YA Author Elana Johnson

Why I Started Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so today is the "Why You Started Writing" Blogfest. I found out about it on Alex's blog, but I think there are a few people acting as hosts. (You can see the list and follow the blogfest here.)

Here's a brief overview of the guidelines: Tell us all where your writing dreams began. It all started somewhere and we want you to tell us your own unique beginnings.

For me, I started writing in December 2007. I was about to turn 30, had skipped English as a senior in high school, earned a mathematics minor in college, and had been teaching elementary school for 8 years. I wanted a record of the first three decades of my life. Earlier that fall, I had gone through a devastating loss, and I still hadn't quite recovered from it (sometimes I think I'm still not over it). And as I started writing, I realized something amazing. The black feelings inside wormed their way out.

The world took on new color. I didn't have to live with those debilitating emotions anymore, because they found life on the page. Thus, the writing of fiction began. And my struggles and emotions and angst landed in the most reasonable place: a young adult.

That's why I started writing. I keep writing because it makes me happy. And I often say that the reason I pursued publication is because I'm a pit bull. I often don't see the point of spending time and energy on something unless I see it through to the end.

So after I'd written my third novel, I thought, "Well, I better figure out how to get a book published." And off I went.

So there's my story. What's yours? Why did you start writing? Why do you keep writing? Are you pursuing the dream of publication?

When You Feel Unmotivated...

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I've been struggling with motivation this week. I've had plenty of time to write, so that's not the issue. The problem is, I don't want to write.

So I haven't.

That's right. I don't force myself to write everyday. If I don't feel like it, I don't. This week, instead of writing I have watched a couple of Harry Potter movies, Water for Elephants, folded all my laundry the same day I washed and dried it, made dinner, and a variety of other things.

I'll feel the writing tug again. But right now, I'm not. And so I'm not writing. Sometimes it's okay to just be a person too.

What do you do when you feel unmotivated? I'm running out of ideas...

Let's Talk About Rejection

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Dude, today we're going to talk about getting rejected. It happens in every aspect of our lives.

You get passed up for that promotion?

You get a text from that "someone special" who's not as special as you thought?

The same goes with writing. If you want to get your work published, you're going to have to find a way to stomach the rejection. I believe that rejection starts early in the publishing process for a reason -- so you'll get used to it.

Because query letter stage?

Managed to land an agent? Yay! But then you'll be on submission to editors. And that brings...

Even when you get a book deal with a publishing house, big or small, you'll need to be steeled against the rejection. That's right, the rejection that comes from readers. See, not everyone is going to like your book.

So how do you prepare yourself for the rejection? How do you manage when you're in the throes of rejection? It's easy to say "Oh, I'll be fine. I know it's coming, and I'll be fine."

The truth is, you won't be fine. At some point, you're not going to be fine. You're going to want to quit, because it's just too hard to keep trying. And this goes for authors in all stages--in fact, I think sometimes published authors suffer from rejection just as those looking for agents.

I know, I know, cry me a river. I'm not placing a label like "more than" or "less than" here. I'm not saying agent rejection is harder than editor rejection is harder than reader rejection. It's all hard. Some is more constant than others, but it all invokes an urge to quit.

I think the only way to continue on in times like these is to have something beyond writing that can ground you.

This could be a spouse. Another family member. A pet. A vacation spot you frequent. Whatever. I think the best way to cope with the rejection is to have an escape from everything publishing. A reminder that your entire identity isn't dependent on having an agent, a publisher, an award, or a 5-star review.

If you have that something in your life, you'll be able to endure the rejection that is inevitable in this industry. Mine is my fantastic husband. I know that no matter if I never write another book or if I only get 1-star reviews for Surrender, that my worth to him is not diminished. Who I am is not dependent on those things, and that's how I endure the constant rejection.

How do you endure the rejection?

The Beginning of Marketing for Authors Who Normally Hate Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm going to present at LTUE this week (and if you live anywhere close to Utah, you should come!) and one of the panels I'm sitting on is a marketing panel.

So most of us are creative minded people when it comes to authoring books. Then, when your book sells, you’re suddently thrust into the position of thinking about another side of writing.

The business side. The side where you promote and talk about yourself and your books. Most authors are terrified of this. There are entire blogs dedicated to helping authors become effective marketers. (This is not one of those blogs, but I am going to share with you my experiences over the next couple of weeks.) Have you seen Shrinking Violet Promotions? If not, I highly recommend it.

So first, there are three easy steps to determining your marketing strategy.

1. Stalk. That’s right, stalk. Lurk. Hang out in the back with a black hoodie on and listen. Watch. Take notes of what you like, of what you think is fun, of what you think you might like to do.

I’ve been stalking Beth Revis for years. You should too. I adore everything Saundra Mitchell writes, including her mega-helpful marketing stuff. (<<<If you haven't seen this, you will die. D-I-E.) I also like to randomly pop in to other author’s blogs and websites and see what they look like, what content they have both dynamically and statically, what contests they run, what swag they’re giving away, etc.

I stalk. I take note of what I like and then I move to step 2.

2. Steal. I know, I know. I’m making you into a criminal! Well, marketing—which is so left-brained—is criminal to a right-brained creative artist. So trust me, you’re already knocking on that door.

Through all of your stalking, you’ll see some things you like. Steal them. That’s right. Put them on your list of things you’d like to do before your book comes out, during the release of your book, and after your book comes out.

Make a big list. You won’t do everything, because let’s face it, you’re not Oprah and you don’t have millions to spend. (Also, many of the authors I stalk get a lot of help from their publishing houses. They have reach and dollars I simply can’t match. But everything goes on the list, whether it comes from the author or the publisher.)

I use a spreadsheet (surprise, surprise, Ms. Math Minor) to keep track of the marketing ideas I like. I include a website address that will refresh my memory if I’ve forgotten exactly what the idea looked like.

Which leads us to step 3…

3. Mutate. That’s right. X-Men, baby! (Love Wolverine.) Examine your ginormous list of possibilities and mutate the bigger ones that you really love into something you can manage with both hours and dollars.

I'm constantly trying to think of something that's simply different. Blog tours are nice. Interviews, playlists, conversations with characters. They're all good.

But I'm not looking for good. I'm looking for something different. And I don't mean you need to spend lots of money on swag or giveaways. I just mean I'm always trying to think of how I can take a postcard and make it into something more than a postcard.

And so I watch and listen and take notes, and then I mutate the ideas I see out there into something I can own, something I can manage, and something I can fund.

Easy, right? Riiight.

So are you out there stalking? Do you have a spreadsheet with ideas? My philosophy? It's never too early to start! Next week I'll talk about what I think every author should do. I call it my The Basic Marketing Plan for Authors Who Have Bills To Pay Too.

How To Write Better

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I've been edited extensively before. My agent is highly editorial, number one, and nothing goes past her eagle eye to my publishing house without me bleeding all over it.

Literally. I will admit that I cried once. Then I opened the cracking document and fixed whatever she wanted me to fix.

Anyway, so this time around, I sent her a book. I hadn't had one other person read it. Not one. I didn't have time for beta reads or anything. So basically it had my sucktacular attempts to get it right and I sent it to my agent.

She emails to say she thinks I need to do another pass before we submit (no surprise there--did I mention NO ONE else had read it?), and she'll have notes for me soon. I want to eat half my body weight in sour patch kids, because until that doc lands in my email, I'm a nervous wreck. Will I cry again? Did I ruin the story? How bad does this book that NO ONE else read stink?

And soon? What the heck? Soon can't be soon enough. (I've also learned that "soon" could mean "later today" or "next week.")

So I work on other stuff and try to maintain my diet so that when the email comes, I'm ready.

So it comes. I purposefully don't open it until I've eaten and have my pajamas on. (Because everything is better in pj's, right?)

So I open the document...

And surely she's jesting. This is nothing! Some line edits. LINE EDITS. Maybe 3 comments, and the things she's suggesting in said comments are easy to fix.

That's it!

It can't be true. I finish the line edits in a single night. I go to bed thinking that I'll get the real email with the real document in the morning.

It doesn't come.

Can it be? Maybe I don't suck as much as I thought. Or hey, maybe I've learned how to write better.

Maybe. Both of those are doubtful, but I did want to share one tip today that I learned from doing these line edits.

You can convey something in a more powerful manner with less words. Some examples from the book I turned in.

What I had: "It seemed to fit well enough, and when she gave it a gentle squeeze, I couldn’t even remember my own name."
Edited to: "It fit just right, and when she gave it a gentle squeeze, I couldn’t even remember my own name."

What I had: "The emotions coming from him couldn’t settle into one specific thing. Love, anger, desperation, more anger, confusion."
Edited to: "His emotions couldn’t settle into any one thing."

What I had: "And she obviously hadn’t slept much over the last few weeks."
Edited to: "And she obviously hadn’t been sleeping much." (I know this seems little, but the "over the last few weeks" is totally unnecessary. It's the little things that make your writing better, you know?)

Things I use a lot that aren't necessary:

Then
for a moment
many times before
or something (hey, I'm a conversational writer, what can I say?)
I didn't answer. (No duh. If there's no dialog, he didn't speak. I do this ALL THE TIME in some form. "without another word" "I waited, silent." Or something. Ha! But dude, it doesn't need to be expressly said that the MC isn't talking, because if they were there'd be dialog!)
totally (don't judge me)

Some words are unnecessary. Good writers use only the words they need, and nothing more. I highly suggest you razor those words out of your MS on one of your revision passes.

What do you think? What are some of your unnecessary catch phrases? Can you use less words and achieve more power?

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Dude, today is the official release day of DIES IRAE by Christine Fonseca. Now, I'm part of her blog tour, and trust me, you are not going to want to miss the hilarious video we have planned. It'll be up on Wednesday, February 15.

But I couldn't let today go by without a major shout out to her awesomeness! Her novella is finally here -- and her novel, LACRIMOSA, is set to follow in March.

Yay!

And it's party time!

For the release, I am giving away 5 copies of DIES IRAE. Leave me a comment here and I'll draw winners tomorrow morning.

About the book: Mikayel lives by one rule—obey the orders of the angelic Council at all costs. That is, until he and his friends, Azza and Demi, are sent to Earth. Assigned as Watchers while they await their decision of which angelic order to serve, the three assume the bodies of teenagers and experience life as human.

The sensations are overwhelming as the angels experience a host of human emotions—rage, terror, love—and come ever closer to breaking one of the unbreakable rules—never fall in love.

But being human isn’t the only problem facing the three angels. Unbeknownst to the Council, demonic activity is on the rise, threatening to break a tenuous peace that has existed for a millennia; a peace Azza seems bent on destroying.

Caught in a struggle for power with unseen demonic forces and Azza, and fighting against his rising emotional attachment to Demi, Mikayel must now decide how much he is willing to sacrifice for his new found love—a decision that could reignite an ancient war and will threaten the only thing that matters to the angels, the survival of humanity.

Better yet, buy your copy here for Kindle. Or here for Nook. You can also add it to your Goodreads list.

And you can follow all the blog tour action by going to Michelle McLean's blog today.

What do you think of the cover? Does this sound like something you'd like? (Just trying to give you something to talk about in your comment so you can WIN this amazing novella!)

Introducing... Twins!

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

This is like when your in-laws come to the hospital to see your new baby. And you have no makeup on and that thin hospital gown? Not a whole lot of coverage there. But you're just so happy to see them and show off the new addition to your family!

Well, here's my new baby...

And it's twins!

Up first, the paperback cover of POSSESSION got a redesign. WITH COLOR. And a new (uber-fantastic) font. AND an extra line on the tagline!

And for twin #2, SURRENDER received a matching design, just in time for the hardcover release, which is coming on June 5, 2012.

You can preorder these books now!

Of course, you can always get the POSSESSION hardcover (or POSSESSION on Kindle), which is still available in all its shiny whiteness.

I'm almost afraid to ask... But what do you think of the new covers? You can see them side by side (with my short story INSIDER INFORMATION -- oh my heck! It needs a new cover too!) on my newly designed website.

A Day In The Life

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I don't know if this'll be inspirational or make you want to cry. I live this life, and sometimes I want to cry. But I enjoy seeing how other people spend their day, and here's how mine go down.

*Note: I only work Tues - Fri, so this is for the typical Tues - Fri. Monday is a whole different beast, because I spend all morning (usually until about 11:30) cleaning my house. Then I have a few hours before anyone comes home to mess it up where I work (I try to get two solid hours in on Monday before the kids come home). Then my afternoons mirror the schedule below. Weekends are a free-for-all. I work a lot on the weekends, actually.

So Tuesday - Friday:
7:00 AM: Wake up and drag myself out of bed.

Make lunches.
Read scriptures with the kids.

7:20: Get clothes for daughter. Nag her to get dressed, put her shoes on, and/or complete her reading/homework.

Personal study.

7:40: Son leaves for school.
7:45: Shower and get ready.

8:05: (Yes, that's only 20 minutes.) Find out daughter has done none of the above I nagged her about. Nag some more while rushing around to find shoes and socks and pack backpacks. I also do the dishes here. I absolutely cannot leave for work with dirty dishes in the sink. OCD? Your call.

Do daughter's hair. Tie her shoes. Etc.

8:30: Daughter leaves for bus.

Start car. (It's freaking cold in Utah in January, okay?)
Eat breakfast.
Enjoy 10 minutes to myself with no TV, no one asking me questions, etc. Sometimes I email myself documents during this time to look at during lunch. Sometimes I open something and work for 10 minutes. Sometimes I tweet and/or Facebook.

8:40: Leave for work.

Sing really loud in the car to my favorite songs. The power of this should not be underestimated. Maroon 5 CAN change your life!

8:55: Arrive at work

Work. Sometimes I email at work. Or during lunch. Or blog. Or whatever. My schedule is sometimes loose, and sometimes not. The life of teaching = flexibility.

2:15 PM: Leave work.
2:35 PM: Arrive home. Change shoes. Go walking. (This is if I have no errands. Ha! I usually have errands. But I walk when I get home.)
2:55 PM: Check dinner menu. Open computer. Email/tweet/etc.
3:10: Son arrives home.

Errands and taxiing begin.
Make dinner.

4:00: Daughter arrives home from school.

5:00: Eat dinner.

More errands.
More taxi driving.
More dropping off or picking up or whatever.
Somewhere in here, I make my daughter shower. Also, sometimes in here, I go to the library to work in between drop offs and pick ups. Sometimes I have so many that I can't do that and/or I only have time to drive between places.
Whoever said life gets easier when your kids get older was LYING.

8:30: With everyone finally home, it's time for bed. Daughter goes.

9:00: Son at least goes upstairs, whether he goes to bed or not is his call. Whatever. He's upstairs and I'm not. This ensures that I don't become homicidal.

9:01: Begin working. Writing, editing, revising, critiquing, whatever it is I have to do.

Watch The Office. Or Chopped. Or whatever we've recorded that night. (While working, usually.)

11:00: Go to bed.

Rinse and repeat the next day. So, see? I sleep for 8 hours every night. I also cook dinner and walk (most days). I squeeze in time to write and edit and whatever where I can.

It's a good life.

How do you spend your waking hours?

An Experiment I Want to Try, If Only I Weren't A Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so prepare yourself for me to talk about my books again. I swear I'm not trying to spam you here on the blog. But if you don't want to read about my promotional stuff for POSSESSION, you can stop reading now.

No one will blame you.

So last year, about this time, I had bookmarks made for POSSESSION. And stickers. And jewelry. I was planning countdown giveaways each month from March - May. I had forms made for ARC requests and for people who wanted to host me on their blog for the release.

This year, I have nothing. None of that. Not one thing. (Okay, I do have an ARC request form. But that's it!)

Is this what happens to the second book? Is it "second child syndrome"?

I don't know, but I do know one thing. With POSSESSION, I didn't want to look back and go "I could've done more."

I can do that. I can look back and go, "I did everything I could've possibly done to ensure the success of my book."

With SURRENDER, I almost want to do the exact opposite. That's right. DO NOTHING. I want to see if it makes a difference. Does the blog tour really matter? Do people really care about stickers and bookmarks and jewelry? Will my sales be affected because I didn't answer five thousand interview questions?

I have a theory about what makes books sell, and I want to do this experiment to see if I'm right. But I am a huge chicken (which is ironic, because I'm terrified of all feathered animals. Especially ducks and chickens).

I'm not sure I can do it. I'm not sure I can just sit back and DO NOTHING. I keep putting it off, but I know that unless I make a commitment, eventually I'll DO SOMETHING.

So...should I commit to doing nothing? What do you think about promotion these days? Blog tours? Swag? All that jazz?

Talking To Teens -- And To You!

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm speaking to a group of junior high kids tomorrow. I'm pretty stoked about it, because I love talking to teens. They *get* me and my book--and they laugh at my jokes, even when they're not funny.

I'm taking copies of POSSESSION to sell for $10 (an ultra low price for a shiny hardcover. Hey, it's all about getting books in the hands of teens). I'll be signing them if the teens want.

So there's that. Dunno why I was impressed to tell you, but I was.

In addition to that, I am participating in NiNoCon, which is a Ninja Novel Con, a one-day awesome conference run by the awesome Ali Cross. I am doing a live query letter chat from 10 - 11 AM Mountain time on February 4. And you can submit your query for my shreddage... er, help. Yeah, help. Go here for details and to submit.

Go here to learn more about NiNoCon.

I don't really have a question for this post. Dangitall. Wait. What joke should I open with tomorrow?

What I Think About Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I don't think I can be any clearer about this. It is my opinion that any author, at any stage in their writing career, should not be reading reviews of their book(s). (I submit that reading reviews of other books is not super-healthy either.)

I suppose a clarification is in order: It's (semi-)okay to read reviews on another author's blog. They're going to be nice and upbeat and positive--for the most part. Authors supporting authors and all that.

But Goodreads? Book bloggers? Shelfari? Amazon? The Reading Room?

Do not read those reviews. Not now. Not before the book comes out. Not after it comes out. Not ever.

Retweet them, sure. Read them, no.

I can hear some of you saying, "But Elana! It's so exciting to see my book on Goodreads! I have to check it!"

No, you don't.

Is it exciting? Heck to the yes!

Can it damage you, even before your book comes out? HECK TO THE YES.

You're better off not reading reviews. You can't change your book. (What? You're going to edit it after it's out? Do another revision pass because someone doesn't like your MC? No. Both of those are ridiculous. So...why are you reading reviews again?)

It does the author absolutely no good to read reviews of their book. Not even a little bit. Why? Quite simply it's because reviews are for READERS, not authors. Authors would be better off spending their time and energy on what matters: crafting that next novel.

This is what can happen to you:

Disclaimer: This is not me. My hair is much longer and darker than that.

Disclaimer: No computers were harmed in the making of this blog post. But I did read a review back in March of 2011 (POSSESSION wasn't even out!) that convinced me that I should never read another review again. And I haven't.

And then how are you going to write? I mean, seriously.

What do you think? Authors, do you read your reviews? Aspiring authors, are you planning on reading your reviews? I don't think you should...

What Does One Blog About for Post #850?

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Dude. This is my 850th post. I wish I was kidding. It makes me happy and a little depressed at the same time.

I mean, eight HUNDRED and FIFTY freaking posts? What could I have possibly said that was worth it? How much time have I spent in blogger? And the real kicker: What do I have left to say?

I wish I knew. And I've never done this before, so hopefully you won't start throwing tomatoes or anything (although I do love tomatoes. Especially with ranch).

But what do you wish I'd blog about? I feel like I open veins here and you get to see the good, the bad, the messy. I'll give you fair warning on those posts.

But here I am. I've been blogging for going on 4 years now. I have one book out and another on the way. I teach classes on query letters, (NiNoCon is coming up!) and building your blog, and pitching agents, and quasi-outlining at conferences.

What do you want to know?

GCC January Releases, Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Dude, you thought I was kidding about the forgetting, didn't you? Yeah, well, I wasn't. I have one more January Girlfriend to spotlight. Lucienne Diver, author of FANGTASTIC.

About THE BOOK:
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less:
Fangtastic: True vamps infiltrate lifestylers to solve some mysterious murders, but find even darker doings behind the scenes.

Praise for the VAMPED series:
“As ever, Gina's feisty, funny narration carries the day. Gina never fails to please, as she strides down the runway of afterlife with just the right mix of humor, make-up advice, youthful lust that never crosses the line and a kung-fu style all her own. This one doesn’t miss a beat.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Perfect for teens and adults, this is a book to share, savor and revisit. ReVamped is full of smart, spot-on dialogue, engaging, authentic characters and a plot that’s so much fun it’s impossible not get swept up.” —Examiner.com

"VAMPED is a total delight! Diver delivers a delightful cast of undead characters and a fresh, fast take on the vampire mythos. Next installment, please!" — Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series

“Diver uses wit and adventure to hook readers with this teen vampire story.” —VOYA

About THE AUTHOR:
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
The first thing I remember wanting to do with my life was become a cryptozoologist, looking for signs of the Loch Ness Monster, the Jersey Devil, chupacabra and all that jazz. It wasn’t long before I realized that while I might not be able to find these things in real life, they could live in my imagination. I could script them! I wrote my first “novel” at eleven. It was a class assignment to do a short story, but it came out at over 100 pages. Yeah, I’ve never been able to write short. My stories want to be novels; my novels want to be series….

What made you decide to go that “extra step” and seek publication?
I’m very goal oriented. I always knew that I was working toward something, even while I enjoyed the journey. I started seeking publication as a teen with the Avon Flare competition. I don’t know if that exists any more, but at the time it was like American idol for young novelists. Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready yet. I think I exhausted every cliché I could come up with in my early work. Plus, it was too self-conscious. I don’t do as many critiques now as I did when I had more time, but I still contribute them quite often for charity, because I really do believe that talent can be honed and refined. I’m living proof.

Quick! You’ve been chosen to go on Survivor. What luxury item do you take?
I’d say my Kindle so that I could load a zillion books on there, but without electricity…. The biggest, meatiest book I can find to hold me over. An omnibus edition, maybe, of a favorite series. I can’t live without books.

And the most important of all: bacon or chocolate?
Just one? That’s torture! Still, if I had to pick…bacon. (Yessss!) I’ve become much more about the salt than the sweet.

Click here to learn more about Lucienne.

So yay! I still like vampires. Anyone with me?

GCC January Releases!

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, you guys, I have been so lame this month. I completely forgot about some of the Girlfriend releases. *doh* Up first, Eileen Cook, author of UNRAVELING ISOBEL.

About THE BOOK:
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less: Creepy house, family secrets, ghosts, threats, and a hot brooding boy. (Oooh, nice. You had me at "creepy house.")

About THE AUTHOR:
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes. As long as I can remember I’ve loved books and reading. As soon as I could understand the concept that someone actually had the job of writing the books I was always reading then I knew that is what I wanted to do. Then I went through a period where I decided that wanting to be a writer was like wanting to be a princess, a nice idea, but not actually possible. One day I realized that I might not ever be a published writer, but if I didn’t try I wouldn’t for sure. I decided then to go for it.

What made you decide to go that “extra step” and seek publication?
I don’t think I really understood how hard it was going to be when I started out. I had finished a book and I was so sure everyone would think it was as brilliant as I did. (Turns out no one thought that book was even in the same room as brilliant.) I always wanted to see my book on the shelf at a bookstore so I just kept trying. I can be really persistent when I want to be.

Quick! You’ve been chosen to go on Survivor. What luxury item do you take?
A giant inflatable raft so I can get the heck off the island. I am much more of a comfy sofa and book at home, or a luxury spa hotel type of girl. I’ll skip the competition and choose comfort instead.

And the most important of all: bacon or chocolate?
While I love bacon, I’m going to have to go with chocolate. My favorite would be anything dark chocolate.

Here's what people are saying about UNRAVELING ISOBEL:
"Thrilling and creepy, super sexy, and so very hilarious." - Lisa McMann, bestselling author of the Wake trilogy

"Ideal for readers who like their stories supernatural but their dream guys human." - The Bulletin

"Spine-tingling setting…Isobel’s sass and her steamy romance with her new stepbrother will help readers race toward the dramatic conclusion." - Publishers Weekly

"This blend of paranormal romance, murder mystery and quirky, coming-of-age narrative offers tasty moments…Cook gives readers a fast-paced plot, a likable narrator, and interesting characters." - Kirkus

"Isobel, all snark and sharp edges covering some intense vulnerability as she continuously checks in to see if she has crossed into mental illness (as her father did when she was young), is a compelling narrator." - Horn Book Magazine

And because I want to pay it forward, I will be giving a copy of UNRAVELING ISOBEL away, right here, right now! All you need to do is leave a comment.

Click here to find out more about Eileen and all her books.

Doesn't that sound like something you want to read? And the cover! What do you think of it?

Surrender, Surrender

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, first there's this:

You can click on that and listen while you read. You'll like it. (I KILL on this song on Guitar Hero. K-I-L-L.)

Second this:

It's hard to believe that my second book is coming out soon. Don't they look pretty next to each other?

Third, if you are a book blogger/reviewer, teacher, librarian, Simon & Schuster has SURRENDER on their Galley Grab now. This will be an e-galley.

If you're not any of those things (or if you are and don't want an e-galley), you can sign up to be considered for an ARC of SURRENDER by filling out this form.

Fourth, the POSSESSION paperback comes out on May 8. You can preorder here!

Fifth, this has all be promotional, so I'll just throw in that I dyed my hair a week or so ago and almost died when I saw that the dye was this funky blue/purple color. Upon closer inspection, I realized I'd bought the "blue black reflective" dye. My hair has a slight blue shimmer when viewed in the sun. I wish it was like this:

But I teach kindergarten, so...

Maybe in June. Maybe around JUNE 5. Maybe for the LAUNCH PARTY of SURRENDER on/near JUNE 5.

I'm looking forward to having SURRENDER out in the wild! I really loved writing this book, and I can't wait to share it with everyone.

What are you looking forward to?

Four, Three, Two, One, Now

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Why hello there, Wednesday. I haven't blogged on you for quite a while. It's a great day to blog. Today we're going to be taking a wild and crazy ride inside the last four years (since I started writing). I'm doing this because I think sometimes writers get discouraged at how long things take in publishing.

When I started writing (December 2007), I scoffed at advice I saw on forums. Things like "Take a year off and read."

I was like, "NO WAY ON THIS PLANET IT IS GOING TO TAKE ME A YEAR TO GET PUBLISHED."

Oh, the naivety. (Yes, I had to look up that word to make sure it was the one I wanted to use.) See, I was new. I didn't really get the publishing industry. And most importantly, I hadn't been rejected yet.

Rejection plays a whole new part of the game that maybe we'll talk about later.

So there I was, four years ago in January 2008, with my first novel. And it was not going to take a year to get published. I spent January editing and preparing to query. I started querying, and quickly realized that hey, it might take a year.

After querying for 8 months, I definitely knew it would take a year -- and a heckuva lot longer than that.

What changed my perspective was a tiny conversation with my mother-in-law that I'm sure she doesn't remember. She said she was watching Oprah or something and heard an author say that you have to give everything you do five years.

Give yourself five years to make it as [insert what you want to be].

I seized on that and thought, "I can do this for five years." And then at that point, the plan was to re-evaluate and decide at that time if I should continue pursuing publication or not.

So I continued writing.

January 2009, three years ago: I was frantically preparing my manuscript for submission into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. I successfully entered that competition, and I often cite this as the confidence booster I needed to keep writing/querying. (My first novel tanked. Confidence had to come from somewhere!)

January 2010, two years ago: I'd queried for most of 2009 and had signed with my agent in November*. This January found me revising in preparation for submission to editors.**

(See a theme here?)

January 2011***, one year ago: Finally 2011! I'd spent a year waiting for this year. (No, really.) And it found me once again preparing a manuscript for submission. This time it was my second book, SURRENDER.

And here it is, January 2012, and I'll bet you can guess what I'm doing this month.

It really seems like I work in cycles. I write/draft the most in the fall. I edit and revise the most in the winter. I promote and speak and do book launch parties in the spring/summer.

Do you have a time frame for how long you'll stick with this before you re-evaluate your writing career?****

*And yes, it took me less than five years to get published, but longer than one.

**This does not mean that if it takes you longer than five years to publish that you're somehow inferior. That's ridiculous.

***This does not mean that if it takes you less time to publish than it took me that you're somehow superior. That's ridiculous too.

****We all have our own journey.

Think Bigger

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so dude, I went to see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol a week or so ago. And not only was it a fast-paced thriller (just what I like to see), but it taught me a thing or two about writing.

Or at least the kind of writing I want to do.

I need to think bigger--and I'm not talking like Imax bigger, though I did see the movie in Imax.

No, I'm talking THINKING BIGGER. More outside the box. More impossible.

As an author who has a book out and one on the way and hopefully the third the year after that, searching for and finding that next idea (that next series) is stressful and difficult. There are all kinds of worries and variables.

Everything feels too small.

And now that I've seen Mission Impossible, I know why.

I need to think bigger.

Have you seen MI? Or another movie that shifted how you look at your writing? Which one?

Are You UNTRACEABLE?

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Dude, I'm excited to host Shelli Johannes-Wells today! I've known Shelli online for a few years now, and she's a fabulous person. Her novel, UNTRACEABLE, is available now. Let's dive in a learn a little more about the book and about Shelli!

About THE BOOK:
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less:
Untraceable is a YA wilderness thriller about a missing forest ranger dad, a kickbutt heroine, and of course, two deliciously hot boys.

Why indie-publishing? Why now?
I’ve been so close so many times, I had nothing to lose. I was tired of waiting for others to make something happen. I was exhausted from stressing about what would sell and what wouldn’t sell. I was ready to do something for myself after 8 years of close calls, disappointment, and frustration.

I did not want to give up on this book.

What’s the one thing you learned about publishing this way that you didn’t anticipate?
How much fun it is. I thought it would be stressful and was ready for an uphill battle. But it has been the most wonderful experience of my writing career. People have been supportive when I thought they would turn their backs on me. The process has been so creative. And my book is exactly what I want it to be. I have no regrets. And though it’s been hard, it’s been awesome!

What else are you working on? Secrets? Inside scoops? Give us the juicy stuff!
Well, I am putting out a special edition [of UNTRACEABLE] at the beginning of the year that will have the original ending. Also I am working on Uncontrollable – Grace 2. It will be set in the winter, so very different survival stuff goes on – It does have wolves in it (though they are not werewolves).

Scoop? Let’s see – what can I say without giving anything away. Grace and Skyler are on a project together and have to hang in the woods. (Makes me laugh just thinking about it.) Which is hilarious because they are very different, especially outside.

About THE AUTHOR:
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I have always written – like poems, short stories, and am a copywriter. But no – not until I had my daughter in 2004. When I finally took time off work – it gave me the space to realize it was my passion. I actually wanted to be a singer and a marine biologist.

What made you decide to go that “extra step” and seek publication?
I am better in the underdog role. I was determined to find my own way and take control of my own dreams and destiny. Good or bad.

Quick! You’ve been chosen to be a contestant on Survivor. What luxury item do you take?
Grace would hate this question. ☺ (Good thing I asked Shelli and not Grace!)

I don’t want to say book or computer or pen and pencil because that seems boring. (And Grace is kicking me under the table.)

So I’ll say, solar powered Christmas lights (did you know they have those?!). I love little lights in my garden all year round. They make me happy and they make bad places seem more magical. So maybe they will add some sparkle to the dreary island.

Tell us something about yourself we don’t know.
I’ll tell it all baby! I am petrified of alligators (no really they freak me out so I stay out of rivers and lakes), terrified of great white sharks (my toe won't even go in the surf – did you know they can attack in like 3 feet of water?!), and bumpy planes (I even hold my cell phone when I fly so I can try and text my hubby that I love him if the plane goes down. Hopefully I can get a signal). Yes, I am a freak.

I am also afriad of failing and disappointing people. Mostly, I am very sensitive and completely awkward in social situations.

And the most important of all: bacon or chocolate?
I am so going to say chocolate (specifically dark chocolate with pomegranate). I did see bacon chocolate for sale in Charleston and it looked totally disgusting. I don’t understand it. (I've eaten it and still don't understand it. Don't worry. But brown sugar bacon? Now that's magical!)

Thanks for stopping by, Shelli! You can get UNTRACEABLE for only $0.99 here.

Are you afraid of alligators, like Shelli? Don't hold back now. You know I'm afraid of all animals with more legs than me, and all geese, ducks, and fish. You can admit to a itty bitty fear of gators...

A Very Bookanista Farewell...Sort Of

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I've spent the better part of the last year and a half talking about books I love each Thursday. I've rarely missed a post. The Bookanista group has been a great resource and friendship for me.

But today, it's time to say good-bye. Others have left the group, and many remain. Some come and go, participating sometimes and sometimes not. I wish I could be like them and stay in the group but not participate.

Unfortunately, my OCD/pitbull personality/whatever will not allow me to do things like this. When I chomp down on something, there is no letting go.

Until it's time to let go. And then I do. Fully and completely.

...

Until today. That's right -- this goes against the very fiber of my being. But I'm going to do it (change is good, right?).

I'm still going to be a Bookanista; it's just one of the things I'm scaling back on. I've also been a big part of the League of Extraordinary Writers this past year, and I'll be down to blogging over there only once a month from now on (did you see our new shiny members?! They're awesome).

Both of these scale-backs have freed up some breathing space in my life. I'm eternally grateful for the groups and my role in them, and I hope to be able to count those people as friends for a long time.

I still love to read, and I will still talk about books. Don't worry about that. I just won't be doing it as often, and my blog schedule will adjust to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with the occasional Bookanista post on Thursdays.

I have big goals for my newly found "free time." I have taken stock of my life the past several months and have made some discoveries.

One that startled me: Before I sold Possession (in Feb. 2010), I'd written 12 books. Since then (Feb. 2010), I've written 1. ONE.

That is not okay with me. In 2012, I have plans to write 3 books. THREE. In one year. That will be triple my production rate over the past two years. So what's that in a year? Sextuple? Something like that.

One that saddens me: Before Possession came out (June 2011), I read 50-100 blogs each day. I realize this is an insane number, but still. Since Possession came out (June 2011), I usually read 0. ZERO.

This is not okay with me. I miss being an active participant in the blogosphere. I'm going to start small--after all I have to write three books this year. My blog-reading goal for 2012 is to read 10 blogs each day, Monday - Friday. I think I can do it.

One that I've always known but ignored: My family needs me. They need me more than my manuscript and more than the blogosphere and more than my critique partners. I am tired of the saying, "My real life got in the way."

That is not okay with me. My real life is what's REAL. It is not a nuisance or something horrible that gets in the way of something wonderful (writing). At least it shouldn't be. So 2012 will find me cultivating the real life relationships that need cultivating.

So anyway. This turned into a goal post when really I just wanted to say what a wonderful time I've had--and hope to have again in the future--with the super-cali-fragilistic-expial-i-docious Bookanistas. *mwah*

But... do you have goals for this year?

Top Ten Moments of Christmas Break

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Dude, I think every new year should be spent in reflection, but honestly, I'm tired of reflecting. I think it's all I've done for the past four months and it's EXHAUSTING.

I seriously can't take any more reflection right now, unless we're talking mirrors, which I don't really like either because my hair needs to be re-dyed.

Anyway. Today, I thought a fun post about the awesomeness that was the end of 2011 would be fun. Here we go.

10. Christmas treat a day. (Okay, I might have missed a few days, mostly because I may have said, "I never want to eat again" a couple of times.) I made a treat each day. Ghetto toffee. Apricot kielbasa. Chips and queso. Cookies. Corn and bacon dip. (Bacon!) Bacon-wrapped smokies. Pork on pork. HOLY COW. (Or PIG.)

9. My daughter's handwritten notes. I love her invented spellings and her cute first-grader handwriting. My favorite: Hi mom I am not feling good today cuse my nose is stufe and my throt is clogd. and my tume isit feling good. P.S. I stil wont to go to Arethr Chrismas.

I mean, seriously. (Yes, I took her to the movie.)

8. My new ring.

I've had the butterfly for 6 months. The hummingbird is new.

7. Time to read. I think I read 4-5 books over the two week period. There's nothing I like more than lying in bed late at night, reading. *bliss*

6. Sleeping in. Fine, there's nothing I like more than staying up late at night reading and then sleeping in late the next morning.

5. Showering in the afternoon. FINE. There's nothing I like more than staying up late at night reading and then sleeping in late the next morning and then sort of getting a few things done and writing and whatever and then taking a shower at 4 PM.

My husband thinks I'm weird. Whatever. I love showering in the afternoon.

4. Not driving my kids around. I have loved looking at the Google cal these past few weeks. I haven't even cried or tried to smother the crushing load of drop offs and pick ups under a mountain of false cheery thoughts like, "Well, at least I'll be home by 7:30." Like that's early or something.

3. My new sound-canceling headphones. You think you don't need them. You do.

2. Sitting on the couch watching movies. There is nothing I like more than... Oh crap. But seriously, we had a romantic comedy day and watched You've Got Mail, Two Weeks Notice, and Notting Hill back-to-back-to-back. What an incredible #win of a day.

1. Being with those I love most. Because my husband and I both teach, we've been home together as a family for 16 days. And no one died!

What would be on your list for best moments of 2011?

Give Yourself Permission

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Dude, so it's 1:11 AM right now, and I'm just sitting down to write a blog post. I don't know what this says, but I'm pretty sure it goes against everything I'm about to say. Shocking, I know.

I think it's important to give ourselves permission for things. As a new year approaches and many of us stop to contemplate the last year and what we might like to do differently in the upcoming year, my vote is for you to give yourself permission.

Skip writing for a day if you need to. Maybe for two days. Or three. Sometimes there are more important things.

Don't beat yourself up over this. Give yourself permission.

Feel free to write terribly one day. Maybe two. Or three. Or weeks. It's okay to spew the draft out in the hopes that you can fix it in revisions.

Don't worry about every word being perfect. Give yourself permission to stink it up.

Feeling like the constant noise of the Internet is making you insane? Finding that you're moving into the land of "I Suck" because she has good news and he blah blah and blah blah blah?

Turn it off.

Give yourself permission to be disconnected for a day. Or two. Or three. It's important to be a whole person too, not just an Internet presence. Work on your real relationships and go to work and make dinner and all that other stuff that forms you into who you are.

Don't feel like blogging?

Don't.

Give yourself permission to scale back, improvise, experiment until you find what works for you. And since I always follow my own advice (ha!), I have given myself permission to take all of next week off from the blog. From a lot of things, actually.

Hope you have a happy holiday season. See you in 2012!

What do you need to give yourself permission to do (or not do)?

EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I've been waiting for months to talk about this book, and not only because Brodi Ashton lives here in Utah and is pretty much the Queen of Awesome. But because EVERNEATH has about a million things going for it.

Ready to dive in? Okay, let's go.

About the book: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

My take:
1. The cover. One word: Brilliant. I mean, how do you get better, really?

2. The writing. One word: Emotional. And this is exactly the type of writing/story I'm looking for. With deep feelings and a main character that is afraid, but strong, and vulnerable, but willing to act. Nikki is genuinely torn, and that makes for a greatly emotional piece of writing. Which just happens to be my style.

3. The concept. One word: Fantastic. I like the twist on the underworld and the enticing that went on to get Nikki there. I like that many things depend on her returning, and the things that will be left behind if/when she does return. It's all just something that combines together to feel fresh and new to me.

So yeah. I think with any book, we're always looking for a brilliant cover to suck us in, following by writing that's well-done, and a story concept that feels fresh. EVERNEATH delivers on all three.

So add it to your Christmas wish-list!

What do you look for in books?

Best of 2011: Books

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Dude, so this post could be miles and miles long. I promise I'll do my best just to highlight a few, okay? Okay.

Best Dystopian Read of 2011: PRIZED by Caragh M. O'Brien. It's the second book in the BIRTHMARKED trilogy--and I loved Birthmarked (also read this year). This novel was absolutely amazing. I aspire to write like this.

Runners-Up: DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth, ASHFALL by Mike Mullin, THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE by Jeff Hirsch.

Best Contemporary YA: VIRTUOSITY by Jessica Martinez. I've blogged about this book before, so I won't go on and on again. But it's a fabulous read. Buy it for yourself for Christmas.

Runners-Up: MOONGLASS by Jessi Kirby, THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa & Laura Roecker, THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder, SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD by Lindsey Leavitt.

Best Fantasy: THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson. Once again, I've blogged about this book, and I just can't stop thinking about it. I want to write a book in this genre. At the same time, I'm scared I'll do it badly. So yeah. A book that tells a great story and inspires authors to write better. You can't go wrong.

Runners-Up: THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab, CLARITY by Kim Harrington, CHIME by Franny Billingsley, RUBY RED by Kersten Gier

What are you best reads of 2011?

Best of 2011: Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I'll admit that I don't see a lot of movies. Well, maybe I do, I don't know. But I've decided to do a "best of" series for the end of the year, beginning with movies.

Best Movie of 2011: The Help. Seriously, if you haven't seen it, drop everything and see it. It's fabulous.

Best Children's Movie of 2011: The Muppets. I love this kind of stuff, especially the "Am I Muppet or a Man?" song. Genius.

Movies I Still Love Even if They Didn't Come out in 2011: Despicable Me. I will never tire of this movie. Watch it. Love it.

Most Anticipated Movie of 2011: Harry Potter 7.2. It was well worth the wait, and I loved every minute of it.

Movie I Thought I'd Hate, but Loved: Thor. It just doesn't sound like my "thing." But it was. Oh, it was.

Most Anticipated Move of 2012: The Hunger Games. I simply can not wait to see that! The trailer was awesome, and I have no doubt the feature-length film will deliver.

What movie did you love this year? What are you looking forward to next year?

Introducing Romeo! Er, L.L. Muir... Yeah, That's Right

noreply@blogger.com (Elana Johnson) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm thrilled to have an interview with a friend of mine for you today. L.L. Muir is here with a hilarious post for us to highlight her recently released novel, GOING BACK FOR ROMEO. If you've ever smiled, this book is for you.

About THE BOOK:
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less:
Jillian is conned back to 1495 Scotland to extricate a plaid-clad Romeo and Juliet before tragedy strikes...w/o falling for the bad guy!

Why e-publishing? Why now?
I have a wonderful agent who is shopping around other novels for me, but GOING BACK FOR ROMEO falls into that small time-travel niche. E-pubbing is all about creating a home for niche stories.

Why now? Because the stigma is dissolving. Best-selling authors are e-pubbing left and right. The ratio of gold vs. fool’s gold is improving by the hour, and agents and editors are finding great new authors from among the e-pubbed lists instead of the slush pile. Where is the shame of being on that list? “E” is the new way to break into the business, not a Scarlet Letter. What is a Scarlet Letter is an e-pubbed book that isn’t ready for prime time. You don’t want that brand. It’s more than skin-deep; it’s a tattoo that can’t be removed later.

What’s the one thing you learned about publishing this way that you didn’t anticipate? The Giddy Factor.

Okay, I’d heard friends tell me how wonderful it was. I wasn’t buying it. I wanted the fairy tale.

The surprise? It really is wonderful. And wonderful started the minute I decided to go for it. I feel like I’ve been offered a contract. Crazy but true. I’m the queen of delusions, but this feeling is not some mind trick.

And it burns no bridges. The JK Rowling dream is still alive and well and pushing me to write better, faster, and over the top.

Designing my own cover—with the help of an amazingly talented friend—resulted in the perfect cover for the story. I was giddy for days. I still am.

Watching e-pubbing from the outside was like standing at the train station, on the platform, a few feet away from the trains as they screeched and rumbled by. Train after train stopped for me, but I wouldn’t get on, so they left. When I realized what had changed in the industry, I jumped on the next train leaving the station.

What really pushed me over the edge was learning that I DIDN’T HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT! I was amazed at how intimidating the process was for me, even though writer-friends assured me it was easy. Then one day I was given the name of a guy who would format for me for under a hundred dollars. I could afford that. It would have cost me a week of labor hours trying to learn that on my own. And there are lots of people out there who are reasonable. Lots of people who will take that stress away.

What else are you working on? Secrets? Inside scoops? Give us the juicy stuff!
First off, the sequel to ROMEO is AVENGING JULIET—another Muir Witch Project. The hero in this one is someone the readers will already love. There’s a sneak peek at the end of ROMEO.

The juicy stuff? I guess that would be my next e-book, an angel love story with an Amish twist called SOMEWHERE OVER THE FREAKING RAINBOW. It’s not Scottish, but I always find a way to squeeze a Scot into every novel. It’s a Young Adult series, but romance fans should dig it, especially if they love a good sob. It has some wrenching black moments, but here’s a lighter line: “You know that song, ‘Somewhere over the rainbow...blue birds fly?’ Yeah. Well. Those aren’t bluebirds.”

About THE AUTHOR:
Have you always wanted to be a writer? I decided to be a writer when I was 11. It made all my other decisions pretty easy—especially on career days.

What made you decide to go that “extra step” and seek publication? I’m a bit ambitious. Being a florist wasn’t enough, I had to open my own shop. This is just opening another kind of shop.

Quick! You’ve been chosen to be a contestant on Survivor. What luxury item do you take? A lovely length of plaid wool. That stuff is as good as an army tent for keeping out the weather...and maybe a bug or a serpent. (Excellent choice! Did you see the finale last night??)

Tell us something about yourself we don’t know. I’m a stand-up comedian. No. Really. I even landed a paying gig. But the nine months I spent worrying about the crowd and coming up with the jokes was NOT worth the lovely check I got. Only three jokes bombed in a 20 minute set, so I think I kicked butt. (Holy brown cows! I've always wanted to be a comedian. Jerry Seinfeld is like, my fave.)

And the most important of all: bacon or chocolate? Thick, nearly burned bacon, served with piping hot chocolate, at Sill’s Cafe in Layton, Utah. (Is that cheating?) ((Yes, yes it is. But I don't care.)) Just holler when you’re up my way. (And now you know why I love her.)

You can get GOING BACK FOR ROMEO for only $2.99 from now until Christmas. Check it out!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Be sure to follow L.L's adventures on her blog.

Are you giving books this holiday season? You can gift Kindle and Nook books--just sayin'. Are you hoping for books to be lurking in your stocking? Which ones?