Come on Baby, Light My Fire

I couldn’t help giggling when I saw it.

It was my birthday present, a group gift from my kids and friend husband. I didn’t know what to expect. We have pulled back on birthday giving, because of the size of our family and the not always corresponding size of our wallets. They were looking at me expectantly, as I tore the paper, and then I saw it. A shiny new Kindle Fire. All I could do was giggle.

One son, was disappointed with my reaction. “Why are you laughing?” he asked. No doubt he had seen me salivating over the kindle ads.

I was speechless. It was a fabulous and unexpected gift. “It sure beats a macaroni picture,” I managed to say. You see, these are the same children who once gave me macaroni pictures and toothpick ornaments as gifts. Not that I didn’t love the gifts they made at school and scouts. I still have a few of them. I was never disappointed in the gifts of childhood. This however was a very grownup gift and it delighted me.

I’m still making friends with my Fire. It can do a lot more than I thought it could. I just wanted to read picture books in color. I can do that and more. It will take a while to get comfortable with each other, but I think we’re going to be great friends.

Now that I’m publishing e-picture books, having a Fire is handy. I can see exactly what my book looks like on the Fire. No guesswork. I discovered that the text on A Valentine Disaster is too small for my eyes. A revision is on the way. If you have A Valentine Disaster you may want to update your copy. Check in next week.

If you don’t have A Valentine Disaster yet, a free download will be available on March 14, an unvalentine present. It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to share your love.

Hey, now that I have my own Fire, I can stop entering all those contests.

Remember the old song, “Come on baby, light my Fire.” Nah, it was probably before your time.

Linda Garner

Courage

Courage

          Here’s a sad, sad thing. I was looking back through my posts. I wrote this two years ago. And have I done what I said I would? No. So here’s a recommitment to myself to do what I’ve said I would in this blog.

Are you ever afraid? Well, I am. This entire week I have been arguing with myself about sending out query letters to agents. (I promised my critique group I’d start to send out a few letters for one of my books that’s finished.) I have now written about twenty-five drafts of my letter, and I can’t even tell if it’s good or not.

My letter and my synopsis are both ready to go, I guess. So what keeps me from pushing the SEND button? Well, for one thing, if I send the letter and am rejected then I can’t query that agent again. If I don’t send the letter, then maybe they would have accepted me if I had sent the letter. (Silly, I know, but it’s in my head.) For another thing, maybe my writing is not very good, and no one will want to read it. If I said this out loud at any of my three critique groups, they would massacre me on the spot. (So I keep quiet.) Here’s another great argument: I’m used to supporting others in becoming successful – like my husband, kids and friends, but not myself. (I know it’s a lame excuse.)

Okay, so I can identify my irrational thinking. But what do I do about it? Here’s my list:

1.      I run my letter and synopsis by my critique group and get their feedback. (Did it.)

2.      I set a goal and tell others about it so I’ll follow through. (I’m sending six letters this week.)

3.      I get support from my friends by letting them know how I feel. (Thanks for listening.)

4.      I keep positive thinking statements pasted on my computer so I can read them and turn my distorted thinking around.

“If you are lucky enough to find something you love, seek the courage to embrace it.”

 “Discouragement is not the absence of adequacy but the absence of courage.” Author unknown.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela

Thank You! =D

First I want to thank everyone for their comments last week. And I'm glad to see that most of us agree on the subject. Thanks everyone!

Second. I'm almost done with my revisions/edits/hair pulling and I'm so excited! Soon I will be on the query wagon. I'll let you all know how that goes.

Third, I want your opinions about what you think about social media. What do you like best, what is the hardest, and how long do you spend on them?

Okay, I know this is short for this week, but I'm off to finish. What are you guys up to this week? Drafting/revisions/edits? How's your writing?

Coming Soon: Jeremy's Dragon

I'm super excited about my next e-book. I'm hoping for an April release. I have a wonderful illustrator. She has really captured the personality of Jeremy and his dragon. Here is some of the cover art she has created for the book. Please help us decide. Vote in the comments section.

Linda Garner

Cedar Fort emailed me the preliminary cover for my John Taylor book, coming out in the fall. I’m very excited to see it. I can’t even give you the title of the book yet because that hasn’t been completely decided.

I always stand in awe of artists. A picture is truly worth a thousand words. I love what an artist can do with their talent, whatever medium they work with, and a piece of paper. What a great gift.

It’s an exciting time for me. With the first book, it was kind of scary because I didn’t know what to expect. But with this one, it’s going to be lots of fun anticipation.

Hard work goes into marketing. It’s not easy, but once I get myself going it’s lots of fun.

I’ve just booked giveaways of “Texting Through Time, A Trek With Brigham Young.”

Watch for them and enter to win:

Boyds LDS Books in Orlando Florida (1st week in April)

Nephi's Books in South Carolina (1st week in April)

Book Nook Plus in Nampa Idaho (March 20)

Pritchard Book Nook in Oregon (May)

Book signings in Mesa March 29, Latter Day Cottage

Tucson, April 2, Book Barn

Also Books and Things Magazine has a special article about Brigham Young. It’s some of the funny things that didn’t make it into my book.

Happy writing! Christy

http://christymonson.blogspot.com/

http://prophetsinperson.blogspot.com/

http://www.christymonson.com/

What do you Think?

Do people change after they get published?

This question has popped up in both my critique groups and it got me thinking. Do they?

I think published authors definitely have more demands in certain areas because they deadlines. Does that make them less likely to visit others blogs? More likely to change how they handle things?

I personally, have seen some of my friends change and others stay just as they were when I first met them. But it's an interesting topic of discussion.

So tell me, what do you think? What have you seen?

Just the Way You Are

Happy Valentines Day, dear reader. I appreciate the time you share with me. I appreciate your comments and your support. I hope you have a wonderful day and that you share it with someone you love. Today, remember that you are loved, and that I like you, just the way you are.

Just the Way You Are

I like your eyes. I like your nose.
I like your elbows and your toes.

I like the way you laugh and shout.
I like your insides and your out.

I like the happy way you walk.
I like to listen when you talk.

I like the way you think and feel.
I like the part of you that’s real.

I like you when you’re on the go,
And even when you’re movin’ slow.

I like to see you jump and run.
I like you ‘cause you’re so much fun.

I like to watch you sing and dance.
I join you when I get the chance.

I like the spunky clothes you wear.
I like the way you wear your hair.

I like the sparkle in your smile.
I like your attitude, your style.

I like you when you’re happy,
and even when you’re sad.

I like you when you’re snappy,
and even when you’re mad.

You’re gentle, brave, and helpful, too.
You’re funny, cheerful, honest, true.

You’re talented and very smart.
You have a kind and loving heart.

And even on the worst of days
When nothing goes quite right,

I like you in the best of ways.
I like you day or night.

And though you’re always changing,
You don’t have to change for me.

I like you just the way you are.
Be who you want to be.

Warmly,
Linda Garner

p.s.

Hey this would make a great picture book, wouldn't it.