Informal Book Club

I'm part of this exciting opportunity through Jen's Blog,  so now I'm looking for six people who would also love to join in on this fabulous fun!

Informal Book Club

There is no money involved so it is legal and fun.

All you have to do is send a book (paperback, audio book, hardcover) that you have already enjoyed to the person listed on the back of the sheet I will mail to you. There is no need to box the book you mail; a mailing envelope is fine. Be sure the book you send is still in good condition, we don't want anyone being shorted out on the fun.

How do you know where to send the book to?

The letter that will be mailed will have a address label listed on the back (that is where the book will be sent) from there you will make 6 copies of the letter and attach the 6 address labels I provide for you. Find 6 people you would like to join in on the fun and send the letter (with my address label on the back) and 6 address lables of your own (loosely in the envelope) so you can receive books.

What's the point of this? Sending out 6 letters means you will eventually get 36 books for FREE!!!! You are only sending letter amongst friends and people you know so you can already see how much fun and how easy this will be!! It will be interesting to see what kind of books you'll receive!!

So who wants to join??? If you absolutely cannot resist, all you need to do is be one of the first SIX commenters to write "yes" and include your email address. I will then contact you for your snail mail add and mail your letter to you. How cool is that?!

ONE MORE THING - only sign up to do this if you are able to send out your book soon (within a few weeks of when you receive the letter) so that we can be fair to all participants. I don't want anyone waiting to get their novels.

BTW - Tomorrow is Guess That Character Blogfest! So be sure to check out my blog to tomorrow to read a snippet from one of my books and guess my characters description!

PS- Check out my other blog post for today, Gossip From the Girls' Room-ARC's!

Gossip From the Girls' Room- ARC's!

I pulled a Jen today and i'm doing a two post day. Why? Because I have such terrific news it deserves it's very own post!

(Summary from inside cover)
Sixth-grader Sofia Becker writes a blog about everything she overhears in the girls' bathroom,
especially mean things about the super-popular Mia, but comes to realize that gossip
has consequences and popularity is hard to achieve.

My ARCs of GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM, A Blogtastic! Novel came in the mail yesterday! I got to hold my book for the very first time. Ever. It was...strange. Looking at all the text and illustrations come together to form a solid ,published book just feels so surreal. It's not something I have to go online to look at anymore, I can actually hold it, turn it over in my hands, flip through the pages. It's the moment that I've waited for since...well, forever.

I look at the illustration on the cover and I think, "I remember drawing it but I don't feel like I drew it." Same with the text and inside illustrations. The ARC's I have are paperback, whereas when the books hit the store shelves it will be hardcover. But the book now is so super cute and I absolutely adore it. Now, I'm totally eager for people to read it!

Here's the thing. I only received four ARC's. I will be getting more, I'm just not sure when. So my problem is figuring out how to make the most of these four books for now. Right now I can tell you I'm keeping one, so that leaves me with three. What to do with the remaining three?

I want it to get some exposure. I want people to read it who really want to read it. I'm torn between several different things. For starters, I'm still thinking about doing a blog giveaway. But I don't know what yet. I want it to be something more creative than just "leave a comment and you'll be entered to win" type thing.

Second, I want to give one to a blogger who will do a review of it on their blog and post to Amazon. But who and how do I make that decision?

Third?

How and what would you decide if you were in my shoes? Which, by the way, are a 7 1/2 and quite fashionable.

PS- You can check out my other blog post for today, Informal Book Club, and join in on the fun!

Getting Old(er)

Before I signed with my agent, I used to be a humor writer for print and online magazines. It's been fun reading some of my old articles, such as things to do at Walmart if you're bored (a must try list!) and what happened when the Hamburglar was replaced by an actual fry thief (true story!).  So, I thought I could eventually share these on the blog. But for today, I decided to post about age. And although I'm not WAY old and I don't feel old at all (my mind is in age denial), I sometimes do or say things that make me think, "Omigosh, I'm totally old for just doing/saying/thinking that!" or "I sound just like my mother!" 

So I kind of joke about the whole age thing. Like my mom, she's been 28 for as long as I can remember. Some of you probably haven't even reached your 24th birthday yet, but how many of you have celebrated your 25th birthday for the last ten years? Twenty? Even though we're in age denial, there are are some signs we can't deny that  prove we might be getting a teeny tiny bit older. Such as:

1. You walk into a room and forget why you’re there. Repeat four times before realizing you just wanted a drink of water.

2. You’re asleep, but other’s worry you’re dead.

3. Your friend is dating someone more than half their age, and isn’t breaking any laws.

4. People call you at 8pm and ask, “Did I wake you?” They did.

5. Happy hour is a nap.

6. You have a party and your neighbors don’t even realize it.

7. You have more hair in your ears than on your head. And you don’t care.

8. It takes three tries to get up from the couch.

9. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.

10. You sink your teeth into a grilled cheese. They stay there.

11. The twinkle in your eye is just the reflection of the sun on your bifocals.

12. You can’t remember where you put you’re glasses.

13. An hour later you remember you’re wearing your glasses.

14. You sit in a rocking chair, but you can’t get it going.

15. You’re secrets are always safe with your friends because they can’t remember them.

16. You don’t worry about tying shoelaces. All your shoes are slip-ons.

17. Adult diapers? Actually, they’re kind of convenient.

18. You look both ways before crossing a room.

19. Your worst enemy? Gravity.

20. You see toys from your childhood. In a museum.

21. Your knees buckle. Your belt won’t.

22. You start every sentence with “Nowadays…” or “When I was your age…”

23. Someone says it’s windy today, and you reply, “No, it’s Thursday.”

24. You pet your cat on the bathroom counter. It’s really your toupee.

25. You get winded on the stairs. Going down.

BUT, look on the brightside. There are many perks to getting older, right?  Such as closer parking, discounts, and the fact that you're least likely to get kidnapped.

In fact, you can still play your favorite games. Just… mildly altered.

1. Sag, You're It!
2. Spin the Bottle. Of Mylanta.
3. 20 questions. SHOUTED INTO YOUR GOOD EAR.
4. Doc Doc Goose.
5. Simon Says (something incoherent).

And just remember: The nice thing about being senile is you can hide your own Easter eggs!

No Spllenig Erors

We all make spelling mistakes, who isn't thankful for spellcheck? But what about obvious, painful spelling mistakes that are totally public--and embarrassing?  A few weeks ago I noticed a restaurant by my house that had a HUGE adverstising sign out front that said "New Onership."  Okay, you have to wonder why this person DIDN'T have this checked out before--and why nobody else noticed? And then you have to wonder what kind of owners took over this place. And hopefully the food is better than their spelling!

Here are some other slightly obvious spelling mistakes that you can't help but cringe when seeing. Can you imagine what these people thought when they finally realized their errors. All I can say is, I hope I don't have one of those days!

Remember, only Nuns can drop off cans!

Hmm, I don't remember being taught that in school either.

My guess is that a Harvard graduate did NOT make this.

Perhaps this is just a faster way to say no smoking while working?

But what about the low ceiling?

*shakes head* no comment

But officer, the sign didn't say stop.

This one takes the cake.

Sorry dude, but you're not as awesome as you think!

Achy Breaky Art

I have an art show coming up the end of September, it's a Sci-Fi/Horror show and I'm sooo looking forward to it. BUT, I have to make some new art pieces because, well, I haven't made anything new since March of this year for the Alice in Wonderland Art Show. I've been so busy with my writing deadlines and now, even though i'm working on something underwraps right now, I have that little bit of extra time to create some new pieces. Yay!

So last night I bought paper clay and decided to try my hand at bringing my characters to life. You know, the super big eyes, straight noses, sorta creepy looking but loveable. How perfect for the upcoming show, right? I could totally creepify them even more. Well, I started small and I'll have more pics to share later, but the first thing I made (and don't laugh--this is my first time ever using paper clay and trying to sculpt!)-- is the head of an art doll of one of my characters. The picture is just the actual clay, it still needs to be painted and have hair and everything, but this is the first stage. I have a hole at the top where I will put in a ribbon so this one can be hung. I will make some kind of ghostly, transparent dress that will flow around her body, adding arms and legs as well. I will probably paint her skin all white and give her some freakishly out of control frizzy bed head for hair. I want her, in the end, to have a "haunted" look. So, this is my before and  by next week I'll post the "after" pics and we shall see if she lives up to her expectations.

Here are some other art pics I drew from early on, showing the before/after and some of the stages. You can see my other post, Don't Have An Art Attack, where I show some others.

THE GARDEN Ink drawing on cardstock

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (before) Ink sketch
 (after) charcoal & oil pastel on 8x8 panel

WHY ME? (before) pencil sketch (after) charcoal & ink
decoupaged onto wood and handmade paper (Sold)

TOASTED (before) Pencil & Ink Sketch

TOASTED (after) Framed, Charcoal & Ink 11x14 (Sold)