*In Person: For those people who are able to come to one of the bookstores, you’ll have the chance to enter a drawing for a $40 gift card to either Olive Garden, Best Buy, or Bed, Bath and Beyond.

*On-line: Anyone that comments on a blog, facebook status, or twitter update will be automatically entered into a drawing for a $15 gift card to Amazon.com

Both contests will end when we get home; winners to be announced and contacted on Monday the 23rd.

I will be updating my twitter and facebook via cell phone throughout the tour, so if you’re not subscribed to me on either of these forums and would like to be, please go to my pages at www.twitter.com or www.facebook.com

We’ve had people tell family members in some of the cities about the signing, other people have announced it in their wards and we just can’t thank you enough for the amazing support we’ve been given. It’s truly priceless!

The weekend wasn’t much for furthering my career as a writer, but it *was* great fun. Guy Gavriel Kay watched the Yankees stomp the Phillies with me and he bought Catherine and me chocolate-covered strawberries. He is a complete keeper. Not only am I a huge fan of his books, but I get to be a huge fan of the man. It constantly amazes me how wonderful these famous authors are. How Lee Modesitt befriended me even back when I had little to offer as an author. Good people are in the writing world folks–some seriously good people.

I did get to help a few of my friends meet agents and get business cards and make acquaintances that will help their careers so the weekend was definitely worth experiencing. Even though it meant leaving Mr. Wright in charge of Halloween.

The boys all fared well enough for face painting in spite of everything and the house wasn’t in near the disarray I’d imagined I’d return home to. But I did ask Mr. Wright to start a pagemaker document for the relief society christmas dinner. That way I could get the times and dates entered, print up the invitations, and send them off to my relief society president without delay.

When I opened the document this morning this is what I found:

We’re going to eat, drink, and be merry. No men are invited so we’re having Chip and Dale Dancers coming. Bring your dollar bills and a side dish! Love, the Relieved Society

Good thing I looked before I printed. I am sure Mr. Wright thinks he’s amusing. I know I think he is.

Here are some pictures from the con:

world fantasy 2009

pimping the new dan wells book

Jules, Rob, and Nick

In the mean time, I am going to continue letting my wrist rest as much as possible so I might be gone from the internet for a while. Don’t panic. I didn’t die, and even if I’m not leaving comments (due to wrist saving) I am still lurking.

Schedule:

Monday, November 9th

*Idaho Falls, ID 3025 Hitt Road: Deseret Book 11:30-12:30
(208) 525-2500

*Boise, ID: Seagull 5:30-7:00

Tuesday, November 10th

*Kennewick, Washington: Far West Books & Gifts, 11:00-12:00
(509) 735-1402

*Lake Oswego, Oregon: Deseret Book 5:00-6:30
639-6359

Wednesday, November 11th

*Cottonwood CA: Classic Books 4:00-5:30
(530) 347-2200

Thursday, November 12th

Sacramento Lunch: 12:00-2:00 (details to follow)

*Sacramento, CA: Deseret Book 4:30-6:00
(916) 967-5725

Friday, November 13th

*Oakland, CA: Seagull 11:00-12:00

*Bakersfield, CA: Beehive Books Bakersfield 4:00-5:30
(661) 322-7276

Saturday, November 14th

Ensign Books Temecula 9:30-11:30

Ensign Books Riverside 12:15-2:15

Ensign Books Upland 3:00-5:00

Monday, November 16th

*Bookport 10-12 Fountain valley California

(714) 963-4889

*Book Castle 2:00-4:00 Santa Clarita California

(800) 477-2030

Tuesday, November 17th

*Glendale, AZ: Deseret Book12:30-2:00
439-4809

*Late Lunch 2:30 (details to follow)

*Mesa, AZ: Seagull 4:30-6:00

*Evening Presentation in Mesa area

Wednesday, November 18th

*Tucson AZ: Latter Day Cottage12:30-1:30
885-2635

*Thatcher AZ: Bookworms book signing 4:30-6:00
428-8089

Thursday November 19th

*Chandler, AZ: Deseret Book 12:00-1:00 (480) 899-5469

*Book group Las Vegas

Friday, November 20th

*Las Vegas, NV: Deseret Book 11:00-12:30

*St. George, UT: Deseret Book 4:30-6:00
(435) 628-4495

Saturday, November 21st

*Cedar City, UT: Deseret Book 12:00-1:30
(435) 865-1253

Julie and Josi Take to the Road!

 Josi Kilpack and I have finally fine tuned out schedule for our ‘Book Tour 09′. I’ve included it below in hopes that some of you can put it on your calendar and come on out and see us. We’re also looking to schedule presentations in the following areas:

Lake Oswego, Oregon (11/10)
Cottonwood, California (11/11)
Sacramento, California (11/12)
Los Angeles area (11/15 Sunday fireside)
Mesa, Arizona (11/17)
Thatcher, Arizona (11/18)
Las Vegas, Nevada (11/19)

(As long as travel time allows, we’re fine to travel 30 miles or so out of these cities for the presentations—you’ll know better than we will what is doable or not)

If you belong to a group that might like us to come, please let me know as soon as possible.

Monday, November 9th

Start: Willard Utah.

*Idaho Falls, ID:  Deseret Book 11:30-12:30
(208) 525-2500

*Boise, ID: Seagull 5:30-7:00

Tuesday, November 10th

*Kennewick, WA: Far West Books & Gifts, 11:00-12:00
(509) 735-1402

*Lake Oswego, OR: Deseret Book 5:00-6:30
639-6359

*Evening Presentation in Lake Oswego?

Wednesday, November 11th

*Cottonwood CA: Classic Books 4:00-5:30
   (530) 347-2200
    
*Evening Presentation in Cottonwood?

Thursday, November 12th

Sacramento Lunch: 12:00-2:00 (details to follow)

*Sacramento, CA: Deseret Book 4:30-6:00
(916) 967-5725
    
*Evening Presentation in Sacramento?

Friday, November 13th

*Oakland, CA: Seagull 11:00-12:00

*Bakersfield, CA: Beehive Books Bakersfield 4:00-5:30
(661) 322-7276

Saturday, November 14th

Ensign books Los Angeles Area: Details to follow

Sunday, November 15th

*Evening Fireside Orange county?

Monday, November 16th

*Orange, CA: Deseret Book (new location: details to follow) 12:00-2:00
279-3960

*Late Lunch 2:30 (details to follow)

Tuesday, November 17th

*Glendale, AZ: Deseret Book12:30-2:00
439-4809

*Late Lunch 2:30 (details to follow)

*Mesa, AZ: Seagull 4:30-6:00

*Evening Presentation in Mesa area?

Wednesday, November 18th

*Tucson AZ: Latter Day Cottage12:30-1:30
885-2635

*Thatcher AZ: Bookworms book signing 4:30-6:00
428-8089

*Evening Presentation in Thatcher?

Thursday November 19th

Start: Thatcher, Arizona

*Chandler, AZ: Deseret Book 12:00-1:00  (480) 899-5469

*Evening Presentation in Las Vegas area?

Friday, November 20th

*Las Vegas, NV: Deseret Book (location not yet confirmed) 11:00-12:30

*St. George, UT: Deseret Book 4:30-6:00
 (435) 628-4495

Saturday, November 21st

*Cedar City, UT: Deseret Book 12:00-1:30
(435) 865-1253

Sooo . . . If you are in one of those states and looking for authors to speak to your youth or relief society, or school, feel free to contact either me or josi and we’ll see if we will be in your specific area and can fit you into the schedule. I’ll be posting the confirmed schedule as soon as it is nailed down. We are still waiting on a few bookstores to confirm.

AND I did promise I would report on the book Launch Party.

WOW! You people amaze me. I so appreciate the support sand friendship of all of you. I worried no one would come. I worried I’d have created all that hype and end up hanging out with the store manager stocking shelves all night. (not that I’m opposed to stocking shelves–I do own a small store after all). So when the bookstore filled up with faces and people I love to pieces, I felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude.

And it was fun! I heartily endorse evenings that are all about me

I made mini cheesecakes–not the easy no bake kind, but the REAL kind. And they were marvelous (and surprisingly just as easy as the no bake). I think I’m almost more proud of that than I am of the book. If you’ve ever seen me cook, you get what I’m talking about.  Mr. Wright joined me for the evening to help keep me organized and to be in charge of the prizes. I love having him along with me when I do things like this because he is such a major support and help to me. Besides that–the man is fun for me to look at and steal kisses from in passing.

Thanks for all your support. I have photos from the event so I’ll post some of those. For those of you who couldn’t make it. Yes, I know you all love me too.

Heather Moore, Josh Perkey and his wife, Annette Wright, and Shari Bird

Alice Beesley and her husband and Jessica Day George--may you forgive me for the picture, but remember that, even whilst eating, you are lovely.

Howard Tayler, Sandra Tayler, Eric Stone, Dan Willis, Lynn Herrington. You can also see glimpses of Aprilynne Pike's purple shirt and Heidi Summer's hair

Alice Beesley, Annette wright, Gary Peterson, Annette Lyon, Karen Hoover.

Annette Wright, Aprilynne Pike, and me signing

Lynn Herrington, Cindy Nissalki, James Dashner and child, Lynette Keller, Deleen Fowlks, Julia"Blue" Wright

Dashner picks a winner from Mr. Wright's basket

Elisa wins!

I get to pick out the grand prize winner at the end of the night.

So there you have it–an evening all about me that was so much fun, I am still smiling over it. I am so grateful to all who took the time out of their lives to wish me well with the new book. And something that struck home with this is how amazing the writing community in Utah is. As a writer in Utah, you will always have a support group of author friends who’ve got your back in all things. I have loved being a part of them.

1. “Mommy! The kitchen’s on fire!”
2. “I don’t see why you’re mad; It’s not like it’s a *real* book.” (this said when I was preparing my first manuscript for the editor and had lost fifteen pages)
3. “I’m going to my friend’s house for dinner. Her mom makes GOOD food.”
4. “But Daddy doesn’t do it like that!”
5. (during scripture study) “If all those people only eat milk and honey, they are going to get scurvy and die due to improper diets! You’d think God would know better about nutrition.”
6. (child pointing to a quote by Colonel Sanders in KFC that has the word “damn” in it) “Look! There’s the word Mom uses!”
7. “Mommy! Look! I cut my own hair!”
8. “So you mean like it’s hard for you to hear why you shouldn’t swear?”(also during scripture study when I was explaining why Nephi’s brothers were mad, because it’s always hard to hear about the things you do wrong.)
9. “The backyard’s on fire!” (notice how fire and my cursing seem to be thematic at my house?)
10. “I’m ready to go.”

The last one seems tame compared to the rest, but it’s the one that gave me tears. It is what my daughter said after we’d packed up the car with her belongings to move her to St George to live with my parents so she can go to the school of her choice. She was ready to go. I am not ready to let her go.

She’s been gone for a few weeks and I miss the sound of her piano practice, and her coming in to my room to plop down on my bed and just hang out with me when she comes home from school. I miss the giggling between her and her brothers as they play.

The best thing I’ve heard? Last night she called and, in a teary sort of voice,  told me she missed me.

It’s nice to know.

It’s also a place where I get the chance to be with other authors. I love being with other authors.

Heather Moore was kind enough to take some pictures during my signing:

And she took a picture of the display where our books got to be friends on the shelf:

If you’re wondering why I mentioned singing, it’s because there are performances advertising the new music coming out from the publishers in this market. As a retailer, I get to attend the performances and they are simply amazing. It’s odd to feel such peace and participate in such beauty at a retail trade show. I loved every minute of it.

AND . . . I am doing my book launch party at the Sandy Seagull Book and Tape on  August 21st from 7-9 pm. There will be treats, prizes, and fun as we celebrate the release of my new book Eyes Like Mine. Come join the party and buy a signed book–everyone is welcome! The address is:

31 W. 10600 S.

Sandy, Utah

Again, that’s the Seagull Book and Tape on August 21st from 7-9 pm. I look forward to seeing you all there! If you’re lucky, I won’t sing at this particular signing

So I thought it might be fun if I included you all in the moment of the contest drawing. Since you must be present to win at so many other places, I thought we could do a sort of virtual present to win.

Here is the hat:

Of course it’s a Tinker Bell Hat because pixie dust seems to bode well for people who want to win contests.

Then I added the all important names to the recipe:

Then I got the child:

And the winner of the awesome book, Eyes Like Mine is:

Kristina from Pulsipher Predilections has won a copy of Eyes Like Mine!

And the child goes in for a second name:

All nepotism aside, the child genuinely pulled Helen Belen from the hat which made me laugh a lot. Helen has won a fabulously awesome copy of English Trifle signed by Josi Kilpack!

And because I am the kind of person I am and I had sooooooo many entrants (thank you all very much) I decided to send the kid after a third name. What the heck. And he pulled out:

Blue won a signed copy of Farworld!

Thanks to everyone who entered. I think it was interesting how many of us would go back to meet grandparents. The impact of a good grandparent in a child’s life is exponential. I miss my grandma every day in every way. I wish you all a great weekend and Happy Reading!!

No, the launch party has not yet been totally nailed down. I am drowning in my things to do list. But the book is OUT! My dear friend, Heather Moore (who helped me in the editing process of this book) wrote me yesterday to let me know she bought a copy at Seagull Book and Tape. I am so jealous of her. I haven’t even seen my baby in its physical form yet. But I am wicked excited about the release of this book simply because it is a really awesome book. You guys will all love it. I promise.

And to celebrate, let’s do a giveaway thing. Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment stating you’ve done so and I will have one of my kids do the drawing. If you’re already a follower, just leave a comment stating such. The contest will close on July 14th, just because that’s my daddy’s birthday and everyone should celebrate my daddy’s birthday (the entire country of France does every year). 

The prize? Well duh–it’s a free copy of Eyes Like Mine, and because I love you all so much and want you to be blessed with good reading, we’ll do a second drawing where the lucky winner gets a copy of English Trifle.

Getting a copy of English Trifle is way cool because it isn’t even available in bookstores until late July. You will want to read this book asap because it is simply so much fun! Since I have such awesome connections in having Josi Kilpack as one of best friends, I can get you a copy now. It’s true; I am cool. Actually, it is because of Josi that I didn’t give up or give in when things in my publishing life looked dark and terrifying. She helped me edit this book, advised me on conflict (which she is so good at) and acted as all around cheerleader when I got depressed. Everyone needs a Josi Kilpack in their lives.

Since Eyes like Mine is a time travel novel, it might be kind of fun to know if any of you could have a visitor out of the past stay in your home for a week , who would you want and why?

For me, if the person we’re meeting is a relative, I would want my Great Great Grandma Minnie Crawford. I found a journal page she wrote while doing my genealogy and felt such a connection to this woman who lived through so much and persevered to the end.  Grandma Minnie lived 99 years. She died two months before she hit the century mark two years before my birthday. I would like to meet her and have her meet me. I would like her to know what her life story meant to me in my life.

If I could meet up with a non relative, I’d want to spend that time with Jane Austen. I know I’m predictable, but wouldn’t she be fun to show the future to? I’d take her to see her own movies to see what she thought of them. I think she would be sooooo much fun to hang out with.