Me as an Author

People often ask me how I get the ideas for the stories I write. The answer can vary from book to book but mostly I try to think of unique situations and what would be the cause. From there I grow a story to answer the ever-present question, what if.

One of the first books I wrote, Timeless Grace follows the story of two sisters who are trying to get to the Salt Lake Valley after their parents die along the way, when the wagon train they are with abandons them along the trail. With Josie the youngest sister fighting for her life, Sara must decide if she can trust the stranger who has stumbled upon them and is she willing to risk her heart along the way. This book all started from the idea of all the pioneers who never made it to their original destination. For one reason or another they stopped along the way and never continued on. The idea intrigued me and from that sprouted the idea for my book.

Forever Tomorrows came about a bit differently. To be honest, I have never given it any thought about writing a book about my life, any part, big or small. It was never anything I wanted to share with others. I wasn’t ashamed, per say, but I definitely didn’t want people knowing about some of the darker parts. Then one night, back in March, I had this dream about this boy and girl who were in a mental hospital together. The dream thing is a little Cliché’, I know. Despite that, I woke up the next morning with this idea. The story of a girl and boy who meet during the most difficult times in their lives. And for days it was on my mind. I started writing it just to get it out of my head but then I couldn’t stop. Without purposely doing it, my own experiences bled into the story. But remember the story is still a work of fiction and it truly comes down to Jesslyn and Daniel, the boy she meets. I did know someone like Daniel once, who became my friend in one of the hospitals I stayed in. He did in fact stand up to some bullies trying to protect me from them, just like Daniel does for Jesslyn in my story. But we were never more than friends. Like I said before, my story turned out much differently. 

I’ve already started drafting my next book and I’m excited to see where this story takes me.  

One thing I have discovered about myself lately, something I seemed to have forgotten along the way, I want to help people. Not just that, but all those who have or are going through something similar to what I went through. I want them to know they aren’t alone. That there can be light after all of the darkness. I want to touch someone’s life for the better. And maybe that’s what really makes the difference in my writing right now. Because before, I wrote because I loved creating. But now that love for creating has been coupled with a love and desire to help someone else who is struggling. 

It has always been a dream of mine to become a published author but now that dream has transformed slightly. Because my goal isn’t just to become some famous author anymore. I just want to reach someone else and touch their lives for the better.

Well, until next time…  

Oh, and I think I forgot to mention that I now have a Twitter account. I know, I know. I’m a bit behind in the times but I’m figuring it out as I go. Lol! If you’re on and want to check it out, you can find me at https://twitter.com/NLLewis1 .

A little about my book.

So, I told you all about how I’m back. Now I want to introduce you to my newest book. The one that I’m shopping around, trying to find an agent for.

Forever Tomorrows is a 72,000 word Contemporary Young Adult Novel. Ha! That doesn’t mean much if you aren’t from the writing world. So, in layman's terms… It’s an average length novel set in present day, based on the life of a teenager. Although I think this book will appeal to young adults I definitely think people of all ages will be able to connect with it in some way. 

The story follows the journey of 16-year-old Jesslyn Ward as she goes through some very dark moments in her life and how she learns to heal and find happiness once more. It’s about pain and sadness. Hope, healing and self-discovery. It gives us a peek into what drives a teenager to try to take their own life. A question I think many of us ask when we hear of such a tragic loss that never should have happened. There are people out there that call it a shellfish act, and in a way it is. But driven by pure desperation, people do irrational things they never would have thought of doing under normal circumstances.

This novel is very close to my heart, being based on true life events that I experienced growing up. That being said, it is still a work of fiction. Many of the supporting characters are completely fictional. The events in this story happened so long ago, that although I remember several people from this story, it would be impossible to remember every nuance and detail of their characters. And I do have to put this out there, in case any of you do get the chance to read this book, the ending is 100% fictional. My happy ending came in a different form and with a completely different prince charming. One that I’m still married too. But with all the stories I write, I like there to be a little bit of a love story. This is Jesslyn and Daniels story.

In the writing world, we create what we call pitches for the books we write. Pitches are meant to be a short summary of your book that you can quickly “pitch” to an agent or someone else to let them know what your book is about. I’m going to share my Pitch with you now. Just know, it is still a work in progress like all things, it may need some work.

After months of abuse, sixteen-year-old Jesslyn Ward decides that she can’t take it anymore. When her suicide attempt fails, she finds herself admitted to a mental health facility. Things are made worse when her self-absorbed mother moves out of state, abandoning Jesslyn in the hospital. The road to recovery isn’t easy and just when she thinks things might be getting better, she is forced to face the secrets she has been hiding. With the help of the staff and the new found friendships she has formed, Jesslyn finally begins to heal. In the end, she discovers that family isn’t always blood and that in the darkness of times you can still find hope and happiness. Based on real life events, this is the story of abuse and pain, healing, and self-discovery. 

Have I interested you in my book yet? I hope so. If not, don’t worry. It won’t hurt my feelings. But if you do want to keep reading, here’s a little excerpt. One that I hope you love as much as I do. Because really, this is what my book is about. Finding hope in the darkest of times.

 He leans back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head and tipping his head back. “You know, when I first got here, I thought this place was for the truly insane. People who hear voices and things.” His eyes flick over to me and then move back to the ceiling. “Then I watched the kids coming through here. Kids like me and you. Kids who have truly screwed up stuff happening to them and they just don’t know how to deal with it.” He leans forward resting his elbow on the table. His gaze locks on mine. “Maybe that means there is hope for us after all.”

“There is always hope,” someone says from behind us. I turn to see Darren leaning against the door frame. He pushes off and walks towards us. “I read this quote once and it’s always stuck with me,” he says pulling a chair out. He turns it backwards and straddles it, resting his forearms on the back. “It said, Staying positive doesn’t mean you have to be happy all of the time. It means that even on hard days you know better ones are coming.” He rests his chin on his arms, watching us. “Essentially, that's what hope is, isn’t it?”

Well, that’s it for tonight. I hope you have all enjoyed my post. Have a good night and I’ll talk to you soon.

I'm Back...

The title says it all. I'm back. But from where you might ask?

To make a long story short, back in 2014 I was very active on the web and actively trying to get my book Timeless Grace published. In the writing community I was attending as many conferences, classes and writing gatherings as possible. Then suddenly I was gone. No more blog posts, no more updates on my author Facebook page. I was just gone.

It was hard time to say the least. I went through several surgeries when my left kidney failed and had to eventually be removed. Then my right kidney began to decline. Not only that but we had two dear family members pass away within six months of each other. It was a difficult few years and I'd be lying if I said I didn't go through some depression in there as well. As a result, my writing was put on hold for a while. 

But I'm happy to say I'm back now. My health is doing great and my creative juices are flowing. Not only that, but I'm excited to share that a few months ago I completed another book. It’s titled Forever Tomorrows. After spending the summer editing and revising, I took the leap and it is now on submission to a few agents. I'm taking my time, trying to be selective in order to find the perfect one for my book and hopefully, fingers crossed, they will find my book the perfect fit for them.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about it at this point because I want to take the time later on go a little more in depth when I tell you about it but suffice it to say I'm more excited and passionate about this book than I have ever been with anything I have written before. This is one I will fight for. It's one I believe in. One that I think could change other people lives. Or at least I hope it can.  

That's probably enough for now. But know that I’m hoping to get on here at least a couple of times a week to write a little something. I can't say that I'm some incredible blogger, because I really am not. But the most important thing to remember is this blog is about my writing journey. It always has been. Good or bad, it will all be one here. So, for now, I just wanted to say hi and tell you all I'm happy and excited to be back. 

I hope you all will continue to follow me as I continue on this crazy journey and hopefully, we will all learn a little something along the way.

Until then my friends, keep dreaming because if there is one thing I have learned over these last few years, just because our dreams get put on hold, it doesn’t mean we have to give them up.

Good night everyone.

The Stone of Valhalla!

Welcome to The Stone of Valhalla Blog Tour!

A middle-grade fantasy-adventure by Mikey Brooks.

Don’t forget to check out the GIVEAWAY at the bottom this post

for a chance to WIN a $25 Amazon Gift card and other great prizes!

 

Interview with Mikey Brooks

Mikey, first I want to start off by thanking you for taking the time to come on over to my blog and do a Q&A with me. It is a privilege to be able to pick you brain. Lol! Let’s get started, shall we?

Can you start by first telling us how you got started as an author? Was there anything instrumental that happened in your life to instigate your writing career?

When I was little I used to play a lot in the thick woods that surrounded our farm house in Missouri. Our nearest neighbor was about a mile away so it was just me, the trees, and my imagination. Those woods allowed me to create many stories and dream of faraway lands filled with magic and wonder. I believe it was then that I became a crafter of stories. Later when I grew up I decided to get my degree in Creative Writing. Ever since that’s what I do.

How long have you been writing for?

I have been writing since I was a young boy. I have been writing professionally for the past couple years.

How does your family feel about you being an Author?

My wife understands me. Or tries to understand me. I live half my life in my head. I am constantly dreaming up stories to tell and the characters in them. She has to be very patient. I do know she is proud to say her husband is an author. She is the first one ever to read my books and I think she likes that privilege. My sister is another great supporter of my work. She has always been there to push me along. My parents both say they’re proud but I’m not sure if they’ve actually read any of my books. They aren’t big readers. Around Christmas time I think my dad said he was up to chapter 2 or 3. He doesn’t know where I got my imagination—certainly not from him. J

Is it difficult for you to find time to write? Do you have a specific time you write each day?

It can be very difficult. I work as a freelance illustrator and cover designer and I am constantly trying to catch up on all the many projects that entails. I also work from home with a roost full of little girls. Thursdays are my writing days. My wife takes the girls to grandma’s house and it is quiet. It is then I get the majority of my writing done. Sometimes I write in the evening when my wife is watching her shows. I’d gladly give up TV to write.

What do you think about writing/critique groups? What advice would you give an author who is trying to pick a group or start one?

I have been in several writing/critique groups. Finding the right one IS the important key. If you write say MG, I believe it is very important to have a group geared toward MG writers. You’ll help see things expected for your genre. I also suggest finding members that take their craft seriously. If they are there for the same goal: make your story better, you’ll get more out of it. I suggest joining the Authors’ Think Tank group on Facebook. We are a family of writers of all genres but we all form little groups of our own. It is nice to have a large body of open minded people to discuss things with and help each other out.

How do you feel about Beta and Alpha readers?

I use mostly my wife, my sister, and my editor to help me in honing my story. I also use my critique group. I have a few beta readers that are actual kids (write MG so that why I use them). They help me see whether I am connecting with them as my target readers. I think everyone should have a trusted few that help them hone their craft. However, make sure those people have the same goal in mind: making your work better. Too many voices on how “they would write the story” is not what an author needs. That just leads to confusion later on.

What do think the most important advice is that you can give to aspiring Authors?

You need to believe in yourself. Believe that you have talent. Thant no one but you can write the story in your heart. There will be times along your journey when you will get discouraged—don’t. Never give up and never give. Only you can write your story. No one else! Believe you can do it and watch as your dreams come to life.

What is the biggest mistake you think Author’s make while trying to get published?

I think they rush things. I know because I have been there. When I finished my first book about 13 years ago I was thrilled. I knew it was going to be the world’s bestselling book and I was going to retire at the age of 25 and relax on my private island in the Caribbean. I sent that book to every publishing house out there. I was crushed when I got rejection after rejection. Somehow I got a few requests but they later declined saying it wasn’t ready. I was disappointed and shelved the book. That’s when I decided to go to school and learn to write. (Note: you don’t have to do that.) 12 years passed and I was then a better writer. I found that manuscript, rewrote it from the beginning to the end and now I’ll be releasing it. Yes, The Stone of Valhalla was the first book I’d ever written. In fact, I’d written four books before I ever published one. Take your time to make your book the best it can be. There is no rush.

What would you say is the most important thing Authors need to do/know when trying to get published?

This depends on what your long term goals are as a writer. If you are just happy to get your books out there for people to read then you might want to think about self-publishing. If you want to make this a career you might want to think about indie publishing or getting an agent. Ah did you see I said both self-publishing and then indie? They are both self-publishing titles but I think the word “indie” implies these authors are serious about their work. It’s not just a hobby or something to share…it’s their livelihood. I always tell an aspiring author to either go BIG (meaning the big publishers which requires agents) or go INDIE (which is becoming a self-published entrepreneur). Both take hard work and determination. So the most important thing: find out what your long term goals are.

So now tell us about your writing. What genre do you write?

I write middle-grade and picture books. I have always had a love for children’s literature and so that is what I have decided to focus my attention on.

How many books do you currently have published? What are they about?

I have several picture books including the Amazon bestselling ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures. It’s a concept book about mythical animals and the alphabet. I also have Bean’s Dragons and Trouble with Bernie, both explore imaginary friends and the consequences of our actions. In middle-grade genre I have two books out in The Dream Keeper Chronicles, a story about two teens that have to save the world from a nightmare trying to escape the world of Dreams. The final book comes out this summer. And I just released The Stone of Valhalla!

Did you go through a traditional publisher or self-publish? Why did you decide to pick this particular route?

I was on the fence for a long time exploring both options. I studied both routes for about two years. And I mean I studied. I read every report I could find to know the ins and outs before I did anything. I have to know how deep the water is before I jump. With my picture books I just self-published them. It was easy and I used them as a platform to get more clients for my freelance business. My middle-grade books I was more determined to traditionally publish. I queried for well over a year and got no request from agents. I then decided to try for a smaller press and got to offers. I declined one and accepted the other. However, I want happy with all the rights and restrictions with the contract. I am a huge audiobook fan and wanted one of my book. The publisher wanted my rights but never planned on using them ALWAYS exploit your rights! Use them! I ended up declining the contract (hardest thing so far) and I self-published. I now have my book in eBook, hardback, paperback, AND Audiobook! I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I still desire to be traditionally published. I want to be what is termed as a “hybrid author”. I am currently seeking an agent and I have one manuscript with an agent now.

Your current book The Stone of Valhalla promises to be quite a fun adventure. Tell us about it.

Yes! This is a fun fantasy-adventure about a boy named Aaron who stumbles across an amulet in an old lady’s basement. The amulet whisks him away to another world and he is immediately put on trial for witchcraft, having just appeared in the center of town. Aaron narrowly escapes the fire when goblins attack the village. He then learns this amulet holds great power the goblins will stop at nothing to get. He teams up with a not-so-magical-wizard and tries to find his way back home. However Aaron’s fate is tied to the amulet. He was chosen to save their world, but it might come at the price of losing his own. It really is a fun story!

I’m quite excited to read this book with my own children. Is it for all ages? Who would you say your target audience is?

This is appropriate for ages 9 and up. It is one of those Narnian tales that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. I think adults will love the book just as much as the kiddos. In fact it is already getting raving reviews from adults.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about? Book signings, release dates, ect . . .

Yes! The book is available now and at a discounted price for the length of the blog tour. Just $2.99 for the eBook and $9.99 for the paperback. I also have eBooks of The Dream Keeper Chronicles on sale during this time for just $0.99. That’s about $2 or more off the list price. There will be an online launch party hosted by LovingtheBookLaunchParty on Facebook on April 10^th and a LIVE release party April 12^th at the Viridian Center in West Jordan, Utah, from 6pm-9pm. We will be having giveaways including a $25 Amazon gift card AND at the LIVE event we’ll have several guest authors including Chad Morris, J. Scott Savage, Jenni James, Ali Cross, and Lisa Mangum. It should be a super fun event.

Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me. Good luck with your upcoming book! I’m so excited to read it.

Thank you so much it has been fun!

Synopsis:

Aaron was chosen to save their world, but it might come at the cost of losing his own.

Breaking into an old lady’s basement was supposed to reward 13-year-old Aaron with new friends. Instead he finds an enchanted amulet that transports him to another world—one at war with magic. Before he knows it, he is accused of witchcraft and invited to a bonfire—where he’s the main attraction. If that’s not bad enough, a goblin army shows up and toasts the town...literally. The good news: Aaron escapes being charbroiled. The bad news: the goblins are after him. They want his amulet and will stop at nothing to get it. Battling to find his way home, Aaron teams up with a not-so-magical-wizard and learns it’s his fate to destroy the amulet and save this new world. But is he willing to sacrifice his own?

Check out what these talented authors are saying about it:

“The Stone of Valhalla is one of those books that only comes along once in a great while. Brooks doesn't just create a world, he puts you inside of it, allowing you to experience the wonder in a way that only he can. His characters are likable and fun. His twists leave you asking ‘Why?’ Treat yourself to an exciting adventure through a beautiful new land. Make new friends and be a part of the magic. This is a book that you will not be able to put down!”

—J.R. Simmons, author of Ragesong: Awakening.

 “The Stone of Valhalla drew me in from the get-go. Aaron’s journey is reminiscent of Dorothy’s trek in The Wizard of Oz. Magic, sword fights, danger, and more danger, sprinkled with humor and unexpected twists. This is one of the ‘best’ fantasy adventures I’ve ever experienced!”

—BBH McChiller, author of The Monster Moon Series.

“The Stone of Valhalla is a riveting mystery revealing true friendship, loyalty and sacrifice. Brooks engages the curiosity of middle graders and older sleuths alike, until the very end. Fantastic!”

—L.R.W. Lee, author of The Andy Smithson series.

 

Where to Find The Stone of Valhalla:

Exclusive price for the eBook release is just $2.99! (List Price: $4.99)

And only $9.99 for the paperback! (List Price: $12.99)

On April 12^th 2014 the price will return to the List Price

Kindle | Paperback

 

Another special offer:

During The Stone of Valhalla Blog Tour

Mikey’s other great middle-grade eBooks will also be set to the low price of just $0.99!

The Dream Keeper:

Kindle | Nook  | Kobo

The Dreamstone:

Kindle | Nook | Kobo

 

You’re Invited to PARTY!!

The online launch party will take place on Thursday, April 10^th at 4pm (MST). The party will run for 2 hours and you’re invited to drop by anytime. The longer you stay the more chances you have of winning prizes! We have slew of eBooks to giveaway, as well as a Stone of Valhalla necklace AND a $25 Amazon gift card! It is hosted by LovingtheBookLaunchParty on Facebook. Just follow this link to join the event: http://goo.gl/Q2Fd3r.

 

What’s that? Another Party!

That’s right! If you’re local to Utah you don’t want to miss this kickin’ party. We are having a launch party to celebrate the release of this awesome new book. Of course there will be plenty of giveaways there too, but what’s even better are the guest authors! Just check out these fabulous names: J. Scott Savage, Chad Morris, Lisa Mangum, Jenni James, Ali Cross, and many more. The Launch Party is: Friday, April 11^th from 6-9pm at the Viridian Center in West Jordan, Utah. Follow this link for a map: http://goo.gl/dqVc0u

 

About Mikey Brooks:

Mikey is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including the best-selling ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures and Bean’s Dragons as well as the middle-grade fantasy-adventure series The Dream Keeper Chronicles. The Dream Keeper Chronicles  His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works fulltime as a freelance illustrator, cover designer, and author. As a member of the Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’. He is also one of

the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast. You can find more about him and his books at: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/

 

The Giveaways!

Enter the giveaway below to be entered to win one of the following prizes:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

The Stone of Valhalla Necklace

Autographed Paperback of The Stone of Valhalla

Autographed 11x17 Poster
 

You can enter by clicking on the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What I’ve learned this last year . . .

What I’ve learned this last year . . .

#1 Never underestimate the power of editing. Editing will make or break your book. And for most of you writers out there, you probably already know this. For me, this has been quite the process of learning and growing. I’m not great at editing but I bought a fantastic book by Annette Lyon that has helped tremendously. Not to mention the invaluableness of Beta Readers! I’m getting better as I go and I’m learning a lot. J

#2 Never give up! I gave my MS to 3 different Beta readers and did many, many long, agonizing revisions since last May. And let me tell you, there were times where I wanted to give up. I really did. I kept thinking. “Is it worth it?” The answer is YES! You’re a writer because you love to do it! You’re a writer because it is your passion. You’re a writer because it lives within you. Don’t ever give up on yourself. The road to writing a book is LONG and HARD but it is worth it. Even if it’s only for the self-satisfaction of knowing you completed it!

#3 Push aside your self-doubt aside! During this long process of getting my MS ready to submit, I began doubting myself. Saying things like: “I’m not sure if anyone is going to like this.” “Maybe I should go over it one more time.” “What if it is crap and I get rejected?” I’m shaking my head right now because those same doubts still linger within me. BUT I have learned to push them aside. How will I know if my book is any good if I don’t put it out there? How will I know if it is crap or not, if I don’t at least try to get it published? I’m a shy girl admittedly and I have a very hard time putting myself out there but writing is my passion. And passions are not something you give up on. Will I ever get the amazing chance to become a published author? Shrug. Who knows? But one thing is for certain, you can’t say that I didn’t try.

#4 Writing is a craft AND a constant learning process! Through my experiences, great advice from other Authors, and by reading my very first Stephen King book (Lol. I never thought I would say that. He is an amazing author. I just don’t care for horror stories, if you know what I mean?) I have learned that writing is something you have to work at. Learning and growing as you go. It requires a lot of hard work, dedications, and many hours reading books of others. Yes, reading other books! It is the single, most heard, piece of advice I have received this year. Reading helps you grow and transform as an Author. It helps teach you what works and what doesn’t. It helps you learn what to do in writing and what not to do. You get more ideas, and your own creativity grows. It pushes you and inspires you to grow as a writer. Writing Conferences and classes, Critique groups, and Reading are all things publishing companies will ask you if you are doing. They want an Author who is honing their craft and constantly working to make it better.

#5 You have to use Beta Readers! Do you know how many mistakes and plot holes/errors my Beta Readers found? Lol! It was incredible. But I loved seeing all the red. I helped me know what I could fix. What worked with my story and what didn’t. When I first started letting my Beta readers have my MS last summer I thought to myself. “I think it’s ready to submit. I just want to know if the Beta readers like it.” By the third Beta reader, I was thinking “I hope she catches anything I might have missed. AND I hope she likes the story.” Because from the first Beta Reader to the last, my perceptions of my story had changed drastically. It needed work. Undoubtedly it needed work. I am not a great editor, not in the least! And boy did it show. Thankfully my Beta readers took the time to point out things to me and mark up my MS. Thank goodness for Beta Readers!

#6 Read your story out loud! You will be so surprised at how many errors you will catch just by reading you book out loud. And sometimes when you are really into it, you will catch yourself re-wording things because it sounds better a different way. J Reading your book out loud can be fantastic fun and so very helpful. Lol!

Well I suppose those are some of the greatest thing I learned as a writer over this last year. Hopefully it helped some of you too.

Have a fantastic day! And Keep On Writing!
Nikki

A weekend filled with lots of reading, sounds like Heaven to me . . .

So here’s the latest in my writing/ reading world! I have had the privilege of reading two amazing books this weekend and because of it, little writing got done. BUT I’m told by many a successful Authors, that reading is a very important tool in honing your craft of writing! Sounds like a good excuse to me J So what amazing books had me reading for 2 days straight, you ask? Glad you asked. Glad you asked my friends. These two books are written by two of my favorite authors, Annette Lyon and Sarah M. Eden.

Without spoiling the story for you, I will just share my quick review of them. And hopefully you will want to read them too! Okay here goes.

Lost Without You is an incredible story about love, faith and commitment. Once again Annette Lyon has woven a story that instantly pulls you in and keeps you hooked until the last page. Her characters reactions and emotions are so real, they grip at your heart strings, leaving you cheering for them until end. There were so many times while I was reading this book where I felt like I was actually there and when I was forced to put it down the story stuck with me until I could get back to it. What I love most, is the real life issues that are dealt with in the story. Things that stop and make you think “Wow. That would be really hard. I wonder what I would do?” I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who love a faith inspiring story. You most certainly will not be disappointed! Well done Annette! Well done.

 

Longing for Home: Hope Springs is the amazing conclusion to Sarah M. Eden’s book Longing For Home. After waiting for nearly a year to read this sequel, I can tell you that I was not disappointed in the least. Woven with a deep history of the Irish and many of the hardships they endured, the tender love story grips at your heart and make you read page after page just to find out what will happen next. The characters inside the pages of this book come alive and you become so invested in the story that you will feel like you are actually there. For anyone who loves reading book set in a time when this country was still young, you will love this book! But seeing how it is a sequel, I highly recommend that you read the first book before reading this one. But if that is the case, be prepared to read this book immediately after because the first book as just as good as this one and it will leave you wanting more. Thank goodness Sarah wrote this one! Thanks for creating another amazing book Sarah! I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I’ve included the links to these book below. So go read them! I promise you will not be disappointed!

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Without-You-Annette-Lyon-ebook/dp/B003VIX1IG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-7&qid=1392612644

http://www.amazon.com/Longing-Home-Book-Hope-Springs/dp/1609078101/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1392613719&sr=8-1

Until next time, keep writing and reading!

Nikki

There is some Exciting Writing Stuff going on right now . . .

So it has been quite a while since I've blogged, and honestly I am a big enough person to admit that I'm not the greatest blogger BUT I have some very exciting things to share with you all! So here we go with my first post! Keep checking back over the next few days OR weeks (Lol) to see what else I have going on in my writing life.

#1~ The LDStorymakers Conference is coming! I went to this last year and it was so fantastic. Not only did I rub shoulders with some of the greatest Authors of all time BUT I learned ALOT and made so many new friends!

So what's the LDStorymakers 2014 Contest? Here's a brief summary, but you can find out more details on their website. The 2014 LDStormaker writers conference will be in Layton, UT, on April 25-26, with Bootcamp and the Publication Primer on April 24. This is the writing conference you can't afford to miss.

Keynote: Orson Scott Card

Agents/Editor

Melissa Frain, editor at Tor

Eddie Schneider, VP of JABberwocky Literary Agency

Daniel Lazar, senior agent at Writer's House

Josh Adams of Adams Literary

Laurie McLean, Foreword Literary

Other noteable guests: Heather B. Moore, Sara M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Brandon Sanderson, Brodi Ashton, Carla Kelly, Janette Rallison, Matthew J. Kirby, Elana Johnson, J. Scott Savage, Sara B. Larson, Kristen Chandler, Renee Collins, Tess Hilmo, Peggy Eddleman, Kimberly Griffiths Little, Natalie Whipple, Julieanne Donaldson, Chad Morris, Robison Wells and more!

 

 

#2~ One of my all time favorite authors and a wonderful friend, that I had the privilege of meeting last year at Storymakers, Heather B. Moore, has one of her books in an incredible boxed set that is now available to by! And the kindle version is only .99 right now. So exciting! And let me just tell you, although I haven't had a chance to read all of the books in this set yet, I have just finished one of them and it was so good I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the others. So if you are in need of something fantastic to read, go get these books! I promise you won't be disappointed.
http://www.amazon.com/Romance-through-Ages-Book-Boxed-ebook/dp/B00HFD5OEM/ref=zg_bs_45_1

 

#3~  Also, Krista Lynn Jensen is doing another countdown contest for her new Novella that is coming out, With all my Heart. I tell you I can't wait to read this one. So go on over to her page and enter the contest. It's easy and fun. Who knows maybe you will win a free copy of her new book. :-)
http://kristalynnejensen.blogspot.com/2014/02/with-all-my-heart-is-out-triple-romance.html

#4~ Last but certainly not least, please hop on over to this page and help out an Amazing Author Robison Wells who is struggling with the horrible crippling effects of Mental Illness. Let's face it, at some point in our lives we have probably all dealt with this in some form or another and we know how hard it can be, especially when trying to provide for your family. To help Rob get through this, you can help contribute to his fundraiser right now by going to this site and either donating (even as little a $1, every little bit helps) or by buying one of his books, and then you will be entered into an raffle to receive some pretty amazing prizes. So go check it out!

http://kashkawan.squarespace.com/novembrance/2014/2/2/give-a-little-bit.html