Today is the day on which I go from being a writer to being a published author. This has been a wonderful journey so far. I have met so many authors, publishers, and editors…people who I would have normally been afraid to meet in person. And it has been a blast.

If you come to the book launch party today (Barnes & Noble at The Gateway, SLC, UT, 6:00 – 8:30 pm), please don’t be afraid to come meet me. I don’t bite. I will have chocolate…

I plan to post pictures of the book launch over the next couple of days so those who can’t make it can still see what all the fuss was about.

For those of you who dream of being a published author: DON’T GIVE UP. Keep writing. Share your writing. Submit your writing to publishers and/or agents. If you don’t succeed the first time, or even the fiftieth, keep trying. It is worth it!

I was recently asked in an interview what my favorite part of being a writer is. At first, I said it was the creative process. But then I had to admit it was something else. I write because I want my readers feel the things I feel when I write. This life is tough. Life is filled with times of loneliness, set-backs, grief, and despair. But that is not all! There are times when a person feels ALIVE. Times when we are touched by a piece of exquisite music, or thrilled by a stunning vista, or strengthened by the calm declaration of love.

I write because I want to give readers a sense of the wonder and awe which I feel in knowing that there is good in the world. Evil will not stand. Evil may have its day of perceived glory, but it will not last.

Good will WIN. People need to know that. They need hope.

That is why I write.

So, if you are having a bad day, or just need to escape from the dreary world, even if for a moment, read a good book. There are plenty out there. And if you are curious to see what I write about, I have samples of my writing linked at the very top of the blog under “READ”. Go read my short stories. I promise you they will help you to have hope!

Tags: Book Signings, My Writing Life, Reading

My good friend and fellow author Tristi Pinkston is doing a worthy project for the homeless as part of her book launch. Please see the following blog post for more information:

http://secretsistersmysteries.blogspot.com/2010/03/operation-sock-hop.html

Besides socks, blankets or coats are also welcome.

Tags: Authors, Book Signings

This is really TWO contests.

Contest #1, running until Midnight on Thursday, March 11th:

The Prize: A personalized copy of “The Thorn” book one of “The Chronicles of Gan” by Daron D. Fraley, AND a $25.00 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Winner will be chosen randomly (random.org) and announced on Saturday, March 13th.

TO ENTER CONTEST ONE: Spread the word about THIS post in the following ways:

1. Blog – worth 5 entries:  Blog about this contest and link back to it. Then see #5 below.

2. Become a Networked Blogs follower – worth 3 entries:  Find the “Networked Blogs Followers” section in my sidebar, and click FOLLOW THIS BLOG (it is after the Virtual Blog Tour section, please scroll down to find it). Then see #5 below.

3. Become a FAN on my Facebook Author Page – worth 3 entries: Daron D. Fraley, Author. Then see #5 below.

4. TWITTER – worth one entry for EVERY TWEET: Follow me on Twitter ( @DaronFraley ) then tweet the following text:

Win a B&N Gift Card AND a book by @DaronFraley http://bit.ly/cSBDE5 #thethorn #giveaways #contests #authors #books

To be a valid TWITTER entry, all characters after and including @DaronFraley must be present (i.e. @DaronFraley http://bit.ly/cSBDE5 #thethorn #giveaways #contests #authors #books ). You may change the text before my ID, as long as you stay under 140 characters.

5. For all entry types, please COMMENT HERE, on this post, and tell me that you have done them. I don’t want to miss those entries! BUT, you don’t need to tell me about all of your twitter activity, just tell me your twitter userid so I know who you are. I will see the posts if you followed directions.

UPDATE:  Please be sure to leave me a link to your blog post when you comment! Thanks!

There really isn’t any secret to why I am doing Contest #1. My book release is only 7 days away. I want you to help me spread the word about my book. Simple, eh?

Tags: Book Promotions, Book Signings, Contests, My Books, The Thorn

I am so completely stoked. My publisher, Valor Publishing Group, is da’ bomb.

How many publishers out there do Author Training?

Can those publishers even be counted on more than one hand?

What does an author get trained in, you ask?

Talk, Give, Make, Meet, Fix, Listen, Help, Look, Say, Answer, Write, Go, Read, Learn.

(OK, so those are code words. I have been advised I can’t tell you what we really did.)

HOLY SMOKING PRINTING PRESSES BATMAN!

Dudes… Dudettes… If you have a manuscript ready to go… if you have some guts… you owe it to yourself to check out Valor’s submission requirements.

I feel like I have joined the Rangers or Seals of the publishing world. I have never felt so cool in my life… until today.

One parting note:  As of this morning, Valor has my book ready for PRE-ORDERS!!!

Check it out:  http://www.valorpublishinggroup.com/Books/the-thorn.php

SOMEBODY PASS ME THE OXYGEN

Tags: Authors, Book Signings, Publishers

Hey folks, I am going to the Valor book launch party tonight. Are you? Details below!

****

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mark L. Shurtleff, Utah State Attorney General and author, will be joined by Lynne Jackson and recording artist, Alex Boye’, on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Salt Lake City’s Gateway for the national launch of his new book, Am I Not a Man; The Dred Scott Story, published by Valor Publishing Group.

Candace E. Salima, president of Valor Publishing Group, has planned several activities for the book launch party and hopes to attract a wide spectrum of new fans for Shurtleff “We are so excited for Mark and hope this becomes an opportunity for the public to know him on a different level.”

Musical tributes by the Calvary Baptist Choir of Salt Lake City will be featured, with a special performance by Alex Boye, dedicated to the memory of Dred Scott. Lynne Jackson, the great-great granddaughter of Dred Scott, will be a guest speaker at the launch party. In addition to the performances and presentations, Valor Publishing Group has commissioned baker Cindy Parvizi of CakeFlake to create two specialty cakes for the occasion.

Mark Shurtleff’s historical novel details the story of Dred Scott, a freed slave who was forced back into bondage, and his fight to regain his liberty. Scott is arguably the most important figure in the 18th century struggle for freedom from slavery. His tragic case against the U.S. Supreme Court emboldened the abolitionist movement of the time and became part of Abraham Lincoln’s presidential platform and key reference for the historical, the Emancipation Proclamation.

The national book launch and release will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers location in Salt Lake City’s Gateway open air mall. Festivities will end at 8:30 p.m.

Lynne Jackson will be available for interviews on November 3rd. Mark Shurtleff is available for interviews from October 28th to November 3rd.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
The Gateway
6 Rio Grande Street
Salt Lake City, UT

5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Calvary Baptist Choir
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mark Shurtleff signs copies of his book “Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story”
7:00 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. Alex Boye’ sings “Am I Not a Man and a Brother?”
7:05 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. Connie Hall reads her winning essay “Stand Up for Freedom”
7:10 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. Lynne Jackson speaks about Dred Scott
7:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mark Shurtleff reads 1st Chapter and Q&A
8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Drawing for Grand Prize and signing of any last books

Mark Shurtleff and Lynne Jackson are available for live interviews on November 3rd. Mark Shurtleff is available for interviews on other days according to his schedule.

For more information, contact:

Candace E. Salima
Phone: 801-358-6213
Email: candace@valorpublishinggroup.com
http://www.valorpublishinggroup.com

Tags: Book Signings, Valor Publishing

Mission accomplished. The book is done.

At about 1 a.m. this morning, I sent the final pages back to my editor (Tristi Pinkston at Valor Publishing) for review and inclusion in the master copy of the manuscript. Changes were accepted. I can finally say, the book is done!

Copy editing is the next step to get it ready for typesetting, but those changes are expected to be minor. During the edit, Tristi mentioned that I must really like water because of some of the imagery in my book. Yep, I do. It is calming to me. I have spent some of my best thinking moments on the banks of a stream or river. So, the image above of a peaceful lake seemed appropriate for this post.

And if I must say so myself, the book is quite good, better than I had ever imagined when I started out on this writing journey. I look forward to seeing comments from my readers when the ARCs are sent out!

Oh. I almost forgot. If you want to experience the satisfaction one can only experience through the creative process, sign up for NaNoWriMo. It starts tomorrow!

Happy Halloween, everybody. I’m going to go celebrate by robbing candy from my children this evening.

Note: The photo was taken by a friend of mine, or rather, adopted daughter, Stephanie Haven. She now has a website: http://stephaniehaven.com 

OH! ONE MORE THING!!! Don’t go yet!

Valor Publishing is having a HUGE book launch party for Mark Shurtleff at the Barnes & Noble in the Gateway Mall, Salt Lake City, on Tuesday evening. For details, please click on the Valor link above. Everybody who is anybody is going to be there. Even some who are nobody (like me) will be there. Come say hi!

Tags: Book Signings, Manuscript, My Books, My Writing Life, NaNoWriMo, Valor Publishing

No, he didn’t die.

He’s still writing and still tweeting as of this morning.

But I need to let you all in on a secret. You see, whether he knows it or not, James has been a huge support to me over the last year. We have been all over the internet together. As my picture has been smiling at the world on facebook, twitter, my website, my publisher’s website… James has been there in the shadows. Always supportive. Always making me feel strong. He has been there with me ever since I first met him at a book signing over a year ago at a local library. He signed my copy of “The 13th Reality, The Journal of Curious Letters” on that day. He joked with my kids who were with me. And we took pictures.

James is right there with me in the profile picture which I have used the most often in all of these internet places:

 

See how supportive he is being? What a trooper.

I liked this picture because I was actually smiling. My family accuses me of never smiling correctly (my smile usually comes out more like a smirk on the camera). James made me smile. Because authors are cool. James is cool. And he has some really cool books coming out soon.

But it is now time for me to move on. I need to stand on my own two feet. I need to smile by myself. Why not? I have a lot to smile about. I have a wonderful wife and six great kids. AND… I am going to be published.

I am going to be an author! My only hope is to someday be as cool as James.

I recently had pictures done by a soon-to-be-professional photographer and friend of the family, Stephanie Haven. Here is her college blogsite:  Haven Photography. I thought I would give her some props because I am now going to be using all those professionally done shots for my profile pics, and send the best of them (or rather my favorites) to Valor Publishing so they can use the pictures everywhere and put it in the back of the book and make banners and flyers and internet ads and posters and t-shirts and logos and gigantic representations of them on the side of my own private corporate jet.

Delusions of grandeur, I assure you. Valor needs it for the book.

So, here’s to James: Thanks for a great year. I’ll miss you. Until we meet again. Maybe at lunch. Because I am plugging your books. You can buy.

I’m kidding!

Tags: Book Signings, Miscellany

Authors at West Jordan Barnes and Noble tomorrow!

http://booktour.com/places/3520-Barnes-Noble

I think I will go Christmas shopping.

Tags: Book Signings

Wow! I learned a bunch today. Book signings are FUN. You get to meet authors, bloggers, and other stalkers like me. Just kidding, I’m not a stalker. No, really. You have to believe me. But don’t be alarmed if I continue to go to every book signing I can.

I met Tristi Pinkston, H. B. Moore (Heather), Michele Ashman Bell, Keith Fisher, and Karlene the Inksplasher, and I would have stayed there ALL DAY if I could have. But, I had other errands to run, so had to cut out way earlier than I wanted to. I can’t wait for another big book signing with multiple authors. Maybe I will take my laptop and stay until they kick me out.

Thank you all for the time you took to talk, especially Tristi and Heather. I am so stinking excited about this LDS Author community, that I can hardly find words to express it. So I won’t even try.

I think my daughters are really starting to like this book signing thing. “Dad, Michele was SO COOOOL!”, they said. My youngest daughter also got a kick out of telling Tristi about her November writing challenge progress – over 12000 words so far. I was actually very surprised. I had no idea she had written that much.

You folks are awesome!

Tags: Book Signings, My Writing Life