Please Pardon....

Please pardon my repost this week. I am in the middle of studying for a Stats exam and finishing some written work that has a deadline (the 30th...ahhh!). This is one of my older posts, when we started the blog (with a few added comments). Hope you enjoy. Have a great week everyone!

Persistence

There is something to be said for persistence.

This wasn’t the first time I took up the pen and paper. When I was in high school, I tried my hand at teen romance. It was pretty good, I thought. I took it to a co-worker who read the first page and then returned it, saying it was, (and I quote) “Okay.” That book found the bottom of my trash bin in a hurry.

As an adult, I thought I would try my hand at children’s books. I wrote two of them. Putting so much of my heart and soul into them, I didn’t dare share my stories with anyone for fear of the rejection I would get. I hid them away beside my bed, only to find a few of the pages in the garbage after an afternoon of cleaning.

Years later, the writing bug bit once again. This time I tired to push the urge away and bury it deep down within the soul of my unfinished projects. The urge continued. I wrote my first novel in years, a fantasy about a girl who learns of a secret power she holds within her. It was totally cool. At least I thought it was. (I still find it kind of fun to read, but short. Very short.)

My second book was about a girl dating the wrong guy. This won me my first real rejection letter. I hung it up in the hallway with pride.

After taking writing courses and attending several writers’ conferences, I have learned many-a-thing. First, you have to learn your craft. Second, you need to read, read, read, read, and read. Third, you can’t give up. Someday, somewhere, somebody will be interested in what you have on paper. If it is a well written piece, it will find a home. The only thing that will make you better and get you published is persistence.

If writing is something in your blood, something you love, don’t give up. There were so many times I could have given up... there were so many times I did give up, but writing keeps coming back to me.

It has opened a new world to me, given me new bonds with great people, and a passion for a craft that is so widely felt. I am finally going to have a published piece (two since this post - Hooray!), and yes, I am giddy with joy (I still am, silly me).

Persistence will get you published. If you have to deal with a few thousand rejection letters, just remember….rejection is a great excuse for chocolate cake and a pint of that really good ice cream!

Keep on keeping on

Ladies Night

When I arrived there was already a long line of ladies winding through the mall. I wasn’t late; It was ten minutes to six. This was my first time at Ladies Night. I had been invited to a book signing at Layton Hills Mall. I had heard Ladies Night was a big deal, but this wasn’t just big. It was huge.

There were four of us authors at tables in the center of Deseret Book. Helium balloons made us easy to spot. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I was at a book signing with Josi Kilpack, Lisa Mangum, and Jennie Hansen. I was hangin’ with some high class ladies. I hoped some of it would rub off on me.

The place was packed with ladies of all ages--mothers, daughters, sisters; looking for bargains, and the 3 f’s; food, friends, and fun. The food was in the form of brownies and cheesecake. Mmmm. Some brought their friends, some met them there. The fun was…well the whole evening was funtastik. There was live music from Cherie Call, and all kinds of live chatter from the crowd. There were a ton of drawings for everything from shampoo to framed prints.

Those ladies were having a great time and they were also in the mood to buy. Deseret Book primed the pump by offering 20% off and you could just here that cash register ring. I had a great time talking to people about Some Secrets Hurt and signing their books. What could be better?

Linda Garner

Supermom and a Slice of Toast

“Let me see your shirt.” My youngest son said as I took his cup to fill it with milk before he fell asleep.

I turned and showed him my awesome blue shirt with the red and yellow “S” on the front.
“Hey, that’s a Superman shirt!” He smiled at me.

“Yup.” I didn’t think much of his words as I walked to the kitchen, just a few feet away from his room.

“I have a Superman shirt too, but my shirt has a belt on it.” It’s true. His shirt does have a cool iron-on belt with funky imaginary gadgets on it. I'd love to have one of those rings that the Wonder Twins had...Carolyn an Ice cube (do you notice they were either monkeys or ice cubes? What's up with that?)

“I love ya honey.” I handed him the cup and gave him a quick smile before heading out of his room into the hallway.

“I love ya too, Supermom.”

I took a deep breath as I stopped in mid-step, a little stunned at such a great thing coming from his mouth. I placed my hands on my hips and whispered to myself, “I am Supermom.” Somehow a burst of wind threw my hair back behind me (even though the windows were all closed and the a/c was off).

I felt like I could do anything, except getting that stain out of the bottom of the toilet. Nothing could get rid of that, not even raiser beams shooting from my eyes (that would be so cool).

Now if I could only make time stop (and finish that laundry...man why do I always have laundry?).

Have a great week everyone. Keep on keepin' on!

25 Things about Me

Okay, I was tagged this week to mention 25 things about myself. So I woke up for three days - very early in the mornings so I could think of some clever things to write, but nothing came from it. So I decided to just write 25 things I like. This will ultimately tell you a lot about me. So here it goes.

1. Sweet pork tacos from Costa Vida – so good, mouth watering, must eat.
2. Chocolate.
3. Reading too late at night.
4. Critiquing with my group – love ya guys.
5. Green.
6. Yellow.
7. White.
8. Black. (well, now all the other colors are jealous)
9. Having laundry done (makes me cry with happiness).
10. Someone remembering me (in a good way, not when they are remembering something bad).
11. Learning.
12. 7 more classes till bachelors done! Whoo hoo!
13. Worked in public relations in early college years.
14. Dressy boots….ah yes, dressy boots.
15. Husband (yes, I like him very, very, much – still makes me laugh).
16. Kids, all 5 of them.
17. Not making dinner (and still eating).
18. The smell of a rainstorm.
19. Anything to do with fall.
20. Finding out your stuff will be in a book.
21. Finding out your stuff will be in another book (publication is an entirely different matter).
22. Finishing your book.
23. Singing in the bathroom (alone or with somebody, it doesn’t matter).
24. Having cute husband still grabbing my butt (even during church).
25. Dreaming of things to come (as long as it’s not about a trip to the dentist. That guy scares the crap out of me!)

So there you have it. 25 things I like and a little more about me. Now if I could only love vegetables and exercise. Maybe next time. Have a great week everybody! :)

They Shall Call me the Giver of Clean Clothing

That will be my new superhero name. I love superheroes, their mighty powers, their incredibly good-looking looks, and let’s not forget their unbelievably noble stances (fists on hips, legs slightly angled with the wind blowing their super capes behind them).

I decided I shall be called the Giver of Clean Clothing. I shall fly from place to place delivering folded bundles of freshly laundered clothing, smelling of lavender and sea breezes (how do they capture the sea’s breeze? Magic?)

But I regress…superheroes, who thinks of those beings? Word Girl (created by Dorothea Gillim. Airs on PBS Kids) cracks me up with her charming use of words. I love when she fights Toby and his giant robots with her beloved sidekick, Captain Huggyface.

Then there is The Tick, written by Ben Edlund. A family favorite, I must confess. With his mighty war-cry, “Spoooon,” he attacks his foe with his beloved moth sidekick, Arthur. With enemies as The Bomber-what-bombs-at-midnight, and Chairface, how can one get bored?


"I'm Karri the BABYSITTTER." *Twitching eye* Oh, such great quotes from The Incredibles by Pixar. I mean, who thinks of that?

So, I’ve learned how to get writing ideas from my writing classes. I’ve listened to authors tell their stories of dreams, riding on trains, eating bad food, all for a great idea that has taken them places.

Unique ideas are fair and few between (at least right now for me). I tried to write down what I dreamed about last night, but I had the flu and it was kind of gross, if you ask me.

So, as I fold my second load of laundry for the night and breathe in the scent of warm flowers, I shall dream of flying…flying and calling out my mighty war cry, “LINT!”