes a lot of writers to make an author. You can reconfigure the wording how you wish but you get the idea.

So, now I have a chance to travel back to my former hometown to attend an intimate conference on writing and meet and know some awesome writers. I signed up, now it's your turn. Here's the link:
http://ldstorymakers.com/conferences/midwest-conference-2012/

and go see where we show the love
http://ldstorymakerauthors.blogspot.com/2012/06/show-love-for-storymakers-midwest.html

What conference have you attended that has made your hobby better?

Liebster Blog

Ok, so back in the beginning of July, Renae, a fellow blogger, tagged me on her blog http://www.renaeswritespot.blogspot.com
as a winner of the Liebster Award. It is for fledgling bloggers like me who have less than 200 followers. I certainly fall into that catergory. I'm am honor bound to answer a few questions about me and tag a few other bloggers who are in need of the Liebster love. So, here we go.

The rules:1. Each person must post 10 facts about themselves
2. Answer 10 questions the tagger has given you and give 10 questions for the people you’ve tagged.
3. Choose 10 people and link them in your post. (I'm just going to list 5. If you fall into this category, feel free to contact me and I'll add you.)
4. Tell them you’ve tagged them.
5. Remember, no tag backs

Facts
1. Only child with 3 sisters and I am the baby (go try to figure that one out).
2. Wife of a pediatrician.
3. Mother of two (age 8 in 1 day and age 4)
4. Spent two years as a vocal performance major at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC
5. BA in Musical Theater from UNLV (that's Vegas baby!)
6. Spent summer semesters abroad in college in Italy and Spain (I have to live in a country to speak the language well).
7. Spent nearly 3 years as Desdemona singing for her supper as a gondolier at the Venetian in Vegas.
8. Grew up in Arlington, VA
9. Had a fish and cat growing up.
10. Never thought I'd write a book.
Extra fun fact: I've been every natural color there is. My faves were red with blond and blond with purple.

Questions Renae asked that I answer:
1. How long have you been blogging?
Since Feb. 2012
2. Why did you start up a blog?
Same as Renae. Writers told me to get a blog following before trying to get published.
3. What has been your weirdest experience with blogging?
I don't have one.
4. What is your favorite book?
Okay, that's just too hard. See the next answer.
5. Who is your favorite author?
Jane Austen. I love all her stuff. I enjoy the movies too esp. as there are several versions of each book.
6. What do you want to be when you grow up/what is your profession?
So, I'd like to do community theater again, continue as a writer, and figure out how to get certified as a professional organizer (like for your house, not an organization event coordinator.)
7. How many books do you think you might have?
I actually try to only own paper books I love and will read over and over again, so not that many. I'd say <200 which includes the med books and church literature. Otherwise, I'd have tons and they'd fill up the house! Plus with an e-reader there's plenty of room. I do know we have over 200 movies! (I counted them when we moved in Nov.)
8. Do you prefer reading a proper book or a ebook?
In general, I love a paper book, but I read something from my Nook everyday.
9. If you could choose to live one character's life in a book, who would it be?
Not surprisingly, I'll take Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, but I'd also like Hermione Granger from Harry Potter too.
10. If you were stranded on a desert island what 10 items would you want to have with you?
1. People I love. Is it really a deserted island if you take the people you love with you? Because that would fill up my island pretty quickly.
2. Unlimited food & supplies.
3. Unlimited fresh water.
4. Transportation off the island by air. (I get sea sick, so the boat is sort of out.)
5. Internet access/Computer
6. Nook or Kindle
7. Phone
8. Movies
9. A really awesome place to live (not the grass hut) that is totally 'green' and would not destroy my tropical paradise
10. Ipod fully loaded

10 Questions
1. What is one of the best books you've read?
2. What is one of the worst books you've read?
3. What are you reading right now?
4. If you could interview an author (living or dead) who would it be?
5. Why do you blog?
6. What started you writing?
7. Describe one of your cooking catasrophes.
8. What was the scariest moment you've had?
9. If you could live anywhere, where would that be?
10. What do you hope to inspire those around you to do?

I am tagging the following people and their blogs.
Matthew:  www.matthewflitton.com
Deborah: www.debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com
Marsha: www.marshaward.blogspot.com or www.charactersinmarthashead.blogspot.com
Margot: www.margothovley.com
Tera: www.teramecham.blogspot.com
Taryn: www.taryntaylor.blogspot.com


So, whose new blog did you like checking out?

Motherhood Matters

Motherhood Matters: Joyful Reminders of the Divinity, Reality, & Rewards of Motherhood by Connie E. Sokol

So this is my second review of a book by Connie and I have another in my possession that I look forward to reviewing.

First, let me start by saying how much I love the cover. Beautiful, clean, uplifting and lovely and what girl doesn't love a purple flower?
Second, Connie has written this in bite size chunks so you can read it and reread it one tiny bite at a time or devour it like cake and eat it in one huge bite. Chew and swallow.
Third, I love books that remind me that it's okay not to be perfect, that as a mother we all make mistakes, and that we all deserve second chances and to cut ourselves a little slack.
Fourth, I met Connie at the LDStorymakers Conference 2012 and she was carrying a bundle of joy that has since arrived. Congratulations to Connie and her family. Best wishes on the journey of being a mom.

Here's the link to Deseret Book:
http://deseretbook.com/Motherhood-Matters-Connie-E-Sokol/i/5077832

What Motherhood book do you recommend?

Carribean Crossroads

Carribean Crossroads by Connie Sokol

Here is the lovely Connie Sokol and below is the back cover blurb to entice you to read her romantic book.

New college grad Megan McCormick just got dumped. Hard.

Swearing off men and relationships, Megan is coaxed into performing on a cruise ship where she meets the star performer, Bryant Johnson. Handsome and charismatic, he looks like trouble, but she can't deny the intense attraction between them.

Urged to find a wife and run the family lumber business, Bryant is torn between his family's expectations for his life and his own. However, when he meets spunky, but love-skittish Megan McCormick, settling down doesn't look so bad.

Just when Megan begins to trust again, and Bryant makes some big decisions regarding his future, her former fiance returns with a malicious surprise, taking Megan and Bryant to their own CARIBBEAN CROSSROADS.

Here’s some advance praise for this great summer read:

"Caribbean Crossroads is an entertaining read with a great plot and characters. I loved it! I got hooked from the very beginning...I highly recommend this book to all those looking for a very enjoyable and clean romance novel." Christina Tarbet, Book Reviewer

"Caribbean Crossroads is the perfect summer read. It's a story of love, forgiveness, and following one's heart. There is a lot of humor in the storytelling, and reality in the way relationships work. Connie Sokol captures this perfectly with a great cast of relateable characters who will make you want to keep reading late into the night."

Emily Cushing, Author of One Heart, Many Voices

You can find it on Amazon at

http://www.amazon.com/Caribbean-Crossroads-Connie-E-Sokol/dp/0615651860/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341928539&sr=1-1&keywords=connie+sokol

You can check out her fabulous website
www.8basics.com

Or her Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/8basics

A little bit about Connie Sokol:

Connie Sokol is a mother of seven—a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly TV contributor on KSL’s “Studio 5” and regular blogger for LDSLiving online. She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is also the author of Motherhood Matters, Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, and Life is Too Short for One Hair Color, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats. Visit her website at www.8basics.com/

Pick up your copy of Connie's delicious book and tell me how you like it.

Reader Q: What's your best read so far this summer?

A Woman's Power

A Woman's Power: Threads That Bind Us to God by Fay A. Klingler

This is the online description at Deseret Book: In today's chaotic world, most women feel like they're hanging on by a single, ever-fraying thread. But the gospel teaches us differently. As daughters of God, we're blessed with lifelines from above. All we have to do is reach up and grab hold of them. The author simply and beautifully illustrates which threads have the strength and power to carry women of virtue to safety, peace, and lasting happiness.This inspiring work will help you hold fast to the divinity within you, as you learn just how powerful a faithful woman can be.

My thoughts: This is an uplifting book and Fay takes you on a personal journey on how you can become a Daughter of God and more importantly the one you were meant to be, the one Heavenly Father knows you can become. My two favorite parts were about setting goals and our sisters. So, I'm a goal setter and like to be able to check things off the list, but that's not what her section is really about. Time to get to work on what's important. As for my sisters, we're not talking about literal sisters, although I have three really awesome ones, but we're talking about those women in your life that really get you, those women you can talk to you about anything, vent to, and cry with, laugh with and can call on whenever you need and they will support you. This is the therapy we require and no offense to the loving adorable men in our lives, but we women need sisters. Enjoy Fay's remarkable words and embrace your divine spirit.

Here's the link to Deseret Book:
http://deseretbook.com/Womans-Power-Threads-Bind-Us-God-Fay-Klingler/i/5077835

What book has inspired you to be a better woman?

Be Brave & Meet the Lorax

Be Brave & Meet the Lorax

So, let's kick off the summer with a few family friendly films. (Nice alliteration huh?)

BRAVE

Disney/Pixar's summer film doesn't disappoint, although the storyline didn't go quiet as I expected. There are alot of bears. Bear, hmm, didn't we do that in Brother Bear. Still, ya gotta love Merida's hair, her sneaky brothers, her hilarious father and loving but strict mum. It's all about being brave enough to be yourself and really isn't that what we are constantly trying to teach our kids. Everything about you is wonderful, but please follow the rules. You're very likely to add this to your DVD collection. And yes, you can take your four year old without emotional scarring. I did. I wonder how many red headed people we'll see walking around now.

Dr. SEUSS'S THE LORAX

So, I had no idea going into this that it was a musical. How fun! I love musicals! And this stuff was well written & performed. Big kudos to the artists for creating such an amazing world of cinematography. State of the art stuff. A great message on doing the right thing and saving the earth, even if you are just trying to impress a girl ,without it being shoved down your throat and leaving behind a bad taste like Happy Feet did. So, I'm big on having the right voices for the cast and I love these actors. I did find it ironic, that with this being a musical and having Zac Efron and Taylor Swift as the man characters neither of them sing. Why couldn't they at least sneak in a quick duet? Still a lovely watch and totally family friendly. Long live the Lorax!

Surrender to Elana Johnson!

So, I'm unofficially tooting Elana Johnson's horn as Surrender, her highly anticipated sequel to Possession, came out this week on June 5th. She has a huge blog tour going and if you want to check it out see her blog at

http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com

This is what the book is about:

The thrilling and seductive sequel to Possession puts love on the line in a dystopian struggle for independent thought. Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…
Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn.
Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque….

You can purchase it online everywhere, but if you like Amazon/Kindle, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Elana-Johnson/dp/1442445688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339169557&sr=8-1

Show More

Or if you a Nook fan like me, here's the link:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/elana-johnson?keyword=elana+johnson&store=ebook

I read the first two chapters of this as a teaser a couple of months ago and wanted to cry for having to wait to read the rest. Now I can and so can you!

And yes, Dystopia is not my usual beloved genre to read, but for Elana Johnson I will happily always make the exception! Raise a glass to Elana and sit down for a great read!

If you didn't read Possession first, I would. It's the reason I will read Surrender and I have my fingers majorly crossed that when the final book of this trilogy comes out I will have a happily ever after ending and not want to throw the book across the room like at the end of Hunger Games!

So, what is a book you enjoy that's not in your usual genre of reading, but want to tell everyone about?