What’s Up Wednesday

June 18, 2014June 18, 201433 Comments

“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 Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun (September, 2014) and it’s now on my short list of YA favorites. It is gorgeous, guys, and I can’t wait for you to read it! My daughter and I also finished Katherine Applegate’s The One & Only Ivan. We both loved it dearly. Over the weekend, I read Tammara Webber’s Breakable (a companion to Easy, of which I am a fan). I was a little worried that it would be gratuitous retelling from Lucas’s point of view, but the story was deeper than that. It gave a lot of insight into Lucas’s past and his character. It was also, like, seriously steamy. Now, I’m reading Laini Taylor’s Dreams of Gods & Monsters, the conclusion to a series I’ve loved from day one. The writing is predictably beautiful and brilliant!

What I’m Writing: Still working on my Where Poppies Bloom revision and my The Road So Far first draft. For all the details of my last week of writing, you’re welcome to check out my RSW update HERE.

Knocking out words at the local music store, where my girl takes guitar lessons.

What Else I’ve Been Up To: My girl and I are off to Phoenix to visit my parents, so pardon my slow blog responses. We’re excited to see Nana and Poppy, and to leave the muggy heat for dry heat — yay!

Last week we visited the Gulfarium and met lots of water-dwelling creatures. It was tons of fun, and if you’re ever in the Destin area, you should check it out!

We also enjoyed a beach day with our neighbors/friends — I’m sure you’re shocked. 😉 My daughter and I are going to be in for a rude awakening if we’re ever stationed in a land-locked state. Yikes.

What’s Inspiring Me Now: This video, which I’ve watched about a dozen times. I adore a good deployment homecoming clip (trust me: there are few things better than seeing your significant other after a long stretch of time apart) and this one is up there with the best I’ve seen. The couple is adorable, they’re at a kick-ass fraternity party, the soundtrack rocks, and the girl is so obviously shocked… I bet you’ll cry happy tears for these two!

I also read two super inspiring blog posts this week. The first was from Jessica Love, who spoke about the death of her friend Laura (who was clearly an amazing person), as well as kindness and thoughtfulness and trying to be better. I love this beautiful post, and now I’m inspired to be kinder and more thoughtful. And the second, from Leila Austin at YA Highway, about writing and anxiousness and letting go of the things we can’t control. Very timely for this writer.

Tell me… What’s up with you today?

What’s Up Wedesday

June 11, 2014June 11, 201432 Comments

What I’m Reading: I finished my friend Elodie Nowodazkij’s up-and-coming YA debut, One, Two, Three, and adored it. It’s the perfect read for fans of Simone Elkeles and Katie McGarry — angsty and sexy, with layered characters, a quick pace, and ballet(!). Now, I’m reading Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun (September, 2014). Guys, it is gorgeous beyond description. I’m savoring every sentence — every word. I’m mesmerized by the way Jandy Nelson plays with language and spins a fairly basic plot into this lovely and arresting web of a novel. I’m so looking forward to purchasing a finished copy. And finally, my daughter and I are reading The One & Only Ivan together and oh my goodness, it is making my heart hurt. What a profound and beautiful story. (Fact: The Ivan in Katherine Applegate’s novel was based on a real silverback gorilla — also named Ivan — who lived in a tiny glass “domain” in a sketchy Washington mall for 27 years. That sketchy mall was close to where I grew up, and I have very vivid memories of visiting Ivan with my family and musing, even way back then, about what a sad life he must’ve lived.)

What I’m Writing: The same two projects I’ve been working on for months. I revised a couple chapters from Where Poppies Bloom, and added a few thousand new words to the WiP I’m drafting, The Road So Far. Slowly but surely, friends. Slowly but surely. (You can read more about my Ready. Set. Write! summer writing and reading [and tanning] goals HERE.)

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Well, I’m the proud mama of a SECOND GRADER. Not sure how that happened already, but I’m very excited for my girl.

I feel like she went from six to sixteen overnight! *sob*

She was awarded a Super Reader certificate, which obviously makes me all kinds of proud. She was also voted “Class Encourager” by her classmates, and my heart bursts with pride knowing that she’s sweet and kind to her peers. Also, her teacher named her Most Inquisitive, which she totally gets from her daddy!

First day of summer break. We love the beach!

I made Spritz Cookies, because when I’m stuck on a writing project, I bake. I normally make Spritz around Christmas time. I use tree, wreath, star, and heart shapes, and color them green, white, and red. My daughter suggested doing summery flowers this time, and I think they turned out so cute! The yellow flowers are lemon, the red are almond, and the blue are coconut. Yum!

What’s Inspiring Me Now: Oh, just THIS from YA author Trisha Leaver…

“With the release date of CREED rapidly approaching, Lindsay Currie and I have been fielding questions about what our co-authored voice sounds like, how psychologically twisted our collective mind is, and do I need to read all of your co-authored pieces with the lights on?

Rather than simply answer those questions, we thought we’d take it one step further and actually show you! We toyed with writing a prequel-type novella to set the stage for CREED, but you know us…why write a novella to CREED when you can give them entirely different book to enjoy!

After much discussion with our agents and an enthusiastic ‘go for it’ from our publisher, we have decided to utilize Wattpad to give the world a sneak peek at what they can expect from our co-authored voice. So here it is, a new, psychologically twisted, co-authored YA Thriller.

“The darkness would’ve scared me years ago, but not anymore—if you couldn’t see it, then you didn’t know it was there to be afraid of.”

~Jake Holloway, SILO

Starting today, we will be sharing a chapter a week of our co-authored book, SILO, on Wattpad for the world to enjoy, hate, question our sanity, run screaming from… The last chapter of the book will drop the week of November 8th, 2014, the same week CREED releases!

So, go forth and be appropriately frightened as you realize just what our twisted minds of capable of. Spread the word, leave a comment on Wattpad or simply enjoy the book in the dark confines of your own home.”

SILO on Wattpad

Trisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather irreverent dog. Her co-authored, YA Psychological Horror drops November 8, 2014 from FLUX. Her solo YA Contemporary, THE SECRETS WE KEEP, releases April 28th, 2015 from FSG/ Macmillan.
www.trishaleaver.com, Goodreads, Twitter, & Facebook

Lindsay Currie lives in Chicago, Illinois with one incredibly patient hubby, three amazing kids and one adorable, but irreverent Bullmastiff named Sam. She graduated from Knox College in the heart of the Midwest and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Today, Lindsay is an author, as well as a freelance editor for young adult, new adult and middle grade fiction. She is a proud member of SCBWI, The YA Scream Queens and OneFourKidLit.
www.lindsaycurrie.com, Goodreads, & Twitter

Tell me… What’s up with you today?

What’s Up Wednesday

June 4, 2014June 4, 201437 Comments

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?

May Reading Wrap-Up

May 30, 2014May 29, 20148 Comments

May. The month I read all the books.
{As always, covers link to Goodreads pages.}

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick – I enjoyed this sophomore novel — perhaps not quite as much as Huntley Fitzpatrick’s debut, My Life Next Door, but WITWT was just the right book to get me into that lazy, hazy summer mindset. Protagonist Gwen is compelling, her brother Emory is a joy, and love interest Cass is as adorable as can be. But, I think WITWT‘s setting is my very favorite part. I kind of want to be an island girl, even if that means being “the help” when I’m not soaking up sunshine at the beach. 🙂

Frozen by Erin Bowman – I’ve gotta say… I liked Frozen even more than its dystopian predecessor, Taken. Poor Gray. He’s grown so much and is becoming a true leader, but life keeps throwing the cruelest of challenges his way. Thank goodness he’s got Bree on his side. While their relationship is complicated, she’s just the constant he needs. Of course, that’s not to say Emma’s out of the picture — though things concerning her take a major turn in this novel. The twists keep coming, and Erin’s writing is just as beautiful in Frozen as it was in Taken — perhaps even more so. I can’t wait to see how this trilogy concludes in Forged.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – I don’t know what it is about Jenny Han’s writing, but I’ve been enchanted by every one of her books, and Boys is no exception. I’ve heard from some reviewers who were put off by Lara Jean’s young-ish voice, but I think she’s adorable. She reminds me of Claudia Kishi, and I can totally relate to her feelings of uncertainty when it comes to boys, as well as her idealistic tendencies when it comes to family and romance. I love the way Lara Jean’s connection with her father and sisters is portrayed, and I love the way her relationship with Peter develops into something surprising. Can’t wait to read P.S. I Still Love You!

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond – This one came recommended by my friend Sara, and I thought it was pretty fantastic. I loved the unconventional family set-up, and the budding romance was sweet and different and rather mysterious. Gotta give major credit to an author who writes a romantic interest who might be lying about everything, but charms you into loving him anyway. Summer is set in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up (automatic bonus points), and there’s this whole subplot involving cougars (yep) that I found particularly unique and heartbreaking. This one’s a recommend if you’re looking for an under-the-radar summer romance.

Easy by Tammara Webber – I don’t read tons of NA, and while the NA books I’ve picked up have been sexy and wildly entertaining, I wouldn’t describe them as deep or super high quality. Easy is very different, though, and I flew through it in two sittings, then immediately bought its follow-up, Breakable. Jacqueline is such an incredible protagonist. She goes through a terrible ordeal in the novel’s opening, but she’s no wilting flower. And Lucas… If you like mysterious, tattooed, damaged-but-ass-kicking book boys, you will positively swoon for him. He and Jacqueline develop such a genuine (also, hot) relationship over the course of this novel, and I shamelessly loved every second they were on the page together. Easy‘s a big NA recommend.

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae – I normally don’t read books described as “clean teen” (I like my YA on the edgy side, thanks), but I follow Kristin Rae on Instagram and she’s just so delightful, I couldn’t help but buy her debut. Good move on my part, because Italian is super cute. Pippa’s a fun narrator, and her travels through Italy gave me a serious case of wanderlust. Darren and Bruno, her boy possibilities, are appealing in completely unique ways, and Chiara and Mogan both serve as fantastic BFF figures. While this whole novel was charming, it was the last few pages that really cemented my fondness for it. Adorable.

We Were Liars by E. Lockheart – The hype surrounding this book is through the roof, and for good reason — it’s incredible. It’s one of those that’s best read without a lot of background information, but I will say that We Were Liars totally and completely broke my heart. And it surprised me. And it was unputdownable. And it made me want to be a better writer. E. Lockhart’s prose is gorgeous: spare and clean, yet beautifully poetic. This one’s going to be a 2014 favorite for sure.

Push Girl by Jessica Love and Chelsie Hill (June 3rd, 2014) – At first glance, Push Girl is simply an issue book. Kara’s been dealt an incredibly challenging hand and she’s facing struggles the average person’s probably never even considered. But this novel is so much more than the issues it covers. It’s a hopeful, honest, uplifting story about change and friendship and taking a stand. It’s about healing and traveling unexpected paths and — while Kara hates this word — it’s inspirational. Push Girl is emotional and deep, but there are moments of fun, too. Plus, it’s incredibly well-written. Do pick it up when it becomes available next week! My full Bookanista recommendation is HERE.

Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah (October 8th, 2014) – Yikes. This debut gave me the shivers. It’s scary in this subtle, confusing way that makes you want to devour it in one sitting. I love books that are unpredictable, books that make me question the narrator and the facts she presents and the words she chooses, and Of Scars and Stardust is definitely one of those. And the writing… so lovely and evocative. I read this novel over a few 90+ degree days, yet I still felt cold every time MC Claire set foot in a cornfield. If you like twisty psychological thrillers, pick up Of Scars and Stardust up when it debuts this fall.

That’s it! What’s the best book you read in May?

What’s Up Wednesday

May 28, 2014May 27, 201444 Comments

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?

Bookanista Rec :: PUSH GIRL by Jessica Love and Chelsie Hill

May 22, 2014May 21, 20147 Comments

Today’s Bookanista recommendation is
Push Girl (June 3rd) by Jessica Love and Chelsie Hill

From Goodreads – Kara is a high school junior who’s loving life. She’s popular, has a great group of friends and an amazing boyfriend, and she’s a shoe-in for homecoming queen. Even though her parents can’t stop fighting and her ex-boyfriend can’t seem to leave her alone, Kara won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect year. It’s Friday night, and Kara arrives at a party, upset after hearing her parents having another one of their awful fights, and sees another girl with her hands all over her boyfriend. Furious, Kara leaves to take a drive, and, as she’s crossing an intersection, a car comes out of nowhere and slams into the driver’s side of Kara’s car. When Kara wakes up, she has no memory of the night before. Where is she? Why are her parents crying? And, most importantly — why can’t she feel her legs? As Kara is forced to adjust to her new life, where her friends aren’t who they seemed to be and her once-adoring boyfriend is mysteriously absent, she starts to realize that what matters in life isn’t what happens to you — it’s the choices you make and the people you love. Co-written by “Push Girls” star Chelsie Hill, whose real life closely mirrors Kara’s experience, this novel will open the eyes of readers everywhere who have never met someone who lives with paralysis.

Oh, this book! I have so much love for it — not to mention its co-author, my friend and fellow Bookanista, Jessica Love. I cannot wait for June 3rd, when the world will finally meet courageous, determined Kara and her fabulous friends!

At first glance, Push Girl is simply an issue book. Kara’s been dealt an incredibly challenging hand and she’s facing all sorts of struggles, struggles the average person’s probably never even considered. But this novel is so much more than the issues it covers. It’s a hopeful, honest, uplifting story about change and friendship and taking a stand. It’s about healing and traveling unexpected paths and — while Kara hates this word — it’s inspirational.

Kara is such a likable protagonist. While she goes through (understandable) stages of grief and anger and self-pity, she’s ultimately a tenacious girl with an unshakable spirit. Kara’s fight to come to terms with her paralysis is heartbreaking, hard to read at times, but there’s so much joy during the scenes in which she preservers, changing peoples’ minds about paralysis, what it means to be different, and the true meaning of the word inspirational. Kara’s cast of supporting characters is fantastic as well. Jack, especially, makes me smile, and Amanda’s loyalty is refreshing.

Push Girl will appeal to teens and adults alike. It’s emotional and deep, but there are moments of fun, too. Plus, it’s incredibly well-written. Do pick it up when it becomes available June 3rd — I think you’ll love this debut as much as I do!

Don’t forget to check out what my fellow Bookanistas are up to:

Jessica Love adores WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN by Kristin Rae

Kimberly Sabatini is crazy for THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West

What’s Up Wednesday

May 21, 2014May 21, 201446 Comments

First, congratulations to Alice (AKA Krispy), winner of last week’s The Baby Name Wizard giveaway! 🙂

What I’m Reading: I finished Kristin Rae’s debut, Wish You Were Italian, and thought it was super cute. I’m not a big “clean teen” reader (I generally prefer my books on the edgy side), but Italian is a fun, summery romance I’d definitely recommend. The last few pages had me grinning ear-to-ear. I also read super-hyped We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, and yeah… There’s a reason for all the attention this book’s getting. It is incredible. And that’s all I’ll say because you simply must read it for yourself. Now, I’m reading Of Scars and Stardust by my agent-mate, Andrea Hannah. I’m not very far along yet, but so far it’s gorgeous.

What I’m Writing: This might sound weird because hello, I fancy myself a writer, but I hate drafting. Like, it really and truly pains me. I love to outline and I love to revise, however, the in-between stage of actually getting words into my document is a pain in the ass. But, good news! This story I’m working on now? Drafting it has been so. Much. Fun. A total joy. I’ve been writing close to 2K words pretty much every day, and I’m loving it. I’m up to 17K+ words now, and hoping the magic sticks around for a good, long while. #HappyWriter

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Have you heard of the show H2O: Just Add Water? It’s an Australian show that ran from 2006-2010 about three teenage girls who transform into mermaids when they get wet, and it is awesome. My daughter and I are halfway through the third and final season (thanks, Netflix!), and we’re obsessed. Now, I should warn you… The cheese factor is off-the-charts, but the show is super cute and quite creative. It’s also appropriate for kiddos, yet entertaining for parents — a rare combination, if you ask me. So, yeah… We’ve been watching H20: Just Add Water. A lot.

We spent Saturday at the beach with a couple of friends and had a great time. You know what’s fun about exposing your daughter to a show concerning mermaids? Every time she dips her toes into the ocean, she pretends to be one!

We had a much-welcome break from the stifling humidity over the weekend, so my girlie, Daisy, and I made the most of the lovely weather by eating ice cream, playing frisbee, and watching the sun sink below the trees.

I got a haircut! I haven’t had so much as a trim since December, so this was a Very Exciting Event, one that obviously had to be documented photographically. 😉

What’s Inspiring Me Now: My WiP, and the Love List I made for it. Also, Twitter’s #IreadYA hashtag. So many excellent book recommendations and inspirational anecdotes from writers sharing why they read (and write!) YA. And, finally, the A Beautiful Body Project (FYI: there’s nudity all over this site — really beautiful, artistic nudity, but still… Maybe don’t click the link while you’re at work). The ABBP is a “movement of women coming together to tell their stories and celebrate their ever-changing bodies so that future generations of women can live free from self-suffering.” It was founded by Jade Beall and her partner,Alok Appadurai, and it’s pretty amazing. Appreciating women and their natural, non-airbrushed, beautiful bodies? Count me in!

What’s up with you today?

What’s Up Wednesday – Plus a Giveaway!

May 14, 2014May 13, 201434 Comments

Giveaway details at the end of this post!!!

What I’m Reading: I read a lot over the last week. I finished Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and thought it was absolutely adorable. I can’t wait for the follow-up, P.S. I Still Love You. Next, I read The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bonds, which came highly recommended by Sara Biren, and I thought it was fantastic. Loved the unconventional family set-up, and the budding romance was sweet and different and rather mysterious, which was cool. Plus, the Pacific Northwest, and cougars! Then, I flew though Tammara Webber’s Easy, the most unputdownable book I’ve encountered in ages. I haven’t read tons of NA, but this one was quite different from the ones I have perused. While sexy and wildly entertaining, it was also beautifully written and emotional and deep. I’m so looking forward to reading its companion, Breakable. Now, I’m reading Kristin Rae’s debut, Wish You Were Italian, which is a discordant follow-up to Easy (Italian is very much “clean teen”), but I’m still loving it. Pippa is too cute, and the setting (Italy, obviously) is giving me a wicked case of wanderlust.

What I’m Writing: I finally finished my outline (it’s very detailed, but — I think — flexible enough), and I am super excited about this new project, guys. I wrote the opening chapter a few weeks ago and have since discovered that I started in the wrong place (as usual). So, yesterday I rewrote that first chapter. Now it fits nicely into my outline and my beat sheet. Much better.

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Still watching Gossip Girl. Still swooning over Blair’s clothes and Nate’s baby blues. I just finished Season 2, which was all kinds of melodramatic and awesome. In other news, on Monday I went to a book signing in celebration of the release of Of Neptune by Anna Banks, who’s a local author. I’ve yet to read any of the Syrena Legacy books, but I’ve managed to acquire them all over the last few days and I’m looking forward to diving into this new series (see what I did there?!). And, finally, I’m having lots of fun playing mama. The school year is winding down, and my daughter and I are soaking up the last few weeks of first grade, and making big plans for summer fun.

I had a lovely Mother’s Day! My girlie made me breakfast in bed (toast with honey and blackberries), gave me an adorable coupon book and a piece of art she made at school, and hung with me at the beach. Couldn’t ask for a better day. ❤

Also, I made easy (yummy!) homemade brownies. Here’s the recipe.

What’s Inspiring Me Now: My WiP! I’m having a blast working on it! I love this stage, when a project feels fresh and new and exciting. Hopefully it lasts a good, long while. Additionally, I’m finding an article by Janice Hardy at Fiction University called Four Questions to Ask to Make Your Scenes Pop really helpful. Great reminders for those drafting or revising.

And now… Today’s Giveaway

I lost my copy of The Baby Name Wizard during our cross-country move back in December — cue sad face. I searched for it for months because I love it for naming my characters, and because my copy had tons of names highlighted from seven years ago, back when I was trying to name my yet-to-be-born daughter. Anyway. I finally broke down and purchased a new copy, the 3rd edition pictured below, because I have characters who need names, like, yesterday. Wouldn’t you know it — I found my original copy an hour after the new one was delivered. After paging through the 3rd edition, I decided it isn’t all that different from the 1st, at least not in ways that matter for my needs. Plus, my old copy has sentimental value. So, that pretty new 3rd edition is up for grabs! Details below…

*Anyone who comments on this post will be automatically entered in the random drawing. If you already own this book or don’t have a need for it but would still like to comment, just let me know that you’re not interested in the drawing and I’ll exclude you.

*Giveaway is open through Sunday at midnight, and I will announce the winner in next week’s What’s Up Wednesday post, after emailing him/her.

*Giveaway is open internationally (while this book focuses on name popularity in the US, I personally think it’d be helpful to anyone, anywhere). Writers and actual baby-namers alike are welcome to enter. 🙂

Tell me… What’s up with you today?

Bookanistas Rec :: OPEN ROAD SUMMER by Emery Lord

May 8, 2014May 8, 20144 Comments

Today’s Bookanista recommendation is
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

From Goodreads – After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

About a thousand people recommended this book to me even before its official release date. I preordered it because my book besties know me well, but when it arrived at my house, I was nervous. I mean, the cover is gorgeous, the synopsis really does sound like it was written with my tastes in mind, and it’d been so hyped — to me and across the YA community. What if I hated it?

I didn’t. In fact, I LOVED it. I’d go so far as to say it’s a new favorite. Guys, Open Road Summer is pure magic. Here’s what I adored…

*Reagan. She’s a breath of fresh YA air. So real. So complex. Fantastic arc. I was riveted by her backstory, which played perfectly into the girl she is at the novel’s opening, and the girl she becomes by its close.

*Dee. I was prepared to dislike her because it’s immediately established that she’s perfect (aside from the fact that she’s grouchy when she’s sick and hungry). Perfect or not, she’s also deep and genuine and charming. An awesome BFF.

*Reagan & Dee’s friendship. Author Emery Lord rendered their longstanding relationship beautifully. Their loyalty and love for one another is palpable.

*Matt Finch. *happy sigh* He’s so freaking cute and alluring and just… winsome. Pretty much every scene he shared with Reagan made me grin. They have incredible chemistry, super fun banter, and some of the sweetest kisses I’ve read.

*Jimmy. He’s a fairly minor character (he’s in only in one scene), but his presence sort of looms over Dee throughout, and I love how that’s executed. IWLYF ❤

*Travel. This novel literally takes place on the open road, all through the southern half of the US (my favorite half, incidentally) and exploring the country with Reagan, Dee, and Matt was a blast.

*Music. It’s no secret that I love country music, and it’s no secret that I love Taylor Swift. I get the impression that Dee was perhaps inspired at least in part by her, which is sort of amazing. Also, there are song lyrics sprinkles throughout the novel that are so very lovely.

*Nashville. One of my very favorite cities. We used to live nearby, so I could totally picture Open Road Summer‘s references to Music Row and the Ryman and the gorgeous landscapes outside the city. Makes me want to visit.

*Voice. There wasn’t a moment while reading this story where I was pulled out of the narrative by a word or phrase that didn’t fit. Emery Lord’s voice reads as effortless, and I’m a fan.

Open Road Summer is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year thus far. I highly, highly recommend it.

Don’t forget to check out what my fellow Bookanistas are up to:

Lenore Appelhans loves WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

Tracy Banghart lights up for
STREETLIGHTS LIKE FIREWORKS, by David Pandolfe

Jessica Love is on fire for CAMELOT BURNING by Kathryn Rose

Tracey Neithercott sings the praises of
STOLEN SONGBIRD by Danielle L. Jensen

What’s Up Wednesday

May 7, 2014May 6, 201438 Comments

What I’m Reading: I finished Huntley Fitzpatrick’s What I Thought Was True and really enjoyed it. Perhaps not quite as much as her debut, My Life Next Door, but WITWT was the perfect book to get me into that lazy, hazy summer mindset, and its love interest, Cass, is adorable as can be. I also read Erin Bowman’s sophomore dystopian novel, Frozen. While I’m still recovering, I *think* I’ve decided that I liked Frozen even more than its predecessor, Taken. Poor, poor Gray. Also, my love for Bree knows no bounds. Now, I’m reading Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which is delightful. I’m a huge fan of Jenny’s Summer trilogy, and Boys is certainly stacking up. Its protagonist, Lara Jean, reminds me a bit of my favorite Baby Sitters Club character, Claudia Kishi. Both girls have Asian lineage (Lara Jean is Korean American, while Claud is of Japanese descent), but I think their similarities run deeper. Lara Jean and Claudia both possess this genuine sort of innocence that’s just so charming, and they’re both into artsy things and have distinct, unique personal style. So far, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is totally winning me over.

What I’m Writing: Well. I’ve been trying to plot my new mystery WiP (that follow-up/sequel/whatever I’ve been hinting about) for days, but to be honest, I’ve only been muddling along, filling in bits here and there, and mostly just mentally flailing about. Yesterday, though, I had an epiphany: I’m not going to be able to solve this mystery along with my characters like I originally planned (my misguided attempt at pantsing, I guess). I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS, ALL THE DETAILS OF THE MYSTERY, BEFORE I BEGIN TO DRAFT. So, I spent most of Monday and Tuesday prewriting, filling in the background stuff that’s necessary for plotting my characters’ journey. Things are going much smoother now. Yay for literary breakthroughs!

New favorite workspace…

What Else I’ve Been Up To: Lots of summery things, like beach-going and early morning strolls with good ol’ Daisy.

I know it’s not yet summer in most areas of the country, but we’ve had a string of 80+ degree days and this sun worshipper is loving it. I’m already so tan!

I was lucky enough to win Sara Biren’s Blogoversary Giveaway, and on Monday I received the oh-so-amazing prize package. Sara even surprised me with an under-the-radar YA romance that I can’t wait to read, and sent super cute Hello Kitty hair accessories for my girl! Happy, happy mail! Thanks so much, Sara!

What’s Inspiring Me Now: This, a thousand times…

I’m proud of my daughter and all of her positive personality traits — she’s astute, kind, courageous, witty, and compassionate — but few things thrill me more than seeing her engrossed in a story. I took the above photo about an hour after tucking her into bed for the night. She was supposed to be sleeping, but really… How can I be mad at her for sneaking in extra time with a book — especially when I remember doing exactly the same thing when I was her age?