“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 Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah. It’s one of those books where you’re not entirely sure what’s going on, or whether the narrator is reliable or not. I’m obviously not going to give away the ending, but let’s just say… You should definitely read it when it comes out this fall. Now, I’m halfway through Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. I’ve been wanting to read the Syrena Legacy books for ages, but somehow they’ve continuously slipped through the cracks. This first installment is a lot of fun. Cool mythology and a narrator who’s feisty and funny. Very entertaining so far!
What I’m Writing: I crossed the 22K mark with my WiP and I still love it — yay! I also got revision notes from my agent on an old story I want to overhaul. She gave me awesome/insightful/brilliant feedback, which I’ve already started to incorporate. The incredible thing is, the new WiP I’m drafting and the old WiP I’m revising have the potential (in a perfect, perfect world) to be a duology. Working on them simultaneously is sort of amazing. The stories are narrated by different characters, so I’m having a lot of fun bouncing between POVs, and I’m finding that both narrators’ characterizations are becoming much stronger than they were before, which is so motivating. I’ve high hopes for these projects, guys.
Speaking of writing… Drop by Monday, June 2nd for the lowdown on this summer’s writing intensive, Ready. Set. Write!
What Else I’ve Been Up To: So much… It’s been such a busy week!
My girlie and I went to another Blue Wahoos baseball game in Pensacola. This time we went with two friends and had a great time. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, take advantage. It’s gorgeous. At what other minor league ballpark can you watch dolphins swimming as you walk from the parking lot to the stadium? Plus, good food. 🙂
The more I write/revise, the more inclined I feel to whip up yummy treats. This week I made Chocolate Chip Banana Bread from a tried-and-true recipe (the chocolate chips are my personal addition), and I also tried a new recipe: Almond Butter Cookies. I’ve recently developed a peanut allergy (tHe WoRsT), so I’m trying to get used to almond butter as a substitute for peanut butter. These cookies turned out so well! I took them to a barbecue and they were gobbled up by kids and adults alike. Yum!
I got a new Stitch Fix shipment, and I loved all five pieces. I had so much trouble narrowing them down to fit within my budget, but I eventually decided on a very cool striped date dress, a cute sleeveless printed top, and the adorable patriotic scarf pictured above. The stylist who put together my box visited my Twitter profile and, after seeing that I’m an Army wife, included it. Love! If you’re interested in Stitch Fix, you can learn more HERE.
Yesterday I volunteered at First Grade Field Day. It was hot (just over 90 degrees), but awesome, too. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to join my daughter at her school activities from time to time. So fun to watch her with her friends!
What’s Inspiring Me Now: Marriage. Romance. True love.
My husband and I marked our 11th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Here’s to many, many more happy years! ❤
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
Hello, Katy! Happy 11th Anniversary!! That photo is adorable. Wishing you many more happy and fun years together!
Keep it up with your wip! 🙂
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Thank you, Laura! Have a wonderful week!
Oh my gosh, those cookies look amazing! Almond is a definite favourite of mine, so I’ll have to try them out on a lazy day 🙂
Firstly, congrats on the 22K, and secondly, BIG congrats on the positive agent feedback, yay! It’s so exciting that both WiPs could be in the same world, fingers crossed 🙂
Oh, and of course, many happy wishes for your anniversary, Katy!
If you like almond, I’ve found the most amazing recipe for Almond Cake… http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/almond-sheet-cake-with-butter-frosting/ It’s one of my favorites. 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful week, Caitie!
Congrats again on the anniversary! Dave and I celebrate 19 this summer. Where does time go?! Also, if I’m ever down your way, I must check out the Wahoos. I LOVE me some live baseball!
Have a great week, friend! And yay for so much WiP goodness!
Thanks, lady! Seriously… Time flies!
Happy anniversary!!!
I love the idea of your WIP duology. Everything I write takes place in the same fictional area and while my hubby is slightly weirded out by the “soap opera” in my head, I think it’s fun to control an entire imaginary town and everyone in it 🙂
Can’t wait for Ready.Set.Write!
Boo to a peanut allergy 😦 Glad there are yummy alternatives for you.
“I think it’s fun to control an entire imaginary town and everyone in it…” <– Totally made me laugh. Agree! And we're excited about Ready. Set. Write! too! I had so much fun with it last summer. Have a great week, Jennifer!
I really apcpireate free, succinct, reliable data like this.
Happy, happy anniversary, Katy! I love that picture of you guys! Wow – so very excited for you for your current WiP. The possibility of a duology sounds incredible (and really fresh and creative!). The best though is sensing your excitement. There is nothing greater than that feeling of being in love with your project 🙂 Cheering for you! Sounds like you and your sweet girl have been having some special times together. I can’t believe that we are closing in on another school year! This age of 5-6 is such a special one; it is incredible how much our kids are maturing and it is such a privilege to grow with them. As always, I think you make the best desserts (ever!), and bananas and chocolate are one of my personal favorites 🙂 The stitch fix items you got sound fantastic, and how fun! I don’t really know if I’ve ever had a personal style so it’s neat to think that someone could help define it a bit for me! Wishing you a wonderful week ❤
I can’t believe this school year is almost over, Tem! It seems like just yesterday we were lamenting how quickly the BEGINNING of the year snuck up on us. Crazy how quickly our girls are growing up. As far as this duology goes, I *am* excited, and I hope that excitement translates into the stories. It’s so fun to be motivated by new projects! Also, I owe you an email… I can’t wait to hear about the summer plans you have with your girls! And, I’d love to hear about any great MGs you’ve read lately. C and I are looking for some new books to get lost in together. Have a wonderful week, friend! ❤
Happy Anniversary!!! That’s wonderful! And the photo is too cute. 🙂
And congrats on such a great writing week! Love that your books might work as a duo, that is incredibly cool.
Also, all your baked treats look amazing. The down side of this, is that you now have me craving banana bread when I really should be working instead of baking. 🙂
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Thank you, Kris! You’ll have to whip up a loaf of banana bread on your next break. Totally worth the trouble. 🙂 Have a great week, lady!
I may have already said this but I can’t wait for Of Scars and Stardust! And yay for banana bread!
OF SCARS AND STARDUST was incredible, Fida. I didn’t really know what to expect going in (a good thing!) and it totally blew me away. Plus, the writing is gorgeous!
My elementary school had Field Day too, though as I got older, it was more annoying and difficult to participate since I wasn’t a sports person. I also grew to dislike having to walk to the high school’s track and field area, though it wasn’t such a far piece. I probably still have the ribbons around in my older, completed scrap book.
Congratulations on your anniversary!
I remember liking Field Day less and less as I got older too, Carrie-Anne. Though, I always appreciated it as a break from the humdrum of the normal school week. 🙂 Have a great week!
Happy Anniversary! I love that photo – so cute. And I love the name “Blue Wahoos” – I think I’d go see them play even without dolphins. 🙂 I got to go (for part of the day) to my daughter’s Track and Field Day last week, too. It is just so fun to see them “in their element” with all their friends and such, isn’t it? Although, my daughter is at the age (5th grade) where she didn’t want me to hang around too long and didn’t want me to talk to her friends in case I would say something embarassing. (Who, me?) Have a great week, Katy!
Aaah! I dread the day when my daughter acts too cool for me! I know it’s coming, too. *sob* Yesterday she held my hand on the way to the field, in front of all her classmates, so I’m trying to appreciate those moments for all they’re worth! And yes, Blue Wahoos is a funny name, right? I thought it was just silliness until my brother told me that a wahoo is a type of fish. Who knew?! Have a wonderful week, Kitty!
Wow, I think it’s amazing that you can go back and forth between two ms’s like that. I get really focused on one that it’s hard to think about anything else.
Congrats on the wedding anniversary!
Melanie, the only reason I’m able to go back and forth between these two projects is because they’re in the same world, with the same basic characters and tone. Otherwise, no way! Hope you have a great week!
Happy Anniversary! I love that photo. 🙂
That’s great that your writing projects are going so well. Good luck with your writing and revising! I’m super excited for Ready. Set. Write! to return this summer. I have a lot of revising to do and will need the accountability and motivation.
Also, your treats are reminding me that I STILL need to bake the recipes you passed along! Life has just gotten so busy lately…hopefully in June I’ll have more free weekends to dedicate some time to baking.
Get on that baking, lady! Do you still have your gourmet chocolate? If so, I’m impressed. Good chocolate would NEVER last that long in my house. 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Ha, yes, the chocolate is still in my cabinet! This just goes to show how tiny my sweet tooth is! Though I do love cookies so I’ll get on that ASAP. 🙂
Working on your two stories side by side sounds like a great idea! Can’t wait to here more about what you’re working on during RSW. 😀 (I’m so looking forward to hosting this intensive with you again.)
Your baking treats look delicious! It’s making me want to bust out some ingredients and get baking myself. As for your Stitch Fix goodies, you hit the jackpot this time around. Everything you put up on IG looked fantastic. Whoever is picking out stuff for you is doing a great job. Have a wonderful week, Katy!
I can’t wait for RSW, Jaime! I think it’s going to be a great (and productive!) summer. 🙂 And thanks for the Stitch Fix compliment. I get way too excited about those shipments, and it’s so much fun when the clothes exceed my expectations! Hope you have a great week!
Happy Anniversary! 😀
Congratulations on the word count. I hope the agent-inspired revisions go really well, too ^_^
Have a wonderful week! Looking forward to next week’s baking photos 😉
Thank you! Now I need to go searching for an awesome recipe. 😉
Happy anniversary! 🙂
Congrats on reaching 22K and on the feedback! It’s the best feeling when you’re completely absorbed in a project and it’s going really well!
Have a great week!
I agree, Emma! Writing is so much better when I’m not struggling to get words down or torturing myself with a revision. These projects are challenging, but in a really fun way. Have a great week, lady!
Happy Anniversary!! Congrats! We just celebrated our 7th anniversary on the 20th. May is such a perfect month for weddings, I know so many people with May anniversaries.
And I am very interested in this Ready. Set. Write. thing. I really need a kick in the pants if I’m going to complete my current draft by my birthday in July, so I could use a writing intensive for sure!
Yes, please do Ready. Set. Write! with us, Crystal! It’s really fun and low key, and you’re in charge of setting whatever goals you like. It’s nice to have camaraderie with writing, especially over the summer when things can get crazy. Check back here on Monday for all the details!
22k? You’re just flying on this WIP! It’s awesome that your narrators are becoming stronger while you work on both of your projects at once. That really makes sense. I might be in the simultaneously revising and drafting boat soon too, so I’m glad to hear you’re having success with it.
That sucks that you developed a peanut allergy. I remember you tweeting that your doctor suspected that was the case. In place of peanut butter, we use a something called peabutter. The actual product name is “No Nuts” (which makes me snicker) and it’s made out of golden peas. They taste quite a bit like peanuts, though not exactly, and make a really close substitute in recipes. I think it might only be available in Canada though and it’s stupid expensive. I hope adjusting to life with your allergy is going okay!
Congrats on your 11th anniversary! Love that photo of you and your hubby! Have a super week, Katy! 🙂
I wonder if there’s a US equivalent of “No Nuts” (*snicker*)? I’ll have to keep my eye out. And yes, drafting/revising is going surprisingly well. Helps that these stories are set in the same world and involve the same characters. Otherwise, I think my head would be spinning. 🙂 Have a great week, Erin!
Happy Anniversary (again)!!! And that’s so great that the WIP and the older project could be a duology! Glad that you have so much enthusiasm for both projects. It is kind of nice to be able to bounce between two stories. 🙂 Also, ah! I’m looking forward to Ready.Set.Write! I need it, lol!
I need Ready. Set. Write! too! A little accountability goes a long way when it comes to me meeting my goals. So glad you’re going to join us, Alice! Have a great week, lady!
I’m kinda really hungry right now so that food looks so ridiculously amazing. Banana Chocolate Chip bread? Yummmmmm. Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah is now on my TBR list. I love books where I don’t know whether I can trust the narrator or not 🙂 And congrats on getting so far in your WIP, that’s amazing!
I can’t wait for you to read OF SCARS AND STARDUST, Kim! I’m so curious to know how it will be received. I was super impressed! Hope your writing is going well, and have a great week!
Sorry to hear about the peanut allergy, Katy–that must suck big time. 😦 Peanuts are in so many things these days, I hope it’s not severe, and doesn’t become severe. The cookies look good. 🙂
I have to say, whenever you (and others) talk about the great feedback you get from your agent, I can’t help thinking “I want one!” Maybe one day… 🙂 Seriously, though, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Ms. Marini, so I know she’s steering you right with your novels.
I hope you continue to enjoy the WIPs and make great progress this week!
Thanks so much, Colin! And yes, Victoria is awesome and I feel very fortunate to be working with her. She’s smart and funny and encouraging — I can’t sing her praises enough! Crossing my fingers for you as you wade through the query trenches. Here’s to excellent news soon!
11 years!? That’s a lucky number! For my 11th I’m going to Paris. That’s in 2 years 🙂
Ooh, I’m envious! My husband’s deployed, so I spent my 11th at a minor league baseball game with my daughter. Not exactly glamorous or romantic (because PARIS!) but still fun. 🙂
Katy, I celebrated my anniversary this weekend too! Monday actually. Happy anniversary. And I loved your What I’m Writing section. Your excitement about these books really comes through! Have an awesome week!
Happy anniversary to you, too, Rebekah! Hope you have a wonderful week as well! 🙂