LTUE Gears Up

If you have an interest in writing for the fantasy, science fiction, or middle-grade markets, THIS IS A CONFERENCE FOR YOU! Writers and perspective writers do not want to miss this! Life, the Universe, & Everything (also known as LTUE) a Science Fiction and Fantasy Symposium. Guest of Honor: Orson Scott Card!

Where: Utah, Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.
When: Feb 13-15.
Price: $45 at the door. Students are FREE!

I'll be there on several panels discussing: Monsters You've Never Heard Of, Writing for Children, Effective Book Covers, and MORE!. There is also a fantastic opportunity to meet authors at the mass book signing Friday night at the hotel!

There are tons of AWESOME aut5hors attending this conference. Including: Blake Casselman, Michael Collings, Michaelbrent Colling, David Farland, Brian Hailes, L. E. Modesitt Jr., James A. Owen, Brandon Sanderson, Anne Sowards, and MORE!

For a list of the schedules, about LTUE, and discount information for the hotel follow this link: http://ltue.net/

Choosing the Right Publisher

Recently I was offered a publishing contract for my middle-grade book, THE DREAM KEEPER, which I turned down. Many have asked the reasons why and I’d thought I’d share that here. I was absolutely thrilled when I got the offer. I couldn’t wait to shout it from the rooftops that finally someone (besides me, my wife, my sister, and my freelance editor) took interest in this awesome book. I had tried for over a year to find the right agent. When that yielded no results I went to small publishers. 

My last attempts got me two publishers interested—one that quickly offered a contract after three days of review. I carefully read over the contract and highlighted all the portions that I didn’t feel comfortable with. After tons of amazing advice from successful authors (as a note: do this!) I made my decision. I was going with a fairly new publisher because certain members of their team really made me feel like they loved my book. I thought that if they loved it as much as me—this was the team to be with. Throughout the process of reviewing the contract, once again, warning bells started to sound in my head. And I was reminded once again of the quote I have hanging next to my computer screen: “Never, ever, sacrifice what you want the most, for what you want most
at the moment” –James Owen. Then I prayed.

I had prayed before I accepted the offer but I was so overwhelmed with voices in my head and the thrill of getting published I wasn’t listening properly. I remember the warning bells then and I am glad I listened later. It wasn’t that this publisher wouldn’t have done an awesome job. In fact I think they were enthusiastic and show great promise as a small publisher—but they weren’t for me. I had concerns about their distribution, something I had learned a lot about during my struggles in self-publishing my picture books. As an indie author I could do so much better with distribution then they presented. The bottom line was that I was sacrificing what I wanted most for what I wanted most at the moment. 

So I did one of the hardest things that I have ever done before. I declined the offer to be traditionally published. I took a moment to breathe. I am no further in getting this book traditionally published then when I set out on this journey a little over a year ago. But I have learned more in this process. I have made great strides as an author/illustrator. In the time I finished THE DREAM KEEPER I have released six picture books, planned two more, and two novels—one a sequel to The Dream Keeper book. One day my dreams will come true—I know this! I will see my books in the hands of readers and I will be making a living as an author/illustrator. That is my goal—that is what I want most.

Embrace Yourself as an Artist

Recently at LTUE, a writers conference in Utah, I was able to be involved with several fantastic panels of terrific artists: JamesA. Owen, Brian C. Hailes, Jess Smart Smiley, JJ Harrison, Bryan Beus, AndreaHatch, Jeff Brimley, Bobbie Berendson W., and Jessica Douglas. All of them extremely talented and successful in their own unique way. Each of them shared something that I engraved into my mind to help me on my own journey as an illustrator.

The one thing that I took away from these panels was that every artist needs to be committed to themselves as artists. While it is great to study the masters, it is not okay to make yourself feel inferior to them. Everyone has their own style. As artist we must embrace our style and focus on what makes our art ours.

The realization of this hit me as I looked at myself sitting on these panels. I was surrounded by several successful, amazing illustrators. In the back of my head I had the naysayer Mikey telling me I didn’t belong and yet I did. What made me stick out from the others was not my overwhelming success as an illustrator—I am in the early stages of my career, what made me stick out was I was true to myself as an artist. I embraced my art, not someone else’s.

I shared on one panel something I feel applies to this train of thought. I was sitting next to James A. Owen, a man I greatly admire, not only for his art, but for his determination to share his dream with the world. My books were propped up next to his, all of them with dragons on the covers. I pointed this out to the audience. “I could draw James’ dragons if I spent my entire life drawing his dragons, but they would always be James’ dragons. They would never be Mikey’s. I had to find my own voice in the crowd and sing it. I had to draw my own kind of dragon.”

The one thing I want to share is you need to embrace yourself as an artist and embrace your own art. Become what makes you unique, not what makes another person shine. I was humbled to be on panels with such a talented group of people. Last year it was just a dream to sit next to the masters. This year it was reality. Never give up on who you are or what you want to become. Let your voice be heard. Let your art shine! That’s my key on embracing yourself as an artist.