I'm Just As Surprised As You Are

This is the face of someone with NEWS.

I'm not sure where to start.

So I'll guide you to this link on my agent's blog. Why don't you read that and come back? I'll wait.


(Still waiting.)


(Still waiting.)


(Did you really read it?)


(PROMISE???)


(Okay . . .)


Remember that publishing timeline I posted the other day? In particular, the part where I said, "THIS IS THE FUTURE AND, THEREFORE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE"? And then proceeded to explain my work schedule on Anna for the next two years until her publication?

Welcome to the future. It has changed.

I'M BEING PUBLISHED A YEAR EARLY!

As stated on my Publisher's Marketplace announcement (linked above on Super-Agent Kate's blog, which I trust you just read), my first novel will hit the shelves NEXT FALL. Not Summer/Fall 2011.

Fall 2010.

YOU GUYS, I'LL BE IN BOOKSTORES IN ONE YEAR!

ONE YEAR!!

ONE YEAR!!!

And . . . yeah. There are a few more newsy tidbits tucked into that same PM announcement. The most important:


(1) Anna has a new title.

(2) Second Novel's title has been revealed.


I've mentioned before that there was a good chance Anna's title would change during editing (most titles do), and indeed, it has. I think the overall reaction to the original — Anna and the English French American Boy Masterpiece — was "Cool" followed quickly by, "Wait . . . what?"

So now it's just Anna and the Boy Masterpiece.

I'm still happy with the title, and it still meets my goals. I won't share ALL of my reasoning behind it, but one should be quite obvious when you see Second Novel's title:

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Despite everything she's put me through, I'm VERY proud and excited about Lola. And, yes, the announcement says she's a "companion novel." This means that Anna and Lola have overlapping elements, but Lola isn't a sequel. They'll be able to be read independently of one another, though it'll be more fun if you've read Anna first.

(Of course — like everything else — that's all subject to change.)

But back to that whole being-published-a-year-early thing:


(1) Yes, it's rare. My publishing house had an opening in their Fall 2010 catalog for a book like mine, and my amazing editor, Julie Strauss-Gabel, made the push. I am lucky. Very, very lucky.

(2) No, I haven't known for long. Less than a week! It's all still new and shocking.

(3) Yes, suddenly, I have a LOT of work to do.

(4) Yes, I'm panicking. Did I mention I have a lot of work to do? Quite suddenly? And in a much, much shorter time frame?

(5) Yes, I can do it. That chai latte I had last night told me so.


And now for some tweaking on my Official List:


NINE TEN THINGS ABOUT FIRST NOVEL


(1) It's a young adult novel.

(2) Hopefully it has some funny bits.

(3) There is kissing. Of course.

(4) Most of it takes place in Paris.

(5) There is an HBM.* (Well, more like an HBM plus.)

(6) It’s called Anna and the Boy Masterpiece.

(7) It's contemporary and realistic. In other words, no vampires or magic. Or magic vampires.

(8) It's set in a boarding school.

(9) It wasn't (originally) intentional, but several important scenes occur on stairs. Though I shouldn't have been surprised when it happened, because the inspiration for the entire story came from a dream (ack, yes) in which I saw a beautiful boy sitting . . . on the steps of a semi-famous monument.

These steps. This monument.

(10) The main character's name is Anna Oliphant.


The Boy Masterpiece himself remains — for now — a secret. But a good one, I promise! And I don't mean a secret like he's a werewolf (see #7, above). He's a secret, because I'm in love with him, and I'm still greedy and protective.

HE'S MINE!

(Not really, not anymore. But my claws are still gripping his arm, and I'm quietly hissing, "Miiiiiine.")

I think that's everything. My head is spinning, and I'm already editing, and all of those things I'd been putting off for another year — like a real website — have to be dealt with NOW. So if you don't see me around Blogville much for the next few months, I hope you'll forgive me next year.

Next year . . . WHEN YOU CAN READ MY FIRST NOVEL!


*Hot British Man, for new blog readers

SHAMEFUL BOOKFEST ENTRY #5: Octavian Nothing

I did it. I finally finished my Shameful Bookfest.

After determining there was no way I could possibly finish M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party (greatest. title. ever.) by the end of my May deadline, the partially-read novel . . . well, languished on my nightstand.

After all, there were adventure-romances about people with multicolored eyes and a special talent for butt-kicking that required my immediate attention:

LOVED.

Not to mention a serious and uncontrollable desire to reread Meg Cabot's entire Princess Diaries series. (I love those books so much, you guys, it makes me want to carve Mia + Michael = 4EVA into trees.)

And I had to join the Sarah Dessen Challenge.

So surely you can understand why a large and imposing novel about the horrors of slavery got a little buried for awhile. Right? Right. Which brings me to my first confession:

I almost returned this book to the library without finishing it, like, a dozen times.

Because here's the thing about Octavian — it's difficult.

Though The Book Thief was more difficult for me emotionally, Octavian is just plain HARD. And there is a tiny (embarrassing) part of me that does not like hard things. This part is much happier when it's sipping sparkling blueberry juice, painting its fingernails glittery red, and re-reading The Princess Bride for the dozenth time.

[Side note: If you love the film The Princess Bride and have yet to read the novel, you MUST. I joke about it, because it's a fun and easy read, but it's also completely and utterly brilliant and filled with commentary that is VERY, VERY FUNNY, especially if you just-so-happened to be an English major.]

So, naturally, this part of me wasn't thrilled to pick back up something that it knew was written in a challenging style (pseudo-18th century, classically educated, and smacking of Reason). This part really wanted to shove Octavian in the library drop-box and get back to the love stories.

But this part also knew that the whole point of my Shameful Bookfest was to read novels that were shaming me professionally. Books that I believed were important to be familiar with as a young adult novelist. And I knew if I returned Octavian, my guilt at NOT having read it would only grow.

And I also knew that the longer it sat on my nightstand, the more likely I'd have to re-read those first forty pages. Plus, it was overdue.

These, therefore, were my motivating factors: Guilt, Dread, and Thrift.

I have never claimed to be a role model.

Now, a quick catchup for those of you unfamiliar with the plot. It's set during the start of the American Revolution, and it's about a black teenager (Octavian) who has been raised in the house of a group of scientists and philosophers who call themselves The Novanglian College of Lucidity. These are men who believe in reasoning so strongly that they no longer see actual reason. And they have kept Octavian in their house as an experiment to prove that people of African decent are lesser than people of European decent.

Yes. We're talking about a Serious and Depressing Subject Matter. Which brings me to my second confession:

Until the last hour of reading, I had no plans whatsoever to read Volume Two.

I clearly saw that this was Well-Written, Respectable, and Important, but I also thought enough was enough.

Until.

Until I reached the climax, and discovered I was wrong. This book is about slavery in any time period. Like, right now. It's about human rights, freedom, and the true meaning of the word "liberty" (particularly as it relates to our often misguided representations of history).

This book is flat-out monumental.

And I'm definitely reading Volume Two.

Though I still find it hard to say, "Yes yes yes. You MUST all read this novel," because, yeah, it's not fun. And, for me at least, I still believe the primary function of a novel is entertainment. (I DO believe novels should teach us things, but I believe that this capacity is best served in a way that's not, well, boring. Or preachy. Not that this book is either, but it's not exactly a rollicking good time.)

But, having said that . . . yeah. It is worth the effort.

And you should read it.

In Which Steph Faints & Mind-Reading Space Monkeys Type This For Her

Yesterday was awesome.

Because . . .

MEG CABOT LINKED MY BLOG!!!

That's right. THE QUEEN. HAS READ. MY BLOG. I am a very happy Stephanie. It wasn't by name or anything, but STILL. She mentioned me on this post, here:


"Here’s a completely cute Guide to Meg Cabot books (in case you know someone who doesn’t know where to start! I know there are a lot of books) that I discovered through one of the over 5,000 people I follow on Twitter! She’s so cute (although all the people I follow on Twitter are)!"


That's me! My blog! Me!

Happy fangirl sigh. My husband got a good laugh from this, because when I found out I'd been linked, I was sitting next to a pile of her books that I'd just finished re-reading. Seriously. Five of her novels were stacked beside me.




Meg and I also share these same pink sock monkey pajamas. Not that it means something. Or has anything to do with what I'm talking about. I'm just saying. She's cool.

Anyway!

I'm also excited because Jenny Han's new book, The Summer I Turned Pretty, was just released. I loved her first novel, Shug, which -- no surprise -- I picked up because Meg had blurbed it. Jenny's newest is the first in a YA trilogy. Here's the description from her website:

"Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along."


Boys and crushes and summer! It sounds PERFECT. And Shug, which was middle grade, was so sweet and romantic and sad, that I know this one will be just as lovely.




Jenny Han is also way: (A) adorable and (B) nice. I emailed her a few years ago (after reading Shug, to tell her how much I enjoyed it), and she wrote me back the sweetest, kindest email. I love nice people. Don't you?

So.

I've decided to reward myself. If I make this week's writing goals, I'm allowed to go to the bookstore and buy both The Summer I Turned Pretty and Meg Cabot's Being Nikki. Which was also just released, which is the sequel to the super-fab Airhead.

Yes, I bribe myself. Frequently. Don't you?

Of course, I still have four shameful novels left, but fitting in a few kissing books shouldn't be a problem. Kissing books are NEVER a problem. I always have time for a good love story!

I always have time for a good movie, too. Which is why I really really really want to go see Tokyo!, Adventureland, Star Trek, and Wolverine. (But that last one only if Jimbo -- my Unofficial Comic Book Movie Guinea Pig -- gives it thumbs up. Otherwise I'll wait and Netflix it.)

Tokyo! (Love the exclamation point.)

It's just . . . er . . . fitting in my actual novel-writing amidst all of this reading and watching. That's the tricky bit. I've been avoiding Second Novel a lot lately, as well as a discussion here about said avoidance of Second Novel. That's two avoidances in one! Which I'm not even going to correct today! Well. I won't talk about it here, but I am going to write.

Because I really want to buy those novels, you guys.

I also have an Interesting Story about a mysterious basket of flowers found on my front door. But that will have to wait for another day. Instead, I'm signing off this post by saying:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NAYNA!

The Big One

Um . . . uh . . . something happened. Something BIG. Something BIG and LIFE-CHANGING and, um, BIG.

Something that’s rendered me speechless. Astounded. Dumbfounded.

Like this.

I’m going to be published.

[High-pitched squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!]

Yesterday my AMAZING agent, Kate Schafer Testerman, and I accepted a two-book offer from Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton (Penguin).

That’s right. So not only am I going to be published, I AM GOING TO BE PUBLISHED TWICE.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

HOLY CRAP!

And not only am I going to be published (TWICE!!!), I’m going to be working with JULIE STRAUSS-GABEL.

HOLY CRAP! AGAIN!

The last few weeks have been surreal. It’s like I’ve watched the entire situation as an outsider, peering over the shoulder of a friend and slapping her back with a hearty, “Good for you!” or “Way to go, kiddo!”

Because I was fortunate enough to have offers from two talented and kind editors. And though I’d be lucky (SO. LUCKY.) to have either of their guidance, I’m thrilled for the opportunity to work with Julie.

For my readers not in the industry, Julie is, basically, The Shizz.

Never-in-my-wildest-dreams did I think she’d even CONSIDER me. In fact, I had a major major major freakout when my agent told me where she’d sent my novel. [Me to my husband: “Is she kidding? Kate’s kidding, right? She sent MY manuscript? MINE?! To JULIE STRAUSS-GABEL???”]

Julie has edited several of my VERY FAVORITE novels, including Lauren Myracle’s Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen (Judy Blume for a new generation!), the new and astonishing If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Just read this on the way home from Phoenix, and it’s the first book to move me to tears in years. Had to bolt into the wee teeny airplane bathroom to clean my face. Embarrassing, but so worth it), and -- AND -- John Green’s novels.

That’s right.

She’s John. Green’s. Editor.

You may recall, I’m somewhat of a fan. [Here and here.] Like, his novels have only COMPLETELY ROCKED MY WORLD. And he’s only, like, insanely quick to compliment Julie in every interview, acknowledgement, blog & vlog, and -- cough cough -- in his PRINTZ AWARD-ACCEPTING SPEECHES.

And, somehow, yesterday I accepted an offer from her.

Can this be real?

I am very fortunate, indeed.

And I’m shocked.

And . . . um . . . shocked.

Yeah. You could say I’m shocked, and that would be totally accurate.

SHOCKED.

So now would be an appropriate time to discuss First Novel. I’m notoriously paranoid about sharing details, not because I don’t love you or trust you (Because I do. You are awesome.) but because: (A) First Novel will change a LOT in the following months/years of editing, and (B) Did I mention I’m notoriously paranoid?

But I suppose I can at least share the title! Especially since, as some bloggers already know, my title has been public knowledge on Kate’s beautiful, brand-spanking-new website for an entire week. So you’ll find it here now too, added to the bottom of my old list:


FIVE SIX THINGS ABOUT FIRST NOVEL


(1) It is a young adult novel.

(2) Hopefully it has some funny bits.

(3) There is kissing. Of course.

(4) Most of it takes place in a foreign city. If you've been reading this blog closely, you already know what city that is. If you haven't, allow me to save you the bother of browsing my archives. It's Paris.

(5) There is an HBM. (Well, more like an HBM plus.)*

(6) It’s called Anna and the English French American Boy Masterpiece.**


* = For new readers, this stands for Hot British Man, something I’m particularly fond of.

** = For now. I looooove my long, silly title but I am perfectly aware that titles often change in the editing process. So we shall see.


Anyway. My mind is all over the place. Did I mention THE SHOCK?

I’M GOING TO BE PUBLISHED, YOU GUYS!!!

WOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!

So there’s been some of this going on:




And lots and lots of this:




And because this moment feels like the acceptance speech for My Dream Come True, forgive me while I indulge:


Thank you, Kate, for your hard work and endless support. And thank you – so much – to Julie for trusting me. I will try my best not to let either one of you down.

Enormous on-my-knees thanks to Paula. This would have never happened without you. Period. Thank you to Laini for eye-opening, enlightened advice and for a Very Special blog post. And thanks to Sumner and Kiersten, who allow me to pester them with annoying questions at strange hours and who always have kind words for me.

And, as always, my biggest thanks to Jarrod. I love you.


[Cue exit music and handsome, tuxedoed actor taking my elbow and escorting me offstage while – horrified – I realize, OMFG I forgot to thank my parents.]


I’M GETTING PUBLISHED, YOU GUYS!!!!!

In Which It Is My Humble Duty To Inform You...

that Cillian Murphy is in a short film called The Water, which can only be seen here for a week. (Though no doubt you'll find it elsewhere anyway.)




I'm generally not a fan of short films -- this one clocks in at fifteen minutes -- but that's probably because my exposure to them is so infrequent. But this is beautiful in a haunting, near-fairytale sort of way. And it features the lovely Feist, for extra coolness. I think it started as one of her music videos (for a song of the same name), but then got extended into something more.

But I wouldn't swear to that.

Also, here's a silly picture of Jarrod channeling his best Mr. Murphy.

Just because.

I love my husband! And that dude on the right.

In feature-length film news, Jarrod and I recently went with our cinema pals, Tai and Staci, to see Sunshine Cleaning. It was wonderful. We all agreed it was the best thing we'd seen in theaters so far this year.

Of course, there hasn't been much competition. (The first few months of releases in any year are bound to be lackluster, due to studios wanting to save their BIG PICTURES for the summer and their AWARD CONTENDERS for the winter.)




But Amy Adams? Emily Blunt? Alan Arkin?! Not to mention Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe on 24, Punch-Drunk Love) and Clifton Collins Jr. (Capote, Traffic).

It's being advertised as the new Little Miss Sunshine, but that's a bit inaccurate. Rather than a dark comedy, it's more of a drama with dark comedic moments. It's about two sisters who start a business that cleans up crime scenes. Any more and I'd spoil the fun. But if you like your movies on the dark side, I recommend it.

Also, Emily Blunt has blue streaks in her hair.

I'm just saying.

In other, far belated non-cinema news, this was my favorite April Fool's joke this year.

And to -- belatedly -- answer Katie's question from my comments regarding Twitter ("Okay now Perk, do you like it? I haven't caved yet. It seems like a waste of time to me."):

OHMYSTARS! Twitter is SO ADDICTING. I want to hug it and kiss it and marry it and change my name to Twiphanie Twerkins! I. LOVE. TWITTER! EEEKKKK!!!

Cough cough. Follow me here, if you wish.

Also . . . a major huge gigantic but humbled thanks to the soon-to-be-published author of The Body Finder, Kimberly Derting, for the blog award! I'm so honored. Thank you!




That is all. Hope you're having a swell day.

There's Something I Haven't Told You

Eek! Isn't my new pin the COOLEST? I can hear the deep voice now, announcing the start of the show: Spaaaaace Tweeeerp!

It would make a good cartoon, wouldn't it? I'd watch it.

The pin is part of an EXCELLENT package I received in the mail yesterday from Laini Taylor. (I know! Another package! I am so freaking lucky to have such amazing friends.) Laini, amongst being:

(A) An awe-inspiring writer
(B) A hilarious emailer
(C) A genius advice-giver

is also

(D) An intuitive gifter

Anyone who reads her blog knows the care she puts into her Christmas presents, but seriously, all of her gifts are awesome. Check out the rest of yesterday's package:




Pretty stationary, delicious candy, a Portland travel guide (is that a hint?), an adorable "watch," and . . . what's that in the middle? Oh yeah. Homemade chocolate chocolate chip cookies. But wait! There's more! See that jar in the back? Wanna know what's inside?

Lavender caramel sauce.

Let me repeat that.

LAVENDER CARAMEL SAUCE. Which was heated and poured over vanilla ice cream for last night's dessert. Yuuuumm. Also, there may have a bit more candy and a few more cookies before this picture was taken. Maybe.

And . . . (Yes! Even more!)

Laini's super duper rockingest stupendously fun husband, Jim Di Bartolo, added in some new tunes for my playlist AND a print of this:




Which I have hardcore coveted ever since he posted it on his blog. I LOVE it, and I can't WAIT to hang it in my writing room. Isn't Jim talented?? I'm not the only one who thinks so. Last night, I sent Thom an email of the drawing. This was his reply:


To: stephssecretemail@popculturewhore.com
From: thisisnotthom@radiohead.com
Subject: re: LOOK AT MY AWESOME NEW PICTURE!!!

not bad.

thom


Which, coming from Thom, is a huuuuuge compliment. Yay Jim!

But . . . okay. I'm avoiding something here. That thing I haven't told you about? (You know, the title of this post?) That's the reason I received this package in the first place. And it's something I've wanted to tell you guys for a while, but I didn't know how. It's Big News. Good News. But in light of this crap economy, it makes me feel uncomfortable and guilty and squirmy inside.

So I haven't told you.

Until now.

Because, really, I can't put it off any longer.

Except if I space out a few more lines like this.

Or this.

Or even this.

Thom Yorke is my boyfriend!

I bought blue nail polish to match my hair!

Sharp cheddar cheese is better than mild cheddar cheese!

(Oh get it over with, Stephanie.)

I quit my job.

The package was a congratulations gift for my new status as Official Full-Time Writer. As of two weeks ago, I am no longer a librarian. Which is simultaneously one of the most joyous and terrifying things that has ever happened to me.

Let me back up a bit.

My husband and I have had an agreement for the last few years. A Very Simple Agreement. When I got an agent, I could quit my job. Please allow me to make it clear that we both fully realize that agent does not = published book and a fatty paycheck. We are fortunate to be okay financially. We are not rich (so don't ask me to borrow a twenty, because I will laugh), but thanks to my husband's job, we do just fine thank-you-very-much. We're lucky not to have debt (apart from that pesky mortgage thing), and we're notoriously thrifty.

So anyway. Why when I got an agent? Because, to me at least, it's the first major step towards publication. And I know it might not happen with this novel, and maybe not even the next, but I DO feel good about it. Really good. And I have a GREAT agent. And having this first industry professional on my side is like my first gold star. It means: Hey. This is good stuff. With hard work, you might have a career here.

Notice that phrase? Hard work? Because that's what I'm doing. What I HAVE been doing. Working my butt off, day after day, night after night. I've been working two full-time jobs, and now that I have a reason to hope, and since I am financially secure, I have quit one of them to pursue the other to the best of my abilities.

Which, like I said, is terrifying. And thrilling and wonderful and vomit-inducing and cartwheel-producing.

And I have felt enormously guilty and hesitant to tell you because I know so many of you are struggling right now. And despite my hard work to get here, it feels really unfair. I have close friends and family who have lost their jobs or taken pay cuts or are in jeopardy of losing careers they've held for twenty years. And here I am, basically throwing away a paycheck.

Please believe me when I tell you that this wasn't an easy decision. The plan had been for me to quit the day I signed with an agent, but as it turns out, it didn't go down like that. We agonized over this. We watched our finances and balanced budgets and threw out dire scenarios and all sorts of scary stuff.

And we decided that the time was still right.

What it comes down to is this: If I didn't take this risk, I would always wonder. And that "what if" would slowly eat away at my soul for the rest of my life.

Now, I am not a risk taker by nature. I order the same thing every time I go to my favorite restaurants. It took me a dozen years to grow the courage to dye my hair. I love travel shows, but I let my passport expire because I am terrified of embarrassing myself in another country.

But THIS "what if." This one is different.

This one is my dream.

And I am so sorry for everyone struggling out there right now. And I wish with all my heart that the economy turns quickly. But I also hope that you can see this was the right decision for me, at this time in my life. No matter what happens -- good or bad -- it was the right decision.

That's what I keep telling myself, at least.

Now, if you pardon me, I'm going to go stress vomit.

I. Have. NEWS.

Okay. So I know there are more mature, respectable ways of announcing this. But mature and respectable?

That's not how I roll.

I should PROBABLY say something like, "I am pleased to announce that today I accepted an offer of representation from Kate Schafer Testerman."

And then I'd play you a midi recording of Pachelbel's Canon in D, and we'd all pseudo-shake hands, and you'd toast me with a glass of virtual bubbly.

But.

BUT.

OHMYFREAKINGGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GUESS WHAT YOU GUYS?????????

I HAVE AN AGENT!!!!!!

I. Stephanie Perkins. HAVE AN AGENT!

ME!

An agent! And ME!

I HAVE AN AGENT!!!!!!!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Pardon me while I jump up and down on your feet and scream loudly in your ear.

(AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Stomp stomp stomp.)

Mind if I give you a hug? Because I am TOTALLY hugging everyone today.

(HUGGGGG!!!!)

What about a unicorn and a rainbow? Would you be opposed to a picture of a unicorn and a rainbow? Because this is TOTALLY the kind of occasion that deserves a unicorn and a rainbow.




I am SO that unicorn. Look how awesome I am! Look how all the forest creatures love me!!!

And you know WHY they love me?????

I HAVE AN AGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Okay. Maybe they just want my magical horn. I've heard it's great for weight loss and natural male enhancement.)

Anyway.

Yes! The rumors are true! The rumors that I just started! Today I accepted representation from the super-cool, super-smart, super-fun Kate Schafer Testerman, aka Daphne Unfeasible, of kt literary.

And I'm so happy that I'm babbling and talking about natural male enhancement when I REALLY want to be running down the street in my pajamas and a hot pink feather boa, screaming at the top of my lungs, and causing all the neighborhood dogs to bark in glorious symphony.

Because Kate is that awesome.

And I'll tell you more later, but I'm going back to my celebrations. Which basically means I'm going to bed, because I stayed up until 3 am last night working on the NEW NOVEL and then tonight I ate my weight in fancy French cuisine.

So I'll leave you with one more picture. Because the only thing better than fireworks and unicorns?

Oh yeah.

A Hot British Man. (It's been too long, hasn't it?)

(The HBM wishes to congratulate Mindi Scott who ALSO accepted an agent's representation today! YAY MINDI!)

Two Happy Happys and a Guessing Game

As my favorite Asheville graffiti exclaims -- YES!

I did it! I won another NaNoWriMo.

The challenges were different this year. I had confidence that I would win -- but that made it easier for me to procrastinate. And even though I KNEW I was embarking upon a month of terrible writing, it was heartbreaking to witness it in action. Last year I was just so surprised at the volume being written, that I didn't care it was horrible! So this time, when volume was a given, the weak language hurt.

But.

I did it. And I'm proud of myself.

My Totally Brilliant Novel (as it has been "saved as") has a beginning, a middle, and an end -- though not necessarily in that order. It has peculiar characters that change repeatedly throughout the text, but I liked by the conclusion. I still don't UNDERSTAND them. But I like them. And I want to know them better.

There is still no plot, but there is HOPE for a plot.

And there are shiny silver threads tucked here and there, waiting to be plucked out this January and held up to the light and stitched together to create a new story.

A better story.

So that's what I've been up to. As you can see from my Handy-Dandy NaNo Word Counter (oh how I love thee, Handy-Dandy NaNo Word Counter!), the majority of my writing took place recently. Very recently.

Which is okay.

Not -- cough cough -- something I recommend doing again next year, but I met the goal, and that's what matters.

Because at this stage in my life, I'm the only person holding myself accountable. There's no agent, editor, or publisher setting deadlines. There is no contract. There is nothing but me and my laptop and a few nighttime hours to get this thing done.

The way I see it, the ONLY option I have is to finish. Graciously accept the deadline and run after it. Tackle it by its ugly, curly horns and wrestle it to the ground and DEMAND IT CALL ME PRINCESS.

'Cause, you know, I've always wanted to be a princess.

Anyway. I did it! Yay for me!

In other good news -- good news that comes without the bittersweet twinge -- I met someone AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING last Saturday. That's right. Someone worthy of three amazings.

In honor of this miraculous feat, I'll give you three guesses:


1. Jim Sturgess?



I WISH! But no. If I had met Jim, you totally would have heard about it by now. I would've written it in the sky or spray painted it onto your car door or, at least, sent you a crazed text:

OMFG I MET JIMSTURGES!!1! HES SO DREAMY!!

Guess again.


2. Jim Henson?



So, what, you're just going with people named "Jim"? Yes, this would have also been amazing amazing amazing, especially because HE IS DEAD. Honestly, people. Stop wasting guesses.


3. Kermit the Frog?


Okay. Now you're just being rude.



No. I met . . . JOHN GREEN!!!

John Green as in John Green. As in the guy who makes me want to give up writing because he is SO TALENTED that I bawl like a two-month old with diaper rash just to think about it.

He came to my favorite bookstore in the entire world -- Malaprop's -- and he was very very nice and I tried not to talk too much, because every time I meet someone I admire I start babbling crap and embarrass myself.

So I just stood there with a dazed grin on my face and tried not to lick his elbows.

Because, you know, that's where your creativity is stored. In your elbows. And if anyone licks your elbows, they can TOTALLY steal it.

It's true, I plomise.

John Green, carefully hiding his elbow behind my back

So JOHN GREEN signed his complete works for me, and now I am a very happy Stephanie.

Plus he gave everyone sprinkled cookies. How can you dislike someone who gives you sprinkles?? It is cosmically impossible to dislike sprinkles. Because even if you don't like how they taste, you have to admit the rainbow-colored sugar bits are lovely to look at.

But they DO taste good.

Just so you know.

Cue Maniacal Laughter (MWAHAHAHA!)

Dude.

I am so awesome, I can hardly stand it.

I wrote TEN THOUSAND words today for NaNoWriMo!

Please let me repeat that, because chances are slimbo that I'll ever get to say it again: I wrote ten thousand words today. Yippee!

Except . . . I never would have done it without Jolie's best-ever sticky note advice and Laini's "Once upon a time" strategy. And Jarrod's bargaining chip -- that if I reached my 10k goal before 10:30, we could watch an episode of Firefly tonight. ("Also, I can kill you with my brain.")

Love this.

So thank you Jolie, Laini, and Jarrod. I raise my glass of crazy delirious happy to you tonight.

In other news -- yes! Of course I saw Twilight this weekend!




I went with my fab pals Sumner and Paula, and it was cheesy and melodramatic (and WHAT were they thinking casting Jasper? SERIOUSLY?) but I totally loved it anyway.

The I-want-to-kiss-you-but-I'd-kill-you was yummy and romantic, and I adored Edward's fwoopy (as I keep hearing it described) hair, and GUESS WHAT??? Bella wore my shirt in two scenes! Very exciting to see a tiny piece of me -- in clothing form -- interacting with the dreamy Edward Cullen.

That is SO my shirt! I got it at H&M last Christmas. Which is NOT in Phoenix, so I don't know where Bella is shopping.

Also cute:

-- The protective dad scenes involving Charlie and Edward.
-- Stephenie Meyer hanging out in the cafe.
-- How they slipped the cover image from the novel into the cafeteria scene.
-- Radiohead during the credits. Totally unexpected.
-- Edward hanging out in Bella's bedroom. (Sorry, Paula!) Totally hot.
-- Edward in sunglasses. TOTALLY hot.

(Hot.)

But yeah. Let's hope New Moon gets a bigger makeup budget. And that ballet studio? So not in Phoenix either! And there's a future drinking game to be had with the all of those Steely Vampire Looks.

And Jasper.

HONESTLY.

What. Were. They. Thinking?

In Which I Do It (not "it" it, perv)

Brain . . . dead . . .

but it's done.

Revisions. Are. Done.

(Can I say that one more time?)

REVISIONS ARE DONE!!!

Well, you know, kind of done.

Today I mailed and hand-delivered copies to my super-fab feedback crew, and I have a week off. (Before I revise again.) Not that I won't be writing this week. I will definitely be writing. But I won't be writing THAT.

I can't think straight to be clever. Though I do have a good cannibal joke:

Why don't cannibals eat clowns?
Because they taste funny.

Will be back soon with regularly scheduled blog. With regularly scheduled life. With regularly scheduled sleep.

Sleep is awesome. It reminds me of this book:



Which is also awesome.

And I'd talk about it more -- give a detailed, pie chart presentation of said Awesomeness -- were I not so much like the guy in the background of this:



I am going to sleep now.

Zzz.

"I Love Your Blog" Award

Lookie! Someone loves me!

Wow. Thank you, Laini, for the "I Love Your Blog" award! What a fantastic way to start off a week. I'm all jittery and dance-y inside.

You know what this calls for, right? (Of course you do.)

A Hot British Man!

Jude Law: Skeezy nanny-banger or HBM? (Both.)

So now I get to name seven of my favorite blogs. Fun! Here's how this tag works:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog.

2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you (as shown above).

3) Nominate at least seven other blogs.

4) Add links to those blogs on your blog.

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.


Tra la la! Here we go.

The Lifetime Achievement Blog -- ljc fyi

I have to mention Jenny's first, because I've been reading it the longest. I've never met her or spoken with her or had any contact other than the occasional "Heh dude. I like yer blog" comment I've left behind, but well . . . I like her blog! It's been updated daily since 2000 (think about that) with photographs of pugs, scooters, crafts, gardening, and Cute Items Found at Wegman's.

The New (To Me) Blog -- Gretch-a-Sketch

How cool is Gretchen? She likes Neko Case, Jim Halpert, and pie. She had me at "I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why I haven't been reading your blog since the beginning of time, basically." Oh yeah. Flattery gets you everywhere. Right back at you, Gretchen!

The how much do I #$!#@&* love this person? Blog -- Mad About Old Movies

Deb is pretty much the coolest person in the world. Or at least Canada. She's been hanging out at the Toronto International Film Festival (um, can I die of jealousy now?) and was awesome enough to snap this photo of JIM STURGESS for me. Hee hee. We'll have to take her word on it, but that does look like a nice head of sufficiently mussed hair. (And she makes truffles and drinks gourmet tea, so I think we can trust her.)

The Local Blog -- The Asheville Dilettante

An Asheville librarian with colorful hair streaks who likes cooking and weird factoids and children's novels and gardening and Run Lola Run? WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME I HAVE ANOTHER BLOG???

The Obsession Blog -- Jane Austen Today

There are a lot of great Austen blogs, but this one is hands-down my favorite. It's an exploration of Jane in the modern-day media. Which means there are a lot of pictures of HBM in breeches and cravats.

(Not to mention, it brought my attention to the above picture, which makes me giggle to no end.)

The Escape + Research Blog -- Paris Daily Photo

I'm a longtime fan of PDP. Eric's posts are warm and funny, and his photography is always breathtaking. It's a welcome escape from work, even if only for a moment.

So it was weird for me when suddenly I found myself writing a book set in Paris, and his blog became one of my most valuable research tools! (And I say suddenly, because I swear, I had nothing to do with it. It just happened. It dropped out of the sky and into my lap and I went, "Huh? We're writing about this now? Are you sure?").

In other words, my escape from work became work itself! But if looking at gorgeous pictures of Paris is research, than I'm in the right business.

The First Click of the Day Blog -- Laini Taylor

I'm not sure if it's kosher to give an award back to the person who gave you the award, but how could I not? If you like books and faeries and brightly colored rooms and talons and baby animals and cupcakes and backyard boxing rings (wait, what?), then this is your place. She's an AMAZING writer -- if you haven't read Blackbringer yet, do do do! -- and I'm honored to be her friend.

Plus, she has hot pink hair.

Hold on . . . what's this??? A BONUS AWARD??

The It Saved My Butt Blog -- Not for Robots

Double the Laini!! It's more like a series of essays than a blog, but the simple fact is this. I have learned more practical writing advice here than from ANY book. Unique and detailed and encouraging, she gives the kind of wisdom I wish I'd had years ago. Thank you for saving my tired, weary, frustrated self (again and again and again).

Oh.

And for SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, I need to post another picture stolen from Deb's blog. You know, so we can compare the hair in the sketchy picture above with this crisp, clear photo below. Does it look the same?




WHO CARES? It's Jim Sturgess! And he doesn't boink nannies, so he comes guilt-free.