New Book Title and Cover Reveal

It's (past) time for a new book from me.

Are you ready for more Pimpernel?

How about a royal ball?

Both are coming your way, and here is the official cover reveal.

The Gauntlet is DOWN!

Tonight, while performing my rather undefined duties as a bride's maid, I had a hilarious conversation with several high school friends--people who have known me half my life, or more.

While laughing through tears and eating Texas sheet cake that tasted like "grass" (i.e. mint--FRESH mint, like a mint bush had been thrown into the dough), I was answering questions about the newlyweds and some details about how not to get pedicures before massive hikes because of the bride's experience while hiking with her fiance--including her toenails falling out.

One of my friends said, "Yeah, when you leave in details like that, it's not as romantic."

The other replied, "This is Sheralyn. She couldn't write romance if it killed her."

*GASP*

EXCUSE ME?

I was appalled, but I was the only one at the table who was. They all gave me matter-of-fact-looks that essentially said they agreed: I couldn't write romance.

My own friends? Doubting me? Collectively?

It cannot be!

And yet, it is...

Now I don't usually consider myself a prideful person, but I guess in some regards I am, because I totally want these four women to EAT their words. And in order to do that, I'M GOING TO WRITE A ROMANCE!

And not just any romance--a romance made to order. That's right. I'm taking orders. What kind of clean romance do you want to read? Beauty and the Geek? Best friends? Boy meets girl? Bodyguard? Love in the work place? Marooned on a desert island? Love with a rodeo clown?

Is he hot? Is he not? Is she a snob or a doormat? Throw it out there.

Because I'm very much in the mood for a challenge, and what I'll do is get a consensus of the most popular themes mentioned and create a poll. Whichever theme wins the poll WILL BE WRITTEN.

Then I shall prove that I can indeed write a romance, and that it did not kill me...

"Stalk" Lake Scavenger Hunt Winners Announced :)

It took 18 minutes for the team representing the Springville Museum of Art to clinch the $1,000 donation.

Wow. That's all I can say, other than a BIG thanks to all her participated. I wish you ALL could have won...

For those of you who missed it, here's a look at the two teams that walked away with donations: Springville Museum of Art ($1,000 Grand Prize) and the Utah Refugee Coalition ($100 Barnes & Noble "Spirit Award")

We always like it when the governor drops by. He stopped in to congratulate the Springville Museum of Art on their win. (Note: Please ignore the riffraff in the foreground ;))

Meet the team with the most spirit: The Utah Refugee Coalition. And if this piture looks more "portait" than "spirit," please keep scrolling down.

The team that grabbed a $1,000 donation after a week of prepping and 18 minutes of executing.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

See press release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2010

“STALK” LAKE SCAVENGER HUNT AWARDS $1,000 DONATION
The Springville Museum of Art Uses Knowledge of Salt Lake City to Win $1,000 Donation from Sponsors

Salt Lake City, Utah—Eighteen minutes after seven teams embarked on the “Stalk” Lake Scavenger Hunt Saturday, the team representing the Springville Museum of Art crossed the finish line to claim a $1,000 donation. In those eighteen minutes, one designated team member ran 2.3 miles while others completed a scavenger hunt to gather 10 clues stationed at local businesses which were needed to win.

“It doesn’t surprise me that a team from Springville would win a scavenger hunt,” joked Governor Gary Herbert at the finish line as he congratulated Jessica Weiss, the Museum’s team captain. “Don’t all the best scavengers come from Springville?” The comment was an affectionate reference to his wife, a Springville native, who has a knack of finding treasures wherever she goes.

The speed with which the museum completed all the tasks shocked organizers and participants alike. At 9:05 AM, team captains were given a list with 10 clues that led to clue cards needed to claim the donation at the finish line. At 9:23 AM, it was all over. The rules were simple: one team member had to run 2.3 miles and cross the finish line with all 10 clue cards. How the runner got the cards was entirely up to the team captain—who was encouraged to be resourceful and proactive.

This no-holds-barred approach to the hunt was inspired by Rhea Jensen, the fictional protagonist of the book “Welcome to Stalk Lake City,” written by event organizer, Sheralyn Pratt. Rhea Jensen is a private investigator obsessed with fitness, who earns large paychecks by solving difficult cases quickly and thinking outside the box. Weiss, took that approach to heart in her preparations.

“First thing I did was recruit a marine to be my runner,” says Weiss. “My next recruit was a Salt Lake friend who doesn’t own a car and walks everywhere in Salt Lake. She was my ‘ringer.’ Then, for the entire week leading up to the event, I made lists of businesses I thought might have the clue cards during the scavenger hunt and positioned team members there the morning of the race. None of them were right, but once I had the clues in hand, I was able to redirect my team to the right locations. We had three of the clue cards in hand in the first two minutes, thanks to two Salt Lake teens who read about the event in the paper and decided to get up early on a Saturday for a good cause.”

Her strategy worked and Weiss has big plans for the $1,000 donation. It will be used to fund a project creating an interactive educational experience for visitors and students at the Springville Museum of Art, which is internationally recognized for its excellence.

In addition to the Grand Prize, sponsor Barnes & Noble awarded a “Spirit Award” to the Utah Refugee Coalition, for having the largest team and also finishing in second place—gathering and completing the course even after they heard that the winner had been announced, before throwing the gauntlet down for a re-match next year.

All participants were awarded sponsor coupons as a thank you for their involvement and as a thank you for all the good they do. All will receive a free Thai massage from Whole Body Connection, $8.88 off any LOTUS purchase, and a voucher for a free voice lesson from AFM Vocal Studios. Other sponsors include Barnes & Noble, Cedar Fort, CDI Media, The Score, Alexander’s, and Welcome to Stalk Lake City.

##

The exact clues teams were provided are below:

WELCOME TO “STALK” LAKE CITY:
WHERE THE NON-PROFIT THAT KNOWS SLC THE BEST, WALKS AWAY WITH $1,000!

#1- Welcome to Stalk Lake City clue:
In the first 5 chapters of Welcome to Stalk Lake City, Rhea and Kay eat in this Salt Lake café.

#2- Barnes & Noble clue:
Barnes & Noble serves Starbuck’s coffee, but this local coffee spot makes reference to predominant local religion and sets up at the Farmer’s Market in Pioneer Park each week. Find their booth and grab the clue card they’re holding for you.

#3- CDI Media clue:
You would find CDI Media’s products in this indie store of vinyls, CDs, and DVDs opened its doors in Salt Lake City on July 22, 2006. One might say, this store’s music is so good that it’s on Broadway.

#4- Whole Body Connection clue:
If you’re craving a Flake or Crunchy, and nothing but Ben Shaw’s Dandelion & Burdock will do, then you need to stop by this Salt Lake specialty store.

#5- AFM Vocal Studio clue:
If you want to take a picture in front of the Joseph Smith sphinx or view other works by Thomas Child, you’ll need to go here.

#6- Find & Rent clue:
Graffiti as art: Mac & Retna were brought to town to create this 40-foot mural of the Virgin Mary.

#7- The Score clue:
Graffiti as political speech: After 30 years, this Salt Lake business was forced to shut its doors during the recession, but covered their building with angry graffiti before relinquishing it. To rent this recently vacated location, please call 801-355-0600.

#8- LOTUS clue:
In the “Official” Salt Lake Tour de Bread Pudding, this local restaurant that opened its doors in 1989 currently leads. #stalklake

#9- Alexander’s Print Advantage clue:
The best ginger cookies in Utah are baked in Logan and served at the Salt Lake Farmer’s Market in Salt Lake City. Find their booth and ask for the clue card they have for you! #stalklake

#10- Cedar Fort clue:
The best cinnamon donuts in Salt Lake City can be bought here. #stalklake

BEST OF LUCK!!!

A MONTH OF GIVEAWAYS

Attention: Reading Fans!

As a count down to the book launch of City of Angels, I have teamed up with other authors to give away a book a month on this site! (Check out the PRIZES tab!) Some of the giveaways are sponsored by me, and if so, I will specify that. Otherwise, you are getting the rare treat of having the book sent to you directly from the author so that they can personalize it anyway you like! Get great books for yourself or as a present EVERY DAY starting May 10th and ending on June 7th, the launch date of the City of Angels.

So how does this work?

Every day there will be a new riddle or challenge that will require a little bit of work to find the answer. The first person to get it right in the comments section wins!

What are the rules?

(1) To win, you MUST be a follower of the blog, so find the Follower section right now and sign yourself up!
(2) You must answer the day's challenge correctly
(3) You must be the first to answer it correctly (all the more reason to "Follow" now so you don't waste precious time later
(4) If 10 people ask for a clue before the question is answered correctly, I will provide a hint.
(5) Contact me with your book choice, personalization request and address
(6) Books sent within continental United States only
(7) You can win ONCE, but after that feel free to help your friends and family win!

It's THAT easy! And hopefully ridiculously fun, because that's what it's all about!

Check in each day and win! What could be more fun than that :)

Oh, and feel free to share this with anyone (if you don't mind the competition)

Book 1: A New Look and a New Title!

The title "Spies, Lies and a Pair of Ties" has officially retired its jersey and donned a new uniform entitled: "City of Angels." On its way out of the stadium fans heckled, crying, "We never liked your title to begin with! We're glad you're going! 'City of Angels' is so much better!"

Poor thing. It's name wasn't its fault. It was mine. Totally. ANd I would have kept it, but when Cedar Fort approached me to re-release the books they insisted two of the titles be changed (I fought for Stalk Lake City). And I told them, if they were changing the title, I would have to change the content for people who ended up buying the book twice--as someone is bound to. They at least deserve bonus and extended scenes, right?

So here's the new cover for book 1, with it's new title. And I have to admit, I'm kind of getting excited!

Hope you like it, because this is it. The title isn't changing again :)