Waiting on Wednesday - 8

Don't forget to check out my weekly post at my crit group's blog Sisters In Scribe! This week I talk about ways to up your productivity!

WOW is hosted by Breaking The Spine. This week's choice is:

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu - release date February 2, 2010


Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.


For sixteen years, Lucy has kept her mother's hoarding a secret. She's had to -- nobody would understand the stacks of newspapers and mounds of garbage so high they touch the ceiling and the rotting smell that she's always worried would follow her out the house. After years of keeping people at a distance, she finally has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend if she can play it right. As long as she can make them think she's normal.


When Lucy arrives home from a sleepover to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics, she starts to dial 911 in a panic, but pauses before she can connect. She barely notices the filth and trash anymore, but she knows the paramedics will. First the fire trucks, and then news cameras that will surely follow. No longer will they be remembered as the nice oncology nurse with the lovely children -- they'll turn into that garbage-hoarding freak family on Collier Avenue.


With a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has only minutes to make a critical decision. How far will she go to keep the family secrets safe?


Dirty Little Secrets is C.J. Omololu's debut YA novel. I'm dying to read it. I find that show Hoarders so fascinating and this book sounds so good.

Happy 2010 and 200 Followers Contest!

It's 2010 and I'm stunned to have over 200 followers! I figure there's only one way to celebrate these two things, and that's by giving stuff away! I've got a ton of books stacked around my house, so I decided that this month's contest will be for readers. Next month I have something cool cooked up for writers!

Here's what you can win:

(One day I will stop taking pictures with my blackberry. That day is not today.)


PRIZES
I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder
Night Runner by Max Turner
When It Happens by Susan Colasanti
The Pace by Shelena Shorts
Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
The Hollow by Jessica Verday


RULES:

• There will be TWO winners.
  
• First place gets to choose any 2 books. Second place gets 1 book.
  
• This contest is international.
  
• You MUST be a follower to enter.
  
• +5 if you blog about this contest.
  
• +3 if you link to this contest in your sidebar.
  
• +1 if you tweet about or post this contest on facebook.
  
• Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on January 28, 2010.
  
• I will announce the winner on January 31, 2010.
  

Fill out the form below to enter.
I'm going to give google forms a try for the first time ever. Wish me luck!

Contest has ended. Check back January 31st to see who won!

Awesome Contest at Shooting Stars!

The YA writing sisters Suzette and Bethany at Shooting Stars are having an awesome contest! They're giving away 5 prizes to 5 winners! Prizes include:

2 Query Critiques*
+
2 First Five Page Critiques*
+
1 Inscribed/Autographed The Dark Divine*

Be sure to check out their blog and enter here!

In My Mailbox - 7

In My Mailbox comes from Kristi at The Story Siren.



(all links go to goodreads.com)
Scribbler of Dreams by Mary E. Pearson
The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson
The Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
The Devil's Breath (Danger Zone) by David Gilman

An Almost Kiss for No Kiss Blogfest!

It's No Kiss Blogfest today! Hosted by Frankie Diane Mills! I was so bummed I missed out on Kissing Day last week. Almost kisses are one of my favorite things to write, so even though I just found out about this today, I'm determined to participate.

Here's my almost kiss scene, from my WIP #1:
I don’t know how long I cry before my breathing finally returns to normal. When I’m calm again, he rubs my back but doesn’t let go. It’s like we both become aware of how close we’re standing at the same time. His chest pressed against mine. His hands under my jacket, in the small of my back. My heartbeat speeds up when his breathing turns shallow. I lean back just far enough to tilt my head and peer up at him.

“Thanks.” My voice is barely a whisper.

The look in his eyes stops time. All at once, every nerve in my body is straining to be closer to him.

He nods, his eyes moving to my lips. “Sure.” His voice sounds rough, deeper than usual.

I’m transfixed by his mouth - remembering the softness of his lips, the way they felt against mine. Wondering what it would feel like if the kiss was for real.

His hand tugs gently at the bottom of my shirt and he bends down, his lips hovering inches from mine. Hesitating.

My breath catches in my throat. Oh God, please. I lean closer.

“Cody, didn’t you hear me call--”

The door to the house opens and with a gasp, we fly apart. Too late.

Cody’s mom stands in the doorway looking, if not stunned, then really, really surprised. “Oh,” she says, looking back and forth between Cody and me, a grin slowly forming.

I’m mortified, my face on fire, but Cody, as laid back as ever, just smiles. “Hey, mom.”

“Hi Caitlyn,” she says to me before shifting her eyes back to Cody. “I didn’t realize you were here.”


And that's that! Hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you ckeck out all the other writers that are participating! Happy New Year!