Kristin Halbrook, Author

Kody's AMN Cover Reveal

2012-01-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

If the title doesn't intrigue you, perhaps that partially hidden expression will. This looks, to me, like the PERFECT book to relax with at the beach or on a blanket at the park. Now just need the good weather to come along.

Kody's also giving a copy of the ARC away. If you haven't seen her post, head over to check out the details, then come back to leave a comment here for an extra entry. Good luck and happy reading! :)

Everyday I'm Tumbling

2012-01-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

So, I went to the Island of Misfit Tumblrs, picked out an adorable, fluffy newborn and have proceeded to feed and water daily. So far. Hopefully will end up with a nice little Tumblr who snuggles with my toes at the foot of my bed and protects the house from strangers.

Come on over and say hi, if you get the chance. :)

Most Anticipated Books of 2012

2011-12-30T09:35:00.000-08:00

It's the final day in the end-of-the-year blog circus hosted by Sarah Enni. Today's topic is my favorite (since I'm a sucker for everything new and shiny): What are my most anticipated books of 2012?

There are loads of books I'm dying to read and/or get into other people's hands. Here are just a few.

1) Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. This is one I've read and lovedlovedloved, and I can't wait for spring 2012 so I can buy it for and recommend it to others. This coming-of-age tale weaves together the best of romance, travel and art.

2) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. "Implicated for a crime she didn't commit" is always going to grab my attention. Add to that Rossi's worldbuilding and a love interest with special abilities and his own quest and this is a book I'm excited to get my hands on.

3) The Selection by Kiera Cass. Drama, competitions, ballgowns and castes. It's the kind of guilty pleasure I love savoring while relaxing with chocolates in a steaming bubble bath. I think the cover says it all (oh, hello layers and layers of ruffles).

4) Crewel by Gennifer Albin. Adelice can weave the strands of time and human activity. But she doesn't want to. Tell that to the government demanding she's handed over to become a Spinster. 'Nuff said.

5) If I Lie by Corrine Jackson. A contemporary (yay!) about a girl with a boyfriend serving in Afghanistan and the other boy she kisses, compounded by honor, traitors and secrets. I look forward to tearing up over this one.

6) The Statistical Propability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. A boy (British! Named Oliver!), a girl, an airport and a trip across the pond wherein the MCs contemplate first love and second chances. Love it.

What are your most anticipated books of 2012???

RTW/Blog Circus: Top Five Books of 2011

2011-12-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Road Trip Wednesday . . . and another entry in the end of the year blog circus hosted by Sarah Enni. Today's topic asks about my top five favorite books of the year.

I have not read nearly as much this year as in years past. Not published work, at least. In fact, my plan over winter break was and is to catch up on some of the most buzzed about books of the past two years. Eek! Though I did read more than three books this year, I'm going to limit my top five to my top four so that it's representative of the books I liked the very best.

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder: A girl out of hope, a mom desperate for a cure and a magical town at the end of a road few can find (with a boy whose own sadness binds him to the town) combine for an emotional and satisfying read.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman: New to me this year (though not pubbed in '11), this much lauded story is everything I'd heard it would be. Well-written, heart-string-tugging and satisfyingly resolved.

Nothing by Janne Teller: A haunting story from Denmark, this existential tale questions the very nature of happiness and reasons for living. The pacing and escalation of conflict is masterful--and disturbing.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez: As a violin player, I immediately connected with the main character of this story (though I didn't play anywhere near her level). Music, intense competition and romance with the last person she should have feelings for drives this story.

What were your favorite books of 2011? Check out YA Highway and the rest of the circus participants for more best books of the year.

Sarah Enni
Corrine Jackson
Erin Bowman
Kaitlin Ward
Kate Hart
Kathleen Peacock
Kirsten Hubbard
Kristin Otts
Lee Bross
Lindsey Roth Culli
Phoebe North
Stephanie Keuhn
Sumayyah Daud
Veronica Roth

Top 5 Albums of 2011

2011-12-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

The waning of the year means it's time to look back at the events, people and notable notables that defined the year in the best of ways and the worst of ways.

It has been a definitive year for me.

Today, I sit here writing this post and eating Black Forest Cake for breakfast. On other mornings of the year, I was shivering with excitement about my book deal, dealing with the frustration of long distance, admiring my engagement ring, wishing I had one more hour of sleep after a long night out, wishing I had one more hour of sleep because the I didn't have the energy, emotionally or physically, to meet the day in front of me and always, on every day, there was books and music and reading and writing and thinking about writing.

It's a beautiful way to live.

So, to assist in the reminiscent moments, Sarah Enni organized a blog circus with one top five topic per day until the end of the year. Today, I look back on five of my favorite albums to keep me company as I wrote, brainstormed, revised and, sometimes, angsted. For the most part, I listen to playlists, rather than full albums, but there are artists whose songs come up over and over again on multiple lists. They are:

The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar

The Welsh band delivered and album that provided atmospheric, emotional songs interspersed with high energy riffs that suited whatever mood I was in and whatever project I was working on.

Ryan Adams: Ashes and Fire

The newest album by southern folk rocker Adams is one of his best, returning him to form not heard in years. Nearly every song of this album made its way to my WIP playlist, with a sound nailing the coming of age anxiety and discovery of the novel's MC.

Bon Iver: Bon Iver

Whether I wanted to be lifted, haunted, moved or driven to higher states of feeling, Bon Iver offered a soundtrack for that. The unique, flowing melodies and voice-from-the-depths-of-human-experience narrated more than one writing experience.

The National: High Violet

I've been listening it since last year, so it's not new to me, but The National's album still got plenty of playtime during my writing sessions. Bloodbuzz Ohio, Anyone's Ghost and my favorite, England, got a lot of play.

The Head and the Heart: The Head and the Heart

Upbeat energy, so-true-it-hurts lyrics and raw revelations made this album one of my favorites of the year. The band hit the scene with Lost in My Mind, but Down in the Valley, with its inspiring hopefulness is my fave.

Honorable mentions include those bands and songs I listened to over and over again, although I didn't always approach the entire album.

The Moth and the Mirror: Live in Stereo

Hey Marseilles: To Travels and Trunks

Ray LaMontagne: Everything (as in, everything. that's not the title of his album.)

Gem Club: Acid and Everything

Rachel Sermanni: The Bothy Sessions and Song for a Fox

M83: Midnight Sessions

For your listening pleasure, a couple more I'm obsessed with:

and

That's a wrap! What were your favorites of the years? Check out the rest of the Blog Circus participants for more music mayhem.

Sarah Enni
Corrine Jackson
Erin Bowman
Kaitlin Ward
Kate Hart
Kathleen Peacock
Kirsten Hubbard
Kristin Otts
Lee Bross
Lindsey Roth Culli
Phoebe North
Stephanie Keuhn
Sumayyah Daud
Veronica Roth

Cancer-Destroying Nanoparticles--Created by a 17 Year Old

2011-12-11T14:51:00.001-08:00

What were you doing when you were 17? I was in my second year of college and, quite frankly, I thought that was a bit impressive. But that's nothing compared to what Californian Angela Zhang has been up to. The teen won the top prize in the Siemens Foundation's annual science competition with her research into a nanoparticle that targets and destroys cancer tumors, without harming the healthy cells around them.

FREAKING AMAZING, NO?!?!?!?!?

The team prize went to teens from Tennessee who used gaming software to help develop a program that would help those with prosthetic limbs walk.

You know who should read this ten times over? People who scoff at teens today, people who worry about leaving our future leadership to today's young people. Because, these young people? They're researching cures for cancer and developing programs to promote ableism.

This is good. This is brilliant.

And it's just one of zillions of reasons I think teens are awesome.

About Blogging

2011-11-18T12:00:00.001-08:00

I've been having a great discussion this morning with my YA Highway besties about blogging and why authors so often fall away from blogging after they get a book deal. (Our conversation was inspired by Elana Johnson's recent post, though by no means was it about her post or her own blogging choices. Elana is absolutely amazing and I've wondered more than once how she manages to do it all!)

So, not blogging. Is it lack of time? Lack of inclination? Lack of motivation? The feeling we have nothing to say or that the advice we want to impart has been done *so* many times? I don't know, probably a mix of those things and more. Maybe it's even the reality that, even though aspiring authors are encouraged to blog, many of them don't like it, want to do it, make it a priority, etc. They do it because they're "supposed" to, but once the agent or book deal comes along, it doesn't feel like such an immediate necessity.

For me, it's a combination of being busy and not feeling like I have anything relevant to say.

The solution?

Blog when I want. I stress when I hold myself to a blogging schedule. It isn't a priority for me what with family, life, art, home, other work, deadlines, communication and, even, blogging at YA Highway being higher on the importance scale. So I'll blog when I feel inspired, when I have some moments to jot down my thoughts or want to share something with the few folks who (very kindly!) read my blog.

Blog about what I want. My favorite author blogs are those that present content beyond the writing process. That can be anything from travel writing to remodeling, from celebrity musings to sociopolitical ideas, from brief ideas to elaborate infographics. So I'm not going to limit my blog to the writing process. It'll be about whatever I want. It's possible that, in this way, I can feel more like my friends and readers are getting to know me and I can get to know them.

Having said that, the writing and publishing community are big parts of my life, so expect to occasionally see my thoughts on books or revision craziness and, of course, Road Trip Wednesdays. Other big parts of my life are my family (which I've always been hesitant to blog about--it's just a reality of being a rather private person), food, travel, sports, art, music and whatever else catches my random fancy.

In that vein:

I went to a midnight showing of Breaking Dawn last night. It was with a group of girlfriends and we had a blast. I snarked when appropriate and giggled throughout the entire childbirth scene. I think my favorite part of the movie, however, was SMeyer's cameo. Those fascinate me. The camera always focuses on her for this one, drawn-out second wherein she takes up the whole frame, then moves on. I'm laying the law down right now: if any of my books ever are made into films, I'm so demanding a cameo. I will play a tree. Oh yes, I will.

I am not a patient person. It's been nearly 5 months since I filed my K-1 fiance visa and the wait is killing me, day by day. There is the distinct possibility that I utterly despise the faceless entity behind immigration. HURRY UP, USCIS!!!!!!

I'm excited to be with my family, including my far-away fiance who is crossing vast oceans to be with the family, for Thanksgiving. My mom recently moved and I've spent more than one day in tears over the idea of a Thanksgiving away from my family. It just isn't normal for people like us, who have always gotten together for this important holiday. I recently put together the T-day menu with my mom. I think it's drool-worthy, if rather basic:

Appetizers:
Deviled eggs
Spinach dip
Artichoke crab dip
Veggie tray with ranch dip
Assorted crackers, chips and breads

Dinner:
Rosemary, Thyme and Sage Roast Turkey
Brown Sugar and Cloves Spiral Ham
Turkey gravy
Ham gravy
Sausage Cornbread Dressing
Herb Dressing with Apples and Walnuts
Cranberry Orange Relish
Crescent Rolls (my sis-in-law makes the best!)
Rustic Sourdough Rolls
Mashed Potatoes
Honey Ginger Carrots
Bacon and Cranberry Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Creamed Corn
Roast Broccoli and Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pine Nuts
Garlic Sea Salt Green Beans
Sweet Potatoes with Praline Topping
Greens and Baby Spinach with Pears, Hazelnuts and Blue Cheese Dressing

Desert:
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie with Cinnamon Syrup
Lemon Meringue Pie
Chocolate Guinness Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
Strawberry Gelatin and Ice Cream

What are you planning for next week? A big menu? Time with family? Watching some football? Sleeping in everyday of the break? Working that horrible Black Friday?

Have a super weekend and amazing Thanksgiving, everyone!

Raspberry Cobbler Bars

2011-11-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

I bought several pints of fresh raspberries recently. I love how raspberries, especially late varieties, are one of those fruits that spans the gap between summer and fall. Unfortunately, my particular raspberries were getting to the point where they were spanning the gap between perfect and overripe, and I couldn't eat them fast enough, no matter how many bowls of cereal I topped with them. So I decided to make raspberry bars. The trouble I found with most recipes, however, is that they call for raspberry jam or preserves, rather than fresh berries. I'm not a huge fan of commercial raspberry jam, because the cloying sweetness overwhelms the berry's tartness. So I came up with my own recipe for Raspberry Cobbler Bars using fresh berries (you could also use frozen, thawed and drained berries). And tried to not eat the entire panful myself.

Raspberry Cobbler Bars with Fresh Berries

Base:
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
Filling:
1 pint raspberries, 2 cups
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Topping:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. If you want to be able to remove your bars from the pan easily, line a 9x9 or 9x13 (I used 9x9 for a thicker bar) with foil, leaving two inches of foil hanging over the sides. I usually don't ever bother with this step.

Combine the ingredients for the base, mixing with an electric mixer or a pastry blender until the ingredients are well-distributed and crumbly, but not in a solid mass. Pour the mixture into your pan and press with your fingers or the bottom of a glass to flatten. Bake the base for 20 minutes, or until firm and golden brown. While baking, prepare the filling and topping.

For the filling, mash the berries with the sugar in a bowl. It's nice to have a few bigger chunks, IMO. In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients until crumbly, but not a solid mass. Remove the base from the oven and immediately pour the raspberries over the hot base. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the berries and return the pan to the oven. Bake an additional 20 minutes, or until the berries are bubbling and the topping is golden. Cool completely before cutting and serving or, if you're like me, scoop out some of the warm not-quite-set-cobbler-bars and top with ice cream. Yum.

RTW: The Coach With The Electric Feel

2011-11-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today's Road Trip Wednesday over at YA Highway asks: What kind of writing coach do you need? When you have to coach your friends, what kind of coach are you?

When I'm in the writing zone, I don't need much of a coach. I get drawn into my work and can be quite productive, relenting to little distraction. But, in order to get into the zone, I first need to GET OFF THE INTERNET and get my work started. That's the tough part. So, my ideal coach would be someone who gave me a little electric zap whenever I strayed to the WWW so I can instead jumpstart my work. If he looked creepy as all get out, like this guy, even better.

electric fingers and a laser eyeball. meep!

As far as my own brand of coaching, if you tell me to yell at you if I see you playing around on twitter or lurking on a forum, I'll yell. YELL. And maybe guilt trip you. And maybe use reverse psychology. And possibly sit on your head until you start typing. But I'm also constructive, because leading with positivity gets a whole lot more done than being negative and nasty.

What kind of coach do you need? What kind of coach are you? Play along with YAH's RTW.

More Electric Feel, for amusement's sake:

Engagement Photos at . . . Hogwarts???

2011-10-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

JK Rowling has never revealed precisely where her inspiration for Hogwarts came from.* To be sure, several sites and a rich imagination are the true components of the Potter World; however, it is speculated that the University of Glasgow, in Scotland's largest city, is a prime source of inspiration for the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A Glasgow University blog notes some of the reasons the university would have been the inspiration, including location, spires, Glasgow's nickname of St. Mungo's and a rumored request (ultimately denied) to film the movies there.

When I traveled to Scotland this past August, taking engagement photos at the university was a natural idea. Not only did my fiance complete his graduate degree there, but I was compelled by the HP rumors (being not just a little bit of a fan of the series). We didn't don house robes for the photos, but I still could imagine Harry, Hermione and Ron emerging from the cloisters or crossing the courtyard in full stride, discussing quidditch, the Sorcerer's Stone, or Draco Malfoy's most recent antics. Even the (ever present) rain couldn't disperse the feeling of magic that came from being with the best person ever in one of the prettiest places in (possible) bookdom.

The cloisters.

Whomping Willow in the background? Nah, that's probably a stretch. I just like this photo, even though I'm totally choking poor Paul, heh.

Unicorns are everywhere in Scotland, including U. Glasgow's campus. Unicorn hair and blood also figures prominently in the HP books. Coincidence? I think not.

Hogwarty spires.

More Hogwarty spires and a Hogwarty courtyard.

It's possible that the part we're hiding with our hands says "For Broomsticks."

Not much in the way of Hogwarts in this photo; just feeling the general magic of being with this Crazy Scot.

*If you know her inspiration, by all means, let me in on the secret.

Engagement session by Reflections Photography by Chantal Lachance-Gibson, who we really loved. Shoot her a message if you happen to be in Scotland and need photos. :)

The Lucky 13s

2011-10-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

The blog for children's authors who debut in 2013 is live and running and I'm thrilled to be a part of this dynamic group! Head over to the Lucky 13s to discover some new authors and books to add to your future to-read list.

The Making of a New Name

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Random village coming up with a book title. It's what they do.

New titles happen all the time. And with a title like WILL AND ZOE, I was expecting a note to the effect of "Well, it tells us . . . something about the story, but I think we can do better."(The note was far more gracious than that, of course.)

My lovely editor sent a long list of catch phrases she'd pulled from the novel - a huge boon! - and I cherry-picked my favorites to start a dialogue with my critique group. There are a zillion reasons a good critique group is invaluable, and just one of those reasons is the wide range of ideas and perspectives available when brainstorming a title. Contributions to the discussion ranged from linking a dictionary of auto terminology to debating whether one particular word should come before or after another word to throwing the brakes on one possibility because it resembled a movie or book already on the market.

We narrowed the possibilities down to a few favorites, which I sent back to Lovely Editor. The Title Team grew from there as she discussed options with fellow editors, the marketing team and the head of the imprint, and I shared ideas with Superstartastic Agent. It takes a village, you know?

Finally, after another round of meetings, Lovely Editor came back with a possibility I liked. I tossed the title around in my head. I switched up a word, thought I liked it better, then decided I didn't and changed it back. I grew to really like the alliteration in the title, the way it suggested aloneness, desperation, a character-driven story. So I gathered final thoughts from friends; a chorus of positive feedback helped solidify the choice. And as a few more days have gone by (it took about a week total to decide on the new title), I've discovered I really love the title. So, what do you think? The novel that was formerly WILL AND ZOE is now officially: NOBODY BUT US.

Wait.

Officially: **NOBODY BUT US**!!!!!

(yay!)

Road Trip Wednesday #91: Time To Write

2011-08-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's another RTW! RTW is a blog carnival hosted by YA Highway. Check out the topic, write your own post, publish to your blog and incude the links on the comments section of the YAH post. Travel blog to blog to see how your fellow Highwaypersons answered the question.

Today's topic: What time do you prefer to do your writing? Early Worm? Night Owl ? Any five seconds you can grab?

A notebook and pen here? Yes, please. Credit.

I have two kinds of writing days.

1) A typical work day. These are the days when I hop out of bed with a chipper smile on my face (bahahaa), get a workout in and get to work on the many work-related tasks waiting for me. Reading, freelancing, researching, responding to emails, taking care of family, etc. On these days, I can't write until evening*, when the house is quiet and I'm satisfied I've finished my work.

2) A writing day. Sometimes, however, I'll set an entire day aside to do nothing but write. These days I begin writing first thing and don't quit until the end of the work day, some eight or so hours later. I love these days because I get a TON done. But they're not as common, because . . . life and work, etc.

When do you write?

*Incidentally, I google imaged "twilight" to find a picture of, you know, that time of day around sunset. As soon as I hit the "search" button I groaned, realizing my mistake. :/ Cue an immediate re-search for "sunset."

Winners!

2011-08-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your very kind congratulations about my book deal! Randomly chosen winners for the book giveaway are:

The DUFF: Audrey

Like Mandarin: Aimee Renee

Ashes: Michelle (with Susan B. Anthony)

Ripple: Jessica Love

Entwined: Jennifer Foushee

Congrats! Send me an email at kristinhalbrook@gmail.com with your address and I will get your books out to you. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!!!!

Road Trip Wednesday: The Five Senses: A Pictorial Essay

2011-08-03T01:25:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Wednesday is a weekly blog carnival from YA Highway. Visit the blog to see the topic, then add your post to the comments section to join the road trip. How is your work inspired by the five senses?

A topic like this is great because it forces me to explore and deepen the setting, characters, situations, emotions and flavors of my projects. It's eye-opening how much a scent or a taste can build a scene, weave a thread or help me better understand a character, even if it didn't seem relevant to that particular detail before. Here are some things that are inspiring me as I work on one of my most recent projects:

The sound of wind through a cornfield

The taste, the touch of a kiss, given for different reasons

The sound of a scream of frustration

The smell, the sound, the feel of hogs

The sight of the night sky when you're in the middle of nowhere

The uncomfortable, antiseptic smell of hospitals

The crackle-pop sounds of a fire, the rich-wood smell of a fire, the warmth of a fire

The feel of holding someone you don't think you deserve to hold

The worn and haunting details of an old farmhouse

A touch of assurance

The sounds from an old truck down a dusty country road

The taste of perennially second-place-winning pies

The smell of newly-mown field, even in the spring

Big News and a Celebration!

2011-07-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

I learned about it in May and have kept it a bit under the radar, but now I'm super excited to be able to share my news with you!:

July 25, 2011


	Children's: Young Adult	Kristin Halbrook's debut WILL AND ZOE, featuring two teenagers who, in search of a better life, run away to Vegas, but realize they can't run fast enough when they end up wanted by the police, out of money, and out of options, pitched as a YA Bonnie and Clyde, to Sarah Dotts Barley at Harper Children's, in a two-book deal, in a very nice deal, by Suzie Townsend at FinePrint Literary Management.

The journey to publication has been amazing and educational and affirming and tough and unpredictable so far, and I know it will continue to be all kinds of hard work and joy and amazement. To celebrate the sale, I'm giving away some books from my favorite people! Five winners total, one book each:

*One signed copy of The DUFF, by Kody Keplinger*

*One signed copy of Like Mandarin, by Kirsten Hubbard*

*One ARC of Ashes, by Ilsa J. Bick*

*One signed ARC of Ripple, by Mandy Hubbard*

*One copy of Entwined by Heather Dixon*

To enter, make a comment on this post telling me what pop culture legend - like Bonnie and Clyde - you think would be amazing as a YA novel. That's it! For an extra entry, tweet this contest and link the tweet in your comment. I'm sorry to exclude my wonderful overseas friends, but contest is open in the U.S. and Canada only. Contest closes on Thursday, August 4th.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Road Trip Wednesday: My Writing Goal Rewards

2011-05-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of setting goals. And not just in my head. I actually have a Life Goals scrapbook full of blank pages (and some completed pages) with goals written across the top. I love dreaming, and perhaps the only thing I love more than the dreaming is figuring out the steps to making those dreams come true.

The Herbfarm's dining room.

At the end of each set goal, I allow myself a reward. Sometimes meeting the goal in and of itself is the reward, while other times there's an additional perk I allow myself when I feel like I worked hard or achieved something important to me.

With writing, my rewards tend to be simple and intuitive. If I met my word count for the day, my goal is nothing more than going to bed with a clean conscience. That's definitely worth something! But I do have one big goal set aside for that fated day I (hopefully!) Sell The Book.

And it's all about the food.

When I sell, I'm going here. The Herbfarm. Home of the nine course, seasonal, themed menu, one dinner seating per night and a celebration of all edibles Northwest. I've been dying to go for donkers years, but I won't allow myself the pleasure until I reach that ultimate publishing dream. Until then, I'll gaze longingly at the themes (Copper River Salmon! The Great Northwest Barbecue! The Uber Tuber!) in between meeting those daily word counts.

What are your writing rewards? Check out YAHighway to play along with our Road Trip Wednesday.

File Under . . .

2011-03-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

. . . Sightings of Supreme Awesomeness at One of the Best Bookstores EVER (the University Bookstore in Seattle, for those not in the know)!

Magical rainbow of book brilliance.

Huh, *this* books looks pretty damn awesome. I think . . . yes, yes, I'm going to BUY it!

Do you have YOUR copy of Kirsten Hubbard's Like Mandarin, yet?

On Choosing Your Food

2011-03-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

This video struck me for a number of reasons: Food politics are an issue very close to my heart, homeschooling is an issues very close to my heart, and awesome teens (pre, in this case!) are very close to my heart. I think he presents his material in a concise, easy to understand manner. And really, how many adults would be terrified to give that presentation? Kudos to you, Birke!

Road Trip Wednesday: I Would Do Anything . . .

2011-03-09T14:48:00.000-08:00

something like this

Time for another RTW and this one's a *special* one! We're celebrating the release of the fantabulous Kirsten Hubbard's book LIKE MANDARIN with a Grace and Mandarin-themed topic:

I would have given anything to be like . . .

While many have said one of the things that drew them into the story was how well they could relate to Grace's adoration of Mandarin, I found the opposite to be true. I've never had an intense experience wanting to emulate someone and so reading the novel opened a beautiful (and beautifully crafted) world to me.

I did have a life-changing moment in middle school, thanks to a friend of mine, that helped me determine what kind of person I wanted to be. It's such a simple story, but sometimes the most simple are also the most profound.

My friend came to school one day with a new set of artificial nails. They were pale blue with white swirls airbrushed on the them and so pretty! I didn't envy the nails (I had to keep mine short for sports and violin and that didn't bother me) but I did admire them. And told her so.

And she simply said "Thank you."

*earthquake*

It really was a revelation. At that time it was important to volley a compliment someone had paid you or exhibit huge shows of false modesty to make sure you didn't come off as stuck-up or a know-it-all. I played along with that, even though it seemed dumb to me. But the amazing feeling that *I* got when she said thank you changed how I would play along in the future. It was so nice to have a compliment received well that I wanted to give that to others.

I try to encourage others to be confident, to not hide talents or awesomeness, even in a social culture that doesn't approve of pride or boasting. I feel confident myself, and could never let anything anyone said or did change that, thanks to that one moment when I promised myself I would be like my friend.

Want to play along? Visit YA Highway and leave your blog post link in the comments.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

2011-02-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

My mom recently called me up. She'd been talking with one of the teachers at her school who was teaching a WWII unit and mentioned my recent trip to Europe and, specifically, my visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps. The teacher requested I come in and talk to her students, but I wasn't able to schedule a time in the two weeks left of their unit. Instead, I wrote about my experience. At least, as much as I could write about it. Nearly two months after being at the camps, I still find it difficult to put my experience it words. There is much I can't convey in a truthful, meaningful way. Here is what I am able to say:

Auschwitz-Birkenau, December, 28, 2010

When I told people I was going to Auschwitz, they gave me a look.

“You’re not Jewish.”

“You’re not German.”

“You’re not going to go there . . . alone . . . at Christmastime?”

I just nodded, nodded, “Yes, I’ll be in Krakow. I need to go. I can’t not go.”

Three days after Christmas, I woke earlier than most at my hostel and dressed in the sliver of winter light peeking through the slit in the curtains. It had been cold in Krakow, in all of Europe, with nearly every day seeing at least a short snow flurry adding to the dirty slush in gutters and sidewalk corners. I sat in the empty hostel kitchen and ate a piece of toast and cup of tea and read the humorous captions on the beer posters on the wall.

My breath created a cloud of steam like a cartoon dialogue bubble as I walked across Stare Miasto, Krakow’s old town square. I stepped gingerly, having watched a girl slip on the inch thick ice over the square’s cobblestones the day before. To my left, the Cloth Hall was coming alive with vendors and their amber jewelry and dragon keychains and stuffed animals.*

We were told to get there fifteen minutes early, but I got to the tour office two minutes early and ended up behind a large group embroiled in an argument with the clerk at the desk.

Please don’t make me miss the bus, I thought. I can’t always be this prepared to go.

I finally got my ticket validated and scurried outside to meet the bus just as it was closing its doors. I found an empty seat, prepared to put some music on and drown out the sounds of the bus. But the tour organizer stood and talked to us about the drive, about how long it would take, about how we should make sure to get lunch at the Auschwitz visitor’s center if we were doing the salt mine tour in the afternoon (as I was).

She smiled like a tour organizer should smile. I couldn’t quite understand it. She knew where we were going, after all.

We watched a video about the liberation of the concentration camps on the way to the countryside. It was the sort of thing you might be shown in school: safe black and white footage, a couple of soldier interviews. It mirrored the most I’d seen about the camps at that point. I watched most of it, but sometimes I stared out the window at the thick layer of snow blanketing sleeping fields.

When we reached Auschwitz, I exited the bus and was stunned by how cold it was. It was worse than any place I’d been so far on my trip: colder than the windy east coast of Scotland, colder than the misty German castle on the hill, colder than standing on the banks of the Danube in Budapest.

I rushed into the warm visitor’s center and huddled in a corner near the heater until my tour group was ushered back outside again to be sorted into language groups. The Italians headed off with a short man with a mustache. The French with a thin woman who talked at a body-cringing decibel, even though she had a mic synched to her group's headphones.

Half of the English-speakers headed off with the tour operator. My group was paired up with another guide. He was a Polish man, tall and sturdy, with a simple, round face, North Face jacket and ski cap. When he spoke, I turned up the volume on my headset. Despite his size, his voice was soft, gentle, consumed with reverence for his work, for the history he shared with us. I was in awe of his demeanor, of the way he settled my nerves, and grateful to not have the French woman.*

We began at the entrance.

Work Will Set You Free.

It’s what the wrought iron sign says over the entrance to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, but in German. Last year, someone stole the original sign and it’s not yet been recovered. The new sign is an exact replica and holds the same meaning, the same ironic horror as the original. We passed under the sign and, except for the ten-feet-tall barbed wire around the perimeter, it looked like a hospital or school campus.

But it smells like death.

I was not prepared for the smell that lingers at Auschwitz. It was gray and char and dust and old and bones. It smelled like bodies and it smelled like despair. Almost two months later, whenever I look at the few pictures I took at Auschwitz I can still smell the Death Camp.

We walked toward the back of the camp. It was smaller than I’d imagined, considering the millions who suffered there. When our guide told us how thousands of people lived in each barrack at one time, I was unable to comprehend the logistics of that many people in that little space.

At first, the Jews and other groups (gypsies, handicapped, political prisoners) who were brought to the camps were told they were simply being relocated. In some places, Greece for example, the propaganda was laid on so thickly that Jews there would sell all their possessions to buy a train ticket to Poland. They wanted to go. They turned their lives upside down and rid themselves of everything they’d worked for save a few precious items because they’d been told these camps were the new Promised Land. In a world such as ours where social media has made it nearly impossible to not be informed, to not have an opinion on every side of every issue available at the touch of my fingertips, I could hardly grasp the concept that propaganda could distort so completely. By this time, many people in Germany and Poland knew about the systematic murders at the camps. But in other countries, they thought the camps meant freedom. One display at the camp showed the tickets murdered Jews had purchased with their own money. It was monstrous.

I was freezing.

My stomach hurt. I was clenching it because of the bitter cold, I was clenching it because of the smell, because of the stories that were brought to life right in front of me.

I was glad I’d only had toast and tea a couple hours before.

We wove in and out of several buildings. Our guide narrated in that soft voice of his and I felt like a wispy cloud of history had settled over me. I read the names under the head shots of prisoners lining the walls. I read their dates: birthdate, death date. I spent too much time calculating how old each person was when they died and fell to the back of the tour line. It was slightly warmer inside the buildings than out, and I lingered next to maps of the Nazi camp system, beside doors to “washrooms” with little more than a sink and a hole in the ground.

The smell was still there and photos lining the walls narrated the events at the camp. Faces stared back at me. I felt nauseous and I thought longingly of the warm visitor’s center.

I almost turned around and walked back.

Our guide told us a story about a 12-year-old girl who had to stand barefoot outside for 24 hours in the middle of the winter as a routine punishment and I didn’t stop feeling the cold and the ill and the sorrow, but I also couldn’t go back.

It’s hard to visualize millions of people. Millions of possessions, millions of dreams, millions of loves. In the next buildings, we walked past displays of items: suitcases stamped with names and cities and countries, toothbrushes and teeth, hairbrushes, clothing, shoes. Some prisoners were employed in separating all the items the new prisoners brought with them when they arrived, all the items that were taken from them by the Nazis. The items were resold to people outside the camp. Valuable metals were melted down and used to pay for the war.

Heads were shaved.

I never knew when to take photos at the camp, unsure that there was a right time or place, so I only have a few. But there is only one place at Auschwitz where visitors are not allowed to take photos at all. In that room, behind a thick wall of glass, is a mountain of hair. It is a brown mass stretching across a 20-foot room, a foot or more taller than I am. The hair does not move in the least, but it is alive.

On the opposite side of the room, we saw what the hair was used for: wigs, clothing fabric, mattresses. People wore and slept on the hair of the murdered.

Soon after, we visited a room with the items that were brought for children. Dresses for babies, tiny silver hairbrushes, leather shoes that could fit in my palm. There was a picture of two boys on a wall nearby. They have just gotten off the train at the concentration camp and are holding hands, grinning, skipping. Literally on the pathway to their death.

I stared out a window at the brick wall of the next barracks over and cried.

When I finally caught up with my tour group outside, my face stung under the tears and elements.

We walked past the wall where shooting executions were carried out, past the post where public hangings were carried out. Entered the crematoriums.

They were so small. We learned that one of the reasons nearby Birkenau was built was because the Nazis needed bigger ovens. Surprisingly, it seemed to smell less like death here than at other parts of the camp. Or maybe I’d just become so numb by that point I couldn’t smell it anymore.

We returned to the visitor’s center, where the tour organizer encouraged us to get something to eat again. There was a black hole in my belly I didn’t know how to fill. Food, taste, enjoyment, life felt disrespectful.

We boarded the bus for the short drive to Birkenau Death Camp. Auschwitz seemed a luxury compared to the dirt floors and shoddily constructed wooden barracks at Birkenau. Here, there was no difference between the outside and inside temperature. The wind cut through gaps in the walls and roofs. I couldn’t stop shivering in my layers of shirt, sweater, coat, boots. The prisoners worn one layer of thin fabric during these same winter months. When our tour guide told us about how many people slept in each barracks and we saw the stacks of pallets four and five high with nothing more than a bit of hay to sleep on, we thought it must have been a blessing to be squished in with five or six other bodies, if just for the warmth.

We walked down a wide, stark outdoor corridor, train tracks to our right. At the end of the line was one train car.

I had learned about how prisoners were sorted as they arrived at the camps. How there were two lines: one for the healthy and able and one for everyone else. The everyone else line usually included women, the elderly, and children under about ten years of age. I thought about my eight- and three-year-old girls back home. About how able and sturdy I was. It was difficult not to put myself in that place and time as I stared at the one train car. Difficult not to imagine how I might have been put in the line to work, how my children would have been taken from me to immediate death.

Maybe it’s me, maybe we all would feel the same way at the beginning of the tour: that we would have hoped to have been a survivor, that we would have hoped to have been liberated, to have seen freedom, maybe even to have seen revenge one day.

But life in the camps was hell. It was cold. It was lonesome, it was deadly. By the end, I’d begun to hope that, had I been there, had I been put on that train and stood before an evaluator to be judged left line or right line, that whoever was deciding my fate would have been merciful enough to give swift death.

People still are surprised that I went to Auschwitz and Birkenau on my own, so close to the holidays. It seems morbid to them. For me, it was necessary to furthering my understanding of what humanity is capable of. If we forget that, if we fail to see what history can teach us, if we don’t spend quiet moments mourning people we didn’t know in a time before we were born, we lose something precious. We risk falling into the trap of apathy, of acceptance of the horrors humans are capable of. It is essential to face our darkest places—our personal darkest places and that of humanity’s—if we are ever to be able to move forward and become people of greater love and compassion.

*Krakow is famous for its amber and its fire-breathing dragon below Wawel Castle
*I love French people. Truly adore them. This particular woman was just too loud.

Ode To Jess

2011-02-13T23:15:00.000-08:00

Last week, Kate, Sarah, Tehereh and I invited the YA blogosphere to share in some Valentine's Day fun. Well, that fated day is here and I'm delighted to dedicate this post to Jess Byam.

I am no Keats, but it's Valentine's Day. I can get away with bad poetry, right? Despite my lack of skill, Jess, my wishes for you are sincere. Have a great day!

Dear Jess, on this Valentine's Day,
It is my honor and privilege to say,
That I hope you have the best year,
Full of creative endeavors and cheer.
Your photos, crafting and writing,
Will soon have everyone fighting,
For your pics, your scarves and your books,
(especially if they can't use crochet hooks).
Your Before They Were Published feature,
Shows you're a kind and generous creature.
Your love for the noble equine,
Proves you're pure of heart and mind,
So best wishes in all that you do,
May all of your writing dreams come true.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Love is all around us . . . :)

Road Trip Wednesday: Love is in the Air

2011-02-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

Ah, Valentine's Day. Doily cards and Sweetart Hearts and champagne and roses. And the YA Blogosphere Lovefest, of course. Have you signed up? Today's the last day to sign up!

Valentine's Day also makes us wonder about our favorite literary couples (wha? that was a huge leap?) and YA Highway's RTW asks: Who are your favorite literary couples?

This is easy.

FINALLY she says yes. Take forever much?

Anne and Gilbert: I love their story in the books. He's loved her since she whacked him over the head with her slate because he called her carrots. She realized how much she loved him when she thought he was going to die. In the movie, every time he first proposes to her I scream at the T.V.: "SAY YES THIS TIME!!!" And I really do hope that, this time, she will. She never does. :( But tragedy inspires soul-searching and the two do live happily ever after.

Taylor Markham and Jonah Griggs: They're supposed to be territorial enemies, but these two students share a secret--and a past--no one knows about. And they can't leave it behind. They're both complex characters but I especially love Jonah's persistence when it comes to Taylor

Honorable mentions: Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightly; Hermione and Viktor Krum (what?); Daisy and Edmond (How I Live Now).

Who are your favorites? Visit YAH to play along with RTW.

YA Blogosphere V-Day LOVEFEST!

2011-02-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses waiting for the valentines in the mail/the flowery delivery dude/the secret crush on the 48th floor to ask you to dinner. Give them ALL TO MEEEE!!!

And you come to, yes?

That holy day of red, pink and (dare I say?) puke* is almost upon us and as Kate, Sarah, Tahereh and I were musing about whether the enormity of love Dobby has for socks is possible for the human race to truly conceive, we were struck with an idea. Let's throw a Valentine's Day lovefest for all our favorite blogger pals!

That would be you. :D

Be a sweetheart and join us, won't you? There are three things you should do to participate:

1. Sign up for the Valentine's blog exchange. Head over to Kate Hart's blog and fill in her handy-dandy, easy-peasy form (everyone who participates must have a blog). Once entries are closed on February 9th, we will randomly assign each person a secret V-day admirer. Once you have your assignment, construct a blog post extolling the wonderful virtues of your Valentine. Don't know the person you were assigned? Read their blog, strike up a convo on twitter . . . do whatever it takes to be the best secret admirer you can be! (Don't be creepy.) You never know, you just might make a new friend in the process. :) On V-day, publish your blog post and link to your Valentine so s/he can drop in and read it. Insta good feelings all around!

2. Get your participant badge from Sarah Enni's blog. It's exactly like the one above and marks you as a loving, generous soul suitable for Nobel Prize nomination. And for the last plastic-heart decorated cupcake in the break room.

3. Join us for live blog movie time on Sunday, February 13th! We're gonna stay in, hang out, make popcorn mixed with sweetart candy hearts and red and white almond m&ms (seriously, sooo good) and chat and watch a movie with YOU! Drop in at Tahereh's blog for all the mushy movie details!

What are you waiting for? Dust off your craft table, open the jars of glitter and dive into YA Blogosphere Lovefest!

*Haha, just kidding. I'm not really that cynical on Saturdays.

Travel + Writing

2011-02-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

Colorful Edinburgh

I know. It's been a super long time since I've posted. My go-to explanation is that I've been busy! but I hate how flaky that sounds and, really, aren't we all busy? But I have been traveling, working hard, moving on up (more on that very soon--promise) and getting ready for music festival season/MLS season/Baseball season, etc. I know those things are still months away, but a girl's gotta plan. :)

Moody Loch Lomond

As for travel, I took three weeks and headed to Europe over the winter holidays. I saw some old friends, made loads of new friends and had a blast. When I got home, a couple of people asked how/if my traveling inspired my writing in any way. I actually did not write a single word while I was gone. But! The experiences I had, the things I saw, the people I met . . . all of these things will influence my writing somehow.

Here are some highlights of my trip:

Ruins at St. Andrews

The people. I met the most amazing new people while in Eastern Europe. Budapest was spent in the company of another solo traveler from San Antonia by way of Mexico. Krakow was an explosion of new friends, from locals who cooked New Year's dinner for me and some friends to Crazy Germans who danced until the crack of dawn with me to Amazing Aussies who carried my bag and shared a cup of ultra-thick hot chocolate with me. It's hard to say how the people will influence my writing, but I've expanded myself by knowing them, knowing their traditions and dreams, how they struggle, how they enjoy life.

St. Andrew's Cathedral cemetery

German castle rising above the mist

Elie, Fife, Scotland

Stall at the Mannheim Christmas market

Sausage and Gluwein in Germany

The people!!! With bestie Amanda

Szechenyi thermal baths, Budapest

The setting. This was the most obvious influence for me. The armory at Wawel Castle in Krakow; the winding streets and pastel structures in Prague; the creepy cemetery and crumbling ruins in St. Andrews, Scotland; the misty castles of Germany. Even if I never set a novel in these cities, I will always have a vision in my mind of what a stoic castle towering out of mist looks like in real life or what a striking picture a violinist against the peeling paint of an ancient wall makes.

Pre-opera treats in a Budapest cafe

Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, Poland

Budapest State Opera House

"Work will set you free"

Krakow's famous scary dragon x 2

Street musician in Prague

The emotion. My travels were full of highs and lows. New romance and seeing a best friend I'd never met in person before were highs. Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps were a suckerpunch low I will never forget and an experience I still can't quite put into words. New Year's Eve fireworks in a city I'd come to love very quickly and the tastes and textures of new and beloved foods were highs. Being alone in a new city by myself, wondering how long before I'd meet someone to hang out with was a low. The things I felt over the course of three weeks ran the emotion-meter gamut and my characters will have more depth because of it.

The stark reality of Birkenau Death Camp

New Year's Eve in a new city

Amsterdam Harbor

How have your travels influenced your writing?

Road Trip Wednesday #57: My Six-Word Memoir

2010-12-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday! Time to take a road trip (especially since I haven't participated in a few weeks). You can join in by visiting YA Highway and leaving your post in the comments.

This week's topic is:

Write your six-word memoir.

Easy, no?

Um.

No.

Do you realize how many pithy and relatable six letter memoirish-type phrases there are? Dozens. Hundreds! And to pick just one?* It's definitely difficult to boil down this amazing life I've been given to live in one six-word memoir. But here you go. My memoir:

This life is made of dreams.

* I couldn't. So here are a few runners-up:

You couldn't pay me to change

Weird girl is happy being weird

So tired of always repeating myself

World holds big things for me (but)

Am happy with the small stuff

Smart girls are the most intimidating

Smart girls are the most beautiful

Best friends make the journey worthwhile

Live honestly; it's noble, humane, good

I got dealt a good hand

Another Book Craft to File Away . . .

2010-11-14T17:03:00.000-08:00

As a To-Do. As An I Want. As an I Can Do This and Should Do It For My Writerly Loved Ones With Their Books. Also, wouldn't this be so pretty with a soft layer of spray glitter over the rosettes? Very wintery, methinks.

Tutorial here.

File Under . . .

2010-11-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

Things I love, Things I want, Things I can make myself (how novel), Things I may give as gifts at some point (especially to those with pubbed books out of whose pages I can cut the circles):

Tutorial here.

RTW: Best Book For October

2010-10-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Mostly I've been reading travel guides this month, but I did take the time to reread my (probably) favorite YA ever. And you know what's cool about that? I was struck by it just as much as I was the first time I read it. I adored it. I marveled at the emotion, the phrasings, the magic. The way the setting and Daisy's illness both affect the plot furiously, and yet are these mists that linger around the corners of each page, never giving you ever detail of their existence. My best book for October - and for any month - is Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now.

What was your favorite book this month? Visit YAHighway to join us as we road trip through readers' and writers' blogs.

The Senses: An Exercise

2010-10-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

was frustration with computers the real reason for extinction?

I was feeling rather frustrated this morning because my laptop's battery port is on the fritz and it's made me feel a bit like a Triceratops squaring off with a T-Rex (I haven't decided if I'm the Tri or the Rex, but I'm leaning toward the dude with the monster horns even though I often feel at one with Mr. T). Add to that a rather sleepless night (though a satisfactory football/soccer game at 4am) and I needed some delicious visual therapy. I find that when I'm in need of ten minutes chill time, I either check out food porn at Tastespotting or Foodgawker or craft porn at Craftgawker or One Pretty Thing. This morning I was at One Pretty Thing and I came across these adorable quilted coffee cup holders (MUST figure out how to make these) that led me to the blog In Color Order. It was my first trip to this blog, but I love how colorful and vintage-y everything is!

so pretty it soothes

Beyond the loveliness of the colors and patterns, what I noticed was at the end of each post the blogger notes one sensation she loves in relation to each of her five senses, as well as the good things of the day. I was struck by this, not only as something I'd like to do myself, but also as something that would be a great tool for character and setting development in my novels. I asked myself what would happen if I stopped in the middle of a scene on occasion and jotted down what my characters loved to smell, hear, taste, see and feel at that very moment in the story. It's such a simple, quick exercise, but it went a long way in building the details of the story even if only in my head. And any story can benefit from the richness of sensory experience.

Next time you're on a writing spree, take a moment in the middle to determine what your character:

Loves the smell of
Loves the taste of
Loves the sound of
Loves the sight of
Loves the feel of

Plus:

One good thing right then
One bad thing right then

You might even want to do this as a daily personal exercise, as I think I shall.

Today I:

love the smell of cold Autumn air through my window
love the taste of chocolate covered coffee beans
love the sound of The National
love the sight of a plum-colored wool coat
love the feel of the blanket my grandma crocheted for me 15 years ago

Good thing: Planning my Christmas Euro escapade
Bad thing: I might need a new laptop

RTW: First Lines

2010-10-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

I've noticed I've fallen into a blogging rut. This poor site is subsisting on RTW posts. Will rectify soon, promise. But for now:

This week's topic:

A novel's opening is like a pick up line. If it's good, you might take it home. If it's bad, well . . . you know.

What are your favorite first lines? How do your own WIPs start?

I really love a great first line. Something mysterious, something explosive, something poetic, something that sucks me into a story from the first few words. I've posted some of my favorites before (can't remember where, though), but here are a few more first lines I love:

When I turned four, my father taught me the salt dance: he sprinkled a line of salt on the living room floor, positioned my bare feet on top of his shoes, and told me to leave everything I feared or no longer wanted behind that line. The Salt Dancers by Ursula Hegi

Why: It's empowering. Already I know this a story of fear and struggle, but that there is a way to overcome it. A salt line.

This whole enourmous deal wouldn't have happened, noe of it, if Dad hadn't messed up his hip moving the manure spreader. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Why: The funny! How can a first line that mentions manure not be funny?

Barrabas came to us by sea, the child Clara wrote in her delicate calligraphy. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Why: The mystery. Who or what is Barrabas? Why does the child Clara write so poetically? Why does she write with a delicate calligraphy, if she is a child?

And a couple of my own first lines:

They only turned the gas lamps on during festivals, so she didn’t go out at night; her people feared the dark and she was the dark feared. From The Royal Guard

He comes down the road in his Camaro so fast, sliding left to right on the recently oiled gravel and skidding to a stop in front of my house, that I’m sure my dad is going to rouse from his drunken stupor and catch me before I can get myself out of the house. From Will and Zoe

On the day Maddie Brown was born her mother took one look at the quiet, pink infant, turned her head to the side, and spit on the nurse’s shoes. From The Fix-It-All-Shop

What are your favorite read or written first lines? Visit YA Highway to play along.

Road Trip Wednesday: What's In My Middle of the Ocean Kit?

2010-10-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

The RTW topic this week asks: You're packing for a month on a deserted island. What, as a reader and writer, must be in your backpack?

The nice thing about this topic is that it takes place on an island, which means I don't have to worry about sacrificing books for shoes. I'll happily go barefoot! So after I've stuffed in a ~~couple bathing suits~~ (never mind, deserted island, after all) a couple sticks of lip balm, lotion and a blanket, I discover I've got loads of room left in my pack!

I'm assuming the island has fresh water. Because if it doesn't I'm screwed. I can't carry enough water for a month in a backpack without going all Man Vs. Wild and drinking my own pee.

Ew.

But I'll totally take the food challenge and assume I'm finding my own. A few Lara bars to get me off to a good start and the rest is fish and crab (I hope. Yummers). So a collapsible fishing net goes in the pack. A Swiss Army Knife, too. And loads of matches. Heck yeah, my island has wood.

Shelter? Check (blanket fort ftw!). Water? Check. Food? Check. Once the survival basics are down, I've got to pack for my writer self. One month means a pack of multi-colored pens and ten or so composition books. Maybe fifteen. Really, I'd probably go with as many as will fit in my pack. For the reader self, I have to have my favorites to read over and over again for comfort and company: How I Live Now, Jellicoe Road, The Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea/The Island, Sense and Sensibility. I'd probably want to take a few I haven't read yet, but funny ones, I think. Tragic stories might make me too lonely on a deserted island. So David Sedaris, Christopher Moore and Dave Barry go in the pack.

Beyond that? There's sand. There's sun. There's ocean. It's a month of heaven.

What would you take to a deserted island? Hop over the YA Highway and add your thoughts on the topic. Happy Wednesday!

RTW: Best Book for September

2010-09-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

YUMMY is a fictionalized account of the life and death of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, an 11-year old who shot and killed a 14-year old neighbor, possibly in an attempt to prove himself to his gang member elders. The story is told from the POV of another 11-year old, Roger, who is trying to make sense of Yummy's death, but even more so, his short life.

The graphic novel is haunting and complex, posing questions to which there are no answers. The artwork was wonderfully gritty and the prose striking.

What was you best read of September? Visit YA Highway to participate in RTW.

RTW: I Prefer Indoor Plumbing, Actually

2010-09-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

This Week's Topic:

If you could travel back to any historical era for research purposes, which would you choose?

I am not in this picture. But I could have been.

I suppose that phrase "for research purposes" is the thing that's going to keep my answer in line this week. There are a few times I wouldn't mind going back to in order to just check things out or have some fun. In my teens, I was a pretty rockin' hippie with my long plaid skirts and vintage Chevy Nova. I've got pictures. Alas, I don't have a scanner. I'd be all over San Francisco in the 60's, strumming my guitar and spouting off about love and the war. Summer of Love? I'd time machine hitchhike to Haight-Ashbury for that in a heartbeat. But I have no interest in writing a book set in that time period, so I guess my very pedantic time machine will give me the uplifted eyebrow when I try to set those time coordinates.

Why yes, this does resemble my day-to-day life.

However, there are other time periods that would work. My gothtopian takes some of its cues from the lush decadence of settecento Venice and pre-guillotine Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The dress, the mannerisms, the disgusting hoarding of wealth are all signatures of the story that would benefit from time travel. And while I've always had issues with the idea of traveling to any pre-indoor-plumbing time period, I might make an exception for those. Corsets and 50 pound dresses and ridiculous hair and little hand-painted shoes and courtiers in the gardens and sitting for portraits and stolen kisses in empty castle hallways . . . Sign me up!

Where would you go? Visit YA Highway to read and share your time travel adventures.

RTW: My DUFF Kit

2010-09-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

This Week's Topic (in which we celebrate yesterday's release of The DUFF Woooo!!!):

What's in your DUFF kit?

DUFF kit?????

What's a DUFF kit?

According to the Kodster: "DUFF kits are comforting little collections that you can use on a relaxing night either alone or with friends. Things that are purely comfortable and fun and require zero pressure to be the prettiest in the room or the smartest or the funniest."

To make one put together:

1. Your favorite (very caloric!!!) drink
2. Your most comfy and old shoes
3. Movies featuring your favorite male actor
4. Your favorite junk food
5. Your most comfortable piece of clothing

So my kit contains:

1: Water. Hahahaaaaaa!! Just kidding. Actually, water is my favorite beverage. At least it's what I drink most often. But my DUFF kit needs something more, so let's head to the bar and grab some mojitos. And when I mean bar, I'm talking let's just head to the kitchen while I whip up some mojitos because I make a good one. Yuuuummm.

2. Eek! Trouble already. On the one hand, I'd put my floppy, furry, puppy print slippers in my DUFF kit because they're floppy, furry, puppy print slippers. On the other hand, my black knee-high boots are a force of kick-assery to reckon with. I think I need both. Don't laugh when my DUFF kit's forty pounds on account of all the shoes I couldn't leave behind. I like shoes.

3. I don't have a favorite male actor. But I agree with Kody/Bianca that any and all McAvoy films would be brilliant. Also, the original Star Wars, maybe the Bourne trilogy and my two faves: The English Patient and Shakespeare In Love. Man, those Fiennes brothers know how to light up the screen.

4. The best chocolate chip cookies, Ben & Jerry's Key Lime Pie or Dublin Mudslide ice cream and Trader Joes' Gummy Tummy Penguins. Have you ever had those things? Srsly, SO GOOD. All natural gummies with a liquid tummy filling. Yummers.

5. I'm on board with Kate, here. I love yoga pants. They sit just right on my hips and are soft, soft cotton. Perfect for lounging about. I'd top them off with one of my fitted, brushed cotton t-shirts. Not exactly that shirt, but when I saw it I couldn't pass on posting the pic. Awesome!

What's in your DUFF kit?

Two for Tuesday

2010-09-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

What is it? Post two of anything: book reviews, pictures, quotes, poems, songs, videos, rants, shout outs, whatever floats your boat. Just connect them somehow. That's it.

Today: The unofficial start of a new season.

The day after Labor day. We put our white shoes away, start thinking about our Halloween costumes and send the minor masses to school. It's not the official beginning of Fall, of course, but it's tradition. So here are a random smattering of things related to Fall.

Two Fall writing goals:

Finish a first draft of The Royal Guard and/or Farmer's Daughter.
Polish Will & Zoe and Clovis Tate within an inch of their lives.

Two festivals to look forward to:

The Puyallup Fair. Animals and produce and crafts and food and rides and music and crafts and so much fun.

Octoberfest in Leavenworth.
Yup, our very own little faux Bavarian town in Washington's Cascade mountains. Music and dancing and activities and, oh yeah, beer.

Two writers present Autumn:

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
George Eliot

Ode to Autumn
John Keats
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Two songs to usher in the new season:

HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!

Ode to Zucchini

2010-09-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I've posted about food on this blog. Mostly because it's summer (yes, still) and I pretty much munch on fruits and veggies all summer. Nothing remarkable about that. But now we're getting into harvest season and I'm trying to figure out what to do with the stuff coming out of my ~~ears~~ garden. Like zucchini the size of baseball bats and papaya squash the size of softballs. Yes, we've considered getting a couple teams together. Also, the pounds and pounds of asian pears on the trees out back. Jelly, maybe.

But back to zucchini. Here's what I want to know: Why do we grow the dang things in the first place? When it comes down to it, I probably buy zucchini once, maybe twice a year in the grocery store. The things are bland, sometimes bitter, and have a lackluster texture. And yet we grow them and burden ourselves with 15 pound monstrosities that we stare out for days until the monsters break us and we search cookbooks, online, friends for recipes to consume the things. Why do we do this to ourselves???

I have a theory. I think we grow zucchini because it's the dependable crop. Even when our tomatoes stay stubbornly green and our melons get all pissy and refuse to ripen and the corn is obnoxiously small, we know that zucchini plant won't let us down. It soldiers through good and bad weather, assuring us that, yes, we are gardeners of skill and merit! Those massive leaves, the prickly stems, the huge fruit that are 1 inch long on Monday and 15 inches long Tuesday are our confidence boosters. Peas are the same for me, actually. Every year they do so well and I have zillions of peas, but I just plop myself down in the garden and eat young peas straight from the pod. Zukes, on the other hand, need to be dealt with. So here's a handful of actually interesting and tasty ways to deal with the things, when you aren't able to get a team of baseball players together.

Korean-style Zucchini Pancakes: My zucchini eveningie began here, with these pancakes as a side dish for dinner. The recipe is here, along with pictures galore (since the pancake crispy waits for no camera - or at least not mine). I love the classic Korean green onion pancake and the seafood one too, so I figured zukes wouldn't go amiss. Turns out, they're great! With the dipping sauce (see the comments for sauce recipe) these might have been my favorite part of the meal.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread: Sounds strange, but apparently zuke brownies are the thing nowadays (who knew?). Plus, I'm an avid fan of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin bread in the Fall (and they're all in the squash family, right?) so I figured I'd give it a try. The bread's really good. Didn't notice the zucchini much and the loaves are nice and moist. It's a quick bread (tea loaf) so it comes together quickly. Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour (next time I'm using half white, half whole wheat)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips (I used milk to contrast with the cocoa - like 'em)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour two standard size loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix the sugar, eggs and oil until well-blended. Stir in the zukes and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda and power. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter evenly between the loaf pans and bake for one hour, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. There might be melted chocolate on the tester (from the chips) but you don't want thick, uncooked batter on the tester. Allow the loaves to cool in their pans for five minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks.

After I made the batter for the Choco-Zuke bread, I still had zucchini left over. The hunt for another recipe brought me to this savory bread: Zucchini Jalapeno Parmesan Bread. I like cheese and jalapeno in breads for the richness and kick they provide. This was a definite winner. Pieces of this would be great with chili (not that I'd ever give up my precious, precious cornbread) or a southwest style salad.

Zucchini Jalapeno Parmesan Bread

2 large egg whites
1 cup shredded zucchini
1/4 cup plain yogurt, nonfat or lowfat
1/2 - 1 jalapeno pepper, depending on your spiciness preference
3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour and 9-inch square baking pan. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy, one to two minutes. Add the zucchini, yogurt, pepper and 2 tablespoons cheese and mix until well-combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. The mixture will be fairly thick. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan. Top with the remaining tablespoon cheese and bake 40 minutes or until the top and edges are golden brown and lightly crusty. Remove bread to a cooling rack.

Was I out of zucchini yet? Of course not. But I managed to use the last bit in this, a recipe courtesy of Michelle, who has demanded (more than once) that I make this. It's for a zucchini spice cake made with olive oil. That might turn some folks off at first, but olive oil in sweet, Fall-spiced dishes isn't new to me, so I was happy to give it a whirl. After all, Michelle insisted it was the best zucchini-based anything she'd ever had. And it's pretty dang good. I made cupcakes instead of the whole cake for ease of freezing and portability. The cakes are delicious with the lemon glaze but also great with a simple sprinkling of confectioners' sugar.

Zucchini Olive-Oil Cake with Lemon Crunch Glaze
adapted from "Dolce Italiano" by Gina DePalma

For the cake:
1 cup walnut pieces (I used blanced, slivered almonds because that's what I had on hand and they were perfect)
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 large eggs
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups grated zucchini or other summer squash

For the glaze:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan or grease and flour or line two cupcake pans (for 24 cupcakes). Place the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool the nuts, then chop them in the food processor until they resemble fine crumbs and set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, sugar, and olive oil together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices on low speed until thoroughly combined, then raise the mixer to medium speed for 30 seconds. Stir in the nuts and zucchini, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you do so. Pour the batter into the cake pan or scoop into cupcake pan, filling the cups 3/4 full. Bake 45-50 minutes for the cake or 23-25 minutes for the cupcakes, until golden brown and a tester comes out clean. While the cake is baking, mix all the ingredients for the glaze in a medium bowl. Once the cake has cooled in the pan for ten minutes, remove to a cooling rack and brush the glaze over the top. It's easier to drizzle the glaze over the cupcakes. Allow cake to cool completely for the glaze to set.

RTW: Best Book For August

2010-09-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

This Week's Topic:

What's the best book you read this month?

I expect to see a lot of this one in the Road Trip Wednesday posts (and a lot of THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, which I've yet to read but really want to). My favorite book for August? MOCKINGJAY.

MOCKINGJAY'S release day sort of crept up on me. I hadn't forgotten about it, but I've been so busy this summer that I hadn't thought about it much. But once the book showed up in my mailbox, I closed the bedroom door and isolated myself for a few hours while I eagerly tore through the story. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I can say that I was surprised by the direction Collins took at first - the tension, the themes were quite different from previous books. I ended up loving this new, psychological aspect of the story. The characters in this book were as vivid as in others, maybe even more so. Triumphs and losses hit hard, creating an emotional roller-coaster for the reader. The book wasn't perfect (Katniss spent a bit too much time knocked out or asleep, methinks) but I still couldn't make myself put it down. By the time I'd turned the last page, my chest ached. An impressive story.

What was your favorite read of August? Visit YA Highway to join in on the RTW fun.

I Have Been Bulldozed . . .

2010-08-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

. . . by this book.

I'm pretty much too wasted* at the moment to be able to compile any kind of sentient thoughts about what happens and why--not that I would reveal any spoilers this early in the game.

Suffice it to say, get your own copy and get reading.

I'm off to listen to some obnoxiously upbeat music now.

*Not that kind of wasted. Sheesh.

Road Trip Wednesday: In Which I Air My Ending Grievances

2010-08-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. This Week's Topic: If you could rewrite the ending of any book, how would you rewrite it and why?

I love things that make me feel.

Happy. In love. Frustrated. Triumphant.

I'm a sucker for the bittersweet, as evidenced by my favorite movies (The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love) and books (How I Live Now, Jellicoe Road).

I even love things that make me angry. At least when it comes to artistic endeavors. Atonement? I utterly adore it, even though I seethe with anger at Briony and hatehatehate her. It's such an achievement to coax such an intense reaction out of a reader/viewer. I applaud the careful manipulation of my emotions and revel in the intricacies that allow me to connect with a story on such a deep level. I don't hate books that make me hate - I adore them.

And yet, given the chance, there is one book whose ending I would change (ten bucks says my love Kirsten Hubbard knows exactly where I'm going with this one).

MT Anderson's FEED is a brilliant book. Great writing, amazing depth, a narrative that sucks you in, thought-provoking world building. It's a classic piece of young adult literature.

But I HATE Titus. Utterly, utterly despise him. He's an accurate product of his society, a realistic portrayal of the intense consumerism driving FEED's world and extremely well-written. I love that I hate him.

Occasionally Titus wakes up from his consumerist stupor, has a brief moment of insight, of realization, of questioning. His girlfriend, Violet, a girl on the fringes of society who sees how things are falling to pieces, is dying, her late-inserted feed malfunctioning until she begins to lose the use of her limbs. Titus deals with this the best way he knows how: by backing off and going shopping.

I don't want to argue that Titus should suddenly have this great, big epiphany when Violet dies and shun society, become a monk, move to Mexico and help with the environmental disaster, etc. That would be completely out of character. I don't expect a mind-blowing moment of growth or even for Titus to cry over Violet's death.

But if I could rewrite the ending of FEED, I would throw in just one more flash of insight. I would have Titus buy, not one more pair of jeans, but something for Violet. Something kind of dumb, like a stuffed animal. But it would be a move that would highlight the conflict between his grief over his girlfriend's death and the consumerism that has driven his life from day one. I don't require a big move, but would like to see something that shows me Violet is still on his mind, that she's infiltrated some layer of his psyche, has made some impact on his thought processes. A bit of possibility, the hope that there might come a day in Titus's future when he remembers Violet and her philosophies and awakens to the mess around him. I know the hopelessness is a huge part of the novel, but I do like my bitter with just a bit of sweet. Is that so much to ask?

Which book's ending would you rewrite? Hop on over to YA Highway to join the carnival.

Hunger Games Cast

2010-08-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not one of those who casts novels - mine or others' - but I was reading the fabulous Sarah Enni's blog and she put up a post about who should play Katniss in the movie version of the trilogy and . . . I kinda got hooked on the idea of casting these books. :/ It started when I was considering who would play Peeta, the strong baker's boy and, yeah, the one I tend to ship (don't hate Gale-lovers--I've got my reasons :P). Although, really, I'm flat-out in favor of Katniss ending up alone (she's not really a relationship kind of girl).

Anyway, here are my choices for the Hunger Games cast:

Peeta: Josh Hutcherson

Peeta is described as having medium height with a stocky build, ashy blonde hair and blue eyes, so you need a guy who looks like he can haul a sack of flour over his shoulder. As for the coloring, his hazel eyes can easily be made blue with some contacts and the hair just needs a dose of highlights.

Katniss: Vanessa Marano?
Slender, black hair, gray eyes and olive skin. But also a huntress, logical, unemotional, a badass with a bow and arrow. I personally never see Katniss as being pretty, exactly. At least not in the typical glamorous Hollywood way. More average on the looks and awesome on the personality. At this point, Vanessa Marano comes closest to the image of Katniss I have in my head, though even she isn't perfect. She doesn't have that worn, world-weary look I associate with Katniss, though maybe no teen actress does and I should just be glad for that.

Gale: Logan Lerman
He's Katniss's best friend, the consummate hunter, haunted, slender but fit. Even though I prefer Peeta in general, it always seemed to me that Gale would be the better looking guy. He also has dark hair and gray eyes (hmmm). Probably the easiest call of the batch, I think Logan would be a perfect Gale. With gray contacts, of course.

Prim: Elle Fanning
Delicate and lovely, with light hair, blue eyes and pale skin, the interwebz favorite for Katniss's younger sister seems to be Elle Fanning. I can't disagree, though a year or two of production will help with the age thing. She is slightly on the young side at the moment.

Rue: Willa Holland
Though dark-haired, golden-eyed and Edit:~~olive-skinned~~ sorry, "satiny-brown" skinned, actually, but what shade of satin is unclear. A black actress or Indian actress might actually be better for the role. Maybe award-winning Indian actress Ayesha Kapoor? Or perhaps Yara Shahidi? She would actually be about the right age come production time. Rue was supposed to look "hauntingly similar" to Katniss's sister, Prim. So I'm going to go with Willa Holland, who has haunting eyes, if nothing else. Okay, there does seem to be a bit of similarity around the mouth between Willa and Elle, too. That helps. Mostly, though, I want an actress who can really work that death scene and Willa just has a face for melancholy, no? I've seen her sporting pigtails, which will help with the young look.

Haymitch: Hugh Laurie
He's only in his thirties or forties, but years of flat-out drunkedness have aged Haymitch, the District 13 advisor. He spends most of the first novel with an unkempt, paunchy appearance and a who-cares attitude. Oh, there do seem to be so many of those types of actors about Hollywood nowadays. Who to pick? Let's add some pounds and scruffy Hugh up just a little more -- oh, wait, no, he looks pretty good as is.

NEW!:

Cinna: Michael B. Jordon
Originally my mind went to Wesley Snipes's incredible role in Too Wong Foo as a great representation of what I'd want for Cinna. But then I remembered that even though most people in the Capitol have outlandish fashion sense, Cinna was more reserved, wearing black, having natural, close-cropped brown hair and, his only concession to glitter, wearing gold eyeliner. So instead of drag-fabulousity, I had to pick someone with eyes that would be beautiful rimmed in gold and a streamlined fashion sense. Plus an amazing personality. All this picture needs is that eyeliner.

Effie Trinket: Miranda Richardson
From the very beginning of the series I have pictured Effie Trinket as Rita Skeeter. They just seem to have such similar personalities. Flippant, bitter, domineering. And look at the way she's dressed for the Harry Potter film. Can't you totally see that outfit on Effie? The only change would be to die that bleach job a vibrant pink, add some outrageous accessories, and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter as Effie Trinket would be perfect.

All right, how's the cast so far? Any changes you would make? Who should play some of the other characters? ~~I'd like to see a really flamboyant Cinna - who could pull that off?~~

Publishing Myths and Misconceptions

2010-08-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

I jotted down some notes that stood out to me as I watched agent Holly Root and editors Molly O'Neill and Martha Mihalick chat about some common publishing myths and misconceptions so I thought I'd share with you. Feel free to ask any clarifying questions or post your thoughts in the comments.

Submissions should have a memorable story, but shouldn’t have hokey accessories.
Even if you have connections or know all kinds of publishing pros, it all comes back to your story. The loveliest person on earth won’t get published with a poor manuscript.
Don’t look for personal validation from agents and editors; they will only tell you if your work is publishable, not if you should be writing in the first place.
Picture book texts need to be under 1,000 words. Under 500 words is even better. And you don’t hire your illustrator. The publisher does that.
Read what’s current to get the pulse of the market.
Age is a good initial indicator of what genre your book is, but the ultimate deciding factor is the sensibility of the entire narrative voice.
Kids are the best lie detectors: TRUE! Don’t talk down, don’t focus on the moral message, etc.
There are no good books are there? You simply haven’t read enough. Or you’re flat out rude.
Good titles are important, but changes are still possible.
Agents and editors share a goal: to sell lots of copies of your books.
Writing to trends is okay if you do it well, but editors are also looking for the timeless, the new trend, the surprise.
Authors are important to publishers -- bestselling authors and smaller authors both.
Print is not dead.
Social networking can be great, but don’t force yourself to do things you don’t want to do.
ALA, BEA, etc. are meant for the end buyer, not the writer. If you’re asked to attend, great, but you don’t need to attend trade shows.
Have a question? Ask your agent/editor. You need to feel comfortable asking questions.
The second book isn’t necessarily easier than the first. Nor may be the fifteenth book. Writing books is hard, period.
Truism: The children’s publishing industry is supportive, caring and generous. It’s the best industry in the world.

Want more? Watch the videos here.

WriteOnCon

2010-08-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

I'm alive! And I'm spending the day (plus the next two) popping my head in at WriteOnCon, Elana Johnson's brilliant brainchild of a free, online writers' conference. You should tap-dance over for some great guides and tips to writing and publishing children's lit.

(there appears to be a problem with the direct writeoncon page, so go to elana's page for conference goodies, instead until issues are resolved)

More later!

Today's Office

2010-07-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Prepping for SCBWI - LA

2010-07-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

I'm snuggled up snug as a bug at Kirsten's palatial splendiferous home in San Diego now, all chill and whatnot. But before that? Getting ready for SCBWI - LA. How does an author/agency spy prepare for the biggest children's and YA writers' conference on the left coast (in the U.S.? The world?)? It's not much different than most other getaway plans. Also, this post is more on the personal side. No juicy intern tidbits here. Sorry.

1) Check e-mail eleventy billion times to organize, confirm, reorganize, change, reconfirm, express confusion about, assure other about, final confirm plans and flights and hotels and dates and times with the YAH girls.

2) Pack. Yay fun! Also, wonder why my shoes take up a good third or more of my suitcase, and that's after removing two pairs. This shoe thing might be problematic. Or, I might need a bigger suitcase. But I hate travelling with a suitcase in the first place, so I don't think I'll go bigger. Fewer shoes? Don't know if that's an option either. Other things I couldn't forget to pack: manuscript ready for revisions, ARCs that need to be read and reviewed, my SCBWI top-secret gala costume, contact cards.

3) Oops. Take out of suitcase outfit to wear on the flight. Don't need to scare the poor people at the airport. (oooo new shoes. lavender. pretty. :D)

4) Check e-mail again for more chatting/reconfirming. Also, print out hotel confirmation, flight confirmations, Angels game tickets for Daddy/Daughter day at the ballpark (go Halos!!!!), who I want to meet list, editor sightings check-list. E-mail again.

5) Agonize over whether to paint my toenails sparkly silver or purple. I love purple. But also sparkles. Not bad for a tomboy. These are the hard choices in life, friends. (In the end I went silver on toes, purple on fingers).

6) More e-mails.

7) Blaze through the simple instructions for new cute little point and shoot (that wasn't available in purple at the store booooooooooooooooo) since my other awesome camera finally bit the dust. :/

7) Check my . . . eh, you get it by now. Finish up some last minute work and reading.

8) Ready for bed! Have to be up super early for flight.

9) Oh, wait, walk the floppy pup and give him loads and loads of love. A week is a long time without my guy. :(

10) Check e-mail cuz it's an obsession. Get excited about the prospect of meeting agent-mates and online pals and MY YAH BESTIES YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Triple check paperwork.

11) Pop back outside to water the garden in the dark. Can't forget that. Also, Dear Tomatoes: If you could be ripe when I get back that would be super great cuz geez it's almost August and WTH?!?! kthxbai. Love, Me.

12) Check to make sure I have all the ARCs I need one more time (I don't know why I bothered, I ended up leaving three I'd wanted to bring at home. dur).

13) Bed now, please?

14) Five hours later: Up and to Michelle's to catch the light rail to the airport. Who's excited to be off???? I was! And she was! And we have pictures of excitement! But they are rather awful so no sharing here.

Who here is going to be at SCBWI? Drop me a comment and we'll get it touch! Cheers.

On Revise and Resubmits

2010-07-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

As promised, I want to talk a little bit about the basics of a Revise and Resubmit (R&R) and why you, as a writer on the hunt for an agent, might be asked to complete one.

What is a Revise and Resubmit?

An R&R is a request from an agent (or perhaps from an editor, but we'll stick to the agent side of things here) to a writer to make certain changes to the writer's manuscript before the agent will further consider representation of the manuscript in question.

How often do R&Rs happen?

The easy answer would be to say more often than immediate offers of representation but far less often than immediate rejections. They don't happen all that often, really. I've seen a couple go out since I started reading for La Agent. And that's out of hundreds of queries.

What does an R&R look like?

Generally it's an e-mail detailing both the positives of the manuscript and the changes needed/requested. At this point, you aren't going to see line edits, but you will see commentary on larger issues like plot, character development and tone. There will likely be lots of questions to help you untangle the problems with your manuscript as well as suggestions for improvements and/or recommendations for other books similar to yours that you might want to read to see how a subject matter or style is treated.

Should I be excited or disappointed to receive an R&R?

You will likely be both. Such is the emotional mania that is publishing. It's disappointing to not get that immediate offer of representation, however, keep in mind that an R&R is indicative of doing something right. After all, an agent spends quite a bit of time carefully reading your manuscript, agonizing over whether or not to offer and, ultimately, preparing pages of notes for you. That kind of investment means the agent *did* like something(s) about your manuscript, but it's just not there yet.

What are some specific things that would cause an agent to ask for an R&R rather than simply offer or reject?

This is particular to individual agents and individual manuscripts. The best I can do here is answer to my own experience. I have written up notes on a couple different projects I thought were suited for an R&R and the reasons for that varied. In one case, I was in love with the crafting of the writing. It was the rare kind of writing that gives me goosebumbs because it's so beautiful. However, the pacing was lacking and the plot needed some extensive work. But, oh, that writing! It wasn't quite ready and I wanted to see the how the writer stepped outside the crafting of words part of writing and worked through those other issues first. In another case, I thought the plot/concept and world building were really great, though (again) the pacing and tension were off and the writing needed to be strengthened. With some revisions, that manuscript could have something more to support the strong concept. In both cases I found myself connecting with some element of the manuscript, but I wasn't floored as I read. BUT! I could see the possibility of being floored with some changes.

How often do R&Rs result in an offer of representation?

Unfortunately, it rarely happens. Most often because the writer (for any of a number of reasons) rushes through the revisions and does not end up producing a superior product for the agent to reconsider. And it's a bummer when that happens! Remember how the agent connects with some part of your manuscript in order to offer the R&R in the first place? They really do want to see an improved manuscript so they can connect with all the other elements. It's not a trick nor a conspiracy nor any of that other nonsense.

I also wanted you to get another perspective on R&Rs, so I asked The One Who Put The Awesome In Agent (aka MY supertastic agent, Suzie Townsend - not to be confused with La Agent, for whom I read) to answer a few questions about Revise and Resubmits:

Why would you choose to ask a writer to revise and resubmit a project?

If I love the premise and the project has a strong voice, but there are plot holes and issues that might be fixable, I'll ask the author to revise and let me see it again.

What are the elements that might stand out to you, yet not be enough to convince you to take the project on just yet?

For me, the difference in offering on a project and asking for revisions is the amount of the revisions I think the project needs, such as if the revisions are smaller - fleshing out smaller plot, world, or character issues. When a ms needs big revisions - redeveloping a plot line, fixing something about a main character, etc - there are a couple reasons for a revise and resubmit. If the agent wants massive revisions it might change the vision of the book, and an author might not want to commit to that.

And what are your expectations for the resubmitted work?

My expectation is that it will be even better and I'll like it even more than I did the first time. And the writer needs to have taken the time to thoroughly revise. Not necessarily just followed my notes with specific examples and not necessarily just fixed the minor issues I found, but the whole manuscript should show that the writer took the revision ideas and applied them through the whole ms.

I truly hope this post has helped with understanding the basics of Revise and Resubmits. This blog will be kind of quiet, I expect, in the next week or so as I head out to the coast (I might throw up a few pictures for amusement :D), but if you have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I'll answer as I check in.

Have a fantastic week!

Your Interests

2010-07-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

My dear heart Kate sent me the link to this article about a Michigan teen who started a C.S.A. in her backyard. I love this story, partly because any show of agricultural awesomeness makes me happy and partly because any show of young adult awesomeness makes me happy. I'm totally impressed and inspired by Alexandra's dedication to her project, which grows produce, herbs and flowers for 14+ people. So cool!

My own peas gone wild

The story also got me to thinking about my own paltry garden this year. I've gardened since I first moved out on my own - and even taught gardening and nutrition to low-income schools. I always try to have something growing, whether it's in a large community garden plot or just some herbs in pots. I then got to thinking about the things we do outside of writing. And reading. And interning. And taking care of family and friends, etc. What are the things you do for yourself, the goals you set, the interests that provide an outlet for passion, for study, for fun?

Fruit growing large on my Asian pear trees

For me:

Gardening (yeah, already said that)
Sports: playing them and supporting them (MLB: Angels; MLS: Sounders; NFL: Steelers; UW Husky football and softball - just in case there are any kindred sports fan spirits out there) (Also, just in case you missed Levesque's goal last night:
Kitchen arts: A upscale term meaning Give Me Your Chocolate and Slowly Step Away From the Stove While I Whip Up A Flourless Torte. Also, I haven't posted food related anything on this blog recently. But I also haven't been cooking/baking much. It's summer. I subsist on cherries in the summer.
Crafty stuff: Scrapbooking and sewing and furniture building and other general crafty whatnots.
Learnin': About heavy stuff, about random stuff. I'm a sponge for random trivia and a constant seeker of fascinating material. I could be a professional student, that's for sure.
Setting life goals: Like getting my pilot's license or surfing Hawaii or a million other things I want to jam into this short life.

What about you? What are the things you love to do when you set your WIP/edits/revisions/reading to the side and reintroduce yourself to the world?

Coming soon: Based on some of the comments in my R&R post, I feel the need to take a step back and talk about R&Rs in general. So (hopefully) by early next week I'll have a post up about what an R&R is, why an agent might ask you for one, what it means to get asked and what you might want to do with the suggestions given.

Have a super weekend!

Ah, Summer

2010-07-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

We interrupt this RTW to bring you . . . the halcyon days of summer. 82 at the beach and snow-capped peaks on view. I love this town.

Road Trip Wednesday: Remembering Reading

2010-07-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite reading memory?

I have a lot of great reading memories, actually. I mean, there's a reason I've learned to love to read so much. But a few do stand out in the crowd: Finishing the Anne of Green Gables series, and then immediately starting it again from book one. That first historical romance I found stashed under my sixth grade desk and read with wide eyes (ew, that sounds so pervy, haha). Discovering that poetry could, in just a few stanzas, demand an intense emotional reaction from me. Hating, detesting, abhorring MOBY DICK - and trying to convince my lit professor of the underlying themes of sexuality and repression in the novel (my arguments were AWESOME. But he wasn't so sure. He was old school, what did he know?). Swooning over the beauty of Marchetta's Jellicoe Road. Reading the novels that inspired my favorite films and deciding which version of the story was superior.

But easily my favorite reading memory happened in the fourth grade. I recall with clarity the total smart-a$$ I was back then (yeah, nothing's changed). I remember joining the gifted program and still feeling ahead of the game. So while my friends were reading Sweet Valley High and Babysitter's Club, I marched into my grade school library and told the librarian I needed a real challenge. She steered me to the stacks and pulled out Louisa May Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN. My reaction looked something like this ----->

(except, you know, I was a girl, not The Rock).

Here I was, this complete tomboy who played tackle football sans pads on a concrete road and beat up boys, expecting something more action oriented, more intelletual, and this librarian gives me a book about . . . GIRLS??? And not just girls. SISTERS!!!!!! I didn't even have any sisters (brothers aplenty, though). This was so not going to work out.

But I dutifully took the book home and read. And read and read. And I finished the novel in a couple days (actually, probably a couple nights, since I was one of those kids who hid under her blanket after lights out with a flashlight). And I loved it! I mean, I was so Jo*, so how could I not? And Christian Ba-- *ahem* I mean, Laurie? Sa-woon! It definitely was an eye-opening experience. My first hefty work of literature and even a little admittance that stuff about girls was . . . okay. Cliche as it sounds, LITTLE WOMEN opened the door to a world of great novels and helped shape the reader - and writer - I am today.

What's your favorite reading memory? Head over to YA Highway to join in on this week's RTW.

*Aren't we all?

Um, About Those Revise and Resubmits . . .

2010-07-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

I recently was asked by the exceptional agent I’m reading for (“La Agent” hereafter) to look at a manuscript on which she had requested some revisions. She didn’t tell me what her initial thoughts were, nor what kinds of changes she’d suggested to the writer (she’s always trying to test me :P) (not really) (maybe really). So I read. And there were problems. Not little ones, either. Grr. I started wondering about what kind of suggestions La Agent had given but, even more so, about how much of those suggestions the writer had taken to heart.

Not until I’d sent my thoughts on the manuscript back did La Agent reveal both her notes – and the fact that the writer took three days to “do” the changes.

Ugh.

It is not an impossible feat to do edits in three days. Edits are easy. It’s not even impossible to do some revisions in three nose-to-the-grindstone days. Biggish ones, too. Not that I’ve come across a successful example of that yet in my reading. :/

But I think writers really need to get it out of their heads to do quick revisions. Maybe it's a combination of excitement that OMG THE AGENT LIKES IT! and fear that OMG IF I DON'T DO IT QUICKLY THE AGENT WILL FORGET ABOUT ME!!! that helps drive these fast revisions. I promise, the agent won’t forget your work. Even in a month. Even in a year. I’m not lying about this. The agent obviously saw something intriguing and that spark of interest doesn’t just peter out.

Anyway, La Agent and I discussed the original vs. the revised manuscript, we talked about the continued problems we were seeing and we mourned the rejection to be sent to the writer (I can’t stress enough that agents really, really want to see great work from writers, really, really want to sign writers, really, really don’t love sending rejections). But we also aired our frustrations over writers taking a Revise and Resubmit and not doing a thorough job of it.

We know you don’t have to follow every agent suggestion, you don’t have to add everything s/he wants you to add or cut everything s/he wants you to cut. This is your story. Revisions are suggestions – but they are coming from a place of experience in reading/writing and a knowledge of what editors are seeking. So, no, you don’t have to do everything an agent asks, but please, please take the suggestions to heart! How would I deal with an R&R?

1. Take your time. Read the suggestions. Mull them over before making actual physical changes. Mulling does not take fifteen minutes. New definition of mull: To think or ponder for a LONG TIME. Decide how the suggestions affect/change your characters, your plot, tension, motivations. Rip everything apart to the point that band-aid solutions won’t stop the bleeding. Dig deeper. Revisions are not the same as “rearranging,” nor are they the same as “slap another scene in there somewhere.”

2. Utilize beta readers. If you don’t have any, find some. Find a writer you know and trust and who likes you enough to be honest and thorough but not so much that s/he feels they have to hold something back. We all know beta comments can sting, but You. Will. Not. Become. Better. If. You. Can’t. Take. Constructive. Criticism. Make sure your beta reader(s) understand the changes you’ve tried to implement so that they know what to look for. Give them guidelines and questions to answer.

3. Ideally, you’ve continued to mull over possible changes while your beta(s) read. If you think those changes make the manuscript better, implement them. It’s not required, but when you’re ready to send the manuscript back to the agent (in . . . a few weeks’ time? A couple months’? Those are both OKAY time frames!!!), talk a little bit about the changes you made. I’d be more interested in reading a rambling e-mail from a writer detailing changes and concerns and her/his thought process than simply getting a “Here ya go!” with the new manuscript attached.

It really is okay to take your time. Beneficial, even.

At the end of this whole experience, the agent made this comment in an e-mail to me. It’s a lightning flash/light bulb over the head kind of statement that drives home the idea that you need to take time with your R&R because, while you have *something,* it isn’t there yet:

Dear Writers: If it was a simple revision, I would do it after I signed you.

Since you read this far, I have a funny reward for you (totally not related to the above commentary):

Have a super weekend!!! <3

Road Trip Wednesday: My Ideal Writing Space

2010-07-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic: What would your ideal writing desk look like? Right down to the perfect pen or laptop.

It wasn't enough for me to leave this at writing desk. No, I've had it in my head what I'd like my entire working office to look like for far too long for that.

If you came into my home, you'd find a good deal of classic furniture: Cherry four poster bed and bookcase, vintage-washed black dining set, an old trunk - like the sort of thing that came off an old steamer ship - instead of a coffee table, a globe made of semi-precious stones in the corner.

But I've always wanted an office space with a completely different look. One whose design didn't take up too much space in my head. Something very clean, minimalist, anti-clutter. Lots of white, some black, a splash of color.

I remember watching Stranger Than Fiction and coveting Emma Thompson's writing space. I mean, I didn't like the desk itself, and I hated the floor. And the walls. But that's not the point. The point is: there was so much light, so much openness, room to climb up on one's desk to think! That's what I wanted.

Just . . . not so ugly.

My ideal space looks more like this:

With this across the back wall - filled with books and manuscripts, of course:

And a bit of red in the corner. Perhaps a sofa:

But maybe a chaise lounge. One with a quirky sense of style:

On my desk itself? Not much. A lamp. My laptop. A black cup for pens and pencils. My black and white composition books. A garbage can under the desk to collect all my recyclables. And black and white prints of my favorite cities on the walls:

That's . . . about it. What about you? What's your ideal writing space? Head over to YA Highway to see what the other highwaywomen designed and to add your own links.

Two for Tuesday

2010-07-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Two for Tuesday, begun by the loverly Kate Hart.

What is it? Post two of anything: book reviews, pictures, quotes, poems, songs, videos, rants, shout outs, whatever floats your boat. Just connect them somehow. That's it.

Today's Topic: Creative Inspiration Overload (Gimme more).

Two bands/musicians I've been listening to non-stop ever since my brilliant friend Paul recommended them:

Paolo Nutini

And Frightened Rabbit

Two manuscripts revised over the past week, out of my hands and in the hands of my agent/beta:

Two great books I read this week:

THE PIPER'S SON by Melina Marchetta

PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White

Two events I'm eagerly looking forward to being inspired by:

The Modern Woman Drawings by Degas, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Other Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

And, of course, SCBWI L.A., at which things of great deliciousness have been planned with the irreverent but adorable YA Highway girls.

I've found myself a little burned out from reading Young Adult *gasp* (I know), so I'll pick up a Middle Grade novel or two to read, but actually I'm really excited to polish up my lit degree and leech some inspiration with two of my favorite Romantic poets:

Keats, whose life was tragically short.

When I Have Fears

When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high-piled books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love;--then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

And, of course, the womanzier, gambler, soldier and exile extraordinaire, the Byronator.

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Have a super Tuesday!

My Verve For Reading

2010-06-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

I posted this picture on my Facebook yesterday ------>. It's a picture of everything that showed up in the mail yesterday. All the books, I mean. You don't want to see the junk. And the bills. Bleargh.

One big box (16 pound's worth - there's more underneath!) of BEA books and ARCs sent from Kody Keplinger and her super fantastic agent, Joanna Volpe; one copy of PARANORMALCY from Harper Collins; and Melina Marchetta's THE PIPER'S SON, direct from New Zealand (because it's not available yet in the U.S. - my heart is yours, Leila, trufax).

Now, not all of those books will stay with me. Several of the BEA books go to the winners of YA Highway's BEA giveaway. And I'll be passing some more of those BEA ARCs to my YA Highway besties when I see them come SCBWI L.A. in a month (*squeeeeeeeeee!!!!*). But there's still lots for me to read in that beautiful pile of beautiful books.

Seeing that picture, my dear friend and fellow writer, Joal, asked me this awesomely provocative question on Facebook: Does reading this much dilute the joy of reading?

I do read quite a bit, between personal recommendations, wanting to keep abreast of trends, reading ARCs for review, reading manuscripts for my literary job and reading as a beta for my writing/critique partners and agentmates. Oh yeah, and reading my own stuff - when I have to. So does all that reading affect my perspective? It sure does. But does it dilute the joy of reading?

No.

And.

Yes.

I wouldn't say I'm a reading snob - I love a rollicking, purely commercial story on a regular basis. But I also won't read any old thing. My expectations are, indeed, high as a result of all this reading. I've seen - felt - what a truly great book can do. And I've been disappointed more times than I can remember by books that were hyped and supposed to be amazing - but weren't.

On the one hand, all this reading has fostered my high expectations for novels. I am quicker to stop after a few chapters (utterly without shame) if I don't like/don't feel a story. That's a new thing for me. I never used to "not finish" a book. I am also less patient with cliches and other issues/stylistic choices that I see far too often. I recognize that, yes, many mediocre books are published each year and the bar for what is truly great has certainly risen, for me, over the past two years.*

But when I do find that truly great book? When I start reading and Simply. Can't. Stop? When I care so much about the characters that I cry for them, laugh out loud with them, revel in their romantic tension? When I havetohavetohaveto see how the story ends, 3 am be darned, I rejoice. I am unstoppable in my joy, in my desire to shout my recommendation to everyone I know. I ADORE a great book. Finding one is like stumbling across the first cherries of summer, two weeks before they're due (you have to understand, summer cherries may be my favorite food of all time). My delight is palpable and greatly enhanced by my knowledge that there are many, many ho-hum books out there but so few INCREDIBLE books out there.** Of all kinds, BTW. I'm not just talking "Oh, only literary can be great, blahblahblah" - I love all kinds of stories. But I never felt as excited by a great book before I began reading as much as I do now. And it is utterly joyous.

Dilute the joy? All the reading I do does dilute the joy, for certain books. For books that don't live up to their promise or my expectations. But for the ones that do live up to their promise and my expectations, joy in concentrated into an obnoxiously thick, gooey paste of wonderful.

Thanks for making me write about why I love to read all these books so much, Joal. :)

* when I began reading and writing in earnest again.
** yes, yes, taste is subjective.

RTW: FML. But First, This Public Service Announcement

2010-06-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

!!!USA!!!

Not only did the USA soccer/football team win their game against Algeria this morning and advance to the next round, the WON THEIR GROUP for the first time since 19freaking30!!!!!!

Seriously, it was an amazing finish. AMAZING. Hollywood couldn't have written a better game. I had, maybe, a dozen heart attacks from start to finish. Still reeling.

But I have a Road Trip Wednesday post to write. *breathes*

This week's RTW was inspired by a suggestion from one of our brilliant YA Highway readers: If my character(s) wrote into FML, what would they say?

To start, FML is this. I think I'd seen it . . . once? . . . before this assignment. It's not really my thing. I prefer TLN, hehe.

Ah, acronyms. What a drab world we would live in without thee.

Anyway. It took me some time to come up with FMLs that didn't actually give away major plot points in my stories. I guess I go for the big stuff first (hello obvious-monster). But then I got my gears turning.

ETA: OOPS! I did RTW wrong. *headdesk* I'm supposed to use real books. Not my WIPs. Sorry, sorry. Let's try this again:

Ginny: Today, I thought I'd found a slug in my dinner. Fred said it wasn't and showed me his plate. Same thing. So I ate it. Fred hadn't lied. It wasn't a slug. It was a booger under an engorgement spell. FML.

Timothy: Today, I learned big ears really aren't the same thing as wings. Should have never taken him 30 floors up to test the theory. Poor little guy. FML.

Nancy: Today, I learned teenage girls don't get away with everything. Behind bars for tampering with evidence. *sob* FML.

Raven: Today, Nevermore. FML.

Omri: Today, Little Bear got hold of my U.S. history book. Seemed angry. So I sent him back. But things feel weird, like they didn't happen and I fe---- FML.

Okay, your turn! Head over to YA Highway to see what the rest of the patrol wrote about, then add your won FML stories.

Happy Wednesday!

Beginnings . . . FTW

2010-06-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

I've posted a couple of times about what causes me to not want to read on at the beginning of a manuscript. I can honestly say that the majority of manuscripts I see aren't compelling enough to capture my attention. Sad, but true.

Until now, only ONE of the more than two dozen fulls I've been sent to read has captured me so fully that I couldn't stop reading. I wish that number were higher, I really do. But it's simply not.

However, this weekend was a good one for requested manuscripts! I began one Friday and read all the way through, finishing Saturday evening. The other I began at 10:00 last night and finished at 2:30 am.

I'm a little sleepy still.

But I'm also excited to have come across two manuscripts that have a ton of promise. Were either of them absolutely perfect? No, IMO, they are not. But do they have serious promise? Oh, heck yeah. So what compelled me to read on?

Beginning with Action.

I know you've heard this one before. And maybe you've thought, "Crap, now I need an explosion or something, even though I'm writing light-hearted romance. Maybe the hero will save the girl first thing? Hmmm."

STOP!

What people really mean when they say Begin with Action is Begin with Tension. Sometimes tension and action are the same thing, but sometimes they're not. Tension is the magnitude of the pulling force on an object (wiki def.) and that's exactly what I want: some force pulling me into the story, making me care about the characters right off the bat. I want to worry for them, be thrilled for them - but expect something terrible - laugh at and with them, be uncomfortable, clench my muscles, be afraid. The drive to experience relief from those things is what compels me to read on. And if the tension builds even more - gets bigger and more difficult and harder to stand - even better.

The first manuscript I read began with a scene filled with tension. I wanted to read more about this MC survivor, and as I went on the tension faded (something I feel the author needs to work on), but the writing and the language were so beautiful, I wanted to keep reading. The ability to write beautifully writing is both a gift and something a writer must work long and hard to achieve. The combination of early tension and the writing makes me interested in working with this writer even though the ms needs revisions.

The second manuscript began with tension coming at the MC from several different angles -- close angles, the kinds of angles that should really be angles of safety rather than angles of fear -- and never let go. It built and built, let off a little, built some more, until I realized I was holding my breath in anticipation of what was going to happen next. I feel this manuscript needs some adjustments, too, but I couldn't put it down. A mixture of fear and hope, of sexual tension and violence kept me enthralled the whole time. No wasted pages of conversations, no background story that wasn't completely related to the plot. That's the marker of a ms that works.

So, compel me. Make me uncomfortable. Make every word, every page count. Move the story forward, put your MC in that tree and throw rocks. Think about that show you love to watch (or love to hate). What makes you come back for more?

Bring the tension.

Teaser Tuesday

2010-06-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted a teaser in some time, so I figured I'd throw something from the gothtopian up. Here's a snippet. Gothic language, I hope. Two brothers fighting over the same girl? Sorta . . . Thanks for reading. :)

Thanks again for the nice comments. :)

Food. Cuz I Can't Help Myself

2010-06-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

So, I fully intend to regale you amazing readers with a long, thoughtful post about feminism in YA (really), but until I can sit down and give you the thorough conversation you deserve, I'm going to give you food. My own Seattle EatFest, to be specific.

Now, Seattle EatFest doesn't actually exist. It's my own creation: a list of Seattle eats I have to try at some point. The list is at 60+ must eats and growing. Because Seattle is, without a doubt, a foodie town. Yum yum yum.

I've got all kinds of stuff on the list, from taco truck bites to $200 nine-course foodie's dream meals to everything in between. And, like I said, I'll be adding. Do you know of any amazing eats in the Seattle area? Let me know and I'll add them. And if you're ever in town, give me a ring and help me cross something off the list. I'll post this on the sidebar with occasional updates. For fun, you know. Because I have to tenderize my ranting posts with something delicious. :)

Here's the list (so far):

Seattle Eatfest
1. Springhill Burger and Fries, West Seattle
2. Ivar’s Salmon House Sunday Brunch Buffet, Fremont/Wallingford
3. Dim Sum in Vancouver
4. Burgermaster with the kids, Aurora Ave.
5. Skillet Burger, rotating locations
6. Delancy’s Pizza, Ballard
7. Something exploratory at Salumi, Pioneer Square
8. Triple Coconut Cream Pie at Dahlia Bakery, Downtown
9. Pork Belly and pickle plate at Boat Street Café, Belltown
10. Crabcakes and gumbo at Steelhead Diner, Pike Place
11. Braised catfish at Tamarind Tree, International District
12. 5 course menu at Tilth, Wallingford
13. Eggs benedict at Glo’s, Capitol Hill
14. Cuban Sandwiches at Paseo, Fremont
15. Kimchi quesadilla from Marination food truck, rotating locations
16. Oatmeal and ice cream at Molly Moons, Capitol Hill and Wallingford
17. Multiple Piroshky at Piroshky, Piroshky, Pike Place
18. Curds from Beecher Cheese, Pike Place
19. Breakfast sandwich at Dahlia Bakery, Downtown
20. A dozen at Daily Dozen, Pike Place
21. Groats and crumpet during latte happy hour (7-8:30 am) at The Crumpet Shop, Pike Place
22. Ezell’s Fried Chicken, Central District
23. Burritos at Bimbo’s Bitchin’ Burrito Kitchen, Capitol Hill
24. Ipanema’s Brazilian meat fest and drinks, Downtown
25. Sushi Tokyo, 63rd and Roosevelt
26. Chicken noodle soup, green onion pancake and dumplings at Szechuan Noodle Bowl, ID
27. Croque Monsier and all you can eat baguette at Café Presse, Capitol Hill
28. Pastelon at La Isla, Ballard
29. Spud for fish and chips, Green Lake
30. Happy Hour at MCcormick and Shmidts, Downtown/Lake Union
31. Whatever’s fresh at Matt’s In the Market, Pike Place
32. Seasonal small plates at Lark, Capitol Hill
33. Insane burgers, sweet potato fries and tater tots from Lunchbox Laboratory, Ballard
34. Jerk Chicken, Goat Curry and plantains at Island Soul Caribbean, Columbia City
35. Chicken Schwarma and falafel at Mr. Gyros, Greenwood
36. Vegetarian thai at Araya, University District
37. The Favorite Pizza and the Ham and Egg at Proletariat Pizza, White Center
38. Salted Caramel and Ube Ice Cream at Full Tilt, White Center/UDistrict
39. 2 am breakfast at 13 Coins after an all-nighter, Downtown
40. Tacos at the Taco Truck in front of Home Depot, Aurora
41. Platillos Fuertes at Senor Moose Café, Ballard
42. Calallo and roti at Pam’s Caribbean Kitchen, UDistrict
43. $5 Mini Pies Happy Hour at Serious Pie, Downtown
44. Medianoche or Cubano and croquettes de jamon at Paladar Cubano, 90th and Aurora
45. Kouign Amann and macarons at Honore Bakery, Ballard
46. Oysters at Elliot’s, Waterfront
47. Rigatoni, gnocchi and zeppole at Tavolata Happy Hour, Belltown
48. Cheesesteak at Hey Paison!, Renton
49. Szechuan 99 tofu and hand shaven noodles at Szechuan 99, Lynwood
50. Hand-stretched noodles at Noodle King, International District
51. Seasonal specialties at Kisaku, Green Lake
52. Course Meal at Mashiko, West Seattle
53. Ka-Pow-Rad-Khow and Queen of Banana at Noodle Boat Thai, Issaquah
54. Pizza Rodizio and futbol at All-Nations Soccer, Broadview
55. Kabobs and Baklava at Gorgeous George’s Mediterranean Kitchen, Greenwood
56. Crush six-course (or Black Cod), Capitol Hill
57. Omakase at Miyabi, Tukwila
58. Raw at Chaco Canyon Café, U District
59. Toast and more toast at Brown Bag Café, Kirkland
60. Berry foraging in Carkeek park and Blueberry Park, North Seattle and Tacoma
61. 9-course seasonal dining at The Herbfarm, Woodinville
62. Theo Chocolates/3400 Phinney Chocolates factory tour, Fremont
63. Smokey the Salmon and amazing Hash Browns at Voula's Offshore Diner, UDistrict
64. Unicorn-Dog and Unicorn Jizz at Unicorn, Downtown

Today I headed downtown to Dahlia Bakery to taste local Celeb-Chef Tom Douglas's famous Triple Coconut Cream Pie.

Was it awesome? Heck yeah! Was it better than mine? Hmmm . . .

I want to make my recipe now, just to compare.

In My Delirium . . .

2010-06-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

I don't often post about contests here. But this one deserves a mention because 1) it's run by my lovely agent-mate Rebecca (WOOO GO TEAM SUZIE!) and 2) I really, really want to read this ARC.

If you want to read Lauren Oliver's DELIRIUM as much as I do, head over to Rebecca's blog and enter to win the ARC. The book doesn't come out until FEBRUARY 2011! I cannot wait that long. Oh no I can't. And Rebecca's way cool.

Road Trip Wednesday: Let It Go Already!

2010-06-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

This week's Road Trip Wednesday topic is: How do you know when a project is gold - or when it's just not going to work out?

Uuuuggghh.

Welcome to my world of hard-headedness. Brick walls, white jackets, stone head. I pretty much feel wholly unqualified to answer this question because as far as I'm concerned, all my ideas rock the house. Really. And I can't be the only one who feels this way! Validate my massive ego, people. Please.

Case in point: My very, very first novel is adult upmarket. Do I work on it anymore? No, not at the moment. It isn't even finished. Do I still love the concept. Yes. Do I want to go back to it at some point. Yes. Now just isn't the time for this project.

My second novel, a YA time-travel, is the first novel I've seriously considered trunking FOR GOOD. And yet there are times I think about it. About what needs to be changed. How I can make it better. I even open the file and TINKER with it on occasion!

My third book is MG. It's out with a beta right now, preparing to become the best it can be.

I just can't/don't let go of things. Even though I'm pretty sure the time-travel YA won't ever make it anywhere. Even though I don't have an inkling of interest in finishing my adult at the moment. Perhaps I cling too tightly to my stories. Perhaps I love them too much or see too many possibilities. Perhaps I am simply far, far too stubborn for my own good. That's likely the answer. And yet, stubbornness is essential in this business, wouldn't you say?

Which is not to say stubbornness is an excuse to keep hacking away at a project that isn't working. Something that doesn't fit the flavor of the market at the moment or is lacking great tension, the perfect antagonist, groundbreaking romance, deep characterization. If those things simply aren't working, and you feel done with the project, your passion for it has petered out, put it away. Start something else.

But if a tiny flame for the project still burns, give it a thought everyone once in a while. You just might hit upon the one thing it needs to be great.

And you might then be able to challenge me for the title of Ultimate Stubbornnator.

See what the rest of the YAHighwayfolks - including our stupendous readers - have to say about projects that do and don't work. And don't forget to enter our newest BEA books giveaway. Happy midweek, everyone!

Newsies + Gaga = WIN

2010-06-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge Newsies fan. All those adorable singing and dancing boys? Heck yeah. Now, I was always a huge fan of Brooklyn (cutiepie!) but Newsies is also responsible for beginning my almost-obsession with Christian Bale. Yummers.

Check out this awesome video of the Newsies boys dancing to Bad Romance (via Jezebel)

YOU WISH Winner!

2010-06-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

I am astounded at the number of entries - and all the awesome wishes everyone made when they were younger (and still make!). Lots of wishes for pets and superpowers and love and Hogwarts letters and siblings (more, less, brother, sister) - love that.

Some of my favorites:

jpetroroy wanted a pet giraffe. Yeah, that would be awesome.

Serenissima wanted to be a boy so she could play in the NFL. You know what I love about this one? I WISHED THE SAME THING!!! I had big plans to be the first female quarterback in the NFL.

Tracy wanted to quest for the Holy Grail. Forget Lancelot, Galahad has my heart.

Amanda wanted Joey McIntyre to marry her. Which she totally would have had to fight me for!!! *puts up fists* Joey was, hands down, the cutest NKOTB. *swoon*

Janet wished to go to Harvard! No pressure, kid. :P

Dani wanted to beat the system by wishing for more wishes, LOL. Clever.

Michelle wanted a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder hat, LOL.

She could share it with QuoteGirl who wanted to be a pop star in a lime green wig called "Turtle."

But my favorite might be JenPick with this bit of utterly lovely random:

I was an odd kid – I wished for beaded curtains, a swimming pool, Corn Diggers (what I called Bugles corn snacks), for Family Ties to never go off the air, and to be in a Stouffer’s frozen dinner commercial (b/c those people looked like they were having a blast). I’ve got some beaded curtains and some Corn Diggers. Still missing those other things.

Okay, you've stuck with me this far. Now for a winner. The lucky winner of Mandy Hubbard's YOU WISH and two Seattle Chocolates Truffles bars (according to Random Number Generator) is . . . .

*Drumroll*

Comment #16!

*counts*

*Andye*

Who (LOL) wished for Chutes and Ladders and finally got it for her 33rd birthday! See, wishes DO come true!!

Congrats *Andye*! I'll try to track your e-mail down - or shoot me an e-mail at kristindmiller(at)gmail(dot)com so I can get your prizes mailed off to you.

Thanks for entering and reading. Stay tuned - more posts to come and more giveaways (sooner or later), too. Happy Monday! :D

More on First Pages Passing

2010-06-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've posted a few thoughts on why I'd pass on a ms based on the first few pages/chapters.

This next reason actually makes me a bit sad.

It happened recently that I read a ms with great writing. Really superb dialogue and funny characters and writing that pulled me in. I loved the writing. Yup, sure did.

The problem was the story. There hardly was one. Despite all that great back-and-forth dialogue and witty repartee and wry characters, nothing was actually happening. And when I say happening, of course I'm not talking about how the characters went to school or hung out or commented on the opposite sex or life or whatever. That was happening.

But the plot?

Action intended to drive the plot forward didn't show up until the sixth chapter.

SIX CHAPTERS!!!

Even the most rapier of wit isn't going to hold up a book for six chapters while the reader waits for an actual plot to begin.

You don't need to start your story with an explosion. You really don't. But if the thing that makes me *need* to read on - plot and tension - is completely missing, it doesn't matter that your writing is very, very good. Something needs to HAPPEN.

Occasionally a thread about "Which is better: writing or plot?" will pop up on a writing forum. Some folks are happily situated in one or the other camp, but I (and many others) am firmly entrenched right in the middle. A great story needs both. I personally think the great writing is more difficult to pull off, which is why when a story comes along with great writing and weak plot, I am seriously bummed.

Let me give you an example that has nothing to do with writing, but much to do with art.

Kayla, from So You Think You Can Dance's season 5 was, easily, the best dancer of the season. I don't care that some other chick won, it was a set-up and a farce. I know who the true queen of that season was.

KAYLA!

*ahem*

Kayla and Kupono danced a Mia Michaels number called Gravity. It's below. You know what I love about this dance? Everything is there. Everything that should be in a novel is there. It has a driving story, technical perfection and lots and lots of emotion, to boot. Plot, great writing and heart. It's the perfect package - the exact kind of package I want to see in a manuscript. Watch and be awed:

Make stuff happen, lovely writerly friends.

RTW: Best Book For May

2010-06-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

At the close of each month, YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday asks: What is the best book you've read this month? We pushed May's RTW back in order to post the Glorious Blogiversary Contests, so this first June Wednesday is about last month's book(s).

My favorite? I have two, actually. One YA and one adult.

The YA is Mandy Hubbard's YOU WISH. Such a fun, LOL read about a girl whose childhood wishes begin to come true - but it's not as fairy tale as you might think. I'm giving a copy of the ARC of YOU WISH (plus two Seattle Chocolates Truffle Bars) on this blog. Enter if you haven't!

Have you seen this? Yeah, this awesome piece of marketing spurred me on to pick up the first of the series, SOULLESS. And I love it! The Asutenian voice speaks to the heart of literature I LOVE. It's funny and sexy and I never though I'd have much interest in steampunk before this. I'm still not sure I'd read any other steampunk, but this particular books is fab. I just picked up the second in the series and it's as good as the first.

What was your favorite read of last month? Visit YA Highway to get the scoop on what the rest of the team - including our awesome readers - swooned over last month.

YOU WISH!

2010-05-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

And so you'll get it! You want awesome books, awesome writerly critiques, awesome fun . . . other stuff????

OF COURSE YOU DO!

Head over to YA Highway to enter to win books and prize packs and tasty goodies of all kinds. Enter Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for optimum opportunity for winnage!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!

Stay here and enter MY contest! If you haven't gotten tired of all the bookage out there (hahahahahaHA!), I've got a tale to tell.

I managed (through nefarious channels, PERHAPS) to score an ARC of Author/Agent Mandy Hubbard's YOU WISH (Razorbill, August 2010). I've read it, I've got great things to say about it, and now I want to pass it on to YOU!

So first, read my quick, but glowing, review of YOU WISH, then stay tuned for the super-simple, easy-peasy instructions on how to win your own copy.

Okay, so I know I'm supposed to type out the back copy and give you the blurb and all that. But I actually didn't read the back copy before I started the story itself and I'm so glad I didn't. It gives too much away! It was vastly more amusing to be surprised as each . . . disaster . . . showed itself. So, unless you're a party pooper who likes to RUIN SURPRISES FOR SMALL CHILDREN, don't go searching out the blurb for YOU WISH.

I'll wait while 63% of you search it out, read it and come back.

*taps foot*

Here's the thing. I rarely, RARELY actually LOL when I read. Like, it pretty much never happens. But with the cast in this novel - and I'm not just talking about snarky Miss One-Liners Kayla (love!) - you can't help but snicker and snort and giggle. Out loud! The zany in this story is too good to be true. Nothing is done halfway and I love the humor, the rollicking pace and the insane fun.

I'll give the 37% of you who DON'T TELL KIDS THERE'S NO SANTA a little clue: At Kayla's disastrous sixteenth birthday party, Kayla makes a wish. That all her previous birthday wishes would come true.

Now, go back five . . . ten . . . (erm, fifteen, anyone?) years to when you were a child. What did you wish for? A pony? The prince? Something family-related and tear-inducing? Well, Kayla wished for some pretty standard - and not so standard - things. Read along as her wishes turn into . . . nightmares. You'll LOL, too.

How to win your own ARC of YOU WISH? Two easy steps.

1) Be (or become) a follower of this blog.
2) Leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you wished for when you were a kid.

What did I wish? Once I wished for a sister. Alas, I ended up with six brothers. Another time I wished to be a rock star. Now I vlog myself singing Lady Gaga for Kody Keplinger. Le sigh.

Contest ends the same day the YA Highway contest ends. All entries must be in by Sunday, June 6th. I'll announce the winner Monday. And I just might throw in some Seattle chocolate, as well.

ETA: Your comments are awesome! I'm totally throwing in a Seattle Chocolates Truffle bar (winner's choice). If I hit 130 followers, I'll add another truffle bar! So, YOU WISH + TWO truffle bars if this blog hits 130 followers. Sound good to you? :D

Two, No, THREE Awesome Things

2010-05-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

I''d planned on doing a classic Two for Tuesday, but there's just too much awesome to limit myself. So I've chosen THREE things to highlight this Tuesday. Mwuahahahahahhaa!!!!

*hides from Kate*

First up: We're kicking off the fun for YA Highway's One Year Blogiversary!!! WOOOOOOO!!!! What a great ride it's been with this blog - I hope we go strong for another year +.

(if you're in or around San Jose, CA, this cake made by AJ's Moonlight Bakery - so cute!)

Next: BEA! No, I'm not going myself (though I think I will join Lisa's pity party), but I've got my non-sharkly teeth into a couple of beloveds who have promised an ARC or twelve. That makes me VERY happy.

Finally: Check out this awesome. Most of the time we proper Seattlites like to ignore the fact that the Eastside even exists, but times like this simply awe me. Teens awe me. Teens who run 113 miles in 24 hours awe me. It's hard to put into words (and me a writer, even!) how inspiring these stories are to me. I avoid the news like the plague because it tends to be full of items that make me wonder at humanity. But this is nothing short of wonderful.

Painful . . . ly

2010-05-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

I'm back with the number three reason I'm not enjoying a manuscript's first pages. I'd had all kinds of intent to bring you another reason earlier, but I got busy reading and writing and lunching and squeeeeeing and all those wonderful things that define writing and agenting and just plain living.

So without further ado:

3) Excessive use of adverbs.

This is not rocket science. Also, this is one of those pieces of advice that any writer will gladly dispense to newer writers.

Are adverbs evil? Of course not. I used one two sentences ago. But used in massive proportions they are distracting, off-putting and, above all, crutches. Toss the adverbs and use STRONG writing instead! Whether that means finding a great verb to use in place of the adverb, changing how you choose to reveal your information or simply deleting because sentences should almost never begin with an adverb, make sure you do a thorough adverb edit-and-cull before you think your ms is ready. The ms I'm currently reading just used *8* adverbs in one 5-sentence paragraph. It's too much!

What not to do: Horace quickly shoved his papers in his desk so the teacher wouldn't see what he was working on.

Solution: Ditch the *quickly.* Shoved is a strong verb on its own. I see quickly abused more than any other adverb. Do a search for that particular crutch and murder them all!!

What not to do: Casually, Sarah flicked her caramel-colored hair over her shoulder.

Solution: Again, flicked is a great verb. Let it stand on its own. But also, almost every sentence that begins with an adverb sucks. Yes, it's a fine way to break up your sentence beginnings so they're not all Sarah____ or He _____ or She _______. I'll let you get away with a handful in your entire ms. But a handful-and-a-half on the very first page is a no.

What not to do: Mikayla trepiditiously approached the burly linebacker, cautiously tapping him on the shoulder until he quickly turned with a snarl, easily making Mikayla step back quickly.

Solution: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! You think I'm kidding. I'm not. There are six in this sentence. And quickly is used twice. TWICE IN ONE SENTENCE!!!! YES! I RECENTLY READ A MS WITH *QUICKLY* USED TWICE IN ONE SENTENCE!!!!!

"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King, On Writing

Let me repeat: There is nothing inherently wrong with adverbs. You don't need to be stalker/slayer/Buffy vs. Adverbs person. Use them. But use them sparingly. <------- like that. For me, a manuscript littered with adverbs is a sign of an novice writer and an indicator that I shouldn't recommend your work.

Road Trip Wednesday: Tats

2010-05-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

The YA Highway crazies were chatting about what kind of tattoo we would maybe get if/when our books sold and it seemed a fun fit for a RTW topic. So, yeah. That's the topic. It's release day and you're in a strange city with too many happy hours and your best friend carrying your luggage.* Head down to the tat parlor and let us know what you're picking out!

As for me, well . . .

Some books have easily identifiable symbols. THE HUNGER GAMES? A mockingjay. On a shoulder blade, maybe.

THE SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME AND THE HILLS DON'T MIND? Fortunes (from cookies, of course). Perhaps a fluttering one dashed around a wrist with a particularly profound and personal message. Such as, "BOO YA! PUB QUEEN, YO!"

JELLICOE ROAD? Why, Jonah Griggs's abs, don't you know.

But MY books? They simply don't have those neat and tidy symbols. LOVELY, DROWNING has . . . a pair of Jimmy Choos? WILL AND ZOE has . . . a car? THE RISEN has . . . art supplies? I don't know. Neither of those things makes an appropriately suitable tattoo for me.

Besides, not all images from all books make appropriately cool/sexy/SANE tattoos. Case in point:

OMG that's not the symbol I would have gone with. Also, these are not on SMEYER, these people didn't write TWILIGHT, so WHY STARS WHY?!?!?!

Also2, my faith in humanity??? Gone, baby, gone.

Please don't let these people breed.

So that nixes the pictoral route.

Instead, I'm left with words. Book titles, perhaps, or one favorite quote from each book in TEENY TINY print lined up along my shoulder blade? I don't know. I'm not averse to the idea of Book Name with Pub Date listed the way some people have their kids' names and birthdates listed.

Or maybe a cover art department would come up with something particularly amazing and create a symbol for my books that would translate to awesome tat material. Who knows? I'm not a tat person** though I can and do appreciate their beauty and meaning for the wearer.***

How about you? What tat would you get to celebrate a book? Head over to YA HIGHWAY to see what the other highwaywomen chose and add your own thoughts to the topic.

*NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION. Stranger artist + alcohol + impulse = poor tattoo decision-making.
** i.e. tat virgin
*** in most cases. other times i'm left with the impression that the human race has utterly failed. twi-toos, anyone?

First Pages Pass And Fail

2010-05-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

I promised yesterday that I would post about how an agent, erm, Intern can tell whether or not they'll want to sign (highly recommend) your book from the first few pages. Hopefully, between my pixies screaming at each other and City Power knocking on my door to say, Hey! We're turning your power off for the day! I can get this post written.

I've heard lots of frustration and irritation and speculation and justification on this topic. First impressions are tough and no one really wants their entire book judged by a handful of paragraphs And can that REALLY happen how dare agent not read to the middle it's the best part and the cliffhanger ending OMGGGG!!!!

Developing your hook is a topic for another day, so I'm not going to go into that here. But you know you need to grab your reader in the first page, right? Good.

Obviously, not grabbing the reader early on means a lot of things and can even be subjective. Sorry, there simply isn't a mathematical equation to these sorts of things. However, here are some actual reasons I've not had glowing things to say about a ms, just based on the first few pages (not naming names or giving too much detail, of course):

1) I saw a con-----

*power out*

Four hours later . . .

*power on*

----cept I thought was so fun. Playful and crazy and just . . . fun. There really isn't a better word for it. A wealthy, bizarre and recently deceased relative, a caper-tastic MC, a carnival of events. With a concept/query like that, you'd expect the words to EXPLODE off the page with action and humor and fast pacing, right? I mean, my little heart was already racing with excitement.

But when I started reading I felt like a kid who's had her ice cream taken away from her. The writing was dry, dry, dry, the pacing too slow and a lot of time was spent on set-up rather than just jumping in and blasting off. The pages didn't match the query and I was disappointed. I quickly lost interest.

2) Granted, fantasy isn't my favorite genre. And there's a good reason for this. So much queried fantasy falls into the prescribed plot/pacing/voice of classic fantasy when, really, I'd be more interested in a NEW concept. Don't get me wrong, as far as I'm concerned you could be writing about elves and dragons and all that* and I'm all right with that. As long as it's FRESH. The characters can make it fresh, the writing can make it fresh, even the setting can make it fresh. We don't need a rehash of the Dragonlance Chronicles. I'd like more unique ideas, like Graceling. And even more than the ideas, I'd like better voice, better pacing, better (i.e. not recycled) plots.

Now, I'll give your political fantasy set in a medievalistic parallel world a go 'round, but when instead of presenting a fascinatingly complex political world you spend the first two chapters writing an irrelevant argument between your MC and her/his best friend as your way of "introducing" your characters, I'm bored. Add to that another dozen and a half characters and I'm simply confused. I shouldn't have to take notes while I'm reading. Streamline. And get the plot moving. I have a whole book to get to know your characters; you don't need to reveal all in the first five.

Huh. I've just been warned the power is headed off again. GGGGRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

I'll leave you with these two examples for today and HOPEFULLY (SEATTLE CITY LIGHT I'M LOOKING AT YOU) my power will be on full-time tomorrow and I can drop a couple more examples tomorrow. Or Thursday, since tomorrow is Road Trip Wednesday.

*many agents say no thanks to that stuff, but if I were an agent it'd cool with me, AS LONG AS IT'S NEW AND UNIQUE.

Do I Really Have To Go Over This? Really????

2010-05-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

So, I got a handful of first read manuscripts for my internship recently and, as I was reading, I noticed some trends and learned something about that oft-angsted writerly *thing*:

How can someone tell my story isn't the shiznit just from reading the first few pages????

I'm going to write about that.

Tomorrow.

First thing's first, though.

OMG.

FOLLOW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES!!!!!!!!!!!

Each of the manuscripts I was sent was supposed to be preceded with the original query. As a submitting writer, you might wonder why you need to provide the query a second time when the agent already read it once. Don't agents have super memories? Didn't they memorize your query? Aren't they SO EXCITED to READ that they printed out and TAPED your query to their WALL??????

Well, yeah, they do some of those things (which is why they remember when you queried them for a different project a year ago or how this is the seventh time you've sent - and had rejected - this most recent query. Don't do that).

They probably won't print it out and tape to wall, though.

However, having the query at the top of your manuscript is a refresher and gets the agent in the mood to read your work. Additionally, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT!! The query at the top of the manuscript helps out the Poor Intern getting ready to read and possibly recommend your manuscript as a pile of awesome that needs to be read nownownow to the agent.

Poor Intern = me.

I mean, geez, even consumers get jacket copy or a blurb or whatever before they crack a book. The Interns would like a heads-up, too. For example, I don't do well reading horror at night. I really, truly don't. I can only read it in the middle of the day, with the sun glowing in the sky, warming my head and birdies singing all around me. That's my MO, folks. And if you scare me because the only time I found on this particular day to read happened to be at dark, stormy midnight and I didn't realize your book had Scaries?

I'm not recommending you.

I'm just not.

Also, I'd like to know that your story is a mystery and MEANT to be set up that way BEFORE I start reading, get frustrated and (figuratively) throw it across the room because you aren't telling me WHO sent that letter because I'm not SUPPOSED to know yet.

THINK OF THE INTERNS!!!

Just follow submission guidelines. They aren't hard to find (if you can find the agent's e-mail, you can find her/his sub guidelines) and you are not better than the zillions of other writers who do follow the guidelines. Why would you want to jeopardize your agent search by upsetting the intern?

Mini-Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies

2010-05-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

I can't recall where I first saw Mini-Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies (it could have been anywhere, really), and I'd never made a meringue cookie before, but when I came across the mini chocolate chips in the bulk section of my grocery store, I got it in my head to whip up a batch. I mean, MINI-CHOCOLATE CHIPS!!!! HOW CUTE!

Although these are cookies, they aren't too much like the cookies most are used to. The ingredient list is very small (no butter!) and the finished product has a texture and flavor unlike any other cookie method. Meringues are crispy and airy, with just a teeny bit of give. They are sweet and simple in flavor. You will often find meringues dressed up with nuts, curds and chocolate, like these.

Yes, I know what they look like. :/

Incidentally, one good thing about such a simple cookie is that they are low-fat and so you don't have to feel too bad indulging.

Mini-Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies

1/2 cup sugar, preferably superfine. If you don't have superfine or can't find it, try pulsing the sugar in a food processor for a few seconds.
3 egg whites, at room temp.
Pinch salt
Pinch cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup mini-chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Using the whisk attachment on a handheld or stand mixer, begin beating the egg whites on medium-low speed until foamy. This will start to unravel the proteins so air can be captured in the whites. Once foamy, add the salt and cream of tartar and raise the speed to medium high, beating until firm peaks form. Continue beating, slowly adding the sugar in a steady stream, taking a minute or two, then add the vanilla.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the chocolate chips. Using a glass to hold your bag, fill a pastry bag with the batter and pipe mounds of meringue onto your cookie sheets. I admit, I got lazy here and used a baggie without a tip. It happens.

My meringues were approximately 1 inch in diameter, with a two inch peak. Alternatively, you can simply drop teaspoonfuls of batter onto your cookie sheets.

Bake the meringues for 50-60 minutes, or until they come cleanly off the parchment paper. Turn off the oven and let the meringues dry in the oven an additional fifteen minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

See how cleanly they come off? If they weren't done, they would stick.

Problem Solving:

1) Meringues are finicky around moisture, so don't make on wet or humid days. If you must, plan on airing them out after the first hour, at 175 degrees, for up to 30 minutes until dry. Even then, serve quickly, because the meringue will pull moisture from the air and become chewy.
2) Your egg whites must be at room temperature or they won't beat properly. This is contrary to what you might already know about cream, which must be whipped while cold. Aged egg whites whip better than fresh. How to age an egg white? Separate your eggs and leave the whites, in a covered container, on the counter overnight.
3)I like to whip my egg whites until soft peaks form, then finish them off with hand whisking. This lets me avoid the problem of over beaten egg whites (which aren't good for anything).
4) Play around with your own additions. Mini chips are great, but also try nuts or dried fruit. Or, try filling the cookies with curd, jam or cream after they are baked and cooled.
5) Store cookies in a tightly covered container to avoid moisture issues.

Friday Round-Up

2010-05-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a good week. Nothing earth-shattering, really. Just mellow and productive and . . . good. Sometimes the simplest adjectives are the best.

So, five things that made my week cool:

1. Discovering that the prospect of auctions are just as squeeeee-inducing for the agent as for the author. Maybe even more so! A book that I adore and read for my internship is doing very well in the hands of editors and I'm so excited for it! Auction just may be on the (very, very near) horizon . . .

2. Speaking of auctions, get your rear in gear and join in the fun and good vibes on the Do the Write Thing for Nashville auction blog. It's awesome to see so many in the publishing industry come together to raise funds for disaster relief in Nashville. Makes me proud to be a part of this generous community of artists. Head on over and bid on your own query and manuscript critiques, agent phone calls, books and swag, and more!

3. The Seattle Cheese Festival is this weekend, and you can bet I'm going down on an empty stomach, ready to munch my way through all the fragrant and funny looking blocks and blobs made from cow milk, goat milk, sheep milk, water buffalo milk, mountain lion milk, whatever. If it stinks, I'm ALL OVER IT.

4. The sun is out and it's in the 70s and Seattle is stunning. I'm getting a ton of reading done, feeling compelled to write again, and have loads of energy to be crazy. Woohoo upswings!

5. And last, but not least, I *adore* this book trailer from Maggie Stiefvater, for LINGER, her forthcoming sequel to SHIVER. I loved SHIVER and am anxious to read LINGER. But beyond the amazing books themselves, Maggie offers a trailer with an original concept, her own art and her own MUSIC COMPOSITION! This woman is eons of talent. Can I be her when I grow up?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Hope your week was amazing, and your weekend EVEN BETTER!!!! ~*~*~*~*~*

Road Trip Wednesday: Tweet Treat

2010-05-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

This week's RTW asks: If fictional characters had twitter accounts, whose would you follow?

Just so you know, there are a number of fictional literary and TV characters who have twitter accounts and, um, *shifty eyes* I do follow a couple.

I CAN'T HELP IT! THEY'RE HILARIOUS!

Ahem.

But who else? Who would I love to follow on twitter for their snarky commentary, their deep insights, their randomness?

Here are a handful of tweeps:

katnissthehunted: @District13 Yo peeps! I'm on my way. Someone kill a lamb for dinner. I'm hungry.

DarcyRulz: Mrs. Bennet visiting for a fortnight. Want to install plumbing just so I can flush her preening head down the toilet. Lizzie says no. Grr.

RoarinDorian: MY SOUL!! MY LOST SOUL! Whatev. Damn this is one hot bod. And that face. Pucker up, gorgeous. Mmm Hmm. Wait, is that a wrinkle O.O ?!?!?!!

JustBridget: Having a fag with the girls. v.g. Calories in Blue Hawaiian: Too many. But if I drink another, it cancels out the first, right? And blue's not food. v.g.

AnneontheIsland: @HappyGilbert STOP CALLING ME CARROTS!
   HappyGilbert: @AnneontheIsland You know you like it.

Byron: I'm not actually a fictional character. But I might as well be. I'm THAT AWESOME. #youresojealous #imakegirlspeetheirpants #boystoo #sohot

CadetGriggs: Planning some awesome war games. @KD_Miller helping out. She rocks.

MackDrac: Why is no one ever on twitter at the same time as me? Hello? Does no one else sleep all day long? I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE! *sob*

DudeInDenmark: Guy walked up to me, all "To be or not to blah blah blah." Dick. Why is everyone so mean to me? #atleastiaintseeingghosts

ThatGuy: @ThatGirl Okay, so the vial contains poison. Don't drink it, kay?
   ThatGirl: @ThatGuy I'm not an idiot. We went over the plan a zillion times.
   ThatGuy: @ThatGirl Just sayin'. The Friar might be running a little late.
   ThatGirl: @ThatGuy I'm like, twelve. I've got time to wait, babe.
   ThatGuy: @ThatGirl I can't believe I found my eternal love soul mate so young. It's a miracle. I love you, snookums.
   ThatGirl: @ThatGuy Awww, I wuv you, too my wittle muffin man.
   ThatGuy: @ThatGirl I love you more.
RosalindHurling: @ThatGirl He should know, he's had practice. (@ThatGuy)
   ThatGuy: @RosalindHurling WTF?!?!? Get off my feed, ho. We broke up a long time ago. MOVE ON.
   RosalindHurling: @ThatGuy I DID, YOU JERK. Me and Tybalt 4eva. But then you went and KILLED HIM!
   ThatGuy: @RosalindHurling My bad.
ThatGirl: @ThatGuy I can't take this anymore. I'm drinking it. See you on the other side, creep. (@RosalindHurling)

Superman: Hey all! 10 Ways to Say You're The Best: bit.ly.237 Also, I've got a new under/overwear design up on etsy. Fluffy cloud design! Buy now!

EmmaBo: The doctor is . . . out. @LeoD @RodolpheBakersBoy

Holmesie: @Watson The candlestick in the library by the . . . HAHAHA! You didn't think I would reveal it on TWITTER, did you?!?! #simpleton

Harold: @theworld *drawing*

Elizabeth: @Todd Are we engaged this time, for real? I love you. And I'm pure for you.
   Jessica: @Elizabeth Do you know nothing about women's lib? You scare me.

CreepyBird: Nevermore.

Daisy: @Edmond I don't know why I bother with this. You already know what I'm going to say.

Jo: @Laurie You were right. Come back to me (burn this tweet immediately after reading - Amy must never see it).

SwordMaster: Hey, tweeps, how many fingers do you have? Know anyone with six? DM me.

Merry: @Pippin Are you coming for second tea?
   Pippin: @Merry Oh, I just had first and a half tea with Leggy. I'm stuffe-- oh, wait. Nevermind. I found room. Be right over.

Fiver: @#^J#KI%Yi3juhfae%&^(Q3h54q1o89tbv W$%(*Qb wjkertg98ugwap893u$%&YW$Hwh78) o.O O.o O.O

And one from TV:

Veronica: @Logan LoVe forever.

How about you? Which fictional characters would you follow in twitter? Head over to YA Highway to see who the rest of the Patrol chose and add your own voice to this week's RTW.

Two for Tuesday

2010-05-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

Two for Tuesday is a blog meme created by the spaztasticableness Kate Hart. Pick two things. Link 'em. Easy peasy.

I'm going to stop being crappy blogger and actually blog the two most recent blog awards I've received. At least, the two I could find. I *think* there's another one floating around somewhere that I've lost. Oops.

Anyway, today I'll post the Groovy Blog Award from hopelessly cool chick Kaitlin Ward. Gnarly!

And the Prolific Blogger Award from the devastatingly marvelous Medeia Sharif. Haha, that's such a cute one. The window and curtains behind the dude's head looks like a pirate hat. Yes, it does.

Thank you, ladies! I like more stuff to decorate my space. :)

And, since no one really actually cares when other people get and post blog awards on their blogs (amirite? - okay, maybe that's just a little cynical. :P) I'll post two crazy fun things I want to do real soon from my Life Goals scrapbook (yup, I gots one of those):

Jump out of a plane. Wheeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

And

Take a belly dance class or four. I've done some BDing, but I'd actually like to learn enough to perform at festivals and such.

What are two things on YOUR life goals list?

Go Follow

2010-05-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

In case you weren't aware, Meg Rosoff tweets. Just thought you'd like to know. Since you have all read her books. Right?

Friends?

Right.

Of course you have.

Carry on.

Road Trip Wednesday: Project Photos

2010-05-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

This week's RTW asks us to post images representing our novel(s). I don't always seek out pictures for my novels. In fact, it's been a rather recent thing. I first looked for images when I decided I wanted to change my Absolute Write avatar to match which story I happened to be working on at the time. Hence, how my one and only photos for LOVELY, DROWNING and WILL AND ZOE came to be.

With THE RISEN, I thought I would put together a book trailer, so I began to collect pictures representing art, wood, dystopia and riots.

But it wasn't until one of my current projects -- the gothtopian -- that I actually began imagining the story visually. I collected pictures before I'd written a single word of this story, knowing that the tale would be highly setting- and imaged-inspired. Here are a handful of those images (and don't forget to check out YA Highway to see what the other highwaywomen are imagining - and add your own contribution):

They Love You, They Really, etc.

2010-05-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

We've all heard that writers are an insecure bunch, constantly second-guessing themselves and wondering if their work really is as good -- or bad -- as they think it is. As a writer, I don't always completely *get* the way others feel about my work. I'm too close to it, too blinded by the depths of knowledge I have about my characters and storylines to see every last problem or brilliance. I mean, that's why we have betas, right? To point these things out to us.

And the bad stuff -- the stuff that needs to be fixed? That's the easy stuff to believe.

The great stuff? For someone like me, who alternately believes I am the shiz (75% of the time, probably) and I produce some crazy crap (15% of the time)* (also, LOL), it's harder to accept the positive comments.

This isn't new. Or uncommon. But I've learned something.

I recently read a submitted manuscript for my pub internship. It wasn't a blockbuster, it didn't follow the trends of the day, it even needs a little bit of work. But you know what? I love the story. I love the writing, I love the characters, I love the quietness of the story. It was the first time I'd been on the other side of the table: reading a work I didn't have to like, but loving it anyway and wanting to champion it. I can't wait to see the finished product, I can't wait to see it on the shelves, I can't wait to read everything else this writer produces.

I. Am. Excited.

And I thought, this must be it. This must be the way an agent feels about her/his client's work.

No matter how many revision passes, no matter how down the author gets, no matter if it's a blockbuster-to-be or an award-winner-to-be or something fun and light or quiet and introspective, your agent loves your work.

My agent loves my work. I'm pretty sure. :)

It's the sort of thing I never would have truly understood if not for this internship.

Which means my telling you this will probably have no effect on you when the low times come and you're sure your work sucks/no one will want it/how could your agent stay by your side.

But I'm telling you anyway. They love it.

Chin up, friends.

*the other 10% is pure Zen.

I Love When My Mailbox Smiles On Me

2010-04-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Check it, yo:

I. Can. Not. Wait to get into this one. Tonight, friends, it's just me and YOU.

Oh, hai much-talked-about-book-of-awesomeness hanging out with my own writing notes, cafe necessities, et al. Yes, please, imbue my work with your oft-professed brilliance (osmosis FTW):

Will let y'all know what I think once I've read. w00t!!

(for KJr: YOU by Charles Benoit)

RTW: Best Reading This Month

2010-04-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

A new Road Trip Wednesday tradition has emerged for YA HIghway. Every last Wednesday of the month is officially "Best Book You Read This Month" day. Fitting, after my last post in which I bemoaned the vast piles of books staring expectantly at me. Like this:

Yeah.

So, the best book of the last month? There were some really good ones. Published and Pre. But the one that really got me was Stephanie's Kuehnert's BALLADS OF SUBURBIA. What a rush that book is. Hard-hitting and unapologetic and emotional and honest, it's a brilliant and raw look at a group of suburban teens doing what it takes to get it on, get noticed, get out, get real.

What's the best book you read this month? Check out YA Highway to see what the other highwaywomen decided the best book they read this month was.

Sometimes Overwhelmed By Reading

2010-04-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the library. When I last checked my library account, I'd gotten in two books I'd put on hold. When I got there, though, six books waited for me.

SIX!!

On top of that, I already have books on hand that I haven't read, both from the library and from purchases.

EEK!

Not to mention two manuscripts to read from my writer besties and my internship.

And the two ARCs I need to read and review for YA Highway.

Plus a couple shorter books to read with the pixies.

I adore books. Utterly adore. But sometimes I do feel a little overwhelmed. "So cut back on the books," You say????? I should. I probably should. After all, I've reached that point where there isn't anything left to cut out of my day. Maybe I just need a long reading weekend. Soon.

Anyway, this post wasn't supposed to be whiny!!! I wanted to share with you the books I'm currently reading. I can't tell you about the unpubbed stuff, but in addition to a close reading of Bram Stoker's DRACULA (making notes, studying themes, cross-referencing, noting style and rhythm and language, etc.), I have:

SOULLESS by Gail Carriger
GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray
ALL UNQUIET THNGS by Anna Jarzab
~~SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready~~
~~CROSSING by Andrew Fukuda~~
BRIGHTLY WOVEN by Alexandra Bracken
~~THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET by Erin Dionne~~
WEEPING UNDERWATER LOOKS A LOT LIKE LAUGHTER by Michael J. White
NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL by Justina Chen Headley
INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher
THE LIFE OF GLASS by Jillian Cantor
~~THE RETURNERS by Gemma Malley~~
~~THE NAUGHTY LIST by Suzanne Young~~
POSSESSIONS by Nancy Holder
JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen

Have you read any of those? Which are your favorites and why? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Have a great ALMOST weekend!

Hey . . . Someone Gave Me Responsibility!!

2010-04-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

If they only knew . . .

Tonight, I have the distinct honor of hosting #YALITCHAT with my writerly BFF and co-pilot of crazy, Kirsten Hubbard!

The topic is: BUZZ. What it is. Which books get it. How books find it. What exactly makes a book break out?

Join us on twitter at 9 PM EST, 6 PM PST with the hashtag #yalitchat. See you there!

Photo courteous of the FABULOUS Kate Hart. Doesn't Kirsten pwn! the Rock Star at the Airport look?

Two for Tuesday

2010-04-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough morning. But, through it all, this Tuesday is about two things I'm grateful for:

Writing.

And some seriously amazing friends.

THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever. No Joke.

2010-04-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I'm not the first person to toss that proclamation out to the wind, but, really, it's the truth. I've come up with the best CCC recipe and I'll tell you what, how and why.

To begin, since I was a wee thing, I've been a fan of Chocolate Chip Cookies. I mean, what kid doesn't like a warm, gooey cookie, oozing melted chocolate, right from the oven?

(LALALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR THE NAYSAYERS WITH BIZARRE CHITLENS WHO DON'T LIKE CCCs!)

I finally, finally decided to embark on that lauded and most humble quest: Determine which of the bazillion CCC recipes out there is THE BEST.

So I baked. And I ate.

Tough job.

And I made others eat.

And I didn't find THE ONE.

I found . . . two. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me just say, that after dozens of dozens, I narrowed the list down to four recipes. And these are fairly standard recipes. No vegan, no toasted barley flour, none of that gluten-free or low-fat nonsense (I mean, not for me. I know some folks need gluten-free). I even restrained from adding things like nuts (I am known to add chopped, toasted pecans to my CCCs) or, heaven forbid, raisins (gross. also, shame on you!).

So, four recipes, each with something really wonderful going for them. Here they are, side-by-side. The first (l-r) is the Mrs. Field's recipe, passed along to me by my grandma. The link below goes to a recipe that looks pretty much the same. This is one of those that uses ground oats as part of the dry ingredients. Second is the Cook's Illustrated CCC recipe, using browned butter and no mixer. Third is the NYT/Jacques Torres recipe, with two types of flour (cake and bread) and a sprinkling of sea salt on top. Also, instead of traditional chips, this recipe calls for chocolate disks. More on how I dealt with that later. Finally, we have the Neiman Marcus recipe. Yeah, that one. The one that probably was responsible for launching Snopes.com.

I baked and I smelled the GAH OH SO YUM MOUTH-WATERING smells wafting through the air. Then I gathered some opinionated folks and we dug in. THIS WAS NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS! But it was delicious. Each cookie was fabulous, bringing something unique to the table. Here are some of my thoughts for each:

1. Mrs. Fields: I really liked the nutty flavor and rougher texture the oatmeal provided. The recipe I'd received calls for grating a bittersweet bar of chocolate into the dough (not Hershey's. Ew), which, while I didn't do this time, I have done before and think it does add some deeper flavor to the cookie.

2. Cook's Illustrated: I wasn't sure about melted butter in a cookie. I've done that before and ended up with flat, thin cookies that spread all over the baking sheet. But these surprised me. No, these KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF! I really loved the flavor of the browned butter, the caramel/toffee notes lingering long after I took a bite. And they didn't spread more than they should have, as you can see.

3: NYT/Jacques Torres: Seeeeeeaaaaa Saaaaaaalllt. OMG, yes. I don't know what, exactly, the mixture of flours does to the texture, but I'm assuming that's responsible for the wonderful, crackly top. And I was skeptical about how much superior the use of chunks, or disks, would be compared to chips. I'm a skeptic no longer. Large, thin pieces of chocolate are THE WAY TO GO.

4: Neiman Marcus: Notable because it uses a much higher proportion of brown sugar to white, and because this was the fattest and chewiest of the lot. I loved the texture, even though the flavors were rather standard. Note I didn't use the espresso powder called for in the recipe. I just don't have that in my pantry. Maybe that would have made a huge difference, maybe not.

In the end, the NYT/Jacques Torres recipe was my all-around favorite. The problem, though, was that I really, really loved the flavors the browned butter adds to the Cook's Illustrated cookie. So I combined the ingredients of the former with the technique of the latter, hoping, hoping, hoping it would turn out all right.

It did.

YES! Marvelous cookies! The BEST EVER!!!!

Really. It's true.

Here's the recipe, just for you.

THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever (note: you can bake these right after mixing, but they really are better after 12+ hours chilling time in the fridge. Just FYI)

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour*
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour*
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds thin chocolate chunks/pieces. See below.
Coarse sea salt

Whisk flours, baking soda and baking powder together in medium bowl; set aside.

Heat 2 sticks (1 cup/16 tablespoons) butter in 10-inch stainless steel or other non-dark skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1-3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter into hot butter until completely melted.

Add granulated and brown sugars, 1 1/2 tsp salt and vanilla to the bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated and uniform in color. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition. Whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chunks.

Refrigerate dough at least 3 hours, or up to 36 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet(s) with silpat or parchment paper. Use a medium, 2-inch cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop dough into balls in the cookie sheet, leaving two inches around all side of the dough balls. Turn any chunks poking up horizontal (and tuck in any that are poking out). Sprinkle each ball with sea salt, pressing the salt in with your fingers so it adheres.

Bake until golden brown and crackled, 18-20 minutes. Let sit on cookie sheet for five minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool.

* Be sure to use the "spoon and level" method of measuring flour or your dough will be too dry. Spoon your flour into your measuring cup until it overflows (NO PACKING DOWN), then use a flat edge (back of a butterknife, for me) to level the flour, returning the excess to the the canister.

About the chunks:

I suppose I probably could have made a quick run to Trader Joe's for these. Or special ordered them. But part of the charm of chocolate chip cookies is that you usually have the ingredients on hand. So this is how I made my own "disks." The first time I made them, I used only semi-sweet chips, but the second time I swirled bittersweet, semi-sweet and white chocolate together.

Thin Chocolate Chunks

1 1/2 pounds good quality chocolate chips, such as Guittard or Ghiradelli (or better, if you've got 'em)

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper, though I prefer the silpat for this application. Pour the chips on to the lined sheet and arrange in a single layer. Pop the sheet into the oven. Begin checking on the chips after five minutes. When they look very glossy, pull the sheet out and, with a flat-bottom pastry spreader, smooth the chocolate into one thin layer.

Immediately put in the fridge (or freezer, if you have room/are short on time) and chill until hardened. Remove and peel the chocolate from the silpat/peel the paper off the back of the chocolate. Working quickly, break the chocolate into 1-inch-sized chunks. Use as indicated in recipe.

The WINNER!!!

(sorry for the crappy picture. We . . . kind of . . . ate almost all of them before I thought to grab my camera. Plus, it was late. And dark. So, light issues. Ya know.)

DO TRY THEM! And let me know if they are the BEST CCC you have ever had!

Win This

2010-04-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

It's snarky
It's sexy
It's thoughtful
It's sexy
It's hilarious
It's se-- er, wait. I already said that.
It's hot.

What could be that awesome?

A book.

But it doesn't come out until September.

You know you want it.

Now.

Bianca.

Wesley.

Hating each other.

Needing each other.

~~Loving each other?~~

Nah, there's no way that smart, funny chick's gonna fall for that obnoxious, poisonous man-whore.

Especially when he keeps calling her . . . The DUFF.

. . . right?

Find out for yourself.

Enter to win the first ARC of Kody Keplinger's The DUFF (Designated Ugly, Fat Friend) at YA Highway.

In My Dictionary

2010-04-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

You heard it here first (unless you saw me tweet it). Also, mine! mine! I claim it!:

Gothtopian: Dystopian/Post-apocolyptic tale (I know, not the same thing) written in the romantic, or Gothic, style of writing. Lush, dramatic, horrific, sensual, all set amidst crumbling cities and economic systems gone awry. Option: Paranormal element.

Not necessarily related to the Goth social movement, btw.

Yup, this is one of the projects I'm working on now. (squeeeee)

Looking Forward

2010-04-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that title made you think this was some new-age, self-realization, goal-forming kind of post, right?

Maybe not.

Good! Because it's not that at all.

This post exists because I was perusing Publisher's Marketplace (PM) and came across some recent deals that really popped off the page for me. There are lots of books coming out this year and next that I've been excited about for awhile now, but here's a whole new batch that's got me drooling over my laptop:

1. Walter Dean Myers's CARMEN, a retelling of the Bizet opera set in Spanish Harlem in which a teen with a fiery temper wants the one boy she can't have, with deadly consequences. <----- OMG! How does that not sound so flippin' amazing?!?! It can't. Because it rocks. I mean, first it's CARMEN, the sultry, sexy opera (the first opera I ever saw, at the tender age of twelve); second, it's sultry, sexy Spanish Harlem; and third, it's the fantastic Walter Dean Myers!! This one comes out at the end of December, which is not soon enough.

2. Sarah Maas's QUEEN OF GLASS: Eye of the Chosen, about an infamous young assassin who is more than she seems and who must battle her way to freedom in a corrupt kingdom where magic has been outlawed. <---- I'm getting a GRACELING vibe here, just from the blurb, and that's a very good thing. Kick-butt heroines rock my socks and the fact that she's an assassin -- AN INFAMOUS ASSASSIN (swoon) -- makes this all the more electrifying. Alas, a long wait is in store for this one. We'll be seeing QOG sometime in late 2011 or 2012. Boo.

3. Mandy Hubbard writing as Amanda Grace's SHATTERED, a haunting, chronologically reversed tale of a young woman's descent into the depths of an abusive relationship. <---- I had fun, fun, fun reading PRADA AND PREJUDICE, and now I'm beyond curious to see what Mandy's darker writing is like. Not only that, but the idea of a chronologically reversed story makes my head spin - in a good way. I have a feeling this is one I'll be reading on a quiet, shadowy evening to get the full emotional effect of the story. We'll be seeing this one on the shelves in about a year.

4. THE BROTHERS TORRES author Coert Voorhees's ANNIE FLEET AND THE GOLDEN JAGUAR, about a scuba diving, treasure hunting, female young Indiana Jones-type who has to balance her global search for Cortez's fabled golden statue against a possible romance with the son of the world's most famous movie star. <---- Okay, I'll start off by saying I am a huge Coert Voorhees fan and would read any of his work on principle. But even if I wasn't, JUST READ THAT BLURB!!!! How rollicking, how exciting, how fun, how bringing back the golden days of youth/Indiana Jones <3<3<3!!! Another rockstar female heroine, and, in this case, she gets to date hot movie star offsping? Love it. I'm not sure on the dates for this one. Anyone know?

All right, those are four that have me bouncing in my chair. What about you? What are you looking forward to in 2011 and beyond?

This List Will Expand

2010-04-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

And, if my earlier post wasn't tasty enough, I just got this e-mail from the tempting Michelle Schusterman:

Rule of Drowning Sorrows #46: Cheesecake becomes temporarily fat free. It also acquires medicinal aspirin-like qualities. You know this.

I love this rule. Also, want to know what the other 45 rules are, because I think I've been doing some things wrong [or, at least my BODY'S been doing some things wrong! How dare it gain a pound during my Epic Chocolate Chip Cookie bake-off last week? (results to be posted soon)].

Thanks, 00M.

Produce Your Best Title

2010-04-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

The YA Highway girls and I were getting a little crazy in our chats this morning. It all started when Lee posted the query version of her new book. I asked her, pretty peas, canned I share it on my blog? Kate agreed it would be a brilliant compost. Lee peachily agreed. Here, let me share it with you:

Dear awesome agent who will love my book,

The tragic love story of Clementine and Russ, two lonely hearts from opposite sides of the produce aisle is sure to grab everyone right in the rind.

In the vein of West Side Story comes the epic veggedrama, ASPARAGUS MY HEART. It is a complete set conveniently told in only 16 volumes of about 500,000 words per book.

Clementine, a young, innocent citrus fruit falls peel over heels in love with Russ, a potato from the wrong side of the tracks. But Russ is part of the notorious Spuds gang, and even though he finds everything he’s been missing from his life in Clementine, he must resist her soft orange skin and sweet sticky kiss. She is a member of the Spuds rival gang, the Juices and if their love is ever known, they will be reduced to pulp.Everyone knows Fruits and Veggies don't mix.

But love cannot be denied and they meet under the leaves of the neutral tomato cages, safe in the knowledge that no one will find them. But one night, ‘Sweet’, Russ’s ex-girlfriend sees them and rats them out. Russ is beaten to a frothy pulp while Clementine is forced to watch. The horror is too much and she falls to pieces.

This story sweeps over the vast and beautiful landscape of the wild Produce Aisle, with cameos from such superstars as Morgan Seedman and Brad Cherry Pitt. Love. Lust. Betrayal. ASAPARGUS MY HEART has it all and is sure to please people of any age, and even carnivores. (I have to disclose that there is a brutal assault on a watermelon that may make this book unsuitable for small children.)

I look forward to sending you the entire 16 volume set by C.O.D. I’m confident you won’t even have to read it, and that the sheer epicness will make it sellable in about a week. I would expect nothing less than several million dollars in advance money of course.

Sincerely,

Epic author

After that, there was no holding us back. The food was flying, moldy puns and bright, crisp zingers alike cropping up in our chat thread. Like so:

Kaitlin: The time is ripe for a story like that.
Kate: I heard through the grapevine that Kaitlin is right.
Kaitlin: I'm glad someone else made a joke, because mine was feeling pretty lime. It's less fruity when it has company.
Kate: Don't worry, you haven't soiled the thread with your puns. No one thinks you're bananas.
Amanda: I'm about to throw tomatoes at you guys.
Kaitlin: Amanda, don't be such a lemon.
Kristin: Yeah, orange you glad we're in such a berry fine mood today?
Kate: You should just veg. Your problems seem to stem from the beleaf that puns are an inferior form of humor, when really they are a fertile place for jokes to grow.
Michelle: I'm very grapeful to have all of you.
Amanda: I kind of have a crush on us.
Kristin: It makes me sad I cantaloupe with all of you.
Michelle: That is quite a pickle. :(

Anyway.

(yes, sometimes that is how the YA Highwaywomen spend their mornings. It's a joyous thing)

So, then the thread sprouted into title-age. Book titles. From food.

Oh, yeah.

Some examples:

A Grape and Terrible Beauty.
Twilime
Pride and Pomegranate
A Midsummer Night's Cream (Pie)
Beauty and the Beet
Will Grapeson, Will Grapeson
Growing Bovine
Romeo and Juiceliet
Gone with the Rind

And, of course . . .

LIKE MANDARIN!!

Okay, your turn. Give me some funnies! No food is safe, no soil left unturned! Make me laugh! It's the best medicine! I might even wrastle up some kind of prize or something for the funniest food title. *looks around*

Have a sparkling apple cider Tuesday!

This Girl is a Superstar

2010-04-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

I could write a whole Friday Fiver post, but then I heard that RPattz is slated to play Kurt Cobain in a biopic and I'm all, W.T. F?!?!?!?!?!?!!? You know, Hollywood, you do some of the stupidest things ever. How on earth are you people still in business? From cancelling Greatest. Shows. Ever. (My So-Called-Life and Veronica Mars) to letting barely mediocre actors play some of the GREATEST MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME (sorry, acting peeps, music is way harder to make than films - you just gotta be better than that to even get close), Hollywood is making me want to SCREAM!

But.

Then.

I watch this video again.

And all is well with the world.

Hollywood, take a gander. Learn something from a girl who made a film with no budget. It doesn't need A-list-at-the-moment under-deserving actors. It doesn't need big sounds and mind-boggling special effects. 3D? Not necessary. It just needs honesty, and a huge pinch of adorable.

And, hey, Emilia? My favorite part? The heart-shaped fingers. I love the friendships, too. :)

ETA: Aaaaaand, in a move that has me wanting to bear-hug her until next Friday, @MyraMcEntire posted this beautiful, rumor crushing link that debunked the RPattz as Cobain horror: http://www.accesshollywood.com/nevermind-r-pattz-wont-play-cobain-in-biopic_article_31004
Thank you, Myra!

ETA2: Emilia's video, of course, is still the stuff of Hollywood dreams.