Today I’m jumping in on “What’s Up Wednesday,” a fun weekly meme started by my friends Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. You’re invited to join us if you’re looking for something to blog about, a way to let your blog friends know what’s been going on with you.
Fantastic, right? Here’s what’s up with me this week…
What I’m Reading: Last week I finished Melina Marchetta’s Finnikin of the Rock, which is absolutely glorious. I’ll post a Bookanistas recommendation tomorrow, so stay tuned. I started Finnikin‘s follow-up, Froi of the Exiles, immediately, and I’m now more than halfway through. It is amazing. So, so amazing. There’s something about these books, their characters, and their world, that gives me all the feelings. I ordered the final book in the trilogy, Quintana of the Charyn, yesterday so that I can start it as soon as I’m done with Froi. I think it’s safe to say that I’m obsessed with The Lumatere Chronicles, and, honestly, with every other book Melina Marchetta has ever written. Recommend!
It’s a rare book that makes me choose the elliptical over running on the beach.
What I’m Writing: I’m as finished with my revision as I can be, for now at least. I just got (brilliant) notes back from one beta reader, and I’m awaiting notes from another (millions of thank-yous, Jaime and Elodie!), then I’ll incorporate their feedback and be done. (Again.) Here’s a favorite bit from the manuscript:
I give him the faintest of smiles, and his whole face lights up in response. He stretches his hand across the distance separating us, letting it rest on the couch cushion palm up. An invitation. Holding his gaze, I slide my hand into the warmth of his. His fingers find their way through the space between each of mine in this deliberate, intimate way that erases the last bit of doubt from my heart.
Once this revised manuscript is off to my agent, I’ll dive back in to my WiP, the one that’s gritty and dark, about love and betrayal and the wildness inside all of us. Also, there’s kissing. (Of course there is.)
What Else I’ve Been Up To: My daughter has been sick with a stomach bug for the last two days. Boo. She rarely gets sick and I feel so bad for her. She’s weak and tired and bummed about missing school, and she has no appetite to speak of. I’ve been playing nurse (and puke catcher) and I’ll be excited when this passes and my house is healthy again.
Lots of sleeping, lots of bland, boring food, lots of movies. Good thing mama has a good book to read!
In other, far better news, I won a fantastic prize pack from Erin Bowman‘s #TakenWithTAKEN giveaway. I’m super lucky when it comes to contests, but this has got to be my best win to-date. That ampersand tote is adorable, and the books… I’m overwhelmed by their awesomeness! The best part? Erin included an annotated ARC of Taken, in which she added all kinds of cool anecdotes about the story, its drafting and editing, and her favorite parts. It’s fascinating!
What Inspires Me Right Now: All of the honest and encouraging comments you lovelies left on yesterday’s post, On Insanity, as well as a thoughtful (and similarly-themed) post from Lindsey Roth Culli titled Confessions of Rejection. Check it out.
Tell me: What’s up with you?
Katy Upperman ~ Author 
Hope your little one is all better soon!
Thank you! She is MUCH better today. 🙂
❤ You should get my notes at the latest tomorrow morning…I really hope I'll get to beta more of your work in the future cause' I have a serious crush on your writing…
Hope Claire feels better soon and gets to show her bright smile again in the very near future!
Thank you so much, Elodie! I can’t wait to read over your notes and call this draft done. And my munchkin is MUCH better today. But now I’m sick… Boo!
You always share such swoony snippets of your WIP!
Hope your daughter feels better soon – a similarly nasty stomach bug made its way across my part of the country the other week and my BFF’s two little girls got it. They were down for a few days, but bounced back like champs.
Thanks so much, Jennifer. My girlie is doing MUCH better today, thank goodness. I’m not thrilled about having caught the bug myself, but I guess that comes with mom territory.
YAY! I hope you enjoy all those PubCrawl books, Katy! (And man, I really need to get my hands on the Lumatere Chronicles)
I can’t wait to dive into that pile of books! So much awesome. Thank you again for the fantastic giveaway! ❤
Sign me up for your dark & gritty WIP, Katy. *salutes* Thats what I write/read, so am a pro. And love that snippet of your WIP. Hope C feels better soon – stomach bugs are awful (I had one in college/after Thanksgiving, yuck! Try writing a paper on Twelfth Night with a 102* fever!).
That WiP is still very early in the draft phase, but I’m so excited about it! And yeah… We’re pretty much over stomach bugs around here — yuck!
I’m pretty sure it’s implied in my CMH fangirling, but any time you want a beta-reader, I’m game. 🙂 I’m only about 50 pages into FINNIKIN and I know I’m going to really enjoy it. I just need a good solid chunk of time to sit down and read without feeling guilty about not doing other things. Tall order? Perhaps. Did I read your tweet correctly: are you sick now? Gah! That’s the pits. Glad to hear your girlie is feeling better, but boo that it passed on to you. And can I just say that your contest winning skills are amazing? Very cool. 🙂
Jaime, FINNIKIN took me awhile to get going to, but that’s often the case with fantasy for me. It takes me a long time to get immersed in the new world. That said, I’m VERY glad I stuck with it!
And thank you AGAIN for reading for me, and for all your encouragement. You are the best, and I can’t wait to return the favor for you one of these days. 🙂
Aww, poor kiddo! No fun! But when you finish with Froi and Quintana, looks like you have a great stack of new books to occupy you! Have you read The Darkest Minds yet? I’m a bit more than halfway through but I’m hoping to finish up today. I’m really loving it!
I haven’t read DARKEST MINDS yet, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be the frist from that stack that I pick up. Love the cover and the concept of that book. We’ll have to compare notes when we’re both done. 🙂
I’m so jealous of that tote and package from Erin! I’d LOVE to read her annotated ARC. 🙂
I haven’t read any of Melina Marchetta’s books other than Jellicoe Road so I’ll have to check these out.
I’m sorry your daughter has been so sick (and to hear that you caught it too)! Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks, Ghenet. Hopefully my house will be virus-free very soon. And you should definitely check out FINNIKIN when you get a chance. I read mostly contemporary, but it was a fantasy that definitely won me over. So, so good!
Awww! Poor Claire! I hope she is back to feeling better VERY soon. I hate when my babies are sick. 😦
I love that excerpt from CMH! When do I get to read an updated version?! I still think about Max and Jill. 🙂 Also, that prize pack looks AWESOME. I am jealous! Happy reading and writing! I can’t wait to read the new SNI too!
You can read an updated version whenever you have time, lady!
And yes… No fun when kiddos are sick. Mine is finally better, and I hope I will be soon.
What an amazing prize pack! And even more amazing that you’re done your revisions for now. Jaime “might” have mentioned that your story was really, really good and that you happen to be a talented writer. So sorry your daughter is feeling crummy. The stomach flu is the worst and playing puke catcher is no fun either. I hope she’s feeling better soon and that you get the time to throw yourself into your latest WIP.
Aww, so sweet of Jaime to say nice things about my story. She was such a thoughtful and insightful beta reader. If I remember correctly, you two share work, right? Assuming so, you are very fortunate (and I’m sure she is too!).
I’m still beyond jealous of your prize pack. The excerpt from your manuscript is just beautiful, but I’m really excited about this: “One that’s gritty and dark, about love and betrayal and the wildness inside all of us. Also, there’s kissing. (Of course there is.)”
So if you need readers for that one, please count me in (if you’ll have me)!
I will totally let you know, Liz. It’s a long way off (I’m still early in the drafting) but I’m hoping I can do the story justice. So intimidating to start a new project!
Ohhh, “puke catcher”. That’s rough. I hope your girlie gets better!
I have you to thank for recommending Melina Marchetta’s books. After reading her contemporary YAs, I read all of the available (at the time) Lumatere books. What an amazing series!!! I can’t wait to read Quintana’s story!
Major kudos on finishing your revisions!! I love the excerpt. 🙂
And OMG, you won Erin Bowman’s contest!! Congrats!
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed MM’s books, Bridgid. I consider myself a superfan of hers, so it always makes me happy when other readers enjoy her work as much as I do. I started QUINTANA tonight and so far… Yowza. The prologue made my jaw drop. Can’t wait to see how this trilogy ends.
I love the excerpt from your latest work–the pacing is so lovely. Exciting to hear it’s off to your agent soon!
So sorry to hear your daughter’s sick–poor thing. It’s so sad when kids aren’t feeling well. Here’s to a speedy recovery!
Thanks so much, Kelly! Thankfully, my daughter is feeling much better, and I am too. Though, now my hubby is sick! Hopefully this bug has run its course and will leave us alone soon!
Dang, Katy, I’m so sorry little C. hasn’t been feeling well – and now you, too????? It’s definitely been making it’s rounds – my sis’s little 5 month old twins both had it last week, too. Horrible. I really hope you are on the mend!
And I keep hearing great things about FINNIKIN – it’s already been added to my TBR list! But first, I so need to go back and tackle JELLICOE ROAD. I know, I know. Tried, but put it down. However, when I pick it up again, this time I won’t stop, I promise!
And yay for finishing your latest revision!!! YOU DID IT!!!! And I know once you’ve put the finishing touches on it, Victoria is going to love it, too! Your little excerpt was wonderful, so I can only image how the rest of it is!
Awesome score from Erin, btw – seriously? I’ve always had this thing for ampersands and I absolutely LOVE that tote! But the annotated ARC? Wow, now that’s priceless! You do manage to score some amazing giveaways – maybe you can share that luck with the PowerBall ticket I just bought (here’s to not having to find another day job!).
Happy Wednesday, Katy – I hope you and C. feel better soon!
Thanks, Erin! My girlie and I are both feeling much better — it’s about time! And yes, I will do my best to spread my awesome contest luck around the blogosphere. 🙂 Please do give JELLICOE another shot… It’s totally worth the struggle at the beginning, as is FINNIKIN. Melina Marchetta rocks my literary world!