A thought for a Tuesday

One day, when I was in my mid-thirties, I decided I wanted to become an artist, knowing that if I wanted to be an artist bad enough, I would become one. So I gathered up what an novice artist would need and began my quest. First, I took an art class from a good friend who patiently taught me many things about putting paint on a canvas. Then when my husband and I moved to Santa Clara, I found that Dale Parson's was an art teacher at Dixie State College so I registered, and my artist's education continued. I learned as I watched and listened and practiced the art.

One day Dale gave the class some very timely advice. He said, "Sometimes I work on a face for hours, leaving it only when I think I've got it right. then, the next morning I may get up and take a look at it and start over, again." He added, "Know that even the greatest artists don't always get it right the first time. So remember you never stop learning. You never know it all no matter how may years you've been painting.

I've never forgotten his advice. Instead, I let it guide me, and I ask myself if we as authors and artists were to reach perfection in our work would we loose the desire for the art? Isn't it the challange and the stretch which awakens the creativity and the curiosity inside us that remains the driving force behind the desire to write or to paint? Isn't it the path we've chosen that takes us on the ever winding journey of imagination . . . a journey we pray will never end?

So While I'm striving for perfection, I'll not be in too big of a hurry to reach it, striving instead only to improve the gift with each challenge with each painting . . . with each novel . . . with each song.

Before I sign off, I have to share this poem my little granddaughter send to me.

There once was a bee who lived in a tree,
And then met a very nice flea.
They played all day in the hay,
and then they broke their knees,

It is a young imagination at work, is it not!!

Have a good day

Ya know what I mean?

                                                                       By Trina Boice
                                                                       http://www.boicebox.com/

You know what I mean? I hear that question a lot in conversations lately. While writers don't often insert those words into their manuscripts, they hope that the reader is understanding what is truly meant. Because we're the ones writing the words, WE know what we mean, but we might also be making incorrect assumptions for the reader. Take a minute or two to re-read what you've just penned or ask someone with fresh eyes to review it before the whole world sees it.


To make my point, here are some TRUE and humorous signs that were found posted around town that surely confused at least a couple of people:


TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW


In a Laundromat:

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

In a Memphis department store:

BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS



In an office:

WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office:

AFTER COFFEE BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE COFFEE POT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a secondhand shop:

WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window:

CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park:

ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference:

FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR


Notice in a farmer's field:

THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

Message on a leaflet:

IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

On a repair shop door:

WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)

My new book cover for "Rebound"

By Heather Justesen

Okay, it's official, my book cover is here--isn't it cute? I love the flower (since there is a lot of talk about landscaping in the book) and purple just happens to be my favorite color, so that's a bonus! It's due for release on May 8th. Here it is, and the back cover blurb follows:

Lily's life is perfect--a perfect lie.

With a successful husband, a gorgeous home, and a growing family, Lily Drake has it all. But when the FBI shows up, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought he was.

Meanwhile, Lily's friend Curtis is about to be drafted by the NBA, but he suddenly feels pulled to find his birth family, and no one is prepared for what he'll discover. With so many obstacles in their way, Lily and Curtis must learn to rely on each other if they're ever going to find peace and learn to love again.

In this heartwarming family drama, Heather Justesen, author of The Ball's in Her Court, weaves a stirring story of hope. Reunite with your favorite characters and discover how determination, love, and faith can overcome even the toughest trials.

It's so exciting to see things coming together for this book and to start really planning launch parties and my book trailer and blog tour, among other things. Publicity is a fun but really time-consuming part of being an author. I love to talk to schools, church groups, and book groups, so if any of you are interested, drop me a line!

New Blogger On The Block

Hello All!

I’m so happy to have been invited to contribute to this blog. It’s such an exciting honor.

Writing can be a very solitary endeavor, and I love that through the power of technology writers all over can share thoughts on the roller coaster that is putting words down on paper. I look so forward to sharing thoughts with you.

But for today, I guess I'll start by giving you a little 411 on me. So, here goes, in the form of 20 random statements.

1. I was born in Alaska, grew up in California, and currently live in Texas.
2. I am the author of two books, The Icing on the Cake, and Previously Engaged.
3. I love humor. I love reading it, writing it, watching it—sometimes even being the butt of it.
4. I watch American Idol. And I sometimes vote. I’m not ashamed. (Okay, a little ashamed.)
5. I’m thisclose to being finished with my taxes.
6. I have Miley Cyrus music on my iPod.
7. This is my first spring in Texas. For three nights in a row, I’ve had nightmares about tornados.
8. My younger sister is about to make me an aunt. I’m SO going to spoil that little girl.
9. I love Pandora.com. It’s a writer’s dream.
10. I’m so excited for the upcoming LDStorymakers Conference.
11. In high school I drove a 1967 Mustang.
12. I now drive a Honda Civic.
13. I play the piano.
14. My husband’s teaching me the guitar.
15. I’m 5 foot 10.
16. But I stink at basketball.
17. If I had to live somewhere other than my own house, I’d choose IKEA.
18. I find doing laundry soothing.
19. I’ve never gotten a traffic ticket.
20. Now that I wrote that, I’ll probably get one tomorrow.

Thanks for reading! I’m looking forward to getting to know YOU!

New Blogger: Cheri Chesley

Here I am!

This morning I was thinking, "What if we all woke up one day to realize we're all fictional characters in somebody else's work?" It's kind of like when Buzz Lightyear realized he was actually a toy and not a space ranger.

I'm really excited to start blogging here with other Cedar Fort authors. My qualification for being here, The Peasant Queen, is my YA romantic fantasy novel. Watch here for information on release dates.

Rebecca asked each of us newcomers to introduce ourselves, so I'll start with my family. I'm married with 5 children--3 boys and 2 girls--and we currently live in Tooele, UT. Aside from writing, I enjoy other forms of creation such as photography, sewing and cooking. Just don't ask me to garden. To go along with my fun pollen allergies, I also have no skill whatsoever making plants grow. Though I am pretty skilled at killing them.

I also have a Mommy Blog, where I post about raising my kids and other fun family stuff. And my Author Blog, where I post about the fun of writing, reading, and the occasional book review. Currently, I'm having a fun contest on my author blog, in conjunction with my sister-in-law's author blog. You can click HERE or HERE for more information, but basically we're recruiting followers as part of our Spring Into Reading contest. Once we both have 100 blog followers, we will do a drawing for the three prizes--a romance novel prize package, a fantasy novel prize package and a mystery novel prize package. Mel(issa) and I are really excited to give out these fantastic prizes, so don't miss your chance. Head on over and follow our blogs to enter!

I'm already looking forward to my next post. See you in 2 weeks :)

When Opportunity Knocked

JoAnn Arnold

When opportunity knocked, I opened the door wide, invited it in and was asked to be one of the keynote speakers in a Women's Conference, in Price, Utah, in April. When the invitation was given, the committee suggested I bring my books and art to display and to sell. YES!!! I share this opportunity with you so you will know that I'm actively engaged in a worthy cause.

Now on to the business at hand. I want to share just a tiny excerpt from my book "Prince Etcheon and the Secret of the Ancient," with you.

Etcheon learns courage, emotion, mental and physical prowess from the the wisdom of the panther, the horse, the Great Danes, the eagle, the owl and the two-headed lamb. Caspar-Arius, the two-headed lamp teaches wisdom through debate. An example:

"If in our life we are confined to the world of misery until we die," Caspar said, "perhaps it would be better not to have been born."

"Is there no joy on this earth, then?" Arius asked.

"Is there not more misery than joy?" Caspar returned the question.

"Yet without misery, would we know joy?" Arius returned.

Caspar pondered only for a short time before she inquired, "Is it better then, to have been born - to have experience both misery and joy in life, learning from each -than not to have been born at all, if one dies in misery?"

Arius wrapped her neck around Caspar's as if she knew she had won the debate. "If one dies in misery, having learned from both misery and joy, is it not his choice?"

"Baaa baa," Caspar conceded. "You have left me with no reply, for which I am thankful."

For days, Etcheon listens to the two debate until finally his mind begins to comprehend the lesson and the gift is felt within him.

"But this gift has not yet seen battle" Caspar replies when the lessons are complete.

"But in using the gift, he may not have to resort to the battle."

"Is it not the battle that will require his gift?" Caspar stared into the eyes of Arius, both having remarkable fun.

"Then we will know if you were successful in your instruction," cried the eagle from above them.

Oh, Isn't the life as an author fun?



Thank you for stopping by. Have a good day

Introducing...Donald J Carey

Hello, my name is Donald J Carey, although my friends just call me Don. And we’re all friends here, right?

My Y chromosome and I are excited to join the lovely and talented ladies here on the Writing Fortress blog. Rebecca has asked me to provide a little testosterone to the mix, so I’ll do my best.

Being the token male is a position I’m very comfortable with, as I grew up in a house full of sisters, and am now raising a house full of daughters. Even our guinea pigs are both girls. The only other boy around here is the cat, and he has to sleep in the garage.

My family and I live in a small town just west of Fort Worth, Texas, where we moved four years ago so my wife could be closer to Dallas for medical treatment. Prior to that, we lived near my sisters and parents in Utah.

By day, I am a software engineer, working from home for a small company in Midvale, Utah. I write code in Java and C++, and I like to joke that this is much like writing fiction, only with a lot more semicolons.

Although my first love in literature is Speculative Fiction, my muse saw fit to feed me a romantic coming-of-age story for my debut novel. (So don’t get too worried about testosterone overload just yet.)

The book is set in my hometown of Laie, which is also home to BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center. The kernel for this story idea came to me in the middle of a harsh Utah February, when I was feeling particularly homesick for the tropics.

Last month, I signed a contract with Cedar Fort to publish this as-yet unnamed book. (Actually, it has about a dozen names, but nobody seems to like any of them.) This is technically my first novel, although the finished product is so different from my first feeble drafts that I could easily say I’ve written three or four stories over the last eight years.

While I have always loved reading, writing has been a fairly recent avocation. In my younger years, I scratched my creative itch musically, playing many different instruments in a number of high school and college bands. Once out of school, however, it became more and more difficult to coordinate the schedules and personalities required for a musical group, and I began writing as a more solitary creative outlet.

I soon learned, however, that while writing itself is a private activity, meeting and socializing with other writers – both online and in person – has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of writing.

Because of my love for that interaction, I really look forward to participating on this blog and getting to know both the Writing Fortress authors and readers. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

And now I will leave you with a photo of the SR-71 Blackbird, because nothing says “testosterone” like tearing through the sky at Mach 3.2.

Photo by jamesdale10