“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 The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and loved it SO MUCH. Amazing world-building, and a super-swoonworthy slow-burn forbidden romance. I also read Caroline Tung Richmond’s debut, The Only Thing To Fear, a reimagining of the outcome of WW combined with some genetically modified people with X-Men-esue super powers — it was excellent! Now, I’m reading Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson’s National Book Award winning historical verse story. It’s beautiful so far.
What I’m Writing: I’ve been revising my road trip book, The Road So Far, according to notes from my amazing CPs. They have helped me SO MUCH and I am endlessly grateful. I sent the manuscript off to my agent yesterday, so we’ll see what she thinks. *crosses fingers* Now, I’m back to drafting the end my NaNo story, Stars Like Dust. Hoping to finish by the end of the month.
What Else I’ve Been Up To: All the holiday prep…
I baked my husband’s favorite Christmas treat, Mexican Wedding Cookies…
And made a Christmas craft, Cinnamon Star Garland…
And addressed Christmas cards with my little elf. ❤
What Works For Me: Amazing published novels as inspiration. Luckily, 2014 has been full of exceptional reads! Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and I are celebrating with our 4th annual YA Superlatives Blogfest, a fun and interactive way to highlight our favorite books published during the last year. The blogfest begins Monday, December 15th and runs through Thursday, December 18th. We hope you’ll join us!
Tell me… What’s up with you today?
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Fingers crossed that your agent loves your manuscript! Enjoy all the Christmas fun! 🙂
Thanks so much, Emma! Have an awesome week!
Looking forward to your YA Superlatives post, always love hearing about everyones faves books of the year. Can’t wait to see what you think of Brown Girl Dreaming – I’m so excited to read it and absolutely need to buy a copy! Hope you hear good things back from your agent! As always, happy writing!
Busy, tired and just trying to wrap up things before the year ends. I posted yesterday about a debut chat happening next week. Maybe you’d be interested to join in?
P.S. Love your new selfie! 🙂
I can’t wait to find out more about the debut chat, Rebecca… Heading over to check out your post soon. BROWN GIRL DREAMING is excellent so far. I am loving it, and its National Book Award is clearly well-earned. Have an awesome week, lady!
Same here! I tend to make lists of what to read from all these year-end favorites lists. I’m usually catching up on previous years’ books.
*fingers crossed* for you!
THE ONLY THING TO FEAR is the next book in my stack to read, I’m hoping to crack it open this weekend. And if it’s not “too YA,” (his words, not mine), I might be able to convince my husband to read it 🙂
Have a great week!
“Not too YA” sounds like a phrase my husband would use too. I try not to take offense. 🙂 Hope you love it, Jennifer, and have an awesome week!
Ooooh, as always your baking looks delicious. And I love the stockings 😀 Looking forward to all the Superlative posts. Have a brilliant week, Katy!
Thanks so much, Cole… You too!
Fingers crossed with you about your agent loving the ms! I loved The Winner’s Curse and I am so glad you did too!!!! What a gorgeously world built book 🙂 I haven’t read THE ONLY THING LEFT TO FEAR but I guess I was wondering…are the “x-men” powers a huge thing in book? (also if you liked that aspect you should pick up The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken which is a dark superhero dystopian). Have a great week and happy – almost almost – Christmas!
The X-Men-like powers (they’re called “Anamolies”) are a big element in the story, but they play into how Hitler experimented medically on Jews and others during WW2. It’s super interesting, the way Caroline reimagined history and brought the different components together. I definitely recommend checking it out. And I’ve read THE DARKEST MINDS already. 🙂 Have a great week, Rachel!
re: TDM: Have you? Oops sorry for the repeat rec then! 🙂
Ooooh okay now I am intrigued by FEAR. *adds to library hold list* 🙂
Let me know what you think!
Good luck with drafting and with the book you’ve got out to your agent!
I’d probably like Brown Girl Dreaming, since I’ve really come to love novels in verse. Poetry is so underrated and underused these days, and I love freeverse poetry in particular.
I bet you would love BROWN GIRL DREAMING, Carrie-Anne. It’s really beautiful so far. Let me know what you think if you end up giving it a read! Have a wonderful week. 🙂
I just bought Brown Girl Dreaming as a holiday gift to myself with a big shipment of gift books. I’ve only read maybe 2 novels in verse, and one was an audiobook, so looking forward to it.
I’m loving it so far, Stephanie! I bet listening to it is even better than reading it, too. The verses are so lyrical and beautiful. Let me know what you think!
Just sent my latest off to my agent yesterday, too! Nerves! Good luck with it and enjoy all your holiday prep. Enjoy the rest of your week, Katy.
ALL THE NERVES! I feel good knowing that my agent is super excited to read my MS, but still… Yikes! Hope you have a great week, Sara, and best of luck with that latest MS. 🙂
AHHHH congrats on finishing the revision!!! So excited for you!!! ❤ ❤ Also, I love these posts. If you think about it will you remind me to participate next week??
I definitely will! ❤
I’ve actually been throwing around the idea of a road trip book, too. Not sure if the idea will ever come to fruition. Aren’t they so fun?
So fun! The road trip book I drafted was far and away my most joyful writing experience ever. I whole-heartedly encourage you to dive into your idea, Kelly! Best of luck with it!
I might just do that, thanks!
Crossing my fingers Victoria loves that story, but I’m sure she will 🙂 I have to check out your cookie recipes on pinterest for next week! And I love that picture of your little Elf helping you with the cards 🙂 Looking forward to the Superlative posts, will definitely try to join!
Yes, do join us for Superlatives, Elodie! I want to see your favorites of the last year. 🙂 And yay for cookies! Have a great week, lady!
hope your agents loves it! I always get ALL THE NERVES when sending my MSs to my agent, but thankfully she’s loved everything to date (which means she has to hate something sometime lol) and those cookies look amazing!
Thanks, Beth! So far, my agent has been very enthusiastic about my work. It’s so wonderful to know that she *gets* what I’m trying to do with these stories. But yes, ALL THE NERVES for sure. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Good luck with your new project. Who doesn’t love a good road trip book?
Have a great week and a great holiday season!
Thanks so much, Kate! You too! ❤
So glad you loved THE WINNER’S CURSE. 🙂 As you know, I loved it too. Can’t wait for the next one in the series! And on the topic of great YA, I’m thinking of doing the Superlatives again this year. Not sure how many 2014 reads I actually read this year, though. I got caught up on a lot of pre-2014 stuff over the course of the year. Still, I’ll see what I come up with!
Those cookies look super yummy, and I’m just realizing my mom brought the recipe for these to my place, but we never got around to making them. Might have to give it a try anyway. Have a wonderful week, Katy! Oh, and keeping my fingers crossed that your agent loves your story!
Yes, definitely join us for Superlatives, Jaime! I can’t wait to see which 2014 releases you loved most. Oh, and you’ll have to whip up a batch of Mexican Wedding Cookies — so yummy! Have an awesome week, lady!
Good luck with the book, Katy! Even though I KNOW my agent likes my writing (or why would she sign me??) I am still a pile of nerves when I give her a book!!
Happy Holidays!
I hope your agent loves what you send! Good luck!
Thanks, Niki — me too! Have a great week! ❤
Love all your cute Christmas decor. And in my book, anyone who sends out paper cards basically wins Christmas. (Please accept this Major Award.)
Love your reading picks for this week. Two of those are in my TBR pile. Can’t wait to get to them.
Hope you have a great week!
Thank you for the Major Award. 🙂 I didn’t send cards out last year because we were moving, so it was fun to put one together this year. Hope you enjoy both of those books, Kris!
I honestly don’t know how you’re managing to get so much Christmas stuff done and writing on top of it! Holiday magic of some kind maybe?December always makes me feel like I’ve been buried under a snow bank because it’s so busy. Enjoy jumping back into STARS LIKE DUST! Hope you meet that end of December goal! 🙂
Holiday magic for sure — that, or a ton of coffee. 🙂 Best of luck keeping your head above all that snow, Erin, and have a great week!
Critique partners are so helpful. 🙂 I hope your rewrite goes well this week.
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Thanks, Majanka! Have an awesome week!
I listened to the audio book of The Winner’s Curse and loved it too. I can’t wait for the sequel!
Good luck on your writing goals and the upcoming blogfest (which I am hoping to join!).
I want THE WINNER’S CURSE’s sequel, like, yesterday. Oh, that book… So good! And yes, definitely join us for Superlatives, Sarah… It’s so much fun, and I’d love to see what your favorites of 2014 are. 🙂
I just started The Only Thing to Fear and I’m loving it so far. It’s such a neat idea. Congrats on sending your manuscript to your agent. Those cookies look so good. Have a great week!
Thanks, Amy! I hope you enjoy THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, and I hope your week is awesome!
Looks like you have the perfect elf! CPs are priceless and here’s hoping your agent loves it. Good luck on hitting those goals this month. I’m impressed you’re getting so much done. 🙂
I *definitely* have the perfect elf. I’m lucky she likes to help. 🙂 Hope you have an awesome week, Tonja!