An encouraging word

My first novel is in the works, and I received the following email message from my editor the other day: "By the way, I'm loving the book. And it's exceptionally clean and well written. I'll hardly have any changes for you."

Mummila (grandma) pictures

Two of my favorite pictures of our new granddaughter

StoryCorps

The Smithsonian Institute is sponsoring StoryCorps, which is a portable sound booth that travels all over the US, for the purpose of recording oral histories. People can make appointments to record a forty-minute section of their oral history in the booth, NPR will broadcast short segments. I tutor an adult literacy student and he's been asked to participate. I get to be his interviewer in the booth (but he won't need much prompting). What a terrfic boost for him!

I think we'll get a CD later, too. To get on NPR is awesome for him! It doesn't get much better than that, and this kind of encouragement for a person who couldn't read until about 8 years ago, is wonderful!

Full circle

About eight years ago I wrote a poem for a friend who had lost her senventeen year-old son in an auto accident. She later asked if I'd submit it to Heart to Heart, the newslsetter for Intermountain Donors Association. Then, Last February, my friend was killed in an auto accident, eight years after her son. I was contacted by the newsletter's editor for permission to print the poem again. I never imagined this would come full circle. We feel so helpless when a dear one is taken suddenly. Life is so fragile.

In my right brain

I took a quiz and discovered I'm a right brain thinker. "What if you are motivated by art and love reading the classics, but you're a number cruncher in your day job? If you are feeeling out of sorts or dissatisfied with your job, let your right-brain/left-brain knowledge guide you on a new areer path. Even if you're totally satisfied in your current job, taking a class could allow you to explore and cultivate a part of your brain you may not use in your career. By working with your natural talents, you'll be likely to succeed at and enjoy work and school at the same time. With the wonderful educational opportunities literally at your fingertips, there's no reason not to be in a happy and fulfilling career. It's possible to be both creative and professional. It might be time to match your brain to your job."

It's good to know that when I left the university setting a few years ago, I was listening to my right brain. Even though I was teaching, a portion of my job required accurate numbers, ratings and evaluations, and I wasn't crunching them accurately at all. Tasks that used to be simple took twice as long to do, and creativity usually took a back seat to procedures and professionalism.

So now I am listening more to my right brain's promptings. I don't always understand them. But I think I'm on the right track.

Book signing

There was a book signing last night at The Book Table in Logan. It was great to meet some Cache Valley writers I didn't know, and a lovely lady visiting from Washington. She'd come to see the operas and also participated in the book signing.

Sold 3 books. We were just in the way of all the opera-goers, who weren't in the browsing mode. The signing wasn't well advertised, and with all the tables of stuff on sale, we didn't stand out at all. But it was fun visiting with the other authors.

AND I found Mr. Wonderful. I mean, Miles is wonderful, but this is a talking doll that says everything a woman would want a man to say: "Here, honey, you take the remote. I don't care what we watch, as long as we watch it together." "Let's just snuggle tonight." "I believe we're lost. I'm going to stop and ask for directions." "Let me cook dinner tonight." He's hilarious, and I gave a few smaller ones as gifts a few years ago (they are great ice breakers for a party) but I'll give this one to my American daughter-in-law, who's been looking for one.

I gave one to my Finnish daughter-in-law the night before their wedding, and she giggled and said, "I think he's my new best friend."

I'm a grandma!

Paige Emilia was born on July 9, 2007. She was 6 lbs 14 oz. and it appears she'll have naturally curly hair. We think she's beautiful!

First bath

Kevin's a proud Daddy!

Baby Paige with Mom

new novel to be published in November 07

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys will be published by Cedar Fort, Inc. in November 2007. Check back for further developments! Read a chapter at my website: http://www.janetjensen.com

Sequel, Zina, is about half finished. It's my current must-do.

Good morning. This is my first attempt at blogging.
Status: anticipation. Little Paige should be born today, my first granddaughter!