Happy Easter!

In case you were wondering, yes my post yesterday was an April Fools prank ;). BWAHAHAHA!

*Ahem* Moving on...

It's Good Friday today, and I'm getting into the Easter spirit :).

I found some quotes I'd like to share. I think each of us, religious or not, can find the beauty in the simple idea of starting over, of new life, and celebrating the idea of something eternal living in each of us.

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

It is the hour to rend thy chains,The blossom time of souls. ~Katherine Lee Bates

On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer. ~Douglas Horton

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~S.D. Gordon

The stars shall fade away, the sun himselfGrow dim with age, and Nature sink in years;But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth,Unhurt amid the war of elements,The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds. ~Joseph Addison

Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals. ~Charles M. Crowe


Happy Easter!

Memory Lane: It Sucks to be Young!

For those of us who write YA stories, or even just have characters who are kids, I ask you...

Do you ever think about what you don't miss about being a kid?

I think a lot of the time as adults we remember the fun things like sleepovers, first kisses, and snap bracelets (those things were BOSS!), but are we really staying true to character in our writing if we don't round out the picture?

Let's indulge in some anti-nostalgia to get in touch with our inner child!

Top 10 Things that I DON'T Miss About Being a Kid:

10) Massive pimples before major events! Before prom when I was 16 years old, I got the biggest zit of my life on the end of my nose. Can you say, Rudolph the Reindeer? I covered it in about an inch of coverup, but yeah, my nose was officially misshapen for The Big Night. I do not miss zits.

9) Parental control of the TV! I'm not saying that I hate Jessica Parker or anything, but what kid really wants to be watching Murder She Wrote? 60 Minutes? Crossfire? Bonanza? (Sorry, Hoss, and Little Joe. You're boring.)

8) Bedtime/Curfew! When I was young, I had a 9 p.m. bedtime, which means that no matter how badly I wanted to stay up for The X Files, I wasn't allowed. Also, I live in the northwest, so during the summer it's light until about 11 p.m. I would lie in bed with the sunlight streaming in through my curtains, listening to the sounds of kids without bedtimes shrieking with laughter down the block. Not. Cool.

7) No money! Oh, I'm sorry, you wanted the new CoolNameBrandThingyMcStuff? Get a job. I once saved up months and months and months for a toy only to realize when I finally had enough money for it... that I'd outgrown it and no longer wanted it.

6) Homework! At least at my job I don't have to take anything home. Remember staying up late desperately trying to read the last of the book you'd been neglecting so you could finish that project that's due tomorrow? Yikes. Stress levels are on Defcon 1! I literally still have nightmares where I'll be in a panic over some research paper I forgot to write.

5) Stuff marketed for kids/teens is gross. I bought a shirt at the store 20 Below which was geared toward teens with no money--everything is $20 or less! The stitching came out in the first wash cycle and that was that. Also, anyone here remember Crystal Pepsi? I was reminded of that today, and thought "Why the hell would they make a pepsi that is only cool because it's clear... and then sell it in school vending machines INSIDE A CAN. The teens who buy it don't have glassware, people. They're at SCHOOL. We can't see the coolness. Also, now it tastes funny. Brilliant.

4) No one listens to you. "What's that, little Sally? You saw Old Man Jenkins shoplifting down at the store and then he blamed it on your friends? Well, that can't be possible! Old Man Jenkins is an adult. Stop making up stories--you're grounded!"

3) No car. Oh, you'd like to go on a date? You want to go to the mall? You forgot your coat at school? Well, I sure hope it's within walking distance, otherwise tough luck. Otherwise, you'll be taking the bus.

2) Other kids are jerks. Are you overweight? Too tall? Too short? Too skinny? Hair too curly? Have braces? Wear glasses? Walk funny? Too smart? Too average? Use big words? Use small words? Laugh too much? Act too quiet? Big boobs? No boobs? ...Well, you're pretty much screwed.

1) Feeling sorry for yourself. Everything seems worse when you have more hormones coursing through you at light speed and no control over the things that seem most important.

So, what about you guys? What do you not miss about being a kid? :)

Learning is Fun!

Today, I came across a fascinating post on Pub Rants about the difficulties in negotiating e-rights. Check it out!

If you're anything like me, you've been wondering what the heck is going on as far as the author's concerned with the rise of e-books. How are royalties going to be paid? How do publishers decide what's fair in this Brave New World?

Everything is in a state of change, and I love learning all I can about the turning tides :). How will it all shake out??

Also, yesterday I loved the answers I got to the question "what was your favorite childhood book?" I love getting peaks at people's personalities with stuff like that.

But I have to ask... what happened to the Q&A, yo? I feel like the nerdy girl all alone at the dance, picking egg salad out of my braces and swaying sadly to Boyz II Men. Why you got to leave me hangin?

I mean, maybe it's just my dayquil/nyquil/tylenol cocktail talking here, but throw a girl a bone!

Don't worry about me, though. I'll just sit here, drinking the liquor of my own tears and asking myself questions, like "why does no one love me?" and "how much chocolate can I fit in my mouth?"

Have a great weekend, guys!

And if you'd like, please answer me this: What is the best thing you've recently read and why did you love it? :)

Tell the Truth Tuesday!

Here are my true confessions this week, for your viewing pleasure:

1) My husband is an Olympics widower. I am endlessly fascinated by all things Olympics, and catch watch ANY sport during both summer and winter olympics, much to my husband's dismay. He'll come into the room to hear me shouting "WHAT?! Only 95.5 meters! What the hell kind of ski jump is that, Norway!" then shake his head and walk away.

2) I have started sleeping with my iPhone. Okay, not like that, but just as disconcerting. I've been keeping my iPhone next to my bed at night so when I first open my eyes I can press it to my face lovingly and check my email. Yes, I'm querying again--how did you know?

3) I love tiny things. The other day, I was feeling down, so I bought myself some tiny fuzzy animals for my desk at work. It's an inch high giraffe, lemur, and snake, and they run a tiny lemonade stand. This delights me. I spend money on stuff like this more often than I'd care to admit.

4) I am an accidental book thief. If you lend me a book, you will never see it again. I always have good intentions, but once borrowed, I cannot for the life of me remember to return it. I still have a book one of my pastors lent me when I was 14. I worry there might be a special circle of Hell for people who steal religious books from a pastor.

5) I've had a beer in the shower. When my husband was out of town, I started doing very bachelorettey things, such using the bathroom with the door open and eating waffles for dinner. Drinking a beer in the shower was the highlight. I have no regrets.

So, fess up, guys!

What would you like to confess this Tuesday?

Love is in the Air!

Hello, friends!

I have presents for you today, in the spirit of the holiday :), because I love you all!

First a gift for those of you who are tired of family members and co-workers asking "Are you published yet??" It's a blog post from the lovely INTERN detailing why everything in publishing happens at a snail's pace. Please feel free to email it, or just print it out and hand it around the table at your next family gathering. You're welcome!

Next, a present for the romantics among us. You know who you are, you adorable things, you! (It's okay to come out of the closet... I'm one of you.) Jessica Faust over at Bookends has tributes to romance from romance writers themselves!

For those among us who like our sweets a little bitter, a wonderful, well thought out article on sexism in the writing world by RAMPANT author Diana Peterfreund. At first it will piss you off a little, but if you're anything like me, you'll feel warm fuzzies knowing that awesome writers like Diana are bringing attention to subjects such as these. Rock on, lady authors! And rock on male readers who love them!



Lastly, the yummiest treat of all: THE COVER OF THE NEXT HUNGER GAMES BOOK!!!!




SQUEEEE!!!! OMG!!! SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

I know.

I can't wait, either :).

Also, sorry for deafening you.



Happy Valentine's Day!


*Make sure you've entered my BOOK LOVE CONTEST before Valentine's Day! I'm picking winners of fabulous prizes (including a giftcard, book, critique, bookmarks, coffee, and chocolate--Could it get any better??) on 2/15/10!

Tell the Truth Tuesday!

Step into the confessional, ladies and gents! It's that magical time again:

Time to tell the truth!

Here are my shameful truths from this week:

1) I want an e-reader REALLY badly, even though I can already read books on my i-phone. I want more tech! MOOOORE! As if the piles of books around my house sitting unread aren't enough entertainment. However, I refuse to buy an e-reader until I can see pretty bookcovers on it in color, dangit. I'm lustful AND picky at the same time!



2) I think there is something really wrong with me. These past couple of weeks I've been craving vegetables every single day. Last night, I had some steamed broccoli over brown rice with soy sauce and actually mumbled, "mmmm, flavor!" to myself. What is happening to me? Is it some kind of alien virus? O_o



3) Sometimes at work, I go a whole week without washing out my mug. I just swoosh water in it, and then keep filling it with tea until it gets those sexy brown rings. I'm awesome like that.



4) I mostly want an e-reader so I can read books with semi-embarrasing covers (like This One) out in public without anyone knowing. Paranormal romance, here I come!



5) I think Bacon-flavored Vodka sounds like a great idea! Seriously--best bloody mary ever, right??



6) I got really excited and made a ton of progress on the last edits for Legacy of the Empress last night, but then couldn't get to sleep because my brain was busy. It was a rough night. My confession? I regret nothing :)! I'll sleep when I'm dead.



What do YOU have to confess this week?

Do You Love Books? PROVE IT! (A Contest)

OH, FRABJOUS DAY!

The lovely Bek joined our motley crew, becoming my 100th Follower!

You know what this means, right?

Awww, yeah--it's CONTEST TIME, baby!

To celebrate being 100 Cool People Strong, I wanted to reward Book Love, and see if we can't support some authors while giving away fabulous prizes.

What are these fabulous prizes you ask?

1) First place gets a $25 gift card to a book retailer And choice of *Reading Companion (see below for details.)


2) Second place gets choice of either a gently loved copy of SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater or a Synopsis Critique by Yours Truly, and a choice of *Reading Companion!

3) Third place gets whatever's left (SHIVER or Synopsis Critique) and choice of *Reading Companion!

"So how the heck do I win already?" I hear you yelling at your computer screens. Patience, and I'll tell you!

There are multiple ways to get points and show BOOK LOVE :).

1) Already be a follower of this blog and comment in this post (1 pt!)

2) Become a follower and comment in this post (1 pt!)

3) Blog about this contest to drum up Book Love, and link to it in the comments (2 pts!)

4) Take a photo of yourself with your home library, and link to it in the comments (3 pts!)

5) Take a photo of yourself carrying a book to an unusual place or doing something hilarious w/ said book(s) (link in comments) (4 pts!)

6) Take a photo of yourself buying a book in an actual bookstore (link in comments) (5 pts PER BOOK!)

7) Review a book on your blog or on Amazon and link us to it (5 pts PER BOOK!)

8) Write an author to tell him/her you love them (honor system/tell us in the comments) (5 pts PER AUTHOR!)

So as you can see, there are lots of ways for points to add up :).

*"Reading Companion" prize choices (you may pick one of the following if you're a winner):

1) Fancy bookmark

2) Coffee**

3) Chocolate!

This contest will be going strong until Valentine's Day, so get crackin! After that, I will put all your points into a hat and pick some winners! The more book love you display, the greater your chances to win!

I can't wait to see all the Book Love you guys pay forward :). Thanks for being awesome!

** This part used to say "small bottle of booze," but I changed it after realizing I have no way to check ID that isn't totally unfun and lame. So, everyone likes coffee, right? Even kids? Eh? Eh? They did in World War II! My grandparents said so. Coffee it is!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

... or we'll break your kneecaps.

(Don't mess with Newsies. They'll cut you!)

Today, I have many exciting things to share!

First off, WELCOME! to those of you just joining this blog. We have a lot of new folks lately--please feel free to introduce yourselves in the comments if you'd like :). Glad to have you!

Secondly, coming up their will be an awesome CONTEST on this blog! When I read 100 Followers, I'm going to hold a contest centered around Loving Books, with some SWEET prizes! Stay tuned for that, ladies and gents...

Thirdly (see how well I can keep track?), in the comments where you were voting on who I'd dress up as to fulfill my Deal With the Universe, it was a TIE between The Mad Hatter and Sherlock Holmes! Which will it be, people? If it makes it easier I could go as the Mad Holmes and put polka dots on my detective's cap.

Lastly, if you're at all interested in either why science fiction and fantasy is so often white-character-dominated or want to know how to successfully write a character of color as a Whitey McWhiterson, check out this post by The Rejectionist titled "Homework for White Folks." It contains links to fascinating and helpful articles :). Yay!

Any news that you'd like to share this fine Thursday?

What I Learned This Week!

1) I love baby animals to a sickening degree. I've been playing around on a site called www.zooborns.com, and discovered that I think even baby cobras and vultures are cute. I think there is something wrong with me.

2) The book HEAT WAVE by Richard Castle (from the show Castle on ABC) is all I hoped it would be, and yet... still kind of dull. It's fun, and reads exactly like an episode of Castle, with a fast talking reporter, witty lady detective, and hijinx. However, it's not written like someone who writes great novels. So fun, but... yeah. I'm excited to finish and read other things in my book pile. I don't know, maybe I've just been spoiled by Kristin Cashore.

3) I have a ridiculous amount of books piled by my side of the couch and my side of the bed. It has become a tripping hazard. And yet, I can't bring myself to get rid of any of them :P. I LOVE THEM ALL!

4) I am ready to get my ass kicked. I bought this DVD so I can be yelled at and brutalized by trainer Jillian Michaels. Oy vey. I love the show The Biggest Loser, so I'm ready to face the pain! I'll let you guys know how that goes in a few days ;). Hopefully I'm not so crippled that I can no longer type.

5) When I reach 100 followers I'm going to do something AWESOME! I couldn't help but notice that I was nearing that fancy pants milestone of 100 blog followers and got to thinking. Maybe a contest would be in order in celebration of hitting that mark :D! I'm excited. Are you?

What have you guys learned this week?

See You on the Other Side!

Thank you all for such an amazing year :). I feel so blessed to have gotten to know more about each of you, visit your blogs, and hear your comments. YOU GUYS ROCK! This blog wouldn't be possible without you!

I'll be taking a break from blogging* until the New Year, so I will see you then (*if I can stay away--no promises!)

May you all be blessed and keep safe and warm. Happy Holidays and have a great New Year!

-Becca

Hug an Agent: It's the Law!

Why, you ask?

Because it's Unofficial Official Agent Appreciation Day, of course!

It all started with that crazy trendsetter Kody Keplinger, and spiralled out into the blogs of bajillions of agented authors.

The love in these posts warms the cockles of my wee heart :). (Okay, I'm actually not sure what the "cockles" are, but you get my drift.) As others have said, it's kinda like writer porn to read about how much these dudes appreciate their agents!

Just check out the impressive list of sites gathered up by authors Lisa & Laura, as well as author Elana J! My awesome author friend Christine Fonseca also has blissful agent love to share :).

So, check it out! Share the love!

And hug an agent today!

Contest & Ways to Give this Year!

That time is approaching, my friends!

Time for Christmas decorating, picking out that perfect book for grandma, and of course, awesome contests!

There is a contest happening at The Enchanted Inkpot that would make even the biggest scrooge giggle with delight. Seriously. This is one major contest. They are giving away over 20 books in three huge prize packages!

The Enchanted Inkpot are a group of young adult and middle grade writers who brought you books like SILVER PHOENIX (Cindy Pon), FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER (R. J. Anderson), and ASH (Malinda Lo), to only name a few. Go check out the contest, and good luck!

Also, this is a great time of year to think about ways you can give back to your community, or do something kind for people across the globe.

Fabulous blogger JennyMac posted a list of ways you can help out, including a huge list of stuff you can do for FREE! Please check it out. It is such a blessing to give a bit of time or a donation to someone in need.

So, get yourselves over to those blogs and enjoy the goodness!

Any blog contests or lists you're checking out this month? :) Please share!

Top 10 Things I'm Thankful For

*picture courtesy of CakeWrecks.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of my American friends!

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to keep with tradition and mention things that I'm thankful for. Without further ado, I present to you:

Top 10 Things I'm Thankful For:

10) Sweet, sweet books. This year I realized that I can read a book or two a week, and that I'm okay w/ spending money to feed my habit. I *may* have gotten smarter, too, but the jury's still out. Still, what a wonderful year for reading new books!

9) Agent and Editor blogs! Without wonderful blogs from people like Moonrat, Rachelle Gardner, Kristin Nelson, and many others in my sidebar, I would still be wandering around without a clue. Love and thanks!

8) Writers forums like Querytracker.net! Seriously. I can't recommend this site enough if you're looking for help with your query, or just the support and comaraderie of a group of seriously cool writers.

7) Addictive and hilarious blogs like The Rejectionist who makes the slings and arrows of the publishing industry funny again, while still warning us not to Anger the Assistant.

6) Control + F. I love you, Ctrl + F. You saved me so many times while I was revising and editing my manuscript :). You helped me change a character's name without going crazy, as well as replacing words I use way, way too much. You've got my back, Ctrl + F, and for that I am eternally grateful.

5) White wine and bubble baths, because they are the perfect solution to a hectic day. After a bubble bath with a glass of white wine and a favorite book, I feel recharged and ready to write. So much awesomeness.

4) The Biggest Loser for being a reality TV show that tries to help people instead of just being a trainwreck, and for making me want to get in shape. The Biggest Loser coerced me into getting onto my exercise bike last night, and for that, I am grateful. Plus, Jillian Michaels scares me straight. Holy crap, lady...

3) My AMAZING blog followers and friends! You guys have made my year amazing by sticking with me as I blogged this year and commenting along. Your comments and the conversations we have make this blog at least three times as cool as it would be without you. You guys rock! :)

2) My critique buddies and beta readers! Without you guys and your dedication, my book would suck :). Blessings to everyone who's helped me get LEGACY OF THE EMPRESS polished and shiny. You are amazing people, and I value your criticism more than chocolate!

1) Finally... the last thing I'm thankful for ..... is that no one gave me that Coiled Poo Turkey Cake today (pictured above.) For those of you who don't know what CakeWrecks is, go check out the link at the top of this post and laugh until it hurts. It's the best.

Happy holidays, and have a great weekend!

What are you thankful for this year?

Tell the Truth Tuesday!

It's that time again, folks! Time to Tell the Truth Lisa & Laura style, and 'fess up.

My weekly confession:

1) I do lunges in the bathroom at work. And sometimes countertop pushups. And sometimes dance a little. Too embarrassed to squeeze a little exercise in at my desk, I will try to bust something out in between washing my hands and leaving.

2) Bruno from Dancing With the Stars terrifies me. He's like the show's pervy uncle, only he's not just showing up drunk and handsy at Christmas time, he's there all season, making every celebrity uncomfortable in turns. When Len says a dance was "delicious" I say "awww" because it does it in an adorable old man way. When Bruno says it, I shudder automatically. It's all in the delivery.

3) I read trashy romance novels on my iPhone because no one can tell what they are :). If someone asks I might just lie and say Proust. Mwahahahahaha!

4) I love surprises to a ridiculous degree. My husband knows this and will tell me to close my eyes before showing me a) cool TV shows he's recorded, b) yummy snacks, c) funny stuff he found on the Internet. It makes me squee with joy every time, because surprises are the best!

5) I look forward to "Lunch Weekly" all week long. If you don't get Publishers Lunch yet (the free industry newsletter you can subscribe to here), go sign up immediately! You'll get publishing news all week, and once a week (like today), they send an update showing new book deals for the week, including debut authors :). GO DEBS!

So, what about you? Anything to confess this week? ;)

What I've Learned This Week

As a couple of you know, I've been at home from work healing up from an illness for the past week, and have been taking some to relax (Feeling much better now, btw!)

Over the course of this relaxation, I learned a few things:

1) Netflix is the best invention ever. Sanitation? Not that important. The wheel? PAH! Let's see "the wheel" get me instantly streaming dating reality tv shows. Yeah, that's what I thought. I love you, Netflix.

2) Taking an icy beverage with you into the shower is fun! Seriously, try it. It feels so wrong, yet so right. Pure home alone awesomeness.

3) GRACELING, by Kristin Gashore, is one of my new favorite novels! It's fresh traditional fantasy, if that makes any sense, and I LOVED this book. It's been awhile since a novel made me as happy as Hunger Games, and this one did it :). If you love Fantasy, I highly recommend it.

4) My internet friends are the best. I mean, okay, I already pretty much knew this. But I love you guys! I got a couple of emails from my writing buddies just checking in, and it completely made my week.

5) Agents are hilarious. I tentatively got back online today and almost fainted when I saw how behind I am on reading blogs, but came across a few gems as I was surfing. This post from Janet Reid (the Query Shark) made me laugh out loud. I missed this stuff, man.

6) The odds of getting published are awesome if you are an awesome writer! Yes, if you don't totally suck, the odds go from 1/100,000 to something much more manageable. Just take Lisa & Laura (ooh, and go enter their Kindle contest before it's too late!) and Christine Fonseca who got publishing contracts (YAAAY!), and Elana Johnson, who just got an agent! WOOT!

Just like the picture of the afro duck above, this week has been a very pleasant surprise.

How are you guys doing? Anything you've learned? ;)

Work In Progress Wednesday: Halloween Costume!

This week, my only work in progress is my Halloween costume (okay, okay.. and some editing.)

I'm going this year as Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica! It will be awesome. SO SAY WE ALL!

I have a short blonde wig, pants, boots, bottom tank top, and the beginnings of a huge "Top Gun" beer stein that I'll be carrying around. I'm going to be authentic down to the anger issues (well, as authentic as one can be on a budget.)

The funny thing is, I'm not even going anywhere. I'm going to work this way, and then answering the door and traumatizing young children all night long. I just wouldn't feel right doing it without a costume. This is definitely one of my all time favorite holidays.

So, I ask you, gentle readers:

What are you being/doing for Halloween??

Bonus points for showing us pictures of your costume!

Tell the Truth Tuesday!

I'm stealing this idea, once again, from fabulous bloggers, Lisa & Laura! They entertain me beyond belief all week long, and I think this idea of confessing things on Tuesday is both morbidly fascinating, and a great idea.

So here goes!

My weekly confession:

1) I'm adding Fear of Surgery While Awake to my list of irrational phobias. A friend told me today about a surgery where they gave her a spinal anesthetic and then just went to town. WHILE SHE WAS AWAKE. She said she could feel "pressure." I almost screamed just hearing about it.

2) This Baby Readiness Quiz from JennyMac's blog made me sterile. I've always wanted kids, but after reading that, I'm considering buying a few more cats and calling it good :).

3) Whenever my mom is reading over my novel and says "EW! This part is gross. What is wrong with you?" I know I've done something right. It's my goal in life to have portions of my books disturb people. Is that wrong? I think then you know you've written something powerful, and that is awesome.

4) I am becoming addicted to Stat Counter. You can see where people are from who visit your blog, what keywords they used to find you, etc. It's hours of fun! :D I love the funky google searches that lead to me. Recently, it's been the great Star Wars--is it Fantasy? debate that brought people my way. Who knew?

5) I am becoming addicted to the blog Secret Office Confessions! It's British, it's about the goings-on in a publishing house, and it's like a cross between The Office and Bridget Jones. One word: Fabulous! I can't get enough of the drama. Fingers crossed that it's all true :).

6) I'm starting to feel very smug now that I've learned how to create fancypants Hyperlinks! Can you tell? This is my smug face.

So how about you?

Anything you'd like to get off your chest? ;)

Paragraphs & Premise: Starting Your Novel

This past week, Agent Extraordinaire Nathan Bransford wrapped up a First Paragraph Contest on his blog!

He received over 2100 aspiring authors' first paragraphs, read them all, went blind, got Lasik, came back, and chose the top few paragraphs that really spoke to him, and finally, one glorious winner.

The best part of the contest, is that today he told us why he chose the paragraphs he did, and why they jumped out at him from the contest Slush Pile. Go check it out! Not only can you read the paragraphs from the finalists, but you get Nathan's commentary free of charge on why they were so awesome. Also, if you go back to the Original Post, (and like a challenge), you can read each and every one of the entries he received to see what works for you in a first paragraph and what doesn't.

What a great opportunity for us to learn a) what the slush is REALLY like (only this slush comes soley from smarty pants blog readers who have a leg up), and b) what makes a truly great opening. I learned a lot from reading what other people did about my own preferences and how to make my opening even sharper.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, last week I was one of two runners-up in the Guide to Literary Agents' Blog "Worst Storyline Ever Contest." LOL! I know, I know. I'm the best at being the worst. I'll take it ;)!

The best part is, you can check out the hilarious story premise that took the cake, as well as the fantastic finalists.

Go on over. You know you want to!

What makes a good premise or start to a book in your minds? Are there any books on your shelf that grabbed you? What made them special?

Taking Care of Yourself

As writers, we are very driven people. Passionate. Some may say obsessive.

I've heard a lot of writers describe the writing process as "writing because I have to" or "the story idea has to come out or it drives me crazy."

We write for hours whenever we can, but most of us also have day jobs. And families. And chores.

How do we deal with all of the passion but at the same time balance it with the stresses of every day living?

I'm currently trying to figure that out.

I've been sick for the past few weeks, and it just got worse last week. I've been having stomach pains, nausea, fatigue, and finally dragged myself to the doctor. The diagnoses? I'm way too stressed out, and it's making me ill. The solution? A acid reducer the size of a hockey puck daily, and learning to relax.

Easier said than done, right? ;) I think every writer deals with the same difficulty in leading a balanced life.

However, an interesting thing happened to me at that appointment. When the doctor was frowning over her clipboard at me and telling me that I seriously need to take a chill pill, I felt a weird calm creeping over me. Okay, well, first I felt a wee bit embarrassed, because heh, I'm giving myself an ulcer (oops), but then I felt calm.

Before, every time I thought "I need to take a night off from writing to recover from my day" or "I should exercise/read for a while/sit quietly and drink tea" I immediately felt guilty. Guilty that I'm not as dedicated as other writers because I already write less often than they do. Guilty that I wasn't getting my novel done more quickly. Guilty that I was being "lazy" if I wanted to relax for a little while. Then, when I finally did crash, I'd just lie in front of the TV like I was in a coma. There was no balance. And I felt like crap.

The doctor telling me I needed to relax was as powerful as a prescription for anti-guilt pills. In that moment, I gave myself permission to relax.

Over the past few days, I've been trying to take a half hour to an hour each day to be quiet and spend some time for myself, drinking tea and reading, reading my Bible, or taking a hot bath. Afterwards, I can write or do chores or whatever, but I have the freedom to spend time taking care of myself.

I also try to look at one beautiful thing a day, eat slowly, and walk slowly. Did you guys know that the leaves are changing right now? :) Have you noticed how absolutely gorgeous that is? I have. I realize that I missed paying attention to these things.

I wanted to write about my experience today, because I'm sure I'm not alone. Do you guys give yourselves permission to relax? Do you balance your time by allowing yourself some room to be still and recharge?

Or do you need to take a look at your schedule today and carve out a half hour for a bubble bath or a walk outside?

Do you take care of yourselves?

How can we be the best artists we can be if we don't take the time to be still once in a while?

Your Questions Answered!

Last Friday I asked you guys what you want to know about me and to leave Fun Facts about yourselves, too :). If you missed it, please check it out!

So, now, without further ado, here are the answers to some of your burning questions ;)!

Tere Kirkland asked:

So... what's your all-time favorite fantasy novel? Is this a hard question,like making you choose between kids? Or do you know already?

Oh, man! That is a tough one right out of the gate. It IS like choosing between kids, or more like choosing between best friends. I'd have to say, because it is my oldest Fantasy Novel friend, The Lord of the Rings. I must have read the trilogy at least ten times, and it's what made me fall in love with the Fantasy genre. Before that, it was just me and Ray Bradbury over in Science Fiction land, kickin' it with our robot butlers.


The Badass Geek asked:


If you could have written any book that has already been written/published, what would it be?

Man, these are good questions! My first thoughts were "Ooh, Tolkien. No, Bradbury! Gah, George R. R. Martin!" but then it came to me. Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Without a doubt, Hyperion is the masterpiece I would have written if I had the chops. Sadly, the second book, Fall of Hyperion ended with a slight whimper, but my love for Hyperion is so strong that I don't even care. It's a science fiction/fantasy version of The Canterbury Tales (which I also love.) The characters and their stories are incredibly rich and moving, and the Shrike is one of the most terrifying creatures... well... ever. Read it :). It's amazing!

Susan Duvall asked about my unwashed hair:

You rinse the baking soda out and then just dry the hair and it turns out beautiful like your picture? Where did you find the idea to do this?

Ha ha! Potential converts ready to throw off the shakles of the shampoo bourgeoisie and use the cleanser of the proletariat! Uh.. you know... water! Annnyway, to answer your question, I don't blow dry my hair--I just let it air dry like a bum. It is naturally wavy so that usually turns out nice, and then the next day I curl it with the old curling iron and turn it loose on the world.

I got the idea from a forum I'm on, and then read about it all over the internet before trying it. People have definitely had mixed results, but eventually everyone's hair will even out :). Here's a website to get started: http://www.naturemoms.com/no-shampoo-alternative.html. It's called the No 'Poo movement.

Bonus Tip! A lot of people say they use vinegar to "condition" after they cleanse their hair. Don't do it! They can't smell themselves after a while, but others have said they smell like vinegar. All. The. Time. I brush my hair with a boar's bristle brush to smooth down the hairs. Smell-free and shiny!


Abby Annis/ asked me two questions, that wild woman!


If you weren't a writer, what would your ultimate career goal be?

Oooh, I daydreamed a little after I read your question and came up with my Dream Job! Believe it or not, I would own my own Tea Shop that also happened to sell books (of course!) One weird thing about me is even though I love Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica and chicks like Sarah Connor, I also happen to love tea, tea cups, teapots, and yummy tea sandwiches almost as much as life itself. My greatest pleasure in life is eating a salmon curry tea sandwich and drinking out of something like this. I know that makes me shamefully girly, but I just can't help myself.

Plus, then I could eat tiny quiches all the time, and no one could say anything, cause Hey! I'm the owner. Get back to work! Mmmmm... tiny quiiiiiche...

Do you use any product on your hair, like mousse, hairspray, or pomade? Does it wash out?

I totally used to, but since I've been going No 'Poo, I haven't bothered or needed to. I used to spritz my hair with sea salt spray to make it wavy, or do a little hairspray in the front, but yeah. I've been pretty much good to go without anything. I secrete nature's pomade now ;). Hehehe, just kidding (ew.) But my hair looks fine without, so I just wet it down or curl it, and I'm ready to roll!

That was fun, guys! I loved hearing your Fun Facts!!


If anyone wants to leave any more telling info or bizarre childhood stories in the comments, please feel free ;).