My Poor Mother

Every year on February 27th, my thoughts tend to linger on one person. My mom, whom I affectionately refer to as Moth-er. After all, that's how it's spelled.

No, today isn't her birthday, anniversary, or even my birthday. It's because today is the day I was supposed to grace this earth with my presence twenty-six years ago. Apparently I was having just a peachy time inside my mama's pregnant belly because I didn't make my grand entrance until March 20th!

But the really scary part is that Scott was even later than I was.

So here's to tough mothers who protect their babies from the world as long as possible! Thanks to you, I'm a spring baby!

Love you, Mama! Er...Moth-er!

To buy The Acquisition click here.

Tigers and tigers and tigers! Oh my!

When I decided to start a blog, my original intent was to promote my own writing and the writing of authors I've grown to love. While I've obviously promoted my own, I have yet to promote another author. I kept thinking, "One day I'll get around to it, but it is not this day."

(Just a little Aragorn reference.)

Well, folks, today it IS that day. 

It is my pleasure to introduce to you the author of the Tiger Curse series Mrs. Colleen Houck!

This is the first book in a series of four (so far - a fifth is planned, but it hasn't sold yet). Here's what you need to know:

Synopsis

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and  mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.
 

 "I was wrapped up in the sweet romance and heart-pounding adventure of TIGER'S CURSE.  I found myself cheering, squealing and biting my nails--all within a few pages.  In short, it was magical!"  -Becca Fitzpatrick, New York Times best-selling author of HUSH, HUSH



How I discovered this series and why I recommend it:

Almost two years ago, I was casually perusing the YA section at the public library, and the cover of this gem caught my eye. When I read the cover page information, I was actually turned off. Indian curses and tigers weren't my thing. I put it back and moved on. Again and again, I visited the library that summer (I'm a teacher, so I had plenty of time to indulge myself in literary fiction), and I kept seeing this beautiful white tiger staring at me. On one certain occasion, nothing seemed to stand out, so I decided to give this one a shot.

I AM SO HAPPY I DID!

I was almost immediately enthralled in Kelsey's story, and I couldn't put it down. The details Houck infused in the story are so descriptive, so enchanting, that it was so easy, so wonderful to fall into her magical world. And the boys? Oh, the boys! Ren is...well...He's not my sweet Eric, of course, but he sure is something. And for those that trust me on this and continue with the series (TIGER'S CURSE, TIGER'S QUEST, TIGER'S VOYAGE, TIGER'S DESTINY, and hopefully TIGER'S DREAM), you will fall in love with Kishan as well.

The story, the curse, the magic - It will leave you wanting more!

Colleen Houck and I at a book signing in Atlanta

 This tour was for TIGER'S VOYAGE, the third in the series.


To purchase my novel, THE ACQUISITION, click here.

Celebrities and Walmart

I keep seeing NutriSystem commercials with Marie Osmond bragging about fitting into a costume she wore when she was 18. Everytime the commercial shows her prancing around in said costume, I think, "She really is much smaller when you see her in person."

No, I haven't paid hundreds of dollars to fly to Vegas and see her show. No, I don't have connections to her home teacher in Utah. My story is even better.

I went to Walmart.

In 2009 I did my student teaching in Henderson, NV, a community just outside of Vegas. The apartments they put us in didn't have televisions. I inherited a love of legal shows, comedies, and HGTV from my Dad (okay, maybe the HGTV was all me), so the thought of spending 3 months without it didn't sound pleasant. So, making my father proud, I wanted to buy a TV. I could've gone to Goodwill and get an old, boxy set, and I actually did venture out to thrift stores. Most of them were older than me, and I was living in Vegas! Everything was supposed to be glitzy, flashy, and glamorous, right? I wanted a flat screen.

Walking through the doors of Walmart, I called my dad to strike a bargain. I just knew he'd understand my dilemma. I had enough to split the cost of the flat screen. I wondered if I could sweet talk him into putting up the other half. I wasn't doing the best job of convincing him, sadly, but then she walked by. Flitted by. The air sparkled. Right by a bin of bath towels.

Marie Osmond.

"Dad, I think Marie Osmond just walked by."

Laughter. "No, she didn't, Emily."

"Um, Dad, I'm pretty sure she did."

"No, no, you must be mistaken."

"I'm not! Let me go find out. I'll call you back."

What you must understand is that my dad was head over heels for the singer of Paper Roses. He would be over the moon if this was really her! But, seriously, what was she doing in Walmart?

The TV gods must have been smiling upon me, because I followed Marie or this Marie lookalike to the electronics department. She was alone, dressed in nice clothes, tall heels, and BIG curly hair. Not to mention loads of make-up. Once I confirmed it was her, I called my dad back.

"DAD! IT'S REALLY HER!"

"Okay, if you go talk to her, I'll help with the TV."

"Dad, I can't just go up to her and talk to her. She'd probably hate that." Wouldn't she?

"That's the deal."

Grr.

So, I did. And she was SO NICE! She was happy to take a picture with me! We chatted for a few minutes. I told her I was a student from BYU-Idaho down here student teaching. She told me she was buying videos and games for FHE. (And she did have a large stack of DVDs and video games in her hands. And it was a Monday.) It was such a surreal experience to meet a celebrity in Walmart, but the best part of the story? I got my TV, the same flat screen I'm watching her commercials on today.

My Own Love Story

I've read some other posts about how two lovebirds met, so I thought I'd join in. It's not as exciting as some stories might be, but it's obviously one of my favorites.

It was Monday, April 28, 2008, and I had just returned to a still-too-cold-for-flip-flops Rexburg, Idaho. It was the first Monday of the first week of the summer semester, and you know what that means. Ward Family Home Evening Get-To-Know-You Social!

*Cue confetti, streamers, and balloon release.*

All kidding aside, I always did look forward to the beginning of a new semester, if for no other petty reason than to scope out the new guys coming through.

On my life I swear I did not go to BYU-Idaho to find a mister (but that's another story for another blog post)!

But, should the opportunity present itself, I wasn't going to turn it down. Well, April 28th rolls around. For reasons I can't remember, I was running late, and I was still dressed in work clothes (i.e. skirt and nice blouse). The activity was in the Kirkham Building in one of the dance rooms. As you arrived, you were sorted into groups to play a round robin style game tournament. I can't remember what group I was sorted into, I can't remember the games played, but I remember the boy in the baby blue shirt.

  

Oh. Baby.

But before I go into too much detail, I must tell you that I already knew who he was, and I definitely had my eye on him. A couple of days prior to this social event of the semester, I received an email from my bishop (ecclesiastical leader) that contained the newest ward roster. Of course the first thing I did was scan through the guy's section. The first thing I looked for was FROM. If there was any guy from the south, we would be instant friends.

"Hmm. Eric Mitchell. Ringgold, Georgia? Never heard of it. BUT GEORGIA! YESSSS!"

I knew who Eric was the instant I saw him. I kid you not, there was something...different...about him. There was a light. It could simply have been he was in a bright blue shirt and everyone else was dressed in darker colors. It could simply have been the bulb he was standing under was brighter. I don't know. But he clearly stood out from the crowd. At one point, I saw he was talking to one of my friends. This was my chance. I hastily casually walked up to this friend just as Eric was walking away, but there must have been something about me to catch his eye because he turned around. His words, "So, Joseph, are you going to introduce us to your friends?"

SCORE! We chatted, we laughed, we talked football (of course), but then we said goodbye. I had to wait a whole week. A WHOLE WEEK! We saw each other at church that Sunday. Nothing. Not a phone number. Not even an I-hope-I-see-you-soon kind of thing. Zip. I thought all was lost.

The following Tuesday, my life changed. He sent a facebook message asking if he could come over the next night and "hang out." I was so elated! Wednesday night couldn't come fast enough! But when it did, he never came. The minutes passed. The hours passed. Around 10:30, I started to head for bed. Those who know me know I am not a night owl by any means. Just as I was leaving the living room, a knock sounded. He walked all the way to my apartment, in the rain, carrying his guitar. He wished to serenade me! Which he did, and I swooned, and it was magical. Where was Eric before coming to my place, you wonder? At another girl's house. Sheesh.

Anyway, long story even longer, Wednesday night was fantastic! So fantastic that he asked me out for that coming Friday. I said no, but not because I wanted to turn him down. I already had a prior engagement that I couldn't get out of. So we went out Saturday instead.

The rest is history. December 27, 2008, Eric got down on one knee to ask me to marry him. May 22, 2010 was the day I promised him forever.

Forever's been good so far.

A great gift for the day of love would be THE ACQUISITION. I hear the author is pretty cool.

I hate group work.

Elementary school was great. I was privileged to go to a performing arts school that introduced me to a whole new world of culture, a world I try to live in still today.

Junior high? Not even going there.

High school rocked! I made great friends and received one of the best educations in the country. 

Excuse me while I brag on my high school. Just click here. Check out #32.

But one thing that has remained constant is this - I hate doing group work.

Not because I was anti-social. It was simply the dependency on someone else doing his or her job to ensure I got a good grade. I would much rather just do the work myself because then I could ensure it was done and done right. Call me a control freak. There's probably some truth to it. But I also hated the pressure of someone else depending on me to get them a good grade.

Well, years later, not much has changed. It's very difficult for me to put my trust and hope in other people to help me succeed. However, I knew what I was getting into when I self-pubbed my first book.

So. Here's how it works. The best way for me to succeed with my book is to get LOTS and LOTS of awesome reviews and ratings! Now, this doesn't mean I want people to make a mad dash to Amazon and write mushy, over-the-top reviews (because I know everyone reading this was just about to click "open new tab" and type www.amazon.com). BUT...if by chance you purchased The Acquisition, and you believe there are some positive things to say about it, I would greatly appreciate you leaving an honest, kind comment (emphasis on kind) and star rating. The more positive ratings and reviews a book has, the more likely it is to be recommended for Kindle readers. Also, the more positive ratings and reviews it receives, the more likely it is to be noticed by the important people (aka literary agents), which increases the chances of my dream of seeing my name in Barnes and Noble become a reality.

Regardless of what happens with my first novel, I have been so blessed with the love and support I've received from my friends and family! I am indebted to so many for the help they've given. I love you all!

*Since I am my own publicist, to purchase The Acquisition, simply click here.