Dreaming of the Islands

After days of ominous clouds lingering, the sun if finally out. Salt Lake City has seemed more like Seattle than it's usual sunny spring weather. There's not a lot to complain about, everything is green, and the rain has done a great job at masking where my sweets dogs urine spots would've shown up by now. There's always a positive somewhere.

This week the Channel 2 morning news has been highlighting the Polynesian Cultural Center, making me homesick for the islands. They've been streaming live, and with the time zone change it's 4am in Laie.  I'm rather proud of myself. After moving fifteen months ago, I've done a great job of masking the pain of moving from the place I love so much. I'm an out-of-sight-out-of-mind girl. I have to admit, I felt a pain in my stomach when I heard Chevron (the only gas station in town) started on fire yesterday during a power outage. Chevron and I became very close in the eight years I lived there:  me--Ahhh, Pepsi. Chevron--yes, thank you for your $1.06 (thank goodness refills are much cheaper in Utah :) ).  This is one relationship that will always have a special place in my heart. 

Below is my sweet husband, Fa'a, with me at Sunset Beach (obviously during sunset) a few weeks before me moved back to Utah.  Note the puffy face (which seems to be my MO lately) because of the yucky steroids the doctor put me on after a Multiple Sclerosis attack that paralyzed my left leg.

Mother's Day at the Primary Childrens Hospital

Aloha!

It was 7:30PM Saturday after the LDStorymakers conference, I got a frantic phone call from Darnel's friend, Isaac, to come and get Darnel because he was sick. Fa'a and I rushed to pick him up and knew instantly that he was sick. We took him to Intermountain Medical Center and they put him in a room right away. After checkinghim over, the Dr. informed us that she was concened Darnel had Meningitis. They attempted a spinal tap (Lumbar Puncher) three times until finally taking him down for the Radiologist to perform it under an x-ray. The results were back two hours later and it was official--signs of Meningitis (most likely viral). They sent us straight up to Primary Childrens Hospital. We checked in, got Darnel settled and Fa'a headed home to sleep. I finally shut my eyes at 3:45am.

The next morning (7:30am) eight Dr's came into exam Darnel. They said we had caught it on time and he was doing well with the anitbiotic (they gave him antibiotics incase the test came back positive for BACTERIAL Meningitis). By 2:00pm we checked him out and headed home, keeping an eye for any return of symptoms).

I was able to spend the evening with all my children and husband. I missed Dylan and Aryana sining to me in Sacrament Meeting, but they sung it for me when they went to bed.

I often ask myself...Is this for real? No way can anyone's life really be like this.

Storymakers Conference

I had and incredible weekend. This years LDStorymakers Conference was held at the SLC Sheraton. I met a lot of wonderful authors and some great new friends. Next year I'm going to stay at the hotel, it was like a mini-vacation. The best part about the weekend--meeting the 3 agents that came. Sarah Megibow accepted my fb friendship before the conference. She remembered who I was. She was better than I had expected. She was the only agent to show up to the Authors Incognito and mingle with everyone. I waited patiently and finally was able to get my time with her. She offered excellent feedback and I'm excited to get to work on my revisions for Off the Edge. I also talked with Sara Crowe (she critiqued my query and like it--told me to send my ms to her) and Becca Stumpf. They were both just as gracious as Sara Megibow. If you haven't had the chance to attend the Storymakers conference I highly recommend it.

LDStorymakers Conference

I am so excited to attend this years LDStorymakers Conference. It will be 3 days of heaven. It's going to be great to get the chance to finally rub shoulders with authors, editors, agents.

I've just been busy lately working on both my books and entering them in the First Chapter Contest for the Conference. Hopefully one of them will win.!!!

Also, been busy revising, revising, and more revising. Writing is soooo fun!

Got the van & finished the book.

Yeah! Fa'a and I are the proud owners of a Honda Odyssey EXL. Very very sweet. Leather seats, entertainment center, 8 seats, 13 drink holders (Dylan counted) and just a little bit of traveling heaven.

Also, finished Off the Edge revisions and printed some copies, gave to my hired Editor and she is passing on to 5 beta teenage readers.

Now just lots of brain storming for my new book!

Keeping my fingers crossed

Aloha to this beautiful snowy day!

Loving this morning when I walked the dogs with my beautiful daughter and saw the first snow fall of the season. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR. It's been 4 years since our family has been around for the season (Hawaii is only rainy and hot). Lili, Aryana's dog, looks adorable in her new winter jacket, now Tali just needs one (her's is an old sweater from last year--get's too wet).

Very nervous for the rest of the morning. We are heading over to the bank and praying hard that we get approved for the loan to by our new Honda Odyssey.

Also, very excited to say I finished my revisions AGAIN on OFF THE EDGE and sent them back to my hired editor to be sent out to 5 beta teen readers, all interested in different genre. Excited to hear back.

This allowed me to now focus completely on my other book (no title yet--lets say Victor). Excited, especially after Fa'a and I drove up to Jackson Hole and Victor this week to do more research.



Enjoy the day!

Ready for the weekend

This week has be so up and down--emotionally. I HATE the query process. I feel like I'm stalking my own email, hoping to get someone interested in my book. It was productive, though. An agent tweeted about my query and I happen to see it. I found out she rejected me so I emailed her about the tweet. We have been corresponding and she has given me ALOT of great feedback --along with public query slushpile blog.

I discoverd that 1). My query letter is too long, and 2). I have it listed in the wrong genre--college age is not considered young adult.

So, I'm back to the drawing board. I have since cut the query from 450 words to 185 words. I am also going through the book (again!) and changing the ages, cuz I can't keep them in high school, it just changes the story.

So...in the scheme of it all, it's just a long, long, process of learning ALOT, taking rejection, and deciding that you have something that isn't worth giving up on.

I was also relieved to discover that Dylan's eyes are better (prayers work!). We just need a checkup next year. I am also looking forward to my boys football games tomorrow, and a fun date night with my hubby!

Have a great weekend.