The Angsty Writer

Chaos

2012-02-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

I'm making myself crazy again. I feel like I'm spreading myself too thin, but I'm not sure I have anything to show for it. The last week and a half has seemed really crazy.

I finished my rewrite, which was kind of a first draft since I changed direction in the middle, so mostly was just going back and making things consistent.

Last Monday, doctor appointment for Thing Two. Tuesday, music lessons for Thing two. Wednesday, doctor appointment for Thing Two, plus dinner out for her birthday. Friday night soccer game for Thing Two.

Don't get me wrong, Thing One has stuff too, but mostly on the social end. My house is full of teenagers just about every day eating my food, messing up my kitchen and basement, etc.

Saturday was the last of my three release parties which seems superfluous, I know, but was necessary.

Sunday was all day soccer (three games). Monday pick up Thing One from basketball game. Tuesday, coffee meeting and music lesson for Thing Two. Today shopping for bass guitars, doctor appointment, and choir concert all for Thing Two. Tomorrow Writing Celebration at a middle school. Friday coffee meeting to deliver auction items, then soccer game. Saturday book signing and birthday party. Sunday two soccer games.

That's as far as I can think ahead. I miss my driver. I think I may need to spend the money aned hire another one.

And all of the above in the midst of me working the day job, trying to figure out what to write next, trying to finish up guest blog posts, trying to plan talks at above mentioned middle school, plus school visits later in the month. Designing a poster for a group event next month, and keeping up with social media, which for a writer is very important, grocery shopping, keeping house clean, etc. Trying to plan, family vacation, trip to NY, and budgeting my vacation time for all this plus school visits conferences etc.

I'm exhausted again and I miss the sun. sigh.

This is me, just bitching, venting, using you, my readers as a sounding board. Sorry and thank you.

The riot act

2012-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

I've been taken advantage of in the worst way. While I've been busy finishing a manuscript, marketing, helping plan a release party, writing guest posts, setting up school visits, creating a poster for upcoming events, setting up other writer events, exercising, editing, and all day soccer (three effin' games) on Sunday, my children have boycotted all housework.

The other day when I woke up, the garbage was overflowing (from a day of a house full of teenagers), and instead of taking it out, they decided it would be a good idea to pile it up on the counter and mixing it in with the recyclables. There is crap all over the house from them and their friends, candy wrappers, socks, shoes, various soccer items, other dirty clothes, empty juice pouches and water bottles, I could go on and on.

I woke up today to a sink full of dirty dishes. I've asked Thing One for a week to fold the laundry for a week. I asked her did she do it when she got home from the basketball game last night and she said no.

So, the riot act was read (maybe yelled a little at various spots). I reminded them of all the things I do for them (driving them everywhere, supplying them with food, a bed, clothing, allowing them to go to friends, allowing friends over all the time). Then I asked them what they've done for me this week. Dead silence. I said, "Exactly." They were pissed, but what else can I do? They tell me not to tell them what to clean, they'll do it on their own, but they don't. I also pointed out that if they were getting good grades, I may not be so hard on them, but they're barely pulling average grades.

I don't like having to be hardcore with them, but at times I get to my wit's end, and they're leaving for their dad's today, and they will clean before they go. And next week when they're back with me, it's going to be like living on a military base.

F³A: Friends in need.

2012-01-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

I met Max Cynn three years ago through the Amazon Breakthrough Award contest. He and his family are going through a hard time right now. His twenty-one year old son, Joshua, was diagnosed with Acute T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He is a bright boy who loves school, which he can no longer attend, and has amassed tremendous student loans to get there as his family is of the working class variety like most of us.

This hits home for me in many ways having witnessed cancer first hand myself through my mother-in-law, and I'm rooting for him and I want him to persevere.

Rather than relaying all the details, I'm going to send you to Max's blog, here.

They're asking for donations to help pay for his medical bills, which you can do on Max's blog. If you can't donate, if you could just send good vibes or prayers, I'm sure they would appreciate that as well.

Life is a gift. Don't forget that, ever.

F³A: Visitors and party!!

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Release party number two takes place tomorrow, and my friends Gae and Annmarie are flying in from NY to celebrate with me!!!!

I'm cool and collected for this one. This one is a private party for close friends and family. We'll be eating, drinking, I'm going to play a couple videos. I did a montage of all my Chronicles that shows my journey from beginning to end.

And cookies. Lots of cookies.

This is where I'm doing my raffle to benefit Mary Bridge Children's hospital. I've got donations form me, of course, from my dad's law firm, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, T-Town Apparel, and my family's wine shop, Vino Aquino. I'm going to let my guests drink a little bit first so they spend lots of money. Don't tell them I said that.

I'll do a reading from the book, then sell and sign books. It's going to be fun and relaxed, and a party I'm not going to freak out about.

I'm going to wear a shiny silver shirt. :)

Mostly, I'm excited for Gae and Annmarie to get here. They should be on their plane as we speak, getting ready for take-off.

I almost forgot the Friday Scribbles!!!

I just realized I have no idea where my iPod is, so I'll just have to go with my iTunes for my random song.

Oooh, the random song is very apropos because I wanted to use some of the lyrics on my novel. Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event (I really wish Blogger would still let us use youtube videos on here without having to do code)

Book of the Week: I am reading a friends YA manuscript tentatively titled The Mark, and I'm liking it a lot. Hopefully this will be the one to get her published.

Netflix of the Week: Gray's Anatomy Season 5. OMG!!!

Quote of the Week: "If it were not for guests all houses would be graves." ~Kahlil Gibran

What I've Learned

2012-01-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

AC Gaughen (author of Scarlet, Walker Books for Young Readers, February 14, 2012) has posted her debut check list on the Class of 2k12 blog today, which, inspired me to write my own list. Now that my release date has come and gone, I know better what to do the next time around *fingers crossed there's a next time*

Some of this info I learned from Saundra Mitchell, and believe me, she has way more on her website, so you should check it out. Some I've learned through the Classes of 2k11 and 2k12. And the other stuff is my own experience.

And I'll say this, it will cost some money, but it doesn't have to cost a lot, and it's all a write off.

Well before the release:

Find your local writing associations and join.
Start planning early. Implement your marketing plan as early as possible. I'm not saying start your marketing plan, just start starting your marketing plan.
Choose what kind of swag you want and order it. You need to check with your publicist regarding what needs to be put on your swag, publisher name, website, copyright for art work used. Also, be creative. I was kind of a total swag whore, but people love to get free stuff. That's all there is to it. And if that free stuff has your book title, your website, all the better.
If you're sending out postcards, get them ordered early, write them out, and have them ready to send out. The closer your release date gets, the more you'll have to do. You'll feel a lot better if your mailings are ready to go. I sent mine to my local libraries, high school librarians and English teachers, and indie book stores. Even if you only get a couple hits, I think it's worth it.
Donate. Believe me, you will be asked to donate for giveaways, auctions, etc, etc. Get your name the name of your book out to the world any way you can.
Do not skimp on social media. At the least, Twitter, Facebook, blog, and website. I suggest you stay off of Goodreads. Sometimes I wish I'd never heard of Goodreads. While you will more than likely get many rave reviews, you will also get bad ones. And some of them will make you cry. I know it will be hard, but stay away. At the very least, just don't read the bad ones. You've probably heard that publicists from publishing houses don't offer much help to a debut author. I think if you're proactive before you get to that point, your publicist may be more inclined to offer help. Also, find every directory/website, etc and add your name.

Closer to the date:

Send out your mailings.
Again, find a way to get your name and book out across the country. I did this by:
Joining the Apocalypsies and the Class of 2k12.
Setting up a blog tour with YA review bloggers.
Doing guest posts and interviews for bloggers.
Hosting giveaways for swag and/or signed arc.
Planning a marketing campaign that will reach from one coast to another. My publicist and I came up with my Pass It On campaign, and it's been really cool so far.
Stay organized. Create different folders in your email and on your computer (excel) to keep track of guest posts, giveaways, and keep a calendar of them and author events also. I'm not so good at this and sometimes I forget who I owe what to, re: swag, arcs, posts.
Order your own books so you have extra. These will be good for giveaways, and overstock if you're at a signing and they run out of books.
Practice your signature. I'm not kidding. Make it different from your legal signature. There are some kooks out there.
Plan your party. There are pros and cons as far as the different kinds of places that will host your party.

Library. They usually have larger event spaces, but you may be limited with food and drink. Also, if you're going to sell books, you need to get a book seller there. This you will need to plan for at least a couple months in advance. And they will want to know how many people you'll be expecting. They may not do off site sales if it's not worth their while.
Indie book store. The space might be smaller, but food and drink may be flexible, and you can sell your books right there on site.
Private site. More flexible with food and beverage. Larger space. May be hard to get a book seller there. Will be way more expensive.

There are also some website that offer other ideas for book release parties. Google is your friend.

Release:

Communication is key. Make sure you and your host are on the same page about everything, book sellers, ordering books, refreshments, decor, and set up.
Plan for disaster. We got snow right before mine, so we adjusted the party a little to accommodate. Also, a box of books didn't come in. Luckily I had brought two boxes I had purchased, so we have a few more, but still not enough. Just make sure you're ready for anything.
In case of disaster let go. Things happen. Don't let it stress you out to much. It is what it is. Deal with the things you can control, adapt to the things you can't.
If you're using multi-media, make sure your host knows this, you have all the right equipment and it's working properly. If you're using a CD or DVD, test it at home to make sure it works.
If you're going to read, practice in front of a mirror or webcam.
If you're speaking, have a podium or take a seat so you're not standing there awkwardly shifting from side to side.
Project your voice. If you're having someone else read for you, tell them to project their voice.
Depend on family and friends for help. They will offer, they will help, use them.
Expect people to come early.
Bring extra books in case you run out.
Give stuff away. People like prizes.
Have a guest book, have them write email addresses if they want to keep up with news and events.
Give to charity. It will make you feel good. Many writers choose a charity and host a raffle. Carrie Harris hosted a raffle for a hospital library. Robin Bridges did a blood drive. I'm doing a raffle to benefit Mary Bridge Children's hospital at my private party this weekend.
Have fun. Very important.

Here are some of the sites I used for my swag:

I think that's all I'll bore you with. I know it's a long list, but chock full of good info. Happy planning.

Release Party!!

2012-01-18T12:09:00.000-08:00

So, some crazy things happened. Things that were out of my control.

Snow. Yes we got snow, it was clearing, but then the forecast was for a huge snow storm, the biggest we'd had in a long time. It was supposed to hit Tuesday night, just in time for my release party. Luckily, it held off.

Two days before the party the guy from the library told me he'd talked to the bookseller and that he was out of town. We had apparently had a miscommunication about who was setting this up. I thought it was him, he thought it was me. Oops. He was able to get the sellers cashbox and credit card supplies, but we didn't have anyone to sell the books. My mom, cousin, and a friend stepped up.

Because of the snow, half the books didn't show up. I had to bring two boxes of my own books to sell at the party. We still ran out and a few people were left disappointed (which I'll hopefully be able to make up for soon)

Also because of the impending storm, we moved the book talk and signing up about an hour as we knew people would leave early to avoid icy roads. Unfortunately, this angered a few people, but I would have rather had people leave earlier then get into accidents on their way home.

That said, the party was awesome. We had a great turnout despite the weather. It was amazing to see my family and friends, and TOTAL STRANGERS there to buy my books and get them signed.

We had yummy food and cookies. Food was by Viafore's Deli and cookies by Corina Bakery.

We had actors set to do a reading from my book. The boy actor fell through because of the weather, but the library guy, Dave, stepped in and did the part. After all he was a teacher at School of the Arts and an actor himself. I think they did a great job.

I think most everyone had a good time. I know I did! And here's what I woke up to this morning.

Today is my birthday!!!

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

...book birthday, that is.

and it's snowing...

and I have no book seller for my party...

and I may have freaked out a little bit...

but I'm good. It's all good.

If I only get 5 people at my party...

if I don't sell any books...

I'm okay with that.

Today is my book birthday, and NOTHING can ruin it.

Unless I die. That would really suck.

Enjoy your day. I'm going to party!

Monkey Madness Monday: One More Day

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the day and I'm pretty sure I'm still in a state of freaking out.

I couldn't fall asleep last night as I ran through my head the people that need to be thanked and what I'm going to say at the release party tomorrow.

What am I going to wear?

It snowed, will I be able to get out to get any last minute things done? I have books to pick up. And cookies.

Will people not show up because of the snow? If not, I guess I have 150 cookies to eat myself.

And then there's another party and out of town guests. And I have to clean my house. I have to get my kids to clean their rooms, I have to clean out my car (which I should really make the kids do since most that garbage and crap is theirs).

No, I'm not pretty sure I'm freaking out, I KNOW I'm freaking out. But, no matter what happens - I've nothing to wear, no one shows up, my house doesn't get spotless, it is what it is. Some things are just out of our control. I'm fallible, maybe I'll forget someone. Maybe I'll drop the cookies on my way into the library. Maybe I'll forget my camera, or my talk in 3 x 5 cards.

Maybe I'll forget to breathe. Thank god our breath doesn't forget us and forces it's way out when we've held it too long.

*takes deep breath*

F³A: Tired, can't think

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm spent. I've been working at promoting this book, I'm revising another, and yet I've started another.

I'm tired.

I can't wake up in the morning.

I'm excited beyond belief, but there is part of me that longs for the hype to be over.

Because I'm tired. Did I mention that?

Wanted to share a couple articles that came out in my local weekly and daily papers.

Tacoma News Tribune
The Volcano

I know I've already done this, but I want to thank you all for your support. This was a really long, long journey, and I don't know if you know how much your friendship and support means to me.

This experience is not one to be gone through alone. It's exciting yes, but it's frustrating, depressing, and annoying at times. You need people celebrating with you, commiserating with you, lifting you up when you fall down. That's you. Whether you're a fellow writer, a reader, blogger, family member or friend, you mean so much to me.

Thank you I would not have made it through without you. (I'm seriously getting choked up right now. Damn you!)

Friday Scribbles:

Random Pandora song: Somewhere Only We Know by Keane (why can't I put youtube videos on here anymore?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oextk-If8HQ&ob=av2e

Book of the Week: You would not believe how many books are coming out this month. I'm going to go with all my fellow Apocalypsie debuts for this month:
January 1, 2012
THE BOY PROEJCT (NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS OF KARA McALLISTER) by Kami Kinard (Scholastic)
LIVING VIOLET: THE CAMBION CHRONICLES by Jaime Reed (Dafina)
LOVE AND LEFTOVERS, by Sarah Tregay (Katherine Tegan Books/HarperCollins)

January 3, 2012
CINDER by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends)
THE CABINET OF EARTHS by Anne Nesbet (HarperCollins)
UNDER THE NEVER SKY by V. Rossi (HarperCollins)
CRACKED by K.M. Walton (Simon Pulse)

January 5, 2012
LITTLE DOG LOST by Mônica Carnesi (Nancy Paulsen Books)

January 10, 2012
THE GATHERING STORM by Robin Bridges (Delacorte)
DITCHED by Robin Mellom (Disney-Hyperion)
MAY B by Caroline Rose (Schwartz and Wade)
DESTINY'S FIRE by Trisha Wolfe (Omnific)

January 17, 2012
FRACTURE by Megan Miranda (Walker/Bloomsbury)
THE BOOK OF WONDERS by Jasmine Richards (HarperCollins)

January 24, 2012
EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton (Balzer + Bray)

January 31, 2012
INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows (Katherine Tegen Books)
ARTICLE 5 by Kristen Simmons (Tor Teen)

Movie of the week: Bridesmaids. It makes me laugh so hard, especially the bridal shop and airplane scenes. "You’re more beautiful than Cinderella, you smell like pine needles and your face is like sunshine."

Quote of the week: "I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives." ~Tracy Chapman

Wednesday Weigh In

2012-01-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

So, we started this biggest loser contest at work, and if you've been reading me, you know I've been wanting to lose weight for my release next week (NEXT WEEK!!! sorry, I digress). Well, I've been eating fairly good, with a couple days of taking myself out on my weekend of seclusion.

But mostly I'm eating fruits and veggies, soups, greek yogurt and oatmeal. A nice rounded diet. I've not been eating too much meat, but I haven't cut it completely.

I've been exercising once to twice a day every day, which has included Jillian Michaels torture DVD's, the elliptical (which I just fixed AGAIN after one of Thing One's other friends, her cousin, my niece once again broke it. I mean, what are these kids doing, jumping on it?), and pilates ( I <3 pilates, you want fast body toning results, do it).

Anyhoo, I lost 4 pounds this week. I know that's not typical and it will taper off in the coming weeks. I've been working hard though and I'm psyched. I had no idea. I haven't been weighing myself regularly through this (I'm usually obsessive about getting on the scale every day).

That puts me ahead in the bigger loser contest and closer to my goals. And I'm back in the habit of exercising, which is so easy to get out of and so hard to get back into.

So, yay me!

Do you have any weight loss or health and nutrition goals for the year? What are they and what are you doing to reach them?

Oh, and don't forget the contest to win a marked up ARC of Never Eighteen. Details are on my Facebook author page.

One Week

2012-01-10T06:08:00.000-08:00

OMG! It's one week until my book release. Am I excited? Of course. I'm I terrifed? Definitely. Am I freaking out? Undoubtedly.

In honor of my one week left, I've decided to do another giveaway. Yep. I'm going to give away a marked up ARC and swag. For those of you who don't know what a marked up ARC is. It's a review copy that has notes written by me in the margins, telling you all the secrets I didn't get to reveal in the book or background story about the people and places I wrote about.

You want?

Visit my Facebook Fan Page in the Notes section, answer one simple question, and leave your email address. It's that easy.

Winner will be chosen at random to be announced on my book birthday, January 17th, 2012!!

I also want to wish a happy book birthday to Robin Bridges (The Gathering Storm), Caroline Starr Rose (May B.) and Robin Mellom (Ditched). Check out their books!!!

Sleep! Why hath you forsaken me?

2012-01-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

I go through these bouts of sleeplessness, which isn't good for me because I always have too much to do. Plus, I'm trying to exercise consistently because we have a biggest lose contest going on at work, and I'd like to drop a few pounds before my release (which is 8 days away. gasp!).

I've been up since 2:30 this morning. Believe me, I laid there and tried to go back to sleep, but my mind, it wanders. I thought about all the things I have to do before my release. I thought about my manuscript and changes I'd still like to make before submitting to my agent. I thought about getting my house spotless before my out of town guests arrive.

Needless to say, I didn't fall back to sleep. So I got up, did pilates, vacuumed, showered, and now here I am blogging with still three hours before I have to leave for work. I suppose I can be even more productive this morning, but I'd rather be sleeping.

What do you do to help you sleep?

Who's in the house? Ian Healy's in the house!

2012-01-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

Ian T. Healy and I bonded four years ago over superheroes. We had entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, both having submitted superhero stories. Ian’s latest novel, Just Cause, has recently been released by New Babel Books and he’s been gracious enough to stop by my blog to tell us a little bit about himself, his writing, and Just Cause. Below his interview you’ll find my review of his novel and links where you can find Ian and his book online.

1.How long have you been writing and what’s your background?

I've been writing as long as I can remember. When I was really young, maybe six or seven, I made a thumbprint comic book about a little group called the Happy Days Gang (with a bunny, a cat, a piglet, a dog, and a bug). Skipping ahead to junior high school, I went to a young writer's workshop at Denver University, and that led to me writing my first "novel." It was a hackneyed, clichéd space opera that has thankfully been lost to the ravages of time and pre-digital formats. My first "serious" effort at a novel came in 2003 when I wrote a Star Wars fanfic. That one, obviously, couldn't be published. The second books after that, written in 2004, was Just Cause, and that's the first one I sold to a publisher, in April of 2011.

2.Your series, Just Cause, it about what you call Parahumans, which in essence are people with super human powers. Is this a genre in which you prefer to write? Or do you branch out to other genres?

I love writing superheroes. They say you never forget your first love, and they have been my first writing love. At one point, I even wanted to go into the comic book industry as an artist. The only problem is that I can't draw them, but at least I can write them. When it comes to genre, I'm afraid I suffer from the wandering eye. I've written cyberpunk, urban fantasy, epic fantasy, westerns, post-apocalyptic, space opera, contemporary YA, and even nonfiction. My superheroes understand my fickleness, and they wait patiently for me to return to them. And I always do.

3.Do you find it more fun to write the heroes or the villains and why?

I'm a hero at heart. I'm Dudley Doright taking down Black Bart and rescuing the pretty cowgirl who he tied to the tracks. Some people enjoy the bad guys, and I don't deny that a good villain can be a lot of fun to write, but even more than that, I like to throw my heroes against insurmountable odds and problems far larger than they could hope to resolve, and challenge them to do it.

4.Who was your favorite superhero growing up and why?

Batman, because I wanted to be him. All I needed was a few billion dollars, a savvy butler, to be trained by the best and brightest in the world, and oh yeah, to have my parents brutally gunned down in an alleyway. Well, maybe being Batman wouldn't be quite as cool, reflecting on it now...

5.Where did you get your inspiration for your main character, Mustang Sally?

I've always been fascinated with super-speed characters, which is funny because I haven't read much in the way of The Flash until recently. Mustang Sally was always part of a speed dynasty in my mind, beginning with her grandmother (Colt) in World War II and followed by her mother (Pony Girl) in the '60s and '70s. Both of those characters make guest appearances in Just Cause and will be featured in subsequent books in the series. I'm pretty sure that I came up with Mustang Sally after watching The Commitments, where the song "Mustang Sally" is one of their best tunes.

6.At the beginning of the book, Sally works with a group called the Lucky Seven, which of those characters do you identify with most and why?

I spent a lot of time developing the character of The Spark, who is the leader of the Lucky Seven, to the point that I have a plan to write a novel about him and his protegé. He's one of the closest characters to Batman that I've developed, although if anything, he's a lot more like the Ted Kord version of Blue Beetle. I'm sorry, I'm comic-book-geeking out here now.

7.The novel is packed with action. What do you think is the most difficult part about writing an action scene?

I don't actually think writing action scenes is difficult. They come to me naturally in a lot of ways. In fact, I've been complimented on them enough and had people approach me to help them with theirs that I sat down and wrote out a "how-to" ebook for others to use as a resource. It's called Action! Writing Better Action Using Cinematic Techniques and is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all the ebook retailers. That being said, I think the hardest action scene to write is a large-scale battle, with lots of characters on both sides of the conflict.

8.I know you’ve self-published some titles before the Just Cause series was picked up. What are the main differences you see between self-publishing and traditional publishing?

Oh, the speed. Just Cause was picked up by New Babel Books in April of 2011 and released at the end of November of 2011. That's a ridiculously fast turnaround for a publishing company (although not so much for a small publisher like NBB). Even so, when I decide to self-publish a finished, edited, and revised work, it takes me maybe a day or two to prepare the manuscript and cover and upload it to the retailers. I think I self-published twelve or fourteen pieces during the seven months it took NBB to release Just Cause.

9. What are the two most important pieces of advice you can give to someone considering self-publishing?

One: you need an editor. Maybe it's a trusted beta reader or critique group, but you should never assume that your work is of sufficient quality to release untouched. If you'll forgive me being crass, your words are not diamonds falling out of your ass.

Two: the glowing numbers being bandied about by other authors, who are making millions of dollars with their 99-cent downloads, are the exception, not the rule. You are not going to get rich quick self-publishing. You are not going to get rich slowly either. You're not going to get rich. But if you produce quality work at a reasonably fast pace, you will slowly build up a base readership, and they will keep coming back and clamoring for more work, and with good word of mouth, that readership will grow.

10. Are you currently working on something else?

At the moment, I am working on finishing my 2011 NaNoWriMo book, a humorous space opera called Starf*cker. I have my 2010 NaNo book, a superhero urban fantasy called Rooftops, in revision. I'm coauthoring a steampunk novel with my dear friend Allison Dickson that we've titled The Oilman's Daughter. Besides that, I have a couple of ebook short story collections that will come out during the first quarter of this year. I have more or less planned out my next twelve to fifteen months' writing, which is my typical lead time. And with my free hand, I Facebook.

Summary:

Some superheroes can fly, or lift great weights, or shoot lightning bolts.

Mustang Sally runs.

A third-generation superhero, Sally's life changes forever when she fights and loses to the notorious villain Destroyer, who killed her father just before she was born. She dedicates herself to tracking him down so she can even the score.

When all you can do is run, you'd better be fast, but can even the fastest girl in the world run quick enough to save her teammates' lives from Destroyer and his growing parahuman army?

Review:

Just Cause starts out with a bang, as the Lucky Seven, along with 18-year-old main character, Salena Thompson, better known as Mustang Sally, are summoned by the police commissioner to stop a giant robot from destroying the Science and Technology Expo.

The Lucky Seven are decimated in the fight and Sally discovers the man inside the robot is Destroyer, the villain who killed her dad before she was born. She sets out on a mission of revenge with the help of her new team, Just Cause, to destroy the man behind the machine. However he has tricks of his own up his sleeve including partnering with a Hitler like villain by the name of Kaiser.

Though he’s introduced many characters early on, Ian describes them in great detail, each standing out by their unique abilities and costumes, making it easy to keep track of who’s who.

Mustang Sally is especially well drawn. She’s a tiny blonde thing, who wears a red and yellow costume, and probably the fastest parahuman on the face of the planet. She comes from a long line of speedsters on her mom’s side and is destined to follow in their footsteps.

Though she’s confident in her abilities as a speedster, when it comes to love she’s apprehensive. She’d concentrated so hard on her training, she never took the time to date. Then she meets, Jason, a Brick, better known as Mastiff, a boy two years older than she—huge, muscly, and incredibly hot.

Ian writes their relationship well, both are timid and bashful at first, but we get to watch their relationship bloom into a full on love story. It’s very sweet with a side of spice.

He also doesn’t forget that although the two lovebirds are parahumans, they’re still real teenagers doing real teenage things like having crushes, playing in rock bands, and driving crappy cars.

I like the way Ian has written all the heroes, super yes, but still with human qualities, they have relationships, drink coffee, laugh, celebrate, grieve. They’re fallible, vulnerable. They get beat up, break bones, and sadly but expectedly, some die.

Healy is also a master at action scenes. It almost feels like you’re watching a movie instead of reading a book when the superheroes are battling the villains. There’s shooting and hand to hand combat, and bodies flying everywhere. What I’ve found so difficult to write, Ian makes seem effortless.

Another thing I liked about the book was that Ian mixed historical fact with fiction. The beginning of every chapter starts with a quote. Some are quotes from real historical figures, like Ghandi, others are quotes from made up superheroes appearing on Oprah. Ian writes about how the parahumans helped out in the wars, and how they partook in the party culture of the seventies.

All in all I thought this was a great book. Though it has the superhero element, it’s not for kids. There is some foul language and sex. I think older teens and adults who are fans of superheroes, graphic novels, and action and adventure will really enjoy Just Cause. This is just the first in a series, so be on the lookout for the next book. I know I will.

Here's where you can find Ian around the net:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorianthomashealy

Twitter: @ianthealy

Website: www.ianthealy.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLRH1Q

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ianthealy

Here's where to find Just Cause online:

Barnes & Noble: h ttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/ian-healy?keyword=ian+healy&store=allproducts

New Babel Books: ht tp://newbabelbooks.com/

Feeling like a rock star

2012-01-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

Thing have really been falling into place with the the book release. Parties are pretty much planned. I've got a signing scheduled February 4th at our local military bases. I've got group events with Helen Landalf (Flyaway), Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood), Kiki Hamilton (The Faerie Ring), Carole Estby Dagg (The Year We Were Famous), Alexa Martin (Girl Wonder), and Kathy McCullough (Don't Expect Magic) scheduled for March.

I'm trying to plan another event at Garfield books, and want to get some more signings and in the Western Washington area with my Apocalypsie PNWers, Danny Marks (Velveteen, Fall 2012), J Anderson Coats (The Wicked and the Just, April 2012), Jennifer Wolf (Breaking Beautiful, April 2012), Marissa Meyer (Cinder, just released), and Marissa Burt (Storybound, April, 2012).

Yesterday I was interviewed by my local daily paper and will be in their entertainment section next Friday and also was interviewed by my friend Kristin for a weekly local paper.

My Project Pass It On is going well. I had many willing participants and their stories are beginning to roll in.

It's been a fun, frustrating, terrifying ride and my release is finally arriving. I want to thank all of you who've supported me these last few years in all this craziness. You all mean the world to me.

Cinder Release Party

2012-01-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Last night was Marissa Meyer's release party for her sci-fi twisted retelling of Cinderella, Cinder. If you've not heard of it, um, you may want to come out from under your rock. Marissa is from MY home town which makes her extra cool to me. She's also an Apocalypsie, so I got to meet her prior to her release (there are about six Apocalypsies in this area alone which is very cool and we try to meet once a month).

She had a grassroots campaign for the ladies to sport red heels (or other red shoes, I wore wedges, my friend Kristin wore red tennis shoes). Many came out to support her and her book, including my publicist (which was awesome) J Anderson Coats (The Wicked and the Just, April 2012, Harcourt Children's Books), Jennifer Wolf (Breaking Beautiful, April 2012, Walker Books for Young Readers), and Danny Marks (Velveteen, Fall 2012, Delacorte).

Marissa's Publicist from NY came all the way for the party!!

Marissa talked a little about her journey (she gave my release party a shout out which was SO sweet of her), had a friend do a reading from the book, then did a signing (the line was soooo long Danny went through three pieces of cake, I had to take off my death shoes, and we were all delirious by the time we reached the head of the line, but it was well worth the wait).

And, um, they gave away wicked swag.

And today? Marissa is on a nationwide tour to promote her book!!!! Here are the dates. If you're in these areas you should check it out.

January 4: Cincinnati, OH
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
7:00 p.m.

January 6: Chapel Hill, NC
Flyleaf Books
7:00 p.m.

January 8: Lynnwood, WA
Barnes & Noble
2:00 p.m.

January 9: Twitter and Facebook!!
Virtual Cinder Launch Party, being hosted with Figment Fiction
More info to come.

January 11: Salt Lake City, UT
The King's English Bookshop
7:00 p.m.

January 12: Provo, UT
Provo City Library
7:00 p.m.

January 23: Naperville, IL
Anderson's Bookshop
7:00 p.m.
Note: Megan Miranda, author of FRACTURE, will also be at this event!

January 24: Petaluma, CA
Copperfield's Books
3:00 p.m.

January 26: San Francisco, cA
Books Inc. “Not Your Mother’s Book Club” at Opera Plaza
7:00 p.m.
Note: Megan Miranda (FRACTURE) and Daisy Whitney (THE RIVALS) will also be at this event!

January 27: Portland, OR
Powell's Books
7:00 p.m.
Note: Megan Miranda, author of FRACTURE, will also be at this event!

February 10-14: Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada
Details TBD

February 25: Long Beach, CA
Passion and Prose Convention
http://www.passionandprose.org/

April 14: Houston, TX
TeenBookCon
http://www.teenbookcon.org
(Other Texas events TBD)

I want to congratulate Marissa who's awesome and sweet and adorable. If you missed her release party and would like to meet her, you may catch a glimpse of her at my party January 17 at the Tacoma Library Wheelock branch.

Mom Fail

2012-01-03T05:26:00.000-08:00

So my girls and I laid around all day Sunday doing absolutely nothing because we had Monday to get the Christmas decorations down, clean the house, and finish up homework.

Yesterday rolled around and that's exactly what we did. I took down decorations, Thing One cleaned house (all the messes were from her New Years party, eight teenagers somehow turned into twenty), and Thing Two was finishing up her homework.

Well, sometime between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, Thing Two says, "Mom, did school start today?"
Me: "No, it starts tomorrow. Why?"
Thing Two: "Because I just texted a friend and asked what he was doing and he said he was at school."
Me: "Really? Well maybe he's just hanging out or something."

Thing One walks up the stairs as I hit the computer to check the school calendar.
Me: "Oh my god, you guys were supposed to start today."
Thing One: "I was wondering why everyone was complaining about going back to school today on Facebook."
Me: "You didn't think to mention this to me earlier?"
Thing One: "I thought they were crazy."

Um, so I pondered if my kids were confused or playing me. I'm going with the former, giving them the benefit of the doubt, because how on earth could their mother be wrong.

Er.

Hopefully this will be my only #momfail story of the year, but I highly doubt it.

Monkey Madness Monday: Goals, Obstacles, and My Addiction to Netflix

2012-01-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

So, it's officially the commencement of 2012 (resolutions don't begin on the 1st, at least in my world), so thus begins the attempt to reach all my goals for the year. Today will actually be a little difficult because I'm going to be taking down the Christmas decorations and cleaning house, but I will fit in the elliptical, hopefully some writing and reading (there's a book I need to finish in the next couple days).

There are things I'll have to sacrifice to reach my goals for the year, and this is all part of my resolutions to balance my time. I need to cut back on the Netflix. This will be hard because I think it's actually become a crutch for me on the weeks my kids are at their dads.

When they're gone, I crawl into bed early with my Kindle and watch stuff, right now I'm watching Gray's Anatomy. I just need to shift gears. Instead of crawling into bed and watching Netflix, I need to be reading. OR, I need to not crawl in to bed and I need to be writing.

As you all know, if you've been reading me for awhile, I suffered from exhaustion the last few months of the year, so I'll have to fight this as well. It leaves me too tired to do much of anything except lay around and watch shows and movies. I'm going to kick exhaustion's ass this year to get my butt on the elliptical and get back to the things I love, reading and writing.

But I'll probably need to take baby steps.

Do you have any goals you want to reach this year? What are some obstacles you foresee that may keep you from those goals? How will you get past them.

Super Special New Years Eve Blog Because I Have No Life

2011-12-31T22:33:00.000-08:00

Dear 2011,

We’ve had some good times; we’ve had some bad times. You’ve given me a new car, new friends, and a new disorder (I could have done without that last one btw).

You’ve kept my daughters healthy, happy, and beautiful, however, 2012 and I are going to have a serious discussion about their grades. I got to see one daughter excel in music while the other one became a Duchess, and both still rock on the soccer field.

You’ve given me some awesome memories: Sundance with my mom, Forks with Heidi, ocean trips with friends and my girls, Arizona, surprising Gae in New York.

You’ve been good to me and my little book. Going through the process was like watching a child grow up. From first pass pages to ARCs to the finished product—what an amazing journey.

You’ve sparked new relationships in my life and ended others. You’ve shown me death and brought new life into my world.

Thank you 2011. For the most part, you’ve been good to me, but it’s time we part ways. Tell 2012 I'm looking forward to meeting him and to bring it. Whatever its plans for me, whether they be challenges, cataclysms, or celebrations, I’m ready, and I’ve got back up.

Goodbye 2011. It’s been swell.

Megan

2011 Year In Review

2011-12-30T15:20:00.000-08:00

Life, Love, and Resolutions

2011-12-29T09:36:00.001-08:00

I know people don't like to make resolutions, but I like to challenge myself to be better every single year (every single day). I did okay this last year, but I'm going to take it up a notch this year. I want 2012 to be epic.

Health: I will exercise more. This will include cardio (rule #1), weight training, and calisthenics. I'm going to start at 3 days per week, but hope to work up to 5.

I will take on healthier eating habits. I mean, I already do whole grain, low fat, etc, but I guess I'll have to take it up a notch. I don't know what this means yet, but I guess I'll have to figure it out.

I want to take 30 minutes of quiet a day to reflect. Hopefully this will help me to take the time to figure out what happened that day that needed change, what moments to celebrate. It will also give me the opportunity to regroup and plan for the next day.

Writing: If I don't finish this rewrite by the end of this year than that will be my first priority.

Aside from that I would like to write 2 books. I know those are lofty goals, but I think I can do it if I set my mind to it, set priorities, and plan my time better.

Life: Speaking of planning my time better, that is one of my goals, figuring out how to balance work, writing, kids, and all the other pleasures in life.

I want to read more. I did pretty good at the beginning of this year, but the end of the year was an epic fail. I think one book of month is doable. That is the goal I'm setting though I'm hoping for more.

Staying organized. This is a big challenge for me. My office is a complete mess (if you've been reading me, you'll know this because I've talked about it about every day for the last two weeks). My office at work is a mess. Even my writing style is all over the place. If I organize a few spaces in my life, I'm hoping everything else will fall into place.

I want to travel more and meet some of the friends I've made throughout the last few years.

Love: This is self love I'm talking about. I need to learn to love myself unconditionally. I need to accept the things about me that cannot be changed, and try to change the things that are under my control.

I need to accept that I am human and therefore fallible. There are times in which I'll succeed, there are times in which I will fail. If I fail I'll try not to be too hard on myself and just either try again or move forward.

I'm going to try to trust myself as well as those around me.

And this year, instead of trying so hard to find happiness, I will let it seek me out.

Basically, like I said before, I'm going to try to change the things I can, and let everything else fall into place. It's all I can do.

Happy New Year all. Stay safe and sane and don't die or kill someone else driving drunk. Peace.

New Year's Resolution Recap

2011-12-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about making some new resolutions, but I wanted to go back to last year and see if I achieved any of the goals I'd set for myself. I didn't promise myself I'd achieve them, but I did say I'd try like hell. Here are last year's resolutions and how I fared.

The first resolution was:
I will be more physically active. Seriously people, I've let myself go. Haven't set foot in a gym, or exercised for MONTHS. So I resolve to get off my ass and get moving.

Well, um, I've exercised. I bought the elliptical and used it, I went bike riding, I let Jillian Michaels kick my ass on occasion. I think I've accomplished this, not as much as I would have liked to, but a little bit.

Next resolution was:
And hopefully with all this action will come the dropping of a few *cough cough* extra pounds I've put on this year.

I didn't lose as much as I wanted, but I did lose seven pounds. Not epic, but something.

Next resolution was:

I will write more. I did write one book this year, Cheesy, which I'm in love with, but I finished that ages ago. I've written very little in the last six months.

I wrote a book again this year, Sliced. I'm rewriting it, so I think I've done well on this one. I don't write every day like I should, but I do write when I can. Day job kind of sucks my creativity right out of me.

Next:

I will try once again to find some peace and be happy in life.

The year started off pretty rough. Then I went in and told my doctor I was bi-polar, and I was right. New meds and I've been pretty balanced this year since March. I've had a couple relapses, but not even close to where I was last year and the beginning of this year, so I say this resolution was a WIN.

Lastly:

I think the most important thing is to find out who I am. I know the mother me, the wife me, and the writer me, but I don't really know that much more about myself. I want to explore that and see who comes out in the wash.

I'm not sure I'm there yet. I know I've worked hard to learn web design. I've become a pretty good marketer. I've worked hard to market Never Eighteen. So, I guess I'm a hard worker. But that's not me. I've not been around many people this year, I've stayed pretty home based. I watch myself fairly carefully, being bi-polar I have to be careful with who I go out with and what I do. I'm still that mom, that writer, but I guess I'm not sure what else yet. I guess I'll work on that more again next year.

Tomorrow I'll share the resolutions I've made for myself this year, and hope they stick.

Never Eighteen Project Pass It On

2011-12-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

So, awhile back, my publicist from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Rachel Wasdyke, and I came up with a campaign to spread the word across the nation about Never Eighteen.

I chose some folks I knew from around the country; friends, writers, Facebook friends, family, and asked them to participate. The idea was for them to read the book, then to "pass it on", to another reader, teacher, librarian, leave it somewhere for someone to find it, etc. I told them to be as creative as they wanted, then to record what they did in video, pictures, or words.

I'm not going to post all of these here on my blog (well, maybe I will), I'm going to keep them together on my Facebook Page and will probably vlog about them as well. However, I just received word from my first Pass It On participant, Melissa Cunningham from Fairview Heights, IL. (No stalking please). This lovely woman is a Facebook friend and artist (Click here for her artist page on Facebook), and is the first to respond, so I thought I'd share.

Here's what she said:

"Megan,

Loved your book! I couldn't put it down last night and had to finish it. My husband is going to wait until our copy arrives to read it - he said that we should pass it on now, to get the word out before it is released... So I went to my favorite coffee shop this morning and I was going to leave there. I had a change of plans when I ran into an acquaintance of mine. He is a high school English teacher. I gave it to him.

I created a bookmark to go inside of the book, explaining the idea of getting the word out and passing the book on. While I was drinking my coffee with a group of friends, I watched him read your book. His eyes filled with tears as he turned the last few pages. He put the book mark in the book and set it on an empty table. Then he got up and called his brother.

A few minutes later another patron picked up the book, read the note on the bookmark and began reading! I wish you the best of luck! Happy Holidays and I look forward to January, when my personal copy arrives!"

I want to thank Melissa for participating in Project: Pass it On I can't wait for the others to come in so I can share.

F³A: Roiling angst and where the day takes me

2011-12-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

My angst is at its apogee (this is me and my new goal of using a new lesser used word every day). It's the time of year, not only because of the season, but for personal reasons both from the way back machine and present day Tacoma, which I'm not going to bore you with at the moment.

I told today I was going to kick its ass, it's not going to go down without a fight. Number one, thank god for LOL Cats. Number two, do not look up "bad day" on Google images because lots of icky gross stuff comes up.

Anyhoo. I said, "Hey, Day, bring it on. Give me your worst!"

Day said, "Okay first of all, I'll let you have your coffee and do your stupid computer stuffs. But after that, your ass is mine. And you're lucky I'm letting you slide on the promise to get on the elliptical today."

Me: "Okay, fine, then what?"

Day: "Hmmm, what to throw at you first. How about the kitchen."

Me: "Pfft. Piece of cake."

Day: "Maybe I'll let you pick up your girls today, but then there's groceries, and perhaps some gift delivery."

Me: "Is that all you got?"

Day: "Cookies."

Me: "That may be work to you, but I call that fun."

Day: "Well, then I'll have you catch up on the laundry, wash, dry, fold, AND put away. You have guests coming on Christmas you know."

Me: "Shit. Shit. Okay. Okay. I can do this. Next?"

Day: "You sure you're ready for what comes next?"

I close my eyes, start jumping around, breathe in and out, shake it off like a boxer. "Okay, yeah, I'm ready...wait. No. Yes." My body calms, I get in my best I-can-take-it-stance.

Day: "Your office."

my office

I almost collapse, but I maintain my cool I don't want the day to know that its, in a single two words, almost beat me.

Me: "You're on. I'm kicking your ass Day. You can't stop me."

Day: "I'm not worried. I've always got tomorrow."

Okay, time for the Friday Scribbles:

Christmas Song of the Week: Jingle Bells by Sammy Davis Jr. No one sings it like him.

Book of the Week: Still on Just Cause by my friend Ian Healy. Christmas has taken away my ability to read in a timely manner, but hopefully will finish next week.

Christmas Movie of the Week: Going with The Family Stone. I love it. Luke Wilson is so cute and funny in it. And I love Rachel McAdams in it too.

Quote of the Week: "As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same." ~Donald Westlake

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa. If you don't celebrate a holiday, celebrate you.

Tis the season to give to those in need

2011-12-22T06:48:00.000-08:00

I swear, I thought this was going to be a nice calm week for me. Um, not. My intention was to post about giving all this week, but I've not even really had the chance to blog until today. So, yeah, go give.

My mom and I

My mom, she inspires me. She donates every year to the Hospitality Kitchen in our city. They are open every day of the year and provide 1,200 meals a day. A DAY!! My mom doesn't just donate money, she also donates clothing, toiletries, books, coats, blankets, items the people that frequent the kitchen desperately need. She also urges others to donate as well, and she's teaching her grandchildren the importance of giving by bringing them with her when she takes the donations down to the kitchen.

Hospitality Kitchen is run by Catholic Community Services (CCS). They do a lot of good in our area. Aside from the kitchen, they also provide shelter for the homeless, help people find housing, offer services for children and youth, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

You company can also adopt a family for Thanksgiving and Christmas through CCS, which my day job does every year.

My beautiful Thing Two

There are so many ways to give, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. Find something close to your heart. I'm donating money to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital here in Tacoma. They saved my daughter's life when she was just five weeks old. I can't imagine a life without seeing this face every day. *points left*

Also, at one of my release parties, I'm hosting a raffle to benefit the hospital. Plus, I have my Never Eighteen store at Cafe Press, in which I will be donating every dime I make to the hospital. You know, if you wanted to buy some Never Eighteen stuff. *hint hint*

Not sure who to donate to? There are websites that rate charities, like charitynavigator.org , so you can be sure your money is going to someplace worthy.

Try not to forget those in need while making your shopping lists this season.

Happy holidays.

Megan

IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson Cover Reveal

2011-12-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

Corrine Jackson, part of my Class of 2k12 clan has revealed the cover for her upcoming release, If I Lie. It's gorgeous, check it out here.

Here's a short summary of the book, which is coming to you August 28th, 2012:

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends.

Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

Sounds totally and utterly awesome, right? But it on your TBR list.

Congrats to Corrine, you can find her here:

https://twitter.com/#!/Cory_Jackson

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corrine-Jackson/154559914605231

F³A: Facebook Timeline

2011-12-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

I don't get it. I mean, didn't we have changes just like yesterday? And now Mark Zuckerburg is changing it up again? *shakes fists at MZ*

When I started Facebook I liked it because it was simple. So splash. No bells and whistles. No tiny little boxes everywhere to mess you up. I knew where things were. It's kind of like someone going into your office and rearranging everything. I'm like, WTF? Where are my friends? Where are my statuses? Where is my sanity? Oh, there it is, in a little box in the bottom left hand corner.

It's my own fault. I decided to try it out. I can play with it for seven days of publish it right away. If I don't publish it myself they do it for me.

but Idon'twanna. I want to go back to the way it was where everything was listed neatly and simply on the left. Where my friends were stacked like the Brady Bunch on the left. Where that stupid scrolling whatsit that I finally got used to was on the upper right, and my chat the lower right, and all my shit was right in the middle. Now everything is scattered everywhere and I can't find a damn thing.

So, does anyone know how I can go back? CAN I even go back or should I just keep it because eventually we're going to be FORCED to have it?

If you already use Timeline, do you like it or despise it so much you want to fling your computer into the fireplace with your Duraflame log and extra Christmas wrap? Tell me your thoughts on Mark Zuckerburg and his new Timeline.

Okay, time for the Friday Scribbles:

Christmas song of the Week: Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth. I remember watching this on MTV when they still played music and falling in love with it.

Book of the Week: I'm reading my friend Ian Healy's Just Cause. You like superheroes? Check this book out.

Netflix of the Week: Gray's Anatomy. I like it. I'm on season two. The vet just came in. He's hot. I think it's Chris O'Donnell, but I haven't seen him since like 1989 so I'm not sure.

Quote of the Week: "What can we take on trust in this uncertain life? Happiness, greatness,
pride - nothing is secure, nothing keeps (like our Facebook pages-I added that part). ~Euripides, Hecuba

Happy Friday!

Author copies, Christmas, and good bfs

2011-12-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

Totally unrelated things I know.

First off, I want to say that I received a box of author copies in the mail a couple days ago. And SQUEEEEEEE!!!! They are so beautiful. The cover is metallic and everything seems to pop off of it.

I was asked by my co-prezzie of the Class of 2k12, Caroline Starr Rose if I would read it again now that it was in realsies book form.

I think I just might read it again, this book I've read a bazillion times and got so sick of I wanted to toss it from the Narrows Bridge. It's kind of different with it's metallic blue cover and it's dedication and acknowledgments, and playlist in the back. It's a bit surreal to look at it and know it's mine. I created it. The title stands out more on the metallic cover than it did on the other, and the car pops off the page. If I were walking through a bookstore, I would pick it up for sure. And on the back where the description starts the words I had the dream again are the same as the title, same font, each letter a different color. I am so in love with this book, more than I've been in a long time. So yeah, I may read it again.

Now that I've written all that, I can't remember what I was going to say about Christmas. hmmmm. I'll get back to that when (if) I remember.

To good boyfriends. I told you the other day, this is a stressful time of year for me, not just because of the holidays but for other reasons. The other day I was panicking because there were presents to wrap, Christmas cards to create and send, and gift baskets to make (57 to be exact), and baking to be done, and my house was a mess, and 18 videos and dvds to make and, and, and...

this is not my bf but you get the picture

...and I have a boyfriend who tells me to breathe. A boyfriend who comes over and folds my laundry, and does my dishes, and vacuums my floors, and makes me dinner while I make videos. He does allow this poor pathetic girl to breathe. And I feel much better. My videos are close to being done, I did some of my baking yesterday, gift baskets, done (just need to be delivered which is fun), my house is clean (outside my office which I just may clean today), I've printed out my Christmas cards, most important, I still have presents to wrap, baking to do, a few more videos to Lightscribe, but I'm also still breathing.

Now about Christmas. Still don't remember, but I do love waking up to the Christmas lights, to hell with the light bill.

Oh, yeah, and catch me on Julia Karr's 2k12 Days of Christmas today.

Happy Thursday all. Hope it's a great day.

TODAY IS MONKEY DAY!!

2011-12-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

That means I get to post about monkeys twice this week. I mean, this is a for real holiday (kind of). The origins are sketchy.

Some day it started to further the awareness of simian species and habitats. Someday it began as scientific backlash to the religious holidays permeating the month of December. Others say it was the creation of a bunch of drunken fools who happened to love monkeys.

For me, it's just another way to express my love for all things monkey.

You can buy Bad Monkey shirts here.

Here is my latest monkey purchase. Happy Monkey Day all!!

It's Tuesday

2011-12-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

So what? Sigh.

I'm afraid that once again I'm suffering exhaustion. I can't sleep, my body and mind are tired. Last night I was in bed by 5:00 pm. 5!!!

On top of that, this has been a bad time of year for me for about the last four years. My depressions always gets the best of me. Why? No idea. It just is. I know it's busy for everyone, but it brings me down so much which bugs me because I LOVE the Christmas season, I do. The lights, the gifts, the food. sigh.

My driver quit, I think that's one reason I'm suffering. I hired her when I suffered exhaustion before. My doctor told me to take it easy, and I thought that would be money well spent, which it was. She picked up my kids from school, drove them to lessons, soccer, etc. Now it's back to me.

I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and if you've ever lived in the PNW, you know how gray it gets this time of year.

And in general, I'm stressed out about this week because there are music lessons, and Dr. appointments, and choir concerts, and I have to put together and deliver about 55 gift baskets for the law firm, I need to do my Christmas baking, on top of work, rewrites, and being a mom, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking (which I rarely do anymore with kids schedules and such).

Good thing? All my Christmas presents are bought. Most my Christmas presents are wrapped and under the tree. So, there, I'm ahead of the game.

Monkey Madness Monday: The Word is Love

2011-12-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

Did you know Dec. 14 is Monkey Day?

So . . . love. It's used to express a lot. I love pizza, I love sock monkeys, I love writing, I love you.

Um, so when I tell someone I love them, I'm pretty much equating them to my collection of sock monkeys.

No. Doesn't work for me anymore. I don't love people the same way I love pizza, sock monkeys, and writing.

The truth? I don't like the word anymore. It doesn't mean anything. In fact, it feels fake when I say it, when speaking about or to someone dear to me.

The word is taken for granted, overused if you will. It's become cliche. I think we need a different word. It seem like every other language has a different word for these different types of love. I think the English language should too.

When I tell someone I love them, I want it to mean more than the superficial love we have for material objects or our favorite meal or destination. It needs to be a word that transcends words. You feelin' me?

What do you think? Any ideas?

F³A: Things to play with

2011-12-09T06:59:00.000-08:00

I went to the darkside. Yes, by way of the e-reader. *bows to the book gods in apology*. I bought the Amazon Kindle Fire. Why you ask? There are a few reasons. First and foremost, friends I knew to be good writers were self publishing straight to ebook. Drat!!! There is one in particular, his name is Jeff Fielder, I've read his work and I think he's brilliant. Anyhoo, he published some short stories in his book Voices in the Field and Other Stories. Then you know what he did? He put it out in paperback. I told him he owed me $199 + tax and shipping.

Of course I was kidding because there are other straight to e books I'd like to read. But that's not the only reason I bought the Fire. In fact, reading on it is secondary (I still love the feel of a book in my hands and that book smell, yeah, you know what I'm talking about)You know that thing they call the iPad? Well, the Fire does most of what that thing does. But cheaper. And smaller (if you like that kind of thing).

The bad thing about my Kindle Fire? I've had it about two weeks and still not been able to play with it. Yes, that sucks. I've pledged to spend some quality time with my Kindle this weekend.

Do you have an e-reader? If so, what kind did you buy? If not, what are your hang ups?

Oh, one more thing, Julia Karr, author of XVI (which I LOVED btw) is hosting some of us 2k12ers in her 2k12 Days of Christmas. Check it out the deets here.

Friday Scribbles:

Christmas song of the week: The Monkees Riu Chiu. I saw this on their show and fell in love with it (it was REPEATS people, I'm not that old *cough*)

Movie of the Week: The Ref. Funniest damn Christmas movie ever with Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey, and Judy Davis. If you've not seen this movie, you're not living.

Book of the week: Still reading (slowly, not because of the book, because of my lack of time) The Wicked and the Just by J Anderson Coats. Do you like war and cussing and medieval stuff. Then buy it. Now. And I might add, J and I have become friends and she's kick ass awesome.

Quote of the Week: I've got two and they are both from one of my favorite books, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

"Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores."

"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing."

That is all. Happy Friday my friends.

Wednesday Weigh In: Dating a chef

2011-12-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

This is not what my chef looks like.

Okay, I'm not doing so bad, but dating a chef makes it difficult to stay on track. I took him to meet my parents last night (yes, another step) and he made gnocchi with chicken and peppers, roasted acorn squash, and we had bread and wine on the side. Yum. needless to say, I've not weighed myself this morning.

The next couple days though, I'm buckling down to lose a couple pounds. Office xmas party is Saturday and I have to fit into one of my dresses. sigh.

Still have the goal of losing more weight by release date. That gives me just over a month *hyperventilate*. I think I can drop at least a few by then as long as my chef cooks light for me (or not at all, lol). AND no cookies, candy, or other holiday treats. sigh.

Good opportunity for Aspiring Writers

2011-12-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com and Penguin have hosted a contest every year for the last four years titled the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest (ABNA). If you've been following my blog awhile, you'll know that I've entered every year since its inception (and my soon to be release novel, Never Eighteen was entered in the contests first year. It didn't make it far, so even if you don't win the contest, you still have that shot, just sayin').

The award is a book deal for one YA and one general fiction novel. A real honest to god book deal! Many of the non-winners have gone on to be published through Amazon's publishing house, AmazonEncore, or other traditional publishers. Contest starts January 23, 2012.If you're trying to get published, you should seriously consider entering.

It's not just about the book deal either. It's about experience. If you've not queried your novel out yet, guess what? That's what you need to do to make the first round. You need to write a pitch. Terrified? Don't be. There's a very supportive group of writers all ready in place on the ABNA forums, some of them having been there all four years. They have a pitch thread, where you can ask questions, get advice, and even get your pitch critiqued.

The feedback is awesome too. That is, if you make it through that pitch round. If you do, you get two reviews by Amazon Vine Reviewers. Just like any other critique, you take what you need from them and disregard the rest. Vine Reviewers are human and make mistakes, just pull on your thick skin suit and be ready. If you make it even further, you can get reviews from Amazon customers themselves. Also, many of the other writers in the contest review the entrants. Getting feedback was one of the best things about the contest.

Lastly and most importantly, for me at least, this contest was about the camaraderie. I had just finished my first manuscript when I found out about the contest. I had never met other writers before and participating on the forum was a great way to do this. If found people with the same fears and goals. I even found writers in my own area that I am still friends with (and actually dating one). Don't feel intimidated writing on the forum either. Yes, some of them have been there for four years and have inside jokes, but most of them are loving, friendly, talented, and funny individuals and will accept you with open arms.

Really, you should enter. What have you got to lose? Click here to visit the ABNA main page and good luck.

Monkey Madness Monday: Megan Messina Bostic is in a relationship with...

2011-12-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Too funny

Yep, I've been labeled. I'm now someone's girlfriend. This is a good thing. We've been together for mmmm, at least a month now, known each other for four years (kind of. too hard to explain at the moment), it's time to tell the world.

It's been a few months, having someone in my life that is. This time it's different. Or maybe it's just because it's new. Who knows?

I'm not used to having someone "do" for me. I'm the one that is usually doing the "doing". (my god does that even make sense?) That's not a bad thing either, I mean, in my marriage I was a stay at home mom, so I did for my kids and I did for my husband. While former grew up and latter worked.

I've been on my own for over a year now, and I've grown accustomed to "doing" for myself be it housework, or putting things together or fixing shit.

My boyfriend (it almost says weird saying it or writing it for some reason) does for me. It almost seems unreal. He cooks for me (did I mention he's a chef? There goes my diet), he help me clean the kitchen, he put up my Christmas lights, changed light bulbs, wrapped my pipes. In my moments of utter neuroticy (I made that word up), he calms me down and makes me take a moment to breathe.

So there it is. Megan Messina Bostic is in a relationship (picture the Facebook red heart next to that statement). So far, so good.

Oh, two more things. Don't forget about my contest on Facebook. You can win a bunch of Never Eighteen swag and a signed ARC.

Also, I cannot comment on blogs when the comment box is on the post page. I can only comment if they load on pop outs or new pages. Others may be having this problem too. You may want to consider changing your settings on your comments if you're not getting comments.

F³A: Aaaaah, sleep I have finally found thee

2011-12-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

Sleep finally found me. I'd been running on fumes for the past week at least. 4 to 5 hours each night. Lack of sleep for me comes down to this:

Apathy
Lack of motivation
Delirium
Irritation about everything
Inability to put words together to make a sentence
Inability to know good from evil
Lack of brain function
My alter ego Mrs. McCrankypants emergers
Moments of complete and utter road rage
My kids thinking I'm psycho

Last night I got 8.5 hours. No one will die today. How did I get through it, you ask? Thing one and Thing two, as well as their friends who I love dearly, while driving me nuts from time to time, dealt with me pretty good and made me laugh. Plus, someone who cares about me enough to come over and deals with my shit and does things for me and basically makes me sit, breathe, and feel sane.

Friday Scribbles

Christmas song of the week: Baby It's Cold Outside. I like most versions, this one happens to be by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones

Book of the Week: The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats. Don't usually read historical fiction, but started it this week and so far, it's amazing.

Movie of the Week: Casablanca. I had never seen it until last night. It's amazing. I never really thought Humphrey Bogart was handsome either until I watched in.

Quote of the Week: "I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know? " ~ Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway

Have a good weekend, and get some good sleep.

Sleepless in Seattle

2011-11-29T05:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, Sleepless in Tacoma. For the last few years, I've had these spurts of sleeplessness, maybe two, three weeks at a time, followed by about a month of can't-get-up-in-the-morning-to-save-my-life. WTF?

I've never really tracked these weeks of sleeplessness, if they coexist with some form of stress, anxiety, or changes in life. If that were the case it would totally make sense right now. Things that are stressful, angst inducing, or have changed in Megan's life:

Holidays. mmhmmm. Here they are again. Presents to buy, baking to be done, lights to put up. Um, yeah, I've pretty much broken down for the last four years this time of year. Rock bottom here I come.

Option book. My debut book is almost out. Just over one month to go (panic sets in as I realize this). But wait, while I'm marketing the hell out of Never Eighteen, I have another book to write. Okay, I wrote it, it's done. But wait, there's more. Midway through I change direction. Now I have to rewrite it. And let me tell you. I've been less than motivated because I know it's a big project. At some point my agent is going to ask about it. (Actually she already has, told her done, just doing revisions, only a little fib). So, yeah, stress.

Book release. Parties to plan, reviews to worry about. The stress of wondering if it will sink or swim. I mean, yeah, of those who've read it so far, most have liked to loved it. But by US standards, that's a handful of people. Ugh!

Um, new relationship. This isn't stressful or angty. Its just a change in life. The most stress will come from introducing him to the kids, the rents, and subjecting him to the rest of my family at some point and hoping that's not a deal breaker. Otherwise, the relationship has been amazing.

Weight. The never-ending form of stress. I'm still down seven pounds, but my goal was twenty five by my release. That leaves me with 18 to go and two 1/2 months left to do it. Possible, yes, but I am weak when it comes to certain kinds of food and I must avoid them like the plague, which will be hard during the holiday season.

Work. I love my job, but I've taken on more responsibility, and my partner in crime at work has other responsibilities. And there are a few tasks that are frustrating the hell out of me. I feel so far behind and I can't catch up. I have to keep up with SEO, print ads, our newsletter, creating and uploading websites, helping plan the Christmas party. All stuff I like to do, yet, I feel overwhelmed at times and am multi-tasking beyond my abilities.

So, when I wake up at 3:30 am, my mind will not allow my body to go back to sleep. Anyone have any insomnia remedies?

Monkey Madness Monday

2011-11-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

So, it's Monday once again. Time to achieve some goals. First, weight. I actually only gained a pound over the weekend. I'm shocked and amazed. Still, I want to drop at least another fifteen before my launch. I know it's doable, but I don't know if I can do it. I have my weaknesses. If I stay away from the appetizer tables at the Christmas parties, I should be all right.

Writing goals: finish the rewrite of my WIP, Sliced. It's going slow, writing time has been short, but I'm just going to have to buckle down and do it. Instead of watching Gray's Anatomy and playing Angry Birds I'm going to spend that time writing and reading.

Christmas: all presents purchased by December 2nd. That is my goal. I've already done pretty good, but I'm afraid some mall shopping will need to be done. Ugh.

Petty stuff, new boots, maybe an Amazon Kindle Fire (I've fought the ebook long enough), baking, reading, making Christmas cards.

You have any goals for the holiday season?

F³A: The Crazies

2011-11-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

These are the people that go out shopping at the butt crack of dawn on black Friday. I've never done it, I have no desire to do it, I will never do it. I am claustrophobic, I hate crowds. Especially mean crowds that will shiv you for the last Sims game or pair of gloves left on the shelf. No thanks.

For those of you who do shop the black Friday deals, is it really all that? Really?

There was an incident with pepper spray today. Really?

I will pay more. I will sit comfortably at my computer and order (though I really am going to try to buy more locally this year, I'm sure my local stores have website too, right?)

For those of you who risk your lives on black Friday, happy shopping, for those of you who don't happy hiding.

Friday Scribbles:

Christmas Song of the Week: Please Come Home for Christmas. One of my faves.

Book of the Week: I'm going with The Wicked and the Just by J Anderson Coats, a fellow 2k12er. I received an arc and am going to start it this weekend. Think Castles, medieval battles.

Netflix of the Week: Jericho, the tv series. A friend turned me on to it. It's good.

Quote of the Week: "Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice." ~Dave Barry

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-11-22T06:40:00.000-08:00

my living room

So, yeah, I decorated my house for Christmas. I've been listening to Christmas music. Yes, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but my girls and I have been in the spirit since Dio de las Muertas.

Which is a good thing for me, since the last few years, nothing could get me in the mood. And don't even mention the "S" word. Snow. I hate it. I hate driving in it, I hate the coldness of it. I only like snow if I never have to leave my house.

But yeah, this year is different. This year I feel warm and snuggly and Christmassy. My house if festive with it's lights and pink tree, and garland, and the giant silver star hanging from my kitchen ceiling.

And it's catching. I've started a before Christmas movement. I've inspired people to listen to Christmas music, to put up their trees. I like being an inspiration, even if it's just an eccentric one like decorating before Thanksgiving.

Happy Holidays (boy I'm going to be saying that a lot until Christmas actually rolls around). And Happy Tuesday.

Monkey Madness Monday: Being Thankful

2011-11-21T05:15:00.000-08:00

There is so much to be Thankful for in life. I mean, even when things seems bad, there is always someone worse of then you. Be thankful for what you have instead of what you want.

I know, sometimes it's hard, even I am guilty of stressing on the little things (thank you anxiety disorder). But here are the things I will try and focus on my family. Are they perfect? God no, but whose is? I love them with all their quirks and faults and I know they love me despite these things as well.

I'm thankful for my friends. Even if I don't see them as often as I like, I know their always there for me.

I'm thankful for my health. Am I a bit out of shape? Sure. Am I a little crazy? Yes. But I'm living and breathing and that in itself is a gift.

I'm thankful for my girls. Do they drive me nuts? Yes. They're teenagers after all, but I would rather deal with the eye rolls, and the attitude, and the messiness than not having them around. They are my sun, my light.

Think about the things you're thankful for this week, not just the big things, but the little ones too. I'm thankful for fresh flowers, and the scent of basil, and Oil of Olay, and coffee.

We have it good. We really do. Even when it's bad, it's still good in some ways.

What are you thankful for?

F³A: Finally

2011-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

It's finally Friday. This week has been a complete clusterf*&@k. I feel like I can breathe. Just a little. Last night was the first night I slept well all week. I still need to get through one more day of Dreamweaver class, and then, aaahhhhh.

The weekend is busy too, but that's a different kind of busy. That's soccer busy. I don't mind soccer busy.

And then next week, short week. I'm getting my hair done. I'm having a girls night out. I have a date, who says he's going to pamper me. He's a chef. I'm sure I've already mentioned that. Turkey day, then a girls weekend at the beach.

Did I say aaaahhhhh already?

What are your plans for the weekend?

The Friday Scribbles:

Random iPod shuffle song: Don't look back in Anger, Oasis.

Netflix of the Week: Mad Men. I still hate all the men, but I feel the civil rights movement coming and that should rock them a bit.

Book of the Week: I'm going to start reading fellow 2k12ers Robin Bridges, The Gathering Storm this week. Think Russia and Vampires. Hits stores in January.

Quote of the Week:
"Always gotta keep busy or the voices start telling me to do wild things. "
~Steve Brown

Have a good weekend everyone and don't forget about my giveaway, check yesterdays blog for details!

Never Eighteen Giveaway!!!!!

2011-11-17T05:24:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves prizes, right? Well, it's officially two months until the release of Never Eighteen, and so I'm giving away a bunch of Never Eighteen swag which includes a sack pack, notebook, water bottle, sticker, button, bookmark, t-shirt, a signed ARC, and a pack of tissues.

To enter, go to my Facebook notes here, and leave a comment and email address. That's it. No posting this elsewhere, no having to share five places, no having to get your friends to "like" me. Simply comment. Don't enter here, I don't want your comments buried under other posts.

Well, you may have to "like" me on Facebook, I don't know for sure.

Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on December 17, the one month mark!!!!

Good luck!!

Lamentations

2011-11-16T06:07:00.000-08:00

There is a reason I call myself the angsty writer. Last night was one of those reasons. I don't think people realize how draining this business can be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitching that I have a book deal, that would be stupid, but there is so much work that goes into it. Not only that, but having a job on top of it leaves little time for other things.

At times I feel detached from the world I've created for myself.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.

Occasionally, I feel like I can't hack it.

Sometimes I feel like everything I've implemented in the last four years, the blogs, the vlogs, the social networking is all for naught.

Sometimes everything I've implemented makes me feel like a whore and I get tired of myself and I think other people have to be getting tired of me too.

I think I might be having post traumatic stress disorder. I was going to vlog about this, but haven't had the time yet, so I'll just talk about it here.

On Sunday, I was almost hit by a bus. It sounds funny, and I even joked about it with some people, but the more I think about it, the more it scares the shit out of me. I was in an unfamiliar city, trying to follow my GPS, and was distracted. I ran a red light.

A bus had just entered the intersection, honestly, I don't know how I got out of it. I remember screaming and swerving. I must have sped up.

I know I should just focus on the fact that I didn't get plastered all over the pavement, but I can't help to think about what could have happened. What if someone was coming from the other direction? I would have been hit on my side of the car. What if another car had been on the other side of the bus?

I'm thankful my kids weren't in the car with me.

I can't stop thinking about it.

But obviously I'm still meant for this world. It wasn't my time. I try not to focus on the what-could-have-happened, but it's hard.

I think it's the reason I've been in a funk and unable to sleep all week.

I'm not sure this post even has a purpose other than me venting. Thank you for being my sounding board this morning.

2012 Debutante Event

2011-11-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

So I may have mentioned before, that Badass Bookie has chosen yours truly as one of her 2012 Debs. I'm in good company. The other debs are:

Veronica Rossi ( Under the Never Sky)
Jill Hathaway ( Slide)
Leah Bobet ( Above)
Elisa Ludwig ( Pretty Crooked)
Robin Bridges ( The Gathering Storm)
Kristen Simmons ( Article 5)
Brodi Aston ( Everneath)
Jodi Meadows ( Incarnate)
Jessica Spotwood ( Born Wicked)
Robin Mellom ( Ditched: A Love Story)
Miranda Kenneally ( Catching Jordan)

Badass Bookie is giving away lots of prize packs and books. So you should definitely check it out if you like to win stuff.

Watch for our guests posts, Debutante dresses and who we've chosen as our dates. (You may or may not be able to guess who mine is).

These are going to be some fun posts running from December 1st - 25th. Hope you check it out.

Monkey Madness Monday

2011-11-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

I could not help but share this video for Money Madness Monday. My friend Donna posted it to my Facebook last week and every time I watch it, I crack up.

Had a very busy weekend. Lots of soccer. Met my Harbingers of Doom for coffee at Elliott Bay Books. Met my friend Jarucia for appetizers and drinks.

Other stuff happened, but I think that's better suited for a vlog.

Worked on my rewrite of Sliced. The name is very apropos for what I'm doing to this novel. I think I'm going to have to do another revision after the rewrite, I'm not sure how the flow is working with all the hacking I'm doing. I think it will be an interesting novel when I'm finished though.

I'm still not able to comment on your blogs, so I'm sorry. I'm reading them, I promise.

Happy Monday.

Special Edition Frustration Post!!! Grrr >:(

2011-11-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

I've repeatedly gone to blogs around the netverse, read them, and tried to respond. For some reason, Blogger has refused to post me under my google account.

So I tried my wordpress account.

No.

So I tried my Name/URL, which worked a couple times. Today? No.

I even tried to post as anonymous.

No.

And I don't have those other thingies, LiveJournal, AIM, whatever, whatever

Anyone else having this problem? It's driving me mad!!! I'm trying to be a good fellow blogger, but BLOGGER ISN'T LETTING ME!!

*shakes fists at the Blogger gods*

F³A: Freedom isn't free

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

I think sometimes it's easy to forget that. Freedom isn't free. I'm not a proponent of war, but I also am not naive to the fact that certain battles have allowed us certain freedoms. A necessary evil, if you will.

And the people that fight those battles, whether they're behind the scenes or in the trenches have all sacrificed for us. They've sacrificed their families, their bodies, some of them their souls, their lives.

No matter if I agree with the fight at hand or not, I always feel for, appreciate and respect those out there serving, taking risks to protect the freedoms we've become so accustomed to having. not only them, but their spouses, their children, their parents, because they've sacrificed too.

I've seen firsthand a soldier's battle scars, both physical and emotional. I would never for an instant step into their shoes, to do what they've done, to see what they've seen.

It takes a certain type of person to do battle for others. It takes valor, selflessness, and conviction to put yourself out there, to risk your life for even the tiniest shred of freedom.

Thank a veteran today.

Let's choose today's scribbles in honor of veterans Day.

Song of the week: Man, it took me like an hour to find the right song. I like this one. Dear Avery by the Decemberists. Colin Meloy, the singer told spin magazine that this track is about the Iraq War and how parents are affected when their children are shipped off to battle. "I imagine it being a letter sent from a mother to a solider," he said. "I was reading a lot about soldiers and the war and their parents back home — having a kid myself, it just made me really mindful of that relationship."

Netflix of the week: Again, a hard pick, but Saving Private Ryan kind of encapsulates not only what soldiers have to do, but the grief of those they leave behind.

book of the Week: I'm going to pick A Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen. Had a debate about this book awhile back. A sad but very real story about war and what it can do to the mind and soul.

Quotes of the Week:
"Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul." -Michel de Montaigne

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." -Cynthia Ozick

To all who have served, thank you.

Thursday Nerves

2011-11-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

this is not my date

I have a date tonight. A real date (do not ask what that means) It's been awhile. A very LOOOONNNGGG while.
He's a chef and he's coming over to cook me dinner. Whenever I'm going to have company, I go into panic mode.

I've been up since four. Cleaning. Yep, panic cleaning. After I cleaned for about an hour I showered and tried to lay down and sleep again, but my mind was racing. Not just about tonight, but about my rewrite I'm doing, and a book store gig I have in March, and, and, and.

I fear I'm going to be a lousy date because of my lack of sleep. And it's not just today. I haven't slept well all week, and I hope it doesn't all catch up with me tonight and I fall asleep at the dinner table, my face in a plate full of Gnocchi. That would be bad. Very.

But if I do, at least i'll know my house was clean.

Wish me luck.

Wednesday Weigh In: Pizza Binge

2011-11-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

this is not me

Yep, I had a little pizza binge over the weekend, but it didn't do much damage probably because I continued the yoga torture and elliptical.

I'm still down five pounds, I don't feel too bad about it.

I'm kicking up the exercise a notch, thinking about cutting meat down to once a day. I lost a lot of weight when I did that before and kept it off until all my drama/mental crap threw the extra weight my direction and it stuck.

So, I'm working it. I'm going to set a goal of Ten pounds from this point before Christmas. I think that's realistic. Then more before my release, which is my main goal.

How are you doing? not just weight wise, but life wise as well?

Tuesday: Blog Tour Continues and other cool stuff (at least I think so)

2011-11-08T07:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at The Bookish Type was host to an interview from Trevor, Austin's friend in music.

Today at A Good Addiction you'll find my favorite books, recommendations, and what's on my bookshelf.

Tomorrow you'll find a review of never Eighteen at Bookmarked.

One more thing, having to practice my Wordpress skills, I created a website dedicated solely to Never Eighteen. I talk about the story behind the story, some of the main characters, the places Austin and Kaylee travel, and give you a playlist of songs that inspired me along the way. Nevereighteen.com. Check it out and let me know what you think.

And don't forget the Cafe Press Never Eighteen gear, every penny made will be going to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma Washington. They saved my daughter's life.

Monkey Madness Monday

2011-11-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is Monkey Madness Monday!! I've turned over a new leaf. (again) of course I had some serious motivation this time. I was watching some of the old chronicle videos I've done, and i was skinny. I want to be that girl again without all the mental problems. :)

So this weekend was my last hurrah, I ate pizza and last night had some Francis Ford Coppola wine. I also got on the elliptical twice and just finished Jillian Michaels yoga torture this morning.

Back to the good carbs and fiber. I even ate breakfast this morning ( I never do). I am going to lose this weight before my release. Holidays be damned!

Life is getting more normal, school soccer is over, I'm almost done with my to-do list for my release other than party details. Life is good.

What goals are you shooting for before the end of the years?

Thursdays Revelations

2011-11-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

So, I'm at the store the other day and i pull into the parking lot and there is one parking spots toward the front . i turn my left blinker on and wait. as I'm waiting a woman pulls up opposite me and hedges in so that she's blocking me out. while this happens another car starts pulling out of the spot next to the open spot, so I'm like, whatever, two spots, i don't care which one i take.

Well, as the woman is pulling out of her spot, someone she knows comes out of the store and starts chatting at her as we're all waiting for her to move. they sit there and talk for like a minute even though they are now holding up at least five cars.

I say ef it and leave. i really am not the kind of person to wait for a spot, i don't care if i park in front or back of the parking lot. i hate waiting.

so far two rude people.

I'm in the store (big lots if anyone was wondering) grabbing up discounted halloween decorations (yes, I'm that person) i get in line and there's quite a line building up. there's one person checking out, one in front of me, and a couple behind me.

another cashier comes up and says, i'll take the next in line. i politely ask the woman ahead of me if she's going over there, to which she shakes her head, and as i'm turning my cart around, to go to the open cashier, a woman two behind me starts to head over to her. and she just looks at me like "what are you going to do about it". so i stay put. and can i just say, it always bothers me when the cashier doesn't make sure the "next in line" gets that choice position as the front. i mean, why say, "next in line" if you'll just take anyone that wants to be an asshole?

Rude person #3.

I counted 5 in a span of about 20 minutes. i think I must have repressed the other two.

I was pissed.

But that's not the point.

The point is, why? these are the small things in life. the ones that don't matter. if i get all worked up about the small inconveniences i'll make myself crazy. i already know there are a-holes in the world, and i'm going to run into them from time to time, so why bother letting it get to me.

So i'm letting go. when the small stuff happens, i'm just going to breathe and let it subside and focus on the good people and things in the world, because i truly think they outnumber the bad and the jerkoffs.

I've said my piece (peace?).

Have a good thursday.

Wednesday Weigh In, Christmas and some bookish things

2011-11-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

So, I'm still down six pounds. I'm okay with that. the weekends seem to be my biggest challenge. i've been exercising but not regularly, so i have to get my butt outof my seat and get on the elliptical. (as my friend gae calls it, the f*@!king elliptical).

I still would really like to lose another 20 before my release. it will be a challenge, but i'm really going to push it.

I've decided to decorate for christmas now. last year it took me awhile to get into the spirit. i'm already there now. this week will be devoted to taking down the halloween stuff and decking the halls.

last thing, next stop on my blog tour is Alison can read. It's a tens list of concerts i've been to. very apropos since austin, my protag, loves music.

have a happy wednesday!!

Another Tour Stop!

2011-11-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

The second stop on the teen book scene never eighteen tour is at me, my shelf, and i. The site give never eighteen a review (and it's a good one!) check it out and comment if you will.

Also on yesterdays stop, don't forget there's a contest underway for never eighteen swag.

at tomorrow's stop, you'll find a tens list of concerts i've attended at Allison can read.

On november 17, look for a two month countdown to book launch. I'll be hosting a giveaway of swag, a sticky note arc of Never eighteen (will all the secrets on sticky notes as opposed to being marked up, because, my life is run by sticky notes) and other cool stuff. Winner to be announced at the one month mark, december 17th.

have a terrific tuesday everyone!

Monkey

2011-10-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

First, I want to remind everyone about my blog tour with Teen Book Scene. It began today with an interview of one of my characters, Julianna. She's the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, Ben. She's also Austin's ex-girlfriend.

It's starts here at Book sfrom Bleh to Basically Awesome.

On my sidebar *points right* you'll find a banner that will take you to the rest of the details of the blog tour.

Other than that, I just want to wish everyone a safe and sane Halloween!

Never Eighteen, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, and saving lives

2011-10-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

I already told you I've opened up a Cafe Press store full of Never Eighteen gear. All the profit will benefit Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, WA.

I just haven't told you the why, and it doesn't just have to do with Never Eighteen.

The hospital has an awesome staff and many wonderful programs for children. They've also won bunches of awards.

This hospital also happened to save my daughter's life, so I hold them close to my heart. At five weeks old, my younger daughter Rachel contracted RSV ( Respiratory syncytial virus). This virus can be deadly for infants, and is actually attributed to many SIDS cases.

I noticed one night she wasn't breathing very well. I took her to her doctor who told me to count her breaths. If it got below a certain count, I should take her into the ER. There was no word about "this is really really serious" or "she could die" or anything like that. I didn't really understand it.

But I counted.

She breathed, but not well.

I finally decided to just take her in.

The ER docs were great. They said, if they had any beds open they would have admitted her, but they were full (it was winter, lots of sickness going on). So they told me exactly what she had, what to watch for, and again if her breathing was labored and her reps were down, to bring her back in.

I honestly don't remember if it was the next day or a couple days later, but I continued to watch her breathe. I was obsessed about it as I'm sure any parent would be.

I sat and watched.

Her breathing became labored.

Her breaths were shallow.

It came down to her only breathing about once ever few seconds.

My dad took the both of us (Older daughter and husband stayed home) back to the ER.

She was dying. They started work on her right away. They wouldn't let me in the room, they said it's too disturbing for a mother to watch. My dad went in with her. I heard her screaming. I thought I was going to faint or throw up or both.

Someone stayed out with me and explained what they were doing to her. They had to loosen up the gunk in her lungs and suck it out.

When she was stabilized, they took her to the ICU where the doctor there (I wish I could remember his name) explained what RSV was and what they would need to do to Rachel while she was in the ICU. He's the one that told me about the RSV/SIDS link. A nurse, his name was Steve, would come in every couple hours and pound on her chest with a little pink rubber mallet to keep the gunk loose in her chest. He taught me how to do it, because I would have to continue for weeks afterward.

If I hadn't brought her in that night, I know she would have died.

I couldn't stay the night in the ICU. They gave me an empty hospital room to sleep in. After two days they moved her into a regular room, where I was able to sleep with her. We were there for five days.

I am so grateful for the entire hospital staff. They not only saved my daughters life, but also attended to my needs as a mother.

I'm sure you understand why I want to give back to them.

So, if you're in the market for some Never Eighteen gear, visit my shop, look around, and know that if you buy something, the profits are going to a very worthy organization.

You can find more information about the hospital here.

Wednesday Weigh in, guest blogging, a new video, and a good cause

2011-10-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

I'm six pounds down. It's been a rough road to get there. I still want to drop another twenty at least. My exhaustion has finally passed and I've got off my butt and exercised. Tortuous Jillian Michaels yoga in the morning, some kind of aerobic activity in the afternoon/evening. It was nice enough to bridge walk the other day, but weather is changing and I'll probably move to the elliptical (once I superglue the foot back on, the hazards of having a bunch of teenage girls in the house).

I also want to mention that I have a guest post up at the Class of 2k11 today about what they've taught me that I'll take into my debut year. Look for another post from me on Friday at the Class of 2k11.

I've also opened a Never Eighteen shop at Cafe Press. All the profits are going to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma. I thought it apropos with the theme of my book and they saved my daughter's life when she was just 5 weeks old. I feel like I'll never be able to repay them.

I've posted a new video. A bunch of random thoughts from me. Watch it here.

One more thing, I have a blog tour starting on Halloween through Teen Book Scene. The details can be found here.

Have a great Wednesday!

Tuesday, Total BItch Day

2011-10-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I got a little postal. It was just one aggravating thing after another until I though my head would explode. I want to tell you a situation and you tell me if I'm a total bitch or not. K? Here we go.

I was driving my daughter to a friends house at about 6:40 am because it's Spirit Week this week and she needed a life jacket to wear to school. I'm driving up a street and in front of me is a school bus, lights on, stop paddle out.

So, of course, I stop. The lift is down, not on the street side of course, it's on the sidewalk right in front of a house, so I can tell a disable child is going to be entering the bus. She comes out, her mother following behind, they get her on the lift. All this has taken a few minutes, maybe 3 or so.

I'm not a patient person by nature but I was fine. I understand these things take time. Well, this started taking a LONG time, I was still fine. This is where the irritation starts.

The bus driver waves me through.

Um, no. I don't think so. My luck, I'd drive through, and a cop would be sitting there just waiting to give me a ticket, plus there was a line of cars already in the other lane waiting. Even if I wanted to pass, I couldn't.

So after the girl is situated and ready to go, the bus driver and the mother start chatting. CHATTING!!! Cars lined up on both sides of the street waiting.

Um, I'm pretty sure that driver has been on that route forever and knows the drill so wasn't getting instruction.

I'm feeling a little road rage coming on, but just cuss and yell, a whole bunch, in my car so they can hear me.

The whole incident takes about ten minutes.

I guess what I'm pissed about most is that there was no chance of a child getting run over, and the bus driver was waving me by, so why the hell did she put the paddle out and lights on in the first place? It's 6:effin' 40 in the morning!! There were no other kids on the bus!!

Okay, my rant is over. I'm not some horrible person against disabled people, however I guess I am against inconsiderate bus drivers.

So tell me, am I being a total bitch?

Monkey Madness Monday:Torture and Blog Tours

2011-10-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

So, this exhaustion stuff is over for the most part, and I'm really trying to be healthy and drop some pounds. I promised myself I would get off my ass starting today and do yoga in the morning and something aerobic at night.

I got up. I put my DVD in the machine. but what I experienced was not yoga. It was Jillian Michaels yoga, which is really some form of torture disguised as yoga. I think she's trying to kill me.

I know, I bitch, I complain, I moan, I probably won't be able to walk for a week, but if I continue with this torture, I'm fairly certain within a few weeks I'll have abs of steel. Okay, maybe not steel, but aluminum at least.

Enough about torture. I'm just giving you a heads up that there will be a Never Eighteen blog tour coming courtesy of Teen Book Scene. You'll find out all sorts of interesting stuff about me, the book, and the characters. Don't worry, I'll remind you again.

Okay that is all for today. Enjoy your Monday.

F³A: I'm starting to freak out

2011-10-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

My book release is three months away. THREE MONTHS!!!!!

I'm seriously starting to freak out. I'm trying to plan two parties. The Tacoma Public Libraries have offered to host my release party and then I'm having a private party for close friends and family.

My marketing campaign is not quite in place yet. I'm still working on it. Who would have thunk it would be hard to get people to take a free book?!?!?!

I'm still writing guest blogs. I'm almost blogged out. I'm not sure I'll ever want to blog again when this is all over.

I'm trying to drop *cough* another 20 pounds before release. I'm not sure I'll make it.

I'll have to get my house ready for out of town guests. I may have to hire someone to help me come clean it, because I'm not good at cleaning things like door frames, and corners, and crap like that.

I will probably also be going into seclusion next week to finish revisions on my WIP. ugh.

Someone talk me down from the ledge so I don't have to resort to xanax.

Friday Scribbles:

Random Pandora song of the week: Vienna by the Fray. I love Pandora. It gets me through my work day.

Netflix of the week: Finally finished Monk and have started on Breaking Bad. Looks funny.

Book of the week: Um, I've not had much time to read. I'm reading a friends manuscript and it's really good. May be the one that gets her published.

Quote of the week: "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars." I don't know who to attribute that too. I remember reading that years ago some where and for some reason it popped into my head this morning.

Thursday is Thrustday

2011-10-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

I've never really referred to it like this, because I try to stay prim and proper. er.

Because if a typo a while back (I can't remember whose exactly, maybe one of my friends can help out there) Thurday has become Thrustday.

We use Thrustday to misbehave. To act crazy. To flirt. To use innuendo for fun.

It's goofy, but it's fun, and it breaks up the monotony of the week. Everyone should celebrate Thrustday every week.

Enough about that. Kathryn Burak, author of How People Disappear, coming to you in 2012, has written a wonderful post about writing today at the Class of 2k12 blog. All aspiring (and even published) writers should read it. It's very thoughtful and offers great advice.

Catch me over at the Class of 2k12 blog today!!!!

2011-10-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

I've blogged about Teen Read Week and favorite graphic novel characters!!!

Click here to check it out!

Monkey Madness Monday

2011-10-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

I love this monkey. He appears to be forlorn about something.

So, it's Monday. The weekend was half crazy, half quietly productive. If you subscribe to my youtube channel, you probably know part of the craziness that was my Friday night. If not, you can watch it here.

Two soccer games, two wins. Lots of fun. A friend came over Saturday night. I was exhausted and a little tipsy and fell asleep on her (not literally on her, but you know what I mean). She still loves me though.

And I caught up with blog posts (almost) and work for the Class of 2k12. I have a few more things to do to get ready for my book release.

I can't believe it's getting so close. I don't think I'll ever feel ready.

Oh, yeah, and there's that pesky work in progress to revise. I'd like to have it done by November 1st, but I'm not sure that's realistic.

Don't forget, it's Teen Read Week. Get your teens to their local library and have them pick out something to read for fun!!!

F³A: Teen Read Week

2011-10-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

It's next week. The theme is Picture It @ Your Library. It's focusing on graphic novels. I've already posed this question on Facebook, so if you've already answered there, I've got it. I'm doing a blog next week for The Class of 2k12 and I want to know your favorite graphic novel characters and why you chose them.

Don't forget the why part!!!

This will post on Tuesday at the 2k12 blog.

Friday Scribbles:

Random iPod shuffle song: 25 to Life by Eminem.

Book of the Week: Um, seriously, I've not had much time to read. The only thing I've really read is the 17 Day Diet (I've lost five pounds so far) and Wordpress in Depth which I've been reading at work, for work. I need time and energy to read for enjoyment. sigh.

Netflix of the Week: Monk Season 8. I'm almost done. :( I need a suggestion for what to watch next.

Quotes of the Week:

“The past can't hurt you anymore, not unless you let it.”
― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

“You got a lifetime. No more. No less.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives

Happy Friday everyone!!

The Class of 2k12, Explained.

2011-10-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I blogged about the launch of the Class of 2k12. It has come to my attention that some of you may not know what the hell that is. So, I'm going to explain.

The Class of 2k12 is a group of twenty middle-grade and young adult debut novelists working in concert to promote our books and reading.

We are sending the Class of 2k11 out with a bang by

giving away a huge prize pack of their titles, signed, for a deserving class, school, or public library. If you'd like to nominate your favorite library, stop by our Facebook page, and in our notes section, tell us about it. The winner will be announced November 12.

And like I said yesterday, we'll also be hosting monthly giveaways, two giving back programs, and participating in a major book drop.

Be sure to visit our links to find out about 2k12 books, authors, and events:

our website
our blog
our Facebook page
our Twitter link
our newsletter (Click to sign up -- simply write ADD ME in the comment line).

Hope that clears everything up. Have a fantastic Thursday!

The Class of 2k12

2011-10-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

We have launched. Our website is open for you to peruse (we're having some glitches this morning, so be patient with us).

We've sent our first newsletter. There is an opt in box on our home page if you want to receive our monthly newsletter.

We're holding our first contest for a deserving public, school, or classroom library. Go to our Facebook notes to enter.

We're available for in person events, Skype, Twitter chats, and all sorts of fun stuff. Check us out!

Monday Monkey Madness

2011-10-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know it's Tuesday, but I don't like blogging on Tuesdays and didn't have time to blog yesterday #wheredidmylifego. So, it's Monkey Madness Monday today.

Got back from a soccer tourney on Sunday for Thing One's team (we bought her and her friend Thing One and Two footie pjs while we were there). The team played hard. Ref's lost one game for them. They lost the other all on their own, and won one. We had a good time, stopped through Leavenworth on the way home. No, not the prison, the quaint German town in Washington.

Thing Two's team one 5-0. Wish I could have transported and seen it.

Non sequitur: The Class of 2k12 launches officially tomorrow. We're having some great giveaways, a giving back program, and monthly contests. Oh, yeah, and we have some rockin' teen fiction coming out next year.

Be sure to check us out on Twitter, Facebook,youtube, and on our website. You can also sign up to receive the Class newsletter and keep up with all our releases and giveaways. (we promise, only once a month).

That's all from me. Have a great Monday, I mean, Tuesday!

F³A: Blogging, blogging, and more blogging

2011-10-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I've been doing nothing but the day job, soccer, and guest blogs all week. The guest blogs have been pretty fun. I'm one of Badass Bookies Debutantes for 2012. I've got a blog tour coming up on Teen Book Scene (I'll share dates later). I've got a Dear Teen Me letter coming out on October 31st. And I've got two posts for the Class of 2k11 at the end of the month.

Oh, yeah, and the Class of 2k12 launch on the 12th. I'll be blogging toward the end of the month (website not up until that date). Plus I've got guests blogs to finish up for the class.

I'm crazy right? The answer would be yes. But I love it. It's what I want to do. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Don't forget, I'm sending out signed bookmarks for anyone who subscribes to my Youtube channel.

Question: I've got my vlog series, but is there anything else you'd like to see? Advice, personal stuff? (keep it clean people)

Okay, Friday Scribbles:

Random iPod shuffle song: Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine. This song has a supporting role in Never Eighteen.

Book of the Week: I'm sticking with Amy Dominy's OyMG. After I finish all these blog posts, I should have time to read again. *fingers crossed*

Netflix of the Week: Dexter Seaon 5, OMG! OMG! I LOVE Dexter.

Rest in Peace

Quote of the Week:

Thursday Random bits of Everything

2011-10-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

First of, I promised my friend Gae I'd share a link. The Falling Apart Coming Together YA panel. Young adult authors discuss their recent novels. Authors David Levithan, Jonathan Farmer, Matt Blackstone, Christopher Grant, and Gae Polisner share their recent novels about shattered teenagers who try to understand their fragile world. This will definitely be an invigorating discussion – especially for parents of this demographic.

If you're in the Brooklyn area, get your butt over there. I wish I were there.

Okay, next on the list, here is the final version of the Never Eighteen book trailer, let me know what you think:

Don't forget, I'll send you a signed bookmark if you subscribe to my youtube channel. Just let me know.

Also, the Class of 2k12 launches in ONE WEEK!!!! Can you believe it? It seems like it's taken so long to get here. We're having two huge giveaways, one pack of 2k11 books, one pack of 2k12 books open to libraries, whether public, school or classroom. You can nominate your library of choice, but don't do it yet, wait until we launch. We're also doing monthly giveaways open to everyone, and three giving back campaigns throughout the year. If you want to sign up for the 2k12 newsletter, send an email to info@classof2k12.com. You'll be able to visit our website to find out what's going on, and we're already on Twitter and Facebook.

Okay, I think that's all for today. Catch you on the flip side.

Megan

Wednesday Weigh In

2011-10-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know, haven't done this in awhile. I've been, well, unfocused. Starting to live right. Again. Maybe it will stick this time. The great thing about each new day is that it has the potential of being a fresh start. Started this "living right" on Friday, with only a couple, um, setbacks, and have lost 3 pounds.

I gained thirty pounds during my divorce crap. My ex lost at least that much. I think he gave it to me. ;)

It's been really hard because I've been suffering from exhaustion. It's hard to get off my butt. Once I'm able to do that (I'm really trying, believe me) I'll be able to shed more pounds. My goal is 20 pounds by my release. (I'd like 30, but being realistic, not going to starve myself, I like food too much)

So, here I go once again. If you want to share your stories, feel free.

And my offer still stand about my youtube channel. If you subscribe, I'll send you a signed bookmark.

Monkey Madness Monday

2011-10-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm back after a short hiatus from regular blogging. I'm coming off my exhaustion (I think). I was tested for Anemia and Hypothyroidism, and it's neither of those things. So I think my doc was right and it's just a case of exhaustion.

I'm still tired, but the last day I had to sleep half the day was last Wednesday, and I've not napped since the week before last. I'm hoping that I can get back to the exercise and getting healthy. I'm so tired of being tired.

Enough about that. Yesterday I was on a panel at Northwest Bookfest with my fellow Harbingers of Doom Marissa Burt (Storybound), J. Anderson Coats (The Wicked and the Just), and Danny Marks (Velveteen). Our panel was about the Terrible Truth from Conception to Publication. We had a big crowd and had lots of questions asked. So, I think it was a success. The Harbingers had fun looking at the booths and talking to other writers and editors.

It made me excited about revisions again. I'm really slogging through them, but I'll get them done.

One more thing, I don't know if you guys know I vlog, but I'd love to have more subscribers on my youtube channel. I've got a couple advice videos, some book reviews, I vlogged my journey to publication, and now I'm vlogging about my middle aged angst. Click here for my channel.

If you subscribe, I'll send you a signed bookmark. Just comment below and I'll get your details.

Catch ya later,

Megan

Banned Book Week Reading Day 4

2011-09-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

Banned Book Week Reading # 3

2011-09-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

Banned Book Week Day 2

2011-09-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

So this morning I read from Kurt Vonnegut Jr's Slaughterhouse Five.

Banned Book Week Reading # 1

2011-09-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

So, I wanted to do readings from banned books this week since it's officially banned book week. I couldn't do yesterdays until last night, so I'm going to post both one and two today. The first is a reading from The Color Purple by Alice Walker. 2nd reading to come later today.

F³A: Sigh, ugh, meh.

2011-09-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

I've not been blogging as you may or may not be able to tell. I've been too tired. For the most part, I've been too tired to do anything but type and sit on my ass. Apparently, according to my doctor, I'm exhausted. They did some blood work to check my thyroid and iron levels. Won't here back until mid next week.

I am one of the few people on the face of the planet unable to take iron because it makes me sick. I have tried to get it through food, but obviously (if that's my main problem) it's not enough.

I could not even get out of bed this morning. My kids are back in school (teacher strike over) and I had to find rides for them.

Hiring my girl Friday has helped, but it's not enough. I'm going to also hire someone to clean for me. I'm so tired.

Hence, the lack of blogs, hence, why I'm not at work today, hence why I haven't been able to exercise. I did force myself onto the soccer field last week, but haven't really moved since then or before then. I bought a yoga dvd. I thought it would give me some balance and exercise at the same time and I could do it even if I was tired. I haven't touched it.

So, I wait. And sleep. And lay around.

Send some good vibes my way. Some good energetic vibes, please.

On a happier note, me and my girls are having a girls night tomorrow night. No friends over, just the three of us. We'll make dinner together and watch Bridesmaids. Can't wait to see it.

Friday Scribbles (is that what I called it last week?)

Random iPod Shuffle Song: Tighten Up, Black Keys. Love it.

Movie of the Week: Bridesmaids of course.

Book of the Week: Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge MD. My dad bought this for me ages ago. I think it's time I read it.

Quote of the Week: "Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion...I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward." ~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Happy Friday. Have a good weekend.