Dan Harrington

If "Who's at the Door?" were a movie....

2011-11-13T11:57:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, people say "Wouldn't it be cool if your book was made into a movie?"

Yes, that would be cool! But it's never going to happen. No sex. No drugs. No rock and roll. It would have to be on the Hallmark channel or something.

But just for fun, I decided to put a cast together. Keep in mind, this is just for kicks.

Michael Rosenbaum as me. I'm the main character after all!

Why I chose him
Rosenbaum could be pensive as Lex Luthor on Smallville, but also funny in his voice portrayal of The Flash in the Justice League cartoon. Most importantly, he can manage the right hair style.

Besides, hollywood makes everyone better looking than they are in real life.

Challenges
Rosenbaum will have to act slightly more goofy to be an accurate portrayal of myself. Plus, he'll have to come off a little more naive, since I feel that way about many things whether dealing with religion or life.

Jensen Ackles from Smallville as Elder Childs.

Why I chose him
Elder Childs was always popular with the ladies (He's married now so hold your horses) and so is Jensen Ackles on Supernatural. On Supernatural, Ackles plays Dean Winchester, a character known for his social skills and leadership ability. Plus, no one will ever accuse either of them of breaking a camera lens.

Challenges
Ackles will need to dye his hair blond, and he'll have to be more wholesome than his tough guy character on Supernatural. Still, I think he could pull off the role.

Vin Diesel as Elder Dowling

Why I chose him

They've got the same hair style and similar stern expressions. They are not guys you want to mess with.

Challenges

Vin is a little old to play Dowling. He'll also have to pull back on the intimidation factor a bit. The essence of Elder Dowling is "I'm a nice guy, but don't make me angry."

Sally Fields as Sister Ruth.

Why I chose her

Every Catholic loves "The Flying Nun" and I even allude to the show in my book. Sister Ruth was a prominent figure in the religious education of my childhood, and I want her portrayed correctly.
Plus, Sally is now about the age of the Sister Ruth I remember.

Challenges

Nun (or should I say none?). Sally Field can fly! She can do anything!

Seth Green as Elder Kelsey.

Why I chose him
The red hair. Plus, he could pull off the famous "donut incident." He can be both serious and funny, a must for anyone portraying Elder Kelsey

Challenges
Green is too old and much too short for the role. We'll have to use poetic license here.

WWE star Jack Swagger as Elder Bailey

Why I chose him
I used to call Elder Bailey the "Alaskan Mauler" because, although he had a very young face, he was a giant who could be in the WWE. According to Swagger's stats: he's 6'6" This is a hair taller than Bailey, but Hollywood always exaggerates.

Challenges

Swagger will have to come across as likable, and I hope he has some acting skill.

There are a lot more characters I could have picked from, but this list took a LONG time to create. One notable exception is Elder Luke, who is a big character in the story. After racking my brain, I just could not come up with an actor who could fulfill the stoic role.

Anyway, I got a kick out of making this list. I hope you get a kick out of it too. Let's hope James Cameron is watching....

Looking for a great Veteran's Day movie?

2011-11-11T05:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day to all the vets out there!

Last year, I wound up writing a story about the stars and creators of "The Way We Get By," an incredible documentary about troop greeters in Maine. If you haven't seen this film, it's a perfect Veterans Day movie.

The cast and creators were wonderful people--unsung heroes who get little attention, and this documentary is brilliant all the way around. It was such a blessing to meet and interview these people.

After I finished my interview, one of the creators said they "loved me" because I was such a sweet person. It was so touching that someone who had witnessed and documented such a caring story express similar appreciation for me. I certainly felt undeserving. Below is a preview of "The Way We Get By" from youtube. I highly recommend it. You can get the whole film on amazon here and here.

Our little escapes

2011-10-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last blog post. Sorry about that. Time escapes me so quickly, and to that end, I post my next blog entry in honor of Halloween and haunted stories...

Many readers tell me that a good book should help them escape. They're usually pretty vague after that, as if the word "escape" covers it.

It's up to our imagination to guess what so many people want to escape from: their troubles, their cares, monotony itself.

But then I realize that for the writer, it doesn't matter what each person wants to leave behind, only that they want to leave something behind. It's my job to make whatever is on the page more introspective and interesting than the personal problems a reader may have at the moment.

This, I think, is also the essence of Halloween. It's a night to throw-off the mundane, to be less serious, to discard the ordinary.

It seems a little morbid that so many of us want to enter another person's reality in order to gain respite from our own. Whenever we pick up a book, it offers the chance to trade our problems for another person's.

Fortunately for writers most people are willing to make this bargain.

Why spend time on taxes, bills, the dishes, or taking out the trash? No. People would much rather run from Michael Meyers, hunt vampires, or try to survive a zombie apocalypse. Scary stories can make hearts race and palms sweat. When was the last time household chores ignited our need to survive?

So to the goal of escapism, I raise a toast of Halloween cider. For if a good story helps us escape, then what is an author but an escape artist?

Unlike Harry Houdini, us authors don't have to chain ourselves up and get in our underpants to do our job. We can do it from the safety of our keyboard.

For the writer, then, there's a little escapism too.

You didn't think the readers had all the fun, did you?

Something to make you smile

2011-07-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

Can you listen to this song without smiling? Take the challenge.

Quick update/Happy 4th!!!!

2011-07-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

It's strange how quickly time goes by when you're blogging.

I gave a public reading of "Who's at the Door?" at the Gardiner Public last week and had 25 people attend. It was a great experience, and several LDS expressed gratitude for my willingness to write a human interest story about them.

Next up, I have a reading at the Bangor Public Library July 14.

Until then, I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy their Independence Day.

Mormons in the Media, but can the paper really tell us the "facts"?

2011-06-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

It's being called "The Mormon Moment."

Thanks to Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney, the media is covering Mormonism with a whole new gusto. You can take the Mormon history quiz at the Huffington Post (which I aced because I'm that slick) or you can read the Newsweek article "Mormons Rock" or if you're in New York, you might even check out The Book of Mormon musical.

Mormon Times' writer Lane Williams isn't all that impressed with the attention. His column at Mormon Times laments the recent coverage stating that "there seemed little new beyond recycled news frames of the last few decades."

But the larger question is, how much can the media really tell us? Religion of any sort gets terse treatment in the news. We can only get the overview in a two minute segment or even a ten page article. There simply isn't space to get into the nitty-gritty.

And let's face it, with Mormonism, there's a lot of nitty-gritty.

There are a lot of "facts" that get disputed over and over. As a church investigator, I looked into the history of the Book of Mormon people. I wanted to know about the possible existence of the Nephites, but what I found was an endless debate over every detail.

Eventually everyone sounded like the adults in Charlie Brown. "Wah Wah Wah Wah."

It seems that few (if any) non-Mormon scholars believe that the Nephites ever existed. Why? For one, the Book of Mormon mentions lots of things that were not known to be in America during pre-Columbian times.

Perhaps the most famous example has to do with horses. The book mentions horses, but most scientists say there were no horses in the Americas at that time.

But don't say that too loud or apologists like Michael Ash will remind you of 100 reasons why a horse could be a tapir or a deer or another animal that you may have never considered to be what Joseph Smith translated as "a horse."

I doubt the media will ever cover debates like this. Why? Because these stories don't sell papers. It's a tempest in a teapot, and no one cares.

In fact, a single article on Mormonism could never do the topic justice. It's a richly layered subject that involves personal faith, archeology, DNA, and personal histories of men who didn't want everything they did blasted to the public (google Nauvoo Expositor).

Expecting a newspaper to cover all that seems naive to me, especially when so many elements of Mormon history come with baggage.

The Virgin Mary...Surfing?

2011-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

I don't love graffiti, but I do love the Surfing Madonna mosaic that has recently popped up in California.
(Actually, it's been there since Good Friday, but I just found out about it.)

At first the mosaic seemed to spring up out of nowhere, and it was quite a mystery. But it was the kind that California residents loved. Apparently, the artist was so clever that he disguised himself as a construction worker doing maintenance. Check out the news story this video:

The artist has more recently come forward. His name is Mark Patterson, and he's not even Catholic. Instead, he says he felt inspired to bring attention to the cause of saving the ocean. You can see it clearly says "Save the Ocean" on the side of the mosaic.

See an interview with the artist at this link:

Despite the wonderful art this man crafted, the problem is that the city is calling it graffiti because he didn't get permission to do it first. To me, that really was pretty stupid...or was it?

Had the piece gone in a museum, would anyone have talked about it?

This man clearly wants to bring attention to his cause, but it's being overshadowed by the religious symbolism in the photo. I've already read some comments from Catholics who say it's inappropriate, but I happen to like it.

The image of the virgin is clearly based off "The Virgin of Quadalupe."

As the story goes, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Mexican man named Juan Diego in 1531 and told him to build a church. The local bishop didn't believe the story, so Diego asked Mary for proof that he saw her. She told him to place some roses in his cloak. When the roses were removed, the above image on his cloak.

Now I actually prefer this image, which shows Juan Diego as well.

Now that I know about Morminism, I can't help but see the resemblance to Joseph Smith and the First Vision, which seems to be the most popular image among Latter-Day Saints.

Anyway, I hope the surfing Madonna stays, and I'll be interested to see what happens next.

I'm in the Salt Lake City Weekly

2011-06-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well, not really me, but my book is!

The Salt Lake City Weekly justgave a positive review of "Who's at the Door?" stating:

Harrington is at his best when discussing how learning from the missionaries is similar to Catholic catechism classes with a nun named Sister Ruth he attended as a child...Who’s at the Door... demonstrate(s) the journey can be just as interesting to read about as the destination

Go Sister Ruth! She's one of my favorite characters in my memoir but rarely ever gets a mention. In fact, I wish I had written more about her.

I actually added Sister Ruth and the catechism scenes halfway into writing the book. I wanted an extra layer to change pace from all the missionary scenes. I'm glad good ole Sister Ruth gets a mention.

This reviewer compares my book with another one about LDS Church Prophet Wilford Woodruff.

Read the full review here.

Love those Libraries!

2011-05-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've started scheduling a library tour around Maine, and I'll tell you a secret. Maine librarians are awesome!

In very short order, I've already lined up public readings in Gardiner and Bangor.

I'll keep you posted on my progress, but right now I'm scheduled for the following:

Gardiner Public Library
June 29th 6:30 - 8pm

Bangor Public Library
July 14th 5:30 - 7pm

Portland Public Library
February 2012
(Yes, that's 2012)

I'll probably create a tab on the right as a more permanent place for my schedule.

Keep your fingers crossed for me as I venture into the wild land of libraries!

Deadline: how an old enemy became a good friend

2011-05-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Deadline.

I've always hated that word. It reminds me too much of words like "homework" and "chore." You know, those really nasty concepts that could ruin entire weekends.

It took a long time for me to realize how important deadlines are.

Before I was published, back when I wrote only fiction, deadlines were a rather aloof topic. People would ask when I would write a book or get a story out. The truth was that I didn't know. I always answered in vague timetables like "later" or "this year."

Finally, I got tired of my own procrastination and started working for a local newspaper. That's where I learned how to write and how to write fast.

No longer could I tell someone "I'll write it later" or "this year." Stories were due often a few hours after I interviewed someone.

At first, this terrified me. I had always told myself that I could write a really good story if I were given more time. I'll admit that sometimes that's true, but procrastination is never the answer.

In 2010, I pushed myself to the limit by signing up for what became a 22 part series for my newspaper. I had always wanted to do a series, and I was thinking big--something that would really make me stick out. I wanted to profile prominent Mainers for their success across the state.

This meant I would have to snag interviews with busy hard-to-reach people, write stories and turn them in well before my usual deadline. My editor wanted it to be a front-page series, so there was no fudging the dates. I agreed, and to this day, I surprised myself.

I took this picture in 2010 when I interviewed author and actress Victoria Rowell. It made the front page along with my story. Everyone I knew was shocked that I got to meet her. In Maine, she's known from her roles in prime-time series like "Diagnosis Murder" and "Dumb and Dumber" with Jim Carey.

During that time, I interviewed people like Victoria Rowell from "The Young and the Restless," former Maine governor Angus King, UFC Fighters Marcus Davis and Tim Boetsch, and New York Times Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, among many others.

I churned the stories out as fast as I could because half my time was spent scheduling interviews, some of which never worked out.

But more importantly, I learned more about myself and what I could accomplish. I just needed a deadline to do it.

Here's a pic of UFC fighter Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch (right) in action. Due to his training schedule, I wasn't able to meet Tim, but he spoke to me over an hour on the phone. His UFC record is an impressive 16-4. He knocked this opponent, Mike Patt, out in the first round at UFC 88.

I learned that there are too many stories that need attention. As a writer, each one is a step in improving your craft.

Writing is a lot like lifting weights. If you want to see results, you don't start working out the night before your big date. You have to do it consistently over time.

Sometimes you won't lift that much. Sometimes you might drop the weights. But what matters is that you're doing it. Only by lifting weights do you see results, and only by writing do you finish a story.

The thing I hated most--the deadline--helped me finally become a writer. Now with more than 200 articles published in various newspapers and magazines, I've come to recognize the deadline as an ally in the continuous battle against procrastination.

If you need to organize your ideas, make a deadline. Nothing will light a fire like that.

If you want to write fiction every week, create a writers group. Nothing will make you write more than sharing your work with others on a regular basis.

Only writing will make you a writer, and if you're anything like me, you need a deadline to make you write.

New LDS review

2011-05-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

I got another glowing review today from LDS writer Melissa Cunningham.

She writes "I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved [Who's at the Door?] It was fast paced, interesting and very funny. I busted up laughing numerous times. My kids gave me a lot of funny looks....
A special relationship grows between the missionaries and the people who investigate the church. Dan explains these feelings and emotions beautifully. He is easy to relate to as he tells this profound story."

You can read the full review here.

I am so thankful for all the great reviews I've gotten out of Utah and other places. They seem to prove that you can write about another faith respectfully.

Another Book Review

2011-04-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

LDS writer Angie Lofthouse recently praised my book on her blog, calling it "compelling, beautifully written and quite poignant." Few compliments are higher than that.

You can read the full review here.

Mormon Times Book Review

2011-04-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

Mormon Times, a prominent LDS publication, gave a short review of my book. For some reason, the online review is shorter than the review in the paper, but I can't complain. I was very excited to get this story in the paper.

Check it out!

Sunday Song (on Monday): "A Heart Like Mine"

2011-04-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

I heard this country song on the way home, and it's been in my head ever since. The chorus emphasizes Jesus own humanity, which is juxtaposed with his divine miracles.

I recently heard a Franciscan priest say that one reason God became flesh was to share an intimate union with his creation. By making Himself one of us, He became visible, thereby, a little easier for us to understand and reflect. He experienced humanity and what it means to be human, and therefore knows our struggles and concerns in an intimate way.

The song also brought these scripture verses to mind:

Luke 5:30-32
³⁰ But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”
³¹ Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. ³² I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Instead of writing a long blog, I'll let the song speak for itself.

Author Talk: The Hook

2011-04-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

I spoke to a creative writing class this week at the University of Maine Augusta, and it was awesome. I only prepared a 40 minute discussion, but the talk lasted 1.5 hours. The students and instructor were enthusiastic and had a lot of questions about my writing and how I got published.

I spent part of my presentation talking about the hook. The hook is the first sentence or two of the story, but in fiction, I will sometimes say it includes the entire first page.

The importance of the hook never caught me when I was younger. Back then, I thought it was perfectly fine for my story to "get good" on page 20, 15, or even 50. The reader was going to be patient, right?

Wrong.

Editors I met at workshops admitted that when they get an unsolicited manuscript from a newbie author, they give the story 3 pages or less. If it doesn't catch them in that time, they stamp a "reject" on it.

We have to remember that editors get tons of manuscripts every month--affectionately referred to as the "slush pile."

When I first heard this information years ago, it seemed cruel. Three pages wasn't enough to tell if the story had potential, right?

Well, experience teaches us a lot. As I've grown, my patience--like those editors--has thinned out. I now realize how important the first page is. Coming up with a good first sentence and paragraph for your story should be on the radar of any serious writer.

One thing writing for newspapers has taught me is how important the hook is. It's the first impression for the reader. They often read that and the headline to decide to read or skip your piece. I spend more time on my hook than I do on most other sentences.

Here's the example I used in the class:

After interviewing pro-wrestler "The Franchise" Shane Douglas, whose real name is Troy Martin, for my newspaper article, I wanted to mention how he used to get in trouble with his mom for wrestling with his brothers and sisters.

So I wrote this:

Troy Martin used to get in trouble for being rowdy with his brothers and sisters. Now he gets paid for the same behavior.

The hook was all right, but I took three issues with it. 1) His brothers and sisters were irrelevant to the rest of the story. 2) What was meant by "used to?" Last week, last month? 3) The vernacular phrase "get in trouble" could mean "jail."

So I eventually re-shaped the sentence to read:

As a boy, Troy Martin was scolded by being rowdy.

This new hook added a descriptive verb "scolded" to highlight that the "trouble" he faced wasn't serious. It was rambunctious play, not petty crimes. I also added the "As a boy" clause to provide a clear time.

The second sentence still annoyed me because I didn't like ending with "the same behavior." The phrase felt too technical, and I wanted it to be fluid.

This is the final version of the hook I created for the piece.

As a boy, Troy Martin was scolded for being rowdy. Now he gets paid for it.

This felt like a fun, but narrow hook that focused on a single idea.

My only problem was that the first sentence was passive voice. To make it active, I would have to include his mother in the sentence because she had performed the action of the verb: the "scolding." I debated this back and forth, but in the end, I thought the passive voice read fine in this instance.

I was right.

My editor liked the hook and the story enough to put it on the front page of the newspaper. As the lead story for the entire day, it took up most of the front page.

I shared this anecdote with the class to show the kind of thought process that goes into creating a hook.

It's something I do every time I write for the paper, but I've never shared it with anyone until now.

On a personal note, despite having nearly 200 articles published and making the front page of a weekly newspaper 22 weeks in a row, I had never been on the front of a daily.

So I reached a new milestone in my career where the front page of the daily was possible.

To commemorate this, The Franchise signed my article, and it's now framed in my home.

Just in case you don't know who "The Franchise" is, he's worked in every major wrestling promotion in the U.S. including WWE, WCW, and ECW.

Encounter with a conversion story: she prayed to find the right church

2011-03-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

Check out this video about a girl who converted to Catholicism. It reminds me very much of all the stories I've heard about the LDS Church.

The similarities are uncanny, especially when she, as a non Catholic, once thought of the church as "weird" and "a cult."

If you removed the word "Catholic" and re-worded a belief or two, this story sounds exactly like some of the LDS testimonies I've heard over the years. She even prayed to find the right church to belong to.

Mormons hear stories like this from members every Sunday. I thought this was a nice take on something I rarely hear Catholics say.

My favorite place--the front page!

2011-03-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

I haven't been doing as many freelance articles lately because I've had to concentrate on book promotion.

However, here's one notable exception. I made the front page of a large daily paper with a story about pro-wrestling star "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. Shane, whose real name is Troy Martin, has worked in every major U.S. wrestling promotion including ECW, WCW, TNA, and WWE.

Check my story out here.

I'm in Provo's Daily Herald!

2011-03-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

The Daily Herald of Provo Utah has a big feature story about me and my book in today's edition!!!

I was very excited when the reporter called me, but I had no idea how many other calls he would make. Cody was very thorough, and I appreciate his hard work.

This is the first time I've been in a Utah newspaper, and it's truly an honor!

My favorite part about the story is that they included quotes from some of my own missionaries. (The two on the cover as a matter of fact!) Cody asked me for their phone numbers, and I was excited that both Childs and Dowling got to speak with him.

You can see the story here.

When was the word "Catholic" first used?

2011-03-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

I learned this a long time ago, but I just found this video. Everything's more fun (and easier to recall) when you watch it as a video.

Contest Alert

2011-03-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Fellow Man Cave author Frank Cole is celebrating the release of his new book "The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter."

He's hosting a prize drawing to win a free autographed copy over at his own blog. You can check it out here.

Sunday Song, "Crazy Love" by Hawk Nelson

2011-02-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

It took a long time before I started listening to Christian music. I thought it would be too sappy and sweet. Admittedly, there are some songs like that (and who isn't in a sappy mood every now and again) but Christian music has fast become my favorite genre.

Every once in a while, I try to share one of my favorite new songs, and I think Hawk Nelson's "Crazy Love" is a perfect example of how Christian music doesn't always sound the way I once expected. Take a listen.

Author Talk Report Card

2011-02-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

My author event at the University of Maine Augusta went extremely well. Fifteen people, plus six or seven university staff members, came to hear me speak and give a reading.

This might not sound like a tremendous number, but trust me, I've been to many author talks where the audience could be counted on one hand.

I have a particular style when it comes to giving an author presentation. Too often, authors read entire chapters of their books. I don't know about you, but I generally don't like being read to for more than ten minutes.

Most writers I know do NOT understand this. They embrace the philosophy that they wrote those words, and now you're going to hear them! It's basically a hostage scenario with verbs instead of guns. = )

My own event style is something I learned from Tess Gerritsen, a writer who prefers to talk about writing and subject matter rather than read large portions of her book.

Her belief, she told me in an interview, is that people can always read the book themselves, but at an event, they want to get more behind-the-scenes info.

Here's an example below:

I kept this in mind when I prepared my presentation.

Because my book is about my experience with Mormon missionaries, I spent about 20 minutes getting all the typical questions out of the way--what do missionaries do, where do they come from, why do they do this. Then I spent about 5 minutes doing a reading. The rest of the time was spent talking about how I got published--something the university staff asked me to address--with about 20 minutes extra set aside for a Q & A.

The presentation lasted about an hour and a half, and I couldn't be happier with how it went. My biggest fear was that no one would ask a question at the end, but I had about ten questions, one after another. It's a good sign that people were paying attention.

I'm hoping for more such events, but only time will tell. I've got a lot of venues to contact, and I'll let you know how it goes.

One person asked for my feelings about self-publishing. Since my own book isn't self-published, I said I didn't know much about it, but from what I've heard, it can be a hard road to follow. Self-Published authors don't have a traditional publishing house to help with---well, anything.

The reason I bring this up here is because Michelle Davidson Argyle wrote an extremely candid piece about her experience in self publishing over at her blog. If you're a writer, you should read it here.

Michelle brings to light something I've always suspected about self-publishing but have rarely heard discussed. It's a heartfelt and thought-provoking read.

The Red Carpet Awaits!

2011-02-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

My next author event is this Thursday at the University of Maine at Augusta Campus Library where I'll be giving an author talk to students and the public.

The university is graciously providing refreshments. I'm very excited, and it feels like they've rolled out the red carpet.

I'll be discussing my time with missionaries, my decision to write about them, and my experience in publishing.

This sounds like a lot to cram in, and I've been working on a presentation. Let's hope all goes well!

Want to win more prizes???

2011-01-31T18:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, this must be prize week, because I just discovered an easy way to enter another prize drawing.

This time you can win additional Amazon gift cards, free books, or even the chance for a published author to critique your manuscript.

So what's the catch?

All you gotta do is head over to author Michelle Davidson Argyle's blog and sign up for her newsletter. Check it out at this link.

Please note, you must sign up for her newsletter by Friday to be eligible to win one of the prizes.

Michelle's publishing company will reveal the cover of her upcoming book, Monarch, tomorrow!

Congratulations, Michelle!

In the meantime, readers should check out her first book, Cinders, on Amazon here.

Awesome Authors: Cheri Chesley

2011-01-31T17:56:00.000-08:00

This is the final author participating in the blog hop. Each of us is giving away a $15 gift card to Amazon. Check out details at the bottom of the interview to win!

Now please welcome our latest awesome author--Cheri Chesley. Cheri has recently updated her author website, and I highly recommend you check it out here.

Now let's meet Cheri!

Tell us a little about your book, The Peasant Queen?

My book is the story of a peasant girl, Krystal, who faces near impossible odds yet sticks to what she believes no matter what. Also, there’s an evil king and a handsome prince.

How did you get the idea for the book?

I actually wrote this story for the first time when I was 14 years old. It started out as a short story I intended to turn in to my English teacher at some point. And, it all started with Krystal. Her character fascinated me.

Can you describe your writing process?

You mean, other than write a story and then put it down for 15 years? :)

Actually, I’m still working on fully developing my process. I write the rough draft quickly, then put the manuscript aside for an undetermined period of time, then go back through it and make it pretty. I ended up going through The Peasant Queen many, many times. I believe the first book is a learning process. I’ve gotten much better at it.

How did you get connected with Cedar Fort Inc?

When I felt I was ready, I submitted the MS to four local publishers. Cedar Fort asked if they could see a trimmed down version (what I submitted was 440 pages).

I suggested we split the story into two books, but they didn’t think it would resolve well enough at the end of the 1st proposed book to work. So, I trimmed 1/3 of my manuscript and came up with a much tighter, faster paced story.

According to your website, you have several book signings coming up in Utah. How do you manage your busy schedule of being a writer and mom?

Don’t forget the babysitting, my “day job.” I’m lucky to have a network of support in my family and friends. They understand the writing is important to me, and, second to being a parent, the most important thing I will do in this life. I couldn’t do this without their support and understanding.

Do you have any advice for other writers who are marketing their books?

Don’t be shy. I’ve had years of being comfortably shy to get over so that I can actually get out and do signings and talk to people about my book. If you believe in your book, then you have to show that to your readers and prospective readers.

What are some things you've learned about writing and publishing over the years?

I’ve learned, as a writer, you must be flexible. That’s not to say you don’t stand up for the things that really matter to you—only that there’s a lot about the business first timers don’t understand, and we need to balance what we’re told by our publisher with what feels right to us individually.

What's in store for you this year?

I’m really excited for 2011. By February, I will have submitted the sequel to Cedar Fort for consideration, and then I’m going to take a little break and work on something just for fun. But, I plan to have the third and final book written before my kids get out of school, and then do those revisions in the fall.

As much as I love this trilogy about Krystal and her loved ones, I’m really eager to flesh out some of the other story ideas I’ve had over the last few years.

Anything you'd like to add?

Just that my nephew and I have recently updated my website, and I’d love for everyone to go over and check it out.

Thanks for stopping by, Cheri, and best of luck in 2011!

And now for the contest!

To be entered in the drawing for my gift card you must meet the following requirements:

1) Follow my blog

2) "Like" my facebook author page on at this link.

3) Head on over Cheri's blog and follow her at this link.

4) Leave a comment to me here saying that you have done these things.

The "Blog Hop" will end in February. At that time, I'll do a random drawing for the prize. Don't forget that my fellow authors Michael Knudson and Maggie Fencher will be giving away the same prize on their sites too here and here.

That means you have 4 chances to win!

Interview & review

2011-01-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

LDS author Sarah M. Eden interviews me with her own unique comical style at her blog and draws a remarkably accurate portrait of me.

Read the interview right here!

LDS Author Alison Palmer also praises my book in a recent review:

She writes:
"Who’s at the Door? was well-done, respectful and spiritually uplifting."

Read the full review here!

Awesome Authors: Frank Cole

2011-01-26T19:06:00.000-08:00

I've recently become part of the new group blog, Man Cave Authors.

Although I've featured most of the Man Cavers in my Awesome Authors series, there is one notable exception.

Frank Cole is the author of the popular Hashbrown Winters series for grade school children. With three Hashbrown books published, he's about to break new ground with a second series geared for older kids.

His next book The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter is being released this March, and I'm sure it's going to be a success.

Let's find out more about this awesome author now. Please welcome Frank L. Cole!

Frank, you're already well-known for the Hashbrown Winters series. Your new book, The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter, is being released in March. How does it feel to have four books under you belt?

It's really hard to believe I have 4 books published when 2 years ago I had come to the conclusion I may never get published. Everything happened so fast and it just boggles my mind.

Can you tell us a little about The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter?

The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter is a little older than my Hashbrown Winters series and has a lot more action. Here's a very short synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Amber Rawson has a passion for archaeology, with a particular talent for deciphering ancient codes.

So when Dorothy Holcomb, Amber’s beloved archaeology instructor, is kidnapped by a shadowy organization called The Architects, Amber is determined to unravel the mystery. With the help of her sarcastic friend, Trendon, and a slew of other strange clues and peculiar characters, Amber embarks on the hunt for the Tebah Stick; a Biblical artifact capable of global destruction.

That's it in a nutshell. This is probably my favorite book I've written so far and if I had to compare it to something, I'd say it's a little bit Goonies meets Indiana Jones, but definitely not as cool as those two movies. Because, come on, is there anything cooler than Goonies and Indiana Jones?

What made you branch out from your already successful Hashbrown Winters series?

The Guardians was one of those stories that snapped me awake one night and wouldn't let me rest until I finished it. I seriously wrote the whole book in a month.

So, to answer your question, I had to write the story for my family's sanity. There's only so long my wife can take of me clacking away at the computer while my kids run around the house, eating cereal off the floor.

Don't get me wrong, I love Hashbrown, Snow Cone, Whiz, and all the gang and those stories gnawed on my brain as well. I do plan on writing a couple more of his tales in the future, but I wanted to write something bigger and test the waters.

Can you describe your writing process?

It really depends on when the fever hits. I can play around with ideas and dabble with dialogue and various scenes for stories on any given night and not really accomplish much.

But when a story takes root and I can see all the possibilities unraveling in my head, I seriously become a man possessed. Generally, I try to brain dump as much information as possible down on the page during one sitting without care for grammar, or scene development, or description. Whatever's flowing is what I type.

Then, after a few "brain dump" sessions, I'll go back and try to decipher everything. Some of it stays, but a lot of it is pushed into a miscellaneous junk file from where I can pull stuff from later. My sister calls me a "bleeder". Meaning, I write, edit, write, edit, write, edit until something comes together out of the madness.

What are some challenges you faced on your road to publication?

I think I've been rejected well over 100 times from agents, publishers, family members, strangers. You name it and they've rejected me. Granted, most of my rejections came from the first novel I wrote called The Gothian Box, which deserved every single rejection it received and then some.

Probably the biggest challenge I've faced with publication is marketing my books after they're in print. That's a tough obstacle involving a ton of time and energy. How does one spread the word to the masses with only a facebook account and a blog? That, my friend, is the million dollar question and I wish I had the answer.

What have you learned about the publishing industry that you didn't know before you got your contract?

Hmmm. I think I've learned there are literally thousands of people trying to get something published and most of them are quality writers with really great ideas. It's intimidating.

I've also learned for most people in the industry (myself included) writing an awesome story is only the beginning. Marketing your project, putting it in people's hands, presenting yourself in as many places possible is the very next step.

You've done a lot of book signings. What's one memory that stands out from them?

I got yelled at by a 90 year old man who told me kids shouldn't take time to read my garbage. It was my first Costco book signing and the man wanted to know what I was sampling. I handed him a pencil and he broke a tooth on it. (Okay, that last part of him eating the pencil is not true.)

Probably one of my coolest memories happened when I helped out at a Brandon Mull signing. While directing the line, a couple of kids recognized me from presenting at their school and had their mom take a picture of me and sign their books. Yeah, that was cool.

You were recently on ABC4 Good Things Utah. What was going through your mind before and after the interview?

I was beyond nervous and had less than 24 hours to prepare for it. ABC4 called me on Monday afternoon and I was interviewed the next day. I actually mimicked throwing up in front of the live studio audience, just to ice my nerves. That was good for a laugh.

Afterwards though, I realized it wasn't so bad. I just have to be myself and let things play out the way they're going to play.

[Editor's Note: Vomit is often funny. The interview was great, and you can watch it at Frank's blog by clicking here.]

What are your future plans?

Always writing. I've almost finished the outline for the second book in the Guardians series and I have some pretty decent ideas for another Hashbrown book as well.

Plus, I just recently finished a first draft of a new teen horror novel. You add that with the constant need to get out to schools and signings and my schedule's pretty full. Oh well, I love it!

Thanks for stopping by, Frank! It was great getting to know more about you, and best of luck with your next book.

Awesome Authors: Maggie Fechner

2011-01-24T17:30:00.000-08:00

Please welcome our first female awesome author, Maggie Fechner!

Maggie and I are doing an author blog hop with fellow CFI authors Cheri Chesley and Michael Knudson where you--yes you!--can win. See the bottom of this interview for details.

But first things first...

She's a professional photographer, award-winning journalist, and her first book, Growing Up Gracie, is up for a Whitney award.

She's is Maggie Fechner!

You have a background as a reporter and were a Journalist of the Year in Wyoming. What kind of reporting did you do, and what was it like to win the award?

Before you get excited, you should know two things. First, I was the high school journalist of the year (not the grown-up version) and secondly it was in Wyoming. In case you haven't heard, it's the least populated state in the country, and humans are out numbered by cows in a big way.

Now, if you still think it's an impressive accomplishment, why, thank you!

Honestly though, I loved being a reporter. I worked for three community newspapers where I covered news and feature stories. I also was a columnist at a tiny little paper in a farming town. My favorite stories were a skydiving piece (where I met a crew who took me skydiving) and a big special feature on the prison system in Eastern Washington.

Did journalism help you become a better fiction writer? If so, how?

I think it mostly just got me used to being okay with people reading what I wrote. Even when I know things don't sound perfect, I am absolutely fine with handing them off to a reader and getting back their input.

Growing up Gracie is up for a Whitney Award. How did you find out you were nominated, and how does it feel to have your peers recognize your talent?

Cedar Fort emailed me to let me know my book was nominated. To be honest, the nomination is neat, but I am much more excited to hear who is a finalist! There are many wonderful books included in the competition. I would love to read so many of them.

Tell us a little about your book.

Growing Up Gracie is a young adult LDS fiction novel about Gracie Fremont. She is the fifth of six kids in a traditional Mormon family in Cody Wyoming. Gracie is searching to find what defines her and makes her unique. It's a coming of age novel and one that I hope helps people see we are all extraordinary in some way.

Describe your writing process.

I write from 5-6:30 in the morning five days a week until my novel is done. I don't stop to read ANYTHING I write. When I'm finished with that first draft, I start reading and am always appalled at my horrible manuscript. Then I really get to work rewriting and editing. In the end, I hope I come out with something that people will enjoy and I can be proud of.

You're also a professional photographer. Tell us a little about that.

I am a part-time portrait photographer. I mostly do family photography. I've been in photography for 10 years but have only been doing it as a business for two. I love being behind my lens and waiting for those perfect moments to unfold.

What's your advice for authors when choosing (or posing for) pics for their bio or other book promotion?

I would suggest having a pro do it. We all want to look great, right? We know a few tricks about softening skin, whitening teeth, and making eyes 'pop.' True, it might not be a realistic image of us, but for a photo that's going to be on a book jacket for the rest of time, I'd personally like to look great. :)

What have you learned about the publishing industry that you didn't know before you got a contract?

It's definitely about the love--and not about the money! Especially in a small niche market like the LDS publishing world. Having a real published book on the shelves has been a fantastic blessing and a dream come true. But, I'm glad I'm not feeding my family with the proceeds.

What are your goals for 2011?Be a good wife. Be a good mom. Do my best in my church callings. Oh yeah, and submit a manuscript by April 1, and finish a rough draft on another by the end of the year.

I am currently in the rewriting stage of the mainstream family saga that I hope to submit this spring. And I have a very, very rough start on another book from the All-Mormerican Family the Fremonts.

Anything you'd like to add?

Readers, you have a pretty good chance at winning a prize (or two) if you follow our New Cedar Fort Author Blog Hop instructions. We haven't had too many entrants yet! Good luck.

Maggie is right, people. There are 4 $15 Amazon gift card up for grabs.

To be entered in the drawing for my gift card you must meet the following requirements:

1) Follow my blog

2) "Like" my facebook author page on at this link.

3) Head on over Maggie's blog and follow her at this link.

4) Leave a comment to me here saying that you have done these things.

The "Blog Hop" will end in February. At that time, I'll do a random drawing for the prize. Don't forget that my fellow authors Michael Knudson and Cheri Chesley will be giving away the same prize on their sites too here and here.

That means you have 4 chances to win!

Author Blog Hop! Potential prizes for you!

2011-01-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Three other new Cedar Fort authors and I are joining forces for the next several weeks in what is called a "Blog Hop."

Each of us will be giving away a $15 Amazon gift card in February. That's 4 $15 that you have the potential to win!!!

To be entered in the drawing for my gift card you must meet the following requirements:

1) Follow my blog

2) "Like" my facebook author page on at this link.

3) Head on over to Michael Knudsen's blog and follow it.

4) Leave a comment to me here saying that you have done these things.

The "Blog Hop" will end in February after I post about Maggie Fencher's book "Growing up Gracie" and Cheri Chesley's book "The Peasant Queen." At that time, I'll do a random drawing for the prize. Don't forget that my fellow authors will be giving away the same prize on their sites too.

That means you have 4 chances to win!

I want to recognize Maggie Fencher for organizing the hop. It's a great way to show support for brand new authors.

Awesome Authors: Michael Knudsen

2011-01-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Michael Knudsen's first novel, The Rogue Shop, was released last month, and he's already up for a Whitney Award. For the uninitiated, the Whitneys are a special award given to LDS writers.

Let's find out about this brand new author.

He's lean. He's mean. He's a tuxedo machine!

But more importantly, he's our latest awesome author!

Mike, your first book, The Rogue Shop, was just published in December, and you're already nominated for a Whitney Award. How did you find out you were nominated, and what went through your mind?

It’s very exciting. I was informed of having sufficient nominations by the PR Director at Cedar Fort, who had been notified of the Cedar Fort nominees by the Whitney Committee. Nine months ago, I attended the LDStorymakers Conference (Who sponsor the Whitney Awards) for the first time. At that time, the manuscript for The Rogue Shop had been rejected by several publishers, and a couple of the editors who still had it in their slush piles were at that conference.

I didn’t know anyone there, and I didn’t even have the guts to approach those editors and introduce myself. I remember all the excitement leading up to the Whitney Gala on the last night of the conference, and seeing the photos and results on the web the next morning. I distinctly remember something stirring in my gut, and the feeling, “I want to be there.” Of course, many books are nominated, and the finalists won’t be announced until February 1, but it’s a thrill just to see my title associated with the words “Whitney Award.”

Noted LDS author and editor Tristi Pinkston has called your book one of the best LDS fiction books ever. How do you feel about getting such high praise from the Utah writing community? Do you ever need to pinch yourself?

I’m black-and-blue from self-pinching. Tristi’s review is especially meaningful because she reads a lot of fiction and is honest with her opinion. I’m also thrilled with the positive review from Stephanie Black, a two-time Whitney winner and blogger who doesn’t often commit to reviews. Equally exciting, though, are the kind notes that are just now starting to come in from readers I don’t know from Adam. Several people have told me that my book has kept them up past midnight, and that’s a good thing for a storyteller to hear!

Tell us a little about The Rogue Shop.

The saga of Chris Kerry is a first-person narrative following the spiritual odyssey of one young man’s self-discovery. Having lost his parent in a car crash at the age of three, he is raised Baptist by his mother’s sister in suburban Houston. As a teen, he falls in with the wrong crowd and becomes involved in serious alcohol abuse. An accident he causes turns him around, and by age twenty he’s ready to spread his wings and start his own life. He lands a scholarship to the University of Utah, of all places, a destination his decidedly anti-Mormon aunt is not happy about.

She demands he take an oath on the Bible that he not get himself mixed up with Mormons. You can guess what happens, but I think you’ll be surprised with how it all unfolds. What might sound like a straight-forward conversion story for a young Texan somehow comes to involve ball gowns, a ballet performance, an Ivy-covered apartment building, intrigues among employees of a downtown Salt Lake City formalwear shop, an old German seamstress with a brilliant past long buried, and the consumption of raw spaghetti.

I was shooting for much more than the story of a young man’s connection with Mormonism in this book. I wanted something rich with the themes of personal heritage and legacy, something orphans often feel themselves lacking. I wanted a love story that focused on the spiritual side of romance and attraction, and the charisma generated by faith and virtue. I wanted to show the power that one person can have as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others. Finally, I wanted to evoke both laughter and tears, with the kind of character-driven emotions I feel when I read my favorite books.

You worked at a tuxedo shop in real life. How much of the book is based on your own experiences?

In some ways, the real-life King’s Row Formalwear on South Temple Street IS Regal Formalwear. I worked there part-time while attending the University of Utah as a rental consultant. The store had been in business since the late 1940s and was an icon in downtown Salt Lake. For many years, it was THE place in town to get formal clothing and accessories.

I remember the first time I went down in the basement and saw a jumble of old mannequins and clothing from the 1950’s, covered with cobwebs. The sight transported me to another time and stirred in me the first inklings of a story. Yes, there was a little old lady with a German accent who worked as a seamstress in a room down there, though her background was nothing like Eva Gottlieb Chandler’s. Otherwise, the characters are entirely fictional, made who they are by the demands of a story sewn together from the cloth of my imagination. I don’t want anyone who worked with me back in 1988 to think any characters are based on them!

You started the book back in 1989 but didn't get serious about it until 2008. What made you get serious about it?

I like to tell myself that I just didn’t have the maturity and distance from my own employment at the formalwear shop to finish the book, but the decades-long delay also had much to do with procrastination and letting “life” intervene. About two years ago, I realized that I might very well be more than halfway through my life, and I had no published book. That jump-started things.

What were some challenges you faced while writing the book, and how did you overcome them?

At first I didn’t know what kind of book it would be. My first draft was aimed more toward a more neutral audience, only later becoming LDS-targeted. For the longest time I didn’t know exactly how it would end. Trying to do it all on my own without letting anyone see it for years was a bad move. Sharing it and opening it to criticism was a major step in putting together something coherent. I even hesitated to let my wife, who is not at all a writer, read a draft. Once I did, she surprised me with some terrific ideas that ended up as part of the plot and characterizations.

Can you describe your writing process?

It all starts with an idea or image like the mannequins in the basement. The feelings generated by the images start me thinking about people who become characters. To me plot is the most mechanical part of it, a chronological way to string together the events and epiphanies that make up a story. I start with an outline of less than two pages then charge ahead. Inevitably the story takes off well beyond the bounds of the outline, requiring another, more detailed outline.

This process continues until the ending is so clear that the middle becomes academic. I haven’t been able to form the habit of taking advantage of little pieces of spare time, which is another reason why it takes me years to write anything. It can take me as long as two hours to get “booted up” and have the words flowing freely.

How did you get connected with Cedar Fort?

Cedar Fort was one of six small, regional publishers I sent The Rogue Shop to on January 1, 2010. By the first of May I had five letters that were little more than form rejections, and one from Cedar Fort with a little more detail. The manuscript had made it beyond acquisitions to the selection committee. They “declined to publish” at that time, told me what they thought some good changes would be, and invited me to resubmit the revised manuscript. I didn’t need to hear it twice.

I went through my manuscript and made exactly the changes and improvements they asked for. They thought I referenced too much LDS doctrine for a book targeted to Mormons, so I cut pages of it out. They thought the climax was a bit too climactic, so I toned it down. I worked harder than at any other point on that revision, and had it back in the mail to them three weeks later.

My new cover letter showed in detail exactly where I had made the requested revisions and some others I had put in for good measure. The intention was to make it as easy as possible as soon as possible for them to reconsider a novel they had recently read. I had an acceptance letter a couple of weeks later.

What have you learned about the publishing industry that you didn't know before you were published?

I can only speak for my experience with the LDS market. The most surprising thing to me is how few Mormons actually read LDS fiction! Fourteen million people sounds like a fairly nice niche until you realize that only half of those speak English and only a third of those live within the distribution range of these little publishers. Oh, and maybe only a tenth of those have any interest in reading anything from those publishers. LDS fiction still suffers from a reputation developed in earlier eras when good writing was not as common in the market.

Many Mormons still have the attitude that fiction by Church members is bound to be cheesy, self-righteous, or just not good. That’s too bad, because there are some very, very good books out there now, and the LDS writer’s community is dedicated to producing great (in every way) stories. The advent of the LDStorymakers group and the Whitney Awards is working wonders to bring LDS fiction “out of obscurity”, but there are miles yet to go.

I saw you had a great launch party for the book. What do you think of when you remember that event?

I had no idea what to expect or if anyone would show up. I will never forget the warm feelings when my friends, family and co-workers lined up as soon as the doors opened, and I signed books as fast as I could for nearly 45 minutes before the first lull. Some of these people may never read my book, and some who do may not even like it, but they bought it anyway just because they know me, and most importantly, they showed up to support me. If only every signing appearance could be like that!

What are your future projects?

Going back to the ideas and images that become books, I’ve been haunted for decades by the picture of a simple stick of wood, a knotted tree branch about the size of a walking stick. It’s not just any stick, though. It’s indestructible and has unimaginable powers in the right hands.

This is the genesis of The Veilwood Trilogy, an epic fantasy for which I have notes dating back to my first year in high school. This is a much bigger and more ambitious project than The Rogue Shop, aimed at the national market. Whatever happens with it, I’m sure it will provide me with a completely new range of experiences. I have about 120 pages of draft at this point.

Anything you'd like to add?

To those still working to get published: Keep the act of writing and your dreams of publication success separate. It’s okay to dream big, envision your name across that cover or topping the bestseller list. Just don’t let the gap between that dream and where you are now stop you from moving. The daily act of writing is the single most important stride you can take toward that dream.

Don’t spend time waffling over whether you have any talent or if you’re just wasting your time. If you have a nagging desire to write (not just to have written something) that won’t go away no matter how you try to distract yourself, you are talented. It’s that simple. I don’t believe God plants a worthwhile desire in our hearts unless we are gifted with the wherewithal to fulfill it. Some seem more talented than others, but work is the great equalizer. Get in the habit of working hard toward what you want to accomplish. When I finally got that, I moved quickly toward the realization of my dream.

Congratulations on your book, Mike, and good luck at the Whitneys! I'm nearly finished reading "The Rogue Shop" myself and will post a review soon.

Mike may not know it, but his blog, which you can read here, contains one of my favorite pictures ever! Can you guess why?

That's right! It's a picture he took of new Cedar Fort releases. Both our books are on the same book case, baby! See, we're practically twins..except he's got hair and a fancy tuxedo. Buy Mike's book here.

Let our powers combine!

2011-01-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

Last month, I was surfing the blog-o-sphere when I noticed how some writers do group blogs.

I found myself wishing I could be part of one such endeavor. Then it hit me. Instead of waiting around for an invitation, why not start one myself?

But how would it be different? How would it stand out from other group blogs I had seen? I realized that of all the group blogs I encountered, none were written solely by men. In fact, most of them were female dominated.

A seed took root in my mind, so I contacted some writer friends, and we just started the Man Cave Author Blog.

The blog will feature musings from me, Michael Young, author of The Canticle Kingdom; David J West, author of Heroes of the Fallen; J. Lloyd Morgan, author of The Hidden Sun; and Frank Cole, author of The Hashbrown Winter series and The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter.

Check out the cave here:

Movie Review: The Other Side of Heaven

2011-01-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

A co-worker lent me her copy of "The Other Side of Heaven" a week ago, and I finally had the chance to watch it. The movie is based on the real life Mormon mission of John H Groberg, an LDS general authority, who taught people in the Kingdom of Tonga, a group of islands near New Zealand during the 1950s.

I've seen several LDS movies so far, and this one would rank as my least favorite. I highly recommend "States of Grace: God's Army 2", which depicts missionaries as people with real problems and how everyone, including the elders, needs God's grace. I love the final scene in the film.

If you haven't seen it, here's the trailer:

Back to "The Other Side of Heaven."

My main problem with the film was that, at times, the narrative skipped over important details that I, as a viewer, wanted to know.

For example, Elder Groberg wakes up one morning with bloody feet and is told that a rat had bitten the soles of his feet during the night.

The villagers inform Groberg that his feet need to be baked in the sun, and they quickly set up a contraption similar to a tipped-over chair for him.

Several questions popped up in my mind, pulling me out of the story, because no one on screen addressed them. Groberg blindly accepts their doctoring without a peep, which was hard to swallow given the quirky cure.

How was baking them in the sun supposed to help? Why didn't he wake up when the rat was gnawing his flesh? But more importantly--why didn't we hear about this before? His mission companion quickly states, "I told you to keep your feet covered!"

As a writer, that really irked me because there should have been an earlier scene where we specifically heard this advice. It would have been an excellent opportunity for foreshadowing. Instead, the scene felt thrown together.

The beginning of the film also made a big deal of how the missionary was supposed to learn the Tonga language. Instead of learning it from his island missionary companion--which would have made sense--Elder Groberg isolates himself on an islet and spends each day and night reading The Bible in English and Tongan.

I don't know about you, but I find it very hard to believe that he could learn how to pronounce words simply by reading them. When I see Spanish, a language I studied in High School, I often don't pronounce it correctly without hearing it.

During this phase of the story, Elder Groberg acts like an ascetic monk, who eats, breaths, and sleeps (though he is only shown sleeping once) The Bible.

He hardly recognizes the villagers as they bring food to his islet because he is stuck in a kneeling position intently learning the language.Miraculously, he emerges with a near-perfect understanding in Tongan, but the filmmakers make a strange choice in their depiction of events because a scene or two later all the natives are suddenly speaking English.

I think some type of transitional element should have been added to show that Elder Groberg didn't need translation anymore. It just felt strange that all the natives who we needed subtitles to understand a minute ago were speaking fluent English. Once Elder Groberg leaves his monk-like state on the island, language problems are eradicated in a single swoop, which felt a little too easy a fix to me.

Another problem that pulled me out of the story was when a father brings his dying son to Elder Groberg to heal him.

At first the elder doesn't know what to do, but somehow he comes up with this strange method of massaging the young boy's back chanting, "Out with the bad air, in with the good," and the child wakes up healthy as can be. We never learn how or why Groberg comes up with the method, but at that point, it became clear that I was watching a hagiography

Throughout the film, I was curious to see how much LDS doctrine would be revealed, and the answer was not much. In fact, Elder Groberg could have been a member of any Church because nothing he taught or believed stuck out in the least. The movie doesn't mention Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon once, just a vague reference to "God's plan of happiness" where Jesus is mentioned once.

Although Elder Groberg gives baptisms, we're never "in" on what lead up to them.The first time the movie mentions an investigator, Elder Groberg--in a voice over--already states that the young man wants to be Mormon. We never really learn why.Although there's a romantic subplot in the film, the relationship that felt the most powerful to me was the one between Groberg and his Tongan missionary companion.

There's a touching scene where Groberg asks why his companion believes in the church, and the companion tells a story about how missionaries had saved his father from being an abusive husband.
Watch it here:

The film does have a few genuine laughs. I love it when Groberg goes to what must have been the Tonga equivalent of the UPS store to get a message from the Mission President and finds all the women there crying. He asks what the message was, and one of them hands over an envelope that's clearly been opened while telling him, "This is confidential." The bad news was the it was time for Groberg to go home.

In real life Groberg became a high ranking leader in the LDS Church and returned to the island several times with his wife. I was surprised to learn that some of the islanders eventually moved to America.

There's a bittersweet scene in the film where the natives wheel out a large radio for Elder Groberg's going-away party, and they all listen to a 1950s radio program. It was nice to see them have some technology on the island, but it was sad to realize that Groberg, and people like him, weren't just bringing religion to the Tongan people, but also western culture that would forever change the prestine community.

Despite some of the movies setbacks, it does illustrate how one person can change the lives of others. I can see how LDS viewers would appreciate the film because it's a feel-good movie about one of their own, but the lady who owns this movie admitted she knew next to nothing about the Mormons. I can see why.

While it's clear that Groberg brought religion to the Tongan people, his lessons are never fleshed-out. The converts line up like dominoes, and we get a sense that something good is happening without exploring what that good thing is.

Two Western Reviews!!!

2011-01-06T15:06:00.000-08:00

I've gotten two new reviews on my blog tour.

The first is from David J West, author of "Heroes of the Fallen."

Here's an excerpt:

...this [book] is about people finding common ground and learning something new about each other-becoming friends and brothers and that's what matters in the long haul....

You can read the full review right here.

Here's another great review.

This one is from Steve Westover, author of "Defense Tactics."

(Notice the west connection? Maybe these guys are long-lost cousins.)

Steve writes:

Who’s At The Door? is a classic “Stranger Comes to Town” master plot. In this case the “Stranger” is the full time missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dan is the hero of his own story and as is always the case, the “Stranger” enters the scene and provides a disruption, which is the basis of this page-turning memoir.

Read the entire review right here.

Now Steve said that he's never read a memoir before, but he finished mine in a single afternoon!

I've heard a few people say this, and I'm always impressed. It's awesome to have people find my work that compelling.

The Mormons documentary

2011-01-02T20:26:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the PBS documentary titled "The Mormons" from award-winning documentary maker Helen Whitney?

If not, it's a great peek into the LDS culture and faith.

Here's a link to the piece about Mormon Missionaries, similar to the ones I wrote about, though not nearly as cool.

The first voice you hear is that of the late Gordon B Hinckley, the prophet of the Church while I was an investigator. He always looked like such a dear grandfather-figure to me.

Sunday Song, "All Things New" Brad Paisly & Sarah Evans

2011-01-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

I recently became aware of this song, and this powerful video.

Awesome Authors: J Lloyd Morgan

2010-12-31T09:14:00.000-08:00

The New Year is about to dawn, and I wish all you happy readers out there an incredible new year!

If you're looking for a good book to snuggle up with at night, try "The Hidden Sun" by J Lloyd Morgan. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

He has one heck-of-a website with a cool book trailer that you can view at this link.: click here!

or right here:

He's our latest awesome author.

Read more about the man himself who is also an award-winning TV director!!
And if that weren't enough, he's also met the one and only Debbie Gibson!

Pretty impressive, huh?

Now get ready for your close-up, Mr. DeMille!

Welcome J Lloyd Morgan, author of the Hidden Sun. Jason, can you tell us a little about your book?

It's a young adult novel set in medieval times, though the reason it is considered "young adult" is because there isn't any swearing or sex scenes--and only mild violence. I've found that adults have enjoyed the book as much, if not more, than teenagers.

The basic premise is that a new leader is soon to be selected for the Kingdom of Bariwon. The heir to the throne, Princess Eliana, is forced to marry whoever wins a contest of sorts. However, she has fallen in love with her personal guardian, and wants to renounce her title to be with him.

Malevolent Governor Abrecan is favored to win the contest, which would put his easily manipulated son, Daimh, on the throne. A plan is hatched so that Eliana can marry her true love, while at the same time becoming queen. The events that follow are full of twists, turns and interconnecting sub-plots that keep the reader engaged and wondering what will happen next.

I understand The Hidden Sun is set in a medieval world, but you chose not to include typical fantasy tropes like magic. Can you tell us why?

I get asked this often. The heart of the story is really about people, the choices they make, and the consequences of those actions. There are many moments in the book that have the reader asking themselves, "How are they going to get out of this mess?"

Too often I've read books or seen movies where the hero "saves the day" by using some sort of magic power that neither they, nor the audience, knew they had. It feels like cheating to me.

By removing magic, and basically all forms of technology, people are left to their own devices to resolve their issues. I believe the readers get more involved in the story because they are trying to figure out how the characters are going to resolve the challenges they face using the same abilities a normal person would have.

What was the most challenging part of writing the book?

This may sound strange, but it was coming up with the title. I had a pretty good idea about the plot, characters and setting going in. In the end, I wanted a title that was unique, and relevant to the story. It's not until most people finish the book that they understand what the title means.

What are some of your favorite responses you've gotten from readers?

I get a kick out of how many people really dislike the villain of the book. And what's not to dislike? People have mentioned how awful of a person he is.

I've also had many people get mad at me while reading the book, only to forgive me at the end. Why do they get mad? Because they get emotionally attached to the characters and when things go bad, they want someone to blame.

However, the story does have a happy ending, so like I stated, all is forgiven at the conclusion. Lastly, the book is non-traditional in several ways. One reviewer said something along the lines of "J. Lloyd Morgan didn't re-write popular stories, he created his own."

Can you describe your writing process?

It all starts with a spark of an idea. From there, I'll imagine the setting and the characters with a basic plot outline. Then the real fun begins.

As I'm writing, the characters take on a life of their own and lead me in directions I'm not always expecting. I've often finished a chapter with the thought, "Wow, that was interesting. I wonder what they will do next?" It may sound odd, but it's what works for me.

You're also an award-winning television director. Can you tells us a little about your experience in TV?

An award winning TV director sounds impressive, eh? For full disclosure, they types of shows I directed were primarily live newscasts, interview shows and public events. I've lived all over the USA in that career. I ended up in the #1 market in the USA as Director / Operations Manager

I got to meet all sorts of interesting people from politicians to celebrates. When I lived in Connecticut, it was almost surreal that I had congressmen, mayors and the governors that knew and called me by my first name. I even directed a "town meeting" where then President Bush was the keynote speaker.

Who were some of the people (celebrities and politicians) you got to meet while you were a director?

I got to meet all the major mayors and congressmen in Connecticut, including Joe Lieberman, Christopher Shays, Chris Dodd, Governor Jodi Rell. In addition, meeting Mayor Rudy Giuliani was pretty darn cool.

As for celebrities, boy there was a ton. I think my favorite was Debbie Gibbson, simply because I had such a crush on her in High School.

[Editor's note: Mr. Morgan refused to divulge if he ever sang 'Electric Youth' in the mirror]

Why do you think so many actors say they want to direct?

It's about control. As the director, you are in control, and ultimately responsible for what ends up on the screen. Often actors believe (some rightfully so) that they can do better than the directors they have worked with.

What do you like about directing?

For me, it was always about the rush and thrill of being a human multi-tasker in the face of an ever changing environment. It's extremely challenging, but when you pull it off, it is quite an amazing feeling.

How does your experience as a director affect your writing?

I believe it has given me greater insight into various types of people and their actions. I've drawn on this time and again as inspiration for my characters--which is why I believe that many people have told me my characters are very engaging. In addition, as a director, you need to have an incredible sense of timing. I believe that has helped me be successful in keeping the pacing of my books moving.

I love the trailer you've created for your book. View it here.

How did you come up with it and who are the people in the video?

I didn't have a budget, so I used my old beat up cam-corder and some desktop editing software to put together a "testimonial" video. The people in the video are my family and their friends. There is actually a lot of humor in The Hidden Sun, and I wanted to have people see that side of me.

In addition, I got a kick out of twisting many popular quotes you read about books into silly examples. It was a lot of fun. Oh! And here is an inside scoop never before revealed: The music at the beginning and end are original compositions by me--OK, granted it is me playing like three notes on a music keyboard, but still . . .

On a personal note, I notice you're the only male in your family, which consists of a beautiful wife and four lovely daughters. What's it like being the only guy in the house?

Honestly, I love it. My wife and daughters are the best. I'm actually very spoiled in that regard. I get asked time and again, "Are you going to keep trying until you get a boy?" I respond, "We tried 4 times, and we got all girls. After that, I waved the white flag."

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I'm an avid reader--it helps me develop my talent and voice as a writer. I'm a big Atlanta Braves baseball fan, which is about all the sports my wife can handle. I'm active in my church and volunteer time to help others. I also enjoy progressive rock.

In addition, I'm a fan of a musician named Chris De Burgh. On one of his recent albums is a song called "The Mirror of the Soul." A dream of mine would be to write a full novel based on the song. It's amazing.

Have you or your family made any New Years resolutions?

On the writing front, my goal is to get the sequel to The Hidden Sun released. It is much more of an adventure novel and I'm very excited about it. I learned a ton from writing my first book, and I believe it has helped make the second one that much better. In addition, I've started on the third book and plan on having the first draft done by year end.

What does 2011 hold for J Lloyd Morgan?

Hopefully more people discovering and enjoying The Hidden Sun. As for anything else, I always try to live today just a bit better than I did yesterday. Life is too short to do otherwise.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Yes! Thank you so much for allowing me to answer these questions. It's been fun. As I noted before, I'm an avid reader. I finished an excellent book not long ago called Who's at the door? (Maybe you've heard of it) I'd highly recommend it!

[Editor's note:Talk about good taste!]

Best of luck to Mr. Morgan and his family for 2011!

More Reviews!

2010-12-29T18:22:00.000-08:00

The reviews have poured in this week:

First up, I got a review at the Writing Fortress blog. Rebecca Talley author of numerous LDS books including "Altared Plans" and "The Upside of Down" said:

"I wasn't sure if I'd like this book, I'm not a big memoir reader, but it pulled me right in. I found myself thinking about it and hoping for a particular ending. This isn't a conversion story, it's about Harrington's spiritual journey and I liked his candor. He didn't sugarcoat anything..."

To read her full review, click here.

* * *

Consumer Avenger/Media Reviewer & former LDS Missionary Jen Head Jen said on her site:

"It was interesting to get a view of how non-Mormons view Mormons. What was refreshing was that I didn't feel the need to defend myself while reading, and that Dan gave the missionaries - and their message - the benefit of the doubt at every turn...

Overall, I very much enjoyed the book, and finished the bulk of it in one sitting...A very thought-provoking..."For the full review click here:

She even rated it as 5 Mint Oreo Cookies. That's one tasty rating!

***

Danyelle Ferguson, author of "Mormon Mishaps & Mischief" also praised the book on her site as "heartwarming, funny, and insightful:

"Who's at the Door is an excellent example of looking past the names on the signs in front of your local churches and instead respecting and supporting each other. I will always remember that wise phrase: There's room for everyone at God's table."

She actually picked out one of my favorite scenes in the book as one of her favorite moments as well. You can read the full review here.

Thecla: little known woman with a great big story

2010-12-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas night I wound up watching the History Channel's special "Banned from the Bible II."

The part I watched had to do with St. Thecla, a person I only vaguely remembered hearing about in school.

According to some fragmentary second century historical texts, she was a companion of Paul who stressed celibacy over marriage.

This type of thinking perhaps originates in the Bible where Paul writes:

"Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion."
1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Needless to say, this is one of those passages that historians show more interest in than the churches. It is, in all practicality, the exact opposite of what Joseph Smith believed about plural marriage.

Thecla's story reminded me of Ann Lee, the 18th Century founder of the Shaker faith, who also said that God calls ardent believers to a chaste life.

Ann stressed that marriage created a unique relationship between individuals that prevented people from loving everyone equally. I wonder what Thecla would have thought of that argument.

Like most beautiful young women, Thecla's life was spent dodging unwelcome suitors. The most famous part of her story is perhaps how one of them had Thecla thrown into a Lion's Den.

As the story goes, a female lion protected Thecla from the others, and Thecla is often portrayed with a female Lion. She might have been a major role-model in Christianity if not for her radical act of baptizing herself.

Check out more about Thecla here:

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's my first Christmas as an author, and this year God has been so good to me.

But I also know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that no matter what I achieve, the most important thing in my life is to recognize, honor, and love the one we celebrate on December 25.

John 1: 10-12 & 17-18
"He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. ¹¹ He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. ¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God...

God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart.

He has revealed God to us."

Another Book Review/a cause to ponder

2010-12-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

I got another book review over at Mind-Muffins blog. Hooray!

You can read it here:

http://mind-muffins.blogspot.com/2010/12/book-review-whos-at-door.html

This is a thoughtful review for sure, but it made me feel a tinge of guilt for not being more direct with one thought in particular.

The author mentions a few subjects which, I agree, could have been better explored, but my biggest surprise was this comment because it shows that I did not hit the intended nail on the head:

"In the epilogue to the book Harrington writes: 'I don’t think too many conversions hinge on how accurate the Book of Mormon may or may not be. People want a place to be accepted, a place to hear about God, a place where they feel God hears them. Simply put, most people aren’t theologians. Neither am I. That’s what we have in common.' That, for me, was the most telling passage of the entire book

...So ultimately this book tells us a lot about Dan Harrington’s view and experiences in exploring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but offers very little that can be generalized to investigators as a group."

Maybe I wasn't forceful enough, but the thought I was trying to drive home is that people are usually more taken by the "idea or place of being accepted" than by doctrine.

I did spend some time with other investigators, but I did not mention this in the book. This mostly came about when the elders needed a third party to visit a single female and ward members were not available. (Their rules dictate that they must have a third party present when alone with a woman.) I was often their go-to guy for rides, food, or help in general. A role I happily accepted.

Perhaps I should have written about what I witnessed from those investigators. I just didn't feel like it was my place to spill other people's beans.

But as an observer who--admittedly--wasn't privy to the entire experience of others, it seemed that some people were joining because they wanted to be accepted, and quite frankly, liked it when speakers talked about them at sacrament meeting.

The conversations I heard from other investigators were less of "I believe Joseph Smith is a prophet" and more of "Do you think the Church will give me a Christmas tree if I wait until after the holidays to join?" (I'm obviously recalling one incident in particular)

Another man testified to knowing the LDS Church was true because of the Holy Spirit, but he would also go out to smoke after sacrament meeting, knowing full well that was against Church teaching. He was also rude to my elders in general, challenging them in the Gospel Principles class and even calling them "stupid" in his home. That irked me quite a bit. Yet he somehow, passed a baptismal interview in another area of the state a few weeks before moving to my hometown.

Other investigators agreed with the missionaries in declaring the Book of Mormon is true, but they hadn't read more than a page or two of it.

These incidents did worry me, and my worry is that this particular aspect of the missionary program happens more often than I expect. From this review, I see that I should have been more forthright with this thought because the hint I gave clearly didn't do the job.

I also realize that the elders are in between a rock and a hard place. No one should be a doctrinal expert to join the Church, but how can you really know what a person's motivations are? I've even seen this discussion on message boards between LDS members who wonder the same thing.

As to my personal experience, which is the focus of the book, I think one reason the elders and I spent so much time together is because we accepted each other, despite our differences. That's what causes heated arguments, really, because people refuse to accept each other.

In the end, I accepted the elders for who they were--warts and all--, and they, despite my hesitation about joining the church, accepted me into their lives as well..warts and all.

(Not that we have warts. That's just a metaphor)

Awesome Authors: David J West

2010-12-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

My awesome authors series continues with David J West author of "Heroes of the Fallen."I first became aware of David while researching Utah publishers for my own book and came across his blog, Nephite Blood, Spartan Heart.

You can view it at this link: David J West.

He was the first blogger who grabbed my attention for his mix of humor and writing insight. Additionally, his work branches out from traditional LDS topics and feels more inspired by great works of Epic fantasy.

It was also nice to see a blog devoid of frills and girlie romance covers. Sometimes when I visit his blog, it's like heading over to a "man cave" on the web.

I've had the pleasure of chatting with David and was happy he agreed to be featured.Please welcome Mr. David J West!

Your first book "Heroes of the Fallen" came out with Wido Publishing earlier this year. Can you tell us a little about the book?

"Heroes of the Fallen" is the first in a series of ancient American historicals that are laced with all the speculative weirdness and action I can muster. It reads like an epic fantasy, though I would argue anything within [the book] IS within the realm of the possible.

What motivated you to write "Heroes of the Fallen?"

A big motivation for writing the entire series, is that no one had ever done a Book of Mormon historical the way I wanted to read them. The romances didn't do it for me, nor did the adaptions which had very little creativity in prose or expansion of possibilities.

As a kid (and still today) my favorite parts were the wars, the action, the heroics. No one would tackle the incredible potential for the kind of stories I wanted to read.So I did.

Using perhaps more familiar Biblical historicals, think of the movies- 10 Commandments, Ben Hur, The Robe, King David and the novel Curse of Jezebel by Frank Slaughter.

I wanted to read an epic series so I wrote an epic series.

[Editor's note: Great cover. I'm pretty sure that's David on the left about to kick some butt.]

How do you think your book is different from others in the Utah/LDS market?

I would say the one thing I keep hearing back is either it is very graphic compared to what the LDS market standard is, OR I liked it despite it being an LDS book. I suppose I'll take both as a compliment.

I set out to write a very different book, and it was a fear of mine that it would be rejected by the LDS community. Thankfully it wasn't.

How far along are you with your next book?

[It's] very nearly done. Originally book 1 and 2 were one massive tome,but the market being what it is, I decided to split the book in half. This has caused new problems. I have to reintroduce some things to book 2 and expand on somethings added in book 1 rewrites.

I expect to get BLOOD OF OUR FATHERS to my editor any day now.

You're a publishing machine! Besides your books, I noticed you are a prolific short story writer. Can you tell us a little about your upcoming anthologies?

I have several anthologies coming up. Except for a Book of Mormon short story anthology (which I am headlining) the rest of the anthologies are fantasy's.

Roar of the Crowd-will have my story "Whispers of the Goddess," a heroic account of the sack of Constantinople in the 4th Crusade. Whats not to love about Crusaders, Vikings and the Holy Grail to boot?

Shadows & Light 2 contains my desert fantasy tale of honor-"The Hand of Fate"The Challenge: Discovery-has "The Serpent's Root" a rollicking yarn starring a female thief named Saphir.

I have several other tales I am waiting to hear confirmations on.

How do you tackle writing a short story vs writing a novel?

Its kinda weird, I started out writing short stories, then linking them all together to make a novel-filling in spaces at times-so that when I decided to try writing some shorts it was really hard to go back to keeping a low wordcount.

My first shorts were all longer. Whispers of the Goddess is 12K, Hand of Fate was 11K.

In fact I had to stop a couple of shorts because it became obvious they needed to become novels-I couldn't limit those stories.But with practice and craft, I am finding the way to strip things down and get to the meat of an incident and leave that at 5K or less. I have a couple shorts now that aren't over 3K.

Tell us a little about your background? I heard you were into martial arts.

I was really into martial arts before I got married. I took some Karate, Tae-kwon do, Akido, and my personal favorite Wu Ji Chyuan Fa, a no-nonsense Chinese amalgamation of styles.

I hear you collect swords. Can you tell us about your collection and how you got interested in it?

I have always liked swords-just that boyish barbarian fascination I suppose.I have a large number of decorative swords, but also several 'battle ready' weapons.

How many do you have?

I think I have 17 swords, a pair of spears and three ax's. Oh and a war-hammer that is a lot of fun.

Any favorite one?

My favorite sword would be the Grosse Messer, which is what I base Amaron, the main character in Heroes, sword on.

Why do you think readers, male readers in particular, enjoy action and battle scenes?

Probably much the same reason they like sports-whether watching or playing there is that release for the natural aggressions that come up in life.

I believe it is something we are hardwired with,BUT I would also hope that in my writing of such blood, I display consequences as well as action. I don't write blood and guts without a thought behind it.

I love your blog titled "Nephite Blood/Spartan Heart." What link do you see between these two groups?

Great question. I wanted as original a name as possible for the blog and something that would brand me and my future writings.

I have a novel BLESS THE CHILD about an exiled Spartan mercenary set during the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar (I'm still tweaking it) and combining my thoughts on that with HEROES, which had just been contracted-gave me the title for the blog. It was also a play on Morrissey's song-Irish Blood, English Heart.

With the Christmas season upon us, do you have a favorite Christmas memory?

I love the feeling of being with family-the warmth, the hot cocoa, watching the moonlight hit the sparkling snow.

How does your family celebrate the season?

We are in the midst of starting our own new traditions. My family used to open presents on Christmas Eve and re-enact the Nativity. My wifes family did the standard Christmas Morn thing-so we are blending the two.

What was your favorite Christmas present as a kid?

Probably anything G.I. Joe.

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Books, lots and lots of books. It's what excites me the most.
[Editor's comment: Books and swords. A cool combination!]

You've been to several writing conferences in the Utah area. Do you have a favorite memory of those?

Heh-yeah. As mentioned above, in early 2009 I was still unsure if anyone in the LDS community would like my style-BUT I won first place in the first chapters general fiction category for my weird western, DANCE THE GHOST WITH ME - (my mom is still after me to finish that one!)It was a great validation that other people liked my stuff.

It's often said that women buy more books than men. Any thoughts on why that is and how we can increase male readership?

That's a real tough one. I ought to ask that myself on the blog and get more feedback, but I think women are more willing to throw themselves into the world of a book.

Too many people in general think they have to get something out of reading, like it has to teach them something concrete.

Think of all the self-help books out there.

They are missing how much literature does teach us,even subtly, how much it does make us think.

This is why the classic works have survived as long as they have--great literature makes us a great people.

I also believe in the sheer enjoyment of reading. I read for enjoyment almost every day BUT I don't do lots of other things people take for granted.

I never play video games for example. It might be perfectly enjoyable, but I don't see it edifying anyone, and I don't have time for that.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Always, always, always keep notes. I have a river of ideas flowing to me constantly, and you have to keep notes, because you will forget.

What do you know about the publishing industry now that you didn't know before your novel?

Networking is key. It always pays to know people and have friends within the community. Writing can be solitary, but I don't believe success is.

What's 2011 hold for David West?

I will have BLOOD OF OUR FATHERS released. I will have half a dozen short stories in anthologies (at the least) and potentially a couple other novels out riding the waves of fortune.

Thanks for sharing your experience, David.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Sunday Song, "Hope is Born This Night"

2010-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the season, here's one of my favorite Christmas songs:

Blog Tour Review

2010-12-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

With the help of the incredible Tristi Pinkston, I am currently doing a blog tour, and the first review of "Who's at the Door?" is available on Anne Bradshaw's site.

Here's an excerpt of her review:

"the book is about one man's (Dan's) experience with the missionaries, but told in such a unique and fascinating way that it drew me right in and I found myself eagerly turning the pages with almost the same anxiety I feel when reading a suspense novel!"

Wow, I never expected a comparison like that, but I'll take it.

You can read the full review on Anne's Blog here:

http://annebradshaw.blogspot.com/(Go there! Read it!) = )

Awesome Authors: Michael Young

2010-12-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a new feature on the blog, an occasional series called Awesome Authors where I interview fellow writers.

We kick off the series with Michael Young who is not only the author of "The Canticle Kingdom" but also a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I don't know about you, but I am thoroughly impressed.

One of the first bloggers I ever chatted with was Mike. He's a great guy and very friendly. He's currently holding a contest over at his blog where you can win a copy of his book.

Check it out at www.writermike.com

Now on to the Awesome Author himself!

Mike, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is world famous. Please tell us how you joined such a respected organization.

Joining the choir was something I’ve sought to do since I was a child. However, you cannot try out until you reach age 25, and so I knew growing up that I had a long time to practice. I did everything I could to get ready, including singing in every choir I could, and taking private voice lessons.

Then when I turned 25, I thought it was time to give it a try. The process is a very long one, with three rounds, including a taped audition, a two-hour theory test and a live audition. After that, you have to sing in a training choir for four months. If you get through that okay, you are made a full member. I started the process in July 2009 and was made a full member in May 2010.

What does being a member of the choir entail?

The biggest thing is the weekly “Music and the Spoken Word” broadcast, which has been going on every Sunday for 82 years. We usually practice on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings for two hours apiece.

We do a number of other big concerts during the year, including Christmas and Easter, and have a recording project or two. We also sing for the General Conference of the LDS Church every April and October. Every other Summer, we also go on tour for a week or two. All in all, a very busy schedule.

What are some aspects of being in the choir that most people aren't aware of?

For one, not everybody sings at every event. There are about 360 members of the choir and we are expected to have an 80% attendance record.

I also people don’t realize how many behind-the-scenes volunteers it takes to keep the choir running. There are people who serve in the wardrobe, the music library, seating and many other capacities. Oh, and there’s an English Handbell Choir that’s part of the choir as well.

What's your favorite memory of the choir experience so far?

That’s a hard one. Probably helping to make a recording of the Choir for my first time. It features just the men of the choir with some great music. Another one that stands out is singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus six times in a row for a recording.

What's your favorite Christmas song to sing in the choir and/or on your own?

The choir sings this amazing version of “The First Noel” that I love. Alone, I love stuff with good tenor notes like “O Holy Night” and ones that aren’t sung as often like “Lo How A Rose E’re Blooming.”

You're also the author The Canticle Kingdom. Please share the premise of your book.

It is about of kingdom of people who live inside of a music box, but do not know that yet. There is one family however, who knows the nature of their world and is tasked with playing the music from the box to affect people in our world.

For example, when their queen in old and a new queen needs to be appointed, they play the box and a woman who hears the music from it is drawn into this kingdom and made the new queen. This needs to happen at the beginning of the story, but the family has forgotten their duties and the box has fallen into disrepair.

How did you come up with the idea for a magic kingdom inside a music box?

That's a good question. This one just popped into my head while I was working at Target during my first year at college. Most of my ideas enter at strange times when I'm not really looking for them.

How long did it take you to write the book?

About a year for the first draft. I was attending college at the time and so I could only write here and there. I could probably churn out a first draft much more quickly now.

What was the most challenging part of writing it?

Drawing all the story threads together effectively in a way that does not confuse the reader.

Can you describe your writing process?

I start out developing a general outline with “mile markers” of things that I want to happen. Then I just get going on the first draft. I set a weekly goal for myself about how many words I want to write and then break that up into my daily portion. I write everywhere, even when I don’t have a computer to fill in those little times.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Slow and steady pays off. You will get to be a better writer by doing it just a little every day and brainstorming new ideas while you are doing menial things like waiting in line at the grocery store, or doing the dishes. I’ve had some of my greatest lightbulb moments while doing menial tasks.

On a personal note, congratulations on the birth of your new son! Tell us a little about your family.

My wife Jen and I have been married about five years and have two sons, Jarem who is two and a half and little Bryson who came to us on November 1st. We are all very musical and love good books. (I guess the jury is still out on Bryson, but at least Jarem does.)

The doctor’s let us know that Bryson has Down’s Syndrome, which was surprising to us, but we’re excited to get to know this sweet little boy.

In the spirit of the season, can you share one of your favorite Christmas memories?

That would have to be spending Christmas Eve with a little German family in a tiny village. They only sing “Silent Night” or “Stille Nacht” on Christmas Eve and then give out all their presents. It was so simple and sacred that it has always stuck with me.

How did you wind up spending Christmas in a tiny village with a German family?

I was an LDS missionary at the time and they were a family from our congregation who invited us to their house to spend Christmas Eve. It was especially nice because I was so far away from home.

When your two sons are grown, what do you want them to remember about their childhood Christmases with Dad?

I hope that they remember the fun Christmas music and traditions we made together, and the thoughtful gifts I made them. I always take time and make homemade gifts that I think mean a little more.

What kind of homemade gifts do you make for your sons?

I did a painting for a son of Winnie the Pooh that now hangs in his room. For my sister this year, I made a compilation of piano music that I had written and wrote a new song for her. She always said how much she liked listening to me play my songs. I think it will be easier to make stuff for them once they grow up a little more and their interests become more apparent.

What was your favorite Christmas present as a boy?

I'll have to admit it was a Super Nintendo. My brothers and I spent many a bonding moment over Mario and Zelda. I think playing video games expanded my imagination a bit. (Though I usually did it in moderation)

[Editors Note: Mike may not have been aware that the Sega Genesis was the superior console at the time due to its X-Men, Streets of Rage and Pirates of Dark Water games. Please forgive him]

What do you want for Christmas this year?

What I’d really like is for another one of my manuscripts to be picked up. I’ve got a few out there, so it could happen.

What's in the future for Michael Young?

Many creative things. I’ve planned out a number of book projects as well as projects for the stage that I’d like to see get out there. Lots of good times with my wife raising my two boys and many great performances with the Tabernacle Choir.

Is there anything else you'd like to mention?

I would just encourage those who want to pursue a hobby that the time is now to get started. If you invest the time, you can create things that will uplift others. That’s the best feeling.

Thanks for being my first awesome author, Mike!

Sunday Song, "O Come All Ye Faithful"

2010-12-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the season, please enjoy this beautiful rendition of a Christmas classic.

Book Party Pics

2010-12-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

The book party was 5 days ago, but I'm still grinning about it. I got a few pictures of the event that I wanted to share.

A local florist donated this wreath as a prize for the event.

Here I am at the signing table.

It's still a shock that people got in line and waited up to an hour for my signature.

By the end up the night, nearly 100 people showed up. Woo Hoo!

A harpist played music for the people in line between their brownie and baklava munchies.

Only the best, baby!

One thing I learned is that dealing with musicians can be a pain. After speaking with nearly a dozen of them, this lady stepped up to the plate. She specializes in medieval music, hence the dress.

It was such a blessing to have so many people support me. I am still grateful for such a wonderful event. You can buy brownies. You can buy baklava, but you can't buy the support I received that night (unless you're a millionaire), and I'm so glad to have the latter. The only thing that would have made the day better is if the missionaries in the book had been able to attend. Alas, we can't have everything we want.

Awesome Book Party/Amazing Week

2010-12-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

This week was so awesome for me. After months of preparation, I had my book launch party at Barnes and Noble in Maine.

Around 100 people attended the event, and we sold every last copy the store had. That's right, my first signing event was SOLD OUT! I just realized how much I like that phrase. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

The manager said that's never happened at any of her other book signing events. She even had to start a list for customers to order more because a handful of people missed out. It was incredible, and I have to thank my family for all the prep work with getting the word out and all my friends for showing up, some driving an hour just to attend.

I thought I'd have more time to mingle, but soon a line formed halfway through the store for people waiting to get their book signed. I made sure to have nice, but short, chats with each of them. It took an hour and a half for me to sign every book.

After that, we had a drawing for a decorated balsam wreath that a local florist donated. The last book sold along with the wreath, and some distant relatives even decided not to purchase copies until later so there would be enough for other customers.

After haggling with too many musicians, I found a very affordable harpist to play at the event, and several people commented on the beautiful music and unique instrument.

I saw so many friends from my past and present, old co-workers, teachers, and even several readers who enjoy my work in the local media. The last two guests who showed up were the two most recent missionaries in the area. Just as I did many times in the book, I sent them home with a plate of food.

The one problem I had didn't happen until the next day when several friends who couldn't make it complained that both Barnes and Noble and Amazon are out of stock with the book. I have no idea how normal that is.

The only version that seems available today is the Kindle edition, which, I suspect, can't be sold out. I guess this is a good problem to have.

I've spent decades dreaming about my first book, and now it's finally here! I still can't believe it. Even Norris thinks it's cool (Well, he would if he actually knew about it.)

Titles? Titles? Who's got the title?

2010-11-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

Titles aren't normally my strong suit as a writer. Back when I first started doing freelance work, I would wrack my brain and agonize over inventing the perfect title. This turmoil was usually wasted because the editor often erased mine and put their own in anyway.

It's why I often slap a ramshackle place holder above my stories these days.

Of all the titles, I've created very few have ever been kept, so it was quite a surprise that my publisher kept the title of my book Who's at the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries.My original working title was The Young Elders, but that was very early in the process when I envisioned a more academic work rather than a human interest story.

When I came up with Who's a the Door?, I tested it with several people, and much to my surprise, they all had a physical reaction to it. Instead of a mere "Oh, that's nice," people smiled or chuckled. Right then, I knew it was a winner.I wasn't sure the publisher would agree, but they obviously did.

To emphasize the humor in the book, some co-workers of mine suggested alternate titles such as Who the HELL is at the Door? To this I added, Oh no, they're at the Door! or Hide! They're at the Door!

No matter how you slice it, I knew the missionaries were associated with an unexpected knock. Even those of us who let them into our lives know that the process usually begins at the door, where we make the split-decision to open it or slam it shut.

It's the same decision readers will make when they see the book.

Do we put it back on the shelf, or do we buy it? Let's hope enough people choose the latter.

Sunday Song, "My Jesus" by Todd Agnew

2010-11-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

A thought provoking song by one of my favorite artists.

Push!

2010-11-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

Author David J West recently advised me to "push" my book in the first month of its release. I'm definitely in the middle of doing that now.

Push! Push! Push!

I feel like a crazed father running around the hospital during his wife's pregnancy. In the last month, I've become a November sponsor for the LDS Publishing blog, arranged a book launch party at Barnes and Noble, scored a door prize for the event from a local florist who is donating a decorated balsam wreath, printed invitations, and told everyone I know about the party.

The problem with pushing is that I sometimes feel like I can work all day on promotion without resulting in a sale.Keep your fingers crossed that some of this "push" pays off.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to lick the envelops for my party invitations.

The Book Came Today!!!

2010-11-11T02:20:00.000-08:00

After nearly a year of waiting, I finally got to see the book in its final format today.

I can't believe it. I'm officially an author.

Not only that, but I can't believe what my book is about. When I was a kid, I was sure my first book would be an epic fantasy in the tradition of my favorite author David Eddings. I wanted to write about wizards, gods, warriors and the mortals mixed up in between.

Instead, my first book is a fairly personal account of my own life.

That's so far from what I expected.Telling a true story comes with its own special challenges that not every author can appreciate. I hope everyone mentioned in the book, especially the missionaries who became my friends, are happy with their depictions.

Sunday Song, "I will Follow" by Chris Tomlin

2010-11-06T19:57:00.001-07:00

2010-11-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't even seen my book yet, but it's being offered as a prize this month at the LDS Publisher blog.

You can see it here: http://networkedblogs.com/a1fw5

That's some great exposure. I visited the site quite often while doing research about where to send the manuscript. When I explained the premise of the book to the site creator, she agreed to make it part of her monthly giveaway, even though the book doesn't strictly follow all her giveaway rules.

The book is set to be in stores next week, and I haven't seen the finished product yet. I'm a little nervous because the book deals with real people, and I hope they are all happy with their depictions.

Right now, this is how I feel about my book.

It's almost book time/How it happened

2010-11-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since I signed my publishing contract last February, I've been waiting for this month. Now it's here!

My book is being released with Cedar Fort in about a week, and I can hardly believe it.

The story centers on my true experience of letting Latter-Day Saint elders into my home and getting to know these guys as people. It's a personal account of our friendship as I explore the LDS faith.

This concept has garnered a variety of reactions over the months. Some people are cautiously optimistic, others are happy to see me succeed, while others express great concern over these "bothersome" Mormons.

In any case, people are having strong reactions to the story--from the synopsis alone. Maybe that's why I found a publisher so fast.

Let's be clear. Part of me is still reeling from how quickly I found a publisher. I finished the book last December, edited it for a month, and then decided that I could start sending it out. The standard wisdom is that it takes forever and a day to get a publishing contract; I assumed that's how it would be with me too. While I thought the manuscript was decent, my goal was to improve it over the months as the rejections poured in.

Only they didn't.

I chose four LDS publishing houses where I could submit my manuscript. They were my top four choices, and I figured they would reject me first. During the interim months, I'd sculpt the manuscript more, remove any jagged edges and submit the story to a second batch of publishers I had chosen.

Everything was progressing nicely when I got my first rejection in an e-mail. Then another one, from a literary agent I had contacted. These two things happened pretty quickly.

Then, one night, when I got home from my day job, the unthinkable happened. My answering machine had a message on it from Cedar Fort asking me to call the acquisitions editor back. I was stunned.

Five weeks after sending my manuscript out, it found a home with one of the biggest LDS publishing houses on the map. I've been on screech every since.

This month my dream will collide with reality. Keep your fingers crossed for me. To read the first 15 pages of the manuscript, you can read the preview here:

http://classic.cedarfort.com/bryce/ebook/9781599554211Sample.pdf

Treat or Treat

2010-10-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

What's wrong with kids these days?

It's 9pm on Halloween night and trick or treating is over. In fact, it's been over for a while now. I had my last costumed kid come to the door over an hour ago. I can't believe it.

Back when I was a kid, I stayed out until at least 9pm and tried to hit every house in the city. Time was precious, and I stretched it out to the max. My family would drive me from neighborhood to neighborhood hording candy. I wouldn't stop until every last light was out. Only then, would I begrudgingly return home.

This year, I saw several kids turn back from homes they deemed were "too far" to walk to. My own niece and nephew said they were tired and wanted to go home by 7pm. I was in shock.

Trick or treating was an annual event I loved--one I looked forward to all year. I savored every minute of it, and now kids actually ask to go home early. I think it's a sign of the apocalypse.

This new trend of heading home early is the scariest part of this year's Halloween.

Scrooge Hits Halloween

2010-10-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

If you thought people only said ba-hum bug at Christmas, think again.According to NYDailyNew.com, some cities in America are writing age-limit laws against trick or treating.

The story can be read here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/10/23/2010-10-23_cities_ban_teenage_trick_or_treaters__put_age_limits_on_who_is_allowed_out_on_ha.html

Some people don't want to give candy to children over 12 and apparently they want their opinion written into the law. Talk about strict.

Trick-or-Treating is one of the most harmless activities anyone can participate in. I did it until I was 16. That year I thought I was far too old and mature until a friend in the neighborhood, who was about two years younger than I was, talked me into going with her one last time.

Secretly, I was dying to go, but I had to put up a brave front calling it "kid stuff" long enough to convince her that I wasn't dying for some free Baby Ruths too.

And you know what? We had fun. We had fun, and no one was hurt. Not even a tooth ache. I think it's pretty Grinchy for people to deny older kids candy. What are they going to do with the extra sugar anyway?

As long as a kid is in costume and says the magic words "trick or treat," I don't mind handing out a bite-sized Snicker Bar.

If age is being considered, why not ban the wee ones too? I've seen many young parents cart their babies out for candy as well. And who do you really think the candy is going to when the tot doesn't have teeth?

I say, lighten up or be ready for a trick! That's the Halloween way!

Sunday Song, "Forgiven" by Sanctus Reel

2010-10-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Here's another one of my favorite songs.

Goodbye Mr. Cunningham

2010-10-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've heard people say time goes by faster the older you get.

But I think it goes by faster after you start a blog.

It feels like I posted a video yesterday, but time has already swallowed most of the week, and I need to write something clever again. (Not that I was ever clever to begin with!)

We lost two TV icons recently with both Tom Bosley from "Happy Days" and Barbara Billingsley from "Leave It to Beaver." For decades, they represented the old-fashioned ideals of the American family: the homemaker mom who could do it all, and the understanding but firm father.

The death of these terrific actors gave me pause and made me ponder how the ideals they represented are dying too.Fathers are largely absent from the family, and most women no longer stay home to raise their children.

Somewhere along the line, we gave up the idea of an old-fashioned family, but I'm still not certain how Americans have replaced it. Is it always necessary for both parents to work? How did two incomes become the new standard? And why do I have the sneaking suspicion that fathers are viewed as a bonus rather than an essential.

I thought of this today while watching a few minutes of Dr. Phil where two parents fought over custody of their children. All I saw on stage was anger, remorse, and regret.

It made me thankful to have the parents I have. They weren't perfect, but they knew how to value commitment. It's something more people should value too. Maybe that's the glue that held the old-fashioned family together. Maybe that's exactly what we've lost.

Sunday Song, "Healing Hand of God" by Jeremy Camp

2010-10-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

Praise for Pinkston

2010-10-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

I took part in Tristi Pinkston's "Making Friends Monday" series this week, and I want to thank Tristi for helping to expose my strange, little corner of the blog-o-sphere to others.

Both Tristi and Mormon Times columnist Becky Thomas were gracious enough to provide blurbs for the back of my book, and I appreciate that immensely.

Here's some more info about Tristi.

Tristi Pinkston has been blogging since 2006. On her main blog, (http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com) she covers everything from writing tips and the life of a published author to kid funnies, spiritual thoughts, and embarrassing moments. She also has a weight loss blog, one for writing challenges, another for her fictional characters … and she lost count of how many others she has. You can find the links for them on her sidebar.

Tristi is the author of five published novels and a whole kit ‘n caboodle of unpublished novels. Right now she’s focusing on cozy mysteries, although she has written historical fiction in the past and plans to write more in that genre. She works as a freelance editor and a virtual book tour coordinator. She loves taking long naps, being charmingly annoying, and watching good movies. She’s a Mormon, a homeschooler, a Cubmaster, and most of the time, a headless chicken.

Sunday Song Casting Crowns "Praise You in this Storm"

2010-10-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday, I plan to post one of my favorite Christian songs. I love this performance from Casting Crowns.

A Tip from Tess Gerritsen

2010-10-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

I went to a presentation that New York Times Bestselling Author Tess Gerritsen gave today. I interviewed her a few months ago for the paper; her books are the basis for a new drama on TNT called "Rizzoli and Isles."

She's a very intelligent woman, and the audience couldn't get enough of her. Tess explained that when she's writing a story, she always asks herself, "What would surprise me most about this scene?"

The answers help construct the plot. It's an interesting technique that might help people avoid cliches.

Tess gave an example from one of her books about a scene that involved someone waking up in the morgue right before their own autopsy. Tess asked herself, "What would surprise me most about this scene?"

As a result, she wrote that the person who came out of the body bag immediately grabbed a nearby gun and held the people in the morgue hostage. The audience gasped at her suggestion. Surprises like that keep readers interested.

She allowed plenty of time for questions, and it was then that I sensed a few kindred spirits among the crowd.

Would-be authors dreaming about their first books, desperate for the golden secret of how to score a publishing contract.

At the beginning of the year, that was me. Now my book is set to be published in early November, and I can't wait.

I'm a little nervous too.

With fiction, you can hide behind a screen of imagination. After all, the story is about some other character, in some other situation, dealing with some other issue. "That's not me," you can always say, "That's just my imagination at play."

But I wrote a memoir, so that rule doesn't apply. If people think the protagonist is a dope, they'll be talking about me. Parts of my life will be on display for the world to see.

That fact didn't really hit me until just this month. I should have realized it a long time ago, but I was so busy trying to make the story work that it didn't occur to me. I'm a little slow, huh?

But we're at the point of no return, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well.

I spoke to Tess after the event, and she remembered me from our interview, which was nice. And as I left, I realized one thing. Never again would I be that guy in the room, hoping for a chance to break into publishing, hoping for my first book deal. Those things have already come to pass, and according to Tess, the next hurdle is to make sure my book stands out among the crowd.

Sunday Song Matthew West "My Own Little World."

2010-10-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

This is one of those rare songs that I liked the first time I heard it. I hope it's the same with you.

The wind stole my homework

2010-09-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

I've never liked deadlines.

Now that my freelance work has picked up, I've got deadlines up the ying-yang. My most recent one demanded that I attend an event, write a story, and submit it in an hour and a half. Talk about pressure! I thought my head might pop.

On the positive side, deadlines like that help me get the job done. They give me the kick in the pants I need to get energized. Otherwise, I procrastinate. It's too bad procrastination isn't a super-power because my sloth-like abilities could rival the strength of Superman.

My worst case of procrastination happened back in 4th grade. I hated doing my math homework. Ms. Clark used to makes us do too many long division problems. One, two, or three were never enough.

Oh, no. She was never satisfied until we had done 20 or 30 each night. It always felt like she assigned me a million. Doing that putrid long division was torture, and I hated every second of it. I'd put it off each night by making silent deals with myself.

They went something like this:

I'll do my homework after I watch my favorite cartoons.

I'll do it right after dinner.

No, I'll do it right before I go to bed.

Hey, maybe if I wake up extra early, I can do it in the morning.

Yeah, right.

I once procrastinated so badly that I found myself doing my math problems during a morning recess. It happened to be very windy that day, and when some kids on the playground distracted me, that wild air snatched the homework out of my hands and down into a nearby construction site.

Ms. Clark was plenty skeptical when I told her, "I don't have my homework because it blew away."

Thankfully several kids saw it happen and vouched for me. That's the biggest memory I have of missing a deadline, and somehow it's sweet.

It's strange how some of our mistakes are far more memorable than our mundane successes. I did that dreaded math homework for years for numerous teachers.

But none of those times is half as memorable as that one, wild occasion when the wind stole my homework.

Maybe it hated math too.

Sunday Songs

2010-09-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

I'm planning to share a video of a Christian song I like every Sunday.

First up is Jason Lavik's version of "Come Thou Fount." I never cared for this song before, but I love the contemporary feel Jason adds to this old hymn.

Technical Difficulties

2010-09-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a week since I started this blog, and I have yet to master blogger. Imagine that!

When I log on via my home computer, I see a beautiful water marked blog with an old word map tinged in brown in the background.

However, when I check the blog from elsewhere, all I see is a plain brown background that's about as interesting as a paper bag.

I have no idea why the blog looks one way at home and another way somewhere else.

Oh well, I've long been told to stop being a perfectionist, and this is as good a place as any to start. = )

One Worry Down

2010-09-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Back in 2007 when I first started writing for a local paper, one question haunted me.

What if I ran out of stories?

After all, the paper never ends. It's a story-chomping machine whose hunger is eternal. Every time I was published, I was certain it might be the last time I was published.

What if I didn't have any more ideas that my editor liked? What if I ran out of ideas altogether?

Well, those days are long dead. I now have two newspapers giving me assignments and not enough time in the day to get to all of them. My day-job just takes up too much of my well... day! Too bad being a freelance writer doesn't cover my bills & offer health insurance. If it did, I'd have more time to do what I want to do--write!

As soon as I get home from being an office desk jockey, I usually have an interview scheduled, notes to go over, or someone to call. At times it can be stressful because I just want to relax.

That's when I have to remind myself of how I felt in 2007.

Three years later, with more than 120 stories under my belt and a book on the way, the anxiety I had about running out of good ideas has subsided. At least for now....

Icons & Me

2010-09-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

I've been writing a series for Village Soup since April called the Icons of Maine. It's been a terrific, though time-consuming, experience to interview so many famous people from my home state.

I've gotten to interview people like NY Times Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, actress Victoria Rowell, former WWE Pro-wrestler Scotty Too Hotty and numerous others.

This week I interviewed UFC Fighter Marcus Davis. What a great guy. He was very humble and willing to talk to me as long as I wanted. We spent about 1.5 hours on the phone. He had a tough childhood, but thanks to some local police officers who befriended him as a teen, he turned his life around.

One thing I didn't mention in the article, due to time constraints, was how often he had been to the hospital after fights. Anyone who saw his bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 118 knows that Davis' face was pretty messed up after the match. Davis shrugged off his injuries and said it was "all part of the job" and felt that receiving the "Fight of the Night" award made it all worth it. Despite that, he has been to the hospital nearly 80 times due to cuts above his eye.

Ouch! Talk about dedication. You can check out my story with him at the following link:

Marcus Davis: UFC Fighter & Maine Icon

When it rains...

2010-09-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

I've been reading everything I can about how to launch a successful book party. I have a venue tentatively set, and I'm extremely excited. I've never planned a big party before! From invitations to food, I've got a lot on my mind.

Just when I thought I couldn't think about anything else, the KJ called to offer me two assignments. Why are the days so short, and why is my day job so long?

The Blog Cometh

2010-09-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

My first book is being published with Cedar Fort this November, so I'm looking into new ways to expand my readership. Hence, this blog.

We'll see how it develops, but I hope to join the wonderful author community in cyberspace.

With this blog entry, I break new ground! Maybe just a spoonful of ground, but it's still something, right?