Countdown to Christmas and latest news

It's true that I've been terrible about posting lately. Rest assured, I have been busy writing...and writing...and writing some more.

The title for my next novel was just finalized yesterday. Deep Cover is a new stand-alone novel and will be released in March 2013. I also finished writing my part of a project I have in the works with authors Stephanie Black and Gregg Luke. We should know more about what is happening with that in the next couple of months.

Also, my book Code Word is going to be featured sometime in the next few weeks on LDS Women's Book Review. If you're interested in seeing some fun updates on some of the authors in the LDS writing community, click on this link below. I'll post an update here when Code Word is featured.

 

Kansas City book signing

This weekend I will head to Kansas City to teach a few classes at the LDStorymakers Midwest Writers Conference. I will also be joining a lot of my fellow author friends at a huge book signing on Friday, September 14th beginning at 7pm. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by and say hi.

Location:

Oak Park Mall Barnes & Noble
11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS

Authors will include:

Traci Hunter Abramson (yes, this is me!)
Lisa Magnum
Josi Kilpack
Heather Justesen
Danyelle Ferguson
Don Carey
Karen Hoover
L.C. Lewis
Steve Westover
Llynn Parsons
Tamara Hart Heiner
and more!

Free first chapter

I just received a message from my publisher that they have updated their website to include the fall line, including a sneak preview at the first chapters. Here is the link to the first chapter of Code Word. Hope you enjoy it!

I'm  heading to the airport, but just wanted to post today's code word: beliefs. Hope to see everyone at one of the signings tomorrow! Or Tuesday. :)

Thursday's code word

Today I have spent trying to tie up some loose ends before leaving for Utah tomorrow, so I'm a little later than I had planned. The good news is that I now have 300 butter bars, 200 brownie bites, and 250 homemade rolls in my freezer all ready to go for a friend's wedding that will occur the day after I return to Virginia.

And today's code word is: operation.

Collect all five words this week and bring them to the signing on Saturday to be entered to win a prize. It's almost party time!

Crazy day and code word

I'm running a little behind today trying to get dozens of things done before I leave for Utah on Friday. Thank goodness I live on the east coast so it hopefully isn't too noticeable to most people. :)

Anyway, today's code word is: Navy SEAL.

Another signing scheduled & code word of the day

Another book signing has been added to my Utah schedule. Gregg Luke and I will also be signing at The Book Table in Logan (29 South Main Street, Logan, Utah) from 2PM to 4PM on Tuesday, August 7th.

Here is the complete updated schedule:

First book launches - first time Code Word will be available in stores:

Saturday, August 4 - 11AM to 1PM:

Seagull Books, 1720 S. Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City, UT

Saturday, August 4 - 3PM to 5PM:

Seagull Books, 1052 N. Main St., Spanish Fork, UT
Signings with Gregg Luke:

Tuesday, August 7 - 11AM to 1PM:

Seagull Books, 1114 N. Main St., Logan, UT

Tuesday, August 7 - 2PM to 4PM:

The Book Table, 29 S. Main St., Logan, UT

And now for the code word of the day: Family

If you collect all five code words this week, bring them in to the Redwood Seagull signing and you will be entered to win a prize. Hope to see you at one of these events!

Code Word book launches

The schedule is set for the Code Word book launches in Utah for this weekend. This Saturday at 11AM, I'll start in Salt Lake at Seagull Books' Redwood store. Want to enter to win a prize? Watch each day for the Code Word of the day. Today's word: Saint Squad.

Can't make the morning event, or do you find the Utah county area more convenient? Come see me at Seagull's Spanish Fork store where the fun will continue beginning at 3PM.

And for my friends in northern Utah, I'll be coming to Logan with the incredibly talented Gregg Luke on Tuesday, August 7th beginning at 11AM. Gregg will be with me signing his new book, Deadly Undertakings.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

Saturday, August 4 - 11AM to 1PM:

Seagull Books, 1720 S. Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City, UT

Saturday, August 4 - 3PM to 5PM:

Seagull Books, 1052 N. Main St., Spanish Fork, UT

Tuesday, August 7 - 11AM to 1PM:
(Note: author Gregg Luke will also be at this one.)

Seagull Books, 1114 N. Main St., Logan, UT

Heading to Palmyra

I'm heading to Palmyra tomorrow. Anyone want to join me? I'll be doing book signings at Latter-day Harvest in Palmyra this Friday and Saturday. Here's when you can find me at the book store. And if any of you are at the pageant on Friday night, come find me...in the middle of our other thousand close friends. :)

Friday, July 13th - 2pm
Saturday, July 14th - 10am

Code Word coming August 2012

It's official! Code Word is coming out earlier than I thought and will now be available in August. Here is the cover and the blurb from the back of the book:

The media portrayed the military operation as a complete success, but Navy SEAL Jay Wellman wouldn't describe it that way. He was there. As he tries to come to terms with his role that fateful night, he notices something different about his teammates and wonders if there may be more to their beliefs than he first thought.

When she heard the gunshots, Carina Channing knew the past had caught up with her. She may have changed her last name, but she can't change who her father is. Carina understands the evil that lurks in "The Family," and she is determined to steer clear of that life and any other emotional connections.

When they meet, it seems Jay and Carina have only two things in common--mutual attraction and the fact that they are both struggling to overcome devastating trauma. But when a member of the The Family arrives and upsets the delicate balance in Carina's life, Jay chisels away at the barrier Carina has erected around her heart and offers himself as her protector and friend. But can Jay's Navy SEAL skills, military connections, and loyal Saint Squad friends keep Carina and her sisters safe? And with their different beliefs, can Jay and Carina's friendship grow into anything more?

Life has been beyond crazy lately, but I wanted to share the details of the next writers conference I'll be presenting at. On September 15, 2012 I will be teaching three classes at the Storymakers Midwest Writing Conference which will be held in the Kansas City area. My three classes will be Show, Don't Tell, Creating Believable Dialogue, and Writing Action for Mystery/Suspense/Thrillers. More details to come on those soon and of course, I'm excited to attend some of the other classes being offered.

There will also be a huge author signing the night before, September 14th. I don't have the time yet, but I'll be sure to pass that along once I get that information.

Here are the details from our fearless leader's blog, aka Danyelle Ferguson. Registration is now open and we have a great group of presenters coming from all over the country. I hope you can join us!

Date: Saturday, September 15th, 2012

Time: 8 am – 9 pm

Location: Holiday Inn – Olathe (101 W. 151^st St., Olathe, KS) 913-829-4000 *Discounted hotel rooms are available for $78/night. Please reference the Storymakers Writers Conference when you call to make a reservation.

Registration Fee: $95, includes all classes, lunch, dinner, and conference materials.

 

We’re excited to announce our Keynote Speaker

Lisa Mangum

Editor for Deseret Book & Shadow Mountain

And best-selling author of The Hourglass Door series

We’re also delighted to have the following authors as presenters:

Traci Hunter Abramson

Don Carey
Karen Hoover
Heather Justesen
Josi Kilpack
Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
Steve Westover

Pitch your latest story to Lisa Mangum. Appointments are available on a first come first served basis. Meet your favorite authors at the Friday night Authorpalooza. Network with other writers across the Midwest.

Sign up for a day full of awesomeness! Register here: https://storymakersconference.myshopify.com/

I'm a guest author

Yes, I know I haven't been good about posting lately, but my friends over at LDS Women's Book Review convinced me (okay, asked  me) to do a guest blog on their site for their Guest Author Thursday. I shared with them the story of how I first got published as well as some suggestions on how others might follow suit. Check it out!

In other news, the reason I've been absent lately is that I've been busily trying to finish up my next novel, which will hopefully be the next Saint Squad book, assuming that Jay and his Navy SEAL buddies will cooperate. Back to the story...