I received my final illustration for my second story “Helga Returns”

When ever I receive an Illustration it feels like I am opening a Christmas present. It cannot download fast enough for me. The few seconds seems like waiting for Santa to arrive.

Kelly Murray out did herself as always. I have selected one of my favorites from the story. It is simple but the way she included the dragon was wonderful. I have a dragon on every illustration in both stories.Kelly like my first illustrator found clever ways to include a dragon on every illustration. Tomorrow I will submit this story “Helga Returns” to the publisher. I sure hope they will select it for publishing. Have a good night.WB

It is always good to finish a story. A little sad at the end for some reason. Maybe its because I am having such a fun adventure with my imaginary friends and now I have to return home. haha

Another verbiage question came up during my last reread out loud. This time rock, stone and pebbles. The pebbles description was correct. There is no difference between stone and rock. Maybe I thought stones are usually considered smooth and oval shaped. While rocks are rough and angle shaped. Stone sounds more adult than a rock. In the end again writing is crazy some times I decided when James refers to the communication stone, its called a rock. When the other characters refer to the communication stone it is a stone. Made easy and consistent in the story. I am done working for the day. Have a good weekend.WB

One of my friends Grace asked me to attend Holly Black’s Book signing in Grand Rapids this week. At first I was like I have so much to do and need to finish my second story. Instead of thinking of a enjoyable evening the the responsible me comes out. I said yes so I could gather information how a book signing is conducted. Then I asked another friend Tracy to come along since she wants to help out when I have a book signing in Big Rapids.

So here I go with my note book enjoying the drive with two fun ladies. I get there and am writing down all of the proceedings. And wow is Holly Black funny, fun and entertaining. I have read the Spiderwick series and enjoyed it. I picked up complete volume set to be signed and Unicorns VS Zombies for my son. And now am going to start her series the Curse Workers. First book in the Series is White Cat. I had two books signed and she had bracelets to pick out of the type of curse worker we are. I picked up the grey one and now I am a memory curse worker and can change peoples memories. So fun. She also gave us all a free copy of “Tithe” audio book.

As I walked out I decided to give her my book. Grace and Tracy said you need your information in it.  Thinking this was just a information gathering thing for me. I did not have my business cards or my brief case. I always have books. For some reason now I am a nervous wreck right and can’t think at all. My wonderful friends calmed me down, told me to write the information on the last page. Which I did and gave it to her agent standing next to her. I hope she reads it and likes it. I will never leave my house again with out my brief case and cards need to be replaced in my purse.

The evening for some reason was magical. Perfect evening. When we got back to Big Rapids, we enjoyed some good conversation and wine on the patio. Here is her website http://www.blackholly.com.WB

I am finishing up the final edits before I submit my second story “Helga Returns” to Solstice Publishing. I finish editing with reading the story out loud and I discovered should I use boulder or huge rock? I thought I should use one or the other. I spent about a half hour looking at various definitions of rocks and boulders it was quite interesting. There does not really seem to be a difference between huge rock or a boulder. Then the question to myself is? Which would be more appealing to a child? My kids did not seem to think it made any difference. No help at all. As I was looking at different definitions, I decided the real difference is, and should be added to the definitions. If they are stationary or moving. When you drive along our beautiful roads, the warnings always says falling rocks not falling boulders. So I decided to change stationary huge rocks to boulders and falling rocks to huge falling rocks. That is my adventure in writing today. Hope you enjoy and smiled.WB

 

1. I received my statement from Solstice Publishing. Not to good. Maybe some of you folks could recommend my book for me. “James Saves the Moon

 

Available in Ebooks and Paper back from

http://www.solsticepublishing.com/products/James-Saves-the-Moon%252d%252d%252d-PDF-EBOOK.html
http://www.amazon.com/James-Saves-Moon-Wendy-Nystrom/dp/1461078806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312981708&sr=8-1
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52403
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/james-saves-the-moon/1031088843?ean=9781461078807&itm=1&usri=james%2bsaves%2bthe%2bmoon

 

I am back at work on the final edits of Helga Returns. Will finish with final edits and placing Kelly Murray’s illustrations. I will be done with it by Friday. I am ready to finish the 3rd one and work on my novel. WB

Leaving the Northwest is very difficult for me. So much of our family lives out west and I miss the Northwest. I just want to build my dream house outside of Moscow, ID with the view of the Mountains. But all good things come to an end and the trip back east to our nice City of Big Rapids was long but a pleasant drive back through the mountains and gorge of Washington, Oregon, Wyoming. Then the midwest Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana. Here is a list of states we stopped in on this trip. Some were just a hour some for a few days.

Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.

We were greeted to a huge Thunderstorm in Michigan. It flooded out basement, but it was a good opportunity to clean out all the junk we do not need and get it ready for my son to use. So have to take the good with the bad. I took a walk of our beautiful downtown in Big Rapids a couple of days after we returned home and forgot how beautiful and friendly it is. Friends were happy we came back so nice. We had 11 new windows installed the first week back. Kelly Murray finished the illustrations and now I need to finished the final edits and placing the illustrations in my book and hopefully Solstice Publishing will publish my second book.  Have a great day folks! WB

Bye