THE RESTITUTION

I'm so excited to share The Restitution with you today! Book three of the Legacy of the King's Pirates series is rich with setting and a fast-paced story that's sure to keep your hands turning pages. This book swept me to a different time and place, and I was seriously caught up in the story--I HAD to know what was going to happen! The story is ripe with conflict, and it's one of those reads you don't want to set down, even for a minute. If you're a fan of historical fiction, pirates, or both, this is a must read. Before we get to the interview with MaryLu Tyndall, here's a bit about the book, and MaryLu's bio.

From the back cover:

A scorned woman longing for wealth, position, and the return of her son...

An obsessed pirate craving the love of the lady he once ravished...

A twisted nobleman seeking to capture a spurned woman's heart

And the intricate plot of vengeance that weaves their lives together.

Lady Isabel Ashton gave birth to her illegitimate son, Frederick, the product of a pirate's violent attack. Spurned by family and society, Isabel clings to the hope of marrying a nobleman and returning to her privileged social class, but then her baby is kidnapped.

Captain Kent Carlton, determined to win the heart and forgiveness of the woman whose purity he pirated, searches every port for Isabel. What he finds is Richard Sawkins, a nobleman who informs him of Frederick's existence and kidnapping and the whereabouts of Isabel.

Will Kent forsake all his treasure, power, and dreams of becoming the Admiral of the Brethren of the Coast in order to unite Isabel and his son? And will Isabel finally realize that title and wealth are meaningless when compared to riches in Christ. Can she allow her heart to love a penniless pirate?

MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of pirates and ships during her childhood days on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. Her love of history and passion for story drew her to create the Legacy of the King’s Pirates Series. MaryLu now writes full time and makes her home with her husband and six children on California’s coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit http://www.mltyndall.com/.

And now, here's MaryLu!

Thanks for taking time on your tour to stop by my place. First, what inspired the Legacy of the King's Pirates series?

I have always had a passion for Pirates. I know that sounds weird, but I was raised on the shores of South Florida and fell in love with the sea and sea-faring adventures. The romanticism of pirates just became a part of that world for me. However, the idea for a “Christian” pirate series never occurred to me until after I saw the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. If Johnny Dep could pull off this weird half-evil, half good, likeable pirate, why couldn’t I create one who was a godly man? And hence, the series was born.

The setting is incredibly realistic and fresh. Can you explain a bit about your research process?

I spent half my life on the sea or near the sea in tropical settings, so I have a sense of the sights and smells associated with those surroundings. I have sailed on two tall ships, a schooner and a sloop and studied the working of the sails and the way the ship moves and sounds as it glides through the water. In addition, I have read tons of books both fiction and non-fiction on sailing and on pirate life in the 17th century, and I attended a pirate convention in Key West last year. I love this job!

With six children, how on earth do you juggle your family responsibilities with writing? Any favorite time management tips?

I wish I could give you some great tips, but I’m afraid I have it quite easy compared with most mothers. My kids are all over seventeen, two have moved out of the house already, one is away at college (The Naval Academy) and two more are going to college here in town and the youngest is a senior in high school, so I usually have my days free to write. Of course I have the usual interruptions with “emergencies” but for the most part, the kids are busy with their own lives. But, I do keep the house and do the cooking, etc… which is quite a bit of work. The best advice I can give anyone is simply to set aside a block of time, find someplace quiet and go write. Even if your only time is late at night or early in the morning, and even if it’s only for a few hours, keep disciplined to write and only write during that time, and you’ll be amazed how much you’ll accomplish.

Finish this sentence: My greatest writing influences are...

Jesus, The Bible, Rafael Sabatini, Francine Rivers

Best advice for new writers?

Learn your craft, go to conferences, join online writer’s groups (ACFW recommended), join a good critique group, read how-to books, and read lots of best-selling and award-winning novels to see what makes them so good. Make sure God is calling you to write, and then write what He puts on your heart and never give up until He tells you to. And never ever compare yourself with others. Keep your eyes on the One who has called you and given you your own specific task to complete.

That is excellent advice! Thanks again for stopping by, and may God continue to bless your writing!

To get a copy of The Restitution, click here.

WRAP UP...

I considered posting WHAT I LEARNED AT CONFERENCE to the ACFW loop, but I thought I'd do it here instead so I could always have it handy. It actually took all week for the thoughts to simmer in my head to the point where I could articulate them concretely.

*We've all heard this one over and over, but it rings true to me too: the people in ACFW are amazing. The friends I've met online really are how they presented themselves all along. (Love you guys!) Before conference I had no idea how much my spirit would be refueled by spending time with people who get the whole writing thing. I had no idea how much my spirit needed to be refueled. Living inside the Christian bubble for a few days was a blessing worth the entire trip.

*Preparation is huge. Not just one sheets and business cards (which, btw, I realized I didn't need a bazillion), but also preparation of the heart and mind. There was so much to absorb that I really needed more prayer cover so as not to be on overload. For some reason I was scattered the entire time (not like me!) and I think it was due to not getting enough rest (and prayer) ahead of time. Next year I'll know!

*Most importantly, I learned something about my family. I wrongly assumed I'd come home to scads of laundry and a minefield of toys. Not so. They pulled together in a wonderful way that made me proud. Our home was cleaner than when I left, and my husband took care of things that I hadn't gotten around to in months (phone lines, a bill dispute, etc.) And they missed me. The babies are still nervous about letting me out of their site. As much as I loved being at the conference, I love being with my family. I love them more than writing, and I need to make sure to show them every day.

The after-effects of conference will stay with me for a long time. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to attend, and already I'm gearing up for next year! I learned a lot about writing and the business too. I'll share those every now and then when the mood strikes--or after I have a chance to sift through all the info I brought home, LOL. Still haven't fully gone over everything! Anyhoo, if you didn't get to go, it's a good time to start praying about next year!

I'M SMORES!

Since I'm battling the conference pounds, I thought it appropriate to determine exactly which dessert I am. I thought I'd be ice cream, but I'm SMORES! Not sure what the "strange ways" are that are working for me, so if you have an idea, please clue me in.

You Are Smores

Unusual and unconventional, you make your strange ways work for you. You've got personality - no one's denying that!

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

YOUR TURN!

MY LIFE, UNSCRIPTED

Today it's my privilege to share Tricia Goyer's new book, My Life, Unscripted with you. It's not often I pick up a non-fiction book, but this one is different, special. The book is aimed at teens, but the life principles Tricia shares can apply to anyone with an open heart, anyone who is ready to allow God to script their life. The 4U2 Try portions are great for personal study time as Tricia encourages girls to think about their lives in terms of a purposeful script.


Drawing on Biblical principles, My Life, Unscripted guides girls through the tumultuous teen years by teaching them to have a plan of attack before temptation or hardship come.



Tricia's Script:

Looking back at my drama-filled teen years I now wonder ... What was I thinking?

The truth? I wasn't. I lived from day to day on every wave of emotion. Some days excitement and passion partnered up, pattering wildly within my heart.

Other days, depression and anxiety were my silent friends. I lived each day as it came, with no plan for my future, for my relationships, or for my heart.

I lived my life completely unscripted ... and, well, it didn't go well for me. Teen pregnancy and a broken heart were only two consequences. Yet my prayer is that when teen girls are asked Who's Writing Your Life? their answer will be ME ... with the guidance of God, My Director.

Q: Tell me about My Life, Unscripted

Sure! With real-life scripts, screenwriting terms, and timely topics, My Life, Unscripted helps teen girls explore their own inner struggles and outward relationships. It's my hope they'll learn the importance of "scripting" their own responses BEFORE challenging life-situations arise.

By contrasting real-life with TV/movies, it's my hope that teen girls will understand they don't have to get caught up in the drama. They don't have to face situations as they arise, but rather they can think about, pray about, and consider how to face these situations before they hit the big screen of their lives.

Q: Is it true that much of YOUR story shows up in these pages?

Gulp. Yes, I'm afraid so. In fact, I shared parts of my story that I SWORE I'd never tell a soul.
My teenage script (portrayed in the book as Trish Valley) wasn't one I'd suggest my daughter, nor my readers to copy.

Q: Tell me about these scripts.

The introductory script of Trish Valley shows a scene where Trish urges her mom to follow Trish's boyfriend into the McDonald's parking lot so she can "spill her news." The other girl in the car and her boyfriend's response to Trish's pregnancy are unfortunately not fiction. I wrote out the scenes as they would appear in an actual script. I even use all the correct terms and layout.

Q: In addition to teen pregnancy, what are some of the other "scripts"?

Do I have to tell? Well, I guess it's in print now! Let me see: fists fights with a rival, sneaking out of my parents' house, getting caught by my boyfriend kissing his best friend--does that give you an idea? Do I have to go on?

Q: No, you can stop there. But WHY? Why did you decide to share these stories?

First, because I want girls to understand the heartache of unwise decisions. I want to them to be able to relate to me, rather than feeling preached at. Also, I wanted to share my stories because many young women have faced the same type of situations, or they know friends who have. And finally because they are great object lessons for the importance of following biblical truth. That is something I did learn.

Q: What does your teenage daughter think about this book?

Leslie thinks it's great I'm able to connect with other teens. She's heard these stories for a while! She was 11-years-old when we first started volunteering together at a support group for teenage mothers together. As I taught the young moms things like nutrition and potty training, Leslie assisted adults in babysitting the toddlers. And while we loved giving and serving, it was the ride home that soon became the most meaningful part. As Leslie sat in the passenger's seat, I could see her mind considering my life as a teen mom, and she started asking questions.

Although it was hard to talk about my past mistakes, I knew this was an ideal opportunity to share real-life truths with my daughter. Each person walking this earth has regrets. Our talks showed me that instead of hiding my past troubles (and hoping my kids didn't find out) sharing my mistakes could actually give my daughter a better understanding to why values and wise decision-making skills are important.

Q: So now you're "having a heart-to-heart" with other teens through this book?

I sure hope that's how they see it! Those first talks with my daughter brought us closer, but I knew not every girl has had someone to offer advice such as: "build a supporting cast of people you can trust" or "consider the character qualities you'd like for a leading man."

Q: Okay, so your book is for teens, but what about the moms out there who feel they have past mistakes they don't want to share?

Well, they could each write a book about their teen years! Ha- just kidding!

But for those moms out there, maybe your teen years were not as drama-filled as mine. Or, if they were, maybe you are fearful of sharing them with your teen. The truth is, teens learn best not with information and knowledge, but rather by hearing life examples and understanding how decisions can affect all parts of our lives. So, time to get brave, Mom. Open your heart and share what worked and what didn't. It just might help your daughter write a better script for herself.

Oh, yes, and consider buying your daughter My Life, Unscripted! Hopefully every teen girl can get some take-away to scripting a bright future!

Me here again! If that's not enough to hook you...there's more! Another reason this book is special around here is because Mallory, my oldest daughter, was able to participate in the MY SCRIPT portions of Tricia's book. Ever so often, Tricia sent out questions, and Mallory spent time thinking about her life, her relationship with God, and her relationships with friends and family.

So, here's Mallory:

My Life, Unscripted is a down to earth look at life, and how things are and could be. My favorite parts were the "fade ins" on Tricia's past, and reading the blurbs from other teen girls. I had a lot of fun answering the questions, and it's exciting to see my name in the book, and to see that other girls think the way I do. Overall, I recommend My Life, Unscripted for all my friends!

Me again. So what are you waiting for? Click here to get your copy. And remember to visit Tricia's site.

MORE PICS!

With around 500 people in attendance, hanging out with all of my favorite online buddies was nearly impossible. Unless you actually had a workshop together or a planned meeting time/place, there was no guarantee of even seeing one another. I pinned people down in all kinds of places just to get a picture together. Look:



Here's Sally Bradley and me in a workshop together. One of only about two or three times I ever saw her!

Had to pin Camy down in the bathroom!

Found Tricia Goyer in the Starbucks line. Come back tomorrow to find out all about her new release!

Rachel Hauck just happened to be in the hallway having professional shots done when I snuck in for one of my own. By the way, she led worship, and it was awesome!

Here are Rebecca Yauger, Betsy St. Amant, me, and Lori Chally together at lunch.

Arizona Girls on banquet night!

Here I am with Erica and Kaye after the banquet. Oh, and my award for 2nd place in the chick lit category!

Here are Betsy and I holding my certificate. Look at her cute dress!

Talk about great dresses--look at Gina's!

As you can probably tell, this is right before I left the hotel. Sniff.

I took several other shots with great people--sadly, I have a funny habit of blinking, so things didn't always turn out the way I hoped!

Great times at the conference! If you didn't get to go, plan for next year. As a first time attendee, I can say this was one of the greatest experiences I've had. I absolutely loved being in a Christian "bubble" for 4 days. Everyone is friendly and inviting, and the the workshops are amazing! Plan ahead for Minneapolis!

JET LAG & AN EXTRA 10 LBS.

I'm baaaack! What an awesome experience. If you've never been to an ACFW conference before, what're you waiting for? My brain is stuffed with new information, and I'm on serious overload mode. But, wow!

I'd have to say the best part was meeting all my friends in person, and of course, meeting new people. With over 500 people in attendance, I didn't get to sit and chat with everyone I'd hoped to, but that's why it's imperative to make plans for next year's conference in Minneapolis.

Are you ready for some pictures?

Wednesday night was the first get together with 2/3 of my crit buds. This photo was actually taken a few days later, but I didn't actually get a shot the night Kaye Dacus, Erica Vetsch, and I had dinner.

While this isn't the best photo since I caught everyone from behind, this was one of the best writing classes I've ever had. Margie Lawson taught on Empowering Character's Emotions. Needless to say, I have more work to do to my story than I originally anticipated!

Here are me and my roomie, Betsy. Fun times! I don't think we went to sleep before 1 a.m. ever. Why should we when we're having fun. She even showed me the evil plank: a cruel exercise to help me with those 10 lbs I mentioned.

And what does everyone rave about? The CHOCOLATE PARTY! Here are Michelle Sutton and me. If you look closely enough I look seriously chocolated-out, hence the small picture!

I finally got to meet Gina Conroy face to face! Not sure which day this is. I thought I'd keep track of my photos by which day I wore a certain outfit, but I kept spilling on my shirts and lost track.

I think this is lunch on Friday with me, Betsy, and Lori Chally. The cool thing about breakfasts and lunches was that each table was hosted by an agent, editor, or author. It was a great time to get to know fellow conferees and get real life market updates.

More tomorrow, when I talk about odd meeting places and the awards banquet!

OFF, OFF, AND AWAY!!!!!!!!

Today I leave for the ACFW conference. Four hours from now I'll be boarding the plane for a five hour journey to Dallas. By Sunday I'll be so eager to see my family, everyone else onboard had better make way when it's time to deplane (or unboard--not sure of the correct flight terminology here) because I'll barrel out those doors like nobody's business. Well, maybe I won't do that. But I can't explain how much I already miss my family.

I think I've got everything ready:

*One sheets, check
*Packed suitcase, check
*Tip money, check
*Chocolate, check
*Reading material, check
*Business cards, check

Speaking of business cards, it took way longer than expected to cut those suckers into little squares. Yep, I'm a cheapskate. A certain copy company wanted to charge me $17 to cut the cards--only a dollar or so per sheet to print--but SEVENTEEN DOLLARS TO CUT. Needless to say, I declined their offer and used my handy dandy paper cutter. So if the card I hand you isn't perfectly squared off, you'll know what happened.

It sort of reminds me of the last time I tried to "do-it-myself" before a conference. Back when I worked as a broker, we had a training week out of town. I thought I'd give myself a little eyebrow wax before I left. Not sure if the wax was too hot, or if I was too unskilled, but somehow I managed to rip some skin right off my face--and that's all I'll say about that.

Sooo, you won't be seeing me around these here parts until next Monday when I return with tons of fun photos for a little share and care time.

Have a great week!

SHOPPING IS A 4-LETTER WORD!

As I may have mentioned multiple times, my husband is amazingly generous. He surprised me yesterday by leaving some moula in a secret spot, then calling me later with the instructions to go shopping for clothes. (On the count of three, AWWW!) At first I was excited, then I remembered how much I don't like shopping.

You heard me right, and it's the truth. Unless I'm buying books, I can't stand to shop. Perhaps it's too many years in retail managment which made it seem like work. Or maybe it's because I find no pleasure in browsing, trying on, despairing, re-hanging, and starting all over again.

There's a major mall reconstruction thing going on here in town. That means there are only a handful of clothing stores open, and even fewer where I can find styles I like that actually fit. All this to say, I finally found a dress and shoes for Saturday night. Nothing fancy, but totally functional. And for someone like me, that's about all I can hope for.

I'm ducking now, because I'm almost positive someone is throwing tomatoes my way!

THE TOP 5 REASONS I'M EXCITED ABOUT CONFERENCE...


5. Uninterrupted reading time on the plan.


4. Excellent worship, as so many have mentioned.


3. No diapers for 5 whole days.


2. To learn more about writing. (Duh!)


and the number one thing I'm excited about....(drumroll, please)....

1. Getting to meet so many of my friends in person!!!



I'd love to see your list!

A FEW MOMENTS WITH CAMY TANG!

Today's interview is a total highlight this week. Sushi for One? is the talk of the net, and author Camy Tang has taken some time out of her schedule to visit with us. First off, if you haven't purchased your copy of the book, what are you waiting for? It's a fun read about volleyball coach, Lex Sakai, who must snag an Ephesians-like man in order to stay one step ahead of her marriage-minded grandmother. Click here for an overview. Remember to answer the questions on the check list at the bottom of this post.

And now, here's Camy:

What inspired the Sushi Series?

The whole premise of the series--relatives nagging single women about their singleness--is actually the culmination of angst. Not so much my angst, but that of my friends about their relatives. When we get started complaining about it, there's no stopping. I don't know why, but marriage-nagging among relations is somehow universal.

So I started with four cousins who are the oldest females in their clan, and took my friends' stories of their aunties/mothers/grandmothers and rolled them all into Grandma Sakai.

Are there any resemblances between Lex's family and yours?

I'm actually quite lucky in that my parents never pressured me about marriage. However, my family is NOT the norm among Asian Americans.

Volleyball plays a huge role in Lex's life. What role, if any, does sports play in your life?

I used to love coed volleyball, but after tearing my ACL twice (the second time I tore it was the first night I set foot on a volleybal lcourt after my first surgery), I'm not about to risk a third surgery. I keep with my Denise Austin videos.

Switching from biology to writing seems like a big leap--what prompted it, and how did you know you were ready?

I've always liked writing, so even though I was working in biology, Iwas still coming up with stories in my head--just not writing them down. When I got laid off from one of my biology jobs, God told me very clearly to pick up writing again--that booming voice in your head kind of clearly.

I did go back to biology work, but I was writing in my free time while working a full-time biology job. When my company was bought by another company, I wanted to quit and try writing full-time for 6 months. My husband agreed, and I got a contract. I might still need to go back to work (after all, we do live in Silicon Valley, one of the most expensive places on earth), but I'm really happy doing something I love.

What's your favorite coffee? (It must be fantastic considering your husband's name and since you seem to be a night owl.)

My husband, Captain Caffeine, roasts his own, so I have to say I'm partial to his coffee. He also makes a darn good latte. However, I will be disloyal and say that the baristas at Barefoot Coffee in Santa Clara are better. :)

In addition to writing books, you maintain several blogs, are diligent in marketing, write book reviews, and have a life. What's your secret? Do you have any favorite time management tips?

For blogging, my secret is that I write all my week's blog posts all in one day. I take a few hours and do it, and it's the most efficient use of my time.

Once a month, I devote some time to my website.

Other than that, I don't really do that much internet marketing. Andwhen you think about it, the above doesn't take that much time.

I will say that Tivo is marvelous. When I'm on deadline, especially, my TV shows pile up in the queue until I have time to watch them with hubby. Right now I've got some episodes of The Closer that I haven't seen yet.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, besides the Bible, what book would you have with you, and why? (And it can't be a compilation because that's cheating!)

Persuasion by Jane Austen. I love that book. In fact, I reread it every few months. I'm not sure why I like it--maybe the triumph of morality and patience and steadfast love over difficult circumstances.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started on your writing journey?

When I first started writing, I wasn't very good about time management, and I wasted a lot of time trying to do too many things at once. Now I know to take things one at a time, to prioritize, and to set boundaries. Boundaries are different for different people, so all I can say is to really pray about what you should and shouldn't take on.

Best piece of advice for new writers?

Keep writing. Finish that manuscript. Start a new one. Editors and agents want to know two things: 1) that you can finish a manuscript, and 2) that you're not a one-manuscript wonder. I sold my fifth completed manuscript to Zondervan. Other authors had many more completed manuscripts than that before they sold.

Finish this sentence: The first thing I'm going to do when I meet Georgiana at the ACFW conference is...

Give her a big hug!!!!!!!!



Thank you for spending some time with us! I know you're busy busy--I'm seeing you all over the web! Congratulations on your book, and may God bless you with continued success.

Now, here are some questions for you, dear blogging buddies:

*Do you like a fun read?
*Do you have experience with meddling family members?
*Do you enjoy sports?
*Do you like sushi?
*Have you ever made a list of qualities you want/wanted in the ideal spouse? (Fess up, you know you have!)

If you answered YES to any of the questions, pick up a copy of Sushi for One? today!

P.S. Join Camy's newsletter Yahoo Group for her huge contest! Click here for the details.

VERBAL FAMINE...

I can see it now--the end of my second draft is in sight. As I write to you, my characters are in the middle of a daring rescue (how dare I leave them for a blog post?!) and little do they know, they're about to wrap things up. There's just one problem:

My word count is coming up short. You heard me, s-h-o-r-t.

The last two novels I wrote (okay, the only two I've written) both ended up around the 80,000 mark. That's what I'd planned for this one as well. After all, we've got a heroine in peril, hidden identities, clues, and a wild race across Alaska to find a hidden antitoxin. Even threw in a little character development for good measure. After all that, I'll only hit around 73,000 words.

I know, I know, some of you are shaking your heads because you have the exact opposite problem. And I can tell you exactly how I got this way: my early training in journalism--just the facts, ma'am. (Ever notice how short my blog posts ususally are?) When I write, I make sure each scene has a GOAL, MOTIVATION, and CONFLICT. Every word has a purpose. (Except for the words trust and tote, which have been blatantly overused in this book, LOL!) My first draft started with the bare bones to get the story right, the second draft saw the addition of a subplot and the securing of the structure, and when I get to the third draft, hopefully I can add some depth and character-enhancing detail.

How does it work for you? Verbal feast or famine?

LIFE, LIBBY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS


Libby Hawthorne makes exotic trip itineraries but never leaves Seattle. She’d like to attend church but winds up at a bookstore. She longs for love—but who has the time? Delayed happiness has been worth it, because she’s about to get her dream promotion...

Or not.

So now what?

When a corporate merger leaves her demoted and disillusioned, Libby realizes she needs to start living authentically...and soon. But just as she tries to uncover her purposed life, her cruel and unusual boss, Cecilia, demands that Libby hide Seattle’s most famous homegrown rock star in order to keep her new, bad job. For the first time in years, Libby doesn’t have a step by step plan to guide her. She must trust her faith and her heart. But what is she supposed to do with her growing admiration for Blaine Slater, a new VP from Chicago, or the surprising kindness of the rock star living incognito in her Seattle apartment? Through the humorous twist and turns, Libby uncovers a big life truth—the detours we are afraid of might just be the perfect path to happiness.


Hope Lyda has always wanted to write. Ever since she was a young tyke with a spiral notebook in hand, she had the urge to fill it. Sadly, Peggy Meets the Midgets did not cause Hope to be deemed a child prodigy, so she continued her path of education. She was grade-obsessed but also truly enjoyed sharing laughs with her circle of creative friends.

Hope attended the University of Oregon and graduated with a double major in Journalism: Advertising and Telecommunications and Film. With aspirations to write screenplays or teleplays, she of course ended up doing public relations for non-profits until she entered the publishing field in which she has worked for 10 years.

Her passions are quiet ones—she loves a good read, an afternoon of free thinking time, writing, journaling, road trips, travel, and pondering life from her back yard pergola. She loiters in bookstores frequently, though has never been arrested for such. Her big hope is to encourage others to embrace their dreams and understand their faith journeys through the practice of journaling and the art of creative living. She hopes to also inspire such things through the themes in her fiction including Hip to Be Square and Altar Call. (There are also visions of a nice Casita with a hammock in Mexico—but one thing at a time.)

When not living in her head, she resides with her husband, Marc, in the Pacific Northwest.

To get a copy of this book, click here! It's fun and upbeat, and perfect for a quiet afternoon.

SMILE...

.COM and CONFERENCE PREP

On the advice of some who posted comments on my blogging post last week, I opened a Word Press account. (I'm a glutton--repeat, glutton--for punishment.) But I didn't do it solely for blogging purposes. I immediately upgraded the account so I could have the domain GEORGIANADANIELS.COM for only $15 a year.

You see, as I was putting together my one sheet and business cards for the conference, I noticed how listing my blog address seemed unprofessional--at least to me. Do I believe editors and agents will visit my site just because I hand them a card? No. But I do think having the .com shows professional intent, more so than a blog address. The catch is, I know nothing about design, and I need some serious work on content. But that's a whole 'nother post. As a side note, I believe my purpose for that address will eventually be reader oriented as opposed to this blog which is basically for writers.

In addition to being nearly finished with my one sheet and business cards, I'm almost finished with my complete 2nd draft of the book I'm pitching. (YAY! Didn't think it would be possible.) And here's the other thing I'm working on for conference that's just as important, at least IMO, as anything else I'm doing:

ADJUSTING MY INNER CLOCK TO DALLAS TIME.

We're 2 hours behind Dallas time. When I was in the mgt training program for JCP, they sent us to Dallas for one week of training, and the only thing I remember is how hard it was to stay awake during class. In order to be there on time, I had to get up at 5:30 (3:30 my time!)--and keeping my eyes open was top priority. I don't want that to happen next week during the conference. So today I woke up at 4:45. Let the record show that I am NOT a morning person--and that's all I'll say about that.

How are your conference preparations coming? And if you're not going to the ACFW conference, what are you working on this week?

SUSHI for ONE?

It's finally here, it's here, it's here! After months of waiting for Camy's book, I have the copy in my lil' hands. I remember way back when she asked the loop for party games for the wedding shower scene. And let me say, this book was worth the wait. Here's the back cover blurb:


Lex Sakai's family is big, nosy, and marriage-minded. When her cousin Mariko ges married, Lex will become the oldest single female cousin in the clan.

Lex has used her Bible study class on Ephesians to compile a huge list of traits for the perfect man. But the one man she keeps running into doesn't seem to have a single quality on her list. It's only when the always-in-control Lex Starts to let God take over that all the pieces of this hilarious romance finally fall into place.




Camy Tang is a member of CFBA and is a loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick-lit. She grew up in Hawaii, but now lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious poi-dog. In a previous life she was a biologist researcher, but these days she is surgically attached to her computer, writing full-time. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service.



Sushi for One? (Sushi Series, Book One is her first novel. Her second, Only Uni (Sushi Series, Book Two) comes out in February 2008!
To celebrate the launch of her debut novel, she's got a huge contest going on. Camy is giving away baskets of Christian novels and an iPod Nano! Only her newsletter YahooGroup subscribers are eligible to enter, so join today.

For more information about the contest, visit her website.

Contest ends October 31, 2007!

ME here again:

What a FUN FUN FUN read! The characters in Sushi for One are totally relatable, and if you're part of a big family then this is a double treat. Camy also relates sports in a girl-friendly manner, making even me want to take a turn on the volleyball court. Serious issues are addressed, while keeping a strong element of humor intact. Congratulations, Camy, on a wonderful book!

You need a copy. Don't wait. Click here.

AND THERE'S MORE...

Come back next Friday, Sept. 14, for an interview with Camy!

I'M A COKE!

You Are Coke

A true original and classic, you represent the best of everything you can offer. Just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of energy... you're the life of the party. Your best soda match: Mountain Dew Stay away from:Dr Pepper

What Kind of Soda Are You?

What's cool is that my hubby really does prefer Mt. Dew. It was meant to be.



What are you???

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY....

There's a not-so-famous quote that I can't find. (How's that for a beginning?) It goes something like this:

At some point the work isn't being made better, just different.

I'm thinking it was Jerry B. Jenkins in Writing for the Soul, but I can't find the exact line. Sorry, folks, you'll have to buy the book, LOL. The whole idea is that once you get down to changing things in your manuscript that are making it different, but not necessarily better, it's time to send it out.

That's the point I reached today with Table for One. After I made my editor's recommended changes and fiddled with a few things that I thought needed reworking, I hit SEND. Wow, did it feel great! The learning curve for writers is amazing. You see, I wrote TFO about 15-18 months ago, and I've grown since then. Hopefully the changes we worked on will reflect that growth in the book.

One thing I learned: always, always, always print a hard copy. Printing a copy was the last thing I did, thinking, "Hey, I'll just glance over this to make sure it's all good." Well, it wasn't. That's how I found most of the things I wasn't quite satisfied with. Next time (yes, I'm optomistic!) I'll print the hard copy first.

I know I've asked before, but a little refresher doesn't hurt: how do you know when you're finished with a manuscript?

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER....

Did you think you made it to the wrong blog when you got here? Yep, I changed the template yet again. I was content for so long with the same ol' thing, but lately I can't settle on one design. The sad thing is, Blogger doesn't have much to choose from, unless you go outside of Blogger to import something--then lose all your links and whatnot. (At least that's how it is for a non-techie like yours truly.)

Here's the other limiting factor: pictures of me are like an old man's teeth, few and far between. Naturally, the one picture I choose to use features me in a red shirt. Have you ever tried to find a fun background/template that blends with red? Not easy to do. Of course I could just not worry about it, but then I wouldn't really be a Type A.

Here's my question to you: how did you choose your template? Did you pay someone to come up with a cool design that reflects your personality and your writing? Did you go with the pre-made templates? Let me take it one step further--how did you choose which service to use (Blogger, WordPress, etc.) And why?

A SUPER NICE AWARD...



Happy Labor Day! My friend Michelle gave me a NICE MATTERS AWARD, and now I'm passing it along. Thanks Michelle!

“This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award.”

Send this to seven other wonderful bloggers.

What? I can only choose seven? My nominees are:

Betsy: Aside from being my first crit buddy ever, she's a supernice person who's always willing to lend a hand and a prayer. Her blog focuses on author interviews and promoting Christian fiction.

Delia: She's a kindhearted friend who has a house full of love. She blogs on life and family.

Erica: Erica is an awesome crit bud, who's full of support and encouragement. She blogs on the writer's jouney with fun thoughts on life sprinkled in between.

Kaye: Kaye is also my crit buddy who gently helps me sharpen my mss. Her blog focuses on the craft of writing, and has posts full of information for writers of all levels.

Mary: Is a woman's woman, and I want to be like her when I grow up! She blogs on hearth and home, and I can always glean useful ideas and fun recipes from her posts.

Sabrina: She is a sweet woman who I really started to get to know during Genesis season. Her blog focuses on the writer's journey and promoting Christian fiction.

Sally: Sally is a tweetie pie who's always ready for an encouraging word. She's also in the middle of a big move and has a lot to juggle! She blogs on writing, fiction, and family.

Check out these bloggers, if you haven't already. And ladies, share the love!