I’m running behind today. Lots of catching up to do. My cute little granddaughter baptized my laptop last week. It was fatal. Good thing she is adorable, and also innocent. I’m trying to make friends with my new laptop while catching up from being on the go last month.
April was amazing but crazy. Suzuki piano convention, BYU Women’s Conference, the Writer’s Extravaganza in Ephraim, followed by LDS Storymakers Conference the first week of May. Phew. I’m a little worn up and a lot behind.
Made lots of new friends at all of the above. I also had an article published in Meridian Magazine which I’d love for you to read. Meridian is an online magazine primarily for an LDS audience. They have lots of non-LDS readers as well, so don’t be put off by that. Here is the link to my article, called How Could This Happen to Us. Click here.
The Whitney Awards were announced following the Storymakers Convention. This was my first year to vote and I am very excited about the winners. If you are looking for a good read. Here are some fabulous choices.
Best Romance Novel: Cross my Heart by Julie Wright
Best Mystery/Suspense Novel: Cold as Ice by Stephanie Black
Best Historical Novel: Trespass by Sandra Grey
Best General Novel: Band of Sisters by Annette Lyon
Best Speculative Novel: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Best Speculative Youth Fiction Novel: Matched by Ally Condie
Best General Youth Fiction Novel: The Healing Spell by Kimberely Griffiths Little
Best Novel by New Author: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Best Novel of the Year: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
AND Mr. Monster by Dan Wells
About baptizing your laptop. It’s a lot less painful if you have a reliable backup. About a month ago, I starting backing up with Carbonite. Best $60.00 I ever spent.
Linda Garner
Showing posts with label celebrate writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrate writing. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!! I have a book contract!
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!! I have a book contract!
I am very excited, if you couldn’t tell. I just received a book contract. I’ve been walking around on cloud nine for the last few days. I didn’t really believe that it would happen, and maybe I still don’t.
I had a great time celebrating with my family. We are all so happy. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by those who love you and are happy when you are happy.
But then reality set in. I had ten days to get marketing ideas, a cover blurb, a synopsis, study questions, pictures I wanted in the book and a bibliography – along with hard copies of the copyright page and the quoted page to the editor. They also wanted a hard copy of the manuscript and an electronic one. Oh, I forgot, my picture for the book jacket also.
I felt a huge relief to have that done, but I am still so jazzed I can hardly stand it. I’ve worked for years to get to this point. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family. They are wonderful. Also, my critique groups ‘kick me up the side of the head’ when I need it. I’d NEVER be to this point without them. (Plus, several of us have book contracts and we are soooooooooooo thrilled for each other)
Okay, here’s my message for the day: IF I CAN DO THIS, ANYONE CAN. I know from my writing groups that I’m not the most talented writer in the world. The thing that I am is a hard worker. If you work hard, you’ll get there, too. So, here’s to you and your success. May it be as great as mine!
Christy
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Forget All the Rules
Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing. Melinda Haynes
Celebrate writing. What an awesome thought. I really do love to write.
Forget all the rules. When I first began to write, I had no idea what the rules were. I knew a little about grammar and I knew what sounded good to me on paper and what felt good on my tongue when I rolled words around inside my mouth. I’m learning every day, but I still write mostly from instinct.
In truth, I broke a lot of the publishing rules when I wrote Some Secrets Hurt. Some I broke on purpose, others accidentally. Maybe it goes without saying that writing about sexual abuse is taboo. Sexual abuse is a taboo subject. No one wants to talk about it. Let’s pretend it isn’t happening. Let’s ignore it and maybe it will go away. I knew that finding a publisher for sensitive material could be difficult, but I knew what I had to do. I had to write Some Secrets Hurt. It was calling to me.
Picture books are 32 pages. Almost always. Some Secrets Hurt is 64. That’s practically unheard of. That part I didn’t know. Now I not only had to find a publisher who would publish taboo material, but they had to publish it on 64 pages.
My illustrator hadn’t published a book either, so maybe she didn’t know about the 32 page rule. She could have made it 32 pages, but she made it 64. Each of her illustrations are so meaningful and so well matched to the text that 32 pages would have really diluted the impact of the book. Brandilyn went on her instincts too, which proved to be very powerful.
Illustrators are always chosen by the publisher. Always. Sending illustrations with the text to publishers is a big no no. Most publishers will not even look at author/illustrator combinations. I actually knew about this rule, but was drawn to Brandilyn. We had just met, and I knew she was right for the book. I knew it could hurt my chances of being published, but I had to go with my instincts.
I was concerned about finding a publisher who wouldn’t dilute my message. I was concerned that a publisher might want to sugar coat the message or water it down. I knew that the message was inspired. The text and the illustrations were inspired. I knew that Brandilyn and I had gotten it right. I didn’t want some publisher changing it up.
We were so blessed to connect with Shadow Mountain, and Chris Schoebinger who believed in the message and gave us a team of creative giants who brought the book to life. They didn’t change the message or the words. They loved the illustrations. They were true to our vision and they agreed to market the book very close to cost so that every family in America could afford to have this book in their home.
There was just one little problem. They didn’t have advertising dollars to spend on this book. Advertising sells books. There is only one way that this incredibly important book can change lives. That is if we can get it into the hands of those who need it most. Parents, children, families, teachers, and don’t forget teenagers.
Most people haven’t heard about Some Secrets Hurt. They don’t know that it can protect and empower the children we love. They don’t know that this little book can help to prevent sexual abuse. They don’t know that their children could be at risk. They don’t know that Some Secrets Hurt should be in every home.
How can we spread the word? Word of mouth. That’s how to do it. Please tell everyone you know about the little book with the big message. Some Secrets Hurt.
Do it Today.
Linda Garner
Celebrate writing. What an awesome thought. I really do love to write.
Forget all the rules. When I first began to write, I had no idea what the rules were. I knew a little about grammar and I knew what sounded good to me on paper and what felt good on my tongue when I rolled words around inside my mouth. I’m learning every day, but I still write mostly from instinct.
In truth, I broke a lot of the publishing rules when I wrote Some Secrets Hurt. Some I broke on purpose, others accidentally. Maybe it goes without saying that writing about sexual abuse is taboo. Sexual abuse is a taboo subject. No one wants to talk about it. Let’s pretend it isn’t happening. Let’s ignore it and maybe it will go away. I knew that finding a publisher for sensitive material could be difficult, but I knew what I had to do. I had to write Some Secrets Hurt. It was calling to me.
Picture books are 32 pages. Almost always. Some Secrets Hurt is 64. That’s practically unheard of. That part I didn’t know. Now I not only had to find a publisher who would publish taboo material, but they had to publish it on 64 pages.
My illustrator hadn’t published a book either, so maybe she didn’t know about the 32 page rule. She could have made it 32 pages, but she made it 64. Each of her illustrations are so meaningful and so well matched to the text that 32 pages would have really diluted the impact of the book. Brandilyn went on her instincts too, which proved to be very powerful.
Illustrators are always chosen by the publisher. Always. Sending illustrations with the text to publishers is a big no no. Most publishers will not even look at author/illustrator combinations. I actually knew about this rule, but was drawn to Brandilyn. We had just met, and I knew she was right for the book. I knew it could hurt my chances of being published, but I had to go with my instincts.
I was concerned about finding a publisher who wouldn’t dilute my message. I was concerned that a publisher might want to sugar coat the message or water it down. I knew that the message was inspired. The text and the illustrations were inspired. I knew that Brandilyn and I had gotten it right. I didn’t want some publisher changing it up.
We were so blessed to connect with Shadow Mountain, and Chris Schoebinger who believed in the message and gave us a team of creative giants who brought the book to life. They didn’t change the message or the words. They loved the illustrations. They were true to our vision and they agreed to market the book very close to cost so that every family in America could afford to have this book in their home.
There was just one little problem. They didn’t have advertising dollars to spend on this book. Advertising sells books. There is only one way that this incredibly important book can change lives. That is if we can get it into the hands of those who need it most. Parents, children, families, teachers, and don’t forget teenagers.
Most people haven’t heard about Some Secrets Hurt. They don’t know that it can protect and empower the children we love. They don’t know that this little book can help to prevent sexual abuse. They don’t know that their children could be at risk. They don’t know that Some Secrets Hurt should be in every home.
How can we spread the word? Word of mouth. That’s how to do it. Please tell everyone you know about the little book with the big message. Some Secrets Hurt.
Do it Today.
Linda Garner
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