“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 flew through Gayle Forman’s Just One Night, the eNovella follow-up to Just One Day and Just One Year, and it was a complete joy. I am so, so happy she decided to put a cap on Allyson’s and Willem’s story. I also read Roxane Gay’s An Untamed State, which was the exact opposite of joyful. To be honest, I feel sort of terrible recommending it because it is absolutely brutal. But, it is also brilliantly written and completely haunting (I had nightmares) and, I think, a must-read. Now, I’m reading my friend Elodie Nowodazkij’s up-and-coming YA debut, One, Two, Three, and I am loving it.
What I’m Writing: I’m still puttering away at my two related projects. I was going strong on my revision for several days, but then a plot element tripped me up and I realized I need to spend some time thinking on it. So, I’ve switched over to the WiP I’m drafting. I’m hovering at about 27K words and I’m still loving the story. It’s a road trip, so every scene is set in a fresh location and has new minor characters to be introduced. There’s also a mystery to unfold, and helping my main characters along as they discover clues is making it feel as though I’m flying through the drafting process. Also, the romance… This couple is my favorite of all the couples I’ve written. ❤
What Else I’ve Been Up To: Tomorrow is my girl’s last day of 1st grade. *sob* I’m struggling with how quickly she’s growing up, so I’ve been spending more time than usual helping at at her school. So fun to see her in her element!
Hula hooping at recess, and an end-of-the-year Water Day celebration.
Last week the Scholastic Book Fair was held at my daughter’s school, and then we took a trip to Books-A-Million over the weekend. We’ve amassed a nice little summer reading pile. (Thanks for the excellent recommendations, Temre!) Looking forward to diving into these with my girl! Where should we start?
What’s Inspiring Me Now: My friend Jessica Love, whose debut novel Push Girl (co-authored with Chelsie Hill) released yesterday. I adore this book, and I enthusiastically encourage you to read it. My Bookanista review is HERE. Also, Ready. Set. Write! Have you heard about the summer writing intensive I’m hosting with Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, and Erin Funk? We’re setting goals and cheering each other on through a summer of fun and productivity… Join us!
What’s up with you today?
katyupperman.com 
BUSY WOMAN!! My daughter goes to MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR *breathes into a paper bag* So weird. She LOVED the ever after high books. Appealed to the side of her that likes mysteries as well as the girlie side 😉
My daughter loves all sorts of fairy tale adaptations, so she’s very excited to read EVER AFTER HIGH. I am too! Good luck surviving the middle school phase… Crazy how quickly these kiddos grow up!
I’m currently reading my first ever Gayle Forman book (IF I STAY) and am mourning the fact that I can’t sit down and devour it all in one sitting. I’m a little behind the times on that.
I see at least one book in your daughter’s pile that’s been on my TBR list forever–the one by Kate DiCamillo. Her books are such a pleasure to read out loud because the prose just flows so beautifully.
The WIP you’re drafting sounds so good! 27k is awesome and I bet that will sky rocket with RSW starting up! Hope the plot element gets sorted out with your other story!
Oh my gosh… IF I STAY. The book that made me want to write YA. 🙂 I love and own everything Gayle Forman has written. I think she’s brilliant! Of the books in our summer TBR pile, EDWARD TULANE is the only one I’ve read and I adore it. So beautiful and moving. Kate DiCamillo is awesome. Have a great week, Erin!
I’m looking closely at your daughter’s stack of books b/c my niece is the same age and I’m always at a loss on what books to buy her – I worry I’m picking things too easy or too advanced. I’ve read EDWARD TULANE and I adored that rabbit, even when he was at his most arrogant.
I’m going to my brother’s high school graduation in a few days and it’s so surreal – it feels like his kindergarten graduation just happened.
Of all those books, EDWARD TULANE is the only one I’ve read. I borrowed if from the library last year and loved it so much, I had to buy it. I love Kate DiCamillo! Looking forward to diving into the rest of those. 🙂 Congrats to your brother on his graduation! Crazy how fast these kids grow up!
So excited for you on your progress with your WiP, Katy! 27,000 words is amazing! Especially when you have another project your revising, too. I also can’t think of a better book to be writing during the summertime than one that focuses on a road trip 🙂 Loved seeing the pictures of your sweet girl enjoying her last days of school. We’ve got kindergarten graduation coming up soon too and I hope I handle it alright! Last year, at E’s preschool graduation, I cried even while watching the other kindergarteners graduate, sigh. I am really looking forward to spending lots of quality time together this summer with the girls. Thank you too for thinking of me for MG book recommendations! It was such a JOY to get to think on my favorite books and pass along a few ideas. It also really made me reflect on what a honor it is to be doing what we are doing – that as writers, people give our stories the huge privilege of settling into their minds and hearts (young or old). It’s something I want to remember each and every time I sit down in front of the computer. Wishing you the best week, Katy ❤
I got choked up at C’s kindergarten graduation last year and my husband looked at me like I was crazy. Aah, motherhood. 🙂 Thank you again for the book recommendations! I am so excited to dive into IVAN and RUMP in particular. I looked for SWAY and that author’s other book that you mentioned, but the store we were at didn’t have either. I’m going to pick them both up once I track them down. I hope you have the most wonderful summer with your girls Tem. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it! Hugs! ❤
I may have to sign up to that writing intensive! 🙂
Looks like a great book haul! I still haven’t read anything by Gayle Forman. *hangs head*
Emma! Gaye Forman is one of my top five favorite authors ever! Her books are brilliant and you should TOTALLY read them all. Hurry! 😉
And yes, I hope you do join us for RSW. It’s going to be a fantastic summer!
Wow sounds like you are busy! 27k is AWESOME! I am slowly beginning agent revisions. SLOWLY. I am nervous about doing this right, but my CPs keep reminding me to not get stuck at 25 pages…to keep going… I also wanted to say I loved THE O&O IVAN. I rarely read middle grade anymore (I think it’s because I hold so dear the ones I read as an actual MG — Sarah Plain & Tall, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Julie of the Wolves, etc.) but something about this one struck me.
I’m really looking forward to reading IVAN. I remember seeing the real Ivan as a kid. He spent, like, 27 years living caged up in a sketchy mall in a city near where I grew up. So sad. Obviously I’m super curious about this more fantastical version of the story. Also, ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS — love! One of my favorite MGs too. Best of luck with your revisions, Rachel!
I feel your pain on wanting to recommend wonderful books that are also brutal. That’s exactly how I felt about THE BONE PEOPLE. That book haunted me for weeks, but is was so incredibly well written that I couldn’t leave it off my recommends list. (No wonder it won the Booker Prize)
Ooooh, and you’re writing a road trip book! How fun! And how great that you are in love with your characters. 🙂
Hope you have an amazing week!
I just looked up THE BONE PEOPLE and it sounds excellent. Definitely one I’ll look out for. And yes! I love reading road trip books and I’ve always wanted to write one. It’s been a blast so far. 🙂
Oh and p.s. I LOVE your new banner. 🙂
Thanks, lady! ❤
I saw your Instagram post about AN UNTAMED STATE and added it to my TBR list because it sounded great (and terrible at the same time?). Congrats on hitting 27K on the new project. You’re flying through it!
I’m so excited for Ready, Set, Write! I might be doing a lot of plotting/outlining at the beginning, but I’m so in on this.
Yay! I was hoping you’d join us, Trace! And yes, you should most definitely read AN UNTAMED STATE, so long as your tolerance for disturbing images is HIGH. It is truly amazing and terrible at the same time.
I bought Just One Night but I’ve been writing, not reading. I really, really want to read it! I might deserve a break tonight 🙂 I’ll have to look into An Untamed State. I like to read darker, thought provoking things sometimes but I really don’t like gore… Enjoy your summer with your daughter! Mine just finished kindergarden and is skipping around the kitchen singing about “summer break” 🙂
I read JUST ONE NIGHT in 30 minutes. It’s super short and well worth the time. 🙂 I hope you get a chance to read it tonight! I’m not sure that I would use the word “gore” to describe AN UNTAMED STATE, but a woman is kidnapped by a gang of men. Wherever your imagination goes with that info, multiply by fifty. It’s awful, but an incredibly well-told story. Hope you have tons of fun with your kiddo this summer!
I am currently reading PUSH GIRL and really liking it! I really should get to Elodie’s book soon. I think it’s probably changed a good deal since the last version I read, so that’s kind of exciting. 🙂 The story you’re working on sounds FANTASTIC! I love road trip books. With romance. And mystery. So, you know, it sounds like it’s right up my alley. Hope you’re having an awesome week! Can’t wait to get started on RSW with you!
Thanks, Jaime! I’m enjoying ONE TWO THREE so much. It’s just the sort of contemporary YA I gravitate too. I can’t wait to find out what happens with Nata and Tonio! Have a great week, lady!
I also flew through JUST ONE NIGHT. It was so great! I’m glad we were able to get some closure in Allyson and Willem’s story. 🙂
Your new WIP sounds amazing, definitely something I’d want to read. Happy drafting!
I’m also really excited to read Jess’s debut and for RSW. 🙂
Thanks, Ghenet! I can’t wait to hear about what you’ll be working on for RSW this summer. Have a great week, lady!
I definitely need to read Just One Night. I lived JOD and JOY and I want to hear how it ends! I just keep forgetting to download it.
Good luck with your WIP- sounds fun!
Must read soon, Melanie! It’s fabulous!
Summer vacation is both wonderful and dreadful. In the one hand you don’t want your kids to be bored, in the other it’s nice not waking up early in the morning. And it is crazy how fast kids grow up! I have a third and first grader now! I always have two projects going at once, it helps with my creative process 🙂
I’m impressed by people who can regularly have two projects going at once. My brain does not work that way at all. The only reason I’m having success now is that the projects are related. Phew! Any fun summer activities planned for your kiddos, Prerna?
I loooove the pictures of your daughter. Totally envy your photographic skills.
And your WIP sounds so fun; I love road trip books!
Thanks, Crystal! Though, my “skills” are all in the editing. 🙂 I love road trip books too. 🙂 Have a great week, lady!
I’ve said it more than once, but I’ll say it again–the cover to Elodie’s novel is superb! Very atmospheric. I’d certainly pick it up if I saw it in B&N.
I understand your sadness over how quickly your daughter’s growing up. It happens way too fast. At least you’re trying to spend as much time with her as you can, and be involved in her life. Especially with the reading! So so important. You’re a great Mom, Katy! 🙂
I hope you make awesome progress on your writing projects this week.
I love the cover of Elodie’s novel too, Colin! And the story behind it is equally fantastic! And thank you for complimenting my mom skillz. 😉 Occasionally I have one of those parenting FAIL days, but don’t we all? Doing my best! Have a wonderful week, sir!
Wow, what a busy week, Katy! Sounds like you’ve been a productive machine on the WIP – I love that you’re in love with your characters (and their love, haha), isn’t that such a great feeling?
I can’t wait to read ONE, TWO, THREE, just the cover itself looks amazing. I hope RSW means that your WIP comes along even faster. Have a wonderful week, Katy! 🙂
I hope so too, Caitie! So looking forward to making my goals public. That way I’ll have no excuse to slack. 😉 Have a great week, lady!
You must start with THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE!! Ok, I’m biased because I just remember how much both my girls loved that book and how much I loved reading with them. 🙂 I can’t wait for Ready, Set, Write!
EDWARD TULANE is the only one of those books that I’ve read, Kitty. I checked it out from the library last summer and LOVED it. Spotted it at the bookstore with my girl the other day and decided we should have it to read together. 🙂 Looking forward to RSW with you!
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