This summer, I wanted to do something exciting. Something I'd never done before. So I decided, rather on the spur of the moment, to go to Amsterdam (The Netherlands) for a month. Alone. To explore and to write, and to see if I could.
And I'm so glad I did! I rented an apartment a bit outside the city center with a gorgeous rooftop terrace that, once it stopped raining, I sat outside on and wrote longhand. I had forgotten how much actually writing helps me think through things.
I also met up with the awesome Corinne Duyvis, YA writer and Amsterdam inhabitant. She showed me the city and we even got a chance to do some writing in a coffee shop (the kind that actually serves coffee). The coffee shop had this cute little cubby upstairs where you could sit, but you couldn't stand.
Corinne
When I wasn't writing, I spent time just wandering around, and taking in the city. I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at the canals.
I had an amazing time. I didn't write the Great American Novel, but I did figure a lot of things out, explored ideas, and worked out a solid outline for a story I'm really excited to tell. To me, that spells success. How about you? How did you spend your summer vacation?
Also, my short story THE LAST BEST DAY is up this week at Tangled Fiction!
It's been a busy couple of weeks for me. I've been preparing to go on a bit of an exciting adventure (more about that in a bit). Plus, last week I got the chance to see not one, not two, but THREE writer friends at their book signings. Talk about inspiring! (Not to mention fun!)
First up was Maggie Stiefvater and Tessa Gratton at the Borders in Novi on July 18th. This signing was bittersweet since July 18th was also the day that Borders announced they would be closing all of their stores. Still, it was exciting; the turnout was massive. Over 200 people crammed into the seating area to hear Maggie talk. I got to see Maggie and Tess for the first time since we were all stranded in Branson this past winter, and I got to meet several other Michigan and midwest YA Authors! I failed to take a pic so I'm pointing you to this post on Tessa Gratton's blog where she has a group photo of Scott Tracey, Leah Clifford, Courtney Allison Moulton, Aimee Carter, and little 'ol me.
Here's the pics I did take though:
Me and Maggie
Me and Tess
Then on Saturday I was back in Ann Arbor for Carrie Harris' BAD TASTE IN BOYS Launch Party! We started the day with several of us writer and blogger types meeting up with Carrie and her Ninja husband for lunch. There was much laughter. And again, I was total picture fail so you'll just have to take my word for it. Carrie read a hilarious excerpt from her book - you might remember I shot a trailer for it -
She also answered questions, signed books, and served up lots of delicious homemade goodies! (Also, Carrie just might have the most adorable and well-mannered children I have ever seen.)
Me and Carrie
I also might just have a signed UK copy of BLOOD MAGIC to give away!
And now onto my big adventure! On Tuesday I'm going off to this beautiful place:
AMSTERDAM! For a WHOLE MONTH! Ever since Stephanie Perkins went to Paris to write, I've had this idea burning in the back of my mind, and finally I decided to take the plunge and GO FOR IT. So for the next month, my posts might be scarce... um, er. But hopefully that will be because I'm too busy writing and being inspired and wandering the beautiful streets of Amsterdam. I am SO excited, you have no idea. All these book signings really reinvigorated my drive to get a book out into the world. I can't wait to spend some time writing in such an awesome place. Wish me luck!
