What I'm Reading

I always love to hear what people are reading. And when I read a great book, there's something satisfying about discussing the ups and downs of it with others who have read it. 

A few weeks ago, I listened to an NPR show about the 100th Anniversary of Anne of Green Gables. It had been quite a while since I'd given Anne Shirley any thought. The other day while visiting my local bookstore I came across a shelf of Aladdin Classics and picked up Anne of Green Gables and Little Women.

I'm reading AOGG right now and cannot believe how wonderful it is. It's even better than I remembered it! It's so good, I'm looking beyond the abundance of adverbial dialogue tags a la "Marilla ejaculated" and "Anne said comfortably."

So what books have you re-read lately that you love? Were there any that you felt weren't as satisfying as it was the first time you read it?

At Book's End

"The End." These are two little words I refuse to type at the close of any manuscript. Sometimes I put a # sign, or a few ***. But "The End?" Never. 

A book doesn't end. The characters go on and on forever, never aging, never losing the passion of won love, or the feeling of triumph after the last scene of the book's climax. The characters we adore (in our own books and in others) live for eternity in one big, long Resolution scene. 

I have entered the final phase of my current WIP, and plan to write the book's climatic scene tomorrow. 

I'm terrified, but thrilled at the same time. I've had a certain moment playing like a skipping CD over and over in my head for months now. It's all been leading up to this one, powerful, heart-wrenching moment my protagonist will have to endure. I want to do it right, and so I think I'll be writing slow. 

The best part: no "The End." Because as soon as I type in the # sign, I'm off to outline the third, and final, book of the trilogy. Let's just hope my editor & publisher want a third :-)

After two long weeks...

My hubby is finally coming home today! He and his dad have been doing the whole "Wild Hogs" thang across the country on their Harley's. They must think they're wicked hard core, what with riding through all the rain, sleet, and hail plaguing the midwest lately. I will be so happy to have him home. I give some serious props to all the single moms out there. Two weeks is enough for me. 

Besides, the grass needs mowing and the trash needs to be taken to the dump :) You know, the important stuff :0)

Middle Grade manuscript--out the door

After reading through my middle grade manuscript all last week, making little edits and hacking off some unnecessary fat, I finally closed out of the Word document, opened up a new email, and sent it to my agent. I could have easily obsessed over it for the next few weeks, but how healthy would that have been? Ted is going to have his own ideas/suggestions, so I'll just sit tight and wait for them.

This new project is a completely different sort of novel from my first YA. It's told in first person instead of third, and has a nice dose of humor. Personally, first person was much simpler to write than third. Does anyone else think that as well? The humor just came rolling out, and I hadn't planned for that at all. I actually meant for this mystery to be dark and creepy. Nope. My protagonist took over and completely rerouted the tone of the story. I never thought I could do humor, but I think she's a riot. 

While I wait for Ted to read it and give me his thoughts, I am planning on finishing up the sequel to EVERLASTING, stuffing it in a drawer to percolate, and then begin work on EVERLASTING revisions. I cannot wait for my editor to send me her revision ideas. It will feel so good to begin moving that project forward. It's been stagnant for about five months while contract negotiations were underway. 

Off to do some more writing...

I need quiet time!

Because I need to read BREAKING DAWN before I come across any blogs packed with spoilers! 

Also on my TBR list are: TANTALIZE and THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND. 

Has anyone heard anything about this second book? It just looked good and I picked it up. 

At last! My Contract!

Went to the mailbox yesterday. Expected bills and the rest of the fodder mailboxes usually spew. What did I find? A big manila envelope from New York City. Inside, MY CONTRACT!

I waited four months for this sucker. I read every dense paragraph and clause packed with impenetrable legalese, shivering with excitement when I came to certain portions (you know, advance, royalties, delivery dates, authors copies, foreign rights, movie rights...all the fun ones!). 

It finally feels REAL. Someone is going to PAY me for my novel. Someone wants to publish my stuff. Did this realization blow anyone else's mind?