Favorites of 2010

I'm running short on time, so here's a quick (and not very snazzy) list of what I loved in 2010.

WRITING LIFE EVENTS
Winning Secret Agent
Going to BEA and meeting my CP Lacey (and lots of kidlit peeps) in person
Finding my CP Natalie
Going to Kidlit Con and meeting my CP Natalie and the Merry Sisters of Fate in person
Tangled Fiction
Seeing my CPs rough drafts blossom into some pretty amazing books
Finishing my book
Finishing a major overhaul of my book
Guest posting on Nathan Bransford's blog
Becoming a contributing author at Dear Teen Me

READS
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick
Beautiful by Amy Reed
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
Freefall by Mindi Scott

MOVIES
Inception

MUSIC SONGS & DISCOVERIES
Andrew Belle
Lissie
F*** You by Cee-lo
Florence and the Machine


TV
Dexter
Glee
Merlin on streaming netflix
The Doctor Who Christmas Special
Ashes to Ashes


THINGS I'M SURE I WOULD'VE LOVED HAD I GOTTEN TO THEM IN 2010
Finishing my final revision
Linger by Maggie Steifvater
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows part 1
Tron Legacy
The Vampire Diaries tv show

What were your favorites of 2010? However you celebrate tonight, have a SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Courage For The New Year

Wow, three posts this week! Who knew? I just read an AWESOME post on writing from the equally AWESOME Courtney Summers (author of Cracked Up To Be and Some Girls Are two of my favorite reads of 2009 and 2010 respectively, and Fall For Anything, new this month!) and I wanted to share.

So go check out what Courtney has to say about How To Deal With Writing For Publication it's got something for everyone, on every part of the publication journey.

And then, if you haven't yet, go check out her books!

Two-fer Tuesday

Just three days left to enter the giveaway at my crit group's blog Sisters In Scribe! We're giving away THREE signed brand new finished copy books! What can you win?



The Demon King (Seven Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner
Wake (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McMann

So head on over and ENTER! Deadline to enter is 12/31.

Also, Tangled Fiction is taking a break this week, which means you can catch up on the stories we've posted so far! All of our stories are up as full posts rather than in parts. You can find them in Tangles Past: The Story Archive

And if you ever wondered what's going on in our brains when we're writing, check out our first WTF were you thinking? Chat! We posted the highlights this week. We start new stories next week!

Happy Holidays from Me and Pretty Little Liars!

ABC Family and Pretty Little Liars have done it again! This time A sent me a digital picture frame with some ominous photos already loaded. Check it out!



They also included a link, so you can get a glimpse of the photos they sent me. Go here to see what I saw:

http://abcfamily.com/HoHoHo

Pretty Fricken Awesome Pretty Little Liars!

If you're missing your PLL fix, you don't have long to wait, the new season starts on JANUARY 3rd! In the meantime, be sure to check out the link above and the Pretty Little Liars Blog and catch up on any episodes you missed by watching them online.

I will be back to posting regularly soon. In the meantime, I hope you're all having an awesome holiday season!

Three Things on a Tuesday

I'm alive! Who knew? I'm super busy these days but I'm still planning to have my end of the year blowout giveaway - just as soon as I get a chance to set it all up.

In the meantime, my crit group blog Sisters In Scribe is having a contest! We're giving away three signed brand new finished copy books! What can you win?



So head on over and ENTER! Deadline to enter is 12/31.

Also, it's a new week, which means a NEW story up at Tangled Fiction! This week's story is started by me, and everyone seems to think it's creepy. I have no idea why.


Check out part one of I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU. It's about love notes in lockers and possible stalkers and creepy boys with bright green eyes.

And finally, I'm looking for some Urban Fantasy recs - YA or adult. I'm looking for some books where magic is the central focus, and a known part of the world, or an urban underworld. The world would be just like our present world, but with a twist of magic. Think WHITE CAT and THE DRESDEN FILES. Something like that. Any suggestions would be awesome!

Music Monday - The WTF? Edition

I was totally planning on posting Glee's tribute* to me but then I stumbled across this gem from Norway featuring... well, everybody (and by "everybody" I mean semi-famous stars of the 80s and 90s). I'm not sure how old this promo is, but at least a couple of people in it are no longer with us - most notably Leslie Nielsen and Steven Gately from Boyzone. It is sort of randomly awesome. Particularly the way the merge the actual singing of some stars with way over the top dubbed in voices for others.



I've heard that in some countries they are a few years behind in US tv shows and movies, but judging from the "stars" and the movies and tv shows they note them for being famous for, it appears Norway is a couple decades behind. Like say, 1992.


*"tribute" is in the eye of the beholder, and this beholder chooses to see it as such, thankyouverymuch.

Friday Five

1. It's individual short stories week at Tangled Fiction! I posted mine today, and it's different from our usual stuff, so I'm a bit nervous. It's called LAST WINTER, and here's a teaser if you're interested:


“Come on, Avis,” he shouts at me over his shoulder. His breath is a thick white cloud against the night sky. “California hasn’t made you soft already, has it?”

“Ha. Ha.” I stick my tongue out at him and think how he’s got it backwards. He was the one that made me soft. California has made me strong.

Also be sure to check out Lacey and Natalie's shorts - (HERE on livejournal.) They're awesome!

2. In case you missed it, GLEE did a tribute to me this week by singing Valerie, at sectionals no less! Clearly, they've been following my blog. No video post today though, I'm saving it for Music Monday!

3. I rescued a cat today! He's been hanging out in the neighborhood for the last week or so and he's so sweet. Hopefully I can find him a good home!

4. I'm not sure if any of you noticed, but somehow, it's DECEMBER already! I have no idea how this happened!

5. I had a massive computer meltdown this week, but if there's ever a time to desperately need a new computer it's during the Black Friday sales!

That's all I've got this week. Hope your week was better than mine!

Sometimes Things Just Suck

It's only Tuesday and it's already been a week full of tragic computer meltdowns, hours of stress and fear, and lots of money I'd rather not spend being spent. (Not to mention a week full of writing goals not being met.) So today I present you with yet another chestnut from The Universe, whose perfect timing helped me make it through yesterday.

"There are only miracles, and to one degree or another they all soothe, pamper, and enrich. However, to avoid blowing too many minds at once, some are disguised as unpleasant surprises, botched circumstances, and twisted acquaintances that can rarely be seen for who or what they truly are until the pendulum has fully swung."

I hope any of you out there having a bad week find this one helpful too! (Also, WTF how is it December already?)