Friday, December 31, 2010

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/

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

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

Monday, December 20, 2010

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!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

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

Thursday, December 9, 2010

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.