Shout Outs

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Someone Else?

It's the last day of Blog Me Maybe. I can't believe June is starting tomorrow. We better have some good summer weather here in Alberta or I'm leaving. Just sayin'.

Anyway, today I wanted to give shout-outs to some of my beta readers/CPs. These girls are amazing.

Here, have some love from me

First off, my sister-in-law Emily blogs (occasionally) over at Write About Nothing. She's my first and foremost reader (poor girl) and also an extremely valuable Brainstorming Buddy. If I've got the barest of ideas, I can message her and say, what do you think about this? And she zaps back with answers that always help move me along. So check her out cuz she's awesome.

Secondly, check out Michelle Merrill over at Perfecting the Craft. The name of her blog perfectly describes her because she is a genius at the craft of writing. She gave me such helpful line and structure edits when she read Daze I will be forever grateful.

My other reader and major cheerleader of Daze and Knights is Amanda Hannah, who blogs occasionally here but is also one of YA Highway's contributors. If you're not a YA Highway reader, I'm telling you, you should be. Her general gushing over Daze made me obviously very happy (and blushtastic) and she gave me excellent edits on the MS as well as pointed out some of the things I do that I shouldn't (like all the words I overuse- that, just, so, etc). Remembering her enthusiasm for Daze has buoyed me up on those days where I think the book will never see the light of a bookstore window.

Lastly, go see Prerna Pickett over at The Sands of Writing. I had a great time reading one of her MS's and then she returned the favor and read Sway. Although I haven't gone through her edits yet, I was psyched to have her read it because I love her blog and I loved her story.

These girls are AMAZING. They have made me a better writer. I suggest you go check them out, like NOW. Okay? Okay.

About Conferences and Books

Blog Me Maybe: May I Ask You Something?

I've got two questions for you today.

YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday asks this:

What book and/or writing conference would you love to go to?

My answer is simple. ANY. I've never really been to a conference. I say 'really' because I participated in WriteOnCon last year which was AWESOME but it happens in the comfort of your own home so it's not like I had to go anywhere. And then there was this writer's day that the Calgary library hosted and I went to that and it was sort of a mini-conference I guess. It was good but there weren't any authors or agents there. :( There isn't just one I dream of going to. Really, I'd love to be a part of ANY conference. Hopefully one day...

My other question, since YA Highway isn't doing this one like usual, is:

What was the best book you read in May?

My book count for this month is a little low- for me at least. Here's what I read:

I've got to say, I don't think I can pick a favorite this month. These books were all so different. Entwined was a twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale- a very beautiful story. Chain Reaction was a contemp romance- hot and funny and tense and excellent. I haven't read fantasy in awhile and Finnikin of the Rock didn't disappoint. The world was well imagined, the characters interesting and the plot of the story not what I thought it would be. Daughter of Smoke and Bone was also not what I thought it would be. I loved reading about Prague and artsy characters and a world of angels and demons that was new and unexpected. And then there's Insurgent. An awesome sequel. It didn't disappoint. Even though I could hardly remember what happened in Divergent, it was easy to jump right back into the world and it didn't take long for me to remember the characters. It ended on a "wha???" and made me want the next one right away.

Five excellent books. I'd recommend all of them. Now I want your answers...

My Super-Strange Obsession

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Myself

Here's a random fact about me: I have this weird obsession with War.

No, that does not mean I like to fight or kill or maim or want to BE in a war of any kind. But I am fascinated with history and wars in particular.

Why? Who the heck knows.

The USS Arizona memorial (the brown circle sticking up is part of the actual Arizona)



When I was in Hawaii, I told my parents that the number one thing I wanted to do there was go to Pearl Harbor. My Dad asked why and I couldn't even answer him. I loved that I got the chance to go there. I wish we could have spent more time and done more. As it was, we spent all morning doing everything free- the museums, all the monuments and stuff outside, and of course the USS Arizona.

The Punchbowl



Another place we visited was the Punchbowl. This is a war memorial in a giant crater (or was it a volcano? I have no idea) right in the middle of Honolulu. There are thousands of plaques on the ground naming American soldiers who have fought in different wars. There are also walls and walls of names. My parents ended up waiting for me because I was taking so long there.

I also love war movies. Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Braveheart, Enemy at the Gates, The Patriot, U-571, We Were Soldiers, Memphis Belle. Pearl Harbor is probably one of my all-time favorite movies. (And it has a great soundtrack BTW.)

This obsession also shapes my writing. If I get the chance to write more Jessica books in the future, I can tell you my obsession with war throughout history will decide where Jessica will Travel.

The reason behind my weird obsession with war remains a mystery to me. It might have started with my early love of swing music and old movie-musicals. Maybe. As a teen, I loved to go to Army surplus stores. I have a vintage Navy shirt and a "We Want You" poster. And this is hanging on the wall in my TV room:

Whatever the reason, I'm fascinated with war. I like to learn about it, read about it, watch anything about it. Yep, that's my super-strange obsession.What's yours?

May I Attempt to Talk About Writing

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Writing

I don't know, may I? I know I may... I guess the question is, can I?

For the past month or two, I've been in a kind of funk. It started out with blogging, then it spread to my writing, and in May it's even spread to reading (I've only read four books so far this month!). The blogging-funk has been sort of fixed with Blog Me Maybe but I worry for next week, what the heck I'm going to blog about.

And then there's my writing. This past week, every day I've sat down to finish up my Jessica sequel. My daily word count was in the hundreds. Pathetic.

What is my problem? No clue.

Do I feel qualified to give other people advice about writing? DEFINITELY NOT.

So here's what I've got to say about that: Sometimes writing is hard. Sometimes it's so much fun and it makes me feel on top of the world. But sometimes it's hard. Like now.

But the answer is not to give up. I'm gonna give it another shot during my daily writing time. This Jessica sequel is refusing to be easy and maybe I'll put it aside again to start work on my SNI. Or maybe I'll force it out.

Whatever I end up doing, I'm going to WRITE. Because if there's one thing I know FOR SURE about writing, is that I can NEVER stop. Even if my daily productivity has been low. Even if I feel like a writing-loser. I'm going to write anyway.

So there.

And in case I need some inspiration...

Funny Ha Ha

Blog Me Maybe: May I Share Something Funny?

Confession: I think Amanda Bynes is hilariously funny.

You might disagree. But I don't care! Her movies are fun, cute, sweet, and nastiness-free which is always a bonus. Here's my faves and some other reasons why I like them besides Amanda Bynes.

Where I first fell in love with Channing Tatum

A great Snow White retelling

I never say no to Colin Firth

I miss this show...

Pick A Faction, Any Faction

Blog Me Maybe: May I Ask Something About You

goes along with YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday Question:

What Faction Would You Be?

First of all, here are the five factions with brief descriptions, in case you don't know what they are. And if you don't, you better stop reading this blog and go get Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I really had no clue which of these I am. So what did I do? I took the quiz. Yeah baby, I love quizzes. You can find the quiz here just in case, like me, you have no clue which Faction you'd belong to.

And I am... duh, duh, da, daaaaa!!!

Dauntless.

Whaaa???

No way. If I chose which I thought was most like me, I'd have gone with Amity. Almost the exact OPPOSITE of Dauntless. I don't like confrontation, I rarely get into fights of any kind, and honestly, if someone threatened me, I'd probably run away screaming.

Okay, I don't really know what I'd do if someone threatened me because it's never happened. And NO, this is not an invitation. Just so you know.

But apparently, based on the test results, I am Dauntless. Um yeah. I don't even know what to say about that. At least I get to wear black.

***Okay, I redid the test. I was really wondering if it would come out differently based on the first question. The first time, I picked the knife mostly because I don't like eating plain cheese. But really if it had been a food I liked, I would've picked the food. So this time I picked the cheese and got... Erudite! Still not Amity. So I guess I know myself NOT AT ALL.***

Advice Welcome

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Me?

So here's a random fact about me: I like advice.

I should rephrase that. I like WELCOME advice. Haha.

Here's another random fact: I used to hate asking questions. When I was a teen and someone would talk about something I had no clue about, I would keep my mouth shut because I didn't want to admit I had no clue what they were talking about. I hated to feel stupid.

I don't exactly love feeling stupid now, of course, but I've learned to ASK QUESTIONS. I've realized that if I don't ask, I'll never learn. All I have to do is endure a few moments of surprised/strange looks, or perhaps an exclamation of, "you didn't know that?!?!" and then I will get my answer, then I'll KNOW.

So on that note, I'm breaking some rules today. I'm gonna ask a question. I know, I know, that's tomorrow's Blog Me Maybe. But too bad. Cuz I need help!

This question is more along the lines of advice...

I have this Shiny New Idea. I've been brainstorming it for awhile and there are a few different ways I can spin it. The way that seems most natural, and came to me first, involves gangs, drugs, alcohol, and a lot of darker kinds of stuff than I usually write.

I don't have a problem delving into darker themes or writing about something I don't know much about. My problem is this: I don't swear. And I don't swear in my writing. BUT- I worry that writing about gangs, drugs, etc, without the swearing, won't be AUTHENTIC.

***Please note, this is NOT a post on swearing in YA. I don't need opinions on whether swear words should be used or not. My own short opinion is, you're the author- you choose.***

I worry that without the swear words, I won't be able to do the book justice. For example, I've already had a scene in my head where a gang member threatens my female MC. Swear words seem to be the logical thing this gang member would use. But I'm not gonna. Is there a more clever way to express something, to insult, without using words like pooper? Or should I just NOT GO THERE.

I do have a few other ways I could spin this SNI. It's just that this way seemed the most natural- it just FIT. But if I can't do it...

So. Here's where the advice comes in. I would love to hear your opinions on this matter.

All About Backstory

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Writing

(or better yet, it's not)

The dreaded backstory. We writers love writing it, but we don't love reading it. And we KNOW that agents/publishers don't want ANYTHING to do with it.

But why do we have such a problem with it? I think I, in all my genius (haha), have figured it out.

If you're a pantser like me, you get an idea for a book. Something like this: I'm gonna write a book about this girl who becomes a witch and she's really popular but she loses all her popularity because the witch thing is taking over her life and then she meets this guy who ends up being a warlock but he likes to use his powers for evil and somehow the girl has to convince him to be good or the world will end.

Haha. Seriously, this is one the ideas stewing in my head but I've left it alone because others have done witch stories waaaaay better than I could do. Obviously.

Anyway, so you've got this idea, but that's it. So you sit down and start to write it. And you write and you write and you write. And maybe about halfway through, or maybe even when you're done and rereading do you realize, gah- too much backstory!

Why? Because you're learning the backstory as you go. You are getting to know your character as you write him/her. You're discovering as you go along that maybe said MC has daddy issues, or maybe her best friend died a few years ago, or maybe she's got the need to please everyone because her mom is a successful CEO, or maybe all three. And you're writing obsessive details about these things because it's helping you to shape the character and get to know him/her and why they do the things they do.

(I'm wondering if this happens to plotters? Probably not as much.)

Backstory is just for us, the writer. And I think it's just fine to write it. It's recognizing as you reread, what can be cut out. We the writer need to know every in and out of our characters and what makes them tick- which is why we need to know their backstory. Once we know it, it's up to us to get rid of it from our MS's. It's up to us to use our writing powers to then sprinkle it in lightly, hinting to the reader tidbits of the backstory and then letting them figure out the rest. Not always easy, but certainly do-able.

Anyone NOT struggle with backstory? What's your secret?

"I'm Sorry I'm Laughing..."

Blog Me Maybe: May I Share Something Funny...

So I LOVED LOVED LOVED this movie and I'm super psyched it comes out on DVD this Tuesday. I really wanted to show the clip about FDR's teeny hands and the whole Mike 'n Ike bit but I couldn't find it. If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen the movie... DO. It's hilarious. And Tom Hardy is sexylicious. An added bonus. 

 

And... if you have a free moment this weekend, head over to Cupid's blog to check out my teams Writer's Voice entries and cheer us on (no critiques though, they're very adamant about that). And from there you can visit the other three blogs and check out our fierce competition.

Have a great weekend!

Introducing Lord Alric

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Someone Else

For today's Blog Me Maybe, I managed to get an interview with a very special person. Let me tell you, it was hard to get in touch with this guy. He's not just in a different time zone, he's in a different TIME. So here it is, the interview I got with Lord Alric (from my MS Daze and Knights).

Me: I'm so glad I get a chance to talk to you today. You don't mind answering some questions?

Lord Alric: Not at all.

Me: Great, let's get started. Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself. General things.

Lord Alric: But we are already acquainted.

Me: Well, yes, but it's not for me, it's for readers of my blog.

LA: What is a blog?

Me: Never mind. Tell me about your family.

LA: I am the third of four sons. My father is the Baron of Newbern, my mother the Lady Annabel.

Me: And what do you do?

LA: Do?

Me: Yeah, like, for an occupation.

LA: I command Count Frederick's army.

Me: You're pretty young to command an army.

LA: Perhaps. From a young age, I have learned all manner of weaponry and tactics. Count Frederick could not find another to equal my ability.

Me: I can tell you're good at all that, you know, because you're really fit and... *blushes furiously* Anyway, is there anything else you like to do, besides swords and stuff?

LA: Sadly, I have time for little else. However, if I have a spare moment, I like to play the gittern. I sing as well.

Me: Will you sing something for me?

LA: At this very moment?
Me: Yeah, now.

LA: *begins singing*

Me: *dies*

So there you have it. I hate to admit that once Lord Alric started to sing, I forgot about all the other questions I had for him. Ah well.

(pictures are of actor Alex Pettyfer)

Memory... All Alone in the Moonlight...

You've got that song in your head now don'tcha?

So for Road Trip Wednesday's topic for today:

What book brings back memories?

I can't think of just one book that brings any kind of major memory. A lot of books bring up at least glimmers of past moments, past reads, past parts of my life...

I remember reading New Moon in my bed while sobbing and feeling grateful that no one was around to see me.

Picking up any of Robert Jordan's books bring back thoughts of my sister who recommended them to me and then later discussions of whether the books had become a bit too much.

Reading Lord of the Rings brings back the memory of tricking my friends in Grade 6 that Chapter Two started halfway through the book making Chapter One VERY long. (It was Chapter Two of Part Two. Man, was I clever.)

Dragonlance books and anything by Piers Anthony bring back memories of me as a kid, learning to love dragons and magic and all things fantasy, and the desire to be like my older brothers and sisters.

Other books bring back memories of school: Romeo and Juliet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Beloved, Far From the Madding Crowd... I could go on.

And there's books that remind me of my childhood. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Pippi Longstocking, Clifford the Big Red Dog.

I remember finally reading Pride and Prejudice and loving it and realizing that my mom was right.

I remember finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and then immediately flipping back to page one to start it all over again.

I remember when my dad gave me Oh The Places You'll Go and I realized that Dr. Seuss books were more than just funny rhymes.

I remember reading David Eddings as a teen and wishing I could write a book with characters who all had such different personalities. Wishing I could create a character as awesome as Silk.

Okay, I swear I'll stop this trip down memory lane. But not before I say one more thing:

BOOKS ARE AWESOME

So for Blog Me Maybe- May I Ask Something About You- What books bring memories for you?

A-Zed

I had this post all set to appear last Tuesday while I was in Hawaii. Yeah, nothing happened. My post virtually disappeared. This really is the first time I've had an issue with Blogger so I guess I can consider myself lucky. Anyway, a few people doing Blog Me Maybe have done this and I'm macking on the idea.

A is for age: Thirty-coughcough

B is for breakfast today: Chocolate Milk. Yep, it's the breakfast I have EVERY morning and yep, I'm still a kid.



C is for currently craving: More sleep

D is for dinner tonight: I hate to admit this but... McDonalds. Tuesday nights are the worst cuz my son has kickboxing/muay thai from 4-5:15 and my daughter has jazz from 6-6:45. These all happen in the next town over (because my town is too small for this stuff) so there's no time to go home in between for dinner.

E is for favorite type of exercise: Dancing!!!

F is for an irrational fear: Considering I have a wild imagination, it's pretty easy for me to experience any number of irrational fears on a daily basis. Rationally, I'm terrified of needles. I get all sweaty at the mere thought of one.

G is for gross food: Liver. Blech. My mom used to make me eat it.

H is for hometown: Born is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada but haven't been back since I was little.

I is for something important: My family.

J is for current favorite jam: What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.

K is for kids: Jade (8), Logan (7), Kori (5), Avery (3)

L is for current location: My TV room upstairs

M is for the most recent way you spent money: Yesterday at Walmart for groceries.

N is for something you need: A house cleaner. I'm putting off cleaning my bathrooms to do this post

O is for occupation: Mom! And writer...

P is for pet peeve: Assumptions. And leaving the toilet seat up.

Q is for a quote: (I found this quote at Pearl Harbor and took a pic of it cuz I didn't want to forget it)

Dear Lord

Lest I continue

My complacent way

Help me to remember

Somehow out there

A man died for me today.

As long as there be war

I then must

Ask and answer

Am I worth dying for?

(Poem Eleanor Roosevelt kept in her wallet during World War 2)

R is for random fact about you: I once glued my eye shut. Then a couple years later another girl did it and landed on Rosie O'Donnell and got all this free stuff just because she freaked out and called 911. That still ticks me off!

S is for favorite healthy snack: cucumbers in vinegar/water. Yum!

T is for favorite treat: Cadbury Cream Eggs and Swedish Berries. Double yum!

U is for something that makes you unique: I like musicals. As a teen I had a crush on Gene Kelly. No joke. (He's the one on the phone)

V is for favorite vegetable: cucumbers

W is for today’s workout: JustDance3 if I can find the time

X is for X-rays you’ve had: Just the ones for my teeth. I don't remember ever having another x-ray.

Y is for yesterday’s highlight: Um, none. Yesterday was one big mess. 

Z is for your time zone: Mountain

Writing Advice (From Someone Who Probably Shouldn't Give It)

It's my first time for May I Tell You Something About Writing, since I was in Hawaii last week (is it bad that I wish I was still there?).

So... here's what I know about writing:

1. Sometimes writing is the Best. Thing. Ever.
2. Sometimes writing is very hard.
3. Everyone has their own writing style.
4. What one person loves loves loves, another will loathe entirely.
5. Writing takes practice.
6. The more you write, the better you get.
7. There are a bazillion writing rules out there...
8. But- there are also a bazillion bestsellers/classics/award-winners that have completely ignored those rules.
9. But- as a newbie, we should NOT break those rules, if at all possible.
10. Inspiration comes in the oddest places.
11. The best ideas/sentences/scenes come just as I'm about to fall asleep.
12. Adverbs are a disease I can't seem to shake.
13. Editing is hard.
14. Editing is a MUST.
15. Beta readers are a MASSIVE MUST.
16. Writing is NOT lonely- look at all those writing/writer blogs out there.
17. Querying is hard.
18. Rejections suck bricks.
19. Requests are awesome, but not as awesome as an offer (I don't really know this firsthand, but I'm sure it's true.)
20. No matter how much I think I know about writing, I often feel I know absolutely NOTHING about writing.

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I got right now. So what do you know about writing? I'm always good for advice (see #20).

News and a Funny

Okay, sorry, I haven't been Blogging Me Maybe this week.

Actually, I'm not sorry, I was in HAWAII! So there, haha.

I'll get back to it next week. I just wanted to post today with two pieces of news.



First, I've been chosen for one of the Writer's Voice teams! Yeah, baby! I'm now part of Cupid's team over at Cupid's Literary Connection. We're an awesome team I must say and I think Cupid is going to kick some serious behind on this one.

Also, I've finally joined Twitter. I'm still figuring out how the silly thing works, but hopefully it won't take me too long. You can find me @MelMStanford.

Have a great weekend everyone and I'll be back to Blog Me Maybe on Monday.

Oh, and my something funny:

Bwahaha

I posted twice yesterday. If I hadn't been such a keener, I could've just posted my query and first 250 words this morning and used those for Blog Me Maybe: May I Share Something Funny. Cuz c'mon, they're funny. (I think they're funny anyway.)

So I decided to give you a choice. Go to last night's post and hopefully you'll get some laughs from my query,

OR...

Watch this. A clip from my all-time favorite TV show. It's up to you. You've got the power.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

"C'mon Will, just take off your shirt and tell us!"

Writer's Voice Entry #138

I know, I know, two posts in one day??? Well, I made it into the Writer's Voice competition!

Yeah, baby!

So I've gotta post my query letter (the plot part) and my first 250 words on my blog ASAP before I send it into the mentors. So here it is.

QUERY

Sixteen-year-old Jessica Jacobs is a super spy, a famous actress, and a princess.

Okay, not really. But she likes to daydream she’s all of those things and more. So when she wakes up with a medieval knight aiming his sword at her throat, Jessica thinks it’s just another daydream. Until she realizes that, 1- dude is actually causing her neck to bleed, 2- her dress is so hideous she never would have daydreamed herself into it, and 3- Zac Efron is nowhere in sight.

After pondering her sanity, Jessica is left with one option: ride out her time in Crazy Medieval Land until she can figure out a way home. Unfortunately, that means working for the Count’s horrible daughter and doing her best to avoid Lord Pervy’s wandering hands. It sucks being the peon instead of the princess.

Enter Lord Alric, AKA: knight-in-freaking-hot-armor. It would be easy to let him protect her, but Jessica refuses to be a damsel-in-distress. Instead, she convinces him to teach her to swordfight. Somewhere amidst the grueling hours of training, she falls for his chivalry and playful smile. Could time have brought them together? And if so, why is everything conspiring to keep them apart?

Happily ever after was so much easier in her daydreams.

FIRST 250

CHAPTER 1: Blake The Snake

He was supposed to be my knight in shining armor. My prince charming. The guy who would sweep me off my feet and trot me away from my blah life on the back of his white horse.

I glared at Blake Chapman around my locker door, wishing I could yank his shaggy blond hair out by the roots. Never mind that I used to daydream about running my hands through it, curling it around my fingers, and then pulling his face in for a kiss that would change life as I knew it.

Daydreaming about Blake Chapman had been my national pastime for the past three years. His soccer-stud physique and cocky smile were enough to make me woozy. In a good way.

Too bad our date, our one-and-definitely-only date, was just a scam. He didn’t like me. His reason for going out with me in the first place? And I quote,

“Hey, you think your friend Dani would go for me? She’s smokin’ hot.”

When I wouldn’t dish the dirt on Dani, pay for dinner, or give him any (in that order), he dumped me on the side of the road, four blocks from my house. Now he makes me woozy in an I-want-to-vomit kind of way.

When Blake headed down the hallway toward Algebra, I slammed my locker door shut and followed. Staring at the back of  his head, I imagined lightening bolts shooting from my eyes and frying that perfectly silky blond hair. I could almost hear the sizzle.

Introducing Jessica Jacobs

Today for Blog Me Maybe it's may I introduce you to someone else? So today I've brought in a guest post-er. Say hello to Jessica Jacobs.

Hey everyone. Never been on a blog before. But there's lots of things I never thought I'd do and guess what? I'm doing them. Like sword fighting, and peeing in a bedpan, and wearing a corset, and killing people, and...

I'm getting off track. Maybe I should start by introducing myself, right? I'm Jessica Jacobs. You don't know me yet but hopefully one day you'll get to read my story. I don't have time to tell it all now- trust me, it's too long. And I have a feeling it's not over yet. At least it better not be. Because Alric's not here and after last time... well, let's just say I need to see him again.

Shnikey's, I can't stop talking about it. I promised Melanie I wouldn't give anything away. But it's my life, you know? And I don't have anyone to talk to about it at home. They'd all think I was cu-ckoo! It's not like I don't have proof either. Because I do. But actually it doesn't really prove anything except that my craziness knows no bounds. That's what they would say. Like I'd cut open half my arm! Would you? I doubt it.

Sorry, sorry. (Melanie's getting mad.) So, facts about me. That's what I'm supposed to be talking about. Let's see... I'm sixteen. Just an average girl. I take dance. I can't cook. Dani's my best friend. I have two older sisters. Um... what else? Oh yeah, I like to daydream. A lot. It gets me into trouble sometimes. Okay all the time. Instead of listening to my teachers drone on about x+y=blahblahblah, I sit there and image myself as a super spy, a princess, a famous actress, whatever. I can't help it. It's just what I do. So you can imagine what I was thinking when I woke up one morning getting breathed on by medieval knights and their stink-a-rific breath. Yeah, I thought I was daydreaming. I still haven't figured it out. Maybe Alric-

Okay, okay. I'm done. Geez. I'm not allowed to say any more. So goodbye. And if my story ever comes out, please read it. It would be nice to be able to talk to someone about all this. Maybe you can help me figure it out.

*The pic is of actress Shanley Caswell*

YA Loner

Today for Blog Me Maybe, I'm supposed to ask you something about you. Well, since I usually do Road Trip Wednesday's hosted by YA Highway, I'll just use their question, answer it myself, and ask you too. Look at me, such a genius (haha).

So this week's question:


What IRL people can you talk to about YA?
The internet is a smiling sea of writers, editors, book bloggers and other people who spend blog post after tweet espousing YA knowledge. But who can you call in your family to recommend the newest Sara Zarr? Anyone around the watercooler psyched that Bitterblue is finally out? Who are your in-real-life YA buddies?

It took me a few seconds to figure out what IRL meant (in real life, right?).

*This is me, the YA loner*

So, in real life... I've got no one. Okay, that's not quite true. My sister Coralie and my sister-in-law Emily both read YA books. Coralie was the one who suggested Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. And if I remember right, Emily suggested The House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. But Coralie reads mostly adult, and Emily doesn't read that much.

Mostly though, I get my recommendations from fellow bloggers. Or- I just pick up a book that looks interesting to me based on the cover and/or the blurb. And the fact that I read so much, I rarely have someone to talk to about ALL those books. I recommend books to my hubbie but he rarely wants to talk about them after the fact. This is our usual convo:

Me: Did you like the book?
Him: It was okay.

There have been some books that I've been dying to talk to people about, but I know NO ONE IRL who've read them. Sniff. But I survive.

Who are your in-real-life YA buddies? Got any? Or are you a loner like me?

In Which I Ramble About Myself (can't wait to read it, can you?)

It's the first day of May and the first day of Blog Me Maybe. It's also a Tuesday so besides cleaning my bathrooms and doing my laundry, based on the Blog Me Maybe schedule, I've gotta tell you something about myself.

(I've always like this pic, even though it's *gasp* six years old)

So I was born on April 13th, 19-

Did you really think I was going to make you sit through my life story? Ha, don't worry- I'll spare you. In fact, I could just say that I've already told you something about myself (the above cleaning and laundry tidbit) and leave it at that right?

Nah... Boring! Although I hate to say it, my life isn't all that interesting. I hate it when someone I haven't talked to in a long time calls and says, what's up? and my answer is usually, um... you know... nothing much... the usual...

I mean, really. What's there to talk about? I cook and clean and take care of my kids and read and write and watch TV and go to movies and go to church and eat out whenever I can and try to exercise to make up for the eating out and all the Swedish berries and there you have my life in one long run-on sentence.

But know what? I kinda like it. Sometimes I think, this isn't what I thought life would be like. And it's true. Even though I always wanted to get married and have kids and be a mom, I didn't really know what it was like. Sometimes I read books and I think, I wish I was doing that. I wish I was traveling around the world, I wish I was performing on stage somewhere, I wish I lived on a beach , I wish I wish I wish.

The grass is always greener, right? But sometimes, the grass is just fine from my view.

To stop my ramblings, here's one more fact about me: I'm happy. Life might not be as glamorous or exciting as I imagined it would be as a teenager, but it's my life and I don't want to waste it.

So there. Enough about me.

(Next time I do the "about me" post, I'll try to be more focused. I blame The Disenchantments. It got me all philosophical and nostalgic and generally thinking about life.)