Never Eighteen Half Year Birthday Contest!!!!!

First, let me say, it's been a wild ride. Never Eighteen has been selling pretty good, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where the book is set. But I've actually sold copies all over the world.

It started out tricky, as the night of my release party we had a major snow storm, which kept some people away. We also started a little early, so people could get home earlier, of course, this pissed others off. Also, a box of books didn't come in because of the snow. Luckily I had a couple boxes of my own in my car, but we still ran out. There were a couple other snafus, but I told myself, especially after hearing about the snow, it is what it is.

I've done 1 Skype school visit to Illinois, 3 library visits, 6 book store events, 7 interviews (not counting blog interviews), 14 school visits, and many more online events and had fun with every one of them.

I've lost an agent. I've struggled to write a second book. It took me over a year, which is unprecedented for me. I don't have a second book deal, nor do I have any foreign rights sold for Never Eighteen. I've spent just about every dime I have marketing Never Eighteen. Those are the frustrating things about the business.

I've met tons of cool readers, writers, librarians, bookstore owners, teachers. I love those connections so much.

And that's pretty much how my last six months have gone.

Okay, I've figured out the contest. For Never Eighteen's Half birthday I want you to tell me in the comments below, 6 things on your bucket list. I will pick the winner. What will you win? A signed copy of Never Eighteen, a CD of some of the songs on the playlist in the back of the book, and swag. Always swag!!!

photo by Charlie Wolf

Here are some of the things on my bucket list.

1. Take my kids to NYC
2. Go to Australia
3. Apologize to people I need to apologize to and welcome anyone who thinks I've wronged them to step forward and talk to me.
4. Thank all the people in my life you has helped me along the way.
5. Participate in a triathlon
6. Yeah, throw the big party.

Your turn. Six things on your bucket list.

Monkey Madness Monday

Yep Monkey Madness Monday.  I don't have much for you today.  Had a busy weekend.  A long walk in the rain, two soccer games (one on an island so there were two ferry rides involved making it an all day event).  Not a good weekend for area sports.  Both girl's teams lost and my Hawks *shakes head*. 

Teachers are still on strike.  We're going to feel it at the end of the year.  Which as my older daughter says doesn't matter because the weather doesn't even get nice until July.

And I believe Fall is officially upon us, even though the temperature seems to be having hot flashes.  It was really humid here yesterday.  That mixed  with my own hot flashes doesn't bode well.

I didn't do my housecleaning like I wanted over the weekend.  Too much going on plus I've just been so tired.  And there's so much to do and the weather caught up with me.  A shed still needs to be built, a pool drained, There's a badminton set getting soaked and I'm afraid to move it because I'm sure there's a family of earwigs living under it now. sigh.

I need a vacation.  Maybe a weekend of solitude at the beach again.

Happy Monday all.

F³A: Random Bits of Nothing

It's been awhile since I did the Friday Free For All, so I thought I would get back to it.  Oh wait, crap, I didn't finish my Caregivers.  The last and most important was supposed to be teachers.  sigh.  But I have too much to say, so, I'll just give a shout out to some of my favorites. (and why were there not hottie guy teachers like this guy when I was in school?)

Mr. Anstett, the most awesome literature teacher in the WORLD.

Mr. Wilkinson, you are part of the reason I write.  Thank you.

As for my kids teachers, Mr. Allegro, Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Harkness, Mrs. Jepson, Mrs. Willy, Mrs. Strong, you all rock in a BIG way!!!

Okay on to nothingness.

I finished the first draft of Cheesy yesterday.  Ah!  And today I'm going to try and take a break, although I don't think I'll be able to.  I think I'm going to want to start revising NOW.  I'm that excited about it.

In a couple weeks blogger Amy Munday is going to feature me on her Writer's Scribbles at her Unabashed Impropriety blog.  You should check them out.  My fellow vlogger and friend, Cat has one there.  Give her a read.

I also want to give a shout out to my two friends, Jeff and Tracy, who are new to the whole blogging gig.  Give them a read and follow if you will.

One other blogger I want to mention today is B. Miller.  She's got this pay it forward contest she's doing for the rest of the month.  Winner gets a $25 gift card to your book store of choice, OR if you are a published writer, she'll buy, read, and review your novel.

Here is my pay it forward story.  I was in the Fred Meyer parking lot with Rusty, and this woman approaches us and asks if we will buy her $25 FM gift card for $20.  She said they were going to shut off her electricity the next day if she didn't pay her bill, which was, if I remember right, $80.  We gave her $20 and told her to keep the card.

I'm not gullible people, and I know she could have taken the money and bought meth or crack or booze, but I just had a feeling.  I was walking through the store and we're filling our cart and I must have had a look on my face because Rusty said, "You want to give her more?"

I said, yes.  He asked how much, and I said enough for the whole bill.  So I went to the cash machine, got the money and went outside.  She was in her car.  I approached the window and said, "I sure hope you're telling the truth" and handed her the money.  She began crying. The look of gratitude on her face made it all worth while.  And we left the parking lot at the same time, she was in front of us for a time, and she was headed in the direction of the utilities building.  Of course, I suppose her drug dealer could have lived in that direction, but, I did feel good, and I had a good feeling about it.

I like to help people because many people have helped me along the way, and it does make you feel awesome.

I suppose that's all I've got for you today except for the...

Favorite song of the week: Okay, this may not really be the favorite song of the week, but it's been in my head since Monday so I'm giving it to Hey Soul Sister by Train.

Current Read: Alchemy by Mike Wood

Blurb: The summer of 1984 was a golden time in America. From California, where gymnast Mary Lou Retton was winning Olympic gold, to Cape Cod, where explorer Barry Clifford was discovering pirate gold, the nation seemed obsessed with the precious metal. But for 15-year old Al, that obsession hits a little too close to home when he finds a code-filled notebook belonging to his missing father that may contain the ancient formula for turning lead to gold. Convinced that his father’s sudden disappearance is connected to his secret experiments in alchemy, Al sets out to find the truth. He enlists the help of Cammie, a beautiful girl staying for the summer while her marine biologist father tracks a wayward manatee, and together they begin unraveling the mystery. But the closer they get to an answer, the closer they grow to each other, and as the end of summer draws nearer, Al wonders if they can break the code without breaking his heart.

Movie of the Week: Boondock Saints II these guys kick ass.

"I'm so f*c@ing smart, that I make smart people feel like they are retarded" ~ Eunice from Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day.

Okay, I think that's all I have.  Have a good weekend.

Ciao,

Megan