Eyes Like Mine is officially available!
No, the launch party has not yet been totally nailed down. I am drowning in my things to do list. But the book is OUT! My dear friend, Heather Moore (who helped me in the editing process of this book) wrote me yesterday to let me know she bought a copy at Seagull Book and Tape. I am so jealous of her. I haven’t even seen my baby in its physical form yet. But I am wicked excited about the release of this book simply because it is a really awesome book. 
You guys will all love it. I promise.
And to celebrate, let’s do a giveaway thing. Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment stating you’ve done so and I will have one of my kids do the drawing. If you’re already a follower, just leave a comment stating such. The contest will close on July 14th, just because that’s my daddy’s birthday and everyone should celebrate my daddy’s birthday (the entire country of France does every year).
The prize? Well duh–it’s a free copy of Eyes Like Mine, and because I love you all so much and want you to be blessed with good reading, we’ll do a second drawing where the lucky winner gets a copy of English Trifle.
Getting a copy of English Trifle is way cool because it isn’t even available in bookstores until late July. You will want to read this book asap because it is simply so much fun! Since I have such awesome connections in having Josi Kilpack as one of best friends, I can get you a copy now. It’s true; I am cool. Actually, it is because of Josi that I didn’t give up or give in when things in my publishing life looked dark and terrifying. She helped me edit this book, advised me on conflict (which she is so good at) and acted as all around cheerleader when I got depressed. Everyone needs a Josi Kilpack in their lives.
Since Eyes like Mine is a time travel novel, it might be kind of fun to know if any of you could have a visitor out of the past stay in your home for a week , who would you want and why?
For me, if the person we’re meeting is a relative, I would want my Great Great Grandma Minnie Crawford. I found a journal page she wrote while doing my genealogy and felt such a connection to this woman who lived through so much and persevered to the end. Grandma Minnie lived 99 years. She died two months before she hit the century mark two years before my birthday. I would like to meet her and have her meet me. I would like her to know what her life story meant to me in my life.
If I could meet up with a non relative, I’d want to spend that time with Jane Austen. I know I’m predictable, but wouldn’t she be fun to show the future to? I’d take her to see her own movies to see what she thought of them. I think she would be sooooo much fun to hang out with.
Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me! I’m DYING to read this one!!!! Happy Birthday to your Dad! (We just celebrated my dad’s birthday on the 4th! How cool is that?!)
Alas, I cannot join as a follower…because I already have! You’re just too cool NOT to follow, Julie.
As for who I’d pick for time travel…hmm. Two people. One, my great-grandmother Anna Marie because she’d have some awesome stories to tell. I’d also like to hear her take on whether she thought her husband’s mysterious disappearance was accidental, shady, or worse; an act of murder. I’ve always wanted to know.
Second, I’d chose someone I already knew in life; my grandmother Helen. Strangely, since her death I feel so close to her. There are times I feel like she completely understands me and that she knows me in a way she never had the chance to in this life. I’d just like to hang out with her, ask her questions, and see what her life was like in her youth.
Long enough comment? Am I disqualified for length? Love ya, Julie! You’re AWESOME!
I’m a follower. Pick me!!!! I wanna win! I wanna win!
If I could time travel, I’d like to take my husband back to meet my grandmother. I loved her and I know my husband would have loved her, too.
I’m in. I’ve been a follower since I’ve known what following was.
I had a Great, Great Grandma named Minnie too! We have so much in common.
If I could choose a relative I would choose G-G-G-G-G Grandma Sarah who was the 5th wife of Erastus Snow and widowed in her late twenties and kicked out of the ‘family’ home by the other wives. I’d like to write her story and hear her ‘take’ on the whole Polygamy thing.
If it’s a non-family–I’d go for Emma Smith, for most of the same reasons.
Oh, and English Trifle will be released July 25th–they moved it up a little bit
I can’t resist a drawing. . . so count me in. You know I’ll buy a copy even if I do win, but even so . . .let the pull of nepotism weigh heavy on your kids’ hearts. I know where they live
Hey! My birthday is also on the 14th! Cool huh? I just started reading your book, “Loved like that.” I love it. After starting, I thought, “Great first chapter!” lol I can’t wait to see what happens.
I am a follower of your blog!
I’m a follower but you don’t have to enter because 1) I live way to heck and gone in Canada and mailing up here COSTS and 2) I’m buying both those books anyway. Wheee! Can’t wait!
Congrats, Julie! This is so exciting!
I don’t actually follow, but I am following you in my Google Reader!
I’m so following you. And I would love to win either book. Love your writing and can’t wait to read your new book, whether I win it or not. Congratulations you amazing, amazing, person.
Hello Julie. I am now a follower. Congratulations on your new book.
I am now a follower! I loved your book a Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life!
I am now a follower. Can’t wait to read both books! : ) Thanks for writing!
I am now a follower. Can’t wait to read both books! : ) Thanks for writing!
(I totally spelled my own name wrong, so you can just delete the above comment lol)
Uh… I’ve been a follower for months! Extra consideration? C’mon kids!
I am not following you … hooray! But don’t enter me for your first drawing (thanks to you I already have a copy of that book on its way and I can’t wait!), BUT do enter me for the second drawing
!!
I would love to travel back in time and meet my Papa George, my Great Grandfather. I have heard so many amazing stories about him
Congrats on your newest release! You must be floating!
I am a follower; at least, I have you in my Google Reader. I will have to figure out how to do the Facebook thing.
I’m so excited about the new book! And English Trifle! You two are AWESOME.
I like your new blog makeover, too.
I’m a follower! Congratulations on your new release! I’m excited to read it!;)
Congratulations Julie. I started reading you when you were choosing your title. Glad to see it go through the whole process and came out so well on the other end.
Following…and excited to read both those books.
ME ME ME! I’m a follower and I want your book. I also want Josi’s new one.
Crossing fingers…
You must feel to sing that famous song “I always feel like Somebody’s watching me…” because I am like a shadow following you so much!
I’ve always wished I’d known John Denver. It’ve been fun to jam and sing with him.
I’d pick my Great Great Grandmother, whom I (we!) are named after. I don’t know much about her other than she seemed to have a lot of pluck and gumption.
I ♥ the new cover. And I ♥ you!
I’m a follower now. As for a guest from the past, I can’t decide which grandma I would invite, but it would definitely be one of them.
I’m now officially a follower via email. I think the reason I wasn’t a follower yet was that I couldn’t figure out how
my bad
I’m really looking forward to your book, and Josi’s. I love being so connected to Utah’s writing community because I get to hear about these great books from different people.
Guests from the past? For family, it’d be my mom’s grandma. My mom is certain she’s my guardian angel. I’d love to ask some questions
A historical figure? I’m not a historian by any stretch of the imagination, but I’d pick Abraham Lincoln. I think a conversation with Honest Abe would be fabulous.
I am already a follower! Yea!! We talked about you and your new book today when we podcasted with Heather and Annette. I did not realize that your new book had time travel in it. I love time travel books!! I can’t wait to read your book. Remember that you said you would come and podcast with us when your book came out. So e-mail me and let me know when you might be available in the next month or so.
I came over from Josi’s blog, and I’m now a follower!
Someone from the past? Well, not so far in the past, but I’d love to see my dad again. It’s been 7 years and I miss him every day. I’d love a week with him, to visit and talk and see him enjoy his grandchildren.
Historical figure? Laura Ingalls Wilder or Michelangelo.
Yep, I follow now! Gotta be in the club!
Well, I’ve been following you around for a while now, but as with Kristina and Luisa, I follow you on Google Reader.
And I’m with Holly: I’d like to see my dad again. Plus, I have a bunch of ancestors that I’d like to meet and ask questions about where they came from and who their parents were and so on, but I don’t know if that counts.
Non-related historical person? Huldah, the prophetess from the Bible. I’ve often wondered about her.
Oh, and congrats on the new book. Even if I don’t win, I want to get a copy. Does it qualify you as a member of SFWA since it’s time travel?
Same to Josi–this new one looks yummy.
Sounds like a great book! Great, blog, too. I’m following!
- Chas
Hey! I am now a follower.
Congrats on the book!
Ive always been fascinated with the Stripling Warrior moms and Ester.
Pick me, pick me! Congrats, Julie! You’re awesome!
I’m a follower.
Congrats! I can’t wait to read it! And I’m shocked that I wasn’t already following, but I am now officially, so count me in! (pick me, pick me…)
I hope I win but whoever does win will be blessed. Anyway I just became a follower. Josi is my idol and also visiting teacher. I would love to read some of your books and am excited for this new book….Congrats by the way! Guest from the past well I couldn’t decide so I’d say I would love to meet my grandfathers I never met either one of them both had passed away but they are amazing people I hear.
Ooh! I’m a follower and I totally hope to win. I’m so excited to read your new book, Julie!!!!
Following!
A relative I would like to meet is my Great Granny. I don’t know why … just I have always felt a connection with her. When I did my genealogy, every time I saw her name I felt something.
As for a non-relative … I’d love to meet William Wallace. He was Scottish revolutionary and I think it would just be really cool to meet him.
Super Big Congrats on your book release Julie! I’m so happy for you!
I’m now a follower! Count me in!!!
I’m a follower!
I think I’d pick maybe Thomas Jefferson. Or one of the founding fathers. I’d love to turn them loose on Congress or something and have them frame all of our modern challenges against the way the Constitution was intended. And full disclosure, I’m kind of liberal, but I still think that would be fascinating.
I loved the book, Jules!
I missed it!!! but I am a follower now so I won’t miss again! Ok I might I don’t even read facebook every week… sigh…
I Dad says he is buying me copy and that YOU HAVE TO SIGN GIRL! Congrads on this book, it sound great! When are you comming out with your young reader novel?
Who I would I want to hang out with?
Audrey Hepburn. Her movies were good, but her life after the fame is what really makes me which I could go back and meet her.
Joan of Arc. What swords woman DOESN’T want to know her?
Bought your book yesterday! Looking forward to reading it.
I’m so sorry I missed this. Congrats on the book!
I’m a follower!! Just the biggest slacker of one! I should be reading your blog every day, not every 3 months! I’m sorry I suck so bad. I’m just not into the blog world much yet – is there a way for me to get an email when you have a new post on your blog? I totally love your book – I should finish it tomorrow. Your the best of the best – I love you Jules!
In your book, “Eyes Like Mine” you refer to a song about a 9 year old girl that froze to death crossing the plains in the Willie Handcart Company. I am related to Bodil and wondered what song you were referring to in the book. I really like the book.
Hi Bev,
I am so glad you’re enjoying the book. The song is from the Jenny Phillips album “Journey toward Zion” It’s becoming harder to find. The actual song about Bodil is called Footsteps. It was a sincerely powerful song. What a beautiful and heartbreaking story Bodil has. I’m honored to meet one of Bodil’s relatives.