My Thanks - 2012

Thanksgiving? Again? Ah well, can't stop time from marching so all we can do is march with it.

This year I am thankful for Starry Night Books. I'm grateful they chose to carry my book and I'm thankful there is a place locally where people can buy it and enjoy it. I'm thankful that the book is available for people both locally and online. No, this is not a plug. As a writer I have worked for years to get it out to people and now I can.

Going to speaking engagements is always one of the best parts of being a writer. I've met so many people and seen their eager faces. Every time I'm asked where can I get these books and now I have an answer. That's something I'll always be grateful for.

Speaking for those public appearances, I'm grateful for those, too. I love to meet kids and share with them my excitement for writing and reading. I love seeing that excitement in them, too. I can't wait to do more!

I'm thankful for my family. They lift me up whenever I'm down and truly support me. We're going through some interesting and much needed important events and I'm thankful we're all together and closer for it.

I'm thankful for the web and my ability to speak to so many. I'm thankful to all those who helped my writing, including my critique group. I may not always sound like it, but your mark ups have helped immensely. I'm thankful for you guys, my silent watchers, who follow and read this blog. ;)

I'm thankful for quite a lot more. I won't go into religious things here but just know there are a great many things that only those close to me know.

And I'm thankful for turkey!

Not sure who did the pics. As always, let me know if you know.

The 3rd Annual Gratitude Giveaways Hop!

And the winner is A'lina!  Thanks to everyone for commenting and following! More hops to follow!


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Hello gentle beings and welcome to my part of I Am A Reader Not A Writer's 3rd Annual Gratitude Giveaways Hop!

As you can see by her nice pic, it runs from November 15th to the 25th. It's a way to meet and greet other blogs and say "Happy Thanksgiving".

And what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving besides the wonderful smell of turkey, the sounds of the Macy's Parade and the image of Uncle Ralph stuffing his face with yams? Why vampire children!

OK, OK, I know. Vampires don't go with this holiday. But let's face it, I have a fun book to giveaway and while it may be my only giveaway book, it's still full of enough entertaining story that you'll wind up as full as a child of the night after a successful raccoon hunt (that's about 5 or 6 of the little critters. Raccoons, not vampire children).

Anyway, I digress. Here is your prize...

I can only give one copy away. I only ship to the US and Canada. Sorry!
Please follow this blog your favorite way, be that twitter, facebook, GFC, linky tools or email. Drop me a comment so I can keep track and on the 25th I'll announce the winner!

And don't forget to check my Breaking Dawn Part 2 Review

What I'm thankful for

Everything! I'm thankful for everything!

As I sit here, Thanksgiving morning, the intoxicating aroma of turkey flowing through the air, I realise how grateful I am for my family, my home, my job, my ability to write and the opportunities I have in both writing and drafting (my day job). I'm grateful for my material blessing and even more grateful for my eternal blessings like my wife and kids.

I just thought I'd mention these things. Now I'm going to go back to what I was doing, sitting here smelling the turkey that has been cooking all night, it's annual aroma of insane goodness is driving me loopy. I swear the moment will come this morning when I "check" the bird, my sharp fork clutched in my trembling hand. Come, bird. Come and know death!

Sorry. Got carried away.

That's what friends are for

Originally posted on 11/29/09 for the Charge of the Write Brigade.



I thought I’d use this article to explain what I’m thankful for. After all, it is Thanksgiving weekend, the time of year where we pause and think on our blessings and good fortune.

There are a lot of things I could write at length about. My family, friends, work, house, pets and even the material things I enjoy. I could go on about faith and various religious terms, but this blog isn’t really for any of those things.

This is a writer’s blog and on it I’d like to mention my gratitude to other writers and readers. See, while we as writers have imagination and the means to use that imagination to create, we need others to create for.

Sure, you could write for yourself and many do. This site, however, is for people trying to perfect the writing craft. To improve on your writing, you need someone outside your head to read your stuff and call BS on it. Someone who will see the good for good and the bad for bad.

I’m so very grateful for them. Some of these people are reading this right now (Michelle and Kim, I’m looking at you!) while others have no clue I’m put this article up.

From Jeff, the 6th grade teacher who agreed to check out my rough draft (feel sorry for him) all the way to Rick at work who is reading my 2nd book, every one of you have shaped my novels and ideas into something better. I’m grateful to all of you. It was hard to listen sometimes, but it has always been worth it.

I’m also grateful for this site. Writing my articles here has given me the opportunity to force my butt down and write. They say you learn by teaching and that has certainly been true for me.

Thanks guys, and keep on writing!

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A little addendum from 11/26/10
As you readers know, I originally wrote this article two years ago for a writing blog.
My gratitude to my past beta readers still hold true. I'd like to add to the list. I'm grateful to Cheri for forming the Tooele division of the League of Utah Writers and to the various members for their support. I'm also grateful to Mr Kelly and Bryant for letting me speak in their classes and to Jennifer, the best editor in the world, for showing me the light.

As always, I'm grateful to my children and my wife. Her support is the light in my soul, without it I could not function.
Beyond all that, I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me the talent to write.