Last Plea for Help!

As you know, for the past several months I have been working hard to write three novels. I am happy to report that the books have been written, and the first in the series is ready to publish.

But self-publishing is not easy. In order to succeed a self-published book must be beyond reproach. And in the case of the books I have written, they must go a step further. These books are centered around family values, good morals, and a smart woman who refuses to compromise what she believes in.

It is exactly the kind of book that will be mocked for not embracing more "forward" thinking, or progressive ideas.

The book must be accurate (I reference real events, history, government, and the stock market- this book required a lot of research!), perfectly edited, and above all else, an exciting and engaging read. To ensure the top quality of a self-published book it takes more than just a passionate author. It requires editors, graphic designers, and other professional services, to produce a high quality self-published book.

As you can imagine, it is scary for me personally to put so much work into these books, and wonder what sort of criticism I will get when they are released. But I believe in what I am doing. I believe that there is an audience out there that will enjoy a book about a smart, funny, and moral woman as she navigates relationships and her career. Doesn't the world deserve a character who stands up for family values?

I hope you will join me in my new cause to bring family to mainstream fiction.

Not gonna lie. It kinda makes me mad!

Everything about this kinda makes me mad.

Why does someone's very personal choice have to be mocked like that?
Sure, they had to pick a goober of a guy to make it "interesting" TV. But when they do that, it also implies the rest of us who choose the same morals are also goobers.
And that makes me mad.

All of which is just one more reason why I am so passionate about my quest to self-publish this book with its family values and good morals! Can't we choose to make the person with family values the cool kid, and not a goober on cable TV?

What will my legacy be?

It feels like a lifetime ago that I attended the LDS singles conference in DC. Really, it was only 10 days ago. Girls Camp can mess with your head that way.
During the conference I had a very unusual and fun experience. There were 4 sets of speakers, of which 2 were couples I knew. The first couple I had not seen since I was 12 years old. The wife was my first young woman's leader (my Beehive teacher- sorry for the odd language to my non-LDS friends), and first Girls Camp leader. I went up and asked if she remembered me. She said, "Oh honey, I may not remember your name, but I sure do remember that face! You were one of my young women, weren't you?" We talked for a few minutes. It was a unique experience to get to ask her for advice just as I headed off to camp myself. I wondered if my sweet young girls will remember me in 25 years? (I told them the story (through numerous tears), and one of them replied, "We're all cousins! We'll still be seeing each other at family reunions in 25 years." She makes a good point.)
The second woman I saw was the young woman's leader I had when I was 17. Her family and my family are still very good friends. (In fact, I highly suspect her daughter is reading this post. Are you there, Katrina?) I had no need to introduce myself to her. We had a nice little catch-up chat.
Both women were speaking with their husbands to the conference. (I talked to both men as well.) It made me think about my own youth. How blessed I was to have such amazing and smart influences on me when I was younger! Today they are sought after speakers, traveling often to address different organizations. I wish I had appreciated them more when I was a youth.
To say they have set the bar high for me would be an understatement. I can only hope to do half the job they did with me!
I can tell you exactly what influences these two women had on me as a girl. The first one was simply a graceful and elegant woman. She was firm with us, but knew how to have fun. She never had a hair out of place, and always looked good- even when we were rough camping.
The second woman taught me many lessons about laughing at life's trials, and not taking things too seriously. She was smart, funny, and kind. When I think of her, I think patience and laughter.
I hope that the legacy and imprint I leave on my own young women is one of laughter and love. Heaven knows it will probably not be patience and grace. I'd like to think I have set an example of never giving up and motivation. But who knows if the girls even know how hard I have had to work these past few years just to survive?
There is one legacy I look forward to leaving with them- my books. Every day as I have written another page in this new series I have asked myself if this is something I would want my girls to read? Is the main character setting a good example for the girls? Would I be proud of them if they grew up to be like the main character (Haley)? I'm excited to be able to leave something behind that they will be able to say, "She wrote that for me!"
Will you help me leave that legacy behind? There is less than a week left in my Kickstarter campaign, and I am woefully short the needed funds. You can donate at that first link, and read the first chapter of the book at this link!
THANK YOU!

Greetings from Girls Camp

We interrupt my week in the woods with lots of young women to bring you this important message-

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER OF MY NEW BOOK!!

I hope you will join me in my new cause to bring this book with good conservative morals to mainstream fiction!

Over the past 6 months I have worked hard to write 3 novels (and a fourth is still to come) featuring a woman of high moral character. What makes this book different from most other mainstream literature is that it is not a book about morals or values. Instead it is a fun, engaging, and at times thrilling and emotional, plot that just happens to be centered around a good conservative woman.

This is something not easily found in the mainstream press, which is why I have decided to self-publish.

Typically if books like these were presented to a commercial publisher the author would be forced to make the character evolve or change away from her traditional values. Or these books would be forced to go the way of a smaller, niche marketing publisher, where the general public would never discover it. Yet again, liberal values would win, as conservative values are labeled as old fashioned and undesirable. 

Why can't we have a strong, smart, conservative woman as a heroine without compromise? Isn't it time our values were represented accurately in entertainment and media?

Read a sample portion of the first chapter of the Haley project on Google Docs.

For this type of book to succeed it must be above reproach. It must be accurate, perfectly edited, and above all else, an exciting and engaging read. To ensure the top quality of a self-published book it takes more than just a passionate author. It requires editors, graphic designers, and other professional services, to produce a high quality self-published book. 

I cannot do this alone! I need your help to ensure top quality! If you are passionate about bringing true conservative values and morals to mainstream literature, please donate to my Kickstarter campaign today. 

Kickstarter helps people raise funds for creative projects. In order to receive the funds the full dollar goal must be met. If it falls even just a dollar short the funds are returned to the donors. (Donors are not charged until the full amount has been pledged and raised.) There are thank you rewards for different levels of donations. You can have a character named after you, or get a free copy of the book, or even have the whole book named after you- all depending on your level of donation. 

I can promise you this is a fun, exciting, and interesting series of books you will enjoy reading. You will identify and root for the heroine all the way. But before these books can make it to print we all need your help to make it happen!

Put Good Conservative Values into Mainstream Fiction

For the past several months I have been writing a new book. One book turned into two books and then into three. And there is a possibility there may even be a fourth book before this series is over.
I wrote the bulk of the first book in about 6 weeks. If you've never tried to write a novel before, trust me when I say that is insanely fast. But I was inspired and obsessed with my story. All I wanted to do was write it.
At the time books 1 and 2 were the same book. I hadn't planned on making them 2 separate books. But through the all important editing process (adding nearly 100 more pages to just the first half alone) I realized it needed to be 2 books. I've been fortunate enough to work with several good friends in order to edit, revise, and edit again to make this book happen.
I have felt strongly for several years that I wanted to write a book with a strong female heroine who does not have to compromise her values or what she believes in in order to succeed. I feel all too often mainstream entertainment is the story of a woman who gives up on what she believes in in order to be happy or fit in elsewhere. I have wanted to find or write a story that was about a woman who made the tough decision to stand by what she was taught, and didn't use her sexuality to win. It is incredibly disheartening just how hard that can be to find. And what few stories out there that do attempt this, tend to be very preachy, and niche-market only.
I am excited for this character that I have developed and the events she goes through. She faces very real world decisions, and addresses them realistically. Of course, it is entertainment and fiction, so they are not real world scenarios, but they are real world responses. The main character, Haley, is one that women will identify with, and will find strength in. They will recognize and identify her feelings and responses, and look up to her for how she approaches them. At least, that is what I hope women will do!
I've opted to self-publish this book for multiple reasons. First, I don't believe there is a mainstream publisher out there who will take a book that is this conservative without making key changes. Because I want to keep the morals intact, I don't want to deal with a commercial press. Second, smaller publishers that would accept this type of book  would sell it in a niche market (even though it is not a religious fiction book). I don't want to get put into a niche, so I'm avoiding it altogether for now. I have other reasons that I can explain to you if you really want to hear them.
The self-publishing world isn't as cheap and easy as writing and uploading. There are other details that take time and money. For instance, hiring a graphic designer to create a book cover! All writers, no matter how good they are, need a good editor. The feedback and editing process only improves books. And editors have to be hired and paid as well. Last, but not least, in order to protect and copyright your work, you have to pay for an ISBN. And that alone is $100. Plus there is shipping, galleys, etc., that all take time and money as well.
Which brings me to my kickstarter campaign. I'm trying to do a little fundraising to get this book (and the following 2-3 books) off the ground. I'm so close to getting it all done, but it is money that holds me back.  Being able to pay for quality editors alone is the most important detail. It will take it from "a nice story that girl wrote," to a book that will make people sit up and take notice. Funding will help make the difference between being sold to my friends and family, and the quality and production needed to reach a mass audience.
If you would like to contribute to making the Haley books happen, please check out my kickstarter campaign. Contributions can be as low as $1! For $5 you get your name on the acknowledgements page. For $25 you get a personalized (and creative) YouTube thank you video. For $50 you get a signed copy of the book when it is available.
I know there are many of you who would love to see a book about a strong, morals driven, smart, single woman and what it takes for her to succeed. I hope you will make a donation!