Category: Family

Pity Party

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I’m throwing myself one, here and now.

While I try to keep the tone of this blog generally upbeat, I’ve been feeling very blah lately. My blahs, I think, stem from a few different catalysts. May I elaborate?

One, news I’ve been anxiously awaiting pretty much the entire summer finally trickled in and… it was not great. Two, I’m smack in the middle of a revision that, while necessary (and awesome), is giving me more than its fair share of fits. Three, my daughter is in school now, all day, every day, and despite the much-needed additional work time, I’m a little lonely. Four, I can’t for the life of me get into a book. I’ve been picking up and putting down the same two for a week-and-a-half, and neither of them will hold my attention. And five, the winding down of summer… Eh. I’m a fun-in-the-sun girl, and I always feel a little down when the weather starts to turn.

Transition and change and the unpredictable can be tough, and lately I feel like I’m seeing A LOT of all three.

So, yeah. Boo hoo.

The good news is: I’m not alone! Posts throughout the blogosphere have cemented that over the last week, particularly this one from Caroline Richmond, and this one from Christa Desir. My writing friends make me feel normal, and for that I’m grateful.

In that spirit, I invite you to join my pity party. It’s right here, right now, and since you can’t bring brownies or Bud Light, I welcome you to leave a gripe (big or small, important or insignificant) in the comments . We can all take a few moments to wallow together, and then we can let our crap go and move onward, toward a better week. A happier week!

So, what are you bringing to my pity party?

Admittedly, it’s hard to be *too* grouchy when I get to spend afternoons laughing with this girlie.

Five on Friday

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1. WriteOnCon begins August 14th! Never heard of WriteOnCon? Well, you’re missing out! From the website: …designed to give attendees many of the features of a live writer’s conference, but in an online environment. Thanks to technologies like blogging, vlogging, livestreaming, and chats, WriteOnCon connects writers with both industry professionals and fellow peers from the convenience of their own homes. Critique forums allow writers to receive feedback and exposure for their work, and the entire program is designed to be both informative and entertaining. 

Guys. There are tons of authors, writers, and agents involved with WriteOnCon. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people, get your work critiqued, and learn from some of the best. Oh, and WriteOnCon is FREE! Click on the image below for more information…

2. I have the world’s best CPs. Not only have they provided me with amazing feedback on my WiP this summer (thank you, Taryn, Temre, Christa, and Alison!), but their writing… Holy hell these girls are amazingly talented! Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of reading work by Alison (upper-YA contemporary with a wicked twist of magic and a male narrator who has all kinds of issues and still manages to rock) and Temre (middle grade contemporary with the most charming magical thread and an absolutely adorable protagonist who I can’t wait to share with my daughter in the future). While the stories of these two writers couldn’t be more different (seriously–they’re worlds apart), they’re both utterly engaging, unputdownable, with voices that are unique and enviable. And, if reading Alison’s and Temre’s incredible manuscripts isn’t enough, I get to read Christa‘s next week. Lucky me!

3. YA Book Club, brain child of brilliant Tracey Neithercott, has an official August selection: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. I’ve read this book, therefor I can say with supreme certainty that it’s amazing. We’ll be discussing This is Not a Test via our blogs and blog comments on Monday, August 27th, so you’ve plenty of time to hunt it down (like you’d hunt down a zombie), read it, ponder it, and write about it. I can’t wait to blog hop and check out everyone’s thoughts on this astonishing book. For more info, click on the image below…

4. I have agent-suggested revision notes! You might recall that, with great trepidation, I sent my WiP off to Agent Vickie a few weeks ago. Then I waited nervously and ate a lot of chocolate and tried not to bug her while she read the manuscript I’ve been working on for more than two years. Well, Agent Vickie has now read it and she’s on board with it (yay!), and she recently sent me an email full of shrewd feedback and invaluable suggestions for improving the story. Mostly, this revision will consist of digging deeper, strengthening character motivations, and fleshing out backgrounds. This is the phase of writing I enjoy most (drafting = yikes!), and I’m currently letting all that feedback simmer in the depths of my mind so I can start brainstorming and dive headfirst into the work next week. Can’t wait!

5. Kindergarten. My girlie started school on Wednesday. First of all, how am I old enough to have a school-aged child? And second, how am I going to fill my days now? I’ve been a stay-at-home mama since the day my daughter was born. Now I’m just a stay-at-home… person? I mean really. One can only do so much grocery shopping and cleaning. Luckily, I have plenty of CP reading and regular reading and revising (see above) to keep me busy. And thankfully, my girlie is doing fantastically at school. So, I guess I should just be grateful for all the extra writing time and stop watching the clock, counting the minutes till pick-up. Right? RIGHT?!

Pretty girl all ready to go!

A little nervous and a little sad once reality set in. Luckily, she pulled it together and let me leave with minimal fuss. (Thanks to my dear friend Meghan for acting as paparazzi and snapping this photo through the classroom window… I love it! ♥)

A successful first day! (Again, my sweet friend Meghan… She brought my girlie flowers at pick-up time!)

Tell me: What do you have going on this weekend? Reading? Writing? Fun in the sun? (We’re cooking out with neighbors and going to a professional soccer game… Fun!)

One-Word Wednesday

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Super creepy #photobomb...
PhotoBomb
{This is what I’m dealing with on a daily basis, friends.}


Charming
{Girls’ Day Out last weekend… Pedicures and lunch at The Wild Plum. Yum!}


Intensity
{She is SO my child.}


Steamy
{Pushing the Limits… Man. This book!}


Because one word isn’t enough: This cutie starts KINDERGARTEN today. My mommy heart is sort of broken (she’s filled my days for five solid years!), yet I’m thrilled for her too. I can’t wait to see what she learns and who she befriends. I can’t wait to watch her grow and change and mature over the coming year.

Also, the extra writing time can’t hurt me. 🙂

What’s changing in your world this week?

MAY I tell you something about my husband?

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♥ He’s amazing. ♥

Smart and supportive and sweet. Endlessly funny. He balances my obsessive anxiety with his carefree, cheerful way. He makes me smile even when there’s not a lot to smile about. He believes in me and my dream of selling a book. He believes in our daughter and encourages her, whatever her aspiration of the day may be. He’s not above playing Barbies on the floor or pretending to be a gorilla just to earn a belly laugh. He’s the world’s most loving daddy.

♥ He’s the world’s best husband. ♥

Today is our ninth wedding anniversary. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have snagged this guy.

What do you think? Have we aged well?

♥

{Oh! Don’t forget to enter my Reading is Sexy Giveaway if you haven’t already!}

MAY I ask something about you?

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During our recent road trip to California, we spent a few nights in Cannon Beach, Oregon, which is pretty much my favorite town ever.

While in Cannon Beach, my husband, daughter, and I experienced what turned out to be an entirely perfect day. It was one full of kite flying, sandcastle building, picnicking, hiking, biking, and shopping. We capped our perfect day with the perfect meal, a four course evening of deliciousness at The Irish Table. Dinner began with cider beer (a Shirley Temple for my girlie) and authentic Irish soda bread, followed by roasted beet salad, then fresh grilled halibut with fingerling potatoes and zucchini. After watching the sunset, we walked to a local grocery store and picked up a ridiculously expensive dark chocolate candy bar that was packed with almonds and cherry bits. All in all, the meal was freaking amazing. Frankly, I wish I could relive every delectable bite right this very second.

National Eat What You Want Day? Don't mind if I do! {Tonight's dinner at The Irish Table in #CannonBeach was aMaZiNg!} #CAHereWeCome #RoadTrip #Yum

So, my question for you: What is your idea of the perfect meal (location, company, food, drink, etc…)?

{Oh! Don’t forget to enter my Reading is Sexy Giveaway if you haven’t already!}