My Second Book "Stains of Grass"

I'm pleased to introduce my second book, recently published through Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan.  Stains of Grass is in the same format as my first book, 288 Chances, published in October 2013, a collection of writings that began with one word or one photo, and five minutes of free-writing.  

 

From the back of my book, "Guided by her faith, prompted by her inner Spirit, and with honest and unique interpretations, Brenda uses words, photographs and scripture to provoke thought and offer a gentle nudge for each of us to look both inward and outward. Inward for a better understanding of ourselves and our motives in this life, and outward so we may more readily see and be first to reach out when others need lifting up."

 

I find that when I write from my everyday, sometimes through personal experience, but mostly through the simple observation of human nature, my faith often finds its way onto the page.  And I'm prompted to share that with you.

 

I had two book signings recently, both well-attended with many interesting questions about my writing and the publishing process.  It seems there are many out there who either have an idea for a book and haven't yet decided to take the leap, or who have been a writer for as long as they can remember, but have never shared what they write with others.  I believe that many ideas and stories from many talented and thoughtful writers will never be shared.  If I can do it, so can you!

 

From my experience, it takes a combination of courage and en-courage-ment to put yourself out there.  I've been very fortunate to have a wonderful support system that has shared not just their encouragement that I could see a book (or two) published one day, but who gave me their honest opinion on whether or not I should.  Without that support, I may not have found the confidence to publish and share my words with others. 

 

My book is available in printed softcover and ebook for downloading at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or on the publisher's website at Westbow Press. 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Read (and write) on!

 

Brenda 

 

 

Goodreads Giveaway

Until November 24, I'm offering a giveaway of my book "288 Chances" on Goodreads, a free website for book lovers.  Goodreads is like one large on-line library that you can wander through at your leisure, finding and reviewing books by your favorite authors, and meeting up with other like-minded souls who enjoy writing and reading as much as you do.  You can list and track books that you're reading and see recommendations for books that others are enjoying as well.

And if you haven't already read it, I would like to recommend a book that I reviewed on Goodreads, and one that I highly recommend to ANYONE who has ANY desire to write ANYTHING.  Stephen King's book, "On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft", might be the most interesting, at times entertaining, but most of all straight-talking, informative book on the craft of writing that I've ever come across.  I enjoyed it immensely and learned a lot from this master-craftsman, the master-craftsman, himself.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  You'll be glad you did.

Enter to win one of (5) signed copies of my book, which will be mailed out to you once the winners have been chosen at random by the good folks at Goodreads. 

Follow this link to sign up for (1) signed copy of my book, Goodreads Giveaway.  Do it today.  I do hope you win and I hope you enjoy!

Signing off for now,

Brenda  :)

On The Shelf

It's beyond rewarding whenever I see my book, "288 Chances", on the shelf at a Barnes and Noble bookstore.  It's thrilling, but so surreal at the same time.  Even after going through the whole experience of writing, re-writing, editing and finally, submitting a fnished manuscript to be published, to see the end result - out there and available to readers everywhere - is surreal indeed.

There I am! Right there. That' s me.      

I love just being surrounded by books, all books.  I can easily spend a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon, just browsing through row after row, seeing the familiar names that we all know and admire.  I see the names of the already established and much sought-after authors, publishing yet another much-anticipated book, one their readers can't wait to buy up as soon as possible.  You have to respect the years of hard work and the undisputable talent that has afforded them that kind of success. 

But I'm most interested in the first-time authors, or those that are just beginning to make a name for themselves in the publishing world. I believe it takes equal amounts of "courage and en-couragement" for a writer to take that leap.  A leap into the unknown, sharing so much of themselves, opening the door to not just praise and reward, but just the same, criticism and rejection.  Those are the writers I like to look for - and watch.  The ones who have so much of value to say and share, but will never have the fame or recognition of many of the most successful writers and authors of our time. 

Then again, there's a really good chance that's not why they wrote and published a book in the first place.

So there I am, in the very same neighborhood as such distinguished authors as Dr. Phil and Jane Pauley.  Again, may I say surreal?

Signing off for now,

Brenda   :)

My Speaking Engagement at Readers Conference

As the author of my book "288 Chances:  Reflections on Everyday Life, One Word, Five Minutes at a Time", I was invited to be a presenter at the 2014 Iowa Reading Association Conference in Ames, Iowa, on June 25, 2014.  I met some wonderful people there and saw first-hand all the good work that this group of teachers, educators and dedicated individuals do to promote literacy. 

I was honored to have been extended the opportunity to share my passion for writing, to share my experience in the writing and publication of my first book, as well my opinion as to the importance of literacy for all, the ability to read and write, for even the youngest readers. 

My program was entitled "Write to Express, Not Impress",  based on the idea that I’m a reader who became a writer. I’m convinced that a love of reading, the passion to both read and tell a really good story, are essential in every writer, professional or otherwise. I wrote in the dedication of my book, “I write because I can and because I have to.” I say that because, for me, it’s a privilege knowing I can write any time I want to, and I have to write any time I can.

 

Here is an excerpt from my program.  "But writing to impress, while it might showcase a skillful command of language and sentence structure, the words may end up sounding pretentious and uninspiring to some readers. If the end goal for the writer is publication of their finished work, my hope is most published authors would tell you that writing and publishing are not about ego and self-promotion. A writer writes because they have to. And publishing one's work should be more about the satisfaction that comes from finishing something you started, from dedicating yourself to doing the hard work and seeing it through to completion. Admittedly, publication is validation that someone recognized the worth and value in words which you wrote. But I can't stress enough. Write to express, not to impress."

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience and would gladly participate again.  I received some valuable feedback and received several interesting questions from those who attended my presentation. 

My book was also available for sale at the Barnes and Noble Booth set up at the event.  A booksigning was scheduled immediately after my prestation and I was honored to sign books for those who purchased my book at the conference or brought their book for me to sign.

My thanks to those who extended me the invitation, and for their kind words of encouragement leading up to the conference.  This was my first public speaking appearance, and while it did take many months of hard work and preparation, choosing my topic, writing my program and the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied my talk, I would do it again - in a heartbeat.

Signing off for now,

Brenda  :)

A Book Signing

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . . and a great time for a Book Signing party!  To introduce my recently published book, “288 Chances”, we organized a local Book Signing / Holiday Party that turned out to be a great success.  The event was held at a private residence on Sunday afternoon, December 8th.  Guests arrived to quiet Christmas music playing throughout, the aroma of hot apple cider and a beautifully decorated holiday home, complete with twinkling white lights inside and out - - and even some real snow. 

I had plenty of books on hand ready for signing.  I designed and printed business cards for guests to pick up as they came through the line.  On the front of the card, I included information on where the book is available for purchase, both in paperback and as an e-book for download.  On the back side, I chose an excerpt from my book to give readers a sample of the writings I included.

 

 

I put together an “Inspiration Station” for guests to visit if they chose to.  I offered some printed informational postcards, free for the taking, and also shared some printed articles that outlined some valuable tips and inspirational quotes on writing.  I also created a PowerPoint presentation that played continuously during the 3-hour event, which showed highlights from my book and where I shared some insight on finding the courage to share my words with others.

We offered an assortment of goodies, much appreciated by our guests.

Each guest signed in when they arrived.  We had a drawing at the end of our event and gave away this gift basket to one lucky visitor, which included a complimentary signed copy of my book, some chocolate, a spiced candle and a glass mug with the makings for a cup of hot cocoa or some chamomile tea.  

The next day, the local newspapers published a photo and short article on the event.  All in all, it was a very successful afternoon.  Smaller, more personal group book signings are a great way to put the word out on your book at the local level.  A little planning and organization and you have the opportunity to spread the word about your book in a very positive way.

Here is an interesting article from Authority Publishing.com that may be helpful to you when you plan YOUR first book signing.  It addresses how you might want to personalize your book when signing.

How to Autograph Books: Book Signing Tips for New Authors By Stephanie Chandler

Recently a new author asked me how she should handle autographing her books. It took me back to when I had published my first book, remembering how awkward it felt to sign copies. I also thought about my first business—a bookstore—where we flipped through used books in search of autographs (the equivalent of a literary jackpot!). Some were short and sweet with just a name, while others had more personal inscriptions. Here are some simple tips to help you prepare to autograph your books!

1. Decide where to sign. I like to sign my books on the title page, which is where most books are autographed, though you can also sign the inside cover. In some cases, you may want to sign the front cover, though this is rare and would probably only be appropriate for a coffee table book or something that will be on display.

2. Personalize your message. In most cases people want the book inscribed to them personally, though sometimes it’s intended as a gift so be sure to ask, “Should I sign this to you?” Use their first name and always ask for the spelling since even common names can have unusual spellings. If you have time, try to personalize your message in some way: “It was great meeting you at the XYZ conference” or “I enjoyed learning about your business…”

3. Choose a signature phrase. Ideally you should have one to three phrases that you write each time you sign a book so you don’t have to think too hard! Your message can also be memorable and should fit within the space allotted. When I’m not pressed for time, I sign my books: “Wishing you abundant joy and success.” If a line of people are waiting I simply write “Best wishes.” Here are some others: All my best Thanks In gratitude To your health Much appreciation Warm wishes Best regards Onward Your friend Etc…

4. Make sure your name is legible. Consider the fact that someday your book could be a collector’s item! Even if it isn’t, do you want to leave any doubt that you’re the one who signed it? If needed, practice writing your name so that it is at least partially legible. You should also sign first and last name unless your name is Madonna or Cher.

5. Add a date (optional). Admittedly I usually omit the date—mostly because I can never remember what day it is! But recipients will appreciate it when you date your inscription.

6. Use a good pen. I’ll never forget the day I was signing books and the only pen I had on me was one of those cheap stick pens I picked up from a hotel room. Though it got the job done, I didn’t feel like it demonstrated how serious I am about my work. For those of you who autograph the cover or inside cover, a good Sharpie will probably be your best choice. For everyone else, do yourself a favor and invest in a nice pen. It doesn’t matter if the ink is blue or black, if the barrel is thick or thin, just choose something that you love and that makes you feel like an author! (Oh, and make sure the ink dries quickly!)

Happy writing!

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda  :)

An Excerpt

My book, “288 Chances”, is a collection of writings that reflect some of my thoughts on everyday life and the moments that make up our day-to-day existence.  Inspired by a single word, I wrote whatever came to mind, the first thoughts that popped into my head, without thinking too hard. It was important to get my thoughts down as quickly as possible, without caring about grammar or punctuation, before the train left the station and the words escaped me and I found myself with my fingers poised over my keyboard – and nothing.  When the inspiration on seeing the word was immediate, my fingers couldn’t type fast enough!

One of the words in my book is “Unexpected”.  What first enters your mind when you see the word?  Perhaps you’ve recently experienced something unexpected, something you weren’t looking for to happen.  We would hope our unexpected is always going to be good, but as unpredictable as life is, it may not always be welcome.  I happen to think the most important thing about unexpected, good or bad, is what we learn or gain from it.

Here is an excerpt from my book.

“Life is full of unexpected.  It it wasn’t, we would all know the why, what, when and where every event in our life would take place and how it all turns out.  Unexpected events can change the very direction of our lives in an instant.  Unexpected – tragic changes us one way.  Unexpected – happy or joyous changes us in another.  The real challenge lies in how we react and respond to these unexpected moments, how we grow, change, learn or benefit from them.”



Maybe you learned something about yourself through an unexpected experience in your life.  Maybe it was good, maybe it wasn’t.  But just maybe you discovered a positive quality in yourself or perhaps an inner strength you have that you hadn’t realized was there before.  And maybe you’ll find five minutes to sit down and write about it sometime.

As I wrote in my book “Unexpected can show us things about ourselves we might not otherwise see”. 

Will you look at your next “unexpected” as misfortune or as an opportunity?

Think about it.

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda  :)

My softcover book is available for purchase now at WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson, Barnesandnoble.com, Amazon.com, and other online retailers.

The Magic of Storytelling

I love animated movies.  The colors, the music, just the genius of today’s animation is mind-boggling.  I’m completely amazed at how animators can create pencil characters on a blank piece of paper and then bring them to life in stories that make us love them, fear for them, root for them and relate to them just as we would human actors.  These artists, with their mighty pens and a little computer generated technical wizardry, combine with a terrific tale to capture our attention and hold it for an entire full-length feature movie.



I came across this article on Businessinsider.com, “22 Storytelling Tips for Writers From a Pixar Storyboard Artist”, and found it fascinating.  I, as a writer, would love to know how they create this magic.  These are a few of the storytelling tips that will no doubt help any writer either begin writing or better critique their own storytelling.
 
1. “You admire a character for trying more than for their successes." - How many animated movies have us caring about and rooting for the underdog?  We empathize with and feel just as much for the character for their efforts and determination, even when they don’t come out on top.

2.  “You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.” - It isn’t always going to be about what we the writer wants, but more what’s going to attract and hold your reader’s attention from beginning to end.

3.  “What is your character good at, comfortable with?  Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. how do they deal?” - We all eventually want to see the “happily ever after”, don’t we?  But if in the process, our characters have to face something outside their comfort zone and better yet, they overcome it in the end, we’ve told a story with both heart and substance.

4. “Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.” – I get this one.  Inspiration strikes in mysterious ways.  I have sometimes had the ending to a story all figured out from the get-go and then written my way backwards.  It’s fun!
  
For more storytelling tips, link to the complete article here.  

Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, The Incredibles.  All creative characters telling touching, teaching, entertaining stories.

“To infinity and beyond!”  Maybe that’s a testament to Pixar’s storytelling philosopy.  What’s yours?

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda  :)

A Book Review

I’m still getting used to the idea of having published this book.  The privilege of being able to share my words with others, that opportunity in itself, still seems almost surreal.  The satisfaction of having put in the time, done the research, finished the manuscript, completed the editing process, and seeing this project go from first draft to final product is reward in itself.  All of that, and simply accomplishing the goal of finishing something I started, feels really good.   

I’d like to share one of the first reviews from a reader.  I’m so appreciative of the kind words.



“288 Chances is an insightful look into the heart and mind of a wife, mother, daughter and friend.  The book is full of thoughts and situations in daily life that everyone can relate to.  In a world full of busy and complex, 288 Chances is an insightful reminder of what really matters in life.  We all experience the joys, frustrations and highs and lows in life.  It’s what we choose to do with them that defines who we are and how we approach every day.  This book is well written, from the heart and offers something for everyone”.



I’m so pleased.  And grateful.

Such an awesome, valuable, unique learning experience.  I highly recommend.

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda  :)

Writing Tips from the Pros

In this article from Huffingtonpost.com, there is a collection of quotes from some famous and very successful authors that I found so interesting.  These brilliant writers obviously mastered their craft.  We could learn a lot from them.

Writing Tips: 31 Most Invaluable Pieces Of Writing Advice From Famous Authors

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath

ME - How many times do we have an idea and never follow through because we doubt our ability to create something of real importance to anyone else but ourselves?  Self-doubt stifles creativity and can ultimately convince the writer that their words won’t really matter anyway.  And that couldn’t be further from the truth.  Even if you’re writing just for yourself, your words matter.  A lot.

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.  No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” – Robert Frost

ME - I wholeheartedly agree!  If we the writer don’t feel the emotion in the words we put to paper, we can’t expect the reader to.  Why do we write?  To reach out, to touch, to engage and to inspire others.  The writer has to “get it” before he can “give it”.

“I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent, he would be wise to develop a thick hide.” – Harper Lee

ME - Rejection is a fact of life for any writer.  Even the most prolific and successful writers could probably show us boxes full of polite rejection letters before something they wrote was recognized as having enough potential to actually be published.  There are many really creative, talented, insightful writers out there whose words may never be shared with anyone, let alone be published.  And that’s a darn shame.

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King

ME - Many times I’ve sat at my computer, my fingers poised above the keyboard – and nothing happens.  Not right away.  Other times, if I’m genuinely inspired, I can’t type fast enough.  My brain is working faster than my fingers and I have to really concentrate not to lose that momentum.  The first draft of anything is always very rough, but the important thing is it’s a start.  And you have to start somewhere.

“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends.  In the end it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life as well.  It’s about getting up, getting well and getting over.  Getting happy, ok?” – Stephen King

I couldn’t have said it better myself. 

Does writing make you happy?  Leave a comment and share if you wish.

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda  :)

A Picture Paints 1000 Words

You already know I have a love of writing.  I also appreciate a beautiful photograph.  A picture paints 1000 words, so can words paint a picture.  For me, writing and photography, the two are intertwined.
 
Do photos speak to you?  Sometimes my writing inspiration comes from a photograph.  And the photos were extremely important in the writings I included in my new book , 288 Chances, recently published by WestBow press, a division of Thomas Nelson.  Each photo was carefully chosen to correspond with each writing.  All of the photographs, all my personal photos, have particular meaning to me, but I hope that the reader will make the connection from words to photo as well.
 
Here are three photos, two are in my book.  What word or words come to mind when you see them?  Don’t study the photo too hard, though. I find first impressions are the most honest and rewarding.







Does a picture speak louder than words?  Can words paint a picture?  I think it’s all in how you “look” at it.

If you like, leave a comment to share your impressions.

Thanks for visiting!

Brenda  :)