Much Ado About . . . Annette!

Today's post, a tribute to good friend and talented author Annette Lyon, is one that is long overdo. I've known Annette for about eight years now, and during that time I've celebrated with her when her first book was published, shared her frustrations when an amazing sequel was not, and learned much of what I know about good writing from time spent with her at our critique group.

To date Annette has five published books. Her first, Lost Without You is a contemporary romance about a widowed police officer, his young daughter, and the woman they meet who fills the void in their lives. It's a beautiful romance, and a story full of heart and hope. It's on my "frequent re-read" bookshelf at home, because I know I'll fall in love with the characters and become wrapped up in the story all over again each time I read it. If you haven't had the opportunity to enjoy this book, treat yourself to an early Christmas present and go find a copy!

Annette's second published book is also one of my favorites. She was under a time crunch with this one and did not read the full manuscript in our critique group, but rather trusted a few of us to edit for her. I remember being floored when she asked me to be one of those readers. It was early in my "critique group experience," and I didn't feel I had a lot to offer yet. Being entrusted with the manuscript for At The Water's Edge was a privilege I've never forgotten. This story is another for the heartstrings, as it deals with the touchy topic of abuse. A near-rape scene gave editors fits and pushed some limits with her publisher, but Annette did an excellent job writing about a very real problem. The ending of this story made me want to cheer, I was so happy for all her main character had overcome.

After a difficult time and a painful rejection following At the Water's Edge, Annette picked herself back up and took her writing in a new direction. The result of this are her three historical romance novels, each centered around the construction of a different temple.

House on A Hill, set in Logan, is probably still my favorite. Those of you who've read it . . . who can forget the quilt scene at the end (sigh)? And the author's notes gave me chills! The historical facts Annette digs up and weaves into her stories are both fun and fascinating. I'll never be able to see the Logan temple without thinking of the letters I know were found inscribed on the stone. Annette did such an excellent job with this story, and so many people fell in love with Abe, that he needed a story of his own. At The Journey's End is the result of friends and fans demanding to see more of him.

At the Journey's End involves the Saint George temple and the infamous Honeymoon Trail that couples and families traveled from Snowflake, Arizona. This book opens with some shocking, graphic, historically accurate scenes, and eventually makes a seemingly-impossible love match. Of all Annette's books, this one wins my vote for the, "ring in the river," most heart-wrenching scene. It too is a definite keeper.

Annette's latest release, Spires of Stone is a take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. This is the first story Annette really let loose with her characters and their tongues. Ben and Bethany go at it from page one, and their witty banter is a whole lot of fun. This book wins my vote for "best humor" award of all her historicals, and I hope to see more of that in the future.

As for the future . . . I recently had the opportunity to read Annette's latest manuscript (did I mention she writes well and fast?). This story begins in Logan (and if you've read her other historicals, be sure to look for a familiar face or two) but soon moves to Manti. I won't say too much about it yet, other than to tell you that a certain horse has center stage in this story. Personally, I'm not that into horses, but I actually cried over one while reading Annette's manuscript. Once again, she does her job well.

You might think that someone as busy as Annette---mother of four young children, co-founder of the Utah Chocolate Show, co-conference Queen with Heather Moore for the upcoming Storymaker conference etc.---wouldn't have a lot of time to be great friend. But I've found the opposite to be true, and that is what this tribute is really all about. As much as I've learned about writing from Annette, I've learned even more about being a true friend.

It was Annette, some eight years ago, who looked at my writing and bled all over it, giving me the first honest feedback I'd ever received. It was Annette who took a chance on me, inviting me to attend a critique group she belonged to. And Annette was one of that group who encouraged me to submit Counting Stars to Covenant. Without her cheerleading, I'd still be spinning my writing wheels. And, without her continued editing, my publisher would likely be rejecting my manuscript!

Recently---during the weeks before Thanksgiving, at the height of Chocolate Show madness, and when she was trying to finish her own book---I asked Annette if she would edit my 123,000 word (nearly 500 pages) manuscript. She not only agreed to do this, but actually stopped by my house in Provo to pick it up when I was too busy to get up to American Fork. When she was too busy to return it to me, she stuck it in the mail, so I'd have it on time. Her editing, as usual, was amazingly thorough, and I know she lost more than a few hours of sleep going through my manuscript. A better friend, I cannot imagine.

And it isn't the first time she's gone above and beyond.

Last year, when I had miscalculated a contest deadline, Annette went over chapters as I emailed them to her, covering a third of a novel for me in a couple of days, enabling me to meet my deadline. It was early December then, and I know she had a million other things to do, but somehow she found the time to help me. In all of her fame and fortune (okay, not so much on the fortune end :D), Annette has never been too busy to be a good friend.

I know in the future there will be much more ado about Annette, as she'll continue writing great stories for the LDS market, continue, though her work with the Storymakers, to help other writers find success, and continue to be a great friend to many.

I am so grateful for that friendship, for all she has taught me. I hope those of you reading this blog have friends like this too. It is truly a wonderful thing to know someone who is as genuinely nice as she is successful.

May we all take the time to enjoy and appreciate our friendships this holiday season.