What Writing Is Like

This is what I think writing is like:



And this is what I feel like while I'm writing:



Going back to chapter fourteen...

Mice in the Basement

Cleaned the basement last weekend.

I say that casually, but in reality, this was as massive a task as excavating King Tut's tomb, if King Tut's tomb were crammed with broken electronics, Styrofoam-filled boxes from defunct appliances, and the old window sashes that we replaced eight years ago but somehow couldn't bear to part with.

We discovered a few treasures, including some ancient mice:

 

Guess which one was mine.

I had that mouse in college, and I used it for writing a lot of plays, too much angsty poetry, and various papers on the awesomeness of Jane Austen.

Also in our cleaning spree, we discovered a Clapper.

No idea why or when such a device came into our lives, but I am contemplating hooking it up to a different appliance every day.  Just to keep things interesting.

Cleaning out the basement was surprisingly empowering.  After we finished, I felt like anything was possible.  I am hoping to hold onto that feeling as I start my next writing project.

Actually, writing a book has a lot in common with cleaning a basement.  It feels like an intimidatingly huge task when you start, but if you take it box by box, you (hopefully) discover some treasures hidden within the trash that are worth saving.  You know, like a unicorn mouse and a Clapper.  Because every story needs a unicorn mouse and a Clapper.

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year, everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's and a great start to 2013.

A few years ago, my husband and I started a New Year's Eve tradition that I love: we buy a ton of hors d'oeuvres (frozen mozzerella sticks, chips and dip, potstickers, taquitoes, cheese and crackers, etc.) and we eat them all as the clock clicks toward midnight.  Then we watch the ball drop on TV and clink the champagne glasses that we got as wedding presents and only ever use on New Year's Eve.

Of all the ways I've ever spent New Year's Eve, it's my favorite.

On New Year's Day, we watch the Rose Parade.  Some years I remember to eat black-eyed peas for good luck.  Usually I forget.  We also forget to buy a new calendar for the kitchen every single year.  That's practically a tradition now too.

This year, on New Year's Day, I had a lovely surprise.  I woke to find out that VESSEL was named a finalist for a Cybils Award.  This was a wonderful start to the new year.  VESSEL also had a lovely end to the old year: Kirkus listed VESSEL as one of the Best Books of 2012.  And YALSA's The Hub blog chose VESSEL's cover as one of the best covers of 2012.  So, yay, yay, and yay!

I am really excited about this year.  For the first time ever, I have two books coming out in the same year!  My next YA novel, SWEET NOTHINGS (title may change), will be out from Walker/Bloomsbury in fall 2013.  And my first novel for adults, THE LOST, will be out from Luna/Harlequin also in fall 2013.  THE LOST is the first in a trilogy.  I'll be posting more about both books on my website and blog in the coming months.

So... goodbye, 2012!  And hello, 2013! 

Wishing you heath and happiness (and lots of books) in the new year!