Women of Strength Book Launch

Be impressed and amazed by mulitple genre author and good friend, Tristi Pinkston, as she launches her latest book! I'm always happy to help a fellow author and friend spread the word about their latest work.

Author Tristi Pinkston announces the publication of her tenth book, Women of Strength, a nonfiction inspirational book geared for the LDS market that is perfect for Mother’s Day gift-giving … or as a very thoughtful present for yourself on any occasion. She’s holding an online book launch on her blog all day on Saturday, March 24^th, and you are invited!  Every two hours from 10 a.m. to midnight, Tristi will be holding mini-contests, answering trivia questions, and giving away great prizes.  Head on over to http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com to enter and to have a great time!

Who did you help out today?

Inheritance

If you are a Tolkien or C.S. Lewis fan, then you should add the Inheiritance cycle by Christopher Paolini to your list of must reads! Even more amazing is how young he was when he wrote them and they first began to be published. 

I have enjoyed this series since the first book Eragon came out. An amazing creative world full of Dragon Riders, Elves (and lets face it, who doesn't love elves!), a dark tyrant who rules the world and needs to be overthrown, a rebellion and Urgals, Kulls and Dwarves.

You have the opportunity to see the world through many characters eyes and come to love and respect each of them.

Pick it up and good luck putting it down. :)

A word to the wise, see the movie after you read the book. For some reason, the movie did not do well. It was missing some element I cannot put a finger on and it is unlikely the rest of the series would be made into film. Perhaps they just needed Peter Jackson's touch on it. However, I think Jeremy Irons as Brom was an excellent choice and I always hear Safira speaking with Rachel Wiez's voice.

What Tolkien/ Lewis like books do you enjoy reading?

Let's Go to the Movies . . . at Home

Okay, since I lost my beloved AMC in Olathe and have to deal with astronomical East coast prices, I do not go out to the movies much anymore unless they are really super awesome. So I catch my movies on DVD, Redbox or Netflix these days. Here a few quick movie reviews of what I've seen lately:

Cowboys Vs. Aliens
The title says it all. Still cannot wrap my head around how you get some big names like Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig & Olivia Wilde to sign on (not to mention a few smaller ones you'll recognize like Sam Rockwell) to do such a predictable film, but it is an enjoyable way to pass an evening. Adults only viewage.

Moneyball
This is no Field of Dreams, but well done. A story that needed telling, esp. for those of us that don't keep up with major sports. I had no idea that all this happened. It is a slow film in which you watch Brad Pitt eat (yes, just like in Oceans 11) and throw stuff. Sure hope Billy Bean gets the ring. Pop the corn for this one. Adults only viewage

Hugo
I did not read the book, but a big Wow for the movie. I kept wondering why it was up for 11 Oscars and other numerous awards. Now I understand. I give major props to the kid who played Hugo (he honed some of those skills in Nanny McPhee 2) and to the cinematographer and set design. My biggest hats off to the poor soul who had to build the automaton. Family viewage rating. Even my four year old made it all the way through.

Zookeeper
This one is funny on the first view but less so on the second. Even my kids laughed less. Fun to try and guess who all the voices are. Worth a Netflix. Family rating.

You Again
This is a feel good comedy. Not a romantic comedy. It goes along the lines of Never Been Kissed in that you will cringe at Kristen Bell in the high school scenes. Great cast! Have ice cream on hand. Chick Flick rating (For future reference this rating means do not attempt to make your hubby watch this with you or be prepared to suffer the consequences after).

What movies have you watched lately?

Love for LDStorymakers Conference 2012

So, last year was my first time to attend the LDStorymakers Conference and is was AMAZING! I learned so much and I am still using the knowledge I gained there. If you are an author or like me an aspiring author, it is a great opportunity. Don't let it pass you by. Here are a few ways to check it out.

This is the official site.

http://ldstorymakers.com/conferences/registration/
This is the blog.You can also check out the book trailers and find a good book to read here.

http://www.ldstorymakerauthors.blogspot.com/

You can also become a fan on Facebook at LDStorymakers Conference Page.

Go. Do. Show some love. Share the love. Get excited.

Now, who is coming to LDStorymakers 2012?

Fallen Angel is FINISHED!

A little over two and a half years ago, I began this journey of writing a novel. After writing, editing and rewriting, I finished Fallen Angel today. But, is a novel ever really finished?

I will echo my fellow writer Regina Sirois' sentiment of No. (She authored On Little Wings, you should read it! I'll cover her in another blog post later.)

But as an author you get to a place where you are at peace with the work. As the author of a novel you are deeply intimate with both the flaws and shining moments that make you cry (both from joy and sadness for your character). Is there still room for improvement? Definitely. But for now, I am at peace.

So . . . Who wants to read it?

In the Beginning

In the beginning, there was a wife putting her husband through pediatric residency, while raising two kids and no way to pursue community theater with such a nutty schedule to live with. What to do for a creative outlet? Then, she was invited to join a writers group. Gasp! She had not written before, it might be a total fiasco. She might not have a talent for it. She asked for total honesty when she brought her first chapter to share, and -- it was well received! Creative outlet found. Fast forward to 2 1/2 years later. Fallen Angel was written, edited with red ink til it bled and then edited again. Soon it will be complete and ready for test readers. Oh, and the first chapter took 3rd place in Womens Romance at the LDStorymakers 2011 conference. As did the first chapter for Banished in SciFi. Now two more first chapters are submitted for the LDStorymakers 2012 conference. Will they be winners? We'll see. But, regardless, they were a ton of fun to write!  And that is what the point of the writing is, to have fun! And now it is time to take writing to the next level by entering the world of blogging. May the words be with us!

What is your creative outlet?