The Bookstore is now open!! Remember, ANY purchase between now and 11AM Central time gives you a shot at one of the giveaways! And if you want to double your chances, order a complete set this hour!
To get the Buy Two, Get One Free offer – add two books of your choice to your cart and then use the drop down menu at the top of the Bookstore to add your free book. Be sure to specify what name you want them signed to. Remember, this is only until 5PM tonight!
Also, I’m live blogging today, so leave comments, questions, whatever you want in the comments section and I’ll respond right then (also in the comments section)!
YAY!!!
P.S. HA! Look how I found the Nater Tot when I went in to get him this morning? How do you turn the wrong way in your crib in a sleep sack?! (A sleep sack is just a wearable blanket! You zip him right into it)
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dSo exciting! I hope you are having a great day. I have loved all of your books so far and can't wait to see what your next series will be. Your writing style is so fun and I keep hoping that now that you have Nathan, maybe one of your main characters will be having a baby. I know it would be so much fun to read.
and thanks for the apple thingy recipe-it was a big hit!
just ordered my signed Maya set- to go with my Lauren's
I have to ask, are you as obsessed with coffee and chocolate as your characters- I was telling my husband the other day that I have to stop reading your books or I will gain rediculous amounts of weight- I always crave chocolate ice-cream as I read them…
Simb48 –
Thanks so much!!! You are too sweet! I think it would be fun to write about a character with a baby and tell the unknown truth about it!! HA! Being a mom is the BEST thing ever!
And you are welcome for the apple thing! I love that!! 🙂
Hi Helga-Marie!!
Thanks so much for your order! 🙂
I DO love coffee and chocolate – but I loved it a lot more before I got pregnant. I used to be able to drink four HUGE coffee cups of coffee every morning and still go to Starbucks that afternoon. After the Nater-Tot announced his presence, I cut caffeine and during the first trimester, I wasn't such a fan of chocolate. 🙁 But I'm back to loving desserts and I do drink decaf now. But it's just not the same…
Erynn, this is so exciting! I love the idea of live blogging 🙂
I have a question… Why does Maya love sticky notes so much?!
Also, I really wish that I could meet/marry Ryan or Jack!
That is all for now 🙂
Ok, so I just ordered my Lauren series!! Merry Christmas to me!!
Now, a question. Do you have a writing schedule? I've heard some authors just write whenever inspiration hits, but then some try to do a 9 to 5 type workday. Great, now that song will be stuck in my head! Haha, Dolly Parton threatening to change her boss from a rooster to a hen, with one shot!! oohh classic!
How do you juggle work and that cute baby of yours?
Hi Lizzie!
Ha! I love this too! I can hang out with you guys and still be in my pajama pants! 🙂 🙂
Maya's sticky note obsession – TOTALLY Jon's!! My husband loves sticky notes and I find them EVERYWHERE. On the sinks, on the bathroom mirrors, on the microwave, on the table… 🙂 It's one of those traits that is endearing and annoying. 😉 Love him!
And yep – I wanted to marry a man like Ryan too. And God definitely answered that prayer – literally! I didn't meet Jon until I was working on MatchPoint and Jon's middle name is Ryan! 😉
Hi Ashley!
Merry Christmas to you too!! 🙂 Ha!
Oh the schedule!! (And thanks for getting that song stuck in my head too, by the way! That is SUCH a great movie!) I actually was just talking to my mom yesterday to see if she could start watching Nathan one day a week so I could focus on some writing! I LOVE him to pieces, but Nathan is a snuggle bug and doesn't like to play by himself. Which means two-handed computer time is not common!
Before Nathan, I wrote primarily in the mornings. And even now, I try to get most of my writing done when he's down for his morning nap. 🙂 I seem to focus better then, for whatever reason! 🙂
Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living…. oh dear…
Hi Erynn!!!!
I really enjoy reading your books and your blog!! Nathan is adorable!! In Maya's series, she does her quiet times with sticky notes, is this how you do yours too or how did you come up with that? That's an awesome way to learn more about what God is teaching you. Also, what books do you like to read? I'm always looking for a good book to read and I read yours way too fast! Are you working on a new book? I can't wait for your next book to read! Your characters are really fun and relatable, how much do your characters reflect you? Do you base your characters off of your friends or family, too? Hope you have a great first Christmas with Nathan!! Looking forward to hearing from you! : )
This is so fun & it's looks like a few already asked my questions but
Are you working on anything new?
I'd love to marry a Jack or Ryan, too! Really haven't found any- this sounds stupid but did you meet many good guys like that before Jon ? Or was he like the first?
Do you have any specific writing gadgets or apps that really help you?
How often do you get torn between directions in your story?
Do you think it's possible to make a living as an author?
Ok, I'll stop all my questions now
Hey Meghan!!
Awesome questions! No, I don't do my Bible time with sticky notes – I do write and underline like crazy in my Bible though! You can definitely tell what books/sections are my favorites because they are COVERED in pink and purple pen marks! 🙂 Jon uses sticky notes for his, though!
I love reading almost any type of Christian novel. I just finished reading Mozart's Sister by Nancy Moser and it was really good – historical fiction based on the true story. I think Jenny B. Jones is hilarious and I get all sappy when I read Susan May Warren (her Happily Ever After makes me want to open a bookstore!).
I'm working on a bunch of proposals right now, but I do have a book coming out next year, called Sketchy Behavior! 🙂
As far as characters, each character has a certain characteristic that I based off of someone I know, or a combination of someone I know. Like Laurie's love of matchmaking belonged to a couple of friends I have. 🙂 Or her dad's hypochondriac tendencies? Totally my family… 😉 I'm a major germ freak! 🙂
Ok so I have read both series… and I LOVE THEM!!
Do you think they would be good for a pair of highschoolers?
If so, I will need to order one more of each set ;o)
I just ordered. I barely made the 11 o'clock deadline.
Haha sorry! But I was reading Double Shot last night and you mentioned Lamb Chops Play-along, so you know what song I was singing! oy vey!
Thanks for the live blogging and the great deals!! This is fun!! I can't wait to check back later and see what other people have asked.
I just love your books and can't wait to see what God has in store for your career!! Whatever you're doing keep it up, for sure!!
Now, back to Double Shot! Have a great day!
Who is your favorite uncle?
I'm so excited to hear you have a book coming out next year. Can you tell us anything about it?
Hey Savannah!
I'm working on a couple of proposals right now. I've got another novel coming out next year! It's been tough trying to find hands to write with while there's a baby on my lap! Ha! I need to invest in some of that talk-to-type software stuff… 🙂
I didn't even have my first date until I was 21. I was very careful about who I dated and when – if there wasn't the potential for marriage someday, then I didn't date them. I dated one guy before Jon – super nice Christian guy, but just not the man for me.
You need to be looking for a guy who could be your best friend – because, honestly, you spend a lot more time in friend-mode with your spouse than in romance-mode (SO hard to believe before I got married!). Jon is my favorite person to be around – we laugh, we talk, we hang out, we watch movies together and we play together. That being said, we also have fights but we work through them because we ARE such good friends.
LONG ANSWER to a short question! HA! Sorry!
AS far as writing gadgets and apps, nope, I don't have anything! I just have Microsoft Word and a laptop. 😉 Blank pages are the best! It gets my creative juices flowing!
I get torn often as far as directions I want to take and when that happens I do this – I set the book aside and don't think about it for the rest of the day, sometimes the rest of week. Then, when I get back to it, I can totally see the direction it should go.
I think it's possible to make a living as a writer, but more probable once you have a lot of name recognition and a lot of books out. There is a LOT of work that goes into being a full-time writer! Even people like Karen Kingsbury didn't start off like she is now.
🙂
Helga Marie,
I totally think they'd be good for high schoolers! I've gotten emails from girls as young as 11, so definitely!! 🙂
🙂
Laura J –
Yay! I'm just about to draw the winner from this morning! 🙂
Ashley –
Sorry for the Lamb Chop song! 🙂
Have fun reading Double Shot and thanks for your questions!! 🙂
Anonymous –
Gee. I wonder who wrote this one! 😉
Laura J –
Yes! 🙂 It's called Sketchy Behavior and it's about a girl named Kate, who is a little bit younger than Lauren and Maya. She's in high school and she's extremely talented at drawing. When she accidentally draws the Most Wanted Criminal in the three surrounding counties, it throws her life into total chaos!
It was SUCH a fun story to write and I LOVED writing about Kate. She has one of the more sarcastic senses of humor that I've written about! She's also got a hilarious family. And, in another difference from my other books, Kate doesn't start out a Christian. So, it was fun looking at our weird church habits through the eyes of an unbeliever! 🙂 I hope you'll check it out when it releases! 🙂
This is fun!
just ordered for our babysitters (start of each series for each).
will you give a sneak synopsis of Sketchy Behavior… is it a new novel or somthing else?
I hear you on the "find a best friend" as you already know Max and I started dating while I was reading MissMatch, and I read your at the tme newest MatchPoint on our Honeymoon!!!
It amazing that the perfect guy for me was already there (for 10years), I just need to open up my eyes and trust that God had a plan, even if I was not totally sure… EJ is now a year old, and max and I are still bestfriends.
That sounds like a great book! I taught middle school language arts for eight years, and we need more good clean books for teens.
I am an elementary librarian now, but I still love YA lit best! I'll have to get one for myself and for the teen girls at church. 🙂
Erynn!!
the Laurie series makes up my three all time favorite books EVER!
What's funny is Laurie and I have a pretty similar personality and my older sister is EXACTLY like Maya.
So thank you soooo much for these books. I have passed them on to many friends 🙂
Where did you get the inspiration for Ryan? Was he just what you wanted in a husband?
Hi Erynn! I've enjoyed reading all your books and can't wait to read more! So, in the Miss Match series, Lauren eats out quite a bit, and then in Cool Beans, Maya eats a lot of frozen dinners. Do you like to cook/bake yourself? Or do you prefer someone else to do it for you? 😀 Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Hey Erynn! I've read over some of your comments & saw you talk about text to speech & have some input 🙂
Alot of newer computers have it built in now you just need go get the right headphones. However, it doesnt always work the best. You'"ll have to edit a lot
I love all the faces nator-tot makes 🙂
SIDE NOTE: I just announced the first winner in a new blog post!!! 🙂 YAY!
What is your favorite Starbucks drink?
Hey Helga Marie!
I put a short synopsis in my answer to Laura J! 🙂 Yay! I'm so excited for you guys to get to meet Kate! She seriously was just hilarious to write about.
I love hearing about other people's love stories! And it's SO cool to hear that you read the books during that time of your life! Ha! Sounds like we had a similar time frame then! I love your comment about trusting that God had a plan for you – that is SO true and SO good when we finally realize that!
And, I have to add, it's SO good to hear that y'all are still best friends and survived a baby! Ha! 🙂 Nathan is getting to the fairly easy part, I think… He's sleeping through the night, anyway! 🙂
Thank you SO much for your orders!!!
Thanks for answering my questions! This is so cool, how often would you want to do these? I also love all the recipes that you post on here… the apple thing was delicious and so easy to make!! Where do you get your recipes? Online or do you have a favorite cookbook? Erynn, what's your take on guys not asking girls out! I'm 19 and my sister is 21 and it's so annoying that we haven't been on our first dates. Any advice? We're both in college and it's frustrating sometimes.We know that God has a plan but being patient is so hard. Also, what was your favorite book to write, do you have a process to write all of your books, and how long does it usually take you to write a book? This is fun talking to you! : )
Laura J –
How fun that you are an elementary librarian!!! What an IMPORTANT job – I SO pray that Nathan grows up with a love of books! 🙂 I'm sure you are such a huge inspiration to those kids!
Hi Emma!!!
I'm SO glad you like them! Thank you so much!!! And how funny that you guys are so similar to the characters! 🙂
Ah, Ryan… 🙂 I didn't really get inspiration for him as much as I just wrote about the kind of guy I hoped to one day marry!! I hoped God would give me a guy who made me laugh, who could put up with all my weird quirks, who would give me a long hug on a bad day and join in the fun on a goofy day. And God gave me everything I hoped for and more!!! 🙂
Hi Natalie!
Aw, thanks so much!! 🙂 You are too sweet!
Actually – I LOVE to cook!! Ha! It's something that has never made it into my books, but I love to experiment in the kitchen. I spend tons of time looking up recipes, reading food blogs… 😉 I love it! I love going out to eat and then coming home and trying to mimic the recipe we ate at the restaurant.
What I would like is for someone to come over and doing the grocery shopping and clean up the kitchen after me… 🙂
Hi Tonya!
Cool!! That's so good to hear! I wonder if it would end up being more work than it's worth?? What do you think? Does it require a lot of editing??
And thanks! I love all my Nater Tot's faces too! He is ALWAYS making me laugh!
ps thanks for doing this! it's making my day a whole lot better since i just got braces yesterday :S
and i don't mean to sound like a creeper or anything but we're actually friends on facebook haha I didn't expect you to accept the friend request because we've never met…BUT i'm happy you did 🙂
Taay –
My favorite Starbucks drink is very dependent on the weather. When it's hot outside, I want a caramel Frappucino. When it's cold and clear outside, I like caramel macchiatos. When it's raining, I love mochas. And when it's snowing, it has to be one of their holiday drinks. This year, my favorite has been the Toffee Mocha. 🙂 Complicated. That's me. 🙂
WOW! I had lots of questions but it looks like everyone's already asked them. However, I have one: is Sketchy Behavior going to turn into a trilogy too? When does it come out? My friends and I are on pins and needles waiting for your next series. 🙂
Meghan,
I am LOVING this!! I need to figure out how to hook up some kind of live camera for all of us so we can see each other (though, right now, I'm still in my pajama pants, so that might not be the best idea!). I love that we can KIND OF have a normal conversation! 🙂
So glad you liked the Apple Thing! That is seriously a favorite around here. I read tons of food blogs, so I'm always getting new ideas for recipes. But for that particular dessert, I was in the mood for something with apples and so I just started searching Google and a few different ones popped up. I just customized one and there you have it! I think the original used caramel ice cream topping instead of the brown sugar mixture (YUM, but since the N-Tot can't handle me eating dairy, I had to come up with something new!).
As far as guys not asking girls out, I remember being frustrated too!! It's hard to be patient! BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT!! I didn't have my first date until I was 21 (and even then, I only dated that guy for a couple of months) and I'm SO thankful that I didn't have years and years of relationship baggage to bring into my marriage. The right guy will come into your life at the PERFECT time. God definitely has a plan for you! And it's for your GOOD – just keep remembering that!
I remember I always thought if I trusted my love life to God that He would give me some unattractive nerdy weirdo. 🙂 But I did trust God and He gave me my cute, amazing husband! 🙂 Being patient is WAY hard. Try to stay busy making friends. And focus on getting to know Jesus better – after you get married, it becomes MUCH harder to have a decent devotional time. Get involved in your church, work in the nursery, mentor the youth group girls, just stay busy and you will be amazed that first, you won't feel like you are missing anything and second, God will bring some amazing people into your life that you never would have met otherwise. 🙂 Praying for you!
My favorite book to write… oh gosh. I have no idea. I've loved all of them in their own way. I think I like writing the middle books of the series the best. The characters are already all introduced and you get to just have some fun with them!
My process in writing is pretty simple – I start on page one and I write and write until I get to the end. 🙂 I don't outline. I've never been good with outlines. And before Nathan, it would take me about 3-4 months to write a book. Since Nathan, quite a bit longer. 🙂
Meghan,
OH GOSH. I'm so glad that last one posted! It came up with an error after I hit the publish button… OY. 🙂
I thought that it was more work. I used it because i have a chronic illness and sometimes just don't feel like sitting at the computer typing, i thought talking was easier. What ended up happening was it would type something different than I said and i read it over when i was feeling better and couldn't even remember what I was writing because the sentance was so off.
So unless you are watching as you talk to correct it immediately it can be very hard. At the same time the were some days that it was probably 90% accurate.
Tiffany Raye,
Ha! I'm having a blast answering all of these! 🙂
I hope Sketchy Behavior will be a trilogy! I'm waiting to hear back from the publisher on that! 🙂 We'll see!!! You are too sweet! I'm so glad you like the books! 🙂
Tonya,
Hmm. Sounds like on the good days it might be worth trying!! I'll have to check it out! Thanks for your feedback on it! 🙂
So sorry to hear about your chronic illness though… 🙁
Thank you for answering all our questions!
Yeah, I love your books. They have each changed the way I think in some way (good of course!).
I know you've answered this question in one way or another before but: I like writing but I don't know where to start. I'd love to send in some shorter stuff I've written just to see the response but I don't know where to send it… kind of a confusing question. sorry :/
Is this still going on?
Do you have a favorite name?
Would you name one of your kids after a character in your books?
Tiffany Raye,
Ha! No worries about the confusing question! 🙂 I definitely know what you mean! I went to Christian Writers Guild conferences and asked some of the mentors/teachers there if they thought I had any talent. It's a hard question to hear the answer to sometimes!
I know that there are writer's critique groups around that will look at your stuff, but I would be careful with that. Sometimes writers will look at a piece and immediately think of how THEY would change it for them. Be careful to stay true to YOUR style of writing!
I would recommend that if you want to write novels to try and write a full-length novel. It may never see the light of day (I finished two books before I wrote Miss Match that will never, ever get published!), but it's important for you to know that you can do it! 🙂
Also, I would recommend going to a writing conference. They have them all over the country. My favorites are the Christian Writer's Guild conferences in Colorado. Check them out! 🙂
Emma,
Yep! We are still on! 🙂
A name for a character or for a future child? 🙂 I go through seasons of loving different names – when we were trying to decide Nathan's name, I had a whole list of ones that Jon didn't like. So maybe I'll have to use those in a story! (Seriously – wouldn't London be like the cutest boy name?)
I don't know if I would ever name a baby after one of my characters. I try to pick names that I wouldn't use for a child. But who knows! 🙂
If I e-mailed you a story I wrote, would you read it? Or then would a bunch of people???
Hey Erynn!!
In Maya's series, Maya went to her parent's house every Sunday for dinner, do you do this too? Do you live close to your parents still? I'm so glad that it's the Christmas season and was wondering if you have any Christmas traditions? What are your plans for Nathan's first Christmas? : ) Thanks for answering all of these questions and I agree this is a lot of fun!!!
Thanks! I will definitely check them out! I started a novel that I thought had a pretty good story line but I got so frustrated as far as choosing which direction to take that I decided to leave it alone. I'm going to try to finish it though. 🙂
So do you start writing with an ending in mind or do you just write and see where your story takes you?
Emma,
You are more than welcome to email me a story you wrote! I'll try my best to get back to you fairly soon, but please be patient with me! 🙂 Like I said, two-handed typing has become kind of hard around here with my little snuggle bug. 🙂
BUT you have to promise that you'll take any advice with a grain of salt! I'm not an industry professional and really, the opinions that count are those in the publishing biz!
Hi Meghan!
I do go to my parents' house for dinner every weekend! Ha! 🙂 Sometimes both Saturday and Sunday nights! 🙂 I live about 30 minutes away from them, so not far at all. I'm SUPER close with my family, so I see them very often!
I love Christmas! I look forward to it all year long! As far as Christmas traditions, before I got married my family had TONS of traditions. We always have cinnamon rolls Christmas morning. We always open gifts in a big circle, oldest to youngest, and one at a time. We also have a HUGE feast – turkey, dressing, cranberries, the whole shebang.
Nowadays, things are a little different. We alternate every year whether we go to California to visit Jon's family or go to my parents' house. This year is in CA, so Nathan's first Christmas will be there! I'm hoping that as we (God willing!) have more kids and they get a little older we can start creating our OWN Christmas traditions. 🙂
How about you?
Tiffany Raye,
I just start writing! In Miss Match, I really thought that Lauren would eventually end up with Brandon, but then Ryan popped up and Hannah came along and it just turned out much different – thank goodness! 🙂 I think the story is just better when I don't plan as much! 🙂
Cool! That sounds soooo cool 🙂 I will, I will, I will 🙂 I am going to get it self-published and if you give me a quote to use for the back (if you like it) that would be soooooo cool 🙂
Hey, just so y'all know, I posted a new blog with some questions for YOU!! 🙂 Check it out! I'm curious what your answers are!
Emma,
Send it over and I'll take a look at it! No promises, but I'll definitely try to give you some feedback!! 🙂
I sent it off to ya, Erynn 🙂 Hope you enjoy it 😀
Stupid question… Have you thought of changing your name on your newest books to Erynn Mangum O'brien?
That's something that I wondered too, Emma.
Erynn, did you intentionally keep your real last name for professional purposes after you got married? How did Jon feel about this? I have been in a predicament deciding a factor just like this one. 🙂
Sorry for the slight delay in responding, y'all. The Nater Tot had some occupancy issues south of the border, if you know what I mean. 🙂 So, we got him all cleaned up and fed. Such a demanding child! 😉 He's so happy. I just love him. NOW! On to responses! 🙂
Emma –
Not a stupid question! I get asked this a lot! I have considered it, but honestly, it is SUCH a pain to change your name once you are published under a different one! Jon just should have met me a little sooner! Ha! 🙂
Actually, I really like that I have some distance between my personal life and my writing life too. I feel like it's a little bit safer, especially considering all the weird people out there these days. Not that it would be TOO difficult to find out my real name!!
Hey Elizabeth,
I just wrote Emma back on this, but yes, I did keep it as Mangum for professional reasons. It's so hard to get an audience for your books that once you DO have name recognition, changing your name isn't the best idea. Plus, like I said to Emma, it can be nice to have a little bit of distance between the work life and the home life. Especially since I work from home! 🙂
And Jon was just fine with all of it! 🙂
It's a tough decision to make though!
Hi Erynn!
My family and I always go to the Christmas Eve service! My parents have always gotten me pajamas for Christmas, and that is the one present that I have always gotten to open on Christmas Eve. Since my sister and I have gotten older, we now open our gifts at midnight! We have a Christmas Frittata for breakfast and for Christmas dinner we have ham, turkey, green bean casserole,and a whole lot more! Do you have a favorite book of the Bible, a favorite verse, or a good devotional book that you would recommend for young adults (or any other book you would recommend for having a better relationship with God)? Thanks for answering all of the questions, this is a good way to spend a Saturday! : )
Erynn,
This is such a great idea!
I've read through the comments and saw that you didn't have your first date until you were 21 – something I can identify with, since I only just had mine a couple months ago, and I'm 19. Waiting is definitely never easy – but definitely worth it!
What is your favorite part of writing? I write a lot, too, and I love hearing about why other people love writing. I have not had the opportunity to read your books as of yet, but I will be remedying that over Christmas break, and I love reading your blog!
Annie
Meghan –
How fun!! 🙂 I love that you get to open PJs on Christmas Eve! What a great tradition! I might have to steal that one from you guys… 🙂
Favorite book of the Bible = Psalms, hands down. I read that more than anything else. I love how they have the full range of emotions in there. Feeling sad? Read Psalm 30. Feeling worried? Read Psalm 121. Feeling scared? Read Psalm 56. And so on… 🙂 I don't have a favorite verse, but Psalm 121 is my favorite chapter. And I love Isaiah 41:13 – that was HUGE for me when I was in labor. I'm really loving Isaiah more and more.
As far as devotional books, I'm not really one to use those. I'd much rather read through a book of the Bible and mark it all up. 🙂 But, that being said, I do love Cynthia Heald's Becoming A Woman Of series. Those are fabulous! Great thought-provoking questions. I also love the Calm My Anxious Heart book by Linda Dillow.
This is a great way to spend a Saturday! I love this! 🙂 Thanks so much for hanging out with me!
Annie –
Yay for waiting! 🙂 It's definitely worth it!
My favorite part of writing? I love seeing how the characters develop and change. I love how what I'm currently working on in my walk with God usually ends up in the books and how God uses the process of writing about it to teach me even more. And I really love the opportunities I get to meet all you amazing girls! 🙂 SO FUN!
Hey Erynn!!
Thanks for answering all of my questions! This was such a good idea, definitely need to do it again! : ) What is your favorite store to shop at? Hope that you have a great rest of the weekend!!