First Draft to Published

"You can take the girl out of Minnesota, but you can't take the Minnesota out of the girl!" June is the month of weddings and this June was no exception in our family. My cousin got married last weekend in Minnesota and although, no cousins were invited to attend the wedding, aunts and uncles were invited. So, my mom and dad being one of the California aunts and uncles packed their bags and flew to Minnesota, my mother's home state. Their schedule of visits while in Minnesota made me thankful that I was staying at home and wouldn't have to keep up with them. Oh! but how I would love to have gone with them and seen all the relatives. Included the day before the wedding was a Graveside Memorial; Graveside Memorial - My mom's brother, Joe died in 1991 and was finally laid to rest in the cemetery next to their parents. His ashes have been taking up space in his wife's closet for the last 19 years. Having planned this graveside memorial his ashes were carefull

In the last few months even with a schedule of full time classes at the university my TBR (to be read) pile seems to have gotten a little smaller, that is until my mother showed up last week before her trip to Minnesota with bags of books. She say, "Here's some books I thought you might want to read." I replied, "I'll add them to my TBR pile for 2012 when I graduate with my degree. Here's what I've read since March. Is your TBR pile getting any smaller? I would love to hear about what you are reading. Happy Reading!

An Autographed copy of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii – Her Epic Journey will be awarded to one lucky person on July 15, 2010. About the Book: From the cauldron of controversy that is Hawaiian history, emerges Wai-nani, a reflection of the passionate chiefess Ka’ahumanu. Like all Islanders, she is a water baby finding pleasure, sustenance, solace, wisdom and courage in the ground and vibrant sea. She is born fifteen years prior to the landing of Captain Cook in Kealakekua in 1779, and is the favorite wife of Makaha, a fierce warrior modeled after Kamehameha the Great. Leave a comment at the blog Linda talking to you

Join Becky Due, author of the suspense novel , Returning Injury: A Suspense Celebrating Women’s Strength, as she virtually tours the blogosphere in May & June 2010 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. About Returning Injury: A Suspense Celebrating Women’s Strength Rebecca’s life just keeps getting better. With Jack away on business, she’s looking forward to four days alone to work on her new client’s PR campaign to help women take back their lives. But her past intrudes. Roy, the man who stalked and assaulted her years before, has been released from prison. Home alone in her big, beautiful house out in the country, Rebecca has to learn to take back her own life while facing her fears and regaining her strength. But will she be strong enough when she faces the ultimate test? Here’s what our Pump Up Your Book reviewers have to say about Returning Injury: A Suspense Celebrating Women’s Strength Shonda at The Knowlton Nest says: “This book held me on the edge of

At Writing Daze, on Wednesdays we ask visiting authors to give us their favorite quote and what it means to them. Garasamao Maccagnone picked this quote from Joyce Carol Oates and why it appeal to him. We are linked by blood, and blood is memory without language. Joyce Carol Oates Being Sicilian, this quote appeals to me. We’ll wait two decades, quietly, just waiting to get even with someone who has hurt or discredited our family. In my novel, St. John of the Midfield, this sense of loyalty to blood was explored through the narrator’s conflicting lifestyle between legitimate and illegitimate worlds. Mario Santini desperately wants to be good. He wants to ensure that his wife, son, and himself all have an opportunity to live in the after world; to have a room in heaven like his mother always dreams of. Yet, he loves his father, who, although is corrupt, raised Mario pretty much on his own and has loved and protected him as much as any father. Though Mario finds his father’s life

You’ve been working on your novel for months, maybe even years, and lately you feel more discouraged than ever. Perhaps it’s the disappointment of not having finished the book yet. Maybe you don’t know where to go next with your story. Or it’s possible that you’re just physically and emotional drained from all the time and effort you’ve poured into this dream. I’ve been there! Occasionally falling into a writing slump isn’t reason for alarm. What’s important is that you don’t stay there too long. Here are five tips for re-energizing yourself when you feel like giving up. ■ Read Inspirational Stories About Writing and Writers Take a writing break and read about successful writers who weathered the storm. Here are two excellent books to get you started: Knit Together: Discovery God’s Pattern for Your Life by Debbie Macomber. This book was such an inspiration to me. Macomber, a best selling writer with more than 100 million books in print, openly shares her story of writing rej

On Wednesday, we asked our guest author Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, author of “Secrets” to provide a favorite writers quote and explain what it means to her. "All grownups were children first (But few of them remember it)" “Grownups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for children to provide explanations over and over again.” From “The Little Prince” I love these quotes as they speak the truth! Children are aware of so many things that we block out and/or forget about as we grow up. Our children try to inform us about these things but oftentimes we just don’t ‘get it’. For example, kids know how to relax and have fun. Do we? Not often enough. Kids know things on other, deeper levels also, that we often block out in our busy lives. They even recognize the spiritual aspects of life. For example, In Secrets: You Tell Me Yours and I'll Tell You Mine...maybe, the girl knows that she needs more of a spiritual life than the family provide

Today at Writing Daze it’s time for Friday Fun. We asked our visiting author Karian Fabian to tell us Five Fun Things that happened while writing her book. She teamed up with co-author Deacon Steven Lumbert, to write Why God Maters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life (Tribute Books, May 2010). It is a Christian living, self-help book. These authors join us on their first tour with Pump Up Your Book. Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life was a different experience for me for a couple of reasons. I'm a novelist, and this is a non-fiction book about stories in my own life and how they taught me about God's love. It's also the first time I've collaborated, and with my own father, no less. So my five fun things: 1. Bossing Daddy around. It wasn't that bad, but I am the writer of the family. His experience has been writing 10-15-minute homilies. I had the fun--and the challenge--of sending back his 1500-word stories bleeding with red ink and telling him to

Today, we have a double of the Friday Five – Five Fun or Laughable Things That Happened during the writing of a novel. Our top post is from Sherry Shumard writing her novel Heartbroken Promises2 and our second post of the day is from Brandie Knight writing her novel Hollywood Under the Covers. I can guarantee you’ll find something to laugh about in each one. Grab your coffee because you won’t want to stop reading and help support an author by buying a copy of their book. Enjoy! About the Book: In Heartbroken Promises 2 the main character Vicky Wainright decides to go to Jake’s Island to be close to her sister Miranda. Miranda recently got married to a very handsome and rich man and Vicky decides to stay there for awhile. She meets two new love interests. One is Jake’s brother Jordan and the other one is Noah- her sister’s butler. She is kidnapped while babysitting for Jordan’s son Derrick. She isn’t for sure who kidnapped her or why. Then things get complicated when she has unexpect

Writing Daze brings you a little fun on Friday with our Friday Five. We asked Hollywood Author Brandie Knight to come up with five fun things that happened during the writing of her novel, “Hollywood Under the Covers.” Grab your coffee cause you’re going to want to read all of these five. Enjoy! Book Synopsis A powerful talent agent, the Mistress of Romance, an international superstar, a sexy movie star, and Hollywood’s biggest and best-kept secret breeds a scandalous world of betrayal. Hollywood Under the Covers is a rare look inside the seductive entertainment industry. To the outside world, Hollywood is portrayed with glamour, riches and fame—but to insiders, it’s a cold, dark, scandalous place, where survival is not about basic instinct but the people you’re sleeping with. The book exposes the erotic side of four Hollywood moneymakers, openly revealing how nothing is safe in the hands of greed. Purchase Hollywood Under the Covers now at Amazon . 1. While I was writing my manuscr