Conferences, Querying and Awards!!!

Today is a good day...This reference reminds me of a rap song from the late nineties. Anyone care to take a guess at which one?

Okay, focus Deana.

For those of you who don't know, I am flying out to Utah in May to attend the LDS StoryMakers conference. I'm pretty excited about this because I get to meet TONS of blogger buddies and I can't wait for that. On top of that, I found out yesterday that I'm going to be in Elana Johnson's Publication Primer group. This is a six hour session for people serious about getting published. I can't believe how luck I am to be placed in her group so she can slash our pages and help us to be better writers:)

Oh, but my day gets even better.

I have edited Ripple Effect multiple times on my own and have gone through three rounds of beta reads. I've read it out loud, switched whole chapters moved and deleted. Added and changed. I think it's come time that I dip my toes in the query trenches.

I do still have it out to a couple of beta buddies and I want one more round of reads before all is said and done, but I am going to send it out to ten agents and just see what happens. Get a feel for if I have legs to stand on...or if I don't. We shall see.

What about you? How do you know when you're ready to query?

To end this post on why today is so wonderful...I have been given some awards!

Cassie Mae has given me the...umm I was trying to find out but something loopy is going on with her blog this morning.
Sharon Bayliss, over at the Blue Word has given me the Sunshine Award and tagged me with the Lucky 7 Meme
And finally Tara Tyler, from Tara Tyler Talks gave me the Sunshine Award too!

You all are so sweet! It makes me want to get all sentimental on you...but I won't today. Instead I will pass on the awards and the rules.

 

I like this MEME! Here are the rules:
1. Go to page 77 of your current MS.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 authors.




Here is mine:
"...you to sit here and rest and I’m going to go get us something to drink.”
“What? Where do you think you’re going to do that?” I ask, skeptical.
“Just trust me.”
“Whatever.” I have no energy to care if I get a drink or not at this point, so I curl up into my same old useless ball-like position and try to sleep.

#

After tossing and turning on the hard ground, I grunt and mumble and finally figure...

That's it. Pretty enthralling 7 lines huh? HA!
Alrighty, now for the Sunshine Award:
Here are the questions. Here are my answers.

1. Favorite Color: Blue: Go Big Blue!

2. Favorite Animal: All of them:)

3. Favorite Number: 6

4. Favorite (non-alcoholic) drink: diet coke

5. Facebook or Twitter: Twitter

6. My passion: writing

7. Getting or Giving presents: can I say both?

8. Favorite Pattern: mismatched stuff. I just love it!

9. Favorite Day of the Week: Since I am a stay at home mom, I don't really dread the week. So I am going to say all the days are pretty cool!
10. Favorite Flower: I'm horrible with knowing the names of flowers, but my favorite is that one that blooms into big ball-like flowers. Oh they are BEAUTIFUL!
Passing on the love now....
Kim Van Sickler
Leslie Rose
The Red Angel
Reina Laaman
Chemist Ken
Kristin Creative
Angela Brown
That's it. Later dudes:)

Writers Butt--Update #1

Welp, this is my first Writer's Butt update and I really wanted to find the perfect picture for the occasion but I couldn't find one. If anyone knows of any hilarious pics (in good taste) that would relate to Writers Butt, I'd love to hear about it.

Now, onto the update....

As I said in my beginning of the year goals post, I am determined to get my tail in shape this year and rid my life of Writer's Butt. I am under the impression that being accountable to you all is going to help me reach my goal.

SO

It has been 26 days and here is what I've done:

- Joined Weight Watchers (I have actually been a member for awhile, but was horrible at doing it. Now I'm better!

- Started working out. I'm trying mix it up be doing some P90X, Dance 2 and Adventures on the Kinect and cleaning. And I do this BEFORE I start my writing.

- Eating smaller portions.

By doing those things I have LOST 8.2 POUNDS!!!

I'm feeling pretty good. Nope it isn't Biggest Loser numbers or anything, but it is coming off which makes me feel better every time my butt plops in the writing chair.

What about you? Are you trying to rid your life of Writer's Butt? If so, what are you doing? How is it going? What about other goals, how are they coming along?

***

Before I say adios for the weekend I want to thank all of those who helped me out and encouraged me through the crappy synopsis. I also want to give Sharon Bayliss and Robin Weeks a shout out and a big thanks for both giving me the Kreative Blogger award! You two are slammin' in my book:)

Now for 6 random things about me (some of these may be repeats so I'm sorry if you've heard them before...

1) When I was a child I lived in a tent with my dad for about 6 months.

2) I was attacked by my brothers big dog and my husband--then boyfriend--saved me and was attacked. To this day both of us have scars and nerve damage in our arms.

3) I've moved way more times than I can count. 30 times give or take is what I'm thinking.

4) A brown recluse bit me when I was a teenager and I almost lost my leg.

5) I was a baton twirler for the Tennessee Twirlers when I was a kid and made the state team in Tennessee and we got to travel and perform all over.

6) My great uncle was in the Guinness Book of World Record for pulling a train with his teeth. No lie!

And I'm passing this award on to just a few of my favorite bloggers out there (I wish I could pick you all!):

Meredith Moore

ER King

Angela Brown

Angie Cothran

Jasmine Walt

Jamie Ayers