EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT

Currently I'm planning a program of children's authors to speak for the local Boys and Girls Clubs. One of the authors participating will be Becky Palmer who has written an adorable picture book where a mommy plant explains to a baby plant how plants reproduce. You can order The Miracle of Plants and other natural products through her website.

AUTHOR DAVID VAHLBERG IN RECOVERY

Recently, I recieved an email concering one of our authors and a fall he took down a flight of stairs. At that time David Vahlberg was in critical condition. We are rejoicing with his family now as he's regained consciousness, but there is still a long journey of rehabilitation ahead for him. You can read about his family and the challenges they faced here, and you can check out his book here.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, David. May you feel our love surrounding you and fight through this like the warrior that you are.

IDAhope Book Launch Party

What: IDAhope Book Launch Party

Where: Borders in the Boise Town Center

When: Friday, October 15 from 7:00-9:00

Taking pride in what makes an Idahoan,

this anthology offers a variety of true life stories sure to inspire.

Experience the unique beauty, the rugged power, and the simple pleasure of Idaho through the eyes of people you might know. Their stories of snowmobiling to save a radio station, a whitewater rafting disaster, and traveling in a historic steam engine, made them who they are. They endured tragic accidents, rejection, and illness. They beat the odds and reveal their fears with raw vulnerability. And in the end, they all found a home worth sharing.

INSPIRATION

Getting excited for the release of IDAhope: Inspiration from the Gem State. I had someone write me recently and give me their book idea for a compilation of inspiring stories by local authors. I was way ahead of her, but apparently we need to get the word out there. IDAhope is something I'm planning to offer every year.

Come join us this year at Borders in the mall on October 15 from 7:00-9:00 to celebrate the release and meet contributing authors. The cover turned out gorgeous, thanks to our amazing designer Tara Mayberry. This is definitely a book that would make a great gift.

WRITING CONTEST

Grades K-12 can enter to win a savings bond that will be awarded to them by State Rep. Max Black on October 23 at our Booktoberfest Event. Find out more on the Booktoberfest website.

BOOK LAUNCH AT HAWKS GAME

Join former professional baseball player Jeff Anderson at the Hawks game Tuesday, August 31 for your chance to win a copy of his book Go the Distance or a free personal pitching session.

BOOKTOBER FEST

If you are a writer, want to be a writer, or know a writer, we would love to have you participate/attend our first annual Booktober Fest Fair on Saturday, October 23 from 10-2 at University of Phoenix in Meridian. This is an event designed to unite all the writers in the Treasure Valley. Each writing group is invited to have a booth and an author speak during the author spotilight. There will also be a kids corner with a writing contest because you're never to young to follow your dreams. I hope to see you there.

ROMANCE WRITER HITS THE ROAD

Janice Hildreth will be the first author to sign books after the grand opening of The Book Hut in Ocean Shores, WA. And this will be the first chance for readers to buy Monday's New Beginning, her latest book in the A New Day Series. On Monday, September 6, you can meet Janice at The Book Hut from 1-3.

If you're not lucky enough to be at the beach for Labor Day, you can still get autographed copies of Janice's romance novels at her upcoming book launch party here in Boise. Look for more information on the ladies tea tentatively scheduled for September.

AM IDAHO

If you're interested in learning more about me, my book, or Borderline Publishing, tune into 590 KID on August 20th from 6am-9am. I get to be interviewed by Aaron Kunz while in Idaho Falls for the Write Your Own Adventure workshop. Looking forward to it.

CONFEERENCE EXCITEMENT

I've attended the annual SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference for years now, and I'm looking forward to the next event this September. If you've never attended in the fall, this will be your last chance because as of 2011 the conference will be held in the spring. But you know what? I'm even more excited for the spring conference since I have been asked to speak at it. I absolutley love children's books, and if you are interested in writing your own I would love to meet you there!

NEXT WRITING WORKSHOP SERIES

For those of you interested in novel writing, our next writing workshop series starts this Saturday, July 24 from 10-noon at Borders Books in the mall. We will be starting with the "not-so-basics." Workshops are free with a workbook purchase option of $10. No registration necessary. Hope to see you there!

July 24--Borders Books 10-noon
The Not-So-Basics
August 14--North Star in Nampa 10-noon
Plot and Structure
September 18--Fairview Hastings 10-noon
Self-Editing
October 16--A Novel Adventure 10-noon
Hook and Brand

LEGACY OF WORDS

This Saturday I will be "the baby" on a panel for authors wanting to write their memoirs. Makes me think of Jamie Lee Curtis's book When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old's Memoir of Her Youth. I may not have the experience to write my own memoir yet, but I have the means to help authors get theirs published. Here is the info on the event:

When it comes time to leave a "legacy of words" to family, friends, or the whole world, senior writers often are stymied. In addition to the work of writing itself, they may want professional help with editing, design or illustration. Then they face a mind-boggling set of publication options.

The Cabin and the Idaho Writer's Guild steps up to give guidance. On Saturday, July 17, they present a panel of senior authors, editors, and a publisher to shed light on the writing and publication process. Paneleists George Klein, Rachel Tanner, Jean Terra, and Angela Meuser, and moderator Diane Ronayne will offer advice and inspiration to would-be authors about bringing their legacy of words to light. The event, which includes a book-signing, will be held at The Cabin, 801 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise from 2 to 4. It is free of charge. For more information, visit www.idahowritersguild.com or contact Diane Ronayne at 336-2128 or dianeronayne@gmail.com

Borderline has a few memoirs releaseing soon. Look for Letting Go by Cynthia Anne White, Long Trail Headed Home by Gene Monaghan, The Lover and the Madman by Joel Klingensmith, and Overcoming All Obstacles by Roger Rizzo. Currently available are Phyllis Vavold's Grace For the Raging Storm and Jonathan Craig's You Are the Reason.

BORDERLINE AUTHORS NOMINATED

Congratulations to the three Borderline authors nominated for the Idaho Book Award!
Di Baird--The Old Man Who Talked to the Trees
Mike B. Sessions--Stump
Eva Marosvari--Fishboy and the Dip Net Indians

SUMMER CONFERENCES

Summer is a great time to work a writing conference or two into your vacation schedule. Writing conferences give you the opportunity to network, educate yourself, find inspiration and take a shortcut around the slush pile of manuscript submissions editors have haunting them. They often offer appointments with your dream editor.

Not that I'm your dream editor, but I will be representing Borderline Publishing at the Oregon Christian Writer's Conference the first week of August. This is a conference I have attended multiple times and paid hundreds of dollars to participate in. And it was worth much more than I paid. If you want to move forward with your writing career, I strongly suggest attending a conference like this one.

CHRISTIAN ACTION ADVENTURES

Borderline author T.A. Smith will be taking his Christian action/adventure trilogy to the CHOIS homeschool convention in Idaho June 3-5. Readers can also win their own action/adventure trip. If you won't be making it to CHOIS, pick up copies of The Boardunders Club at http://www.borderlinepublishing.com/.

The Boardunders Club Series is about a group of four fifth-grade boys who take their skateboarding underground into an unused sewer, which turns out to be a hideout from the trouble they always seem to find themselves in. With some quick sleuthing and a little help from above, the foursome repeatedly learns a lesson and saves the day.

I highly recommend this series for it's fast pace and fresh perspectives. My eleven-year-old son and I enjoyed giggling together over the thrill ride, which is ultimately Smith's intention. He will be launching a program this summer to help mother's relate to their teen and tween boys titled BAM (Boys and Moms). Look for more information on this program in the August issue of Treasure Valley Family News, and visit Smith at http://www.christianactionadventures.com/.

IDAhope Writers

A couple years ago I actually started the local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers called IDAhope Writers. And joining ACFW was the best thing I ever did for my writing. Now I've been invited back to IDAhope to speak about the Borderline Publishing option at their meeting on Thursday, June 24 from 6:30-8:30 at Rediscovered Books.

If you've considered writing but don't know where to get started, this is a great place to begin. Not only can IDAhope give you support and guidance, but you can make friends who undrestand your daydreams and will keep you accountable for getting them onto paper. I hope to meet you there!

MARKETING MAVEN

Tomorrow is the fifth workshop in the Borderline series "So You Want to be a Writer..." We will be meeting at the Overland Hastings from 10:00-12:00. Former literary agent Rosemary Sneeringer will share her experience and marketing tips. Rosemary is now a freelance editor for Borderline Publishing.

The next series starts in July at Borders in the mall, so if you missed any of the workshops, this will be a another chance to attend. Or if you have a friend interested in writing, please let them know of this free opportunity.

BOOK TOUR

Author John J. Cline (or J.J. as I call him) will be hitting the road to promote The Last Confederate Battle. This story will appeal to more than just Civil War buffs, as it includes the drama of three brothers fighting the war for the South while President Lincoln and New York City Chief of Detectives Frank Stone come together in pursuit of peace and justice.

"There was one serious flaw with The Last Confederate Battle. Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down, much to my wife's consternation." --Reader

J.J. is currently reseraching the history on the only Civil War battle ever fought in Idaho, which just happens to coinside with his book tour. If you live in Eastern Idaho, you won't want to miss him.

June 5--Twin Falls Hastings 1-3
June 12--Boise Hastings (Overland Rd.) 2-4
June 19--Idaho Falls Hastings 2-4
June 27--Boise Rec Fest at Ann Morrison Park 10-12

AUTHORS WITH HEART

I have to share about a guy who was in here this morning. He wants to publish a picture book written by his late wife when she was in 5th grade. This is why I love working in short-run publishing. I get to help clients who have personal reasons/heart connections that are more important than the publishing industry as a whole. And what makes this project even better is that the story (and the story behind the story) are absolutely charming.

We are still trying to come up with a title for this spin off The Frog Prince. And the author's husband is an artist who is still working on the illustrations for the story. After it's finished, it will be a beautiful product. But perhaps the most powerful part of the book will be the author bio of the woman who died prematurely at the age of 35. When asked in 5th grade what she wanted to be when she grew up, she responded, "Myself." And herself is a woman still honored by those whose lives she touched.

CONSPIRACY THEORY

The latest conspiracy theory from the 9/11 attacks come from Borderline author D.B. Cooper. THE COOPER REPORT gives solid evidence of motive, means, and opportunity that links 9/11 with European extremists. Meet D. B. Cooper at the Cole Hastings on Saturday, May 22 from 1:00-4:00 to hear how he came up with his viewpoint.

Cooper's theory does come with education and experience. He attended military training for the U.S. Air Force at the University of Northern Colorado. He then served for eleven years in over forty countries before pursuing his Master's Degree from the Center of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Univesity of Sydney, Austrailia in 2004. Since then he's committed himself to the study of peace and conflict with emphasis on the current War of Terror.

Find out more about Cooper and his beliefs at www.peacesalad.com.