Thursday, May 26, 2011

Author Interview with Sheralyn Pratt

Ah this girl is SO awesome! Dear friends let me welcome the great Sheralyn Pratt. I first heard about her books from my friend Kristie who told me they were awesome and funny! Sure enough, I read them and was LAUGHING OUT LOUD so many times.

Sheralyn is just as fun in person as her characters are in her books. :) She kindly agreed to answer some of my questions so take a look and get to know this great gal!


• What was the best advice you got before you were published (or on your writing journey) ?

The best advice (which I rarely follow) was to wait two weeks before showing anyone anything you’ve written. Write it, let it marinate while go read other authors you love, come back, and re-read your work. If you still like it, then you can show it to someone else. Sound advice. I should follow it more often.

• If you could be one of your characters for a day who would you be and why?

As much as I love Rhea and as desperately as I need Kay’s tough love when it comes to what I put in my closet, I would have to hang out with a character no one’s met yet. Her name is Nev… and one day you will know why she’s at the top of my list. I’ll give you one reason for why I want to pick her brain, though: she’s been around for 1200 years.

• What’s been a fun perk of being published?

One perk has to be the instant street cred. Can’t lie about that. Also, being published can and does open doors. But one of the top perks has to be that I have one less “If only…” in my life. The flip side is the pressure of the business side of it all. That can be a kill joy if you let it.

• Looking forward to anything in the future? (signing events, new book coming out, conferences attending?)

I plan on this summer being fun—taking trips, doing out-of-state signings (if there’s an area you want me to visit, let me know), and working on three books, two fiction and one awesome nonfiction that I’m going to need help with from everyone within the sound of my voice. I’m making a little web page for it now, so stay tuned on that. I think it will be a hit!

• Any upcoming events I can tell my readers about?

Same as above. Things aren't concrete yet, but this summer is going to be a series of trips all over the country. Cities and dates coming soon, but it’s going to be great and I’ll be excited to meet people I’ve only known through the internet. It’ll be fun and productive—two words I like to combine as often as possible!

• Biggest/hardest change since being published? (in writing or life, etc.)

Probably the lifestyle change of sitting all the time. My body doesn't like it and I feel like I spend half the year with my siatic nerve pinched. The only way for me to fix it is to get out and exercise, and I haven't yet found the balance between my old ways and my new ways. Probably not the answer you were expecting, eh?

• What’s a good book you’ve read this year that you’d recommend to others?

I ALWAYS recommend Save the Cat to writers. Love that book! Research books I’ve been enjoying are the Tao Te Ching and the Apocrypha. In the fiction arena I like Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series and Rick Riordan.

People always get to ask Q&A’s when they go to author events. What’s the best question you’ve been asked? (What was your answer?)

I know somebody asked something brilliant once. I remember it stumping me. But like most brilliant things, I have since forgotten the question. Sorry. Some help I am!

• If your load was lightened what is a guilty pleasure you would partake in?

Adrenaline. I’m not sure when exactly I grew up, but man, adulthood can be mundane. I’m up for a few thrills, for sure! Either that, or long-term camping. I’m always up for that, too

• If you had to rewrite a nursery rhyme which one would you choose/why/how would you make it your own/fun to read?

I can honestly say I have never, ever thought about this in my life. But the first one that comes to mind is “There was an old lady who lived in a shoe…” Great. Thanks! Now I’m going to dream about that tonight…

• Have you gotten to travel anywhere fun/different because of your book(s)?

So far I’ve been tame in my travels, but trust me, before long I’ll be hitting places like Thailand, South Africa, Germany, Egypt, Machu Picchu, Ireland, and anywhere else where either nature or man is displaying something that makes me feel absolutely small and insignificant. Can’t wait!



Thanks so much for answering all of my crazy questions Sheralyn! It's been a pleasure having you stop by to say hi!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

You're Gonna Wanna Be There!

I got a chance to read this and let me tell you, it's my kind of book! If you're looking for a new great read, check it out.

POSSESSION

by Elana Johnson




Launch Party

Date:
Wednesday, June 8
7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location:
The King's English
1511 S. 1500 E.


Other events Elana will be at:

~Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 10:00am
Brigham Young University

~Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble Bookstore
330 E. 1300 S.
Orem, UT

Or click here (blog) or here (fb) for more information.





Monday, May 16, 2011

Marriage Monday: Where Ya Headed?


Where Ya Headed?

Shannan Blum Hardy, M.S.

"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there." Kofi Annan

Every successful business has what is known as a ‘business plan’. It’s the road map and structure of the business...where are you getting your financing from, what is your collateral, what is your inventory, what does your balance sheet of profits/losses look like, what are your projections for earnings, what improvements to the business do you plan on making, etc. Additionally, successful businesses are those which create and incorporate a mission statement into their daily business practices. I think we can learn something from these concepts and apply them to our marriages and families.

The part I love about Annan’s quote is “where you want to go and why you want to get there.” Basically, 1) Have your END in mind even while you BEGIN, and 2) Know your motivation. I LOVE this! So...what is your end game with regards to your marriage and then by extension, to your family? Do you know? If you’ve already written out a mission statement or motto for your family, then GREAT...and share it with us and how you use it. If not (like most of us!) try this exercise and see what develops:

Take an hour before bed tonight, grab a pen and a tablet of paper. Make two columns on the sheet of paper. On the left column just jot down words for what you want your marriage to be like, ie... “tender, funny, nurturing, uplifting, committed, spiritual, affectionate” etc. Whatever YOUR goals are. Then, in the right column, right down sentences explaining WHY you want those characteristics. “I want a tender relationship because I feel loved when I’m treated with tenderness,” or “I want humor in my marriage because I can feel like I’m lightening my husband’s load when I make him laugh”. After you complete this list...you’ll have your goals (left side) and your motivation (right side). Now, you can make them into a personal mission statement for your marriage. Or...you can do this exercise together and make it a joint venture...it might be interesting to see what the differences are between your personal ideas for your marriage and what the two of you come up with together.

At any rate...begin writing something...anything to start. Give it some time, come back to it after a few days and see if anything new strikes you. Once you get it written out...post it somewhere visible. Read it often...revise it if necessary...add to or modify it. Use it as a guide and you’ll have a much higher chance of achieving it!!


Thanks to my guest blogger today, Shannan Blum Hardy!


For your viewing pleasure check out some fun cartoons that Shannan found from http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/mission_statements_gifts.asp. They're pretty funny but I just couldn't post them without permission so I thought it'd be fun to send you over that way to read a few if you're interested. :)




Shannan Blum Hardy received her Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University in 1992 and worked full-time as a drug and alcohol counselor before becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom to her children. She is currently divorced and living with her four children in Chino Hills, California. She has re-entered the workplace as a therapist working with children in the public school system and earning hours towards private licensure. Additionally, she is a co-author with her sister-in-law of "ManagerMom: Managing Your Home for Better Parenting" which you can view at www.managermom.net. She is passionate about parenting, relationships, learning new things, growing and enjoying every moment with delight!



You can find my other Marriage Monday's here.



*Image found with google images.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Entitlement Trap

I've been a huge fan of the Eyre's and their programs and books for a LONG time (read: since I was 4). I really believe these guys have some incredible wisdom and this new book looks to be one worth reading.

Richard Eyre sent me a couple of summary's of the book and I'm including them both for you. Check it out!

Short version:"Kids' sense of entitlement is the biggest problem today's parents face. Children seem to think they should have whatever they want, and whatever their friends have right now, and without working for it. The reason entitlement is a trap is that it destroys motivation, incentive, creativity and work ethic. It takes away from our children everything we want to give them. We have come to believe that the antidote to entitlement (and the prerequisite to responsibility) is to help children feel "earned ownership" of their spending money, their "stuff", their education and grades, their values and goals, and their decisions and choices. This is a book on how to give them all of that!"

Medium version:

After elaborating and explaining something that we all know--namely that our children feel more entitled and are more spoiled than any other generation of kids in history--this book tells parents what to do about it!

Unknowingly, most parents are contributing to their kids' sense of entitlement by giving them too much and expecting too little of them. "Allowances" are usually part of the problem. Kids queue up like a welfare line each week and demand their money. Since they did nothing to earn the money, they don't perceive ownership of it, or of the things they buy with it. The same applies to the toys and gadgets and clothes that we give them. They gave up nothing for it, so they take no pride in it.

Unfortunately, its not only their "stuff" that they feel no ownership in or pride for--it is also their goals, their choices, and even their values. If they don't think of them as "theirs" (often because we have just thrust it all on them) they are unmotivated and without incentive!

To change all that is the goal of this book! Young kids are both flattered and instructed by having real responsibility and by being paid for what they actually do rather than given handouts.
The Entitlement Trap gives parents a detailed blueprint of how to establish a "family economy" wherein kids earn, budget, save, and give money and where they buy their own things and become truly responsible for them. It involves an interest-paying family bank complete with checkbooks and a pegboard or on-line system of keeping track of task accomplishment.

As Stephen Covey says in the forward, "
In the first half of the book, you will learn how to make your kids economically savvy and financially independent. . . . In the second half, you will learn that the family economic model is just the framework and the metaphor for lessons even more important."

The second half goes on to apply the same ownership principles to kids' grades and education, to their choices and goals, and perhaps most importantly to their values. Once our children accept and perceive real ownership of all these things, their motivation and incentive grows exponentially, and our job of teaching them responsibility begins to feel possible!


YOU CAN PRE-ORDER THE ENTITLEMENT TRAP NOW AND GET A 33% DISCOUNT AND A FREE DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR CHILD.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Marriage Monday: I Need Your Help


It was suggested by a few of you that we all collaborate on date ideas (I'm specifically thinking for married couples of any age).

Leave your ideas in the comments below and I'll compile them all in a list, possibly in categories of price ranges or something too. I'll probably throw in some random ones this week too.

Also I know a handful of you have directed me to some fun websites specifically geared to date ideas so if you'd like to leave those too I add those to our page for others to find and use as well.

Thanks you guys!



You can find my other Marriage Monday's here.



*Image found with google images.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

It's No Sacrifice To Love You*

Happy Mothers Day!



*(I know this isn't the title of the song but I adored this line!!)

This video is from Archangle records. You can view more of their songs here.