Thursday, June 16, 2011

Bio of Audrey Semprun

Check out this book cover!!! It's so whimsical and fun!!! Anyone know a good artist? I'd love to turn my children's book into a reality!!!

As I near the time of posting my writer's guidelines for my Second Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition in Memory of Joel Muska (Yes, in memory. My friend and co-worker has passed away.) I wanted to share a bit about myself. This that I am sharing is an updated bio that I wrote when I was a featured writer in a local writing group that I am a member of. I just wanted to give everyone a look at what hard work and dedication can accomplish!

Audrey Semprun lives in the heart of Prescott with her husband and the youngest of her six children. She has roots stretching as far as Upstate New York, where she was born, to the sun-drenched shores of the California coast, where she grew up with her parents and two older sisters and younger brother.

Writing has always been a major part of Audrey’s life; beginning with the poetry that she had published in a local newspaper when she was a small child in grade school.

Her passion for writing led her to write her first novel – or at least a good part of her first novel. That book was never brought to completion. Upon the advice of a good friend she threw the on-going manuscript away. He had told her that her new life style as a Christian wasn’t being positively portrayed in what she was busy creating. Audrey was young and naïve and took to heart what her friend had said and abandoned her many hours of effort; but that didn’t squelch her desire to write. She determinedly picked back up her pen and began what would be her first completed novel, An Angel of Mercy.

It would take Audrey a full seven years before she could get past page twelve of that manuscript. There was something that was preventing her from being able to progress the story. She didn’t know what was wrong, or missing, or out of place, but she had a story that she wanted to tell and she was determined to bring that novel to fruition.

Always an avid reader, Audrey read numerous writing magazines, searching for that breakthrough to pull those words successfully out of her mind and onto the page. In the process she was also inadvertently sharpening her knowledge base and writing techniques. Through her research and studying she found the missing link. She had found the ‘voice’ that was needed to tell the story. She did what she needed to do, which was to start the novel over and discard those faulty first pages. From there the words flowed out of her mind and onto the page. At times it amazed her as the story took on a life of its own.

After completing the rough draft came several more years of trial and error to actually turn that initial completed manuscript into a cohesive and well-structured novel. Through that experience she discovered what she needed to do to keep track of her characters and to keep a consistency to the story. She then took that experience and knowledge base and used it to the means of completing her subsequent second, and then third novel, Angel of Insight and Destiny’s Child. These three novels are a Trilogy.

A writing competition spurred Audrey on to actually write a memoir. The challenge was to write 50,000 words in thirty days. It seemed to her a daunting task, and writing what she knew was the only way that she felt that she could tackle such a challenge. EVEN IN SILENCE, The Journey of a Lady Preacher was the result of that writing competition. There was a website that was offering all of the challenge ‘winners’ who had successfully completed their 50,000 word challenge a free book. Audrey went on the website and created a cover and formatted her memoir into an actual book.

From there Audrey has produced several books, including those three novels, and another book of memoirs, Follow me Down, A PATH OF PEACE and a hard-back coffee table book of poetry and devotionals titled, And the Glory. Last Fall Audrey took her creative and editorial skills a step farther by producing a book of poetry and short reflections for a friend. Majesty, by Diana Edwards, is Audrey’s first publication for someone else under her ministry umbrella of Joyful Noiz Ministries; a name she has carried all of her writing career.

Becoming an Independent Publisher is merging into Audrey’s future at a slow, but steady pace with her own sponsorship of The First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition In Honor of Joel Muska that she will be judging after the contest deadline of September 15, 2010. The winner of that contest will be published by Joyful Noiz Ministries, AKA, Rose Audrey. She has yet to get involved with the Marketing and Distribution end of publishing, but is edging her way closer and closer to that eventual goal. (Unfortunately, the winner of that first contest failed to follow through and present a book for publication, but Audrey remains determined to press on and will be sponsoring The Second Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition in Memory of Joel Muska this coming summer and fall.)

And what else is Audrey up to? She is busy writing a new novel that is Speculative Fiction titled, The Back Track Conspiracies, which is greatly stretching her imagination. She also has a couple of other projects of her own under construction; one is a book of short stories which is titled, ON A RAMBLE On a Bright and Sunny Day: Mostly True Stories, Including Creepy, Creepy Spider and also a collection of Scripture Chain Reference Stories, parables, and meditations titled, CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT: Straight Talk about Hard Places; and to keep her heading in her Independent Publishing aspirations she is currently working on the initial manuscript of a memoir for a friend that will be titled, Darkest Before the Dawn. (Completed and published: Spring of 2011.)

Her dedication, determination, and drive is what keeps Audrey moving forward to see her dreams of becoming a successful Author and Publisher a reality.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Re-Focusing

This picture is of my sister Debbie. She has to be my biggest 'fan'... that is of course, except for my mother! Talk about cheering me on!!! They are both so supportive of my writing and of my writing ambitions! Everyone needs to have someone like them in their corner! And I can't forget Carole! That girl is amazing when it comes to being in my corner!!! Just cross me and see!!! She is so loyal and protective!

I have been thinking about my mind-set this past few weeks and have come to the conclusion that I have somewhat lost my focus! I'm so determinded to make something happen, not only for myself, but for someone else!!! I forget who is in control!!! And I'll tell you what, their name ain't Audrey!

Here is something that I found in my computer. It goes so perfectly with what the message was at church on Sunday. How easy it is to forget that God is on my side! He is also in control! I need to let go and let God! It's not what I do for Him that counts, but what He has done for me!!!

Here are my Principals of Faith. Enjoy!!!

Beliefs and Attitudes that will Strengthen Your Soul

1. God is worthy to be praised. I will worship Him. Psalms 100:1-6

2. God is faithful. I will persevere and trust Him. Isaiah 12:2

3. God is on my side. He will deliver me. Romans 8:28-31

4. God’s grace is all that I need. I will rely on Him. Romans 5:1-8

5. God keeps His promises. I will keep my promises too. Hebrews 6:10-15

6. God is in control. He knows everything and is protecting me. Isaiah 41:10-13

7. God wants to lead me. It is my choice to listen for His voice, and to follow Him. Isaiah 30:18-21

8. God knows what tomorrow will bring. I will not worry about tomorrow. Jeremiah 29:11-13

9. God has a plan for my life. I will read His Word for direction. Psalms 119:11-16

10. God is always there. I will not fear. John 14:23-27

11. God is good. All the time. Psalms 138

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the work of thine own hands.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

A Simple Kind of Girl

I got this photo in an email from my cousin Connie a way long time ago. It was the picture on my desktop for years; years that is until my computer crashed. What a mess that was! Mostly an emotional mess, that is. I didn't know if all of my files were lost forever or not. And I'm telling you right now, there isn't much else that can get to a writer than to have to wonder if years and years of work is gone!

Not much that is, unless that same writer has to walk away from the friends and life that she knows as her own. That my friends, is tough. I've wandered around this planet trying to find that place of belonging ever since. I've tried to hide myself in my 'secret life'. You know the one... The life of an aspiring writer... The one that burns the midnight oil to get the words out of her mind and onto the page. That life that is supposed to be so lonely. But it's really not a lonely place at all. I guess that's why I love to write. I get to dig deep inside of myself and see what I discover. I also get to make up characters and watch them take on a life of their own. In that life I have companionship and adventure. But to find the time to actually indulge myself in my passion as a writer has been tough here of late. Thus the angst. I want nothing more than to be a writer. Period.

I work hard. I dream big. Is there really no one out there that gives a rip? This opportunity that I have offered to help to make someone's dream of becoming an author isn't chump change that I am putting out there. Even though I have not opened up my deadlines and competition for the writing contest, still I have offered a very good chance for someone to get their foot in the door and to capture my attention and my imagination. I'm going to be a success in the writing community. Anyone got a vision?

I'm just a simple girl enjoying my present state of being just that. Ever heard the saying that you better get while the getting’s good? Here is opportunity. Hear it knocking?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Knock, Knock!!!

California Adventure in Photo... Writing Adventure in Future...
I'm looking for some interest in my Second Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition in Honor of Joel Muska! I want to have some names and some voices that I can become familiar with in the next couple of months.

I'm changing things up a bit. My contest rules are going to reflect my new mind set. I know that it was no-one's fault that I was never able to publish a book (yet) for Kimi. I also know that it was partly my fault for accepting submissions for work that was not yet completed! That is most definitely one thing that is going to be different this year!!! If you are working on completing a book, then I suggest that you get it done!!! I will only consider completed manuscripts this year, period!!!

I will consider a novel, or a memoir, and possibly something in-between... But first, I'd like to get to know you. I want to know why you write and what are your hopes and dreams. What drives you? What kind of hurdles have you had to overcome to be a writer? Who inspires you? I want to use this pre-contest time to find out who the 'players' are going to be and if I can help to inspire you to get that manuscript completed so that it will qualify to enter my contest when the time comes... So Knock, Knock. Who's there???