Texting Through Time: A Trek with Brigham Young

Time Travel is a great way to meet a Prophet...unless you get stuck in the past.



Christy Monson and I met at a writer's conference a few years ago, and we formed a tight little critique group with another friend. The focus of our group was picture books, and so I didn't get to preview this book, but I shared her excitement when it was accepted for publication. The book has been out for a few weeks now and is jumping off the shelves. I'm delighted to review it.

Time Travel is always a fascinating journey. A book that can combine adventure with history is sure to be a hit. Seeing the prophet, Brigham Young, through the eyes of a child as though it were happening right now is a lot of fun.

Alicia and Micah are just like your kids. Curious and at times a little contrary. When their dad's experimental phone malfunctions and they get stuck in the past, they want to go home. It takes time for them to get humble enough to pray for help and in the meantime they have a a few adventures with Brigham Young.

You won't want to miss this fun romp through the past. Pick one up to share with the kids you love.

Texting keeps us in touch, but cell phones keep changing. Who knows what's next. Before you know it we may be TEXTING THROUGH TIME.

Where would you like to go? Choose carefully. You could get stuck in the past.

Linda Garner

Gratitude Giveaway

Hey, all you Paper and Parchment fans! Have I got a deal for you? It’s a thankful give-away just for you! You have been so kind to listen to my hopes and fears through the months of this becoming-published business! I really appreciate your support and encouragement.

I love doing author signings and meeting people. This blog hop is a great way to find friends and meet others. Besides, you may win a time travel to visit the Prophet Brigham Young! What fun. Just remember, if you’re going to borrow you dad’s experimental phone, know exactly how it works!

I'm giving away a copy of my new release, Texting Through Time, a Trek with Brigham Young. It's a great Christmas gift for kids ages 7 – 13. Enjoy reading it with them just for fun. Thanks for being blog buddies. Click here to see my website. I'm hosting a second giveaway on my website for an Amazon Gift Card. Hop on over and leave a comment to be entered in the Gift Card Giveaway.

To be entered in the giveaway for Texting Through Time, just leave a comment after this post, and tell me why you'd like to win my book.

This contest is part of a blog hop. There are over 300 other contests you can enter. After you enter here, be sure to hop along to the next one. Click the Gratitude Button on the sidebar to hop along. It looks like this.



The contest runs until November 27, which gives you lots of time to enter other contests. What a great way to win cool books. Think of all the Christmas Gifts you could win.

The winners for both giveaways will be selected by random.org.

Christy Monson
http://www.ChristyMonson.com

I Have Ten Minutes to Write this Post

Seriously, only ten. I've written this post twice already, only to erase it. Why?

I don't know. This whole day is  little off. I slept through my exercise time, I sat on the couch when I was supposed to be cleaning, and I haven't had anything nutritious to eat (Wait! Does chocolate count. Anti-oxidants...it does. sweet! I'm good on that one.) 

I think my day is out to get me. 

Oh no...only six more minutes. 

Plus I have a long list of things to do (remember the dead washing machine? There's a pile of laundry waiting for me. Curse you stinky socks & smelly towels).  

Great...now there's only four. I'd better get to my point.

If you are going to be a writer, time becomes very important to you. You need time to write, time to revise, time for crit buddies, time to communicate with agents,  time to eat (mmmm....eat...). 

Sorry, I got carried away thinking of food.

So to cure the time monster...you must block out time to get things done. Make your time work for you and remember...don't wait until the last minute to write a post (do what my friend Elana J does and  write your posts on one day for the entire week. Brilliant! And have you seen her blog? I bet she's not counting down minutes until she has to throw her socks in the dryer. Just saying.) 

If you are going to do it...plan it and do it. That's all there is to it. (Of course, it's probably the hardest thing, but still.) 

Okay, I have thirty seconds. Eck! So what do you do to keep yourself on the writing track? 

Lost in the Frenzy of Summer, Looking for Time

Yes, I am back. I've been so busy with summer, I cut down to only posting on my personal blog, but I am back now. And interested in talking writing!

Let's talk time. Time has been my biggest deterrent when it comes to writing. I find things getting in my way: eating, sleeping and the occasional homework assignment (silly college).

How do I overcome the lack of writing time? Here are some suggestions from me and a few of my writer buddies:

1. Block out a chunk of time and use that time only for writing/revising (and the occasional snack eating).
2. Take the lappy with you when you are picking up children. You can get a ton of writing in when you are just sitting. 
3. Write after/before the kids are in/out of bed. The house is quiet and there are no worries.
4. Write on your break at work or for 30 minutes after work.

Each of these methods have worked for published writers I personally know. I mean really? Writing when picking up the kids? Genius!

I personally prefer number one. Blocking out time has allowed me to focus on the writing and get things done. Plus I feel a sense of accomplishment after doing so.

Any other suggestions? What's worked for you?

Help Me Out Here

Okay, I know it's Thursday. I really do. And it is my day to post. So here I am planning a birthday, funeral, the babysitter for the wedding. Oh, and I have to make cookies for the writer's group. I have one hour to peel and freeze two bushels of peaches. To top that off, I think I just saw something move in my dirty clothes (please be a mutated old sock...) Oh man, jury duty is tomorrow.

But no need to worry, that's just today...and a little bit of tomorrow.

So here's my question for you. When do you find time to write? Morning, evening, afternoon- midnight with a flashlight in the bathroom with the door locked tight with a box of Twinkies by your side?

I really need some help here. ..

Oh, and Thanks for the help! =)

Shhhhh…Writing

It’s amazing the difference one week can make. I finished my finals, my dishes are done, and my hair is even curled. It’s writing time.

I have a little over a month before I start my next load of college classes (why oh why didn’t I do more when I was younger, I’ll never know). My kids are still in school for a few more weeks before summer vacation.

So, this post will be short, so I can take full advantage to write. =)

I’m on a writing rampage. So if you see me typing away on my front room couch…just slid the chocolate bar under the door. It’s all good. ;P

Oh and by the way, It’s been a while, but I would like to award my Scribbler Awards: Here they are *drum roll *

For my friends who I started my first conferences with:

Molly (has a private blog, so I won't link)
Ashley
Nichole

Because you guys just keep going and give me hope!

For my friends who make me laugh,

Linus Peabody (you’re a hoot! Keep up the awesome work!) (Sorry another private blog site)
Rachel (I loved the small blog on chocolate a few months ago. Made me giggle)

Just follow these rules and keep on going! =) Thanks everybody. Click here to see the main page.

Of course, as with every Bloggy Award, there are A Few Rules. They are, forthwith:
- Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
- Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
- Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
- Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
- Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

There you have it my friends. Scibblers and writing. Keep up the good work. Talk to you next week. Must...keep....writing....need chocolate...

Why can’t I get this stinkin’ lid back on?...Stupid…Pandora.

I think this is the week. This is the week I’m giving up writing.

I mean, how many times do I have to sit at that blank computer screen and try to think of something that might wow and surprise?

Then there are the highs and lows. Am I good enough to be published? Will people enjoy what I’m writing? Will I stop eating those candy bars that I long for while I’m writing? I mean, seriously, I need to loose ten pounds (but I will settle for five).

Do we need to mention the time it takes? Four hours for one stinkin’ chapter. And that’s only if there is a good idea and no carpool, scouts, after school practices, blogging. Well…there has to be blogging.

And the rules….the rules. Did you know there were rules to writing? Don’t use ly adverbs, don’t start a sentence with and or but or or for that matter. Is it alright or all right? Cut down on those pesky…. Ellipses….(although I really think they are awesome). Please, please, please don’t always start a sentence with "I did"…"I think"…"I will." Mix up your I’s up a little.

But then there are the things that I will miss.

When the principal of your children’s school asks what you do for a living and you say, “I write." She looks at you with awe instead of disdain and says, “I didn’t know that.” From then on out she remembers your name at every school function (that is until your toddler accidentally dumps a liter of red fruit punch on the school’s new white table clothes that are only used during the extra special events. Then suddenly she forgets who you are). (I’m just kidding, that only happened once.) (Really, the punch spilling didn't happen at all. She's awesome. I mean it. Really. Man, I hope she's not reading this post. That came out totally wrong.)

Trying to get such-and-such a character together with such-a-such even though you know they just hate each other on the exterior, but deep down they know they would make the perfect pair.

In your story, bumping off that high school teacher that said you would only amount to being the school’s award winning dirt eater. What is a dirt eater anyway? And are there worms involved?

Taking your experimental chapter to a large critique session and having the entire table explode in laughter. You try so hard not to laugh with them until tears run down your checks (because that would be weird if you laughed that hard at your own stuff).

Writing is like opening Pandora’s box and not being able to put the lid back on. You've got the good and the bad. Plus, once you start, you just can’t stop!

So, I guess I won’t be giving up writing for this week. Ask me again next week. Right now I have to crack open this ten pack of Hershey’s chocolate bars and get back to work. Ohhhh, I think what’s her name should get together with hot-looking guy. But not until that one teacher falls down dead in her cream of asparagus soup. * contemplating as I gaze up at ceiling with melted chocolate on fingers * Sweet!

I’m Just Sittin’ Here, Eatin’ my Little Bag o’ Chocolate as my Derrière is Getting Bigger

(I hope I didn't confuse anyone yesterday. My scheduled post decided to unscheduled itself and pop up without my consent. Silly post. )





My husband just graduated with an MBA. When he first went back to school, a wise teacher got up in front of his class (Sorry,I can’t remember his name) and told them, “In the time it takes to earn a degree, you will either have your degree, or you won’t. No matter what you do, time will pass.”

He was right. Time passed, most of the people my husband started school with earned their degrees. Some didn’t. Some dropped out.

The same thing goes with writing, no matter what I do, time will pass.

Some days I find myself too busy to sit down and write, sometimes I have other commitments I need to fulfill. But at the end of the week, I always look back and see what I have done to accomplish my writing goals for that week.

This week was a difficult week for writing. I had a goal to finish my college writing course. There was one particular assignment that I was struggled with - writing a chapter for a mystery. I put it off time and time again. But being at the end of my class, I had to finish it.

I started writing it, and as always, my characters turned into teenagers ogling over the new boys moving in across the street. What is up with those girls?

This is terrible writing! I thought to myself. Taking a break I found myself walking around in circles through the house. I grabbed some chocolate (thank you Easter bunny), checked out blogs (you evil blogs, keeping me from my work – but I love so much) and sat back down to invent a murder or mystery of some type.

I reread the page and started typing anything that popped into my mind. Suddenly I could see the scene before my eyes. First, the crime. Second, who dunnit. Third, I began writing the piece with the info I had learned in class. A couple of hours later, I had my first chapter. I chortle with an evil laugh (mwa ha ha ha), I wept (and freaked my kids out a little), and I finished with a victory dance. Then I made dinner because it was two hours late.

That night at my critique group, I showed the girls my piece. They had good things to say (and a couple of helpful things to throw in or fix). I am now finishing it for my polished piece of work for my last, last, last homework assignment. Whoo hoo!

All it took was me sitting on my derrière and working through my writers block.

Time passes no matter what I am busy with. When I look back at my year, will I be happy with what I did with it? Will I have accomplished my goals? Or will I be ten pounds heavier from eating chocolate Easter eggs and watching YouTube? I guess the choice is mine. (But you must admit, that Easter bunny does buy good chocolate.)