Graphic Evolution of GOSSIP

Day four of this Blogtastic Blog Tour goes to Jen Daiker at Unedited. Her post is totally cool. She is going to show you the Graphic Evolution of my MC , Sofia, from GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM!

While I have your attention, I htought it would be fun to show you the graphic evolution of two other characters from the book, the BFF, Nona, and the crush, Andrew.

NONA BEFORE- She was "too" cartoony

NONA BEFORE

NONA AFTER-less cartoony, more graphic. And,a noticeably larger head!

These were other Andrew "possibilites" but they just didn't seem right.
And the first one here was too cartoony as well.

The original Andrew ended up being the final Andrew.

I make e a point of never showing his eyes.



So if you haven't already, check at Jen's blog and see what Sofia could have looked like!

Which do you prefer?


The Blogtastic! Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, April 18^th: The Misadventures in Candyland 
She will have super secret info to dish on me. And a super secret picture!

Tuesday, April 19^th: The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment
Find out how the illustration process works and see (exclusively!) illustrations cut from Gossip From The Girls' Room!

Wednesday, April 20th: Rambles & Randomness
A way fun interview and a image of how I did my research for Gossip (never before seen!) And win a copy of GOSSIP!

Thursday, April 21st:  Unedited
See the graphic evolution of Sofia Becker from Gossip. What? She had other looks? Wait till you see!

Friday, April 22nd: Talli Roland
What's the most embarrassing question I get asked? And seen before drawings from my childhood (yikes!)

Saturday, April 23rd: Booking Mama
Did you get teased or bullied as a kid? I did! Find out what about!

Monday, April 25th: Random Acts of Reading
Omigosh! Did I really send a query to Random House when I was a kid? Visit to find out!

Tuesday, April 26th: Amie Borst
A way humorous Q&A session and revealing book covers, including the new cover for RUMORS! Plus, awesome giveaway!

Research Much?

Do you write about subjects you already know? Or do you research? They always say, write what you know. Not sure who "they" is, but it makes sense, right? I've written two stories based on experiences, and research. And the best kind of research is hands on! You might remember from last year how I went on a real live ghost hunt for a supernatural sotry I was writing. Well, for GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM, I did a little hands on reasearch too. What did I do?

For day three of the Blogtastic Book Tour, Vicki Rocho (Thanks, Vicki!) has posted all about it (and maybe a picture too)!

So head on over to her fabulous blog, Rambles & Randomness..Now, don't make me repeat myself!

Check out the blog tour schedule HERE.

Blog Tour Day 2: Blogtastic Illustrations!

Ever wonder the how the illustration process works for GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM? Today, The QQQE blog (Hi Matthew!) kicks off the second day of the Blogtastic! Blog Tour, and I reveal how this process works. Oh, and he might kinda also sorta share with you images from GOSSIP that were cut from the book, and the reason why! And you know what else? He's doing a super awesome giveaway. So you k now what that means, right? Head over to his blog right now! And if you misssed yesterdays blog tour post, head straight to Candyland's immediately after! Yeah, she might have some super secret stuff to share too!

Reminder: still time to enter and win one of my art prints! Winning!!

Blog Tour, Interview, Giveaway, Oh My!

Today, the uber awesome Candyland  kicks off the blogtastic blog tour for Gossip from the Girls' Room! So head on over to her blog for some super secret info exclusively for her readers! You can view the schedule HERE. 

I also had the pleasure of doing an interview with  Literary Asylum, so head on over there too. And while you're at, be sure to follow his blog. It's Blogtastic!

Now, as promised, there is a GIVEAWAY! Me and Amie Borst have joined collaborative foces and opened the best Etsy shop ever! As of today, it's officially open so check out Happily Etsy After.

I do customized art pieces at Happily
Etsy After. Only $15!

 

We will be adding more items every few days, so check back often. To celebrate the kick off, I am givinig away this signed print (from my most popular sold gallery piece), Little Red Riding Hood:

Enter to win by leaving a comment answering "What is your favorite fairytale?" And that's it! Now, go see the wonderful item Amie is giving away today!

Blog Tour Schedule

The blog tour schedule is below (and posted in my blog sidebar). Please feel free to help promote and post this on your blog or sidebar. Be sure to check out my blog on these days too, as I will have additional things to share, contests, and more!

Monday, April 18^th: The Misadventures in Candyland 
She will have super secret info to dish on me. And a super secret picture!

Tuesday, April 19^th: The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment
Find out how the illustration process works and see (exclusively!) illustrations cut from Gossip From The Girls' Room!

Wednesday, April 20th: Rambles & Randomness
A way fun interview and a image of how I did my research for Gossip (never before seen!) And win a copy of GOSSIP!

Thursday, April 21st:  Unedited
See the graphic evolution of Sofia Becker from Gossip. What? She had other looks? Wait till you see!

Friday, April 22nd: Talli Roland
What's the most embarrassing question I get asked? And seen before drawings from my childhood (yikes!)

Saturday, April 23rd: Booking Mama
Did you get teased or bullied as a kid? I did! Find out what about!

Monday, April 25th: Random Acts of Reading
Omigosh! Did I really send a query to Random House when I was a kid? Visit to find out!

Tuesday, April 26th: Amie Borst
A way humorous Q&A session and revealing book covers, including the new cover for RUMORS! Plus, awesome giveaway!

Fabulously Funny Friday

The next time you receive a rejection, print it out and do this! I think this baby has the potential to be a future author!

Blogtastically Bloggy Plans

The awesomeness of what is called my Blog Tour is scheduled April 18th-April 26th. Each blog participant will be doing a "unique" post, so you'll be able to read everything from Sofia evolution and original images in GOSSIP that were cut, to the annoucement of new book covers, illustrations from my childhood days (ha!), and even some super secrets and a new website! Plus, lots of giveaways! I'll be posting the schedule on here soon, so mark your calendars! Seriously, do it.

In other news...

GOSSIP went into it's 4th printing a few weeks ago. Yeah, I was stunned too. Happily stunned.

SOFIA will be adding some new features on her Blogtastic! blog which will include character interviews. So if you have a fictional character and think you can stand the challenge of Sofia's questions, then let me know!

AMIE Borst (who doesn't know this fabulous girl?) and I have decided to stir up a little (creative) trouble together and have an ubertastic annoucement next week! And there might be a giveaway involved. Just sayin'.

So, what are your upcoming bloggy plans (you know, besides my blog tour :)?

Luck or Skill?

It seems when great things happen to people, we are the first to say, "Man, they are SO lucky!" Okay, so this is me anyway. But is it just really luck, or is it skill?

SKILL: Writing till 3am without coffee and being able to still speak coherently.
LUCK: Writing till 3am and nabbing the very last piece of chocolate cake.

SKILL: Creating a diversion and outsmarting the zombies.
LUCK: Finding out that zombies are repelled by bacon breath.

SKILL: Your fabulous writing turns into a best seller.
LUCK: Getting the book deal on your first try. Ever. And your book becomes a best seller on it's release day.

SKILL: JK Rowling
LUCK: JK Rowling

Do you think skill & luck are like marshmellows & peanut butter-can't have one without the other?