Reading, Apologies, & Some Changes

Hey, y’all. I didn’t post on Monday or Wednesday. Can you believe it? Yep, it’s true. I really had nothing fantastic to say. If you stopped by, I apologize for not offering you something to read. I’m thinking of changing things up a bit by only posting on Tuesday and Thursday. That means there will be no more “What I’ve Learned Wednesday.” What a shame cuz it was fun. So kids, I figure, I work full-time, am writing a book, am tweeting a lot, and have books I’m trying to read. Plus, I need to have a life, too. It’s just too hard to post three times a week, and I fear you’re going to get sick of me. That is not possible, though cuz I’m brilliant. Not really, but let’s fake like I am. Just humor me on that one. Tehehehe!

Well, I’ve read a few books over the last few months. Here’s the list:

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

Minders by Kate Kaynak

I love reading guys. It’s probably the most fun thing that I do—other than writing, of course. I want to single out one of the above mentioned books. Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull. It is extraordinary. Mull reached into his creative mind to create a whole new world of fantasy characters. Not just normal fantasyesque beings like elves and centaurs, but new ones. You’ll have to read the book to get to know them. Brandon Mull is one of my favorite authors, and the cool thing is he lives in my hometown. That makes me feel special.

Here is a blurb about it the book:

“Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail. In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.” (Good Reads)

Brandon Mull also wrote the Fablehaven series (phenomenal books) and The Candy Shop War. He also has a picture book called Pingo. Pick up the books and you’ll become a fan of his literature within no time. The Beyonders will be a trilogy. I seriously can’t wait for the next books to be released in the coming two years.

What have you been reading as of late?

What I’ve Learned Wednesday: The Many Hats of Writing

December 2009. I had a dream. Dream turned into a plot. Plot turned into a manuscript. Manuscript turned into an endless string of edits. Endless string of edits turned into me pulling my hair out. Pulled out hair eventually will turn into a published work! Published work will lead to wearing more hats than I do now. Wearing more hats than I do now will be really cool.

In December 2009, I had absolutely no idea what industry I was getting myself into. The writing industry is way more than just plucking away at your laptop. Being an author requires many hats. I haven’t even put on all of the hats, but still am way excited to wear them all.

I attended a writing conference last year. Brandon Mull, author of the Fablehaven series, The Candy Shop War, Pingo, and The Beyonders (released 3/15/11), was the keynote speaker. He spoke about all the hats that authors get to wear. “Get to” cause it’s way fun! He said a few things, among many, that left an impression on me.

You get to be a speaker, marketer, small business owner, and reading advocate. I hope to be an author who gets to go around speaking to people about writing and other related topics. I’m already marketing my name, my book. I’ve got a social networking business up and booming. I wouldn’t call it a business, though cause I have way too much fun with it. And I get to be an advocate for reading. Seriously, what an awesome job it is to be an author.

Being an author has lots of other aspects other than the writing part. The writing part is the most important, but you have to remember that there are other parts to this industry, especially if you want to be published. I’ve found that during my writing/editing stages, social networking has been king. I have to get my name out there, my brand, Writing Jewels. I really enjoy blogging and have to admit that I’m obsessed with Twitter.

Which authoring hats to you love to wear? Are you just as giddy about all these pretty, fun hats as I am? Were you surprised at all the other things you’d have to do in order to get published? Or were you pleasantly surprised?

Writing Conference - Book Academy

For anyone interested in attending a writing conference, visit this site...

http://www.uvu.edu/ce/cw/bookacademy.

A favorite author of mine will be the keynote speaker; Brandon Mull, author of the Fablehaven series, The Candy Shop War, and Pingo. He had a new series coming out in March 2011 called the Beyonders.

Above is a photo from a book signing where I met him and got all of my books signed. It was fabulous. There is another one to your right too.

I am super excited to attend the conference. This will be my first writing conference. I hope that I can learn a lot and do some major networking. I mean MAJOR!

If you want to go with me then let me know!