Asking – Blog

Rone Award Voting plus Audiobooks!

TWO THINGS TODAY:

Rone Awards

I just found out that LIBERTY is up for a RONE Award!!!! Yay. But to move to the next round, it needs A LOT of votes.

If you guys have a second, can you vote for my book (new adult category)?

http://www.indtale.com/2016-rone-awards-week-one

The RONE Awards are hosted by In D’tale Magazine which said of LIBERTY, “this novel has a scary but very realistic premise which makes it a piece that should be required reading for young and old alike.” – In D’tale Magazine

They’ve placed LIBERTY in the NEW ADULT category, which has the reputation of a lot of hot, steamy, very adult romances. My book is NOT that type of romance. It’s squeaky clean, appropriate for readers of all ages, so it needs all the support it can get.

Plus, because I’ve been so out of it this week (2 kids with the flu; ugh), I didn’t realize voting has been going on ALL WEEK LONG. It’s Thursday now. Not sure how it is, but it is indeed Thursday today.

So anyway, if you have a second and can vote for my baby, I mean, my book, I’d love you forever! (I’ll love you forever even if you can’t.) :)

Thanks!!!!

AND SECOND THING:

Audiobooks

The Citizens of Logan Pond trilogy is coming to audiobooks!!!

Most of the ‘reading’ I do these days is through audiobooks. I love them. For a while now, I’ve wanted to get LIFE | LIBERTY | THE PURSUIT onto an audio format.

Well, I’m thrilled to announce that it’s happening!

Rebecca_Roberts_headshot2-copy — Rebecca Roberts, audiobook narrator for the Citizens of Logan Pond trilogy

Rebecca Roberts, a talented narrator, is narrating and producing the three books, and Blackstone Audio, the largest independent audiobook publisher will be doing the distribution, getting it into bookstores, libraries, Audible, etc. So cool.

Rebecca is doing such a lovely job with the story and the characters. I can’t wait for you to hear! (See Rebecca Robert’s other works here and here.)

Here is the tentative release schedule for the audiobooks:

So if you’re a fan of audiobooks like I am, they’re coming!

(Speaking of The Pursuit, many have asked when the release date is for the print/ebook version. I don’t technically have a release date yet, but that too is coming. I’m working hard, trying to wrap up all loose ends in the trilogy to make sure it ends with a bang! I’ll keep you posted.)

Asking, Photographing

New Author Photos: Take a Poll

With the new book, Augustina, I decided to update my author photo.

Our family was getting pictures taken for a family reunion anyway, so I asked the photographer, Kristin Keeley Clove, if she’d take some of me. She did, and I LOVE them.

Now, I can’t decide which I like best. They turned out better than I deserve. (Kristin is seriously amazing. If you’re in Southern Utah, look her up. Her blog is here: http://cdotlove.blogspot.com/)

Which of the three do you like best? Help me decide which to use for my main author picture.

Thanks!

Check out the rest of Countdown to Augustina:

Asking, Blogging

Interview by Tanya Parker Mills

I was interviewed by the fabulous Tanya Parker Mills about my new book, AUGUSTINA, my music, and what it’s like to be Gerald Lund’s daughter. :) Oh, and there are pictures of me growing up.

Yikes.

Check out the link below.

http://www.tanyaparkermills.com/wednesday-writer-rebecca-belliston/

Gerald-Rebecca-300x201 — Gerald Lund and daughter, Rebecca

And if you missed my earlier interview with the Good Word Podcast, find it here:

http://www.radiogoldproductions.com/thegoodword/episode-132-interview-with-rebecca-lund-belliston/#.UZqCF6LqmSo

Thanks!

Asking

Countdown to Augustina: Taking a Poll

As I work on Augustina, specifically on the formatting, it got me wondering which formats people read Sadie in.

And then in the last few weeks, people have mentioned that they’ve reread Sadie in anticipation of Augustina (so cool!!!), which made me wonder how many times you’ve read Sadie.

And then I wondered who was your favorite character.

So…

If you read Sadie, answer the three questions below:

Awesome. Thanks!

If you haven’t read Sadie, now’s your chance. It’s 50% off here.

Countdown to Augustina:

Asking, Blogging, Marching

It’s That Time Of Year Again: March Book Madness!

Do you guys remember this picture????

That’s because it’s that time of year again!

The regular season of basketball is finishing up, and the Belliston household is starting to make predictions. MARCH MADNESS is a riot in our household. It has been ever since my eldest was born a total basketball nut.

We love MARCH MADNESS!

More March Book Madness

Even our youngest is required — yes, required — to fill out a bracket. The winner of the brackets chooses where we go for ice cream at the end of the season.

My daughter and I usually win every year to the chagrin of all my basketball boys.

I LOVE IT!

Last year on the blog, I did a MARCH BOOK MADNESS where I had several guest posters talk about anything book-ish. It was so much fun and such a success, I’d love to do it again.

Which means…

I need guest posters!

The rules for posting in this MARCH BOOK MADNESS are:

You must love books.
Like all good games, keep it clean. No fouls (language, topic, or otherwise)
You must really, really love books.

Last year I had mostly authors on the blog, but this year is open to anyone who wants to talk about books.

Sample topics are:

Writing: Where to find inspiration
Writing: Genres, Plotting, or Creating strong characters
Editing: Tips to get from first draft to final draft without tears
Editing: How to write succinctly

Reading: Reading books with an author’s eye (what to look for)
Reading: Best places to find your next favorite novel
Reading: What makes a great book
Social Media: Using social media to enhance your readership
Querying: How to get an agent while keeping your sanity

Any other book topic you’d like

Posts will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I’ll schedule them around you to make it convenient.

So…

If you want to be a part of this March Book Madness, please email me, and we’ll set something up. It’s a great way for us to meet you, and you to meet us. Plus, as I learned early on as an author, there’s so much to learn about books, and so many amazing people willing to share. Let’s learn together.

Yes! I’m very excited!

,

To get you excited, here are LAST YEAR’S POSTS. They’re awesome.

Lynn Wiese Sneyd: March 8, Querying

Tobi Summers: March 13, Plotting vs. Plodding

JoLynne Lyon: March 15, Marketing

Cassie Mae: March 20, Editing

Jessica Khoury: March 22, Editing

Tricia Pease: March 27th, Reading

Sharon Belknap: March 29, Reading

So shoot me an email to set up your post. Let me know what topic and which date you want, so we can set it up.

You guys are awesome!

Asking, Signing, Writing

Answering SADIE Questions

(asking)

My church is having a SADIE night next week

Let me just say, I’m so excited!

I’ve been to another book club on Sadie, and I had so much fun. The ladies were so nice, and they remembered the characters so well, it was awesome. They even served college-guy refreshments like orange juice, cold cereal, and pizza. How cool is that?

At my book signings in Utah, I loved talking to everyone there, too. And e-mails I’ve received, and facebook messages. Wow. People have been so stinkin’ nice.

It’s been a blast.

One of my favorite things is hearing people’s questions and comments about the book. Things that stick out to them sometimes surprise me. I know I wrote all those words, but some have slipped through my memory, and others are interpreted in cool ways by some readers. It’s been fascinating to hear their/your comments.

Side note: If you live within a few hours of the Detroit Metro area and want me to come to your Sadie book club, or if you own a bookstore and want me to do a book signing, please ask! I love that kind of stuff. Just contact me via email here. (I probably should have mentioned this months ago, but hey, I’m a newbie.)

Anyway . . . Questions

Since I’ve been asked to talk about my book, and since I prefer to talk about what people want to hear, and not what makes me obsessively obnoxious, I’m opening the discussion up to all of you. Think about it as an online book club (of sorts). So . . .

What questions do you have about Sadie?
What things did you wonder as you read?
Do you have questions about the writing process in general?
The publishing process?

Pretty much anything you want to ask, ask. I’ll do my best to answer.

Just comment below (you can comment anonymously if you prefer). Or ask on facebook or twitter if those are your social mediums. I check all three regularly.

(You guys are so awesome.)

I’ll leave this post up for…well…forever, so even if you find this down the road, feel free to post your questions.

So are you ready?

Ask away!

PS) Here is the synopsis for Sadie in case you’re curious:

Sadie Dawson thinks she has the perfect life until one misunderstanding leads to a brutal event that changes everything. Terrified, she flees her boyfriend’s wrath, two FBI agents, and her “perfect life.” Lost in a Montana snowstorm and desperate for refuge, she’s rescued by four quirky guys on their annual holiday ski vacation. But even as her physical wounds heal, Sadie wonders is she will ever be able to escape the clutches of her wealthy and determined boyfriend.

While her heart tells her there is more to a perfect life than diamond necklaces and elegant dinner parties, Sadie doesn’t know who she can trust. And just when her heart settles, she finds herself abandoned by the one person who swore to protect her for a religion she doesn’t understand. Will she have the courage to follow her heart and find the life that is perfect for her?

Asking, Blogging

I Need Your Help…(Favorite Writing Advice and Pet-peeve words)

(blogging)

Yesterday I realized I was nearing my 100th blog post. CRAZY! Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess. Seems like I only started blogging last year. Oh wait. I did. :)

I was thinking about this 100th, and thought it would be fun to have my 100 favorite writing nuggets in some sort of list form for all of you. However, when I started making the list, I decided it was a little ambitious. While I have lots of favorite websites and authors I follow, coming up with 100 was a little daunting (or maybe I didn’t get enough sleep last night). So…here’s where I’m hoping you’ll jump in because I know you know more than I do.

Over the next few days, I’ll be asking you guys about your favorite writing things. I’ll break them into 10 categories, with 10 items each, which will eventually get me to 100 things for my 100th post. :)

I have the first two categories right now.

1) What is your favorite writing advice in 20 words or less? You’re welcome to add more than one, so long as each are under 20-ish words. One of mine is: Great books aren’t written, they’re rewritten.

2) Overused/unnecessary words in writing, either your own or your pet peeve when you read it in others. I’m assuming there are a lot so after I get all of yours I’ll try (somehow) to find the top 10 so we can all avoid being someone else’s pet peeve–which is always a good thing. Some of mine are just, so, that, and had.

Please weigh in. The more responses the better. Tomorrow I’ll be asking the next two questions. :) I’m excited to see this 100 list once we’re done.