“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…And now, here’s what’s up with me this week…
What I’m Reading: I finished Stephanie Kuehn’s Complicit (out in June) and holy hell, was it good. If you’re a fan of Stephanie’s debut, Charm & Strange, I think you’ll be all over her sophomore novel. And if you haven’t read Charm & Strange yet, you should remedy that right away. Now, I’m reading Nil by Lynne Matson, who is lovely. The story is set in the most fascinating island world, and it’s edge-of-my-seat exciting so far.
What I’m Writing: I’m revising according to (brilliant) CP notes. You know how when you’re writing, sometimes you know something’s not clicking but you’re not sure how to fix it, so you press on with the hope of making it right later? Well, CP Alison picked up on those areas of my manuscript that weren’t working and gave me some awesome suggestions for fixing them. So, that’s what I’m doing now. Inserting a few new scenes, filling holes, and taking advantage some missed opportunities, all while catching some rays. Love this part!
What Else I’ve Been Up To: Getting ready to go to Disney World with my girl! We’re meeting some great friends there for a few days of fun and we cannot wait. I am such a sucker for all things Disney, and it’s been way too long since we last visited a park. Like, more than a year. Way overdue. 😉
I’ve been pretty good about eating healthfully lately (I haven’t had a beer in a month!), but on Friday I caved and baked cookies. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, to be specific. I followed this recipe, but I didn’t have Reese’s Pieces, so I used Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips instead. They turned out SO WELL. This combination of ingredients creates cookies of the perfect peanut-buttery consistency. Recommend!
My girlie celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday at school all last week. I made her green eggs for breakfast one day, and she also participated in a Read-A-Thon, which I totally crashed and photographed because I’m *that* mom.
What’s Inspiring Me Now: I officially crossed the first item off my Thirty Before 35 bucket list: I finished watching the Friday Night Lights TV series. In the words of the incomparable Tami Taylor: Good lord, y’all! This show ranks right up there with Breaking Bad and Six Feet Under as an all-time favorite — it is so freaking good! I mean, it’s definitely about football (which is awesome), but there’s so much more to it. For starters, there’s Tim Riggins who’s all broken and brooding and conflicted and, um, hot…
And then there are these deep relationships between people who, for the most part, have very little in common aside from football (Vince & Luke, Tyra & Landry, Eric & Buddy, Matt & Smash, Matt & Tim, Matt and his grandma ❤)…
And then there are the romances (Julie and Matt are super sweet, and I love Vince and Jess too, but I will always ship Tim and Lyla)…
And then there’s Tami Taylor, who makes me want to be a better wife, mother, and person, and who’s totally making y’all happen. Plus, she has the most impeccable football-wife style…
Aren’t you sad you won’t get to hear me rave about this show week after week anymore? What should I watch next? I’m thinking maybe Gossip Girl?
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
I just read the descriptions for both COMPLICIT and NIL, and wow, they both sound so intriguing. Thanks for recommending those. I’ll add them to my ridiculously huge TBR list.
I’ve had one of those “not clicking” weeks with the writing, so I hear you on that. It’s great that Alison helped you figure out the issues though. Hope the fixing continues to go well!
You’re making me want to watch FNL again because, you know, I need my heart smashed to pieces over and over again lol. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more sympathy for TV characters than Matt and Tim. Love that show. 🙂
Here’s hoping your writing starts to click very soon, Erin. I know that can be so frustrating! And I might end up doing an FNL rewatch one of these days too. One of my favorites!
I just HAVE to watch FNL. And oh dear Tim Riggins is awfully good looking. Revision is my favorite part of writing. It’s where you start to actually love the words, not just the visceral need to get them out of you.
Your little girl is adorable. I am *that* mom too!
Yes, Rebekah! Please watch FNL. I can’t believe I ignored all of the people who told me to watch for so long. It is SO good! And I love what you said about the revision process being about falling in love with your words. So very true. Have a great week, lady!
When my younger brother was still in elementary school, I was *that* sister 🙂
I’ve been adding teen shows I missed when they were first on to my Netflix queue and, wow, I missed a lot. I’m still in the middle of Buffy, but now I’ve got Roswell to watch at some point. And probably Dawson’s Creek. I can’t help it, I love the angst!
You never watched Dawson’s Creek?! I watched in HS/college and oh my goodness… SO MUCH angst. I sort of hate Dawson, but Pacey = Love. Roswell’s on my list now too, along with Gossip Girl, VM, and Gilmore Girls. Have a great week, Jen!
It’s great when your CP’s help you figure out how to go about revising! Revision can be frustrating sometimes, but it’s so satisfying when you’re on the right track!
Definitely, Emma. I think I wouldn’t have ditched this story ages ago had it not been for the support of my CPs. 🙂
I haven’t read Charm and Strange. I must add that to the TBR pile immediately.
And holy crap, now I want cookies. Soooo thanks for that.
Congrats on your revision breakthrough! And hooray for awesome CP’s, who know how to fix our MS’s and plot holes when we’re coming up empty. 🙂
Hope you have an amazing week and have a blast at Disney!
So sorry for giving you a cookie craving. But not really. 😉 Hope you have a great week as well, Kris!
I’ve been to Disney World twice, but the last time was 14 years ago. As with travel across the Atlantic, the larger your family, the harder it gets to do! Despite my grumbles about Disney Channel (can they please just cancel all their programs and run Phineas and Ferb 24/7?), Disney World is a fun experience. Especially EPCOT. I could spend a week wandering around that place! 🙂
CHARM AND STRANGE is going on my TBB (To Be Bought) list (AKA my Amazon shopping cart) as soon as I finish this comment. I hear ya, and I don’t need to be told twice. Y’all. 😉
Have a wonderful week, Katy!
I hear ya on the travel thing, Colin. We’re in driving distance of WDW now, otherwise I doubt we’d be making this rather impromptu trip. While the Magic Kingdom is my very favorite, Epcot is a close second. Funny, because I remember being bored by it as a kid. Either I’ve grown up, or they’ve made some major improvements. The second, I think. 🙂 And I hope you love CHARM & STRANGE. You’ll have to let me know!
I resisted going to Disneyworld till I was almost 26, and finally went with my maternal grandparents, who’d been after me for years to go with them. I felt it were too cliché and expected, even though I love amusement parks and rides, There was a fear of doing what everyone else does, even as a teenager.
My awesome Japanese History professor is an expert on Dr. Seuss, and has written at least one book about him. My primary rabbi also loves Dr. Seuss, and often gives classes and short talks about lessons we can take away from his books.
We love Dr. Seuss too. Such fun books to read aloud. Did you end up loving WDW? Totally the happiest place on earth, right? 🙂
Good luck with your manuscript revisions! I love when other readers magically know how to fix the problems I can’t figure out how to solve on my own. So helpful! 🙂
And YUM, those cookies look delicious! Have a great week, Katy!
Writing buddies are the greatest! Seriously. My story would be an absolute mess right now without the support of my CPs. Oh, and I definitely recommend that cookie recipe, Kaitlin!
Have you watched Gilmore Girls? If not, DO IT NOW.
Have fun with Disney. I’ve been looking into one of their cruises because they’re really good with food allergies. Say HI to Mickey for me! 🙂
GG is definitely on my list, Jennie. I’ve heard great things! But, it’s not on NF right now, so BOO. And I’ll definitely pass your hello on to Mickey!
I know. Stupid Netflix! I’d let you borrow my copies (because, yes, I have the entire series on DVD #obsessed) but it would probably cost more to mail them back and forth than buy them. 🙂
Maybe I’ll start trolling Amazon for the boxed set. Or harassing the Netflix people. 🙂
I’m glad you like this part of editing/revising. I really don’t lol
Oh, I’m taking my girl to Disney next month, during her spring break. Have a good time there!
Those cookies look sooooo yummy!
Have a great day!
Oh, I hope you and your girl have a wonderful time at WDW. I can’t wait to leave on Saturday! I recommend that cookie recipe if you’re in the mood for a treat. Enjoy the rest of your week, Juliana!
I have FNL in my Netflix queue and I’m excited to watch it! I tend to binge-watch one series at a time. I’m currently watching Mad Men with my husband and The Good Wife by myself – both are very good!
Have so much fun at Disney World! I was across the street from Disneyland this past week during my work trip. We had dinner at Downtown Disney but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to visit the park. It’s been years since I’ve been to Disney so a trip is definitely in order.
Good luck with your revisions! Sounds like they are going really well.
I’ve heard great things about Mad Men and The Good Wife. Thanks for mentioning them… Going on my queue now. 🙂 I’m sure we’ll have tons of fun at WDW. And I’m sure I’ll take tons of photos to share! Have a great rest of the week, Ghenet!
Oh, goodness. I know exactly what you mean about thing not clicking in your WiP and hoping it will resolve itself later. Been there way too many times! It’s awesome having CPs who help sort that mess out, isn’t it?
I think I need to take a page from your book and start eating more healthfully. I am the absolute worst for eating terrible food lately. I think with the nicer weather, I’m more inclined to eat better, so that’s a plus.
I’m so glad you liked FNL. I figured you would. I really should give it a watch again, especially since it’s on Netflix. Have a great week, Katy!
As I respond to this comment I’m eating Jelly Bellies, so don’t take too many pages out of my book. 😉 And I’m pretty sure I’ll be doing a FNL rewatch one of these days, at least my favorite episodes. It was cool to watch the entire series in a month. I don’t know how I would’ve survived waiting between seasons! Or commercial breaks. 😉
Cookies get me every time… though I’ve been trying to eat less sugar.
NIL sounds really cool! I’m all about settings and the island sounds interesting! I might have to give it a read…
I’m doing a Bookanista Rec for NIL tomorrow and I’ll talk more about what I liked about it specifically, if you’re interested in checking that out. And yeah… less sugar. That’s hard!
Hi, Katy! I went to Disney world for my first time when I was 20. It was awesome!! I can’t wait to go back again. Have fun with your daughter!
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
I took my husband for his first time when we were 22. I grew up going, so it was very hard to believe that he’d made it all the way to adulthood before seeing Mickey in person. Now he gets to go pretty much every year. Lucky guy. 😉 Have a great week, Laura!
I haven’t read the first author but have been interested in NIL. Sounds like a grea read.
Ugh. I love that show. I loved Tim and Lyla and Landry and Tyra. It’s just an all over great show. I vote next is Veronica Mars!! I only have one disk left in the 3rd (final) season I’ll finish this week and then you can borrow all 3 whenever. And then the movie whenever I get it on.
Those cookies were fantastic!!! Thanks again. Hope you two have a blast at Disney!!!!
I’m going to blog more about NIL tomorrow. If you want to read it, just let me know. I own a copy. 🙂 Thank you for offering VM… I’ll definitely take you up on that. And I’m so glad you liked the cookies!
I loved Gossip Girl! I just got the first season of FNL from my library but haven’t started it yet. Based on all your raving, I’m excited to!
Melanie, the first season and the third season are my FNL favorites, but let’s be honest… All five are amazing. You’ll have to let me know if you turn into a super fan like me!
Waaaaant coooooookiiiiiiiiiies!
Have an amazing time at DisneyWorld! I love that place 😀
Oooh, thanks for reminding me about Nil. I saw it the other day and now I definitely want to pick it up!
I’m going to do a Bookanista Rec of NIL tomorrow, so if you want to know what I liked about it specifically, you should check back. 🙂 Have a great week, lady!
I love the green eggs and ham so cute! And those cookies look amazing. I need to bake something!
I’m glad the writing is going so well, I love that part too, where you have the main story down and you’re just making it better 😀
Have a fantastic time at Disney. I love it there, definitely the happiest place.
Aren’t revisions the best? I added this part today that one of my CPs suggested. It’s not even anything major, but it’s making the story so much richer. So exciting. 🙂 I’ll take tons of pictures at WDW and I’m sure I’ll share at least a few next week. Hope you have a great one, Alexa!
I love love Friday night lights. I am thinking of doing a marathon 🙂 And Gossip girl is good as well. Love your cookies 🙂 Have fun at Disney.
Oh, good to hear that you like Gossip Girl. I think I’m going to watch the first episode tomorrow. Hoping it’ll fill the void FNL left in my life. 😉
Those cookies look so good. Yum. Chocolate and peanut butter are the perfect combination. I know this is bad but I have never seen an episode of Friday Night Lights. Have fun at Disney!
Totally agree about chocolate and peanut butter, Amy. My favorite desserts include both. 🙂 And please do watch a few episodes of FNL. It’s awesome inspiration for writing YA, and just generally an amazing show. If you have Netflix, you can instantly stream it. Recommend!
Mmmmm, those cookies look goooood. Chocolate + peanut butter = delicious. I wish I could bake. Have fun going through the CP notes! I love getting feedback from my CPs, though sometimes it can be rough to take in what they have to say, except they are almost always right 🙂
You can bake, silly! It’s all about following the directions to a T. 🙂 I agree with you that critique can be rough, but I’ve found that my CPs are pretty brilliant so it’s not too hard to make changes according to their advice. Funny how others can see the glaring weaknesses in our writing so easily!
There are so many books on my kindle and coming in from the library, that I have no idea how I’m going to pick what to read next. COMPLICIT is near the top because wow, was I impressed by Charm & Strange, but I also just ordered THE WINNER’S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski, and I keep hearing nothing but good things! Randomly, I saw on Miss Cole’s blog that you haven’t read Garth Nix’s SABRIEL/ Abhorsen Trilogy and I just have to put my 2 cents in and heartily recommend them. They’re fantasy books but not quite like any other YA fantasy I’ve read, and all 3 books feature a wonderful female MC. The magic system is so unique too! It is just one of my favorite YA book series that I actually read as a teenager before YA was a thing!
Can’t wait to hear about your Disneyworld trip! I’ve been to Disneyland tons, but Disneyworld is still on my TO GO list. Hope it is absolutely magical for you and your girl!
I am taking your two cents to heart and will definitely be on the look-out for Garth Nix’s books. You’ve yet to fail me on book recs, Alice! And I hope you find your way to Disney World soon! I love the nostalgic charm of Disneyland, but Disney World is pretty amazing as well. So much to see!
I went to DW at 3 (cried when I met Mickey…there’s a fantastic photo we have 🙂 ) and then again at 10. Hope you and the girlie have fun!
I liked Gossip Girl’s first season but didn’t love the second. I was a rabid fan of the books growing up (we didnt really have superb YA except Traveling Pants), and they got so much ‘wrong’…I am too much of a purist. 😛 I just watched the first season of THE FOSTERS on Netflix – an ABC Family that is surprisingly awesome about two moms (one a cop and one a principal) and they have 3 kids and take a foster girl in)…I loved that it deals with two moms and a multi-cultural family.
Good luck with your revisions! *waves pom poms* you got this 🙂
I’ve never read the GG books, and I probably won’t now that I’m watching the show. Liking it so far, but I’m only halfway through the first season. I kind of hate most of the characters, yet at the same time, I’m charmed by their awfulness. Does that even make sense? 🙂 I’ve heard of The Fosters, but I haven’t watched yet. I’ll definitely check it out. Sounds like it’s right up my alley. Thanks, Rachel!
I watched the while GG series …. it is HIGHLY addictive
I still think the coach in FNL is hotter than Riggins (sticking tongue out)
Haha! You’re right: Coach Taylor is definitely handsome. I think I watched FNL through my High School Katy filter, which is why I was so drawn to Riggins. But when I reflect as Adult Kate, I’m all kinds of jealous of Tami Taylor. 🙂
Mmmm, writing out in the warm sun sounds divine. I like to read in my car during Turbo’s nap time because it’s a bit windy here, so the car offers protection and keeps me warmer. Total sun worshiper here.
Have fun in Disney! How exciting!
I like to read in my car while I wait in the parent pick-up line at my girl’s school for the same reasons. Sometimes I end up so involved in a book, the line has snaked forward five cars before I even look up. 🙂