Penned Con Report

ChrisReaders, Uncategorized, writers conference, YA

I attended Penned Con in St louis this past week. It was a conference for readers, writers, and bloggers with a special teen day thrown in at the beginning. This was the second time I’ve had a table at a conference. The first was at UtopYA in June. This time around I knew to bring bookstands and a brightly colored scarf … Read More

Check out Bryce Colton

ChrisReaders, Uncategorized, UtopYA, YA, young adult

This is what I imagine Bryce Colton looks like. He’s the main male character in Blackmail Boyfriend. The excerpt below shows how Haley thinks of him and how they meet. Bryce stood lounging in front of his locker, wearing a crisp white shirt and khakis. I felt underdressed in the Levi’s and the black Talk Nerdy to Me sweatshirt I’d … Read More

Dragons I Need in My Life

ChrisDragons, UtopYA, YA

Part of the reason I wrote the Going Down In Flames series is due to my love of dragons. Here are some dragons I need in my life. Okay, need may be an overstatement but I definitely want them. Most of these dragon items came from Design Toscano. A Dragon Mailbox. Dragon Bookends Dragon Wall Sconce Dragon Alarm Clock Dragon … Read More

Photo Bombing Beasts

Chrishome, Made Me Laugh

Apparently, it’s not just people who like to photo bomb. Check out these animals that decided to join in the photographic fun. The seal is my favorite. If you want to see more photo bombing beasties, check out The 39 funniest animal photo bombers.

Are you going to Penned Con?

ChrisReaders, Uncategorized, writers conference, YA, young adult

Penned Con is happening at the St. Louis City Center Hotel and Suites July 23-25th in St. Louis Mo. 100+ Authors, guest speakers, panels, workshops are gathering to celebrate their love of books. I can’t wait. Here are some of the postcards I’ll be handing out. I hope to see some familiar faces there.

An Author’s First Year: Excerpt Trial By Fire

Chrishome, Uncategorized, UtopYA, YA

My first book, Going Down In Flames came out a year ago this week. It has been an exciting, stressful, and amazing year. Exciting because my dragons are out in the world. They are real to other people now too. Sometimes as an author you feel like a closet schizophrenic because there is a world in your head that no … Read More

To Kill A Character

ChrisFor Writers, Readers, Uncategorized

I’ve been facing an authorly issue.  While writing Trial By Fire, the third book in my shape-shifting dragon series, I accidentally killed off a character…a beloved character…a character I never meant any harm. After I finished typing the scene I just stared at my screen. How had this happened? What the heck was my brain doing? Would people hate me … Read More

Things I learned at #UtopYA

ChrisUncategorized, UtopYA

What did I learn at UtopYA this year? Many things. In no uncertain order, here they are. 1. Make sure you shave both your legs before walking out the door to a book signing. In your distracted state, you may have forgotten one. 2. Put a room key in your nametag. That way if you accidentally grab your driver’s license rather … Read More

Come Say Hello At #UtopYA2015

ChrisUncategorized, UtopYA, writers conference, YA

Right now, mentally, I’m skipping through a field of flowers and singing, “I’m going to UtopYA. I’m going to UtopYA.” I’m so excited to see my Facebook and Twitter friends. Although it’s always tricky to recognize people from their online photos. I have different glasses now, and my hair is not quite the same color as it was in my author … Read More