The Dog Days--get Sirius about writing! :)

[sachiko]

Hey, fellas. I read a neat essay at First Things by Elizabeth Scalia about how we need to declare ourselves to the Savior.

www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2012/08/jesusrsquo-challenge-ldquostand-and-deliverrdquo

I think our writing is part of a lifelong self-declaration, and I'm thinking I need more specificity in my prayers.

My husband found me a used netbook and a roll-up keyboard, and I'm going to see if I can use that while I'm at the park with kids and whatnot to get writing in.

I STILL haven't gotten Sister T.'s book!

We've been busy lately going to Portland to buy beds for our children. Last summer my husband's uncle bought a whole lot of metal bunk beds auctioned out of defunct military barracks. We didn't have any other mattresses so we used the ones that came with the bunk beds, which made my skin crawl. I'm not sure if my skin-crawling was psychosomatic or a direct result of tiny bed immigrants.

Those mattresses are the bedding equivalent of amnesiac syphilitic vagrants.

Anyway, we bought the very cheapest foam mattresses for our children so they're all on clean beds now.

IKEA was fun but Portland was very Portlandy. There were hardly any kids there in the store. At one point in the elevator I heard a woman coo, "Oh, so cute, how old??"

I thought, I didn't see a baby in here, I would have noticed a baby! and turned around and see several adults all leaning over a small dog in a lady's purse.

I briefly wondered if my kids would all look cuter if I toted them around in purses, too. I guess that's how the like to do it over there on the coast.

anyway, that's what I've been up to; what are you guys doing?

[charlie]

I have been home for about three days after a ten day vacation in Alaska with family. Am just now getting caught up a little. Sachiko, I like to walk through IKEA just to browse and then have Swedish meatballs in their cafeteria. Glad your children are sleeping on better mattresses.

I have been doing very little writing lately. Trying to get back in the mood. If any of you are interested my new book, Culpability and Absolution, is due for release Aug. 31. I still haven't seen cover art or the galley so the release might postponed. Publisher is R. J. Buckley Publishing out of Phoenix area. FYI, this book is under my pen name, Joshua Berry.

Also, my dad's cousin and her husband just recieved a mission call to Auckland, New Zealand.

Hope all is well with our little group.

[sachiko]

hey, charlie, congrats on your new book!

[paulwest]

Aug 7, 2012 12:19:38 GMT -5 sachiko said:

I briefly wondered if my kids would all look cuter if I toted them around in purses, too.

LOL. Probably in their eyes anyway.

Congrats Charlie on your book publication. I wasn't aware you had one in the oven. What is it about? With a title like "Culpability and Absolution," I can see it as either a religious work or a mystery novel.

[paulwest]

Just got back a very interesting and (hopefully) helpful response from an agent to my latest query. Thought I'd share it with you.

-----------------------------

Paul,

Thanks for reaching out to me about your project.

I don't think this is for me (I'm looking for a very particular kind of YA novel and don't really go for much else), but I'll offer a couple of quick thoughts on your query. First, go into more detail about who the teenage boy is and what his journey will be. Also, you might get some blowback for setting a YA novel in 1964 (unless you have a very good reason to set it in that time and tie the story into its era). So be prepared to address that.

I do like the way you intend to use the San Fran setting.

Best of luck, and thanks again for your interest in the company.

[sachiko]

hey, that's a GREAT rejection!!!! and super feedback!!

[charlie]

Paul, that is great feedback. Gives you something to build on and many agents don't give any feedback.

My new book is about two families drawn together by a tragic accident. Packed with a wide range of emotions it is basically general fiction, maybe in the genre of family drama (if something like that exists).

Haven't heard from T. Lynn or Gary for awhile. Both are probably busy with life. Hope all is well with each of you.

[rahmuss]

T. Lynn is working on her third book. Not sure what Gary is up to.

I really enjoyed The Lost Curse. And she had a twist in there that surprised me. Anyway, it was very enjoyable.

[paulwest]

I'm currently working on The Lost Curse and highly enjoying it.

T.Lynn, I have to ask: Is the legend of the ghost light for real?

[paulwest]

I resumed writing chapter 3 of "Johnny Sweeting's Story." Now, I need to find a way to get him out of town. And where will he go if he does get away? Also, he's finding being a Mormon boy doesn't buy him any points with the law, even though he's innocent.

How's anyone else doing? It's been kind of quiet here lately.

[charlie]

It has been very quiet lately, Paul. Great that you're continuing to write, Paul. I have taken way too long away from my stories. Ideas keep cropping up in my mind, but that is where they stay. Now that the house quests are thinning out maybe I can motivate myself once again. Would like to finish my Samuel Brown story before years end.

Hope all is well with everyone.

[paulwest]

Too quiet. I hope all is well with everyone too.

I'm about half way through T.Lynn's latest and am enjoying it immensely.

[paulwest]

Hey, if anyone wants to follow the struggles I'm having writing and marketing my novels, check out my FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-West-Wr...nax_wizard=true . I'm using this as my official writer's blog.

Paul,

[charlie]

I hope this little board isn't dying out. Hopefully people are just busy and are at least popping in once in a while. The release of my new book has been pushed to October.

I will have to visit your facebook page, Paul. Mine is under my pen name - facebook/joshuaberry.

I am currently reading the Lost Curse. This is my first actual download (other than scriptures) to my Nookcolor. I am enjoying your book T. Lynn.

[paulwest]

Thanks Charlie, I'll check out your site as well.

T.Lynn, I'm almost through with your book. I've been so busy I haven't been able to read it more quickly, but I am enjoying it.

I too hope this site isn't dying out (again). We really need new blood. If anyone knows some LDS writers, invite them to join us.