Sparkly Ninja Vampires

Okay, there really isn't any vampires.or ninjas. Unless you count my mad skills. I just wanted to get your attention. Well, that and the fact that my brain is practically mush and I couldn't think of any relating title. at all.

So tomorrow I have another book signing (the info is under my "appearances" page if you're interested) and I'm just as nervous as I was with my first one. I have the same thoughts running through my mind like, what if nobody shows up? Maybe that fear never really goes away?

I'm so swamped with deadlines right now. I'm working on two simultaneously. But then I get emails from my editor showing me THIS, and it motivates me to keep going!

What motivates you when you feel a bit overwhelmed?

PS- Sofia is blogging every Tues & Thurs over at Blogtastic!

Simple Writing Tip

It's so easy. Simple. So why didn't I do it sooner?

I'm talking about reading what I write. Out loud. I never thought it would make such a difference. But here's what I've learned:

Flow of dialogue. When your characters are actually speaking, you realize they wouldn’t say it quite that way. It helps to make it sound more believeable.

Typo's and mispelled words. My brain skips over these, but  I catch more errors this way.

Pacing. In exciting parts where you're building up the suspence, the pace should be faster,  the sentences shorter. I realize sometimes i'm too "wordy" or not detailed enough.

Inconsistencies. My character was talking to her mom, but suddenly her dad is responding. Oops!

Do you read your work out loud? Does it work for you?

Best Books To Traumatize Kids

Okay kids, get your sporks out....

Me too, kid. Me too.

I have a feeling they've given away the ending with this one.

...definitely not that jerk laughing at the kid in the wheelchair.

This gives me chills of excitement

 Not sure where Honey Wheeler's other hand is but,
 judging by Trixie Belden's expression, it must be someplace interesting...

Have you seen any books lately that made you wonder what WERE they thinking??

Super Gossipy Goodness

Have you heard?

GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM is in it's second printing now! How super is that?? And tomorrow will be exactly one month since its release. Even though it feels like just yesterday.

What super stuff is going on with you?

The Write Room

How would you describe your perfect writing room? Check out my post today over at Project Mayhem.

Even the famous were rejected

We've all been there at some point. Feeling like there are only rejections cluttering your inbox? Thinking that you will never get an agent? Never get published? The journey can be very frustrating. But sometimes hearing about other authors rejections who turned into famous, accomplished authors can help us feel better.

Judy Blume. She "received nothing but rejections" for two years. Judy Blume stated, " I would go to sleep at night feeling that I'd never be published. But I'd wake up in the morning convinced I would be. Each time I sent a story or book off to a publisher, I would sit down and begin something new. I was learning more with each effort. I was determined. Determination and hard work are as important as talent."  Who hasn't felt like this, right?


Meg Cabot. Who hasn't read THE PRINCESS DIARIES? It slipped through the hands of 17 publishers before finally being accepted for publication.

Stephen King. He received dozens of rejections for his first novel, CARRIE. He even recevied a rejection from a publisher that stated, "We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell."

William Golding, author of LORD OF THE FLIES. This book was rejected 20 times. One rejection from a publisher said, "an absurd and uninteresting fantasy."

Anne Frank. 16 publishers rejected her! One publisher said, "The girl doesn't, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the 'curiosity' level." Another said the book was scarcely worth reading.  Really??

J.K. Rowling. So, the first Harry Potter book was rejected by DOZENS of publishers. Big ones, including Penguin, HarperCollins and Bloomsbury. Guess how the book finally became published? A CEO’s eight-year old daughter begged her father to print the book.

John Grisham. His first novel, A Time to Kill, was rejected by a dozen publishers and 16 agents before breaking into print and launching his best-selling career.

EE Cummings. His first work, The Enormous Room, was rejected by 15 publishers. He eventually self-published the book which went on to become considered a masterpiece of modern poetry. And get this--he dedicated the book to the 15 publishers who rejected him. Nice!

Now, doesn't this make you feel a little better?

"The best revenge is massive success." Frank Sinatra

Virtual Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to me! haha I'm a huge birthday type girl. Last year I even threw myself a birthday party. It was officially called my "Pink Cupcake & Champagne Party." Everything was pink, and I had a cupcake bar with five different kinds of homemade frosting (sorry, no bacon).

Today I decided to bring some cupcakes for everyone. Sorry, they might taste a little off, since they're virtual and all.

Now, for entertainment. Who's discovered the People of Walmart site? I didn't even know what that was until my brother told me he stalked someone with his camera phone trying to take a pic of a guy with "his pants on the ground." So, here are some of the lovlies:

Hersheys has a new butterscotch chip!

Oh, the horror! One picture really says it all.

I didn't know I could buy a table dance at Walmart too! They really do have everything now

Really? Do you think when you dress? Did you toss on these shorts because, well they rock,
then grab the shirt your kid jammed into the paper shredder?

Why would you choose to look like everything you see is shocking?

At least she's giving a warning that she will plow right over you

GOSSIP gets reviewed

GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM had the honor of being reviewed by Barrie
Summy for her Book Review Club. In case you don't know Barrie (how
could you not?!) she is the MG author of the successful "I So Don't Do
Mysteries" series. Check out her review of GOSSIP along with other
book reviews here: www.BarrieSummy.com.

Also going on today is the uber awesome 150 Follower contest on Amie
Borst's blog. Enter to win some terrific books, a partial ms critique,
and more! www.Amie-Borst.com. Tell her I sent you!

What's going on in your bloggy world today?

Obsessions

My current obsessions are:

1. Reality TV. More than ever.  And the latest? Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Seriously, THE DRAMA! Who's with me?

2. I started the book UGLIES. But because I have a deadline right now, I can only read a chapter before bed. But so far, I love this book! I already know I'll have to snatch up the others in this series.

3. Lattes. I just found out how low in calories they are, so they've become my lifesaver during my deadline. Hey, maybe that has something to do with why I can't fall asleep at night?

4. Interviews. I love answering questions. In fact, check out my interview with Stephanie on her blog Scribbler to Scribe! AND, if you haven't already, go to her blog become a follower.

5. Email stalking. It's what I do. You know, constantly checking emails every few minutes. I'm not sure what I'm expecting, but maybe it's the excited feeling of seeing a new email, meaning someone actually thought of me, that i'm addicted to! If you're looking for something to do, you can, um...email me. wink, wink.

So what are your latest addictions/obsessions?