And the winner(s) are...

First things first... it's time to pick the winner for the North! Or be Eaten giveaway! Thanks to everyone who read my little review and dropped a comment.

My sis Sherri from Aurora Atmosphere and Random.org have selected a winner... and it is...

Comment #3 -- Elaine! Congratulations! E-mail me: jenwritesstuff (at) gmail (dot) com :)

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in my little experiment... there will be other giveaways in the future. And speaking of winners...

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So, Carol at The Writing Place gave me an award for my goofy little post with the A-Team van. Aww, thanks Carol! :) It's the Kreativ Blogger Award which... I guess it means I'm creative with a K? Awesome.

Ah, but these things have rules. (I think that's a quote from Stardust. I think.) It is my award-winning bloggerly duty to pass the KBA on to 7 writing bloggers, and then list 7 favorite fiction authors. Spreading the love, yo.

So here we go! It's hard to narrow it down, but these are 7 blogs I really, really like that haven't been christened with this award yet. I think you might like them too.

In no particular order...

* The Coffee-Stained Writer - I know I've mentioned her multiple times here, but I'll say it again: I heart NP's blog. Thoughts on writing, and also a super-helpful and encouraging blog to help survive NaNoWriMo season.

* If You Give a Girl a Pen... - One of my new favorite writing blogs! A collaborative effort by "The Girls with Pens" with lots of great posts on writing. Not just for girls either... so writer guys, don't let the title keep you away! ;) Prompts, contests, advice, and a neat series called "Good to Know You" to help find the quirks in your characters.

* The Writer's Side of the Looking Glass - Wife, home school mom, and short fiction writer specializing in the dark. Blogs personal updates on writing, and has a great little prompt series called "Fire Your Muse."

* One Minute Writer - A new prompt every day... and sixty seconds to write on it. Great little kick start to get the juices flowing!

* Megan Rebekah Blogs... and Writes - Aspiring YA writer's blog with personal thoughts on the writing life and helpful advice. A fine writer, and lots of great info too!

* Aurora Atmosphere - Not a writing blog, but my sister gets kudos for updating her sketch blog better than I update this one. Homework and life allowing, she posts new sketches three times a week.

* I'm still a blogger... - Also not a writing blog, but Karin does these quippy, short posts that always make me laugh. She's pretty random and awesome like that.

Visit them all and show them some love. They're pretty great. :)

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And now, the 7 writers. Oooh, this is tough. 7 of my favorites, still writing, mostly fiction, in no particular order...

* Anne Lamott - whywhywhy does she not have a website? Because she's a rock star and doesn't need one perhaps? Essayist, novelist, and all-around amazing writer. If I could write at least 24% as well as her, I would be content.

* Donald Miller - One day, I picked up Blue Like Jazz in Borders and sat down with the intention of reading a chapter or two to see if I'd like it. Before I knew it, I was halfway done and on my way to buy it. That's good stuff.

* Ray Bradbury - One of my favorite writers of incredibly imaginative sci-fi.

* Ursula K. LeGuin - Fantasy writer with a great, literary style.

* Neil Gaiman - Fantasy stories that are fun to read, with darkly humorous twist. Bonus nerdycool points for his work in comics.

* Andrew Peterson - Hey, after two Wingfeather books, I am totally a fan. :)

* J.K. Rowling - I hope there is life after Harry Potter. I really do. Also: she has a really cool website.

!!!

It's National Punctuation Day! Seriously. I know you're as excited as I am.

I'm all for nerd holidays... I celebrated Square Root Day and Pi Day and stuff. But really , why should math people have all the fun? :)

I can't think of a better reason to share a couple of my Favorite Punctuation Marks Nobody's Heard Of. If I could find them on my keyboard, I would totally use them.

‽ The Interrobang. Sometimes just a question mark won't do. So you could go with the ?! combo. But an interrobang is so much more efficient. Just stack a ? and a ! and boom -- rhetorical/surprised question. This little guy never really took off, but perhaps it could have a Twitter renaissance? I mean, it would save a whole character in a tweet that's running long.

؟ The Irony Mark. AKA the "snark" or "zing," this backwards question mark indicates irony, sarcasm, or some other level of meaning. Genius! Think of all the misunderstood e-mail trouble that could have been resolved with a simple punctuation mark! Also, this would be a great replacement for "lol j/k" and would save a whopping 7 characters on Twitter! Everyone wins!

Anyone have a favorite punctuation mark, standard or not? Please share, and help me believe I'm not the only one this nerdy. :)

Or maybe you're not fully convinced of the awesomeness of punctuation yet. That's okay. Just know that punctuation can be funny too.

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Friendly reminder... the North! Or Be Eaten giveaway is still on! Drop a comment and join in if you haven't yet. Winner to be announced on Saturday. That is all.

North! Or Be Eaten - Review and Giveaway!

There’s something timeless about a good fantasy story. The best are built on richly imagined worlds that are strange and familiar, with memorable characters and a story that’s both imaginative and true. And I’ve found over the years that the best of these are often the “children’s books.” Maybe it’s the innocence, the thirst for adventure, or the wild imagination that drives the story, but books for kids -- especially in the fantasy genre -- are one thing I’ll never outgrow.

Singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson released his first fantasy book On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness last year, a story set in the colorful world of Aerwiar where readers first met Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, three supposedly normal children who discover along the way that they are really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea. Now in the second book North! Or Be Eaten, the Igibys face their future and find themselves on the run from the Fangs of Dang. Their ultimate mission is to reclaim their thorne and save the land of Skree from the fearsome rule of Gnag the Nameless... if they can survive the journey.

North! picks up right where On the Edge left off, launching readers into an action-packed tale. There’s no time for introductions, so reading the first book is a must before jumping into this one. On the Edge established the mythos of Peterson’s world, but now the real story begins, running from chapter to chapter with a quick pace. The sections are brief and numerous (sixty-five chapters!), but always end in a way that has me wanting to turn the next page.

The overall tone is darker and more mature than its predecessor too. Knowing their true identity as kingdom heirs, the Igiby children have to grow up fast, and the tension of their innocence and growth is the heart of the story. For the most part, the story is told from the perspective of Janner, the eldest son and Throne Warden of Anniera who is sworn to protect his brother Tink, the High King. It’s easy to forget just how young these kids are... and then there will be a moment like the chapter “Tackleball in the Fog” where their playful innocence and love shine through.

For fans of fantasy and, really, fans of a good story, I can’t recommend Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga enough. The world is richly imagined; the characters feel alive and real. It has some slow parts, but it also has moments that are funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful. I’ll consider this series a classic with a place on my shelf next to The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, and hope to share them with my own children someday.

For more about The Wingfeather Saga, visit wingfeathersaga.com, and to purchase the books, visit the Rabbit Room store.

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About the Author:
Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com

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And now...
The Giveaway!!!

(the first on my blog. I'm just a little excited. :))

I’ve got a copy of both books in The Wingfeather Saga, and I want to pass them on to you! Just leave a comment to enter.

That’s it! (though if you want to tell us in a comment what your favorite book as a kid was, that’s even better! :))

On Saturday, September 26th, the wisdom of Random.org will pick a winner and I’ll announce it on the blog.

Good luck! :)

Blog Tour Preview... Review & Contest Tomorrow!

"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children." ~ Madeleine L'Engle

Andrew Peterson is disgustingly talented. Not only is he a great songwriter and musician, fun storyteller, Proprietor of the Rabbit Room, and all around neat guy... turns out he's got a bit of novelist in him. Epic kids fantasy novelist to be exact. Enter On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, his first novel which blends shades of Narnia and Lord of the Rings with a quirky sense of humor and imaginative creatures. (Oh yeah, and he drew some maps and illustrations too. So add drawing skills to the talent list. What'd I tell you?)

I'm a fan. But alas, just as the story got exciting, the characters became real, and the plot had me flipping pages... it ended. Like that. Sadness.

Then I heard there was a second installment to The Wingfeather Saga on the way, and all was right in the world. :)

So, I consider it an honor to partipate in the official blog tour for North! Or be Eaten: Book Two of The Wingfeather Saga. It's been going on all this week with blogger reviews, and tomorrow this blog will be on all things Wingfeather! Drop by tomorrow evening for a review of North! and... my first ever giveaway! I have copies of both books and want to give them to someone and share the joy. :)

So... yes. Please come back tomorrow, won't you? Radio people call this a teaser.

And now... off to the Ice Praires, then sleep.

Oh yes, uh... I'm still reading. *slacker*

Momentum, Night of Joy, and Other Sleep-Depriving Things

It's a funny thing... usually, when I have plenty to write about, I simply don't have time to do it. So my packed weekend has given me a headful of material for some serious stream-of-consciousness... or at least a few random bits with a point. :)

This past weekend was Night of Joy, that amazing, crazy, sleep-depriving music fest in which the entire Z staff packs up for a weekend at Disney. Part work, part retreat, part pseudo-vacation, it's really the biggest event of the year, and usually yields enough stories on it's own. (See last year.)

This time around though, we had the added bonus of the first annual Christian Music Broadcasters Momentum conference, sort of like the GMA Week festivities in Nashville, but in Orlando. The hotel was filled with radio geeks, music promoters, and artists. You couldn't walk 10 feet through the Coronado Springs convention center without seeing someone that's somehow connected to this crazy business of Christian music. It was good times... educational, and a chance to see old friends, make new ones, and meet folks that I previously only knew through Twitter, Facebook, and even my old Livejournal days.

I have way too many stories for one post. WAY too many. And frankly, I don't even know if any of you want to hear them. So here is a quick list, hitting on the highlights. If any seem worth their own post later, then I will devote a whole extra entry to them.

Why? Because the radio person's motto is "One thought per break!" At least, that's what my DJ friends say. :)

• Most of the time, I geeked more about meeting radio and record reps than artists. I mean, musicians are cool and all, but dude, I met the legendary Chris Hauser (a record promo guy that's been in the business for 20+ years and has a million stories apparently). Wait... I just called a record promoter legendary? Oh dear... I have become a radio geek. (He was awesome though. You would like him. And I'm pretty sure he would like you.)
  
• I also met Mike, a LiveJournal friend from maybe 8 years ago. He's at SOS Radio in Las Vegas now, but at the time of our LJ-friending, he was at Way-FM in Grand Rapids, and I was a little newbie college kid that just wanted to work in radio. Fun. After reading my original blogging attempts, he probably knows more about College Freshman Jen than most of my co-workers. A rather scary thought.
• But due to this inside information Mike has acquired, I was welcomed into a secret society. I would tell you about it, but I'm sworn to secrecy. Seriously. It's a secret society people! I'm not even kidding. (Okay, maybe I am.)
  
• Favorite performance not on a Night of Joy stage: Needtobreathe singing "Lay 'Em Down" and "Something Beautiful" in our radio studio with two guitars, a guitar case, and a can of coffee beans. At 8:30 in the morning. And they killed it. True.
• Favorite performance on a Night of Joy stage: Family Force 5. They were freakin nuts. I had to sneak in the handicapped entrance to get in too. In the words of Jeff Cruz's mom: "That was better than the circus!"
• Other favorite performance for completely different reasons: Josh Wilson. Yes, FF5's polar opposite. But seriously, this guy is amazing live. He does some crazy stuff with a guitar and a loop recorder thing. This is proof.
  
• Best surprise: Switchfoot played Rock the Universe, yet they came to a VIP event on Friday and sang a new song for us! I was one happy old-school SF fangirl. <3
• Favorite NOJ stage moment PERIOD: John Cooper from Skillet making Jeff's face turn red. He says he wasn't embarrassed, but... let's just say, it was an off-the-cuff joke gone awry that ended with Skillet's frontman doing one-armed push-ups for the crowd. Hmm... that one might deserve an entry of it's own. :)
  
• Bo from NTB walked up to our table at a tailgate party thing specifically to meet Sheila the big fan (who is now pretty famous, since she got a shout out in my past three blogs, right?) and the person that Twittered about her. (me. :)) He visited for a while and was really cool. And then when he left we all geeked out, fangirled, etc.
• Being there to see my friends Dean and Carol win some well-deserved awards. I almost cried. A very sweet moment with my Z family.
  
• Drinking coffee at 2 in the morning with John and Amy DiBiase from JesusFreakHideout. They were sweet and super fun to hang out with. Also, John made fun of my supposed Southern accent. (20+ years in Lake County will do that to a girl.) Thanks dude. I can't say I-10 anymore.
• The Legendary Mr. Hauser introduced me to a bunch of radio guys as "my Twitter friend Jennifer Ross!" Me: "Ummm.... that's not my name. o_O" Him: "REALLY???" This also happened at 2 in the morning.
• All my best memories happened at 2 in the morning, come to think of it.

So much happens in 3 days. I guess the biggest thing I took away from the weekend was a reaffirmation of how proud I am to work in this business. At the end, when all the goodbyes were said, when we packed our bags and headed home, I felt so thankful to have a job that means something besides a paycheck. I look forward to my work, and even when I'm sick of hearing certain songs for the 548th time, even when I get cynical about the notion of "Christian art" and mixing ministry with business, I know at the end of the day we're making a difference.

Together. Small ones rippling outward.

It's a good feeling.

So for me, Momentum was the big deal. Friendships are the big deal. I know now why it's so important for us to get together, learn from each other, and connect. And I really do love the people I met and feel honored to work alongside them, in all the different roles that keep this music thing going, even states apart.

So yeah. There were a lot of stories that I hope to write down eventually so I don't forget them. But everything in time...

Now for other sleep-depriving things... I really need to finish reading North! or be Eaten, because the blog tour is this week. Eep! Expect thoughts on the latest Wingfeather book sometime by Friday.

(Also expect my First Ever OMG Blog Giveaway! Because you know you want a free book. ;))

Jen & Sheila's Excellent Adventure!

Confession: Ever since Don Miller announced the hidden manuscripts game for his next book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, I've been... well... a little obsessed. Not too obsessed, in an "omg can't sleep must check Twitter now!" way. Not really.

But I love his writing, I am excited for Million Miles and the Orlando tour stop, and seriously, who doesn't love a little weekday adventure?

Late last night, I saw the Twitter update I've been waiting for:

@donmilleris - Tomorrow, someone will find manuscripts in TX & FL! http://budurl.com/a6sf #don_miller

Florida! Finally! I mean, he's coming to Orlando, so it's only fair to generate a little hype here, right?

When I arrived at work today, one of the first things Sheila said to me was, "It's in Florida today?!" We've been following this for weeks... she's reading Blue Like Jazz and is a new fan, and she's random and awesome enough for scavenger hunt fun. Besides, this sort of craziness is always more fun with a friend. So, we were partners in a singular mission: get the dang manuscript.

The plan goes like this: I was to watch for the announcement that says, "Go here!" and monitor all Twitter dispatches. She had the GPS and the shorter workday to go for the goods. An excellent plan... assuming the manuscript was actually in our corner of the Sunshine State.

The day wore on. We waited. I compulsively refreshed Twitter. Finally, around 4pm, Sheila walks into my office and announces it's time to go home. "I give up. Call me if they announce anything."

Then a new post shows up on my #don_miller search. Wait! What's this?

@donmilleris - 2days 2nd manuscript: Use this photo hint in Orlando, FL http://www.twitpic.com/ggso4 - http://budurl.com/a6sf #don_miller

Me: OMG it's at Relevant!
Sheila: I'm on my way!

The plan was in motion. I watched the computer at the office. She did the driving (I like to picture Sheila's Mom Van careening down I-4 A-Team style, but I know she's a much safer driver than that. Still, it's a nice mental image.) It kind of felt like being in a action movie.

I love it when a plan comes together!

Um... this one didn't.

@cameronstrang - FYI, four people showed up in the first 5 minutes to get the @donmilleris manuscript hidden at our office. It's gone now -- stop coming. :)

Sheila called to let me know it was over. Somebody else claimed it already, and all that remained was a stack of "Thanks for playing! You're still a winner!" cards. Bummer. But we do each get a free download of the Blue Like Jazz audiobook just for playing the game, which is still pretty sweet. And we have a fun story to tell.

So maybe the plan came together after all. Not a bad random adventure before a 3 Day Weekend!

I know what you're thinking: "Jen, you people are nuts! Do you actually work?" Yes, of course we work. Mostly. And yes, we are nuts. Even one of our own said today that visitors must think we're an insane asylum pretending to be a radio station.

That's probably not too far from the truth.