Summer Treasure Hunt: A Month Full of Giveaways!

Welcome to our 3^rd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt:

Dig for Clues and Win Contest!

This has become an exciting tradition, both for our sponsors and hopefully for all of you! 29 writer friends and I have banded together to present a month-long contest where we will give away a prize a day for the entire month of June. That’s right! 30 awesome prizes, including books, Amazon gift cards, a Mary Kay gift set, a vinyl lettering gift certificate, a hand-sewn weekly planner with ribbon bookmark, a crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case, and again for you aspiring authors, TWO free edit/critiques of a partial manuscript. Many of the giveaways are open to International entries, though always check to be sure before you enter for a particular prize.

(Hint, hint: (dis)Abilities and the Gospel is one of the prizes!!!)

And how exactly do you enter for these amazing prizes? By following these rules:

 

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES: 

You can send in one entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.

(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).

 (3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST

 (4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.

 All winners will be drawn by www.random.org.

 You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now or begin entering at any point along the way. And check Joyce DiPastena's blog each day between June 2^nd – July 1^st to read the names of the winners.

 If you have any questions, please email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com.

 And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

 June 1

SPONSOR: Canda Mortensen

PRIZE: A $25 Amazon gift certificate

QUESTION: What is the title and artist of the Princess song on Newbie's playlist? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and read “Newbie Teaser”. Match the number of “Princess” with the same number on the Playlist box (you may have to scroll down the playlist to find this, too). It will give you the title and artist.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:candamortensen.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

 

 

June 2

SPONSOR: Jennifer Griffith

PRIZE: Delicious Conversation (LDS romance, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in a chocolate shop in Salt Lake City), by Jennifer Griffith

QUESTION: Name at least 5 kinds of candy I ate at the last writers' conference I attended AND share YOUR favorite candy. (HINT: Read the April 20, 2011 post. Click on April under the Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com/

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

 

June 3

SPONSOR: Peggy Urry

PRIZE: Choice of book: Villette by Charlotte Bronte (romance, paperback); Airframe by Michael Crichton (thriller, paperback); The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell (contemporary crime, paperback); OR The Mist of Quarry Harbor by Liz Adair (LDS romantic fiction, paperback); AND choice of Jelly Belly Gel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS or Jelly Belly Strawberry Cheesecake Gel Case for iPod Touch.

QUESTION: What is the name of my Work In Progress (WIP)? (Hint: It's the title of my March 12, 2011 post. Click on “March” under Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://peggyurry.blogspot.com/

OPEN TO USA/CANADA ONLY

 

June 4

SPONSOR: Danielle Thorne

PRIZE: Josette (sweet Regency romance, E-book) AND Southern Girl, Yankee Roots (poetry), both by Danielle Thorne

QUESTION: Danielle supports what wildlife conservancy organization? (HINT: See right hand column of website)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.daniellethorne.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

June 5

SPONSOR: Bonnie Harris

PRIZE: Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set

QUESTION: What are the names of my two WIPs? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and click on “Work in Progress” under Labels)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

 

June 6

SPONSOR: Susan Kaye Quinn

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (YA love story), by Susan Kaye Quinn

QUESTION: How many days do David and Eliza have on the cruise together, before they’re forced to go their separate ways? (HINT: Click on the “About Me and My Books” tab and read the blurb for Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://ink-spells.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

 

June 7:

SPONSOR: Anne Bradshaw

PRIZE: True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil (non-fiction), by Anne Bradshaw – 1 print and 1 eBook – Print copy can be autographed. (Yes, there will be TWO winners drawn for this prize)

QUESTION: Which TV station interviewed Anne? (HINT: Answer is a short way down the middle column.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://truemiracleswithgenealogy.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES; PLEASE NOTE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR PRINT OR EBOOK, ALTHOUGH I CAN’T GUARANTEE YOU WILL WIN YOUR PREFERENCE.

 

June 8

SPONSOR: Cheri Schmidit

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Fateful (YA paranormal romance), by Cheri Schmidt

QUESTION: Who is the prince of darkness? (HINT: Click on “April” under Blog Archive in the left hand sidebar and read the April 12, 2011 post)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cherischmidt.blogspot.com/

OPEN TO USA ONLY

 

 

June 9

SPONSOR: Mary Fremont Schoenecker

PRIZE: Moonglade (a sweet cozy mystery, Book Two in the Maine Shore Chronicles series), by Mary Fremont Schoenecker The prize is an autographed First Edition hard cover print book.

QUESTION: What special skill does character Tante Margaret use that puts her in danger during Remi's murder investigation? (HINT: Click on the “About Her Books” tab and read the Publisher’s Weekly Review.

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.maryschoenecker.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

June 10

SPONSOR: Shaunna Gonzales

PRIZE: FREE edit and/or critique of first 50 pages

QUESTION: What do his lips taste like? (Hint: click on “Sizzling Kiss” under Post Subjects in the left hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

June 11

SPONSOR: Donna Hatch

PRIZE: The Stranger She Married (Regency romance), by Donna Hatch

QUESTION: What poses the greatest danger to Alicia’s heart? (HINT: Scroll down underneath the book cover of The Stranger She Married, and read the paragraph directly below.

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR E-BOOK VERSION; US/CANADA FOR PRINT BOOK OR PAPERBACK VERSION

 

June 12

SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams & Planet Play Productions, LLC.

PRIZE: Award winning glossy cover children’s snuggle, giggle picture book, Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today, signed by the author and the real Chase McKay.

QUESTION: What is the name of the dragon in the upcoming fantasy, Thundertail’s Tale: The Legend? (HINT: click on the Blog tab)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.cindyRwilliams.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

 

June 13

SPONSOR: Larry Hammersley

PRIZE: Motorcycle Woman (sweet contemporary romance, E-book), by Larry Hammersley

QUESTION: What kind of motorcycle does Tess, the motorcycle woman, ride? (HINT: Read the blog post “Motorcycle Woman from Red Rose Publishing”, May 5, 2011)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

June 14

SPONSOR: Cheryl Cory

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Must've Done Something Good (romantic comedy), by Cheryl Cory

QUESTION: What is Sylvie's all-time favorite movie? (HINT: Click on the "Info" link in the left-hand column)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.facebook.com/MustveDoneSomethingGood

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

 

June 15

SPONSOR: Valerie Ipson

PRIZE: $15 Gift Certificate for Vinyl Lettering  (http://vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)

QUESTION: What is Valerie's writing goal for 2011?  (HINT: Look in the right hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// valerieipson.blogspot.com 

OPEN TO USA

 

June 16

SPONSOR: Rachel Rager

PRIZE: Wednesday Romances - romance (obviously), ebook, by Rachel Rager. This is a compaliation of three different love stories, A Season for Love, The Tiger Unleashed, and The Feather Kiss. (All sweet romances)

QUESTION: Every week I have post a new chapter of a book on my blog. What are these posts called? (Hint: These posts are featured every Wednesday.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://rachelrager.blogspot.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

 

June 17

SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson

PRIZE: Autographed copy of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ  by Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons, M.S.

non-fiction/self-help, autographed book

QUESTION: What is the name of the non-profit Danyelle co-founded? (HINT: Check out Danyelle's author bio)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.danyelleferguson.com/

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY

 

June 18

SPONSOR: Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PRIZE: A Very Merry Chase (Regency Romance novel), by Teresa Thomas Bohannon. AND a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Winner's Choice: PDF with personalized dedication, or Ebook format for Kindle or Epub format for Nook. (HINT: Read “A Very Merry Chase Excerpt” under “A Very Merry Chase” in the right hand sidebar)

QUESTION: What did Lady Bethany do and why?

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.ladysilk.net

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

 

June 19

SPONSOR: Diane Daniels

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Over the Moon (YA fantasy romance, print copy), by Diane Daniels

QUESTION: Who is Andrew's evil x-girlfriend, Sonya, named after? (HINT: Read the May 14, 2011 blog entry)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.overthemoonseries.com/

OPEN TO USA

 

June 20

SPONSOR: Margaret Larsen Turley

PRIZE: critique for up to 5000 words

QUESTION: Margaret Larsen Turley is administrator for ______________________________ group. They hold fund-raising events for Cancer Research. (HINT: You’ll find the answer in one of her website tabs)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://margaretlarsen.com/

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES/ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY

 

June 21

SPONSOR: Anna Arnett

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Lolly's Yarn: a memoir (older YA to adult), by Anna Arnett, with a hand-crocheted bookmark

QUESTION: What was the verdict regarding Anna's radar photo speeding ticket? (HINT: Click on the Blogs tab and read “I Fought the Law and Guess Who Won?”

WEBSITE/BLOG: htt:www.annaarnett.com

OPEN TO USA

 

 

June 22

SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Loyalty’s Web (sweet medieval romance), by Joyce DiPastena

QUESTION: How do people win Joyce’s “Light Bulb Award”? (HINT: Answer is found in the right hand column of the blog)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA

 

June 23

SPONSOR: C. Michelle Jefferies

PRIZE: 52 page hand-sewn weekly planner, with ribbon bookmark.

QUESTION: What rank is Michelle in martial arts? (HINT: Look in right hand sidebar under “MY TANG SOO DO PROGRESS”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: HTTP://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

June 24

SPONSOR: Valerie J. Steimle

PRIZE: Choice of two books:  Home Is Where The Learning Is (home school how-to book, non-fiction; autographed print copy) OR Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widows Perspective ---(non-fiction articles about everything from being single and single moms to inspirational stories; autographed print copy), both by Valerie J. Steimle

QUESTION: How many children does Valerie have? (HINT: Look in the right hand column in "About Me")

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valeriesteimle.blogspot.com/

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

June 25

SPONSOR: Karen Adair

PRIZE: Crocheted Book Tote with matching cell phone case.

QUESTION: What commenter recently called me (Karen) "The Queen of Sugar Land?" (HINT: Select “January 2011” under Archives and read the COMMENTS on Karen’s January 6, 2011 post on “The 20 Minute Sprint”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kbadair.com

OPEN TO USA

 

June 26

SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant (www.jaimeygrant.com) and/or TreasureLine Books & Publishing (www.treasurelinebooks.com)

PRIZE: Winner's choice of 1 of 5 Regency romance eBooks by Jaimey Grant (Honor, Betrayal, Deception, Spellbound, or Redemption. Please note: Honor contains some marital "heat".)

QUESTION: Which of Jaimey's previously self-published titles has recently been picked up by a publisher? (HINT: Click the "Purchasing Options" tab)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.jaimeygrant.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

 

June 27

SPONSOR: Heidi Murphy

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Small Deceptions (sweet Regency/Georgian romance), by H. Linn Murphy

QUESTION: In what country is the bridge found over which 'we' were fighting? (HINT: Find “Blog Archive” in the right hand sidebar, click on April and read the post titled: “The Far Bridge”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: www.murph4slaw.blogspot.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

June 28

SPONSOR: Kenneth Rosenberg

PRIZE: One e-book copy of my new romantic comedy, Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues, any format

QUESTION: What instrument does the character Warren August play? (HINT: Click on the cover image for Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues.  Read the first few paragraphs of the excerpt.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.kennethrosenberg.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

 

 

June 29

SPONSOR: Michael Young 

PRIZE: Autographed copy of The Last Archangel (YA Urban Fantasy, print copy - Release date July 14th)

QUESTION: What is the name of the fallen angel who is the main character in "The Last Archangel"? (HINT: Click on the Reviews tab. Frank Cole thinks this character “rocks!”

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

 

June 30

SPONSOR: Joan Sowards

PRIZE: The Star Prophecy: a Book of Mormon Adventure (LDS novel), by Joan Sowards

QUESTION: Why do Enoch and his friends sail to Jerusalem? (HINT: Read the blurb under The Star Prophecy book cover in the right hand column of the blog)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://joansowards.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA

What's Up With Those QR Boxes?

Everywhere I go, I see these doohickies:



Today I saw one on the side of my Mountain Dew cup. Then I found one while I was looking through a book catalog. I've even seen them on my church bulletin boards embedded with links to go check out pictures from youth activities.

Seriously?

Okay, my friends - what's so great about QR Codes? What do you love about them? What do you hate about them? I think I'm in a love-hate relationships with them right now.  =)

Ironically, whenever I see them, I can't help but think about Elana Johnson's Tagged system in her upcoming book, Possession.

Freaky co-incidence? Or is our society becoming a living dystopian novel?

Debate Homework: Are Bionicles the Coolest Toy Ever?

Today's Lesson: How to use something your kid loves to help him understand his homework.

Today, my 6th grader (who has autism) came home from school and his homework was about debate, the terms and how it all works. He was having a difficult time understanding it all. So I decided to create a mock debate between the two of us. Here's how it all played out:

"So Isaac, let's have a debate. First, we have to pick a topic. How about Are Bionicles the coolest toy ever? What do you think?"

"Yes!" Isaac, of course, was totally excited and laughing.

"So the topic is the Resolution. What's our topic?"

"Are Bionicles the coolest toy ever?"

"Right! The topic is the Resolution. Say that again." Mom believes in the power of repetition!

"The topic is the Resolution," Isaac repeated, like the good son he is.  =)

"Okay, so there are two teams. One team that says Yes! Bionicles are the way coolest toys ever to be made! They are called the Affirmative team because they say YES."

"Awesome!" Isaac replied.

"The other team says, No, Bionicles are not the coolest toy out there. They are the Negative team because they say NO. Got it?"

"Got it. Affirmative team - Yes, Bionicles are coolest. Negative team - No, Bionicles are not the coolest."

So far, so good. Isaac's still hanging out with me & beginning to understand a bit.

"Great! So now, we're going to each be a team. I'm the YES team and you're the NO team."

"Noooo!" Isaac yelled.

Oh yes, the wailing and the howling continued. How could mother dear possibly put HIM on the Negative team? It just wasn't fair. Blah, blah, blah. It all got settled and we moved on.

 "So, we're going to start out the debate. Pretend this ice cream scoop is a microphone. The YES team goes first."

I take the ice cream scoop and stand. "Bionicles are the most awesome, coolest toys ever made. They have swords, shields, and represent the elements of the Earth. They even have movies made about them. They are definitely, hands down, the coolest toys ever."

Then I handed the ice cream scoop to Isaac. At this point, he stood there looking at me like, What? You want me to disagree with that? It's all TRUE!

"Okay, bud, now you need to tell me why Bionicles are not the ONLY coolest toy out there. You can tell me that you think Bionicles are awesome, but also tell me three other toys you love that you think are just as cool."

LIGHT BULB MOMENT!!!!

Now Isaac totally got into it. He realized that it was okay to not be on the YES team and that there actually was a way to still say he loves Bionicles, but that he loves other stuff too.

"Bionicles are cool. But other toys are cool too. Like Mario on the Wii. I love to play other games on the Wii, too. And I like to build with other Legos. There are lots of cool toys." He then bowed. Yes, my son is a performer.

"Awesome, dude! Now we need to pause. Did you see how we took turns using the microphone?" Son nods. "That's called Rebuttal. Rebuttal is when each team takes turns using the microphone to tell why they think their side is right. Got it?"

"Got it."

"What's Rebuttal?"

"When the teams take turn using the microphone."

Works for me!  =)

"Now there's someone else in the room with the teams. He's called the Judge. What does the Judge do?"

"He tells us who the winner is." Man, he's got that one down. Woot!

"Perfecto! High five!" Yes, the smacking of hands occur. Then we move on.

"So, we both got to talk once on the microphone. Now we start our Rebuttals again. This time, we're going to talk about some things we can say and what those things are called during a debate, okay?"

"Okay," Isaac says, nodding his head up and down several times.

"I'm going to come back and say Bionicles are the coolest because they are sold all over the world. Now let's pause. Isaac, do you know Bionicles are sold all over the world?"

"Yes."

"Do your friends know they are sold all over the world?"

"Yes."

"When you say something that everyone knows, it's called Common Sense. Let's say that together."

Together, we said, "When you say something that everyone knows, it's called Common Sense."

"Awesome! Now, what if you wanted to say You've played with Bionicles and Mario and the other Legos, and you know they are all cool. Do you know what that's called?"

"What?" Isaac asked.

"It's called an Example because it's your own experience. It's something you did. What's an Example?"

"Something I did like playing with all the toys."

"What's Common Sense?" I asked again. Got to throw in those terms for review.

"Something everyone knows like Bionicles sold all over the world."

"Awesomeness!" See, lots of praise. I'm big on praise. We all love to know how awesome we are. "Now there's two more things to know. And these two are tricky. Ready?"

Isaac nods his head, ready to show me just how not tricky they are. Cause mom may be fun, but he's totally smarter than me. (Or at least he thinks so!)

"Okay, so one is called an Expert Opinion. An Expert is someone who wrote an article and it was published in a newspaper or book. Then if someone on the debate team reads something the Expert wrote, that is called an Expert Opinion."

Isaac still struggled with this concept. But I tonight I had another idea to help him understand it. On with the story.

"The last debate word we need to learn is Statistics. A statistic is a number that shows how many people like something. For example, I could go to the elementary school and have an election. We know there are 400 kids at the school. In the election, each of the kids could vote for which toy they think is the coolest: Bionicles, Mario, or Barbie. After the election, we would tally the votes. If 150 kids voted for Bionicles, the YES team could use a Statistic saying that in an elementary school, 150 kids liked Bionicles the best. But the NO team could also use the election and make a statistic that said almost two-thirds of the kids liked other toys better than Bionicles."

Isaac actually thought it was pretty cool how we could take the same election results and make them work for both teams. It's all about how you tweak the information.

"So, what's a statistic?" I asked Isaac.

"It's numbers to show what people like."

Once again, works for me. We reviewed the terms a few more times. It was fun to see how he referred back to them using examples from our mock debate.

Then I wrapped up. "So Isaac, we just had a mock debate. What is a Debate?"

"It's when two teams argue about who's right."


And the winner of the mock debate gold cup is Isaac!

The Worth of a Writers Group

For the last seven years, I've been a part of an amazing writers group, Authors Incognito. This group is made up of attendees of the LDS Storymakers Writers conference.



There are many things that make a writers group awesome. Here are a few you should look for:

Authors Incognito 2011

Common Interest

What links the group together? For Authors Incognito, it's the shared experience of attending the LDS Storymakers Writers conference. For other groups, it could be a certain genre, living near each other, or personalities that just mesh.


Experience

Consider what type of experience you want the people in your group to have. Are you okay with beginners who have never edited for anyone before or, if you are a seasoned author, you may want feedback from others who are published and know exactly what types of points to nit-pick about. I know writers who belong to multiple groups, each varying in experience so they can receive different point of views on the same manuscript.


Attitude

Are you and the other members of the group willing to take feedback? I'm not just talking about the "I LOVE this part!!!" feedback, but also the, "This just didn't jive for me and it needs a lot of work" feedback. Is there anyone in the group who's too sensitive? Because if there is (or even if it's you), they need to either grow thick skin and not be offended or search for another group. Did that sound harsh? I've been in a writers group where we all tiptoed around one person who only wanted to hear how awesome his writing was. It's not fun for anyone in the group - unless you happen to be the one person getting all the praise. So be willing to do the work and take the feedback. Have a good attitude. It's important to share the things you love about the chapter, as well as what you think needs to be improved. No bashing allowed. You should all be there to help each other become better writers and cheer each other on to publication.



Schedule

We all have busy schedules, which is sometimes what dictates which group you attend. My writers group here in Kansas meets on a specific day in the evening. The only problem is I'm so not a night owl. Personally, I'm a "Bed by 9 pm" person. Our group usually lasts until about 10 pm and everyone knows that between nine and ten, I start to yawn, blink, and snack a lot so I can stay awake. Some weeks I'm much better than others, but, thankfully, my group is awesome and willing to put up with my sleepiness. I know groups who meet for lunch once a week, or who email chapters back and forth each week, then meet in person once a month because they need to travel farther to get together.


Format

Super Edits 2011: My awesome online critique group.

Every writers group I've chatted with has something different that works for them. Some groups pass out chapters to be read before the next meeting, others read and review during the meeting. Some set timers to stay on time, others just talk and talk and talk . . . until they feel everything has been covered for that chapter. Some groups expect the author to sit quietly while his chapter is critiqued and don't allow for feedback from the author. Ahem - that's one I'm against. For me, talking with my group about points in the manuscript helps me to brainstorm what might need to be tweaked to make it stronger. No matter what "rules" are put into place, be sure they are agreed upon by all the members of the group.


Fun, Fun, Fun!

Writers group should be fun! Because if it's dreary, what motivation would you have to go back or to finish your manuscript? Enjoy each others works-in-progress, different point of views, as well as your friendship. I highly recommend celebrating together when someone finished their manuscript, gets a partial or full request, signs with an agent, or sells a book. Encourage each other and enjoy the topsy-turvy roller coaster ride of writing!


I would love to hear about your writers groups. Tell me what you love, what you wish was different, or if you don't have a group, what you're looking for. You never know who you'll connect up with!

Exploring Utah

Aha! I finally have internet access! I have so must to catch you all up on. Right now, I'm at the LDStorymakers Writers Conference. Boot camp was yesterday . . . where lots of writers got their tushes kicked and manuscripts revamped. Today starts the first day of the workshops and pitch sessions. My own pitch session is today and yes, I'm quite nervous!

But for now, I'm going to share a few pictures from our vacation here in Utah with our munchkins.

After two days of driving (which went quite well actually) we finally reached our resort in Eden, Utah. It's so gorgeous there! The kids love being in the mountains and quickly discovered a few things at the resort they begged to do every day. Little Anna kept asking if she could go fishing in the pond. The poor Koi. The rest of the kids played tetherball, basketball, and tennis each day.

The day after we arrived, I drove down to my publisher's warehouse and picked up my books. Yeah!!!

 This is what greeted me when I walked into my publisher's office building. I wasn't expecting to see my book so soon! I got very teary-eyed.

 The opening of the first case back at the resort. So cool to see a huge box filled with my books!

The kids cheered when I pulled out the first book. I read them the dedication. Isaac got a huge smile on his face when he heard I dedicated the book to him. Everyone else was happy that mom sent them big hugs and love at the end. I got lots of hugs for that.  =)

There were a few unexpected adventures . . . such as our youngest daughter kicking our six-year-old son's tooth out. Ahem. Yep. They were wrestling around and bam! I will acknowledge the tooth was already pretty loose, she just helped the tooth fairy visit a little earlier than anticipated.

One of our very favorite places we visited was Dinosaur Park. We spent a little over three hours exploring all over the outdoor park, reading signs about all sorts of dinosaurs. Then we checked out the museum. The kids loved the mechanical dinosaurs on displays. There was also a gorgeous gem collection, which MJ and I drooled over. There are a ton more pictures, but hey, if you want to see them. You'll just have to check out the scrapbook later.  =)

We've had a really great time so far on vacation. We've learned a lot of interesting things about our Earth's history and shared lots of laughter. Now it's time for me to get ready for my writers conference. I'll update again soon! Have a fabulous day everyone!

Being an Advocate for Your Child by Christine Bryant

Christine Bryant is our guest writer today. Christine has been an incredible advocate for her son, Joshua. Today she shares a bit of her story with us.

Being an Advocate for Your Child

by Christine Bryant

Having a child with autism is a challenge, but it can also be very rewarding. As I watch my son, Joshua, grow into a handsome young man of seventeen—and exceed me in height, I might add—I’m in awe at how far he’s come. Five years ago, he was completely isolated from other kids in middle school. His aggressive behaviors were so severe that the school didn’t feel they could trust him to be with his peers. My take on the situation, however, was this: If you cage a child like a wild animal, he will act like a wild animal.

Being the “mamma bear” mother that I am, I went to work learning state and federal disability laws about inclusion and the fair treatment of kids like Joshua. I started a support group for parents whose children have disabilities and went to a disability conference where I met others with similar concerns and problems.

It was at this conference that I met the Executive Director of Idaho Parents Unlimited, a state and federally funded organization for people with disabilities. We spoke for over an hour about the needs of kids like mine and I learned that my situation was far from unique. Kids all over the country are being isolated because schools don’t know how to—or don’t want to—deal with the children or their problems.

About a month after attending the conference I received a phone call from the Executive Director offering me a position on the board of directors. I eagerly accepted, wanting to take my battle onto a higher playing field. We organized state rallies at the capital, as well as programs and special events. It was a very rewarding experience.

But the best thing I got out of all the hard work and education was the ability to advocate for my son. Walking into a school meeting with the knowledge I needed to fight for my son’s rights was a wonderful feeling. And it worked. Not only was Joshua allowed to interact with other students his age, but he thrived. Yes, he still had some negative behaviors, but they were manageable and the longer he was allowed to participate in normal activities, the better he behaved.

Being an advocate for your child can be a little overwhelming, but regardless of how scary it is, you are the best person for the job. Here are three things you can do to prepare yourself to fight for your child's rights.

1 - Join a support group. If there isn't one in your area, then start one. It's not as hard as you may think. Put up flyers in grocery stores, post office, pediatric and doctor offices, and anyplace you can think of that a parent might frequent. If that doesn't work, seek out an online group that fits your needs.

2 - Learn everything you can about disability laws, especially as they pertain to your child's needs. Your state board of education will provide free copies of state laws either online or by mail. Also request a copy of the ADA guidelines. Ask other parents to share their experiences and learn from them. Attend special education conferences sponsored by disability advocacy groups like Idaho Parents Unlimited.

3 - Don't attend school meetings alone. It's your right to take anyone you want to a meeting where your child's special education program will be discussed. If you don't have a service coordinator, get one and make sure she attends. Invite service providers that your child sees outside the school setting, a more experienced parent from your support group, or a close friend who may have insight into your child's needs. If you still don't feel like you're being heard and your child's needs are being met, don't be afraid to involve a state provided mediator or an attorney. Do NOT let the school officials intimidate you. Stand your ground, but do it in a calm and organized manner with the laws on your side.

You CAN do this. It may take some time and the results may not be immediate, but if you're persistent you will see results.

As a junior in high school, Joshua’s become an important member of the student body. This past month he was one of three boys nominated as prince for the Junior/Senior Prom. Imagine my pride when I first caught sight of him in his tuxedo, ready to escort his date to the dance. He’s come so far. He is no longer that scared little boy locked in a cage; he is free to live his life. No limits. No one is holding him back anymore. And before him? A future filled with great expectations and hope.

Thank you so much Christine!

To learn more about Christine Bryant, visit her blog Day Dreamer.

Autism from a Tween's Perspective by Lisa Swinton

Today's guest post is written by Lisa Swinton. As a young teen (tween), she had a best friend who's brother was autistic. Lisa shares with us her experiences and thoughts while she got to know her friend's brother and how it's helped her as an adult.

Autism from a Tween's Perspective

by Lisa Swinton

One of my life long friends, Lauren, has a younger brother with autism. I first met Galen when Lauren and I became friends in middle school. Whenever, I would go to her house, Galen would say, “Hi, Lisa,” over and over again until I left the room. Or he would say, “I like your shirt,” or something else repeatedly to me. Naturally, at that age I had no idea why he acted the way he did and found it really strange and difficult to understand. Lauren’s simple explanation was, “He has autism.”

Well, that did not clear anything up for me at all. I think Lauren said that because she did not know how to tell someone else what autism meant, perhaps she did not understand it well herself and she lived with it on a daily basis. But I came to realize as I spent more time with Lauren’s family, that Galen’s brain worked differently and so he spoke and acted differently and at times, even his own family could not get through to him. I also realized over time, that Galen was friendly, good natured, liked track and had friends with common interests. I always took care to be friendly and kind to him and accept him as just different, even when I found his behavior confusing. 

Galen is a fairly high functioning person with autism. He was mainstreamed through most subjects in school and went on to attend a college in New Hampshire that caters to those with autism. He lives independently and has a job, but his parents live in the same town to be available in case he needs something.  

I have since come to know more people with autism and how varied a condition it can be. I am grateful for my early experience with Galen that prepared me for accepting people for who they are regardless of what their behavior is, autistic or not.



Thank you so much for your guest post, Lisa! On a personal note, this first year of middle school has been very interesting for me to observe. Just last night at my younger kids' school activity, a couple of girls came up to talk to me. They told me they sit with my son every day at lunch and shared some fun stories of things they talk about together. They also said some days, my son just goes into his own world and scarfs down his food as fast as he can. Those are the days his para helps him to slow down and interact with them. For middle school kids, these girls are very watchful. They pay attention to how my son feels each day and go with the flow. Some days are playful and fun - telling each other jokes through lunch. Other days they just try to get him to say hi and bait him into conversation by bringing up their favorite Wii games. They are truly sweethearts. 

I've also noticed that my son's track meets, there are a lot of kids who attend the home games and cheer him on. How awesome to know there are kids in this crazy mixed up modern world who have big hearts. Each time one of these kids gives my son a high-five, I can't help but imagine the incredible adults they will be one day and how they will share their love and acceptance with other families - just like Lisa.

Monkeys and Their Yummy Treats

I have some Facebook followers who asked me for my Monkey Bread recipe. What's Monkey Bread? It's a seriously easy treat to bake that my own munchkin monkeys totally love! It's a bit like cinnamon rolls but WAY easier to make! My friend, Sara, introduced me to this addicting dish. I'm not a big baker. The easier something is, the better because otherwise I'll mess it up.  =)  So, this is a guanteed easy (but delish) version of Monkey Bread.

Also, since we're talking about Autism Awareness Month, I know many people with autism are on milk-free diets. I will include some tips on how to adapt this recipe so it's milk-free below the original recipes.


Easy Peasy Monkey Bread

What you need:

18-20 Rhodes Frozen White Dinner Rolls
1 stick of butter
2 cups sugar
2-3 tsp cinnamon
1 medium bag of chopped pecans
Pam Spray
1 Bundt Pan
Caramel Sauce (recipe follows)

Directions:

1. Place frozen rolls on a Pam sprayed cookie sheets or 9x13 pans. Let them thaw until soft enough to cut - about 1 hour at room temp or 30 minutes with the quick thaw method on the back of the Rhodes bag.

2. Melt stick of butter in a microwavable bowl. In another bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Spray your bundt pan with Pam. Then set up an assembly line:  thawed rolls, butter, sugar mixture, bundt pan.

3. To assemble, cut the roll in half. Dip each half in butter, coat with the sugar mixture, then place it in the bundt pan. You want to create a full bottom layer, which takes about half the rolls depending on the size of your pan. Don't squish the rolls together, just gently place them together so there are few gaps. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the rolls.

4. Repeat Step 3 to create a top layer. The pan should be about 1/3 to 1/2 full when you are finished. You don't want it to be any fuller than that or the rolls will expand, bake over the top, and fall to the bottom of your over, creating a smoky "explosion" of sorts. Trust me, I know from first hand experience.  =)

5. Cover rolls with a clean dish towel and let rise for about 30 minutes.

6. While the rolls rise, make the caramel sauce. Spoon this mixture over the rolls. Recover if the rolls are not finished rising. They should rise to about an inch below the edge of the bundt pan.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then cover the Monkey Bread with foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. This lets the rolls on the inside to finish cooking without burning the rolls on the top.

8. When you take the Monkey Bread out of the oven, remove the foil and let it sit for five minutes. Then flip the dish onto a large plate. The easiest way to do this is to put the plate on top of the bundt pan with the bottom of the plate facing up towards you. Then holding the plate and bundt pan, flip them over so the plate is sitting on the counter. The Monkey Bread will slide out of the bundt pan and onto the serving plate. Let the bread cool for an additional 10-15 minutes before diving in . . . or you may burn the roof of your mouth. Once again, something I learned from first hand experience.  =)


Caramel Sauce Recipe

What you need:

Small saucepan
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
Dash of salt
1 c. boiling water
2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients together in the saucepan. Add the boiling water, then cook, constantly stirring until the mixture turns shiny and is thickened.

2. Remove from the heat, then add butter, vanilla, and chopped pecans.

3. Spoon mixture onto Monkey Bread.



Milk Free Adaptations

Luckily, the Rhodes Frozen White Dinner Rolls are milk free. So that makes the recipe MUCH easier to adapt!  Instead of using butter, use your favorite milk-free margarine. I personally prefer Nucoa if you can find it at any of your grocery stores. You can also use the margarine as a substitute in the caramel sauce. Everything else in the recipes are milk-free. Horray!

Enjoy this yummy treat!

Why I Chose to Work With Kids Who Have Autism by Todd McCarthy

Isaac & Mr. Todd at my son's first Orchestra concert.

Today's guest post is by my son's awesome Autism Specialist, Todd McCarthy. My son has been lucky to have worked with Mr. Todd at school for the last three years. His excitement and love for the kids he works with is contagious. As parents, my husband and I both have the utmost respect and admiration of his dedication to serving kids with special needs. I asked Todd if he'd share with my readers why he chose to work in this field. I'm so excited for you all to read his experiences and thoughts!

Why I Chose to Work with Kids Who Have Autism

by Todd McCarthy

As I was growing up, I had but one desire and that was to be a police officer. My family has a history of service in law enforcement that goes back over 100 years in this country. I played cops and robbers, watched it on TV and even studied it in college. I joined the US Army and served for eight years in the Military Police Corps.

Then I was blessed with the birth of my son.

I knew my plans would change as I needed to be there for him and have a schedule that allowed me to do just that. I took a job as a teaching assistant with a private school and loved working with kids. It wasn't, however, until a friend of mine asked me to help out with summer school for kids in special education that I found my niche. Within 10 minutes I knew this is where I wanted to be.

I have worked with kiddos with Autism for five years now and I can say without question that each day is better than the one before. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child who has struggled to find the ability to overcome obstacles in their lives make steps towards progress and independence. We are so fortunate, especially in the Olathe School District, to have such talented individuals and wonderful resources to assist in the education of these amazing kids with Autism. They are the brightest, sweetest and most amazing kids I have ever been blessed to be around. And that's what this job truly is...a blessing. These kids are a blessing from God and each day we get to spend with them is an opportunity to learn more, not just about them but about who we are and who God expects us to be.

Isaac & Mr. Todd on their last day of 5th Grade.

I had prayed that God would let me be a police officer someday. I am so thankful that his answer was no. I get to see God each and every day in the faces of these amazing kids.

Primary Angels - An Instructional DVD for Teaching Children with Special Needs at Church

For today's Autism Awareness Month post, I am reviewing and hosting a giveaway for Primary Angels. This excellent DVD gives step by step instructions and visual examples of how to teach a child with special needs at church.

The creator of this DVD is Annie Campbell. I've known Annie for about five years. I had the priviledge of working with her on the Friends of GIANT Steps board. Annie served as president of the board for many years. She's an active member of her local disability community and has been an advocate for parents as they navigate parenthood and special needs.

In Primary Angels, Annie takes a you through a five step plan. These steps include introducing yourself to the child with special needs and his parents, how learn about the child's needs, setting realistic goals, putting your plan into action, and following through with your goals. The DVD goes back and forth between an interview with Annie as she describes each step, then switches to a classroom type setting with a variety of children where she shows a real-life example of how to implement each step.

I absolutely love Annie's demonstrations on getting down to the same level as the children, using positive statements, and following up with appropriate reinforcements. Primary Angels is an excellent resource for parents, church leaders, and church teachers. I love that it's visual and shows such great concrete examples!

I also like that Annie has links to the reinforcers and classroom helps she uses on her website. I really like her idea for the Primary Check Box program. This is something all the kids in my Primary class can use as they pay attention to what they are learning in Sharing Time. You can find the game here.

Primary Angels is available for purchase on their website or through Deseret Book Stores. As part of Autism Awareness Month, they are offering two finger flashlights with each order placed through their website in April.

Primary Angels Giveaway

I have a special treat for my readers. You have the opportunity to enter to win a copy of Primary Angels! You have until midnight on Tuesday, April 12th to enter the contest. I will announce the winner on Wednesday April 13th. There are three ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me if this would be for you or a friend, as well as what you hope to learn from the DVD.
2. Follow my blog.
3. Follow Annie's Primary and Autism blog.

*Be sure to leave a comment for entry options #2 & 3!


Happy Autism Awareness Month!

A Month Full of Autism Awareness and Giveaways

April is National Autism Awareness month. Usually each April, I spend the month writing about my experiences raising my son with autism, how I got through the difficult parts, and the blessings that our son brings to our family. This year, I am going to do something a bit different.

I have asked some friends to be guest bloggers. They each are connected to autism in a different way - some are parents, others siblings, and even others are professionals in the autism community. I am excited to share their experiences and knowledge with you. I know each will share his unique perspective of parenting with humor, important autism information, or genuine love of raising or working with individuals who have autism.

I also have some wonderful products to review and giveaway.

As my own personal contribution to giving back during Autism Awareness month, I am running a special promotion on pre-orders for my book, (dis)Abilities and the Gospel. For every 10 pre-orders I receive through my website in April, I will donate 1 book to a church, charity, or library. To make this even more fun, I will draw names from the pre-orders and allow those individuals to choose where to donate the book. My goal is to get as many books donated as possible in a wide variety of communities throughout the nation. To participate, please visit my website for more details.

I'll be back on Wednesday. Until then, tell me what you're doing this month to celebrate Autism Awareness Month.

Crazy Daze of Motherhood & Contest

I was once told that I should keep a journal of all the funny things our family did so one day my hubby and I could look back on it and smile as we relive those memories together. It was excellent advice, too. Well, one mother, Jane Isfeld Still, has gone a few steps further. She compiled some of her funniest motherhood moments into a book to share with everyone!

From the back cover

A mother's day is filled with all kinds of emergencies, from bumps and bruises to hospital stays. Find the perfect way to recover from your own family's little emergencies with Jane Isfeld Still's latest book on the hilarious daily challenges of a mother in the fray. You're sure to laugh and cry as you celebrate the joys of motherhood.

About the Author

Jane is married to Rick Still, who she believes has the distinction of being the only man in history brave enough to give her earwax candles for her birthday. They had six children in eight years, and while her children were growing up, she discovered she had a great sense of humor. At least that was her take. Rick once said to her, "Honey, you know all those real corny things you say all the time? Who ever thought you could make money at it?" Her son Adam once told her, "Mom could you please stop telling jokes to my friends? It's really embarrassing." One of Jane's philosophies is, "You're not doing your job unless your children are worried about being seen in public with you."



My Review

Crazy Daze of Motherhood has some seriously funny, laugh-out-loud stories! When I read Jane's first book, Mother's Daze, I thought, "There is absolutely no way one person could be this clutzy and off-the-wall funny." That is, until I actually met Jane in person and realized how true to life the stories in her book are! It reminds me something I read from a book I have reread multiple times called Guilt Free Motherhood by Joni Hilton. She said that no matter what your personality style is, YOU are the perfect mother for your children. Well, Jane's personality is just right for her family . . . and is a great example of taking difficult situations and findig the humor in them. This is a book I recommend for giving out to all the ladies you know for Mother's Day! But even if you aren't a mom, but like to read funny escapades - this is the book for you!

To read more about Jane and her exploits visit her website at janeisfeldstill.com or her blog at janeisfeldstill.blogspot.com  Her books are available in stores nationwide. Here is a link to purchase from Amazon.com




Contest

You can win a fun prize from Jane to help celebrate the release of her book.  Just go to her blog at http://www.janeisfeldstill.blogspot.com and become a follower, and then leave her a comment and tell her that you're a new follower.  You could win:

1. Mother's Daze basket, soap, chocolate, lotion, decorative candles, and recipe cards

2. Box of blank cards with a smattering of Canadian chocolate

3. Chocolate

Wrapping Up March Madness

Basketball lovers everywhere live for March Madness. I don't follow basketball, but I certainly related to the theme "March Madness!" This past month has been filled with so many unexpected blips and bumps in the road. I'm so ready to see the month end and begin with a fresh with the flip of the calendar page.

Once April hits, promotion for my book will begin in earnest. I can't believe there's only a little over a month left before (dis)Abilities and the Gospel will be released! My editor emailed to let me know they reviewed the printed proof, said it looked fabulous, and the first print run was sent to the printer. She also sent the final full book cover with the back blurb and endorsements. Isn't it awesome?

I think you can click on the picture and enlarge it to read the back copy, but if not, this is what it says:

Each day, parents and church leaders struggle to teach individuals with special needs. Using helpful information, real-life stories, and a touch of humor, (dis)Abilities and the Gospel provides ways for you to effectively teach people of all ages with autism, Down syndrome, bipolar disorder, memory loss, and other disabilities.
 

Inside this useful guide, you’ll find
• Guidance for building strong family relationships
• Steps to teaching prayer and scripture study
• Practical and creative teaching tips
• Programs to help with transitions, communication barriers, and behaviors
• Techniques to help others feel welcome and valued

Find the answers you need and overcome the challenges of teaching the gospel. (dis)Abilities and the Gospel will help you develop each person’s ability to learn and grow as you build peace in your home or classroom.

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel is a resource that may be read, reread, and used many times. . . . The authors have beautifully woven the frustrations that so many people have experienced into an action-living plan to help children with special needs.
—Lloyd Kinnison, PhD. Texas Woman’s University, Special Education Department

This book is an unexpected and very welcome gift to the community of churches and their leaders. It addresses so many of the problems that children, young adults, and adults with disabilities face in church activities.
—Brenda Winegar, Early Interventionist/Cofounder, Kids on the Move

This has been an amazing five year journey. I know it doesn't end just because the book is finally out and available to help families and churches. My role is about to change to a new course - one that involves more public speaking, church trainings, and encouraging parents raising kids with special needs to find humor, love, and hope each day. What an incredible gift this has become for me and my family.

April is also Autism Awareness month. I will be running a special promotion, as well as blogging about my own experiences with Autism, reviewing some great techniques and tools for families and church leaders, as well as hosting some great giveaways. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or my blog so you don't miss anything.

Happy end of March Madness, everyone!