And for the last three months or so, I had plunked down on my calendar: 12/1 Golden Spiral manuscript due to editor.

It was an ambitious deadline and, I’ll be honest, there were more than a few days where I looked at that “To-Do” item on my list and despaired of ever being able to draw a line through it.

So, yesterday was 12/1. The Big Day. The Can’t-Miss-It Deadline.

And today, I have had the extreme joy of checking it off my list.

It’s amazing to me to think–and to be able to say–I’m done with my second book. I’m not sure the reality has set in quite yet. (Of course, that may be because I wrote nonstop for 12 hours yesterday and went to bed at 2:30, didn’t fall asleep until 3:30, and got up at 7:00 to come to work. Ah, the glamorous life of an author!) But every time I’ve be able to tell someone those magical words “I’m done,” I feel a little thrill of impossible joy. An unspeakable relief of having set a goal and, more importantly, of having met it.

And every day I doubted and fretted and struggled, my husband was always quick to remind me: Just get it down on paper. You can’t change what you don’t have.

So now I have 93,882 words down on paper. And however many of those words end up changing during the reading, revision, and editing stages of the process, I know one thing: this experience has changed me as well.

Now, let’s see, what’s my deadline for book three?

(I know, I know, I haven’t been blogging as regularly as I should, but if it helps ease the sting, please know that I have been working on Golden Spiral more. A lot more. And I really, really like where it’s going.)

I did take day off from writing, however, to spend the day at Dixon Middle School to celebrate reading, writing, and all things creative with the 7^th and 8^th grade classes. Fellow authors James Dashner, J. Scott Savage, and Jessica Day George rounded out the party and I hope that between the four of us, we offered the kids a day they’ll never forget. We spent the morning in assemblies, talking to the different grades about how we became writers, why we like to write, and answered some of their questions in an informal Q&A format.

I was honored to have been asked to join such an august panel of authors since I’m the newest one to the profession of “published author,” and it was a treat to spend the day with such good writers and friends.

After lunch (Café Rio, my favorite), we were able to teach three smaller workshop sessions to the kids who had signed up for lunch and lessons. I’ve only done a handful of school visits so far, but every time I go, I’m amazed at how many kids are already writing and how many kids ask me about how to get their book published. I remember being in 8^th grade, and there was no way I as brave as these kids are who are already thinking about publication! I love to hear their enthusiasm for the books the read and the stories they are telling. It sparks my own desire to go home and write and tell the stories that are inside of me.

My workshop focuses on some of the nuts and bolts of writing (characters, conflict, motivation, and how to start plotting out your story), and one of the things I love to do is ask for a volunteer to tell me what they did in a two-hour span after school. It’s usually pretty uneventful (went home, spent time with friends, watched a movie, etc.), but then we always ask “What if” and turn the day on its head. The kids at Dixon had great ideas for stories (a microchip hidden in an ice cream cone; playing cards that turned into fortune-telling cards that could change someone’s fate; a school bus that was really a Twinkie; a video game that you could plug directly into your brain and play for real; a sister trained in the ancient art of assassination).

It was a good day, filled with books and stories and imagination. And dragons! We were all given statues of dragons as a thank-you gift. Mrs. Moody said they were magical dragons with the gift of language. So I’m going to put mine on my laptop and see if he’ll write for me while I’m asleep….

(And a special shout-out THANK YOU to Leann Moody and her crack IT guy at the school library who saved me a 45-minute drive back home after I realized I’d left my computer plug at home. You guys are the best!)

His eyes. His touch. His kiss. Dante was unlike anyone Abby had ever met. Now he’s gone, and Abby will do anything to get him back…

The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Abby knows that Dante, as a Master of Time, is the only one who can stop them from destroying time itself. She also knows that he will need her help. But almost immediately, things start to change and Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically.

With each new change that ripples into her present, Abby’s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family, are threatened to the breaking point – and beyond. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined, and as she struggles to free Dante, she receives help from an unexpected – and unlikely – ally.

As Abby’s world fractures around her, she must face a terrible truth: either Dante didn’t make it through the door, or he is lost forever. So with Dante’s blueprints in hand, she begins construction on a new door, a new time machine that will either save Dante – or doom him.

The river of time is running wild, churning up secrets and betrayals, revelations and promises. With each new turn of the river, Abby faces a new challenge. Who can she trust? And how many more changes can she survive?

The bank is eroding, the barriers are thinning. And time is running out.

Watch for The Golden Spiral to be in bookstores in May 2010!

There was definitely a party atmosphere at the store with balloons tied to chairs, door prizes, live music by Cherie Call, and bite-sized brownies available at every turn. I enjoyed talking to the customers, telling them about my book, and signing copies.

As the event wound down, and fewer people came by to look at our books, Josi and I were able to visit with each other about writing and publishing, work and family. I admire Josi; not only is she a talented author but she is also an amazing person, outgoing and friendly.

I had a great time and look forward to enjoying another Ladies Night party in April.

My brother is a huge fan of Pink Floyd and with tickets on sale for $10, all four of us were able to go (me and Tracy, my brother and his wife). I’d seen the APF show once before when, in addition to some of the greatest hits, they played all of Dark Side of the Moon. Very cool.

The show was at the Usana, which is one of the best places to see a show. There’s something about being outside under the stars watching a great band perform amazing music that just feels right. Plus, the sound mix was one of the cleanest and sharpest I’d heard in a long time. You could actually hear the individual instruments without losing the high notes in some horrible screeching feedback.

This was a “greatest hits” kind of concert, which was perfect for me, since I’m a “greatest hits” kind of fan. My first real experience with Pink Floyd was when I was a teenager and I listened to all of The Wall in the dark in my room. Maybe not the best introduction to the band, but a memorable experience nonetheless. (Side note: It turns out many of my favorite songs come from that album.) (Second side note: another early Pink Floyd memory I have is being in junior high and seeing a guy wearing a T-shirt with the words “We don’t need no education” written on the back and me thinking, “Uh, yes, you do—that’s a double negative.” Yes, I was that much of a nerd.)

The thing about Pink Floyd’s music is that it reminds me more of a symphony or a good jazz improv than hardcore rock and roll. The songs are unapologetically long, which leaves lots of time and room to wander around musically and creatively. They are not the three-minute, radio-friendly, verse-verse-chorus-bridge-verse kinds of song. They are lush without being overdone; they are fat without being heavy. They seem to be more interested in the experience of music than anything. While the songs aren’t particularly hum-able (at least, not for me), I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a more transcendent song than “Great Gig in the Sky.” (I’d like to see someone try that on American Idol!)

The next time the Aussie Pink Floyd show is in town, whether you’re a fan or not, do yourself a favor and go. Shine on, you crazy diamond!

            I think writing is a lot like that. Sometimes you have to let an idea grow a little before it becomes a story. Sometimes it’s really scary to look at what’s head of you—whether it’s two back-to-back loop-de-loops or two really tricky chapters—and all you can do is buckle up, hold on, and go for it. And somewhere between the screaming and the laughter, you realize that you love it and that all you what to do when you get off the ride is ride it again.

            I also think that is why we love books so much—especially series. We find a good story with good characters and all we want to do is tag along on their adventures, see what they see, feel what they feel. Characters in fiction often have much more exciting roller-coaster lives that we do here in reality. (Don’t get me wrong, though, sometimes reality is a wild ride all by itself.) And my favorite characters face their fears with a strange blend of determination and anticipation. I know that if I ride along with them, I’ll learn something about them—and possibly even something about me.

            I’m trying to keep all that in mind as I work on Golden Spiral. Writing Hourglass Door was a lot like strapping myself in for the story and riding it breathlessly all the way to the end. I’m discovering that Spiral is a different kind of ride—one that still offers plenty of excitement, stomach-dropping surprises, and thrilling twists, but one that inspires a few more anticipation butterflies than I expected. But that’s not always a bad thing, you know.

            As I stand up straight, measuring myself against the task at hand, I know that I’m able to tame this beast of a ride. I’m going to make sure Abby and Dante are in the front seats, and then I’m going to send them on a roller-coaster with as many loop-de-loops as I can.

There certainly were enough authors to qualify as a palooza on Tuesday night at the Orem Barnes and Noble. A whole crowd of us writer-folk stormed into the bookstore, set up camp, and had a grand ol’time talking to customers and to each other (and of course, talking up our respective books), until the exhausted store employees kicked us all out at closing time. I was lucky enough to be at a table with my good friend J. Scott Savage as well as Nathan Hale and Mette Ivie Harrison. I had never been to an official “authorpalooza” before so I didn’t know quite what to expect. I guess I expected it to be a little quiet—a few shoppers browsing the stacks, maybe some soft music playing in the background, while we all waited attentively for someone to wander by and say hello. But what happened was much more fun.

The store employees all had custom T-shirts on and were collecting signatures as passionately as the customers were. There were free samples from the café (and even some free cookies for the authors. They had me at chocolate-chocolate-chip.) I loved visiting with the other authors and the customers. I loved talking shop and recommending books. It took me right back to the days when I used to work in a bookstore. I always secretly liked to imagine that people were not just buying a book from the store, they were adopting the story, taking it home to love and treasure. A good book deserves to go to a good home, after all. So it did my heart good to see so many people walking around with stack of books cradled in their arms. (A few people even had my book in their hand, which, I’ll be honest, was all kinds of nice.)

I also met a nice young man who goes by Jacoby (even when we all know he looks much more like a “Spencer” J) and the two of us visited about books we’d read and loved. All in all, it was a joyous occasion and I’m excited and honored to be counted among the palooza of local authors who give writing and books such a good name.

So, yes, I was thrilled when, on Thursday, I took a look at my work schedule and realized that if I wanted to, I could ditch work on Friday. Say no more. J I did have one bit of business to do Friday morning: I attended a committee meeting for the upcoming writer’s conference, The Book Academy, that will be held at UVU on September 25. But that hardly felt like work; it was more like planning a party.

After the meeting, I indulged myself with a trip to the salon and a shopping spree for some new clothes. I treated myself to lunch at Great Harvest Bread. (Delicious sandwiches!) I also made a stop at the post office to mail a very important envelope—the final payment on my credit card. But again, that hardly felt like work; it was the culmination of a year’s worth of intense budgeting and financial sacrifice. It feels so good to be on the other side of that debt.

I had two book signings scheduled for Saturday. (I’ve been trying to do at least one Hourglass Door event a week, so this was a bonus week for me.) My first stop was at the SLC Costco at 11:00. I’ve been on the Costco tour for the past several weeks and while I enjoy talking about my book to people who otherwise might have walked on by, after a couple of hours of smiling and handing out free bookmarks, I’m about ready to close up shop. I’ve had varying degrees of success at Costco. Some locations are happy to have me come by and my sales are strong and the people are nice. Other locations, it’s a hard-fought fight to hand out 100 free bookmarks and sell a dozen copies. (It’s a free bookmark, people, it’s not going to bite. J)

The SLC Costco was a hard-fought fight and by 1:00 I was happy to head to lunch with Tracy (Café Rio, my favorite) and then on to book signing number two: Barnes and Noble at the Jordan Landing location. This is my neighborhood B&N and Angie is the best customer service person I’ve ever met at a bookstore. She had my signing all set up with a table and chairs and even had a little bottle of water ready for me. She made me feel like I was famous. The signing was scheduled for 2:00 and included some time for me to have a Q&A with the guests as well as read a little from Hourglass Door.  (I read the Prologue, which is one of my favorite bits.) There were about 15 people there, including the incomparable James Dashner, and I like to think the event was a success. I certainly felt good about it and loved visiting with everyone who came. (Of course, maybe it was the free Oreo cheesecake that put me in such a good mood. Thanks, Angie!)

One other very important thing happened this weekend: I received my first royalty check. So it’s official. I wrote a book, I got it published, and I have been paid for it. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to say I am a writer by profession. But what’s even better is the fact that I didn’t need a check to validate something I already knew in my heart. I’m a writer, plain and simple. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 On July 25, I had the great privilege and pleasure of visiting The Purple Cow bookstore in Tooele, Utah. I had heard great things about this bookstore that specializes in children’s and YA literature and I was not disappointed. Isa, the proprietress, was so gracious and friendly that I immediately felt like one of the family. 

The Purple Cow may be a small store, but it has a big heart. Custom posters of cows dancing, fencing, racing, and, of course, reading, cover the walls. The bookcases are just the right height for young readers to browse titles with ease, and there is an extremely comfy couch if you feel inclined to read a little before you decide to buy.

The book club met in the open space at the back of the store. There were about seventeen people and we had a lively conversation about The Hourglass Door. A few people hadn’t finished it yet, so we were careful not to talk about too many details; no one wanted to spoil the story for anyone else. Instead we talked a lot about the process of writing, what it was like to get published, and even a bit about my job as an editor. I was happily surprised to see how many kids were writing their own stories. (One girl said she had even submitted her story to Shadow Mountain. Way to go!) The kids asked intelligent, thoughtful questions and afterwards we took lots of pictures, signed books, and visited with everyone in the group. It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I can’t wait to go back in September for another signing. J

But what I hate is when I have more to-do items than I can humanly do in one day. Summer is a busy season in publishing—ah, who am I kidding, every season is a busy season in the publishing world—because if we don’t have our Christmas books finished in July, they won’t be ready for the stores in time for Christmas sales. So even though it is a sweltering 100 degrees outside, inside my office I’m humming “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and looking up facts about Santa to verify a detail mentioned in a new Christmas novel. It’s kind of strange.

This summer has seemed busier than usual and I find myself having to remind myself to breathe just to make it through the day. In an effort to juggle all that I have to do as an editor, an author, and a wife (not to mention trying to find a little me-time every day), I’ve been trying out some new ways of working. Including writing on the train.

Train-time used to be me-time. My commute to work is about thirty minutes and I used to take those thirty minutes and lose myself in a good book. I’d get an hour every day to read something I wanted to read. Not for work—just for me. But my deadline for The Golden Spiral is looming and I still have a lot of work to do on it. So I’ve been looking at that hour on the train not as reading time, but as writing time. My mom’s laptop is just the right size and has a decent battery lifespan. And so I’m embarking on a new adventure. I’m going to try to write on the train. I hope it works. Wish me luck.