Monthly Archives for January 2010

happy weekend!

Thanks to everyone entering to win a signed copy of Suzanne Young’s THE NAUGHTY LIST! If you haven’t already, scroll down to the next post. You have til Thursday.

I’m currently in New York City (in a hotel room that is basically a sauna–wha?), will be off to see Suzanne sooooon! Right now she’s live-tweeting the SCBWI NY conference. Also waiting for my hotel-mate to awaken. Considering throwing pillows at her, but that’s kind of rude, isn’t it?

So. I’ll be NY until Sunday night, having adventures, if anyone needs me.

win a signed copy of THE NAUGHTY LIST

As mentioned yesterday, my friend Suzanne Young‘s first novel is about to be published—it’s already available via Barnes and Noble! (sneaky, B&N, very sneaky)

Since I am about to see the fabulous Suz in New York City, I thought this giveaway would be a SIGNED, PERSONALIZED COPY of The Naughty List.

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

I know, right? You want to read this. (Okay, so some of my geektastic friends who come here for the Star Wars may not want to read this, BUT THE REST OF YOU!! Want to read this.)

To enter the drawing for this book:

If you were in a secret spying-on-boyfriends society, what would your secret agent name be???

Answer in the comments! I will draw a winner on Thursday February 4th (release day!), and the winner will have to email me the name they want the book signed to.  (As well as, you know, an address to mail the book to. Postage is on me.)

Let the games begin!

awesome things happening to awesome people

These two weeks belong to my dear friend Suzanne Young. First, BIG NEWS #1:

Suzanne Young’s A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, in which a 17-year-old discovers that by performing the good deeds that her body compels her to, she will disappear into the Light and be forgotten, but by fighting “the Need,” her fate could be even more dire, to Donna Bray at Balzer and Bray, in a two-book deal, in a pre-empt, by Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (World English).

And IN BIG NEWS #2, 8 days from now her debut novel, The Naughty List, is released! (BUY HERE)

You know how people always say, “This really couldn’t have happened to a nicer person?” IN THIS CASE IT IS TRUE.

Congratulations, Suz! You deserve every bit of this.

COMING TOMORROW: A CHANCE TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF THE NAUGHTY LIST RIGHT HERE AT GRACETOPIA!! Stay tuned.

new baby

Introducing the newest addition to our happy little family:

We picked her up today from a shelter in Salem. She is as of yet nameless (well I mean, she has a shelter name, but ugh.)

ISN’T SHE ADORABLE???

an old frenemy

I have a problem.

I am afraid of my novel.

I’ll have been working on this creature for two years, come March. I’m slightly closer to finishing now than I was then, but not by much. I’ve been restarting and reworking and replotting and refining for two years, and I know a lot more but I don’t have a lot more to show for it.

And now.

Now I am afraid.

It’s a hard novel. Structurally and emotionally difficult. I think that if I finish it, it might be… good. I am almost afraid to whisper that word aloud. I think I may actually be working on something Good. It perhaps is that thought that has filled me with fear. Perhaps it is fear born of laziness—I am afraid of all the hard work this novel requires. Perhaps it is something else.

I just want the fear to be gone.

It’s not even that I want to write but can’t, really. I’m a step behind that.

I want to want to write.

Someone help me.

Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Well I am doing great at the blogging thing so far this year.

Also the writing thing.

Blah.

So far 2010 has involved lots of work at work, traveling to DC for work, a Jaws-watching party, a Doctor Who-watching party, a moving-my-friend-to-her-new-apartment party (I am still sore) and lots of Star Trek-watching. Also picked up my brother from the airport—he is currently sleeping on my couch.

But not writing.

So. Happy 2010, y’all.

2010 goals, so far

Since I know everyone is fascinated with the trials and tribulations of my life, I thought I’d give y’all a brief update on how my New Year’s goals are going. (Poorly, is the cliff’s notes version.)

I mean, most everything is a long-term 2010 goal. The finishing, the eating better, etc. However, there was one you may recall:

Write at least 500 words per day.

Okay guys, game time! Guess how many days this year I have managed to do this. Guess! Guess!

Those of you who guessed “zero” all get a prize. Here, have a chocolate bunny.

So yeah. So far failing at that.

One thing I am being successful at, so far, is eating slightly better. At the very least, I’m eating more cheaply and making all my food at home. AND, I’m 2/2 for making bread on Sundays. Today’s loaves were slightly more burned than one might hope for in ones bread, but still good, and yay sandwiches for the week!

So, I guess I could write now. Currently I’m watching M (aka, one of my favorite movies of all time) while my cat bounces off the walls and chases pennies. I guess I could write.

Ugh.