One More Chance

If you are still looking to get your hands on one of my novels, you can pop over to my friend Karlene's blog and enter to win one. Tons of other cool prizes offered today but that's the catch- you only have until midnight to get entered so go! go! go!

Remember, you can read the first chapter of both novels here.

http://alisonpalmer.blogspot.com/2010/11/price-of-gold-first-chapter.html
http://alisonpalmer.blogspot.com/2010/11/prodigal-son-first-chapter.html


Happy blogaversary Karlene!

Every Writer Needs a Support Group

I'm so grateful for the first time I stepped out of my cozy little writing world to attend a writer's conference. I chose one that spoke to who I was both personally and as an author. I found a unique home there that is still one of my favorite places to be.

I'm looking forward to attending the Storymaker's conference this month. The Storymakers are some of my favorite people. When I joined their group the next year, I was exposed to an even greater amount knowledge from these wonderful people. I am in awe of the amount of awesome stuff that this group can accomplish both individually and as a group. In the last month we've had conversations about motives, promotional efforts, other conferences, what to call the parts of a boat, and how to choose our next project. There have been many well wishes for each other's success and support for those who are struggling.

Every writer needs a few good writing friends who understand the weird ways our brains think. Every writer needs a few good readers in the form of a critique group or other method, to strengthen and stretch their writing. Every writer has a dream that needs friends to help cheer you toward those things you hope for most. There is nothing better than being able to log on with a question on structure or plot, or most anything else and have such an awesome knowledge base to pull from. I love to log on to their various blogs and find even more wisdom and glimpses of what makes them tick. If you haven't yet, try a few of the links under my favorite blogs. You never know where you might find a friend or an answer to a writing question. A good place to start would be with sixldswriters or writersinheels. Not because I favor them over my other friends, but because you get to see all kinds of personalities and information in one spot. Go for it.

Writing is lonely, but it doesn't have to be.

What Happened to Monday?

This is pathetic. I try to post every Monday and I was really excited to do so this week. I was plotting out what I was going to say and everything. The next thing I know it's Wednesday night and I have no idea what happened to Monday. Now it's Friday and I'm just now getting around to posting an apology for missing Monday. It must be another scatterbrained thing.
I promise to post a calendar by my computer so I don't forget poor Monday again.
In the meantime, maybe you can find something to lift and inspire you in my posts here:
http://discipleship.ldsblogs.com/

Author Interview

After spending a significant part of last week ill (I promise it had nothing to do with the shower thing). I'm dashing around trying to put my personal life back together as well as trying to catch up on all those nasty deadlines that snuck up on me while I was lying in bed. I've had some great thoughts I'd love to share (like the dream I had where I was editing my own dream) but sadly they'll have to wait until I can come up for air again.
In the meantime my wonderful friend Marsha Ward just posted an author interview she did with me on her blog. So... while you're waiting for me to start rambling again on my own blog, you can wander on over and see what I rambled about to Marsha.
http://marshaward.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Marsha, for thinking of me- it was fun!
Back to the grindstone.

Top Ten Reasons I Created a Blog

1. All my friends had one. Yeah, I know I’m not supposed to give in to peer pressure and all that, but they were having so much fun!
2. I like to see my name in print. Ok, so in this case it’s a computer screen, but its still an ego trip.
3. I love to write. I’m not very good at a lot of things, and I don’t like to do most of them, but I love to write and this is just one more chance.
4. Someone told me once it would help me sell more books. So go to my web site and buy one for heaven sakes!
5. My husband doesn’t *really* listen when I talk. At least not about writing, he’s supportive, but he doesn’t get it. I’m hoping you will.
6. I’m trying something new. I’m normally found playing on the non-fiction playground, but those no-good fiction writing friends of mine have been tempting my muse. It’s a scary thing to jump out of your comfort-zone.
7. I like to say the word “blog”. Ok admit it, it just a fun word to say, kudos to however thought that one up. Now I have another excuse.
8. I’m lousy at keeping my web site updated. This nags at the back of my mind a bit more than my site.
9. Random thoughts. Every writer has them, sometimes we have no idea what to do with them. Here’s my solution.
10. To inspire. Some of you, who attended the recent LDStorymakers conference, might recall my chosen super power. I chose invisibility. I’ve always thought that the Holy Ghost had the coolest job in the world. This is my way of whispering my own testimony to whoever will listen. Maybe it will inspire a super power of your own.