Remember to Breathe Cause It'll Take Your Breath Away

My wonderful husband :)

Yes. I did just quote "Alligator Sky" to describe how I felt about my first book signing/launch party. Can I help it that Owl City is just that epic that he knows how I'm feeling?

This is Nate-la, who is actually a character in the book!

So if you hadn't guessed it yet, this post is ALL about my launch party because I finally have some pictures to post on this blog that have to do with my book and not just random pictures of cute kids I don't know.

Just signing away

Well, in true Camp fashion, Josh and I got a late start and the whole ride up to the launch party was full of Josh telling me to stop looking at the clock because we'd be fine... we ended up being there a half hour early by the way. So that's a good thing!

The books were actually pulled off the shelves for the signing, but we snapped a picture before they took them all down.

The bookstore had ordered 20 copies of the book, which I thought was a good idea since I couldn't shut up about the launch party and thought maybe quite a few people would come just to make me stop posting about it.


Ha!


Little did I know we'd sell those 20 copies in the first hour, making the other hour a little awkward as I told people "Yes this is my book! Oh... um... you can't actually buy it though. But here's a bookmark if you'd like one!" Which, by the way, I was surprised by how many people who took my bookmarks said, "Hey you've cut your hair!" Apparently I need to get on that and tell it to start growing out faster so people can recognize me!

My lovely Cousin Charity who is my 'inside connection' in the store.

Now, I know I'm kind of an awkward person by nature so I was really worried about talking to people I don't know about my book. I thought I would sound too pushy or braggy if I told people about it (which is ridiculous since the point of a book signing is to tell people about your book). But miraculously, I must have used up all of my awkwardness on the ride to the bookstore because I was relatively normal! Well... except for the fact that when people weren't talking to me I was just smiling away, making my face hurt and I'm sure looking like a complete lunatic. But hey, better a happy lunatic than an angry one right?

Me and my mom :)

It was surprisingly easy to talk to complete strangers about something that was so personal to me. Maybe because my book means so much to me that's why it's easy to share. You feel a need for other people to love your book just as much as you. That and the fact that I had a chance for someone to win a Seagull Books giftcard made it easier :)



So to sum it up, the launch party was AMAZING. I no longer have to wonder what book signings are like, and I'm officially addicted to talking to book people. Because as a writer I HAVE to be a reader, and people coming to book signings are probably readers. So what better people to talk to than book people? We may be odd and prefer the company of books over other more popular activities... but we're kind of endearing aren't we?


So next time I have a signing, come and join me my fellow book people! Because I love you :)


Until next time,

Shannen

Breakup tip #... uhh... I lost track.

Ok ok ok. I know what you're thinking. "Shannen, I thought you were going to do a breakup tip for every day counting down to your launch party?" Well unfortunately working at a photo lab during Christmas means I'm working 9 or 11 hour days right now sooooooo the whole book marketing thing has been a bit difficult. So don't hate me :) If only our Christmas cards weren't so dang cute at that store!

That being said, here's breakup tip #next (since I'm too tired from work to figure out which number I'm on!)

Dragging things out is not, I repeat NOT helpful. Yes you may want to explain yourself but give the movie trailer version, not the "Lord of the Rings Extended Edition" version. That only makes it worse.


Don't forget the launch party will be this Saturday December 10th from 1-3pm at Seagull Books in Salt Lake City!

1720 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
View map
Phone:801-972-2429
Toll-free: 800-999-6257
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm

Breakup Tip #4

"The Breakup Artist" comes out tomorrow my friends! So grab your copy, snuggle up to it, and take a picture! No really. Take a picture and tag "The Breakup Artist" on Facebook because... well... I don't really have a good reason for you to do it other than I'd just love to see you guys with copies of the book! Consider it a Christmas present to me :)

Now for Breakup Tip #4: Don't break up with your boyfriend just because he likes to spend more time with Muppets than you. After he sings a few more songs he'll realize he loves you and wants to spend more time with you than with his brother Walter. You'll be fine.


Don't forget the launch party will be this Saturday December 10th from 1-3pm at Seagull Books in Salt Lake City!

1720 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
View map
Phone:801-972-2429
Toll-free: 800-999-6257
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm

Breakup Tip #3

I know you were all just hanging on the edge of your seat for breakup tip number three right? So here it is!

Breakup Tip#3: If your date leaves you at the high school hockey game because he forgot about you DO NOT let him become your fiance. BREAK UP with him. Pam Beesley, I'm talking to you.

Don't forget the launch party will be this Saturday December 10th from 1-3pm at Seagull Books in Salt Lake City!

1720 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
View map
Phone:801-972-2429
Toll-free: 800-999-6257
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm

Breakup Tip #2

Alrighty folks are you ready for the next one?

Here we go!

Breakup Tip #2: Phone, text, and e-mail breakups are NOT acceptable. Either do it in person or hire Amelia to do it for you.

Don't forget the launch party will be this Saturday December 10th from 1-3pm at Seagull Books in Salt Lake City!

1720 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
View map
Phone:801-972-2429
Toll-free: 800-999-6257
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm

We'll pretend it's Sunday

For the next seven days I'm going to post a breakup tip in honor of my upcoming book launch party! You know... just as a friendly, hopefully not annoying countdown to make sure none of you have an excuse to forget about it!

So today (which we're pretending is Sunday... although if I just way a few minutes to post this it will be) is tip number 1

Breakup tip #1:
"It's not you, it's me" is a perfectly acceptable excuse as to why you're 86ing the relationship.


Don't forget the launch party will be this Saturday December 10th from 1-3pm at Seagull Books in Salt Lake City!

1720 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
View map
Phone:801-972-2429
Toll-free: 800-999-6257
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm

Interview with author Mandi Tucker Slack

So I just finished reading "The Alias" by Mandi Tucker Slack and it was WONDERFUL!

I met Mandi at a Cedar Fort Authors Marketing Workshop and let me just say, I'm SO glad I just happened to sit at her table. She is AMAZING! The woman is kind, funny, and so talented. I knew I had made an instant friend when I sat with her. So naturally I was VERY excited to read her book "The Alias" (which just so happens to be available to own here and here).


So first off before we get down to the interview, I have to say that I loved this book! I wouldn't have asked her if I could interview her if I didn't. It felt a lot like a murder mystery to me, which I love. It had the same kind of pacing and the last few chapters were so intense that it was actually painful to go back to work after reading it on my lunch break. I HAD to know what happened! But sadly for you guys, I won't tell you what happened. So you'll just have to read the book. Ha!

Anyway, back on track, here's a little about "The Alias" just to get you interested in how great this book is :)

Jacey Grayson is an average, young, divorced mother struggling to build a new life for her son, Blaze. But when the FBI discloses some disturbing information about her ex-husband, Jacey's life becomes anything but average. At the risk of losing her identity, her future, and her heart, Jacey and Blaze flee to Utah, hoping to hide and start over once again. But no matter how far she runs or who she pretends to be, her past is always lurking nearby, bringing old fears with it. Thrilling action and a suspenseful plot make this novel an edge-of-your-seat-read.

And without further ado, here's my interview with the lovely Mandi Tucker Slack:

1. What inspired you to write this story?
To be honest, the idea for The Alias came after visiting with a close friend who was pursuing a divorce at the time. She was leaving behind an emotionally and physically abusive husband. I was touched by the amount of strength and courage it would take to leave behind a marriage like that and build a new life for yourself and your child(ren).

2. Do you see any of yourself in Jacey?
Sometimes. I can relate to her need to be the best mother she can be and her desire to grow and change. I think any woman can relate in some ways to this character.

3. Do you pull from your real life experiences when you write? How much do they influence your writing?
Yes, I think life is the biggest influence for my stories. We all have trials and writing is often therapeutic. I can express the way I feel through words. My stories are completely fiction. I’m not married to a member of the mafia, or a serial killer. I’m not a struggling waitress or a scientific genius (all characters in my stories), but as a writer, I feel I can better connect with my characters if I’m writing about something I understand, even if I understand that only a little. In The Alias, the protagonist, Jacey, is fleeing from an abusive marriage. I’ve never been divorced, or abused, and my marriage is good, but we’ve had our share of problems and I know what it’s like to hurt, to feel afraid and to feel pain. We all feel these emotions at some point or another and I believe these feelings are an important aspect of writing.

4. I feel like this story focuses quite a bit on inner strength and self worth. Was that something you wanted to portray in Jacey? How did you focus on these attributes?
Yes, definitely. The main theme in The Alias is Jacey’s attempt to overcome years of abuse and develop a sense of who she really is. As the story progresses we see her desire to change and grow. She struggles with feelings of guilt and remorse for staying with her ex-husband so long and exposing her son to abuse, but as the story progresses we also see how she uses the lessons from her past to move forward into a more promising future.

5. What do you do to get in the writing state of mind? Is there some essential thing you need to sit down and start writing?
Each book I write has a certain mood. Right in the beginning, I always create a playlist. I pick songs and scores that match the mood of the plot. I always carry my ipod while writing.

6. If your book was made into a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
Well, I wrote the book listening to the Transformers soundtrack, believe it or not. But…I don’t think that would work for this novel.

7. What is your favorite thing about this story?
I loved Uncle Grant’s character. He was a conglomeration of my dad, both my grandfathers and my uncles. I grew up in a small town surrounded by cowboys who wore Stetsons and loved farm life. I had fun building his character.

8. Anything else you want to add?
Thanks a bunch for reading The Alias, and I appreciate the time you took to
interview me!


As you can see, Mandi is GREAT and so is her book so go pick up your copy of "The Alias" today!

Thanks Mandi!

And until next time,

Shannen