Keeping it Real

Josi at What is a Sundial in the Shade? gave me an award on Monday. It is an award for bloggers who "keep it real". She gives a great explanation for the award and why it is named for Marie Antoinette, so I'm not going to try to say it better. Here is what she said about me:

"I really enjoy Stephanie's blog because she also blogs about real, every day life, but the more I read, the more depth I find. I assumed for the first few months that she had lived a very typical, traditional life. Then I discovered a twist, and then another one, and then another one. It's intriguing to me that she does not simply put it all out there at one time, rather it's all just part of the life she lives. She also has an inherent goodness that reminds me that being good is strong--I need those kinds of reminders in my life and her posts always do that for me."

I'm not sharing this to blow my own horn, but because it made such a difference to me. I keep things as honest as I can, even though I don't share the names of my family, or pictures of them, I do blog about them occasionally because they are my life and they influence what I write and if I write. I'm also fairly open about my life, past and present, because I can't talk about my struggles, goals, and dreams without exploring the experiences that have made me the person I am.

Since we are talking about keeping it real, let me share some of my recent thoughts. Starting a blog took a huge leap of faith for me. I remember wondering if anyone besides my husband would read it. It never occurred to me that I might make friends through my writing and find support from others who understand the bizarre inner workings of a writer's mind. Imagine my surprise when I attended the LDStorymakers conference last year and had so many people approach me and want to say hello because they recognized me from the blog.

Despite all the positives, I've been wondering if I should keep it up. Lately, life has almost plowed me under a few times and I've had a difficult time getting back on my feet which is silly since the most recent upset doesn't begin to hold a candle to other incidents. Even the title of the blog makes me feel like an impostor since I haven't written anything for too long.

There are days when I wonder if anyone reads what I write. There are days when I wish I was one of those blogs with many comments everyday. Then there are the days when I am completely honest with myself and admit, I write this for me. The writing gives me an outlet and the few comments I get are enough to keep me going. The friends and contacts I've made are invaluable.

Then there are days like Monday. Josi's comment made my day and actually brought a tears to my eyes. I needed to hear what she had to say. And if even one person, appreciates what I have to say, I guess I'll stick around.

I'd like to pass the award onto ali at Girl in a Whirl. She is another blogger who says it like it is and I always appreciate what she has to say. I've missed her lately as she recovers from eye surgery, but I can't wait to hear more from her in the new year.

Blogger Award

Marsha Ward and Rebecca Talley both gave me this award: ...which just made my day. Thank you. It's a good reminder to me that all the little things we do and say are noticed by others. Now I'm supposed to pass it on to ten people. I'm not sure if I can come up with ten who haven't already received it, but here goes...

Mandi from abbott and alyssa
Nicole from The Hunters
Carla from The ABC's: The Astle Busy Center
Shanna from Shanna's Life, Stories, and General Ramblings
Rachel from Rachel's Ramblings
Ali from Girl in a Whirl
Rhonda from The Johnson Clan
Julie from Scattered Jules
Josi from What is a Sundial in the Shade?

Smile

Mandi gave me this award because she says I make her smile. I'd give it back to her because her blog always brightens my day. Since she already has it, I'm passing it on to two other bloggers who cheer me up. Ali and Ajoy . Keep smiling girls.

Books Eligible for the Whitney Awards

Okay, here are the titles I have found, or which have been suggested to me so far. I will keep adding to this list as I find more. I am not making any judgment on whether any book is good enough to win a Whitney, or even worth reading. I am just trying to find all the books that are eligible for 2007. Any more suggestions or corrections to this list would be appreciated.

1. Against an Amber Sky - H.R. Holm
2. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians - Brandon Sanderson
3. Ambushed in Africa - Sian Ann Bessey
   
4. As Time Goes By - Jerry Borrowman
5. At Heaven's Door - Anita Stansfield
6. At Some Disputed Barricade - Anne Perry
7. Austenland - Shannon Hale
8. Backtrack - Betsy Brannon Green
9. Before the Dawn - Dean Hughes
10. Beyond the Horizon - Judy C. Olsen
11. Bishop's Bride, The - Elizabeth W. Watkins
12. Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale
13. Boxmaker's Son, The - Donald Smurthwaite
14. Brother Brigham - D. Michael Martindale
    
15. Bullies in the Headlights - Matthew Buckley
16. Candy Shop War, The - Brandon Mull
17. Chaos - Jeff Downs
18. Chosen - Stephen A. Cramer
19. Cleansing Hunt - Greg Park
    
20. Cliff Hanger - Pamela Carrington Reid
21. Counting Stars - Michele Paige Holmes
22. Dark Sky at Dawn:Free Men and Dreamers v1. - L.C. Lewis
23. Dead Sexy - Amanda Ashley
    
24. Deep End, The - Traci Hunter Abramson
25. Delicious Conversation - Jennifer Stewart Griffith
    
26. Desires of Our Hearts - Sariah S. Wilson
27. Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys - Janet Jensen
    
28. Dragon Slippers - Jessica Day George
29. Dragons of the Highlord Skies - Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman
    
30. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
31. Evidence - Clair M. Poulson
32. Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star - Brandon Mull
33. Final Farewell, The: The Kevin Kirk Chronicles - Patricia Wiles
34. First Day - Allyson Braithwaite Condie
35. Flying Home - Rachel Ann Nunes
36. Forgotten Love - Kara Hunt
37. Fury and Light by Chris Stewart
38. Grave Secrets - Marlene Austin
39. Great Gathering, The - Chad Daybell
    
40. Horse Stone House - Harold K. Moon
41. House Beyond the Hill, The - Michael R. Collings
42. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend - Janette Rallison
    
43. Hunting Gideon - Jessica Draper
44. I am Not Wolf - Roger Terry
45. Icing on the Cake - Elodia Strain
46. In Search of Heaven:The Barrington Family Saga v1. - Anita Stansfield
47. independence Club, The - Rachel Ann Nunes
    
48. Invasive Procedures - Orson Scott Card, Aaron Johnson
49. Jack Knife - Virginia Baker
    
50. Jesse's Highway - Barbara Miller
51. Kindred Spirits - Christopher Kimball Bigelow
    
52. Land of Inheritance - H.B. Moore
53. Last Cold Warrior, The - Howard Robinson
54. Leven Thumps and the Eyes of the Want - Obert Skye
    
55. Lights of Mahonri Moriancumer, The - Phyllis Gunderson
56. Lost Sheep, The - Jeff Call
    
57. Makeover of James Orville Wickenbee, The - Anya Bateman
58. Midnight Whispers - Carol Warburton
    
59. Mistborn: The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson
60. Moon without Magic - Michael O. Tunnell
61. Night's Touch - Amanda Ashley
62. Not Forever - Jennifer Carson Shelton.
63. Notes on a Near-Life Experience - Olivia Birdsall
64. On the Road to Heaven - Coke Newell
65. Operative, The - Willard Boyd Gardner
    
66. Please, No Zits! - Anne Bradshaw
67. Professor Winsnicker's Book of Etiquette for Proper Sycophants - Obert Skye
    
68. Princess and the Hound, The - Mette Ivie Harrison
69. Quiet Promise, A - Anita Stansfield
70. The Refiner's Gift - Sherry Ann Miller
71. Rescue the Prophet - Rob Ficiur
72. Return to Christmas - Chris Heimerdinger
    
73. Revenge and Redemption - Brad E. Hainsworth
74. Scottish Legend - Sherry Ann Miller
75. Secrets in Zarahemla - Sariah S. Wilson
76. Sheep's Clothing - Josi Kilpack
77. Silent Patriots, The - JoAnn Arnold
78. Space Boy, The - Orson Scott Card
79. Spires of Stone - Annette Lyon
80. Summer of Truth - Carol Lynn Pearson
81. Survivors, The- Gregg Luke
82. Swans Over the Moon - Forrest Aguirre
    
83. Tangled Roots - G.G. Vandagriff
84. Three Tickets to Peoria - Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, Carroll Hofeling Morris
85. Topaz, The - Jennie Hansen
86. Upon the Mountains - Gale Sears
    
87. View from the Attic Window, A- Arlene Roberts
88. War of Gifts, A - Orson Scott Card
89. Wednesday Letters, The - Jason Wright
90. Wet Desert - Gary Hansen
    
91. When I Fall in Love - Kay Lynn Kurland
    
92. When the Bough Breaks - Kay Lynn Mangum
93. Widow's Revenge - K.L. Fogg
94. Winning - Bryce Christensen
    
95. Wizard of Ooze, The: Ravenspell Series v2. - David Farland
96. Worldbinder - David Farland

Whitney Book Lists

I know I have mentioned this before. The whole concept of the Whitney Awards is very exciting to me. For years I have read books by LDS authors and wondered why I encounter a dismissive attitude towards LDS fiction it whenever I recommend a book to someone. LDS fiction has come a long way in the last twenty years. and I think it is great that we are finally recognizing the talent within our own LDS culture.

I read all the time and to think that I can nominate my favorite books is rather satisfying. I have picked up several new releases and have even made a nomination. (not telling which one :) So now I am trying to come up with a list of all the books I can find that are eligible for the Whitney Awards for 2007. This is rather time consuming, especially since there are so many LDS authors out there who are not published by the LDS publishers. So I am asking for everyone to list a few books they know of that were released this year. I'll add them to the list I am making and post them on another day.

Whitney Award at Book Club

I received a phone call yesterday asking me me if the Relief Society book club could be held at my house in September. Of course I said yes. I love our book club. The ladies are fun to be with and we have some good discussions. But sometimes I have a hard time with the books they choose. Often they pick books that are a little far out in the attempt to try new things. Funny thing is, most of the time few of them actually enjoy the books. We do have good discussions though. It is almost like they feel that fiction isn't quality unless we don't enjoy it.

Anyway, I think at our next meeting I would like to introduce the Whitney Awards. I believe because we are an LDS book club we should do something to support LDS fiction. Most of the time when I mention this, people roll their eyes and change the subject to talk about "real" writing. I hope that by encouraging them to read some current novels written by LDS authors, we might find some books to nominate for the Whitney awards and develop increased appreciation for the stories that stem from our own culture.

I have a few books that were published this year that I will recommend they read. My selection might be somewhat limited, though. If anyone has any other suggestions of the best books eligible for the Whitneys this year, I would appreciate hearing what they are. I am determined to get at least some of these ladies converted to LDS fiction and maybe even read some great stories in the process. And authors, feel free to recommend your own books :)

I received a gift...

Tristi Pinkston passed on this award for Nice Bloggers to me. Thanks Tristi. It will look so pretty on my page.

I would like to pass it to:
Rebecca Talley and Amanda

Don't Lose It

As a writer there are always thoughts and snippets of stories running through my head. Often I listen to the voices of characters work things out in my mind. Other times a great line will come to me and I know it will be the perfect springboard to an award winning short story, or the closing line for my next novel.

The biggest problem is these thoughts and inspirations don't always come when I am sitting at the keyboard ready to type. More often than not they come when I am elbow deep in dishwater. Sometimes they come when my hands are covered with dirt as I pull weeds in the garden. And they come quite regularly when all the lights are off and I am just getting ready to close my eyes for a much needed sleep.

That is why there are notebooks all over my house. There are several in my purse and one in each of the tote bags I take wherever I go. All it takes is a few key words or a quick paragraph, and it is enough to jog my memory later. Sometimes I have to get it down so fast, my handwriting is barely legible - especially at 1:00 a.m. - but the act of writing the thought down seems to be enough. Most of the time.

Two nights ago I was just getting settled. Everyone else in the house slept soundly, but I couldn't relax enough to get myself sleep. I had finished writing for the night and turned off the computer. But my brain wasn't so easy to turn off. My thoughts were full of ideas for the next days writing session. I finally got out of bed and went into the other room to write them down. I scribbled three or four ideas into a notebook. Once this was done, my mind settled and I was able to go to sleep.

This is good, right? I haven't worried too much about those late night thoughts because I knew they were sitting in a notebook in the office. I might have trouble deciphering them, but they were there. That is why today, I am turning my house upside down trying to find that very notebook. I can't remember if I used it for something else and moved it, or if I only imagined getting up to write them down. (Sometimes those dreams can be so realistic.) I think what probably happened is another set of hands found the notebook and borrowed it for something else. I guess I need to gather the usual suspects and follow the clues that will lead me to scribblings that just might win a Whitney Award.