“What’s Up Wednesday” is 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. If you’re participating, make sure to link your What’s Up Wednesday posts to the list on Jaime’s blog each week. That way, others can visit your post and check out what you’ve been up to.And now, here’s what’s up with me this week…
What I’m Reading: I finished And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, which was less like a novel, and more like a series of short stories about several loosely related people. It’s a beautifully written story about family and friendship, identity and loyalty, and while it was excellent, I didn’t love it *quite* as much as A Thousand Splendid Suns.
I’m currently reading Canary by Rachel Alpine, which I’ll review next week for Bookanistas and The Debut Author Challenge. Also, I’m in the middle of reading my CP Temre Beltz‘s middle grade manuscript (the one she wrote during Ready. Set. Write!), a tragic sort of story that’s so surreal and darkly funny and gorgeously written, it’s hard to put its awesomeness into words. I am a lucky CP!
What I’m Writing: I finished my “light” revision, and was reminded, yet again, that no revision is ever actually light. Funny how tweaking one tiny thread can wreak havoc on an entire story! But, it’s done, and it’s better, and I’m excited! Also, the story scored a cool new title — thank you for helping me brainstorm, Temre and Alison! So… want to read a bit of what I’ve been working on?
He stretches out next to me and I reach for him, trailing my hand up and down his forearm. He’s watching me, and his expression… It’s awed and disarming and adoring. No one’s ever looked at me the way he’s looking at me now, and for a moment I’m overwhelmed by the intense physicality of my feelings for him. I’ve heard love talked about a million times, in a million different ways, but I’ve never imagined it like this, a raw, all-consuming need.
“Thank you for today,” I say to him. “For everything.”
He smiles, his hand wandering over to rest on my stomach. His fingertips drift under my shirt and trace circles over my skin, slowly, higher and higher. His touch makes me shiver.
Like the gentleman he was raised to be, he stops. “I won’t push you.”
“You’re not.”
“Not yet,” he says with a wink.
Aww… I kind of love these characters. ♡
Now that my revised manuscript is in my agent’s hands, I get to dive back into the WiP I started working on during Ready. Set. Write! I’ve had some time to think it through, and I’m pretty sure I know where it needs to go. Back to drafting!
What Else I’ve Been Up To: Getting ready for my parents to visit. My mom is coming on Saturday, and my dad is joining her later in the week. We haven’t seen them since April, and we’re looking forward to a great visit. Also, we’re gearing up for my girlie’s first soccer game. Should be fun!
Over the weekend, my husband and I had a rare date night. We went to The Inn at Spanish Bay (part of Pebble Beach) for drinks and to watch their famous bagpiper play during sunset. It was glorious! If you’re ever in the Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur area, check it out. We also had a leisurely dinner at a new restaurant, thanks to our awesome friends who offered to to let our kiddo play at their house for the evening. Such a treat!
We’ve been taking “family runs” lately, which basically consist of my husband and me trying to keep up with our daughter (on foot) while she flies down the waterfront trail on her bike for six miles. It’s quite a workout, and we often reward ourselves with donuts after. 🙂
What’s Inspiring Me Now: This quote from Alan Bennet (most recently shared by illustrator Simini Blocker in her review of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl):
The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.”
Because, yes, I have had several such moments while reading, and they never fail to give me chills. As a writer, I long to have a similar impact on readers.
Tell me: What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
This is a freaking gorgeous line, Katy. WOW:
“. I’ve heard love talked about a million times, in a million different ways, but I’ve never imagined it like this, a raw, all-consuming need.”
I can’t wait to read your WiP!
You know – the more I read your blog about having your girlie and your husband the more I realize as an only child how much of my parents’ time was taken up by me. *flips hair back…kiddingly* 😉 As children, we only see life through our eyes and that Mom and Dad are always there…for us. 😉 I’m grateful now that they have this time together (I live 4 hours away), yet we still talk on the phone a lot and I go home to see them every few months… I am impressed by mothers and fathers who make time within their busy kid-filled lives (especially those with more than 1!) to have a date night, etc. Your dinner sounded a ton of fun and what a beautiful sunset shot!
I haven’t been blogging (I got a job!) and I’m always too exhausted to do much more than eat dinner/read/watch an episode of non-thinking stuff on Netflix and go to bed. I really need to start planning my blogs again…I miss it! I’ve been hard at work at my WiP – 42,000 words now and aiming for 50k by the end of next week, A.K.A. a finished first draft! 😀
Congrats on getting a job, Rachel! So exciting! I hope you’ll share more about what you’re doing once you get settled and back to blogging. And best of luck finishing that draft!
Yes, my kiddo does take up a lot (okay — MOST) of my time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s awesome, and I love being a mama. That said, child-free date nights are much appreciated. 🙂
And thank you for your sweet words about my little excerpt. That line has been part of the story for a long, long time (through MANY drafts!) and I kind of love it too. ❤
Lovely quote. I adore moments like that when I’m reading.
I loved your excerpt it was gorgeously romantic.
Good luck to your girl with her scoccer game!
Thanks, Alexa! “Gorgeously romantic” is just about the best compliment ever. 🙂 I hope you have a great week!
Beautiful quote. Also–I saw you mentioned Fan Girl in your new book Tweet last night. It sounds like a contemporary I’d love, so I may have to pick it up. Your excerpt from your contemporary is lovely! But jealously I want you to get back to your RSW draft so we can swap this fall. 🙂
Also–love that you do family runs. That’s great.
Have a good week!
Thanks, Liz! This week I am diving back into my RSW WiP for sure — I miss it! Plus, seeing that you’ve finished your draft is incredibly motivating! I want to join you at THE END. 🙂
I can’t agree more about “light” revisions. They don’t exist. You move one tiny little thing and then spend the next 3 months trying to fix it. 🙂 But congrats on getting your un-light revisions done.
Your date night sounds like a blast! And that bit about keeping up with your daughter on a bike and rewarding yourself with donuts made me laugh out loud. 🙂
Hope you have a fantastic week!
Haha… The absurdity of the “family runs” makes us laugh too, Kris. 🙂
Hope you have a great week!
I’m emailing you because I want you to send me this revised CMH that I haven’t read in so long but that snippet just makes me SWOON and I must, must read it again. Somebody BETTER pick this story up. 🙂
Also, that quote is awesome. As are your pictures. And again – I will say I’m super jealous you’re reading Temre’s story! And glad you are back to work on the WiP! I can’t wait to read this one too!
Have fun with the family! And yay soccer!
Thanks, lady! I returned your email, and thank you for championing this story the way you do. Makes me feel like maybe I’m not so crazy for continuing to work so hard on it. I sent the newest version your way. 🙂 And yes, I’m back to drafting this week! Hope you have a great week, friend. ❤
Yes, date nights are not a common occurrence for my wife and me–though given a couple of our children are adult (or approaching adult), that should be something we do more often. We’ll have to work on that. 🙂
As I revise, I think I’m most nervous about changing one thing that will necessitate changing a whole bunch of other changes. It’s not that I’m unwilling to kill my beloveds–I’m willing to change the story as much as necessary to make it shine–it’s just that I’m impatient, and don’t want the revision process to drag on endlessly. But I’ll do what I have to do… 🙂
Have a wonderful week, Katy, and I hope Ms. Marini loves your revisions. 🙂
I get impatient with revisions too, Colin, but I try to remind myself that if I don’t take my time and do my very best, I’ll regret it down the line. That said: Oh, my goodness… So tedious!
Hope you have a great week of reading and writing, Colin.
I have a copy of CANARY sitting on my shelf and I think it will be my next read. (I’m alternating each book in my HP reread with another book that I’d like to read.) I sneaked a peek under your Writing Projects tab to find out what your new title is. I love it! I’m totally rooting for this story, Katy.♥
That date night sounds fantastic! You pretty much had me at bagpiper. 😉 How awesome that you and hubby got to go on a date. Looks like you had a wonderful time. And can I just say, I love that you cap off your family runs with donuts. You guys are my kind of people!
Thank you for rooting for my story, Jaime. It needs all the positive thoughts! And yes, why run if you can’t treat yourself with tasty food after? That’s the whole point, right? 😉 Hope you like CANARY… I’m only just starting, but I have high hopes!
I love the excerpt from your manuscript, Katy. Even just that little bit gives us so much to look forward too.
The setting for your date night looks enchanting. Date nights, especially when its been a while or it’s a special place, should be cherished.
Good luck working on your WiP. Fresh energy and perspective are wonderful things.
Thank you, Rebekah! I’m hoping my little WiP sees the light of day eventually. 🙂 Hope you have a great week of reading and writing. ❤
Congrats on finishing your WIP, Katy! It sounds lovely. 🙂
Thanks, Valerie! Hope you have a great week! 🙂
Katy, I am SO excited about the revisions you completed this week! I have the best feeling and am cheering so completely and just loved that sneak peek of remembering how charming Max is and how completely relatable and likeable Jillian is, happy sigh. Thank you for that! My tummy also got all fluttery and excited at the kind, kind words you shared about my story. Thank you, Katy. I can’t tell you what it means to hear that coming from a writer I admire so. And YAY for date night!! I love the bagpipes (I have always been a huge fan of that sort of music, though I have no history or connection with it – it just sounds melancholy and rich, so beautiful!), and you guys look so adorable together. I think that I could totally join your family runs too 🙂 I am not a runner, but I think I could make it for a donut treat at the end! Best of luck to you this week, Katy in all of the many exciting things going on!!
Thanks, Tem! I am loving your story so much! I stayed up way later than I’d intended last night, just to read, and I’m about to jump back in now. Your storytelling skills and the intense emotions you lend to your stories never fail to amaze me. And you are welcome on our runs anytime. When I get worn out, I just picture a donut in front of me, and I CHASE it. 😉
Oh my gosh, Katy! Your excerpt, so steamy! I love it
Thanks, Erin!
Isn’t it so exciting when you get to beta read a really awesome book? Enjoy!
Great excerpt from yours too. Wow! So much talent 😀
Family exercise sounds like loads of fun. Enjoy (and good luck keeping up)!
Thanks, lady! I’ve been so lucky to be able to CP beta read amazing manuscripts. 🙂
oh my gosh, I loved that excerpt, more please! Have fun with your parents. My mom was visiting last week and it was so nice to see her. We hadn’t seen each other in a year!
Your date night pictures are so pretty! The shot with the bagpiper is magical.
Also, your WIP excerpt? Um, from that I’m convinced your kissing scenes must be all sorts of butterfly-fluttery. Thanks for sharing! Also, congrats on getting your revisions done! Woohoo!
Thank you! Kissing scenes are my very favorite to write. 🙂
I’ve heard CANARY is fantastic. I haven’t picked it up yet. My TBR pile is big enough already! lol
Your date night sounds wonderful. I can’t remember the last time I had a date with my hubby. I need to find a babysitter soon. 🙂
I’m just starting CANARY, Melissa, but so far so good. Our date nights are few and far between as well, but we definitely enjoy them when we have them! Hopefully you guys can have one soon. 🙂
Beautiful excerpt, Katy! I’m a sucker for romance, so I’m glad you picked this one to share with us! That “Not yet” line is perfect. 🙂
I love that you guys take family runs together and reward yourselves with donuts. I have to admit that in my family, I’d be the one on the bike though, because I could never keep up with my boys otherwise. Also, your date night sounds amazing, especially since both my hubby and I love the bagpipes.
Have a wonderful visit with your parents!
Thanks for your sweet words about my excerpt, Erin. Romance is my favorite, and the steamy scenes are the absolute best to write. 🙂
By the way, donuts are the perfect motivation for long runs. Sometimes I pretend I’m chasing one. 😉
oooh…I am completely charmed by your disarming guy character! I was smiling as I read 🙂
My husband and I took a walk earlier and rewarded ourselves with beer (him) and salty snacks (me). I figure we burned off those calories and needed to add them back in for strength…hah
Yay for family visits – enjoy your time together!
Aww, thanks, Jen! That male character (Max) is a favorite of mine. I hope he really does come off as charming as I’ve tried to make him! And I fully support you and your husband’s attitude on exercise vs. calorie intake. We live similarly!
Love your excerpt! Good luck with your WIP. Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much, Amy… You too!
Love that excerpt! And I hear you on “light revisions” never being light. I’m working on a light one right now–and I keep finding more and more to change. Such is writing! 🙂