“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 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and I thought it was incredible. A must-read if (like me) you’ve been slow to jump on the bandwagon. Incidentally, Speak has been out for fifteen years now. The fact that it’s remained relevant through a decade-and-a-half of changing YA trends says more about its quality than I ever could. I also read Tess Sharpe’s debut Far From You, which is unflinching and heart-shattering and beautifully written. Loved it. Yesterday I started Emery Lord’s debut, Open Road Summer, which several of my book besties have promised I’ll adore. So far, so good!
What I’m Writing: Nothing. But I did hear back from my agent regarding my most recent manuscript and… She’s on board! She got the characters and the conflict and the conclusion and reading her email was just about the greatest feeling ever. Huge, hUgE, HUGE sigh of relief. Now I can start something new without the weight of anxiety I’ve been shouldering over the last few weeks. In beta reading news (ready to be super envious?) I got to read Meredith McCardle‘s latest manuscript, which is freaking fantastic. I had the privilege of reading her upcoming debut, The Eighth Guardian, last year and it totally blew me away. It comes out in less than a month (yay!) and I can’t wait for you all to read it!
What Else I’ve Been Up To: I’ve tried really hard to get into The Secret Life of the American Teenager because I love Shailene Woodley in The Descendants and The Spectacular Now. But Secret Life… NO. Not for me, guys. Not at all. I found the message much too heavy-handed, and the dialogue is absolutely cringeworthy. Looks like I’m going back to Gossip Girl. Darn. 😉
I’ve achieved another Thirty Before 35 goal! We took our first trip to the beach on Saturday, and it was beautiful. My daughter played with her buddies and I lounged and chatted with a few girl friends. We had a (sandy) picnic lunch, which is one of those things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Check!
And, much to my daughter’s embarrassment, I pulled the truck over while passing the above field of flowers the other day so I could take her picture. Just couldn’t resist all that pink against her little hippie sundress. ❤
What’s Inspiring Me Now: Rock the Drop, one of my favorite bookish events of the year, is tomorrow! It’s a celebration of Support Teen Literature Day during which book lovers can drop novels with “Rock the Drop” bookplates in public places for teenagers to find and read and hopefully fall in love with. I’ve rocked the drop for the last two years (2013 and 2012), and I’ll definitely be participating tomorrow. Look for photos on my Instagram feed, and here on my blog coming soon. Visit ReaderGirlz for all the details.
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
I’m ashamed to say I haven’t read anything by Laurie Halse Anderson yet, I’d love to though!
Congratulations on your manuscript, it’s great to hear your agent’s on board! 🙂
Your daughter’s adorable – it looks like you both had a lovely time at the beach. 🙂
Have a great week!
Thanks, Jess! I’ve now read LHA’s SPEAK and WINTERGIRLS. Both are very, very good. Hope you have a wonderful week, lady!
*hehehe* All those pictures our kids have to endure 🙂 Sounds like you had a great time.
Congrats on your MS!
Thanks so much, Tonja! Have a great week!
Go you on your 30 before 35 list! Love that! And when isn’t it a good time to take a (sandy) pic nic on the beach?! I mean really. 🙂
Fantastic news from your agent! How lucky to have an agent that gets you and your writing so perfectly. I’ll bet having that stress reduced feels so good.
And I love Rock the Drop! Last year I did mine Geocaching style, with clues, etc. It was very fun. Like a grown up (or semi grown up) treasure hunt. This year I want to leave a copy of Eleanor & Park in the back of every school bus at the local high school. So if you hear about a Florida chick getting busted for breaking into school buses, you’ll know why. *grin*
Hope you have a great week!
I will definitely be on the lookout for a Florida chick dropping copies of an amazing book on buses all over town. 🙂 I think E&P is a great choice for Rock the Drop — such an fabulous story! I’m dropping IF I STAY, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, and JELLICOE ROAD. Three of my very favorites!
Yay, so glad to hear your agent’s on board with your MS! I can imagine that’s such a relief to hear!
Have a great week!
Definitely a huge relief! Hope you have a great week as well, Emma! 🙂
Great news about your agent giving your manuscript the thumbs-up! That must be a such a relief. And congrats for checking off another to-do on your “Thirty-before-35” list. How many more have you to do?
Have a wonderful week, Katy! 🙂
I still have a ways to go on my Thirty Before 35 list, Colin. I think about 25 or 26 things? But, I do have over a year-and-a-half to complete as possible, so I’m still feeling pretty good about it. Hope you have a great week, too!
Hooray for good MS feedback! And thanks again for giving awesome feedback yourself. 🙂
I couldn’t get into Secret Life either, but I will totally admit that my ABC Family guilty pleasure was Make It or Break It. I still get a little sad when I think about how it was cancelled.
Perhaps I should give Make It or Break It a go. I haven’t watched anything else on ABC Family, but I hear that The Fosters is pretty good. Or, maybe I’ll stick to Gossip Girl for now. Have a great week, Meredith!
Sounds like a lovely day at the beach. I’m jealous, what with the new wave a snow we just got last night. Boo.
I bet that’s just the best feeling to hear your agent love your new MS. Awesome news!
Yikes. I am so sorry to all of you who’ve been getting more snow. I cannot even imagine. We are definitely enjoying are sunny days, and sending sunshine vibes your way. Have a good week, Melanie!
YAY for hearing good news about your manuscript! That’s so exciting! I’ll be crossing my fingers for you. 🙂
Your beach picnic sounds like it was wonderful. We live near a beach too and I can’t wait for it to be warm enough for me to have beach picnics all the time.
I can’t wait to read my copy of OPEN ROAD SUMMER! I’ve made it my reward for finishing my manuscript draft this month. I know I’m going to love it.
I’m only about 50 pages into OPEN ROAD SUMMER, but I’m already loving it. I bet you will too, Ghenet. Best of luck finishing your draft this month, and have a fantastic week!
I’m glad you got good feedback from your agent. And know, when you’re ready for some beta eyes, I want to read it.
I also love this ROCK THE DROP concept. I’m taking the teens I mentor out on Thursday for a photo scavenger hunt thing. I’m now thinking they may need to drop some C2D copies while we’re out and about as well.
Have a great week!
Thanks so much for your beta offer, Kate! I will let you know when it’s time. And yes, definitely drop copies of COUNTING. Such a fun event for the YA community. 🙂
I love Rock the Drop. Such a cool program. The pictures of your daughter are lovely as well!
I can’t wait to read The Eighth Guardian. Looks so cool.
Thanks, Lori! I think you’re going to like THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN. (Here’s a secret… I’m going to give away an early signed paperback copy next week!)
Have a great time rocking the dropping tomorrow 😀
Soooo excited to hear your agent likes the new book! Here’s hoping it leads to the *really* exciting news 😉
Have a wonderful week!
I hope so too! Thanks so much for the positive vibes. 🙂
Oh, that’s fantastic that your agent is on board with your story! So great! I can only imagine what a relief that must be. I *still* haven’t read SPEAK, but I have seen the movie. I was surprised that KStew wasn’t terrible in it. I’ll have to read this one for sure.
I tried watching The Secret Life of the American Teenager and couldn’t get into it either. So much cheese.
You know, I completely forgot about Rock the Drop, so I’m glad you mentioned it. I love taking part and I would have been so bummed if I missed out. Now to get some books to give away!
Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Katy!
I haven’t seen the SPEAK movie, but I’ve heard from several people that KStew is decent in it. Maybe because she doesn’t have to speak much? Looking forward to hearing about your Rock the Drop experience, Jaime!
Positives from the agent NEVER get old. EVER.
No, they do not! One of the best feelings. 🙂
Glad your agent loves your new MS! And I couldn’t get into The Secret Life either. Surprisingly, I kind of liked Switched at Birth. Similar ABC Fam type vibe, but not as heavy handed, I thought.
I’ve heard Switched at Birth is pretty good. Though, I’m sort of head shy when it comes to ABC Family now. I wonder if it’s on Netflix? Maybe I should give it a shot. Have a great week, Crystal!
Love Speak, and have been wanting to read Far From You…will have to add that to my TBR 🙂 Congrats on the MS! That’s exciting! I couldn’t stand Secret Life either, no matter how much I tried. I was actually hesitant about Shailene Woodley in Divergent and TFIOS since I’d only ever seen her in Secret Life, but she’s actually an amazing actress. Have a great week 🙂
FAR FROM YOU was fantastic, Victoria. Totally made my heart hurt, but I loved every second of it. Hope you have a great week as well!
Yay that your agent is on board!! SPEAK is one of my gap books too, as is The Giver and The Phantom Tollbooth! All books I need to read!
Love, love the pics of your daughter. The weather looks beautiful, and that field of flowers pic? Could be on a post card or something!
Hope you like THE WINNER’S CURSE! I definitely enjoyed it and thought it was a good balance of plot and character development.
I haven’t read THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH either, Alice, but I definitely recommend THE GIVER. It is one of my very favorite dystopians. Total classic. 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading THE WINNER’S CURSE too, especially knowing that you and Erin liked it. Have a great week, lady!
That’s awesome about your manuscript! After all that hard work it’s great that your agent connected with the story. I hope you have the chance to let a ton of readers connect with it too!
Cute pics of your daughter! My son reacts the same way when I try to take shots of him. Someday she’ll look back and be glad you captured her childhood in such pretty photos though. Granted, the childhood pics Jaime and I tend to like the best are the ones where we look the goofiest or have the most awful clothing on lol.
Have a super week, Katy, and enjoy that gorgeous Florida weather double for me (we got dumped on with snow last night)!
I love the Throwback Thursday childhood pictures Jaime shares of you two from time to time. So cute, and you both look remarkably similar today to how you did way back in the 80s. 🙂 I’m sending rays of warm sunshine your way, Erin!