When I first got a smart phone with that beautiful thing called a Kindle App I was, let’s say, cautiously curious. Being a dyed-in-the-wool book lover my family library was a big deal to me. My husband and I have invested lots of time, money and TONS of space in our home to creating a book-rich environment. We filled it with only the best titles to speak to our children’s hearts and inform their characters as well as their imaginations. Eight large bookcases filled (and overfilled) with books has been the result – so far. And we read like crazy in our home. Our children had access to scads of titles and our library trips brought even more pretty, paper visitors in.

I couldn’t help wonder what this emerging Ebook wave would mean for my children’s reading future.

But my reading habits were the ones that changed the fastest. That tiny Kindle screen on my phone beckoned me with instant gratification and constant access. My Ebook library quickly grew and within less than six months I found myself doing almost all my reading on that Kindle app, my printed books laying forgotten to the side.

I still read to my children but it was almost exclusively from books we already had on the shelves. For two years this reading change progressed until I woke up one morning and realized that I was feeling more disconnected from the world than I ever had wanted to be.

There is something about reading on a screen that changes the way your brain interacts with the content. I’m not a scientist or doctor so I can’t explain the change but I can feel it. My attention span decreased, making it harder and harder for me to stay engaged in the book I was reading. On the flip side, sometimes I was so focused on that screen that I actually felt withdrawal symptoms (headaches, depression, etc) when NOT reading.

But come on! It wasn’t like I was playing that Furious Fowls game for three hours a day. I was reading! I’d always read that much (or more). This was something noble, right? Why should I feel like I was so distanced from my family. Words on a page and words on a screen were still just words. It was still just a book. Right?

 Well, here are some of the negative effects I experienced from reading exclusively on a screen:

                – eyestrain was a big one. Even though I got a tablet (increasing the screen size) a year and a half ago, there is something different about that screen.

- we no longer went to the library regularly. Need a book? Sure! I can download that for you in thirty seconds or less. No more browsing through bookshelves and being drawn in by a cover or a tantalizing blurb.

- depression. This is by no means a direct result of Ebook reading. But I do believe that the time on a screen, the disconnect that I experienced, was at least a contributor in this issue for me.

- shortened attention span. I mentioned this already. I think. Or maybe . . . oh, look! A chicken!

- an increased habit of checking my phone with increasing regularity. I spent so much time with my phone or my tablet doing all that reading, that I became completely dependent on it.

- lack of sharing what I was reading with my children. With my print books, I would always be one to say, “Listen to this line.” Sometimes it was just a laugh-out-loud reading moment that would prompt my children to ask what I was reading and why it was funny. That would lead to great sharing moments. For some reason, that diminished with Ebooks.

- lack of the book-virus effect. Many times a print book would be enjoyed by one member of the family and then passed from person to person as we each read and enjoyed it, then discussed it at length. And on to the extended family and friends, creating a great community feeling of sharing a common love for a story. I wasn’t able to pass my Ebooks around like that and my recommendations didn’t always do the job.

- less note-taking. I’m a conversational reader who writes in almost all of my books. Questions about the story, ideas that strike me as applicable, favorite quotes underlined, references to other books I’ve read that have a link. One of the reasons that my friends and family have liked borrowing books from me (so they’ve said) is the notes in the margins. Yes, you can create notes in an ebook, but it’s such a dry, clinical setting.

- a general dissatisfaction with reading. This was something I had never experienced since I first read The Little Princess at age 8. I’ve always been a book lover but now I was desperately unsatisfied with the experience I was having. I chalked most of it up to the fact that I was spending so much time learning the skills of quality writing – it was natural I should be more critical. Right? Whatever the reason, I was having a harder and harder time truly loving anything new I read.

So, with these negatives why did I stick it out so long? Oh, that instant gratification! Oh, the convenience! How wonderful to hear about a book from a friend, get online right there and download a sample! That was how I started managing my to-be-read list. Samples were amazing. And I always had a book with me – in my pocket (or my other “girls-only” pocket) or purse. Not just one book, but dozens and dozens of books. And when I finished one book in a series, thirty seconds later I could download the next one and be on my way. It’s a beautiful, tempting thing.

Finally, a couple of months ago, I made a decision to take a break from Ebook reading for a time. I had recently purchased a couple of wonderful new print books (Shannon Hale and Carol Lynch Williams titles) and I dug into the tactile pages with relish!

What a difference! I connected with those books in a way I hadn’t for years and I suddenly found myself more in love with reading than I’ve been in a long, long time. In that simple experiment I found that I am no longer a passionate lover of the Ebook movement.

I still read occasionally on my tablet. Some books are only available in that format and when I’m traveling it’s just too convenient. But our library trips have resumed, the stacks on my nightstand are back and those delicious pages with their special bookish smell feel oh-so good under my fingers as I turn each one with breathless anticipation.

I fell out of love with Ebooks and rekindled my love for the written word. I’m sure that over time I will figure out a nice hybrid between the two formats – convenience and cost vs a whole-reading experience. But for now, I’m back in the world of living, breathing, amazing physical books.

This is what I was staring at.

Yes, my book is on the shelves (faced out and everything!) and I had to take a moment to enjoy the fact that I did it. I wrote a book and a publisher wanted it and now it’s out there for the world to read and (hopefully) love as much as I do.

It was one of those perfect moments in the life of a writer. And I can only hope that it is the first in a long line of other moments just as sweet.

I got to read this book through it’s first deep critique and absolutely loved it! I can’t wait for you to see what a stellar talent Jordan is! And today she is revealing her cover. You have to check it out!

I, Spy has non-stop action, a sigh-worthy romance, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments all laced through with a spine-tingling mystery that will keep you turning the pages at lightening speed.
I, Spy by Jordan McCollum—Coming June 5, 2013!

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Add I, Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!

Advance praise

The edge-of-my-seat undercover operations kept me turning pages, and just when I thought the story would go one way, plot twists sent it down another path. Thrilling, adventurous, and romantic, this book has it all for an Alias fan.

— Jami Gold, award-winning author

Jordan McCollum’s debut novel is a delightful combination of mystery, action, and romance. Talia’s CIA training and almost OCD caution feed her quirky humor while exposing her very human fears and insecurities. Add in her boyfriend Danny, and it’s enough to twist your heart.

— Donna K. Weaver, author of A Change of Plans

Clever, suspenseful, and charged with political intrigue and romance, I, Spy is the perfect combination for a fun and captivating read!

— Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of Monarch

About the author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Follow Jordan on Twitter, like Jordan on Facebook and add I, Spy on Goodreads today!

Nichole Giles! Yay! I’m excited (and nervous) for you to read it!

Now, I have more good news. I am revealing the cover for A Divine Inheritance, book two in the Of Great Value Series! Two books out less than 1 month apart is crazy awesome!

Here it is!

Available April 16th, 2013!

I absolutely love it! Tamra Hyde of Modern Expressions Photography designed it (as well as my others in the series). She does an amazing job!

Here’s the back cover copy:

For Dani Rodrìguez, growing up without a father has been hard, but her mom’s new boyfriend, Anthony, is even worse. Now her mom has moved them to a new town to be close to Anthony and Dani is more lonely and isolated than ever. The only thing that makes her feel better is running track. It would be the perfect outlet if it weren’t for Ethan, the obnoxiously happy and persistent senior. Ethan is constantly trying to get to know her, never taking no for an answer. But if he knew what her life was really like, would he still want to be her friend?

It will take a leap of faith for Dani to trust Ethan, but with things spiraling out of control at home, she may not have a choice. Their growing friendship starts her down a road she never thought possible and helps her to learn the divine nature within her. If only she could use this new knowledge to help her mother . . . before Anthony pushes things too far.

A Divine Inheritance is the second book in the Of Great Value series and focuses on Divine Nature. Each book in the series takes a young woman on a journey as she discovers her testimony of one of the Young Women values. For more information, please visit www.ofgreatvalue.com.

Want to win your very own copy of A Divine Inheritance? Just post a comment here and share on Facebook or Twitter.

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Emily

For two-and-a-half years, Annabelle, a young widow with three small children, has been stuck in the past. Numbed by grief and overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising her three small children alone, she agrees to let them spend the weekend with a friend while she tries to get some much-needed rest at her parents’ home. But the next morning, Annabelle is suddenly sixteen again—and it just happens to be the worst day of her teenage years. As she relives the drama of high school life, Annabelle realizes that her future husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town. While getting Mitch’s attention is more complicated than she imagined, Annabelle discovers that she is stronger than she has been willing to admit, and there just might be a future for her after all.

 

And now . . . (drumroll) . . .

Isn’t it lovely? You get the time travel element as well as the wistful longing for family . . . it’s just perfect.

I want to celebrate. The book comes out on May 1st but you can win an advance copy before you can buy it!

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

#1 – Facebook or Tweet a link to this post. Make sure to tag me.

Facebook – Emily Gray Clawson

Twitter – @egclawson

#2 – Post about A Way Back to You on your own blog with a link back to this post. (worth two entries)

#3 – Change your profile photo on Facebook or Twitter to my cover image (worth two entries)

#4 – Leave a comment on this post (make sure to tell me what of the above you did)

You’ll be entered once for each item you complete. I’ll randomly select a name on Friday to receive a free copy. There just may be a secret treat included . . . I guess you’ll have to win to find out!

Thanks for helping me to spread the word!

Emily

My friends and family helped commemorate this milestone. That’s my darling niece in the background.

Here is the back cover copy:

For two-and-a-half years, Annabelle, a young widow with three small children, has been stuck in the past. Numbed by grief and overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising her three small children alone, she agrees to let them spend the weekend with a friend while she tries to get some much-needed rest at her parents’ home. But the next morning, Annabelle is suddenly sixteen again—and it just happens to be the worst day of her teenage years. As she relives the drama of high school life, Annabelle realizes that her future husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town. While getting Mitch’s attention is more complicated than she imagined, Annabelle discovers that she is stronger than she has been willing to admit, and there just might be a future for her after all.

This particular book has been such a delightful project and I still love it even after reading 800,000 times. I think that’s a good sign.

I’ll be sharing my gorgeous cover shortly and that means a GIVEAWAY!! So check back soon and you could win something yummy and nostalgic.

Emily

I was surprised to see that there wasn’t a fiction series already out there, at least that I could find, that was based on the Young Women Values. We all know what a huge market young women are in the book world. This project just seemed needed.

It’s been a slow, quiet process, much different from my experience on A Sister’s Witness: The Powell Family Tragedy. I’ve really been able to explore my own testimony and the ways in which it was tested during my teenage years. I hope that it can find its way into the hands of young women who are in need of a pick me up.

Each of these books is designed to be a quick read, more a novella than a novel. They are good for an afternoon curled up with chocolate (of course) and a desire to feel the Spirit while being engaged with a great story.

Thanks to Melissa DeMoux for the review!

Probably the biggest skill to learn is how to keep up the tension.

One of the common mistakes that we writers make is thinking that to keep up the tension, we have to keep up the danger. And a book that stays at a 10 all the time can leave the characters two dimensional, the reader exhausted and the book ultimately gets abandoned for something less, well, boring. After all, if something stays at a 10 for chapter after chapter, pretty soon that 10 starts to feel like a 2.

The key is to vary the tension in different plot lines. This keeps the writing fast paced but still gives it a rhythm and your reader a chance to breathe. One scene can escalate the mystery while the next may bring some resolution to the mystery yet escalates the romantic tension. This way we get the little payoffs that help the reader trust the author, stay emotionally engaged and still eager to turn the next page.

Music has always been one of my great loves. I was a musical theater major in college and I’ve taught voice lessons for years. One of the things any good musician understands is the need for dynamics. If a piece is sung at forte (loud) the entire time, it has nowhere to build. But if I’m singing quietly, I better be sure to keep the intensity in my voice. I do this by emphasizing consonants (especially ‘K’ sounds at the beginning of words) and keeping my diaphragm actively engaged. Think about the sound of an urgent whisper. That’s the effect I’m going for. This way I alternate the volume of my voice but the quiet moments can be even more enthralling than a big crescendo.

Even as I’m writing this I’m thinking of a scene I just worked on. It’s a quiet moment with a solitary character sitting at home alone after getting off the phone with her mother. The call was intense emotionally for her but she was pretty much in a stationary position during that time. Now that she’s off the call, the emotional tension needs to diminish for a time. We need some breathing space. But I don’t want my reader thinking, “Oh, this is a great time to go watch that Downton Abbey finale.” NO! I want them to keep reading so I’m going to jump immediately into getting her in an awkward and hilarious predicament. There is very little deep, internal angst that will develop but it will help us laugh and still wonder how she’s going to get out of the situation.

Some great resources on the topic:

Donald Maass’ book, The Fire in Fiction. And pretty much anything else that Donald Maass writes. Or tweets. Or thinks.

Dan Wells‘ video series on the 7 point story structure. He has some great points on how to plot out each story line and how to weave them together – a great way to keep the tension up.

Also, just read James Dashner’s The Maze Runner Trilogy (especially the first book) for a great example of how to do this well.

Best of luck!

But I have these two great critique partners, Julie Bellon and Jordan McCollum (they’ve both also blogged about our group so check out those links). I knew that if anyone could help me, they could. It took several hours but we got through all of their notes, with more in writing that I’m still going through, and I feel a renewed sense of purpose in this project. I remember what it was I wanted my readers to think and feel and I have the ideas and tools in place to help that come to pass.

This is the value of a great critique group! I think it’s a must-have tool for any successful author. Having readers who aren’t writers is a valuable way to find problems, but having talented critique partners is one of the best ways (in my opinion) to find solutions.

Jordan, Julie and I met a year ago at a pitiful seminar. All three of us were frustrated with the time we’d wasted being there but then we met (again, for some of us) and got to talking and we decided to try working together. Now, a year later, our group has gone through several different models from a few chapters each per meeting to workshopping entire novels for each one of us. Now we have come to a great place where we are able to burn through one project at a time, doing line edits on our own and then coming together twice a month to hash out those pesky plot holes and weak characters, etc. We brainstorm together and I find that we all have different strengths and weaknesses, so we fill in each other’s gaps nicely.

I have learned so much from both of these talented ladies and I urge all other authors out there to keep working on finding that group that can help you improve. It took me three failed groups before finding this one but I

Then all of a sudden you are flat on your back for ten days wondering what on earth is the matter with you. Are you just tired? Are you depressed? Are you making it all up? Or is it possible that there is a real physical problem that is causing you to be unable to even sit upright for more than a half hour at time due to extreme exhaustion and near fainting?

It’s like you’re standing on a hill and the ground gives way beneath you and then WHOOSH you are skidding downhill at incredible speeds until SPLAT you land at the bottom wondering what on earth just happened.

O course – I’m talking about myself. I finally went to the doctor on day 7 last week. Lab results should be back today or tomorrow but the suspicion is that I have adrenal fatigue, my thyroid is low again, I’m insulin resistant AND I have pernicious anemia. Oh, I could also have celiac disease. In other words, it’s probably NOT just in my head, I’m NOT just tired and I’m NOT just depressed.

Anyway, all of this information is strictly meant to inform you of why I suddenly dropped off the face of the planet the same day I released  Things Hoped For.

Thanks for all of the prayers and sweet comments that have been left for me on facebook and in texts and so on. I’ll keep you posted on what I find out. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying the book!