David Farland's Daily Kick in the Pants and Workshops

I have really enjoyed David Farland's free emails.  His Daily Kick in the Pants writing tips.  I heard David speak last year at LDStorymakers conference and thought he was great.  He has lots of workshops that I would love to attend, but with my two young girls it is hard to attend everything I want to:-)  But it is on my list!  I have heard great things about his workshops.  Go check it out at:  http://www.davidfarland.net/

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is ready for Christmas and is now just enjoying the holiday!  I’m excited to have some more writing time.  Revising of The Curse of the Beast is coming along very well, even if it is slow.  My Sister is finally reading it for the first time!  I’m very excited about that.  She likes paranormal, so it will be fun to see how she enjoys it.  I’ve had other family members read it also.  My nieces really liked it, and it was fun to see how fast they digested it!  They were my focal teen audience.  I’m adding more detail into the story and hopefully then it will be ready for an agent to snatch it upJ!  Getting published is my Christmas wish and New Year resolution! And boy am I working hard for itJ

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas,

Ashley Lavering

QueryTracker.net

QueryTracker.net is a really cool free site where you can keep track of your query letters and also read others experiences with that same agent.  I have really enjoyed this site.  I have queried five agents and received four rejections and one non-response so far.  They also have informative information about query letters and for a fee you can get more features.  So check it out!

http://www.querytracker.net/

LDStorymarkers Conference 2011

I just registered for LDStorymarkers Conference!  I loved it last year and am very excited to go this coming May.  Also, this year I get to take my niece with me!  It will be loads of fun.   I’m going to pitch my book to an agent.  Nervous about that, but it will be a good growing experience.  Check it out at:  http://www.ldstorymakers.com/

Their pool of talented workshop presenters:

Traci Abramson Liz Adair Stacy Anderson Bron Bahlman Shirley Bahlman Michelle Ashman Bell Laura Bingham Deanne Blackhurst Rachelle Christensen Frank Cole Bob Conder Kristyn Crow James Dashner Josi Kilpack Julie Wright

Sarah Eden Angela Eschler Terri Ferran Karen Hoover Melanie Jacobson Marion Jensen Clint Johnson Elana Johnson Eric Johnson Peri Kinder Laurie Lewis Gregg Luke Annette Lyon Lisa Mangum Heather Moore Rachel Nunes

Josh Perky Tristi Pinkston Sheralyn Pratt Janette Rallison Brandon Sanderson Jeff Savage Kirk Shaw Lu Ann Staheli Jane Still Howard Tayler G.G. Vandagriff Dan Wells Robison Wells Tyler Whitesides Becca Wilhite Dave Wolverton

About my current project

I started writing The Curse of the Beast on December 16, 2009.  This paranormal romance takes place in Cody, Wyoming.  Why, you might ask.  Well, the answer is relatively simple. Because it is close to Yellowstone National Park where the wolf was reintroduced years back.  In college, I studied biology and the issues of the wolf being reintroduced into YNP.  It was a perfect location for my werewolves to hide unnoticed in the shadow of these wolves.

I'm in the final stages of revising this young adult novel before sending it out to another round of agents.  Thankfully, I have an awesome writing partner that pushes me to grow and learn new skills, even if it is painful at times.