Potpourri, as in the Jeopardy! definition

 Today in Rutherford County's Daily Courier — Shout-out to book bloggers!

I recently updated my website with new events in 2012, but I'd especially like to draw your attention to the event this Tuesday, January 10th with NYT bestsellers Beth Revis and Carrie Ryan. We'll be at Fireside Books & Gifts in Forest City, NC at 7 p.m. for the launch of Beth's new book A Million Suns — the second book in her fantastic Across the Universe trilogy — and we'll be chatting, answering questions, and signing.

For those of you who CANNOT make it, we'll also be answering questions live via Twitter. I'm still not quite sure how it's going to work. I'll let you know as soon as I have more details.

In other news . . .

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

Anna and the French Kiss is a Cybils award finalist for Young Adult Fiction! Oh, man! This is the biggest honor that Anna has received, and I couldn't be more over-the-moon.

The picks are incredible. The other finalists are: Marianna Baer's Frost, Joshua C. Cohen's Leverage (also edited by my fabulous editor Julie Strauss-Gabel!), Sophie Flack's Bunheads, Geoff Herbach's Stupid Fast, A.S. King's Everybody Sees the Ants, and Ruta Sepetys' Between Shades of Gray.

I'm THRILLED for Anna to be in the company of so many wonderful novels. Thank you to Melissa Fox for nominating me, and thank you to all of the hardworking judges!

And, finally, here's something cool for anyone interested:

These beeaaauuutiful Anna and Lola icons were designed by aimmyarrowshigh for toreadabook (I *think* I have that right), and there are SO MANY MORE. Check them out here! And make sure to click on through to the individual blog posts if you want to see them all.

Of course . . . my favorite icons are the dirtier ones, especially this one from p. 212 of Lola:

HA HA HA!!!

And this one was surprising to discover since it is, um, *ME*:

The original photo, which is from this old blog post:

Happy weekend, everyone! Hope you have a great one.

Resolutions + ISLA News

Hello, friends!

Ahhhhhhhhhh. 

I love a new year. The first of January is the ultimate fresh start, yes? I love the resolutions, the empty calendars, the feeling that this year — this year — will be a great one.

The key to resolution-making is, of course, modesty. In high school, my lists were lengthy and zealous and could basically be summarized as "become perfect." (Exercise every day. Eat healthy. Sit up straight. Read Sartre. Become fluent in Tibetan. Stop farting. Etc.) Now I aim for achievable.

I don't normally share my resolutions, because the process feels somewhat like wish-making on a birthday candle, and everyone knows that birthday wishes must be kept private in order to come true.

But . . . it's not my birthday. And this does feel like a different sort of year.

So here they are:

HOME RESOLUTION: Beautify one room in my house per month. I've already started, and my January room is the guest bedroom. I'll show you the before-and-afters in a few weeks. (I love before-and-afters, don't you?!?) I want to fill my everyday life with more beauty.

WORK RESOLUTION: Tap into a second market. I'm extraordinarily grateful to have such TREMENDOUS support in the online YA communities (thank you, thank you, thank you!), and I'd like to broaden Anna and Lola's audience into the adult romance market. I'm currently scheming.

PERSONAL RESOLUTION: I was inspired by this TED video (which was inspired by the work of Morgan Spurlock) to try something new for thirty days. I'm starting with a resolution regarding my work habits, but I love the flexibility and freedom of this plan. I also hope to spend one month drawing every day, another taking a daily walk.

Now . . . I realize that many of you have already skipped ahead and are searching for the news about Isla and the Happily Ever After. I wanted to start with the resolutions, because the news I have somewhat ties in.

Bear with me for another moment.

Last year was hard for me. Very hard. So hard that I don't talk about it publicly — and what I have shared with you (mainly here on my blog) is only the tippy-top of the dangerous iceberg. I will try to say the following in the most simple manner possible.

Finishing Lola was the hardest thing that I have ever done. It left me mentally, physically, and spiritually barren. I was close to quitting . . . everything. It's taken me a long time to recover, and I'm only feeling like myself again now, about six months later. As I've learned with many hard situations in life, the only thing that can really heal a person is time.

What I'm saying is this: I need more time.

And my publisher has been kind enough to grant it to me.

Isla and the Happily Ever After is officially a 2013 release. Much of the novel is written, the cover has been shot, people are excited, but . . . it is not yet ready for the world. I could give you the book this fall, and it would be a good book, but I do not believe that it would be a great one.

 

It's still missing the heart, the love, the passion. I haven't had the opportunity to do the research that I enjoy. To do the multiple drafts and critiques and daydreaming and brainstorming. Those things that make good books great, those things that require time.

I spent much of last year feeling pained and disappointed in myself that I am not a fast writer. My original career goal was to release one book a year for my first five years, and after that I would become an every-other-year author.

But my brain doesn't work like that.

I am not happy when pushed to such extremes. My rigorous schedule turned something I love into something that made me miserable. I remember telling my editor last spring that if the process of writing Isla was anything like the process of writing Lola, then Isla would be my last book. I couldn't and wouldn't go on like that.

The good news is that this sort of over-dramatic sentiment, while true, is the sort that escapes one's lips when one is simply tired. When one needs time to heal.

I made a promise to myself, a resolution, to NEVER work to that extreme again. And, because of it, I have been healing. And I'm falling back in love with my craft.

I'm not sure what month in 2013 that Isla will be published. Again, time will tell. But I am so grateful for my husband, my agent Kate, my editor Julie, my friends, family, and everyone at Dutton and Penguin for being so supportive of this decision. It was not an easy one to make. I absolutely feel as if I am disappointing you, my readers.

So I want to take this opportunity to state very, very clearly: I was the one who pushed back my release date. Not my publisher. They have only been kind and understanding. I made the decision.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I hope — in time — you'll understand.

Happy New Year. I hope 2012 brings you happiness and good books.

xoxo,

Steph

EDITED TO ADD, AFTER READING YOUR COMMENTS: I should have stated my work resolution more clearly! While I have tentative, way-in-the-future plans to write in the adult market, I was actually referring to getting my young adult novels in the hands of more adult readers.

Cricket! My Sweet Cricket!

 ♥ ♥ ♥

Holy #$^%, you guys. THIS ILLUSTRATION of Cricket Bell by Simini Blocker.

I never, ever, ever show pictures of what my characters look like, because I don't want to spoil what's in *your* head, but . . . I had to break the rule for this one.

Because this is *my* Cricket.

Ohmystars, Simini. You have made me a deliriously happy author!

(I am dying. DYING.)

National Gingerbread House Competition

♥ My new holiday computer wallpaper ♥

My town (Asheville, NC) is lucky enough to host the National Gingerbread House Competition, and last night, Jarrod and I checked out this year's entrants. I won't bore you with the winners, but here are my favorites:

Adult category: Très Parisian! Très jolie!

Teen category: Rainbow food truck! Figgy Puddin!

Youth category . . .

WAL-MART! SECURITY CAMERA! HA HA HA!!!

That One Time Mayim Bialik Held My Book

If you want to know what it's like to win at life, it's when your friend Sasha emails you a picture she took of Mayim Bialik holding your book, and you're like "HOLY CRAP, MAYIM BIALIK IS HOLDING MY BOOK."

Not only is Mayim on two of the greatest pop-culture shows of all time — The Big Bang Theory and, of course, Blossom (which I watched religiously as a preteen) — but she has a freaking PhD in neuroscience! Also, she's classy. And adorable as proved by the above picture.

The picture in which she is holding my book.

Thank you, Sasha (and Mayim!), for making my heart feel as if it were made of sunshine and kittens and ice cream sandwiches. :-)

NOVEMBER: In Pictures

Before

After

John Hodgman and Lookalike Husband

Chicago, The Bean

Chicago, graffiti

Chicago, window display

Thanksgiving (the first of three!)

Special thanks to this post from Laini, which taught me how to make my pictures bigger on Blogger. I can't believe this upgrade has been available for ages!

Local Event + Linkages

First, the local event:

I've been asked by a few Ash-villains if I'm having any events soon. You're in luck! There's one this Thursday, November 3rd at the East Asheville library at 6:30 p.m. I'll be reading and answering questions, and I think prizes will be given away. I won't be selling my books, but if you bring your own copies, I'll be happy to sign them. The event is free, and it's for teens and adults.


Linkages, before I skedaddle off to work:


(1) I like this new two-page comic by Lucy Knisley, "Scaredcited," which explores paranormal creatures and the fears they represent. The subject fascinates me, too.

Lucy is the author of a great autobiographical comic about Paris called French Milk. I highly recommend it! And she did these awesome Harry Potter posters. And I own this tiny, random watercolor she made of Zach Galifianakis holding a cat:

(2) I'm excited to be seeing humorist/television personality/former literary agent John Hodgman later this month. I'm not generally interested in book trailers, but this one for his latest, That Is All, is tops. I also enjoyed yesterday's NPR interview.

If you aren't already familiar with his work, may I suggest browsing through his Daily Show clips? Like this one about Borders closing? ("It's been a tough couple of years for condescending nerds.") Or this one with book promotion tips? ("Writing a book is the most important thing a human being can do. Not only do books pass knowledge on to future generations, but they're also a check on the rampant growth of trees.")

He also has a hilarious podcast. And, of course, there was THIS.

I wish I could steal his funny.

(3) Finally . . . happy National Novel Writing Month! Anna, Lola, and Isla all have humble NaNoWriMo drafts, so I'm a huge advocate for the event. Read some of my tips here and here.

I'm not participating this year, because I'm working on draft eleventy-billion of Isla, but best wishes to all of you!

Live Blog: Monday

(Nataliedee)

Beth Revis and I are still working together, we still have a mutual goal, and it's still due this Thursday. But this week? I only waited four days to begin instead of six.

That's called PROGRESS, my friends.

This will be a mini-version of what I did last Wednesday. It's really just for my own benefit, so there's a place where I can be publicly held accountable for reaching my goal. (Er, some of us need more motivation than others.)

Instead of sharing our actual word count with you, this time we're working with percentages-of-goal-reached. According to her last blog, Beth is currently at 24% of her goal. Me?

9:30 a.m.

We all have to start somewhere.

The Thursday goal is 100%, and today's goal will be to hit 42%. Because I like the number 42.

By the way, if you're wondering why Night Owl Me is awake at such an UNGODLY HOUR as NINE-THIRTY in the MORNING, the landscapers are here again, plus now there's someone else installing a new bathtub/shower.

(This was not planned. OF COURSE the best time to install the new tub was this week.)

Ah, well. I'm just glad it's happening!

Updates to come throughout the day . . .

* * *

10:18: Oh, man. Starting is the WORST. I've already had breakfast, but I think I'll go get a snack.

10:25: The landscapers are covering my lawn with cardboard so it can be mulched. The tub installer is drilling and banging away at my old shower. I am eating potato chips.

10:30: Send Maureen Johnson various pictures via Twitter. Think about snail sex scene in Microcosmos, thanks to this tweet.

10:35: Need to use the bathroom, but water has been turned off! Visit next-door neighbor. Beg for toilet.

10:45: Turn on Freedom for Macs, because otherwise NO WORK will happen before noon.

12:00 p.m.: Frick. I lost two hundred words. Today's goal? Currently in the negative. Also, I'm tired. I SHOULD STILL BE ASLEEP.

12:10: Realize I've spent the last ten minutes thinking about sleep.

12:19: OHMYGOD, THIS BOOK IS SO BORING I AM GOING TO DIE.

12:22: Realize Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto is being released in America today. Hurrah! Download it. Perhaps I won't die today, after all.

I love you, Chris, but we're gonna have to talk about those new earrings.

12:35: Lunch time! Look out kitchen window and discover tractor in backyard.

12:43: Wait for cheap Alfredo noodle mix to cook. Accidentally turn on faucet for third time since the water has been shut off. Obviously, it's still not working.

12:47: Two more people arrive! Plumbers! I had no idea plumbers were coming. This brings the total number of workers around my house to nine.

1:00: To combat fatigue, drink protein shake. Tastes like chalky mango.

1:05: Stare at novel. Want to delete whole stupid thing. Eat fruit snacks.

1:10: Tractor-thing shovels gravel in my driveway. Mulch truck arrives. Tractor forced to move. Beep! Beep! Beep! The plumbers laugh about something in my bathroom. More drilling. Perhaps this is not an ideal writing environment.

1:25: Pop over to neighbor's house for the bathroom again. Sit with her on her porch and study my yard. Discover a tenth worker. Amazing.

1:50: Water! The water is back on!

1:55: Email Kiersten White about the usual: how tired I am, how much I don't want to write today, etc.

2:03: ESPRESSO. I will never get into the positive percentage range without ESPRESSO. I love you, Nespresso Pixie! SAVE ME.

2:15: Bathtub installer and plumbers leave for the day. They'll be back early tomorrow, emphasis on the early.

Well. At least my toilet works again.

2:30: Landscapers sing "Blue Moon" to each other outside my window.

2:42: Cat sneaks outside of hiding place in bedroom. Sneak sneak sneaks around. (It's okay, Mr. Tumnus! No one is inside our house anymore.)

3:45: A few hundred words gained, a few hundred words lost. Still not in the territory to use the percentage meter. Arrrrghhhhhh.

4:10: More chalky mango protein drink. More wanting to die.

4:15: Phone-talk with editor Julie. Work! This is legitimately work-related!

4:40: Reopen manuscript document. Deep sigh.

5:20: BOOK SO HARD. WHY YOU SO HARD, BOOK?!? STOP LOSING WORDS, BOOK!!! Five hundred more words bite the dust. Word count reaches new daily low. Time to stretch my legs and feed my dogs.

5:30: Jarrod comes home. We stare at our beautiful, beautiful yard for nearly an hour. We break out the champagne and walk around it for another hour. OUR YARD IS SO PRETTY. And it's not even done yet! Happy, happy. (But now it's too dark to take a picture. Sorry.)

7:30: Call Dad. Tell him about awesome new yard.

8:00: Delete five hundred more words. Rewrite five hundred more words.

8:30: Pizza and an episode of Party Down.

"Are we having fun yet?"

9:00: Back to work. Whee. Feel my excitement.

9:25: Espresso. We meet again, friend.

10:15: Cut, cut, cut. I'm currently -1,100 words from where I started. I SWEAR, I AM WRITING. There's just an unusually high percentage of muck to wade through today. Trying not to get frustrated. Pushing forward . . .

10:20: Okay, obviously I'm not going to hit 42% today. I wasn't prepared for this type of work. New goal = get something on that percentage graph. Anything on that percentage graph.

10:30: Succumb to nap.

12:05 a.m.: OH, LOOK. I'm working again.

12:55: Snack time! Wasabi peas.

1:09: Rewriting continues. Words deleted, words rewritten. I'm actually making good progress, and it's frustrating that I don't have numbers to show for it.

2:00: Finish another big section. Now I'm only -800 from where I started today. (Woo!) I hate to throw in the towel without having reached any of my goals, but I have to get up early again tomorrow. Bummer.


Thanks for checking in with me today! No doubt I'll see you here again soon.

Fresh & Honest

Backyard, this afternoon

It's a happy Saturday. My husband and I have been saving our pennies, and we've finally — finally — been able to hire landscapers to fix our yard.

A wonderful crew of four (plus an adorable eight-year old playing on a mound of flagstones) is removing the grass and debris and overgrown mess, and replacing it with evergreens, maples, fruit trees, berries, and flowering bushes. There will be mulch and boulders and curves instead of a square lawn, new privacy from our neighbors, and sitting areas to relax and take tea.

Yes. I am happy.

Years ago, when we moved into this house, I had fantasies of being a cottage gardener à la Tasha Tudor. (THIS BOOK, you guys. Heaven.) And we had a head start! Our home used to be on the local garden tour. So I figured we'd continue the tradition and have a beautiful yard filled with perennials and lawns and rambling roses and organic vegetable beds and everything lovely I'd ever seen in an English miniseries or classic children's novel.

And then a funny thing happened.

My husband and I discovered that we didn't enjoy yard work. (Not. Even. A little bit.) There are mosquitoes and humidity and weeds and pruning and sunburns and mowing.

Ohmygod, mowing.

So we let the garden go. First the perennial flowers disappeared, overtaken by the lawn. Then the older, stronger bushes grew up against the side of our house. New weeds arrived—tall, hardy weeds on weed-steroids. Several of our trees died. Our raised vegetable beds filled with wild grass, our planters filled with clover and moss, and our weeping cherry beat its arms against everyone who dared walk beside it.

But now. Now!




A fresh, honest start. When we spoke with our landscaper about ideas, we were honest about what would could and could not do, even when it was embarrassing: We didn't want to mow. We didn't want anything that required vigilant pruning. (But we didn't mind hiring someone once or twice a year to clean things up.) We wanted fewer people to be able to see into our backyard, so when it DID get out of control, we would have no witnesses.

But . . . we still wanted it to look pretty. Was this possible?

Yes, she assured us. It's possible.

I'm a huge believer in fresh starts and in being honest with yourself. For years, I was ashamed that I didn't have this magical gardening joy, that I hated something I thought I would enjoy. But I've grown content with this knowledge. That's how we learn, by trying new things. You discover what you can do yourself (I actually enjoy painting rooms!) and what you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help with (yard work, yard work, yard work).

There's a good metaphor in here for life and writing and such, but I think you already catch my drift.

Happy Saturday, my friends. I hope your gardens are growing strong.

Life Is Hard Before Noon

(Nataliedee)

10:45 a.m. — Greenlife Grocery, Asheville


I hand FRIENDLY CASHIER a bottle of juice and a small brown bag.


FC: Good morning! What's in your bakery bag today?

ME: Ohmygod. What DID I put in the bag?

FC: *smiles*

ME: ?!?!?!?!?!

FC: *waits*

ME: *peeks inside bag* What's that called? What's that even called?!?

FC: *waits*

ME: ?!?!?!?!?!

FC: *smiles*

ME: BISCUIT! I HAVE A CHEESE BISCUIT!!!


Mornings are too hard, you guys. I'm going back to bed.

Live Blog! Today! Author vs. Author Edition!

12:30: "OH, SNAP, REVIS. It's on!" — me, in a Twitter DM

Okay, so you have to read this post first for the following to make sense.

Yes. I'm the other half of Beth Revis's bet. I have 15,000 words due to her tomorrow. We've both been dragging our heels. She has 8,400 words left, and I have . . . wait for it . . .

15,000 words.

I AM THE WORST AUTHOR EVER.

Also, the worst bettor.

I'm reasonably confident that Beth has already won this match, and I'll be the one purchasing the coffee and treats at our get-together tomorrow. (And you'd better believe that authors can consume A LOT of coffee and treats.)

But.

That doesn't mean I'm happy to sit on my tush today and let her SHOW OFF how AMAZING and ON-TASK she is. I can be on-task, too! I swear I can!

TODAY SO FAR

9:09 a.m.: My alarm — set to give me a jump up on today's work — goes off. I snooze that bitch.

9:19: SNOOZE.

9:29: SNOOZE.

9:39: SNOOZE.

9:49: Screw you, alarm! I am turning you OFF.

11:04: Jarrod calls to see if I'm awake. I don't answer.

11:50: Jarrod calls again. I put the phone underneath my pillow.

12:11 p.m.: My phone bings. A text from Kiersten White. It makes me laugh, and I somewhat wake up.

12:12: Check Gmail and Google Reader on my phone, from bed.

12:15: Jarrod calls. I answer, but the call is short as my brain is fuzzy.

12:17: Back to Google Reader. Yay! A new comic from Kate Beaton!

12:25: Check Twitter and discover a direct message from Beth: "Be afraid. Be very afraid." + link to her live blog.

12:26: OH LOOK WHO IS OUT OF BED NOW.

12:27: Pace in manic circles around kitchen. Decide to skip breakfast. There's WORK to be done.

12:30: Blog.

1:10: OMG, I've spent too long blogging. Wake up, brain! Wake up!


I'll be updating this post all day. (And all night?) Back in a bit.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 0


1:20: Change my mind. BREAKFAST IS A MUST. Espresso (caffeine) + an English muffin covered in peanut butter (protein) ought to do the trick.

1:30: Return to the kitchen for bunny-shaped fruit snacks and cheddar-scallion sourdough twists. Why not?

1:35: Engage in a bit of friendly Twitter/blog trash talk with Beth. Eat pear-flavored Jelly Bellies.

1:45: OH. I should probably work, huh?


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 212/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 2801/8400


2:10: Music. I'm missing the music. Everything will be better if I have the right music. Turn on the Sunshine soundtrack, because it has the appropriate balance of drive and paranoia.

2:18: Phone-talk with my agent Kate about various stuffs. All is good.

2:30: Back to work.

2:31: Hungry.

2:32: Back to kitchen. Chicken salad on crackers, because: (A) more protein, (B) fast/easy.

2:40: Back to work.

2:41: Gum. I need gum. Dig out Trident Xtra Care Cool Mint, because: (A) need gum, (B) it has Recaldent, which helps strengthen teeth, which my dentist strongly recommends for me. Because I chew too much gum.

2:42: Back to work.

3:15: Change iTunes playlist to Girl Talk, a.k.a. musical crack.

4:10: SLEEPY. Nap time. But first, blog.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 632/15000 (HA HA HA! *sob*)
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 3626/8400


6:21: Sense a disturbance in the force and wake up from the pallet on my office floor. All of the animals in the house are moving. Ah-HA! Jarrod is home! YAAAAAY! Jarrod Jarrod Jarrod!!! I love him! He is so much fun!


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 632/15000 (Well. Just wait until my NEXT update.)
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 4475/8400 (11,175/15,000)


6:30: Way gross and stinky. My Secret Weapon (a.k.a. Jarrod) puts the kettle on while I shower.

6:45: Emerge from the shower like a new writer. Energetic! Clean! Inspired!

6:50: Don battle gear — fresh pajama bottoms and a NaNoWriMo shirt, for luck. Grab GIANT mug of tea and head back to work.

7:00: Check Beth's blog. She's been quiet for the last hour. Is she working or sleeping?!? Fingers crossed for sleeping, but all bets are on working.

7:02: Back to work.

7:40: Jarrod brings me First Dinner, which is more like Breakfast, Part Two. Scrambled eggs and another English muffin.

8:00: Blog. Maybe I'll try to do this every hour, on the hour from now on?


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 1035/15000 (Quadruple digits! Finally!)
BETH'S WORD COUNT: Still no update! What is this madness?!?


8:14: Realize I've spent too long updating/hunting for Beth online. WORK! Must get back to work!

8:35: Scene suddenly becomes sexy. Ooo! This bodes well . . .

9:00: Check Beth's blog for an update. Discover she's PLAYING DIRTY by calling on her readers to send me pictures of HOT BRITISH MEN via Twitter. Heh. A worthy effort, Revis, but perhaps you UNDERESTIMATE ME.

9:02: Discovers Twitter @replies filled with Wee James McAvoy. Eep! Gulp.

9:06: NO MORE! NO MORE!!!


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 2190/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: I think it's still the same??? Can this be TRUE?


9:07 - 10:00: Write the entire time. Do you believe?? Things are HEATING UP.

10:01: Discover Beth has resorted to killing off characters. Unsurprising, since I have resorted to make-out scenes.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 2562/15000 (Crap-it-all! I so thought I'd written more.)
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 5448/8400 (11872/15000)


10:05: Back to work.

10:50: Jarrod brings me an espresso and bowl of trail mix. OHMYGOD, MY TEETH. What the heck is wrong with my teeth? Eating suddenly hurts. SO UNCOOL. Beth, did YOU do this to me?

10:52: Teeth okay again. Phew.

11:00: Check Beth's blog. She's resorted to gifs to express her frustrations! Is this a sign of hope? Or will she come back from her break with a vengeance?


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 3585/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 5553/8400 (11997/15000)


11:10: Text from Kiersten. I MUST REPLY. Has Beth discovered my weakness?? Is she behind this?

11:13: Need to pee. NO! I NEED WORDS! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY CHAIR! Whyyyyyyyyyyy??? I hate you, espresso!!! This is YOUR fault. And so are all of these exclamation points and ALL CAPS!!!!!

11:18: WHY DID I JUST CHECK MY EMAIL? WHO CARES ABOUT EMAIL?

12:00 a.m.: Check Beth's blog. "Did you know that this is the longest time I've ever continuously live-blogged in one day? And it's soon to be the next day..." Yikes. Me, too. Welcome to the new a.m.

12:07: Look at clock. Feel weary for the first time since nap.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 4010/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: No new update. Hopefully, no new word count?


12:25: Thanks to advice from Twitter, I chug all three half-drunk caffeinated beverages currently sitting on my desk. HOLY CRUD, THAT WAS DISGUSTING. Why did they ALL have to have cream in them?

12:27: Realize I've been goofing off on Twitter for last twenty minutes. #$%^.

1:00: Delete several hundred words. Arrrrghhhhhh.

1:28: Beth is going to bed! Beth is going to bed! HURRAH! She'll still win, but maybe I can at least beat today's seven thousand word count? Must. Push. On.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 4399/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 7174/8400 (13598/15000)


1:35: LEGS. KILLING ME. How did I not realize that I've been sitting in the same position for two hours? Decide to move around for a bit. Take near-empty mugs to kitchen, but accidentally spill dregs onto living room rug. Find myself humming, "I like the nightlife. I like to boo-gie," as I clean up the mess. Also, Jarrod is asleep. Sad.

1:50: Back to work.

1:52: Ooo! Text from Kiersten.

1:54: Back to work.

3:00: Bloggity blog blog.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 5493/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 7174/8400 (13598/15000)


3:50: Finish gut-wrenching scene. Sad and exhausted, like the characters. Better switch to something else, and quick, otherwise I'll never beat Beth's score today.

3:52: Find sexysexy scene to tinker with. Yes. MUCH better.

4:00: Internet sooooo quiet. Bloggity blog blog.


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 6316/15000 (less than 1k away from *new* goal)
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 7174/8400 (13598/15000)


4:10: Thoughts: Yes. I'm REALLY still doing this. And I feel like I'm talking to myself now. BUT I SHALL MARCH ON.

5:24: Getting. Sleepy. So sleepy. Met new goal. But also came up with EVEN NEWER and BETTER goal . . . 8,401!


CURRENT WORD COUNT: 7457/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 7174/8400 (13598/15000)


6:21: DONE. BOOM!

6:22: Aaaaand I'm off to bed. Because, er, I'm meeting Beth in less than six hours. And even though I've reached her daily goal, I still owe her those treats. ;-)


FINAL WORD COUNT: 8450/15000
BETH'S WORD COUNT: 7174/8400 (13598/15000)

Two Event Thingies + The Piemaker

Join me here tomorrow?

Hi-ya! This is last minute, but if you're an SCBWI member within driving distance of Asheville, NC, there's a schmooze tomorrow in the loft of the Battery Park Book Exchange. I'm the special guest, and I'll be discussing writing and publishing in the children's/teen market. You don't have to be an SCBWI member to attend, but you do have to be serious (or curious) about publishing. It's from 2 - 4 p.m.

Also, the place serves champagne. Just throwing that out there.

Also also, Beth Revis will be in attendance!

In other event-related news, I am NO LONGER ATTENDING the Vegas Valley Book Festival this November. Something incredibly important in my personal life has come up over that weekend. I'm very, very sorry for anyone who had been planning to see me there. I will make an effort to visit Las Vegas in the future! Thank you for understanding.

And now . . . three gifs from Pushing Daisies, because, hello, it's my blog. And I can do that.

I love how many people have told me how excited they were to see the show mentioned in Lola and the Boy Next Door. If you haven't seen it and you like colorful, romantic silliness with a dash of amazing wardrobes and delicious pie — in other words, if you liked Lola — you MUST check it out. It's one of my all-time favorite television shows.

Also, I *may* have just purchased this Piemaker print by Nan Lawson:

The idea was submitted to her by my friend Connie. How could I resist?!?

Oh, Piemaker. I still miss you.

Link-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Maureen Johnson and I adjusting our pirate hats before an event in San Francisco. We take our jobs very seriously.

I find it odd that whenever I come back from a trip, and I have dozens of fun stories and photographs to share with you, I drag my feet and ache to talk about anything BUT the trip. I suppose it's similar to why I don't outline when I write; it's as if I've already told the story, and I'm a bit bored to tell it again.

Hats in action! (Photo: Alison Bogy)

Hat winners! (Photo: MJ)

So, today, I'm not going to talk about my first official tour (which was fantastic) or any of the related Lola stuff going on in my world right now (also fantastic).

I'm going to send you around the internet:


• I don't recall how I ran across MTV Iggy, but I'm so happy that I did. If you're like me — an American who sadlysadlysadly gets little exposure to world arts — check it out! (Why can't regular MTV be this music-based? I always sound like an old person when I yearn for ye olden days of MTV, but there it is. Sigh.) A nice place to start is this contest for the Best New Band in the World. Lots of interesting musicians in there!


• Rainy Mood. My new go-to website. All it does is make it sound like it's raining outside. Simple but perfect, no?


• "The Internet is not to blame for your unfinished novel: you are." I just rediscovered this great article about Twitter by Colson Whitehead, who is, perhaps, my favorite author to follow on what is, definitely, my favorite social media platform. (His hilarious Twitter feed can be found here.) (Okay, @horse_ebooks is amazing, too.)


• Kiersten White is on tour this week. If you live near Lynnwood, WA; Huntington Beach, CA; Highlands Ranch, CO; Boulder, CO; or Naperville, IL, you should go see her! She is sparkly and funny and wonderful. Tour details are here. Bring Anna and Lola, and she'll sign beside her name in the acknowledgments. She'll also sign, you know, her own books. So you should bring those, too. ;-)


• Finally, this is the best advice I've seen in ages.

Release Day, Release Day!

Happy release day, Lola-darling!

In honor of this fabulous day, here are three inspirational Lolaesque ladies:

(1) Tavi Gevinson, whom I wish I'd been as a teenager. Creator of the most quirkyfun fashion blog and what looks to be an AMAZING new online magazine for teen girls, Rookie. I adored her recent interview with Aubrey Plaza!

(2) Doe Deere, whom I wish I were now. Creator of my favorite lipstick line (seriously, I have six of them, and I'm aching for more!) and owner of a positively epic wardrobe.

(3) Francesca Lia Block, whom I wish to be someday. Creator of Weetzie Bat and dozens of other books and characters that Lola Nolan would not exist without.

Weetzie Bat is my all-time favorite novel — Yes! Out of any book ever! — and I've read it yearly since I was a teenager. It's perhaps my greatest inspiration. It's difficult to describe Francesca's work to anyone who hasn't read it, but maybe this will help: magic realism, Los Angeles, gritty, beautiful, urban, rock-n-roll, sad, sexy, faeries, strange, and lyrical.

Francesca is a goddess. And very, very Lola.

* * *

Three MORE things:

(1) For my book-blogger friends: You are welcome to add this new, cute, official, vertical banner of Lola/Anna to your website! Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find it.

(2) Thank you. To all of you. Your encouraging comments got me through an extremely difficult time in my life, and I will never forget the support that you have given both me and this novel. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it.

(3) xoxo

This Week In Awesome Reads

Many of the book-related blogs have been talking about the bounty of amazing YA reads coming out this week, and I can't help but chime in. Along with my own book-baby releasing this Thursday, there are three in particular that are close to my heart . . .

Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It's no secret that I'm incredibly happy and proud to be Laini's critique partner (and, more importantly, friend!). Simply put: This novel is a masterpiece. EVERYONE who loves fantasy should read it. It's gonna be huge.

Agency sisters Maureen Johnson's The Name of the Star and Kiki Hamilton's The Faerie Ring, both set in London. (Go kt literary! It's a big week for us!)

The Name of the Star is a witty, modern, Jack the Ripper, supernatural-thriller-romance. AWESOME, right? And it is. It has the feeling and flavor of a kick-ass episode of Doctor Who. Needless to say—though I'll say it anyway!—I loved it.

I couldn't manage to snag an advanced copy of The Faerie Ring, so here's the description:

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Doesn't that sound FAN-TAAASTIC? I can't wait to read it!

With soon-to-be NYT bestseller and worldwide phenom Laini

My most sincere congratulations to Laini, Maureen, and Kiki, and to everyone else who has a book being released this week. (And there are a LOT of us! Woo hoo!)

Please Read This Post

"If you are a woman, if you love a woman, please read my PSA on ectopic pregnancy." — Kiersten White

Events + LeakyCon, Pt. 2

Even kittens adore Lola. Thank you, Amber!

A few boring but necessary reminders to start off with . . .

(Sorry, sorry.)

The official release party for Lola is THIS SATURDAY. Malaprop's in Asheville! 7 p.m.! I'll be jabbering about the book, doing a reading, giving away prizes for knowing Anna and the French Kiss trivia, answering your questions, and signing ANYTHING you want me to sign . . .

. . . including Kiersten White's Paranormalcy and Supernaturally.

Seriously, bring them and I'll sign beside my name in the acknowledgments! You can also take my books to her events. We're doing that now.

And next week, I begin my mini-tour with . . .

WONDER WOMAN!

Maureen Johnson and I will be flying in her invisible plane to the Austin Teen Book Festival on October 1st followed by three stops in northern California: Petaluma, Oakland, and — my favorite of favorites, and Lola's hometown! — San Francisco. For dates/details, please visit my News page.

(Yes, you may also take Kiersten's books to those events. I mean, really, you should take them EVERYWHERE you go. Just in case.)

Soooooooo anyway . . .

I am really bummed that my release party falls on the same weekend as #weddingcon. (My Wizard Rock friends Matt and Lauren are getting married! And Jarrod and I can't go!) To help ease my sadness, I'll post the rest of my pictures from LeakyCon. (Part one is here, if you missed it.):

TEAM ANNA/LOLA/ISLA: My agent Kate, moi, and my editor Julie on a panel with the fabulous Rebecca Sherman. Yippee! Thanks for tracking down this photo, Molly!


I did my book signing with editor/author extraordinaire Cheryl Klein. Later, we danced together at the ball. SO much fun!

Now for a bunch of Wizard Rock photos stolen from Cheri Root (everything can be clicked on to make bigger/prettier):

YAAAAAY! Jarrod, performing as Gred & Forge.


More Gred & Forge. Check out Jarrod's red boots!


The Remus Lupins' last show. Sad/amazing. (And Jarrod again, this time on drums.)


Matt (The Whomping Willows) and Lauren Fairweather, a.k.a. our LeakyCon roommates AND the soon-to-be-newlyweds. I love you, guys! Congratulations!


Harry and the Potters. They DESTROYED it. Of course.


I love Wizard Rock.

And I'm sorry, but I'm not sure who took this next picture . . .

All of us collectively wet ourselves when Evanna Lynch (Luna! Lovegood!) took the stage to play with Harry and the Potters. She could really play, too.


Check out my Snape tattoo! The next day, several employees at the Harry Potter theme park thought it was real and let me skip to the front of the rides. Is it bad that I didn't correct them? HA.


With Jarrod. ♥ Thanks for taking these last two pictures, Renee! (R: How did we not get a picture together?!?)

And then the last day . . .

BEST THEME PARK EVRRR!!!


BEST RIDE EVRRR!!!


BEST CAT MADE OUT OF MEASURING TAPE EVRRR!!!

I can't believe those were the only pictures I took at the park, but I'm pretty sure you guys have seen the highlights elsewhere, right? Right. I'm also disappointed that I didn't get any pictures from the Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball, but . . . it was one of those moments where you had to be there, anyway. ;-)

There's not much I can say about the Harry Potter community without getting mushy and sentimental. It's filled with so much love, kindness, acceptance, and generosity. To everyone who was there, and to everyone who wanted to be there but couldn't make it: I am proud to be your friend.

And, with that, I shall take my leave . . .