I’m back from vacation, and yes, FINALLY, I understand how to use the digital camera. (Really, I understood before; I just didn’t get how easily — and fatally — it could all go so wrong.) This is how and why I can offer a few photos:
— though I will be soon. I just had to post to share this really terrific review of Evernight up now at TeensReadToo. I’m so excited!
Other good things happening this morning:
* I just saw the cover art for Stargazer, and it’s AMAZING. (Will share when I return –)
* Amazon kindly delivered my copy of Elizabeth Scott’s Perfect You just in time for me to read it on the plane.
* I think I actually packed everything I need, thanks to you guys.
Next post is from Ireland —
Tomorrow night, I leave for a much-needed vacation in Ireland. Of course, with deadlines looming, this is going to be a working vacation — but the day job will be far behind, and I’ll be doing my writing between museum visits and trips to the chip shop and, if the weather permits, even a short hike.
I’ll definitely post all about it, and I hope to share pictures. I’ve been negligent in even attempting to use my digital camera ever since the deeply psychologically scarring Rome Photo Debacle of 2006. (Apparently I accidentally flipped the the camera function to MOVIE, never caught it, and came home without the dozens of photos of the Forum and the Vatican I thought I’d taken; instead, I had dozens of three-second-long movies of my friend and I discussing whether we thought that picture would come out. Honestly, the little movies have their charm, but no pictures of Rome! I was crushed.) I am determined to get it right this time, though, and if I do, I promise to share the results.
I think I’m all packed. I HOPE I’m all packed. Quickly, tell me — when you go on vacation, what’s the one thing you most often forget to pack? You might be rescuing me!
I’ve been too busy to think up a good April Fool’s gag, which is a shame. But I leave for Ireland in four days — ack! — and the list of things I don’t have done is much, much longer than it needs to be. Hourglass revisions, short story revisions, packing, and more: The next month is going to be a challenge. (Even in Ireland, I’ll be working. But I’ll be working between fish ‘n’ chips runs, which will make it all the sweeter.)
When I get back from Ireland, it will be six weeks until Evernight‘s release! And that means I’ll be starting up contests — one each week — leading up to the big day, May 27.
I already have a few ideas for contests, but I’m interested in hearing from you guys: What would you like to win? I can’t afford really expensive prizes, but I want to provide stuff that would be fun and that you’d enjoy. Do you prefer straight “put your name in” contests, or would you rather compete with vampire trivia or something like that? Any and all ideas are very welcome.
So, today was my first real hike — six miles in a state park in New Jersey. And yes, it turns out, I DO love hiking. I mean, right now both my knees hate me and I am unbelievably exhausted, but I enjoyed it so much. It was cold today, but not too much, and once we got moving, I actually had to remove some layers. The sun came out after about an hour, and although the park was obviously a bit stark this early in the spring, we spent most of our time by the river, which was very beautiful and very soothing.
I tend to under-prepare for things, but here I went in the other direction and did crazy amounts of research about every possible advisable thing I could have with me. I had a safety whistle. I am that big a dork. But it was worth it, because I was well-clothed, well-shod and sufficiently fed. The thing I was happiest about was my thermos of hot cocoa, which I got to drink beside the river while feeling very much that all was right with the world.
I will do a few things differently next time: More sunscreen (which I wore, but not enough, as my cheeks are now very pink), knee braces and maybe an ankle wrap (Why, joints? Why?) and probably more water — I had enough for the hike but found I wanted more on the way back. Also, I will go ahead and plan to have something to eat immediately post-hike, because oh, MAN, was I starving. Actually, I’m still starving. Must scrounge up some late-night repast.
Anyway, this was my first real hike but not my last. So my bio on my site is finally telling the truth: I do enjoy hiking.
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You Should Be a Film Writer |
 You don’t just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen! |
If only I’d known.
I am still sore from the trainer’s workout, but it was truly a very good hour. I swear I’d lost two pounds by the next morning, although I think that was less burning calories and more the body fat fleeing in terror, realizing that its warm, indolent oasis had become a vale of pain.
In two weeks I travel to Ireland (yay!), but after I return, I think I will spend a couple of months with the trainer. We’ll see what happens. More pain ahead! But, hey, maybe good upper arms in time for summer dresses.
Ow.
Send help.
Mommy?
I finally have a few ARCs to distribute. A few of them are spoken for, and another few I’ll be distributing via the pre-launch contests for Evernight. (I can’t believe those contests will be starting soon. I am currently hunting up goodies besides the ARCs, so stay tuned.) But I also have a couple left over.
Anybody out there run a review blog? Or know somebody who does, and who might enjoy a YA vampire romance? Suggestions gratefully accepted.
Thanks so much to the anonymous source who upped this to a paid account! I’m very grateful, not least because this means I can now post polls. This is a very good thing, because I’ve been meaning to ask you guys a question:
I’m preparing one of my anthology stories — the one about the young witch Cecily, whom you guys helped me to name — and the tone definitely wants to be more lighthearted. However, I’m also developing a proposal for a book (or books) about Cecily, but as I work on that, I realize that the longer story would be much more serious in tone, mostly because of some things that would have to happen to shake up Cecily’s world and make it complicated enough to sustain a longer plotline.
So basically, I’m trying to find out what you would think as a reader if you’d read the anthology story, enjoyed it, then later picked up a book starring this character that had a different tone to it altogether.
A good friend is coming into town this weekend, so I’m looking forward to that, although she’s going to have to watch me write part of the time. Must lay in provisions of chocolate to keep her happy and entertained.
As of about 30 minutes ago, the first draft of Hourglass is complete! Woohoo!
This gives me six whole weeks to polish. And, uh, write two anthology stories. But that’s OK, because as long as I’ve got a draft of the book to work with, the rest will fall into place.
The draft will need some cutting, and the first chapters in particular are a bit flabby, but that’s what rewriting is for.
Either wonderfully or maniacally, I am considering working on my thriller concept for the rest of the night. But not before I do a little celebratory dance.