The Daily Dish and a Launch Party

     Sooo -  it looks like I am really going to be on The Daily Dish February 12th around 9 or 10am.  I'm still in shock.  I thought for sure they were just kidding and that they'd come back and say, "Sorry! We've decided to have the author of 50 shades of Grey on instead."  Days go by and no cancellation has come yet.  So I guess I better start preparing.  But how in the world do you prepare for a TV interview?  No really - if you know, please email me.  I'm not even kidding.  My daughter video taped me a couple weeks ago and I tend to do this bobble headed thing.  I had no idea.  My hands - great.  My head?  It's like from the neck up I'm Italian or something.  
     The other exciting thing on my agenda is a launch party at Seagull Book in American Fork.  Never done that either.  I know, weird.  I've done tons of book signings, but a launch party?  Yikes.   I'll bring treats for sure.  Maybe an Earth Wind and Fire CD to play?  Really, I have no idea what will be happening yet.  But that will be the same day as the TV interview.  February 12th is going to be a CRAZY day for me.  So hurry and put it on your calendar. And tell your husbands that  instead of chocolate this year, you want a signed copy of Do Over instead.  It's coming out 2 days before Valentine's Day.  Perfect timing for the husband that doesn't like to stress the crowds.  

     And for those of you who don't have a cute hubby who is right now already thinking of the perfect gift for the most romantic day of the year, never fear.  Do Over is not only a fun romance, it's a book that totally gets the fact that cute husbands or boyfriends who are incredibly thoughtful and romantic and perfect sometimes don't exist.  So if you fit into that category (I do!), come say hi and we'll have some fun.

Exciting things!

     Only 1 month to go until my book Do Over comes out.  So here's why I'm getting super excited.  I've been in contact with CW's 30 The Daily Dish.  Ever heard of them? Yes you have!  There's a chance I might just be on their show on February 12th to promote my book.  
     Can not even tell you how exciting this is and yet totally brain fryingly terrifying at the same time.  My knees are wobbly just thinking about it, but I will do whatever it takes, even fainting on live TV to promote my book.  But that's probably my limit.  I heard of this one guy that said he'd run across the  whole state of Utah if he got so many sales. Being on the Daily Dish would be a lot less painful I'm sure
     I will keep you updated as soon as I find out for sure.  Now remember, it's not a for sure for sure thing, but almost for sure.  Cross your fingers for me!
     In the mean time, I have a huge favor to ask of all my dear lovely friends who read my book early to do reviews.  Could you please- pretty please post your reviews on Amazon.com and or Goodreads?  That would be so appreciated. We're really starting to gear up for the big push and every little bit helps.  
 - Shannon

Do Over Update #3,874,290.43

Just kidding, there haven't been thaaaat many updates, have there?  Yikes, I hope not.  But here's the deal everyone - there are only 40 days until Do Over hits the stores.  40 days!! Mark your calendars for February 12th 2013 because just 2 whole days before Valentine's you can get the one book that you need to survive that revered Holiday.  So to get you excited again, hopefully enough to Pre-order Do Over on Amazon, I'd like to re-post Heather Clark's review of Do Over.  Read it and weep people, because I know I do every time I read it :)

     Shannon Guymon's New Novel, Do Over, is a triumph of clean, fun romance. Want a book you can recommend to your teenage daughter, or your grandmother, and be confident that they'd both find something to enjoy? I'm a newcomer to Shannon's work, but I immediately put her other Alpine books on hold at my public library. Shannon includes just enough touches of past characters to make me curious about their back-stories, without becoming self-indulgent, and boring or confusing me by focusing too much on past plots. Iris and Trey were definitely the stars of their own story.

     And what a couple. They were funny. From their witty,sparkling first meeting, Iris and Trey kept me guessing. Iris is not your average romance-novel heroine. She doesn't spend a single minute moping and swooning. And waiting to be rescued by a handsome, dominating hero? Not a chance. Move over, ex-fiancé! Stand aside, men in general! Iris has got big plans, a serious pair of boots, and her hair is on fire. Perfect for a woman of action. As Shannon reminds us throughout the book, Iris is strong, independent, and just a little bit wild. But don't take Shannon's word for it. Iris's actions speak louder than words. All the way to the funny,over-the-top ending, Iris demands respect and forges her own destiny. In her own words, "I’m coming for you, so watch out." Finally, a heroine that doesn't slightly embarrass the entire female gender.

     And speaking of strong characters, Iris has met her match in Trey. He's kind, witty, charming, handsome, and tender—when he's not dishing out the sass in a Ben and Jerry's container, that is. 

     These characters are a lot of fun, and you're pretty sure while you're reading that if you met them, you'd be friends for life. Pick up Shannon's latest book, and they may become just that. 

- Heather Clark

Update on Do Over and a new author you should check out!

First off, I'd like to show off my brother Zach's book coming out this month.  It's called Uprising Italia.  As you can tell from the cover, which by the way - ROCKS, it's about Italy, tanks and you guessed it  . . . Zombies.  My brother and I may both have a love for writing but our similarities kind of end there.  He's more sci-fi, fantasy, zombie stuff and I'm all about reality, love and happy endings.  No eyeballs ever get eaten in any of my books.  Weird, I know. But if you or some one you love, has a penchant for the dark side, this book would make a great Christmas gift.

Now, back to ME! Okay, so I know I've been talking about Do Over for what seems like foreeeevvvver, but honestly, February will be here so soon.  I know you don't want to hear that, since you, like me, are just trying to make it through these next couple of weeks.  There are presents to buy, wrap and give and if the fudge doesn't turn out and the Christmas lights don't hang just the right way, then life is too hard to bare.  I know this!!  I am living these next couple of weeks right along with you.  But at the back of your mind, where there's a little space left, please know that the Final edits are done on Do Over and that I have written an extra chapter for the end. The people who have read it are in raptures over it.  I know, it kind of sounds like I'm exaggerating, but I promise I'm not.  

And after talking to my publisher it looks like I might be doing a launch party.  I'm kind of terrified of this, so if you have any advice for me, please send it along.  Now - back to shopping, wrapping, baking, giving, stressing, singing, parties, and more shopping and wrapping and baking. 
Take care!
- Shannon

What Books Are You Grateful For?

     This is the month to be grateful and if you're on Facebook or Twitter it's hard to ignore.  Everyday the people I know will state something they're grateful for.  I think it's kind of sweet.  It's made me think of the books I'm grateful for.  The first one would have to be Watership Down by Richard Adams.  I was in the 4th grade when I picked it up in the library.  I still don't know why I did. It was HUGE compared to most things I'd read at the time.  But I took it home and dove in and for the first time in my life I was dragged under.  I was thrown into this new world of rabbits who had lives and loves and fears and adventures and I became one of those rabbits.  I experienced everything as if I were right there and that's when I realized how magical books were.  Words became powerful to me.  No matter what I was going through or experiencing in my real life, I could grab a book, dive in and escape.  And while I was escaping, I was learning and growing and becoming.  I would have to say Watership Down was my gateway book.  Because of that book, I was able to expand my mind and discover new worlds. That might sound cheesy, but nevertheless, the stinking truth. I also became a good judge of books. If a book can grab me and drag me under and keep me up until 3 in the morning, - that's a good book.

     Another book I'm grateful for is, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elisabeth George Speare. This was my first introduction to historical fiction and I was hooked again.  Thank you Elisabeth. My grasp of history through the ages has less to do with my history classes and more to do with the books I read that usually had a beautiful but intelligent and adventurous young woman. I owe a lot of my knowledge to those amazing writers who painstakingly researched historical data. And that was before computers.

     The next few books I'm grateful for are mine.  I know, kind of egocentric, but I would be lying if I didn't mention it.  I'm grateful for the first book I wrote, Forever Friends.  This book didn't get published until much later in my career, but it was my first effort and it taught me that not just other people's words could pull me under, but my own could too.  I grew up living and breathing other people's words and I'd had no idea that I could create with them as well.  The knowledge that I could immerse myself into a world I created  myself was exhilarating, exciting and completely mind blowing sometimes.

     I'm grateful for my other published books too because each of them helped me through something in my life.  Whatever I was dealing with, struggling with, hurting over or suffering through ended up in my books.  My latest, Do Over, will always hold a special place in my heart for the healing it gave me. After my divorce, I had this hollow empty feeling that scared me. When I write, I pull from all of the emotions threatening to spill over.  It's like taking a bucket, and dipping it into a surging, powerful river whipping by.  But I felt more like a zombie than a life giving river.  So when I tried to write - and this book started to pour out of me, I was shocked.  I had no idea that my words could unlock the dam I'd placed on my emotions and let the river go free again.  Words are powerful.  Yours, mine, every one's.  They heal, they hurt, they create and they change people.  I'm so thankful for the good ones.

     The last book(s) I'm grateful for would have to be the scriptures.  And to me, that includes the Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.  I read them everyday, not because I'm supposed to, but because I need to.  Reading the words of the prophets and of God grounds me, strengthens me and points me in whatever direction I need to go that day.  In the midst of whatever storm is hanging around, I know that if I want to have peace, I read.  And I'm pulled under and into a world where God is there.  Who wouldn't want that every day?
     So what books are you grateful for?  I would love to hear.
   

The perfect books for Halloween

     I was about fifteen  years old and so many people were telling me to read It by Stephen King.  I have to admit that I'm a huge chicken and I hate anything scary.  Probably because between the ages of 9 and 13 I lived in a house that had a ghost.  Not even kidding.  Our family lived in a super old spooky house and yep, it had a ghost.  I could hear him walk up and down the stairs all night long.  That thing in books where they talk about the hair standing up on the back of your neck?  That actually happens. How do I know this? My neck will testify to it.  I hope it doesn't happen to you, but yes, that is one of your bodies reactions to being scared to death.  Anyways, where was I? Oh, IT. So I've experienced scary, why would I want to actually scare myself on purpose?  I was 15 though and so I gave in to peer pressure and I read that sucker and I was freaked out.  Oh my word, that man knows how to creep you out in so many ways.  I do believe my hatred for all things clowns stems from that traumatic reading as a 15 year old.  I could talk about the Shining, but I'd rather not.  Eww!

     But since it's Halloween, I can't not talk about scary books. However, I am going to switch things up.  I'm going to talk about the not so scary but still fun Halloween books.  I still hate being scared, but I LOVE paranormal romance.  I'm doing a lot of research now because I'd like to join that genre.  I've been reading a lot about witches and everything that goes with that and I've found that I enjoy the YA paranormal so much more than adult paranormal.  Say what you will about Twilight but Stephanie Meyers did something right.  She enthralled the world. There's no arguing with that or the numbers.  (I actually really like Twilight).  But what I love about YA PNR is that it's clean.  I've read Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books.  Heard of True Blood?  Yep, that's the TV show based on her books about a girl who can read minds and likes to umm, hang out with vampires.
     This is what I'll say about it.  One TV critic called the show Vampire Porn.  I haven't watched the show, but I've heard this is true from friends.  The books are R rated in my opinion.  Sure, I can skip over certain parts, but why bother when there are so many YA stories that are amazing?  There is one adult witch book I love though. Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches.  LOVED IT!  Haven't read book #2 yet, but I can't wait.

But here's a list of YA paranormal romance that will give you a fun read for Halloween without making you want to scrub your mind with clorox:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.  It's a whole series and my teenage daughters loved it.

Freak of Nature by Katie Lee O'Guinn.  New book out on Kindle that we all really enjoyed.
Paranormalcy by Keirsten White. Another trilogy but so cute.  Super clean and fun.
Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. - Engrossing and addicting.
I'm doing so much research on Paranormal Romance and having so much fun doing it that it's hard to tear myself away to write myself.
Check them out and let me know what you think.  And give me your suggestions!  What's your favorite paranormal book, YA or adult.  I would love your suggestions.

Update on Do Over

Here's the newest update on Do Over.  I just heard back from Cedar Fort and they have decided to keep the boots that they had on the cover before. They did a search for the coolest biker chick boots  in order to get it just right and came up with . . . well, nothing.  I know, heartbreaking.  But on the bright side, we still don't have to look at a hammer.  So we're moving forward. Do Over is already up on Amazon for pre-orders.  I think that's pretty exciting.  Picture me doing a few cartwheels and not landing on my rear or my face.  That's how excited I am.  I'll be doing a Facebook Fan Page for Do Over too.  I've never done that for a book before so if you have any advice, please send it my way.  If you have fan pages for your books, tell us so we can check them out.

Sticking with a genre or jumping off a cliff

I've read some reviews of J.K. Rowlings newest book and I feel kind of bad for her.  What writer wouldn't? In my opinion, JK is one of the most gifted writers this world has ever seen.  So to see her hit home run after home run and then to fizzle in the 6th inning is just sad. Not that she couldn't come back tomorrow and write the greatest novel ever read.  But right this second as she's sitting in England, drinking her tea and reading all of the bad reviews, I wish I was sitting there with her. Because I'd probably say, 'You're acting like a loony Muggle! Grab the laptop and tell me what Harry's doing now!'.  I know, rotten, huh?  Not very supportive for sure.  But it does illustrate how we all get stuck in genres.  I'm super comfortable with romance.  If you told me I had to write a Sci-Fi thriller right this second, I'd beg you to shoot me.  However, don't we all need to stretch a little? Get out of our comfort zones just a titch?  Maybe someone should force me to write a sci-fi book.  Who knows, maybe I'd love it? (I really wouldn't)  But it's the trying that makes us better.  The sweat and tears form us into who we're supposed to become right?  So in honor of J.K., I'm going to stretch a little.  I am now writing a book that I never thought I'd touch.  It involves witches, blood and a magic. This will not be LDS fiction.  Yikes, my heart is palpitating.  Notice my cool word choice.  So I'm getting ready to jump of a cliff.  Let me know if you  know of any publishers who'd like to soften my landing.

Procrastination or something more sinister?

     I am starting my new book today! I know, I was supposed to start last month, but then pneumonia plopped itself on my doorstep. And then, yeah, I know, I was supposed to start my new book a few weeks ago, but hey -  my computer died. Really, how can you write without a computer these days?  I actually looked at a pad of paper and a pen for a few seconds but then resisted.  My inner spell check just isn't up to the challenge.  So today is a new day!  Today I will begin my next adventure.  I can't wait to use some of my new neighbors as characters.  He he he. I will keep you posted as to my progress. In the meantime, please wait impatiently for Do Over to come out this February.  Still haven't seen the newest cover for it yet.  I will post ASAP.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that there won't be any tools on the cover this time. And in the mean time, if no more natural disasters or unnatural disasters occur, I will stop blogging and commence the creative process. Prayers would be appreciated.