First You Tube Video

Hiya, Friends! I've just posted my first-ever You Tube video. You can see it by heading on over to the blog on my website. It is book related and something I hope to do more of in the future. Happy Viewing! ~Karen

http://www.storymatters2.com/2/post/2012/01/video-of-my-father.html

Free Books!

To my dear friends who go waaay back (in my corner of the blogosphere)!

I'd love it if one of you, or many of you...win a free book. My publisher, Sourcebooks, is offering up ten free copies of Breaking the Code, in a drawing. Just go to Goodreads, find my book and click on "Enter to Win." Contest goes through Sunday, December 18th!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11102086-breaking-the-code

Good Luck!

Winter Wonderland - and Book News Too

Hi there, Friends. As you can see from the photo, we are experiencing a bit of winter-ness. Somehow the birds forgot to swoop in, en mass and eat the berries on my Dogwood trees. Well, a few mornings ago, I woke up to the whole town (trees included) covered in frost. It's not snow, nor has it been snowing. It's just frost. I love the contrast of the berries with the white. But when you look at it close up, you can see that this frost seems to defy gravity. Just beautiful! http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

And now for some book news. Sales are going incredibly well. I'm just amazed at all the opportunities we've had to share our story. If you haven't bought the book yet, you can purchase it online or at a bookstore near you. If you'd like a signed copy, you can call our local independent bookstore and they will make sure you get one. This has to be done via the phone, not the website. Here's the link to the website; http://www.bookandgame.com/ . Or you can simply call, 509-529-9963.

My father and I were interviewed on NPR's Weekend Edition with host, Audie Cornish. (blogger makes me crazy - often doesn't accept links I put in) You can listen to the interview by going to the NPR website, look for Weekend Edition Sunday, and then the date November 6. You'll see our story there. http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=10&prgDate=11-6-2011

Until next time, thank you so much for your support. Visit me on my website. Happy Holidays and a Blessed New Year! ~Karen

And the journey continues...

The photo (left) is of me at my very first signing. I'm in the middle of the table in the black and white jacket. I was signing ARC's of, Breaking the Code, at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association trade show. What an amazing experience.

I want to invite all of you over to my Facebook fan page. You will find more photos and current information there. I'm finding it hard to post in several different places, so I'm making the FB page and my website the hubs for what is going on. And those who followed me here on this blog are my oldest (did I say that?) friends, supporting me when I was in the realm of fretting over every move I made. I thank you and I don't want to lose track of you. I will still post here but sporadically, as you have seen. So, if you make it over to my FB fan page, please hit the "like" button so you can leave me a message there. See you soon! ~Karen

http://www.facebook.com/breakingthecode

Free Chapters: one through three

You can now read the first three chapters of Breaking the Code, on my website at http://www.storymatters2.com .

Sneak Peek at my Book

I just posted the first chapter of Breaking the Code on my website. I'd love it if you'd read it and let me know what you think! You can read it on here storymatters2

New website

Hiya, Friends. I just wanted you to know that I am in the process of transferring my writing to my new website. You are the first to know. I won't be sharing this new site until it's where I want it to be - another lesson in live and learn, ya know! I'd love it if you would come over there and leave a comment. I'm hoping that it will offer a more comprehensive site for all that is going on with me and my first book. So, c'mon over~

http://www.storymatters2.com

See ya there!

Karen

Photo Friday: Independent Bookstores

I love independent bookstores. I know that chains also have their place and so does the internet, but there's just something about independents.

Whenever I travel, no matter how short the trip, I am always on the lookout for indie bookstores. Each has its own flavor and attitude. The one in the photo is in Tillimook, Oregon. Rainy Day Books has an eclectic, small town, earthy feel. It's just a few miles from the coast. Their store mascot is a cat who fetches balls. The floor is light wood and so are the shelves. The shelf closest to the door has things like books on nature and hiking trails. I buy something every time I go. Why not just buy it once I get home? Well, because...that's why. That book, no matter the title, will always be the book that brings back the wonderful aroma of Rainy Day Books. What's better than that?

Do you have a favorite independent bookstore? I'd love to hear about it and the memories it evokes for you.

PNWA Conference - Here I come

I am heading to Bellevue, Washington to the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association conference today. It is about a six hour trip.

This is the third time I've been to this conference. At the 2010 conference I met my now-editor, Peter, from Sourcebooks, Inc. So, I have a good feeling about the conference. This year, however, in looking at all of the course offerings, I realize that I have had a crash course in most of what is being taught. Getting a book published will do that. Still, one can always learn, right? And I will meet lots and lots of writers/authors. Connect, connect, connect...that's the name of the game.

So -- I'm on my way to Bellevue (near Seattle). I hope to blog about it, internet willing. ~Karen

Mini-memoir Monday: Critters

Do you have critters in your yard or neighborhood? Or did you when you were young? I'm not talking about cats and dogs. I'm talking about squirrels, raccoons, badgers, chipmunks, or even deer. What kinds of critters did you have? Did you exist in harmony or was it more like the movie, Groundhog's Day, where you were perpetually trying to get rid of them?

We have squirrels that we co-exist with. My husband calls them rats with tails. But I think they are cute. I like to watch them, but I just want them to visit, not move in. When we started having problems with them tearing shingles off the roof and eating all of the plums off our trees, I looked for a way to discourage them. I learned that the best way to discourage them is to have a dog with a loud bark, which I have. So, whenever I think Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel and their associated friends and family, might be getting a little too comfortable, I let my dog chase them up into the trees for a few days. So far, it's worked. But it doesn't stop them from visiting.

So, for today's mini-memoir entry, write about the critters in your yard. Past or present, these memories may lead to others. Whatever it sparks for you, write it down. And as ever, Write Now - because it's later than you think.

Photo Friday: Just "one more edit"

I'm not sure what my photo has to do with this post, but the look on those cows...faces...seems to mirror how I feel about the prospect of "one more edit."

I can't even tell you how many times I've said these words in the past six months, "I'm working on the final edits." Or worse, "I just sent in the final edits." But truly, it never ends. It just doesn't. I am told that the edits on my manuscript were relatively minor. Turns out that the word "minor" is relative, indeed!

This "last" edit is from the proof-reader. I received it last week. This one does look different. First off, it is laid out just as the book will be. It includes photos and other memorabilia. Everything is there. And this time, I can't just make changes within the document. I have to comment on the comments the proof-reader has left or create my own comments. I cannot actually change the document.

I do think that this is truly the last pass through for Breaking the Code. But then, I've thought that before, haven't I?

Reading my First Ebook

First off, no, this is not the photo of me reading an ebook; I don't have a photo of that yet. And second of all, I don't recommend this particular position to read a book in...lol. I was on vacation, OK. Anyway - I did have the opportunity to read an ebook recently. Since it just happened to be a picture book, that's all I can speak about right now.

My dad, age 90, just bought an ereader. I was attempting to help him figure something out when my 4-year old niece jumped in my lap. Right at that moment the "library" on his Nook came on the screen and there were a few kid's books on it - the ones that come free with the ereader. So, we figured out how to pull it up. Sonia was far better at figuring it out than I was and no, she had not done this before and is not a techy kid who spends time on the computer all the time. I've read many paper (I'm tempted to say "real"...hmmm...)books to her, so have something to compare the experience to.

If she had reviewed it, I think she would say this... "I liked the story and the pictures. I liked sitting on Auntie's lap and being silly while she read it to me. I didn't really like the one where the ereader reads the book to me - I'd rather hear Auntie, or Mommy or whoever's voice."

And I have to agree with her. I would add that one frustrating aspect of the ereader is that as an adult reading to a child, when the child gets antsy, they can quickly (too quickly), slide their finger a few times and you've lost your place in the book. I'd suggest a button on the bottom of the ereader that the adult can click to keep the book on that page - maybe it's there and I just didn't know. Also, when I wanted to show her that there were four letter "g's" in a row, it kept turning the page. She loved how silly that was, but I imagine that could get old if you're trying to read a bedtime story. Likewise, whenever she wanted to show me something, and touched the screen, it either got bigger or it turned the page, which is counter-intuitive to the way kids read books. I mean, think of the kids books your own children loved, they ended up with bent pages, finger smudges and just a general "well-loved" look. Now imagine that each finger of love does something you don't want it to do, like turn a page etc.

All of that said, I can see the plus side of it too. I mean, there are no little kids in our family who live close by. And we were at her grandma's house where there wouldn't typically be a lot of kids books. But with the ereader, you could quickly bring one up. If we had more time and it was already set up with my account, it would have been fun to find a few more books to download, but I would have been looking for cheap ones like the 99 cents or so. If I lived with a child, I think I'd be looking for anthologies of books, if there is such a thing.

What do I miss? Turning a real page, being able to go back a few pages by using the visual on the page, not the number of "swipes." And...this is going to sound weird, but I miss the cuddle factor. While my niece was plenty cuddle-able, the "book" was not. Another weird thing I miss, that is more specific to picture books - the variance in the size of the books.

So, will I ever buy an ereader for myself? Yes. What are my main reasons? I'm not sure. How's that for a review?

Are you considering an ereader? Have you tried one out? Do tell.

Photo Friday: The Wall

The photo you're looking at was taken in the lobby of Sourcebooks, Inc. I had no idea what exactly was in each of those frames but the row of them was impressive, so I snapped the pic.

When I got back from Chicago, I emailed my editor to ask about them. What I learned is that each framed item represents something Sourcebooks is particularly proud of. Book covers are in many of the frames. Some are there because they are best-sellers. Others are there because the cover art is particularly stellar. And apparently, there are also framed letters from presidents up there. Wow! I wanna be on that wall. No really. I do. So, if anyone from Sourcebooks is reading this - let it be known. Karen Fisher-Alaniz wants to be framed. (couldn't resist)

You hear people talk about a Wall of Fame. But this wall was different. I love the idea of having a wall, or some other place, in your house where you can highlight what you're proud of. It would be more of a Wall of Pride...or something like that. So, if you created a Wall of Pride, what would be on it? What accomplishments would be recognized there?

I'm going to have to think about this one. ~Karen

Photo Friday: For Whom the Drum Tolls (part two)

Since it's been a week since you read part one, let me re-set the scene for you (I think I've been hanging out with screenwriters too much). I've just participated in a day's worth of meetings about my book and the Sourcebooks team has been summoned via drum, to hear me read from my book.

I start to read. I'm a robot. I try to use inflection in my voice, but I'm so stinkin' nervous. My legs are shaking. Not my hands, or my head, but my legs. If something has to shake, legs are a good choice, I think. I've only read about three pages when my mouth goes dry. I don't mean, I need a sip of water, dry. I mean my mouth is a 20-year drought. But I make it to the end of the expected reading. Yippee! Done. Now, let's go home.

But Peter then asks, "Does anyone have any questions for Karen?"

Here's my Marsha Brady moment (you know the one where she's nervous about her driver's test, so she pictures the instructor in his underwear) Well, instead of picturing my teacher in his underwear, I stop everything to admit to my human weakness aka the deletion of every bit of saliva in my mouth! I ask for a glass of water - the one I left in the conference room. I take a polite sip. Then I guzzle and even discretely swish. The questions begin; I'm asked about my dad, about writing, and about research. All questions I have answers to. I slowly realize that I'm liking this. This is fun. I mean, not to sound conceited or anything but what's more fun than talking about yourself or something you know a lot about? Just as I get to the point of wanting to say, "Hey, you guys wanna hang out tonight?", it's over.

This was officially the very first book talk I've ever done. It wasn't stellar. It wasn't even good. But I did it and it was great practice. Will I be able to do it again? Absolutely!

But a few questions remain;
1. How is it possible that stress (apparently) makes saliva dry up?
2. What causes the body to shake when we're nervous? And how does it decide which limb to torture?

Photo Friday: For Whom the Drum Tolls (part one)

Let's be honest, meeting more than a dozen new people, even if they are there to make your book shine, is a little nerve-wracking. Yes, it is! But I loved it. I did really and truly! After a while, I became aware of people coming in and out of the room, taking stacks of chairs. My brain was stuck on my book and I probably wouldn't have noticed if Ronald McDonald was doing jumping jacks in the hallway. But after seeing the stacks of chairs going out, I had one tiny thought, "I wonder what they have going on today?" And then the thought was gone. Back to the book.

Peter had asked if I'd be willing to read the first few chapters of the book to the group at the end of the day. He'd given me a few days notice. "Sure!" says I, enthusiastically. I knew it was coming and I really wasn't that nervous. Until. There always has to be an "until" doesn't there? But I bet you'll never guess what this "until" was!

Setting: inside meeting room after multiple meetings. Late afternoon. Only my editor, Peter and I remain in the room.

Peter: "Well, you ready to do the reading in a bit?"
Me: "Sure."
Peter: "OK. Let me go call everyone."
Me: "OK."

Peter leaves room as I look over papers I'll be reading from.

*BANG-BANG-BANG-BUH-BANG-BANG-BANG*

The deep, earthy sound is completely out of place here.

Me: (thinking) What the heck was that? Man, this place is so darned creative. Obviously, someone is practicing on their conga drum. I bet the artists who created my book cover do not appreciate this (it was veeery quiet in their space).

I peek out the conference room door to see Peter putting the drum down. People are trickling out of their cubicles and offices. They're making their way to...THE chairs. OMG! This is officially my, "I wasn't nervous UNTIL..." moment.

I wasn't nervous UNTIL I heard the drum!

Remember the thought I'd had earlier on the stacks of chairs that kept leaving the conference room? Remember, I was wondering what they had going on? Yeah. Turns out it was ME! Time to be nervous.

And that drum, the one in the lobby of Sourcebooks, surrounded by books and plants, and accompanied by an onlooking bull, was to call all employees to the event.

Peter strolled back into the conference room.

Me: THAT'S how you call people? (ie: ever heard of an intercom?)

Peter: (shrugs) Yeah.

Hmmm... I watch people begin to fill the rows of chairs.Obviously, I am the only one perplexed by the drum. And to tell you the truth, I like it. Who needs technology when you can bang on a drum? I wonder if Sourcebooks employees fight over who gets to do it? OK, maybe not.

Next Time: The Reading

Mini-memoir Monday: Bloomers

No, I'm not talking about something you wear. But it's the perfect time to think about flowers. Here in the pacific northwest, the tulips and daffodils are long wilted. Iris' are at the end of their blooming. But summer flowers are beginning to take their place.

Assignment: What do flowers mean to you? What memories do they evoke? What if you see a yellow rose, a pink petunia or even a yellow dandelion (hey, kids think they're flowers!)? Is there a flower that never fails to push a memory to the surface?

I have a few of my own. What are yours? While you're at it, ask your loved one about theirs. There's no time like the present to ask about the past! Do it today.

As always, Write Now - because it's later than you think. ~Karen

Photo Friday: The Question That's Easy to Answer

One of the questions I was asked during my meetings at Sourcebooks was this, "What do you hope will be the result of your book?" It was easy to answer because I've thought of that a lot. My story is about a father-daughter relationship. It's about finding truth. It's loaded with information about WWII and includes the intrigue of naval intelligence and top-secret code breaking. That's the story. But there are lots of stories out there. What do I hope to accomplish with the telling of THIS one?

That's easy.

I want to start a story-telling revolution. Does that sound over-the-top? Too ambitious? I hope so. Our WWII veterans are dying at a rate of more than 1,000 every single day! And when they are gone, so are their stories. Each one has a story worth telling and a story worth listening to. Many are just waiting for someone to take the time to not only ask, but to listen. WWII veterans are just a microcosm of the rest of the population. Veteran or not, elderly or not, we all know someone who has a story.

We're busy. But are we too busy to learn the lessons life has put right in front of us? I don't think so. It's time to stop and listen. I hope my book will inspire people everywhere to hop off the merry-go-round for just one hour to listen to someone's story. And better yet - to write it down. If not now, when? If not you, who?

Photo Friday: The Meeting

Well, we are finally to the post about my all day meetings at Sourcebooks (my publisher). The photo is of the actual meeting room, where we were most of the day. And yes, I'm the total and complete dork who snapped the pic when I was reasonably sure that no one was looking! My editor, Peter and I stayed put in the room while teams of people came to the room to meet with us. The teams included such areas as marketing, publicity, and sales, and such sub-areas as non-bookstore sales, and museum sales.

I have to say...my mind was sufficiently blown! Each group was well-prepared. Some had power points to help with explanations, others had stacks of notes. It is surreal to hear people talking about your book, your baby, as if it's the most beautiful baby in the world too. I mean, you know it's beautiful. Of course it's beautiful -- it's a reflection of YOU. But to hear people talk about it that way, it's just an amazing experience that I hope all of you get to experience one day!

Unlike horror stories I'd heard, the team at Sourcebooks made a point of making me a part of the team. They asked questions. They were enthusiastic about my book. They offered ideas I hadn't thought of. And when I offered suggestions, they ran with it and made it bigger than I could have thought of. Just amazing!

The hardest question I was asked was, "Who are the first 5,000 people your book will sell to?" And then, "Who will it sell to after that?" Of course, I started with my mom, my sisters, my aunts. But apparently that wasn't the point. Can YOU, my fellow writers, answer those questions? Hard, isn't it?

Mini-memoir Monday: Recess!

We all have to remember recess, right? Recess is one thing that has survived generations. But I bet what we did during recess has changed some - maybe.

As for me, I remember watching the clock, waiting for the minute hand to be just so. Then the long, low ring of the bell. We played on the monkey bars, flipping round and round or just hanging there. I had constant calluses on my hands. We played kickball and I was actually pretty darned good at it! It was the only sport that I excelled at. Too bad there wasn't a National Kickball League. Sometimes we played hopscotch or marbles.

In later elementary years, my best friend, Kim and I noticed a neglected part of the playground. It was in a back corner, far away from the school. No grass grew there, but there was a cement ledge to sit on. We decided to spend a lot of our time there. We played and pretended and talked childish talk. Eventually, other friends joined us.

Writing memories down is an interesting thing. As I write this, more and more memories come to the surface. That's the power of writing, isn't it?

What are your recess memories? Do tell. And ask an elder about theirs. Do it today. There's no time like the present to ask about the past! ~Karen

Photo Friday: Touring Sourcebooks

This is the first face I saw upon entering the Sourcebooks Headquarters. OK, well I was walking in with my editor, Peter. Still, the bull was the first animal I encountered. I'm not sure exactly what the bull represents but I kept hearing the phrase, "Take the bull by the horns" in my head all day. Maybe that has something to do with it. This very large bull is surrounded by books - they are even stacked on top of him and under him. And there are quotes all over him. I can't remember exactly which quotes and by whom; that's why I put such a large photo here, so you can see what you can find.

Here's what Mr. Bull meant to me - he embodied all that Sourcebooks is. It's a creative place and that's what we writers want, right? We want creativity in editing, marketing, publicity, and more! What could embody that more than a bull in the office? I've talked to other authors who visited their publishers. Most felt like their visit was an imposition on the business. I didn't feel that way at all. In fact, it seemed that the whole publishing company, stopped everything to be sure I felt welcome and had a terrific visit. So, I'd say, I know how to pick 'em. (and so do they, of course)

Next time: The Meeting