Happy Holidays

Things have gotten busy in my non-writing work life leaving me little time to work on my current WIP, so I'm taking a blogging break until January.

However you celebrate, I hope you have a safe and joyous few weeks.

See you next year!

I Wish They All Could Be Five Stars.

I have a confession.

I abhor rating books.

After experiencing but a small fraction of the work an author goes through to put a novel on the bookshelves, I can't help but want to give anything less than 5 stars.

I mean the hours, days, even years that went into drafting, revising, editing, submitting, persevering. The blood, sweat, tears...all of that alone deserves 5 stars.

But the reality is not every reader is going to like every book they pick up. Not even me.

So I'm stumbling through this rating process the best that I can..

I don't rate anything less than three stars. According to Goodreads, three stars means "I liked it" and if I finish a book it means I liked it. Life is too short and there are too many books to waste time on one you're not feeling. And I don't think it's fair to rate a book I haven't finished.

Four stars means "I loved it." Usually with four star books I'll be hunting down the author's website or blog to find out if there is a sequel and when. I'll pre-order the author's next novel and pass these books on to my friends.

Five stars means "This book was amazing." In my world, a five star book means I'm stalking the author for sequels or new books, entering every ARC contest I can find, booking my plane tickets to the author's next signing (okay maybe I don't go that far), and forcing everyone I know to read the book now. These are the books I finish in one night. These are the books I wish I had written.

So, do you rate the books you're read? And if so how?

Random Wednesday

Did you know there are 5 Wednesdays this month? So in honor of the extra Wednesday, I'm going to post 5 extremely random facts about myself.

1. I still have my appendix. Do you care? Probably not. But, hey, I said random.

2. My wedding ring is size 4 1/2. That's on the small side. Most women's rings start at size 5. Unfortunately, my fingers are the only small thing on me.

3. I did not like pizza as a kid. What??? I know, craaazzzeee. Still not a huge fan of it now. But I will eat it.

4. Unless you follow baseball, you probably won't care about this one either, but my little brother pitched to Joe Mauer once when they were both in high school. Apparently Joe Mauer only struck out once in his high school baseball years...nope, wasn't that time. As my brother puts it, Joe hit a ball off of him "that hasn't landed yet."

5. Tomorrow I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house. I don't usually do this. I'm a terrible cook and I've never done a turkey before. This should be fun...

Happy Turkey Day to everyone who celebrates (and Happy Thursday if you don't). And good luck to those of you eating at my place.

Being Thankful

Happy Monday!!!

Instead of a confession this week, I thought with Turkey Day just a mere 72 hours away, I would list a three things I'm sooo thankful for this year.

1. My brother. This tops the list this year for me. See a year ago we weren't even talking. A little over ten years ago our family was ripped apart in a bitter divorce and unfortunately our relationship was damaged in the fallout. But with a little hope, forgiveness, and the faith of a mustard seed, last spring thinks changed radically. Now we barely go three weeks without meeting up for breakfast. I heart my brother. They say that the person you have the most years with in life is not your parents, children, or spouse. It's your siblings. So hang on to yours!

2. My family. There have been some ups and downs (like always) this year, but we've made it to November relatively unscathed and healthy. And I couldn't be more thankful!

3. Babies!!! Lots of joyful news over the past few months means lots of new little lives beginning in 2012. Some of these blessings come after years of heartbreaking infertility, one little is the light so desperately needed after a family's tragic loss, and one bouncing baby boy will be calling me Auntie. I am so excited for all the new moms!!! And have I mentioned how much I love to shop for baby clothes.

So, what are you thankful for this year?

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Book Blurb (from Goodreads): Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Hardcover, 342 pages

November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins

I've heard great things about this book, and I adore Tahereh Mafi's blog, so there really was no doubt in my mind that I was going to love this book.

I was surprised at first. The writing is different—very different. I admit it threw me off at first but then it became addicting—very addicting. Like caramel/cheese/butter popcorn, once I got going I could not stop.

Why you should read this book:

• Voice. It is unlike anything I've ever read before.
  
• Pacing. It's a fast read, and in today's busy, crazy, hectic world, I like fast reads.
• Plot. It's different. It's a mix of dystopian and paranormal...or maybe sci fi.
• Characters. The villain in this story, Warner is definitely not your cookie-cutter everyday antagonist. James, the 10-year-old little brother of the hero, is completely endearing.
• Romance. It's steamy, and that's all I'm going to say on that.
  

I recommend this book — to anyone up to trying something different, to fans of YA paranormal romance, and readers who love kissing scenes.

I cannot wait for Book 2...Shatter Me is a trilogy!

My Tips on Getting and Staying Disciplined...

I don't post a lot of how-tos for writing on here because first—I'm not a pro by any means (I consider myself a wide-eyed student, second—there are trillions of blogs and articles and other fabulous resources out there that say it so much better than I ever can, and third—I'm embarrassed to say, I'm not really even sure I know what I'm doing most of the time..

But every now and then, I think it's good to pass on some of the things that are working for me...just in case they'll work for you too.

So this month, being NANOWriMo, I thought it'd be great to cover some of the ways I try to stay disciplined.

1. Make the time. Everybody complains about lack of time, but when I made the leap to get serious about writing, I found tons of time (and yes I have 2 kids and a full-time day job). For starters I evaluated the TV programs I was watching every week. I mean would my life really cease to exist if I didn't follow Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, Private Practice, The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, Desperate Housewives, and Dancing with the Stars. Once I narrowed down to my absolute can't-miss favorite shows, I found I could DVR them and enjoy them for a few hours on Friday nights...after the kids were and bed and my writing was done. And for even more time, stay away from the computer games. Don't let the reason your book is never written be because you had to harvest your crops on Farmville...

2. Clue the family in. It wasn't easy coming forward to the family about the whole 'writing thing' and asking for their support. And although I've heard the occasional story about a writer not telling their spouse until the agent contract shows up in the mail, I think for the most part writer's need that support if they are going to succeed. In my experience, it took some time to get that support. At first, I'm sure it seemed to my husband like another craze of mine that would fizzle out (I am an INFP afterall), but the harder I work and the more I produce, the more support he gives.

3. Set Goals. I do this weekly. Every Sunday I plan out what I want to get done for the week, and break it up over the week. Then each day I attack the list starting with the stuff I want to do least working my way up to the more exciting tasks (yes I always ate my veggies first). Some people have set hours they write. Personally I don't—that never seems to work for me. I just don't go to bed until my list is complete. So if I want to sleep...

4. Utilize online resources. The internet is a goldmine for writers. Use it. If you are writing your 1st draft, check out 750 words and/or Write or Die. I'm always jumping between the 2 depending on my mood. Check out Scrivener if you're in the outlining phases—there is even a Windows version now. And if you're editing, the grammar feature on Microsoft Word will tell you the percentage of passive sentences in your document, and your manuscript's reading level. Or try EditMinion. Informative and fun. And if you find random internet searching is keeping you from your goals, check out Freedom. For $10 you can shut off your internet connection for a specified period of time.

5. Reward yourself. When it comes to writing, especially pre-published writing, it's a lonely road. There is no boss there to tell you "good job", no clients or customers praising your services, no raise on your paycheck. You gotta count on yourself for that. So when you make your goals for the week, give yourself a pat on the back. Go watch your favorite TV program, start that new book you're dying to read, or go get a DQ Blizzard (and bring me one too). And when you're lucky enough to receive praise from somebody else, save it and savor it. On a bulletin board over my writing desk, I keep those treasured mementos—the note my husband wrote after I let him read my 1st novel, the letter from an essay contest I won, the e-mail from the first person outside my friends and family that said 'I love your writing', the picture my daughter drew of her and I writing together...Save those. You're going to need the 'little things', if you're gonna be able to hold on long enough to reach the 'big things.'

So what kinds of tips do you have for getting and staying on task?

My Twilight Confession

Another Monday...another confession.

In honor of that movie coming out this week, I thought I'd talk about Twilight.

Most people who have read the book either really really love it or really really hate it.

As for me, I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't want to burn the thing but I'm not burning to have Edward's (or Jacob's) babies either.

Don't get me wrong. I liked Twilight. It was entertaining. It wasn't a book I couldn't put down, but it wasn't a book I struggled to finish either. Same with next two in the series.

But then came Breaking Dawn. I have tried multiple times to read that book, but I never quite get to that point where I actually want to be reading it. Every time. I'm not sure what it is that turns me off, but somewhere usually in those first fifty or so pages, the book loses me and I set it down for days, weeks, months, years. And since I have Twihard friends who've long since filled me in on the finer plot points, thus draining any remaining urges I had to read the thing, I think it's safe to say I've given up.

Now the movie is here. I've seen (and enjoyed) the first three, but not quite sure if I'll be hitting the theaters this weekend. I'm not crazy about the two parter thing, I worry I'll miss a lot because I haven't read the book, and I'm not sure I'll even like it (based on what I do know).

So for now, little ol' me who loves all things YA and paranormal and romantic, is undecided as to whether she wants to see the beginning of the last movie of one of the biggest YA paranormal romance sagas ever. Go figure.

So what about you? Any Twilight fans not going to Breaking Dawn this weekend? Any Twilight fans like me out there who haven't read the last book?

Re-reading My Childhood: Amanda (Sunfire Romance #1)

The majority of my childhood reading took place in the 1980s. I remember reading a lot of series...Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High, Silhouette First Love. Perhaps my most favorite series of books at the time were the Sunfire Romances put out by Scholastic. It was a group of 32 Young Adult novels centered around one girl, her love life, and a major event in history. The series is now out of print, but you still can find used copies on Amazon or eBay.

In a moment of extreme boredom or insanity (I think), I thought it would be fun to track down some of my favorite childhood books and re-read them once more to see if the magic I found in them 30 years ago is still there.

So here I go...



From back cover: Torn from her, she fought and loved her way across a savage new land. 1846 -- From Boston Nightly Balls to Independence, Missouri and on the the Oregon Trail.
With only a silk dress to protect her from the blazing frontier sun, Amanda fears she will die on the Oregon Trail. As the memories of Boston, the nightly balls, and Joseph fade, the hardships of life on the wagon train fill her days. Changing from a spoiled city girl to a strong young woman, Amanda finds drought and death, beauty and joy, and a love that will last forever.

by Candice F. Ransom
Published April 2, 1984 by Scholastic Paperbacks



What I Remember About this Book?

• Amanda was the first Sunfire I recall ever reading—I think I received it as a birthday gift. Amanda was by far not my favorite of the series because I recall her being bratty and hard to relate to.
  

What I Think of The Book Now?

• Wow, it's sooo yellow. It can't really be that long ago, can it?
• Amanda was not quite the brat I remembered. Sure, she was spoiled and rude, but considering her age and circumstances who wouldn't be.
• Amanda's story was more a 'coming of age' story than the romance I remember. While the journey on the Oregon Trail was full of loss, heartache, and hardship, Amanda's internal journey brought growth, friendship, and love.
• I really enjoyed re-reading Amanda. More than I thought I would, and so much that I picked up the next book in the series, Susannah. The book was a perfect blend of romance and history (and I'm a sucker for both), and I'm hoping it will catch my daughter's interest.
• The book brought back yet another nostalgic moment for me...

 

I'm a NaNoWriMo Wanna-Be and Could've-Been Who Isn't

So it's nearly a week into to this year's NaNoWriMo, and I confess I'm sooo sad to not be a part of it. I feel like I'm missing out on the 'cool kid's club'.

Unfortunately, NaNo wasn't in the cards for me this year. Oh, I'm sure if I had wanted it badly enough I would have found a way, but I'm knee deep in a first draft of my current WIP and revisions of another and I guess you could say I want that more right now.

So I'm here on the sidelines, cheering all you NaNoWriMoers on.

Good luck to all of the participants. You can do it!

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie

Book Blurb (from Goodreads): In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Hardcover, 384 pages

November 1st 2011 by Dutton Juvenile

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. In Matched, Ally Condie created the perfect opening act by introducing us to Cassia's world, and now in Crossed, the inner and outer journeys of both Cassia and Ky follow in perfect sequence.

I cannot wait for the conclusion.

Quote I Loved:

"I don't fool myself that I hold her together—she does that on her own—but holding her keeps me from flying apart." (chapter 23)

"...when someone knows your story they know you. And they can hurt you. It's why I give mine away in pieces, even to Cassia." (chapter 37)

"Everyone has something of beauty about them. In the beginning for me, it was Ky's eyes I noticed, and I love them still. But loving lets you look, and look, and look again. You notice the back of a hand, the turn of a head, the way of a walk. When you first love, you look blind and you see it all as the glorious, beloved whole, or a beautiful sum of beautiful parts. But when you see the one you love as pieces, as whys—why he walks like this, why he closes his eyes like that—you can love those parts, too and it's a love at once more complicated and more complete."
(chapter 50)

Why you should read this book:

• Because you just should, darn it!
• The Cover. I loved the cover for Matched, and Crossed is just as stunning. I heard an unconfirmed rumor that the covers are the colors of the 3 pills — which means the next book will be red. I can't wait to see it!
  
• The Voice. Although I love beautiful, lyrical, poetic writing that tastes like a sweet bite of my favorite dessert, I am a sucker for simple less-is-more writing. And Crossed is the perfect example of this. It's like popcorn. Plain, subtle, but once you taste it you're gonna want more.
• The Love Triangle. I'm a fan of the love triangles where it's more than just choosing between two boys, but two possible versions of yourself. I saw that in Matched with Xander and Ky. Xander was who Cassia was...Ky was who she could be... Crossed turns this around and upside down and inside out by changing and expanding the characters in ways I never saw coming. And I love to be surprised...
• Ky. In Crossed, we get a glimpse into Ky's demons and through his POV, a chance to follow along on his journey.
• Xander. Although he is barely present, Xander's story is revealed throughout the entire book. And he's not quite who Cassia thought he was...
• Everything! There are new characters who will fascinate you, amuse you, and break your heart, and the setting is breathtaking!

I recommend this book — if you loved Matched. And if you haven't read Matched yet, well what are you waiting for???

I absolutely cannot wait for November 2012.

Them Voices in My Head

It's my first ever post for Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group. To join in, head over here.

Every time I write a blog post, an e-mail, a facebook update, and even a tweet, I get these annoying voices in my head. You're not good enough. Your writing sucks. Your blog sucks. Nobody cares. You're wasting your time.

Over and over on constant repeat in my brain, the voices speak. A buzz fills my ears, my stomach feels sick, and if I start listening to them, the voices will take over and I will freeze up. Then the blog post won't get written, the e-mail won't get sent, the tweet will never happens...

When I've listened to the voices, they've kept me from so many great things and opportunities. Groups, clubs, jobs, classes, activities, parties, friendships I could have made. They've stopped me from pursuing my writing dream sooner than I did. They've stolen precious time.

So I try to find ways to shut them off. I have yet to find the 'power off' button, but I do notice every time I post on the blog, query an agent, enter a contest, and/or share my work I fell like I just said, "take that," to the voices and for that brief moment...I win. And it gets a little easier each time.

I'm starting to think being confident doesn't mean you're not hearing the voices...it just means you're not listening.

So what about you? Do you hear the voices? And if so, how do you turn them off?

Halloween...just another day

I have a confession.

Halloween...not really my thing.

I don't really get into all the costume-wearing, party-going, pumpkin-carving, haunted hay-riding affairs. I'm just as content to let the calendar roll from October into November with the same old normal routine that brought me into the month.

Don't get me wrong. I don't hate Halloween. I have nothing against witches, vampires, ghosts, and goblins...in fact I prefer the paranormal and creepy in most of my reading material. And I do acknowledge the holiday for the sake of my 2 kids (who have been planning their costumes for trick-or-treating since July).

But I don't wear costumes myself. I don't decorate. I don't do the parties, or the hayrides, or the haunted houses. I very rarely have carved pumpkins over the years (and when I do it's only for the kids benefit). To me, it's just never been a big deal.

Why?

I guess you could blame my childhood for this one. This picture is of me and my little brother a long long time ago (and yes I said little brother—my mom thought it would be cute to send him in pigtails and a tutu but that's another blog post).


This was one of the only times I ever trick-or-treated as a kid because for a great chunk of my growing up years, my family did not acknowledge Halloween. I think it was a part religious, part safety thing. It was Detroit, Michigan in the 80s (where half the town burned to the ground the night before on what was known as "Devil's Night"). So for me there were no costumes, no ringing doorbells, no bags full of candy.

When I was 11 we moved from Michigan to Minnesota (on Halloween—go figure) to a quiet suburban town where nobody had ever heard the term "Devil's Night." And my parents changed their minds.

But then there was the Halloween I got pneumonia....

And the Halloween, several older bullies jumped my brother and his friend ripping their costumes to shreds and taking their candy....

And the Halloween we got dumped with 2 1/2 feet of snow....

Yeah, it never quite caught on for me...

What about you—will tonight be low-key or do you have big plans?

Crave by Melissa Darnell

Crave by Melissa Darnell

Book Blurb (from Goodreads): Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Harlequin Teen
416 pages.

I have a confession. I picked up this book because the back blurb intrigued me not completely realizing what it was about. And then I got a few chapters in and the "V" word popped up and I nearly set it down. I was never a huge fan of vampires to begin with and they've sooo been overdone. I mean, can't we just put a stake in it already?

But I'm soooo glad I did not set this book down. Because it was awesome. It was a dash of Twilight, The Secret Circle, Evernight, and Romeo and Juliet. Once I got into it, I could not put the book down and found myself craving more long after I read the last page.

Quote I Loved:

"I understood then why humans have noses. So we can find each other to kiss in the dark."

Why you should read this book:

• YA is full of brooding, mysterious, bad-boy heroes, but I've always been a fan of the sweet guy. And Tristan is a sweetheart.
• Tristan's older sister Emily. She's wise, helpful, and kick-ass...and I'm a sucker for brother/sister relationships.
• The parents. Maybe it's because I am one, but I always love to see the parents make appearance. I love it even more when you can see they love their children, but they are also real—warts and all.
• A star-crossed love. This book isn't all vampires. Nope. Throw in some witches (actually lots of witches) and a long, long history of animosity between them, and two young lovers caught in the middle. Oooh yes, totally my kind of story.
  

I recommend this book — even if you're sick of vampires. The beginning was on the slow side, but the middle and the ending more than make up for it.

I cannot wait for the sequel, The Covet, coming out in 2012.

The Third Campaigner's Challenge

The Third Campaigner's challenge kicked off last week, and I definitely thought this was the toughest of the three. I almost didn't do it, but these have been so much fun, I thought I'd give it a whirl.



So, the challenge was...

Write a blog post in 300 words or less, excluding the title. The post can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should show:

• that it’s morning,

• that a man or a woman (or both) is at the beach

• that the MC (main character) is bored

• that something stinks behind where he/she is sitting

• that something surprising happens.

Just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: "synbatec," "wastopaneer," and "tacise." (NB. these words are completely made up and are not intended to have any meaning other than the one you give them).

And here is my entry (in a mere 157 words)...

Maye and Harold's Winter Vacation

“Another synbatec day, Harold,” Maye said as she leaned back on her elbows. A layer of sweat coated her puffy cheeks and grainy bits of sand crept into the generous folds of her skin.

“I think we both could use a bath. Don’t you agree?” Maye asked wrinkling her nose as she breathed in the now familiar sickly scent of salt, fish, and rotten sewage. “And maybe some wastopaneer for breakfast?”

Loud waves crashed ashore.

“No, no, Harold. I agree, although you could be more tacise about it.” Maye brushed a thin gray strand of hair off her cheek before flexing her feet and digging her toes into the hot sand. “You can wipe that smile off your face now. You were right. We should’ve gone to Vegas.”

Harold continued to smile from his faded and frayed blue lawn chair a few feet behind Maye. His empty eyes stared straight ahead from his pale frozen bloated body.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Blurb (from Goodreads): It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Scholastic Press
401 pages.

I've been looking forward to this book for months now. I enjoyed the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy and the idea of water horses intrigued me. And when Maggie described this as the book she was meant to write, well October 18th couldn't come fast enough.

Quote I Loved:

"Most people hesitate between steps or pause or are somehow uneven about the process. Whether that process is wrapping a leg or eating a sandwich or just living life. But with Sean, there's never a move he's not sure of, even if it means not moving at all." (Page 289)

Why you should read this book:

• Setting. I would recommend this book for just the setting itself. Through Maggie's brilliant writing, the Island of Thisby comes to life. The sights, the sounds of the sea. The horses. The townspeople. I salivated while reading the description of the "November Cake". I believe I will now be searching for Thisby for the rest of my life...
  
• Characters. A spunky heroine, a mysterious hero, an older brother fighting demons, and a quirky adorable younger brother along with several colorful residents and two horses to root for.
• Writing. Maggie is a brilliant writer and her skills are evident in every line throughout this book. Her prose is like music...lyrical and hauntingly sweet.
• The Ending. It's beautiful.

Although, it's not honestly not my favorite book by this author (probably because there was no Cole), it was still a beautiful read and definitely worth the money and time.

I recommend this book — especially to fans of Maggie's other books and horse lovers.

I look forward to checking out her next novel — "the magical one".

Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a 'Blog Carnival' over at YA Highway where a weekly question to answer on your own blog is given out.

This Week's Question: What's your numero uno reason for writing?

Hmmm. Maybe it's...

Because I love it. Yes, I do love it. But there have been days, weeks, even months where I've hated it. Where the last thing I've wanted to do is stare at my blank computer screen.

Because I'm passionate about books. Also true. My shelves are crumbling under the weight of the books I own. I have my library card number memorized. Since the time I was a little girl, there is no store in the world I am more thrilled to walk into than a bookstore. But most days I look at the sheer overwhelming number of titles and choices and I wonder, why write? What do I have to say that hasn't already been said?

Because I want to inspire others (mainly my daughters). Oooh yes. But then there are those noninspiring days (and there are many many of those) where I'm frustrated by the latest scene or latest character or latest rejection slip. Where I'm in desperate need of a shower and living on wine and chocolate and have that crazy look in my eyes. Definitely not inspiring.

Because it makes me happy. Yeah, somedays writing makes me happy. And some days it makes me miserable, depressed, insecure, angry, and just plain crazy.

So what is the number one reason I write?

Because I have to. For me it's like breathing. It's part of who I am. No matter how hard I've tried to give it up, to walk away, I'm like a boomerang.

Me and writing...we go together.

What's New: Pie & Awards

In my house, date night means stealing an hour away at the local Baker's Square for coffee and pie to discuss what's new and what we're looking forward to. So, here's this weeks pie, Pink Ribbon Chocolate Strawberry, which just so happens to be the pie of the month. As a chocolate strawberry lover I have to say it was pretty yummy. And very very pink. Oh, how I love pink.

And so now that we've got the pie...

What's New

Awards. I have two new awards...well maybe not so new since I received these a while back. First up, the fabulous Sheri L. Swift over at Finding Joy in the Journey awarded me the Liebster Blog Award.


The rules are:

1. Show your appreciation to the bloggers who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the camaraderie of the most supportive people on the internet ~ other writers.

5. And best of all ~ have bloggity fun and spread the love.

So to Sheri - a huge THANK YOU! And to everyone else, if you're not already following her...run (don't walk) to her fabulous blog. And check out her mermaid book, Legend of the Mer.

And to pass it on...

1. K.S. Collier
2. Niiganab
3. Jessica Salyer
4. Amber
5. and if you have less than 200 followers and haven't received a Liebster Award, then YOU!

Also Julie Fedderson at Gypsy in My Soul awarded me the Blog on Fire Award. First, if you are not following Julie's blog you are majorly missing out. It's fun, informative, and never ceases to make me laugh. Second, THANK YOU Julie!


Part of the deal was to share 7 facts about yourself. I've shared 10 here.

And to pass this on...

1. Jenn at Jennifer Baker-Henry. Jen is a fabulous writer and she bakes too. Be sure to check out her recipes for book-inspired cookies. I'm looking forward to whipping up some of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone cookies to indulge in while I read the book.

2. Sheri L Swift at Finding Joy in the Journey. Her latest post is a hauntingly beautiful poem called The Unknown. Be sure to check it out.

3. Rebekah Loper. She is currently sharing her outlining with index cards secret. And as I'm currently striving to be a more organized outliner, it couldn't have come at a better time :)

What I'm Looking Forward To

1. New Releases this week...

















2. I'm also highly anticipating the premiere of Once Upon A Time on Sunday on ABC...which in my world means this show is doomed.




So what's new in your world? And what are you looking forward to?

Don't Blink

Several years ago, while my husband was at work, his boss called me. It was five in the morning and when the ringing phone woke me up, I knew it wasn't a good thing. Nobody ever calls with good news at five in the morning.

Thankfully, everything was okay, and I can't say I really remember what he said to me that morning. What I do vividly remember is how slow he talked. How every word seemed to drag into eternity. How badly I wanted to reach through the phone and grip his neck and shake him until he told me whether or not he was about to rip my world apart. I hate that excruciating moment between when you know something is wrong but not what...

It happened again on Sunday. This time my mom was on the other end of the line and it was early afternoon rather than early morning, but I could hear the panic in her voice. And a thousand horrible thoughts and images flashed through my mind before she spoke.

Uncle Roger died this morning. It took me several moments to process her words...to even know who she was talking about. Uncle Roger?

And then the floodgates opened and the memories came. The Uncle Roger of my childhood summers. The one we drove to visit in Wisconsin. The one who helped my brother and I catch fireflies and taught me how to play badminton. The one who teased me relentlessly (but in that twinkle-in-the-eye-I-love-you way).

He is scattered across my journal entries of the summer when I first read the Diary of Anne Frank and decided to keep a diary of my own. His voice echoes across the videos I took from the camcorder glued to my right hand during the summer I wanted to be a filmmaker. He is there during the summer of my first crush and during the summer of my first heartbreak.

Somewhere around my fifteenth summer, the memories fade. While my world was growing and expanding, a tragedy shrunk his. And our worlds never touched again.

I always thought I'd still see him sometime. He lived 362 miles from me. That's 6 hours. I could conceivably drive to his house and back twice in one day. And he was still young...still healthy...

Life is short. We all know that. But sometimes in the craziness of our everyday lives we forget. Writers especially. We can so easily get lost in the worlds and places that we create inside our heads. Our imaginations are rich and our stories consume us, and that's all great. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

But sometimes we need to take a break and step away from our character's lives and exist in the life going on around us.

Before it's too late. Before the phone rings.

Road Trip Wednesday

Today's question over at YA Highway is...

What supporting character from a YA book would you most like to see star in their own novel?


I'm going with Neville Longbottom. I'm a total sucker for the underdog. Everybody from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to his own grandma had counted Neville out.




So when Neville stood up to Voldemort and beheaded Nagini...by far one of my favorite parts of the entire series, and why I think Neville deserves his own book.

It's Friday. Finally.

I have been anticipating this weekend for a while now.

Why?

Well...besides dinner out for the husband's birthday (Happy Birthday Husband!), breakfast with my little brother, and finding out whether I'm having a niece or nephew next winter, I have no plans!!!

So I will be writing. And writing. And writing.

And for little ol' introverted me, I couldn't be happier.

That's all I've got. Happy Writing!

My Fantasy Team: YA Style

So it's Football Season. And in Minnesota, where the Vikings are struggling to manage a win, the next best thing for the disillusioned fan is a Fantasy Football team.

But yeah, I don't have one of those either (probably because when I did in the past I never remembered the thing and sucked miserably).

So while everybody around me is managing their "teams", I thought I'd create one of my own. YA Style.

So who would be on my team? Well...

#1 Team Ky (Matched, Allie Condie)
While Xander seemed like a fun, sweet guy, he was the 'safe' choice for Cassia. Ky represented freedom, adventure, and a world outside the confines of the Society. I believe the best love triangles in fictions are more about the protagonist than the 2 love interests involved, and Matched does this well. I am eagerly anticipating Crossed to see where Ky and Cassia's what the future holds for them.

#2 Team Peeta (The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins)
The love triangle in this series is easily one of the most unpredictable out there. I could definitely see it going either way. I, however, found myself leaning towards the baker's son. Gale felt too "brotherly" to me.

#3 Team Damon (Vampire Diaries, The CW)
If given the choice between the high and moral guy who goes to the dark side or the bad boy with a soft side, I would choose the bad boy every time.

#4 Team Pacey (Dawson's Creek, The WB)
Similar to #3, we have the perfect guy and the flawed one. Give me the imperfection.

#5 Team Jacob (Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer)
And it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with ABS. As I said in #1, I like love triangles that are about the protagonist. In the Twilight Series, I felt that Edward represented a cold and stagnant future for Bella. A life of repeating the same years over and over, of never aging while those around you did, of never being able to fully live. Jacob was the opposite of this. He represented warmth, growth, and everything life should be about.

"...But I would have been healthier for you. Not a drug; I would have been the air, the sun." -Jacob Black

So there you have it. That's my fantasy YA team. What's yours?

Query: The Flight of the Imago (Second Campaigner Challenge)

So the rules for the Second Campaigner Challenge are:

Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:

• include the word "imago" in the title
• include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity,"

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

So, um yeah. I had to look up EVERY ONE of those words, and I'm definitely sure I used more than one of them wrong.

I decided to go with the etc. and try my entry in the form of a pompous query letter...so here it goes:

Dear Fortuitous Agent,

Have you been feeling the miasma in the publishing industry lately? Well that is all about to change. The moment you devour my latest masterpiece, The Flight of the Imago, you will guffaw, delight, oscitate, regale, and sing my praises as you devour every brilliant, articulate delectable word.

You will be amazed at the perfect synchronicity of both theme and plot. This book will make you billions of dollars and skyrocket you to the position of the most envied and respected agent in the world. When you look in the mirror, you will weep with pride and admiration for being the prosperous agent to represent this profound novel that will change history.

I have taken the liberty to save you the time of a phone call demanding the privilege to be the fifteenth agent to read my manuscript and have attached the 800,000 word document to this e-mail. I trust my future editor can handle the multiple spelling and grammar issues you may find. Also please overlook the lacuna between the beginning and the end. My ultimate impending greatness dictates a middle to my fictional novel is unnecessary.

Call soon. This offer will not last.

Sincerely,

Soon-to-be-best-selling-rich-famous-greater-than-Dan-Brown-Author

If you liked it, please stop by here and vote for #94. Thanks!