What's Up Wednesday: 03.12.14

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

Well hello writing world! It has been FOREVER since I participated in a WUW post -- seriously. The last one was back in early December. Yikes.

See, I wasn't lying. 

So bare with me as I dust off that WUW hot air balloon and remember how this all goes!

WHAT I'M READING:

I just finished the RAZORLAND series by Ann Aguirre yesterday. I thought the first book, ENCLAVE, was good - after all, I have a thing for zombies / mutants! The second book, OUTPOST, was even better - and we got to know the characters that much more. By the third installment, HORDE, I was totally hooked...and it's not often I actually like the third / final book in the series the best! If you're a fan of Carrie Ryan's THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH series, then this is another set of great zombie reads that won't disappoint.

I started in on IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi last night and I just have to say how much I love her writing style. Everything about her writing poetically flows and makes it so easy to get lost in the words. I have to admit that I can't quite remember how the last book ended...so I probably should have read the first two over again, before diving in to this one. *le sigh*

I've also started in on a new WIP from one of my CP's - and I can already tell I'm really going to like this one!  

WHAT I'M WRITING:

I finally finished my agent / CP revisions for WHERE THE WATER FALLS and emailed it back to Agent Lisa on Saturday. And can I tell you how good it feels to finally have that done? Good. As in seriously good. Even great. Better yet, STELLAR!!!!!!!

It was my #YABbootcamp writing goal for March -- and I buckled down and finally finished the last couple of chapters...reread it to make sure I was happy, then sent it on it's way. 

Now, it's in Lisa's hands. And I'll standby patiently to see what she thinks. If all goes well, I might actually find myself on submission -- words I've been waiting a very long time to say. 

But before I get too excited about the possibility of submissions, I need to wait to hear what she thinks. So I'm here...waiting...yep, still here.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

My awesome team from the YA Buccaneers Spring Writing Bootcamp:

TEAM RAINIER!!!!

I'm so utterly impressed with the turn out for the bootcamp and honestly, when Bridgid and I were first brainstorming ideas for what we wanted to do, I don't think either of us had any idea what we were about to unleash! 

I'm excited to work with these ladies, along with everyone else, over the next 3 months - and I honestly can't wait to see what amazing writing feats take place!

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

My new job has been incredibly busy. So much so, that I've had to prioritize my time over the past couple of months to focus on work. But oh how I've missed everyone in the writing world -- and I realized that I truly am miserable when I'm away for too long. 

The week before last, I had the opportunity of flying out to Hartford, CT. to open up Microsoft's newest retail store at the Westfarms shopping mall. It was seven very long days of prepping the store and getting everything organized before the actual curtain dropped on Saturday, March 1st. We even stayed to attend the store opening concert that Microsoft puts on, hosted by the ever entertaining FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE.

And even though it was sometimes 15 - 18 hour days, we did manage to make a trek over to see the homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. It amazes me that two literary greats managed to live within twenty yards of one another -- and the houses? Amazing. That's a picture of Mark Twain's home up there to the left!

I was also able to snag limited edition copies of HUCKLEBERRY FINN, TOM SAWYER, and UNCLE TOM'S CABIN - so I was definitely a happy girl when all was said and done.

So what have you been up to lately? I'd love to hear all about it, since it's been waaaaay too long!

What's Up Wednesday: 12.4.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

I'm still reading ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell.

I think I might be in the minority here when I say I'm having a tough time getting through this one -- I've already set it aside twice to read something else, which I know is never a good sign. But everyone loved this one so I'm determined to finish it and now I'm about halfway in and will say, it's finally starting to pick up. 

I'm still thinking about ALLEGIANT though...not sure why this one is sitting with me for so long, but that ending...I just can't seem to let it go. If by chance you haven't read ALLEGIANT yet, hop on over to the YA Buccaneers blog as I'll be posting my review over there this Friday and will also be giving away an autographed hardback copy for December's prize!

WHAT I'M WRITING:

Still working on my revisions, but haven't been able to put serious time towards them in the past two weeks due to Thanksgiving -- and the fact we're having **new carpet installed today!

**I'm so excited for new carpet, but didn't think about how that would also mean several days trying to get everything in my life house moved out from any carpeted room (3 bedrooms, loft, hallway, 13 stairs, and a living / dining room), to the small spaces that won't be touched (um, that would be our two upstairs bathrooms and the downstairs kitchen / family room). Yikes...it's been a very dusty and interesting few days. But...yay for new carpet!

I do need to get back on the revision train and soon, which means I'll probably be joining a Word Sprint or five -- if you're in need of some writing encouragement, check out the YA Buccaneers site or #YABWordSprint on Twitter to find out upcoming dates / times.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

• Thanksgiving with my amazing family -- I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!
• So many wonderful friends.
• Plenty of good books to read!
• Catching Fire -- even though we had to sit in the 5th row, I still thought CF was fantastic. And it's inspiring to see yet another YA book make it to the big screen.
• Chilly weather and the potential for snow!
• 9 months of time off!
• Finding an incredible job in a market that hasn't been great.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

And speaking of jobs...I mentioned during my last WUW post that amazing job opportunities were on the horizon.

Well, after 2 days / 10 interviews and four months of waiting (my first round of interviews was the beginning of August!), I can finally say I've landed an amazing job with Microsoft, where I'll be over-seeing the visual merchandising for all of their retail stores. 

My husband has been with Microsoft for almost 15 years, so the company has been a part of our family for as long as we've been together. And while it's bittersweet to say goodbye to all this wonderful time off (9 months to be exact!), I'm tremendously grateful I even had the time off to begin with. And even more so that I found such an amazing job when the job market hasn't been so stellar.

I start this coming Monday, which also means I'll be a little absent around the blog-o-sphere for awhile while I adjust to being back at work. Not sure how I'm going to handle getting up at 5:15am after all these months of sleeping in...this should be interesting!

WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY? DID YOU HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING?

What's Up Wednesday: 11.20.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

I finished ALLEGIANT by Veronica Roth a week ago. Ummmm, yeah. I'm still not happy with the end for purely selfish reasons, but overall I enjoyed it and am sad the series has come to a close. I'll be posting my official review over at the YA Buccaneers on 12/6 -- AND:

I'll be giving away an AUTOGRAPHED copy of ALLEGIANT for December's giveaway!

So if you haven't read it or just want a hard cover / autographed copy, make sure to stop on by the YA Buccaneers in December and enter!

I also just finished WINGER by Andrew Smith last night. While I thought the voice was sometimes a little over the top, the first 2/3 of the book was a lot of fun and oh, so boy! But...I'm not quite hooked on the ending (guess that's my thing lately!). Not because of necessarily what happened, but because it all just happened too fast. Felt too rushed. Regardless, it was still a good read and one I turned through pretty quickly.

Up next: I'm diving back in to ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell. I started this one last month but for some reason or another I put it aside. But I know this one is going to be good and I must get to it before the end of the year!

WHAT I'M WRITING:

I decided to participate in this month's YA Buccaneers Walk The Plank flash fiction challenge. I love writing flash fiction -- even more, when there are specific challenges you must include along the way. You can check out my submit here and if you're interesting in joining, hop on over to the YA Buccaneers for all the details!

I've also been busy working on revisions and I think they're coming together nicely! I had a brainstorm video chat with one of my CP's and am really happy with some of the ideas that spawned from it (thanks, B.!).

A word from our sponsor - eh em: if you're in need of some inspiration to write this month - especially if you're partaking in NaNo - the YA Buccaneers are upping the ante on the number of Word Sprints for the entire month. Check out the YA Buccaneers site or #YABWordSprint on Twitter to find out upcoming dates / times.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

Since the list format worked so well for my last WUW post, here goes again:

• Friends
• CP's
• Family
• Good books
• GREAT books
• Nine months off to write, run, query, vacation, race, sign with an agent, and revise
• Getting ready for the Holidays

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

• Revisions
• Amazing job opportunities (***more to come on that!)
• Helping my sister move
• Hopefully CATCHING FIRE this weekend!
• Dinner with great friends
• Christmas shopping
• Revisions
• Friends

SO, WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY?

What's Up Wednesday: 11.6.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

I'm still slugging my way through FROI OF THE EXHILES.

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm having the hardest time with this series. Maybe it's because I have so many other fantastic books I can't wait to get to. Or maybe I'm just not that invested in the journey of Froi. While I'm liking his character much more than in the first book (Marchetta did an excellent job with his character arc), I'm just not hooked...at least not right now.

Then again, FINNIKIN took about half the book before it really picked up for me, so I'm thinking the same will happen here. At least I hope.

So of course what that means is I put FROI down last night and picked up ALLEGIANT instead -- and I'm over half way finished. While I really should've read the first two books over again, I just couldn't wait to get back into the land of Four.

I'm not quite sure what I think about it so far, but I'm looking forward to reading / hearing everyone's reviews of the final book and the series, once I'm finished.

I'm also writing this post from the Starbucks that's attached to my Barnes & Noble...so many great books are mere feet away from me, screaming for me to go in and buy them. Guess what I'll be doing today. :)

WHAT I'M WRITING:

While I really wanted to give NaNoWriMo a go this year, more important writing (read, revisions) will be taking over the month of November -- and most likely, December too.

I started in on my revisions for WTWF and I've been outlining some thoughts on how I want things to transpire. I'm really happy with how it's all coming together so far and I'm really looking forward to digging in on my MS since it's been almost three months!

Side note: if you're in need of some inspiration to write this month - especially if you're partaking in NaNo - the YA Buccaneers are upping the ante on the number of Word Sprints for the entire month. I hosted one last night and there will be another one this evening (8pm EST) and again tomorrow night (8pm EST) if you want to join -- #YABWordSprint.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

Since I'm a check list kinda girl, here's what inspires me:

• Friends
• CP's
• Family
• Fall
• Starbuck's Pumkin Spice Lattes -- I know I'm supposed to be off coffee, but I've let myself have TWO PSL's this fall. Two. 2. Barely counts, right?
• Having this time off to write.
• Getting ready for the Holidays.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

And another list to sum up my life lately:

• Revisions.
• Job hunting.
• All-day interviews.
• Costco-sized boxes of Kleenex (I have the longest running cold in history, going on my 3rd week! Ugh.)
• Christmas shopping (I know it's early, believe me, but my gifts to my siblings require some assembly that's going to take me a bit, so I started buying all the "parts" to get them out of the way).
• Revisions.
• Captain Phillips (very well done, Mr. Hanks, very well done).
• Celebrating (yes, I'll be celebrating signing with Lisa for a few more weeks, minimum. :)).
• Great dinners.
• Friends.

SO, WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY?

What's Up Wednesday: 10.30.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

WHAT I'M READING:

I finished FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta and started in on the next book in the series, FROI OF THE EXHILES. 

This series is just okay for me. I think mostly because I'm not in the frame of mind I probably need to be to read a YA Fantasy -- one where you need to pay attention to so many character names, city names, etc. And I find myself constantly having to flip to the map in the front of the book to see where the characters currently are / are going to next. 

The end of FINNIKIN definitely picked up for me, and while I have so many other fantastic books waiting to be read (hello, ALLEGIANT anyone!!!!), I knew it would be better to dive into FROI so I could keep track of everything. 

WHAT I'M WRITING:

I recently shared some super exciting news on the writing front last week -- you can read all about it here and here. 

And what that all means is that I have some revisions ahead of me, which I'm very much looking forward to, since I haven't touched WTWF since the beginning of August!

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

I've said this one before, but seriously, my CP's are such an inspiration to me.

The last several weeks have been utter chaos for a variety of reasons and each one of my CP's has helped to keep me grounded. It's funny how when things happen in life - be them good or bad - it's like the flood gates open...and October has been one of those months -- but in a good way! 

I'm so greatful for all of my wonderful CP's who have honestly become some of my dearest friends over the years -- even if I haven't met all of them in person. And I'm not sure what I do without them.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

I can't wait for Halloween tomorrow! Even though I'm too old to trick-or-treat myself (believe me, I would if I could!) and I don't have children of my own to take out -- I can't wait for all the ghosts and goblins to stop by our house! We have Costco boxes of the big candy bars to hand out and it always makes for tons of kids!

I also celebrated my niece's 5th birthday last weekend -- my sister threw an a-mazing party, themed "Bubbles and Pearls" ala The Little Mermaid.

She hand-made over 500 cookies just for the day and even made the cutest "jelly fish" out of streamers and paper bowls.

She is seriously in the wrong business and I so want her to throw my next b'day party for sure!

In two weeks she's throwing another b'day party for my twin niece and nephew that are turning one -- and I can't wait to see what she comes up with for that!

SO, WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY?

What's Up Wednesday: 10.16.13

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by my ever-so-lovely YA writer friends, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk. The idea? Well, it's a great opportunity to touch base once a week with all of our blog friends and let them know what's up. Should you wish to join, head on over to Jaime's blog and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of her post! 

Wow, it's been for-ever since I've posted a WuW post!!!! But I have good reason for being on hiatus, I promise!

WHAT I'M READING:

I recently used an Amazon GC to buy several book series I've been waiting to read, until all of the books were released -- and a couple of weeks ago, they all came in the mail:

All three titles in Melina Marchetta's FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK series (reading now)
All three titles in Kerstin Gier's RUBY RED series (CANNOT wait to read this one!)
All three titles in Rae Carson's THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series

Plus ALL OUR YESTERDAYS, NOT A DROP TO DRINK, and so many others (including ALLEGIANT coming in the mail next week!)...you can say I have plenty to read for the rest of 2013! 

WHAT I'M WRITING:

I finished all of my revisions for WTWF in August and actively started to query in September. And I have to say, I'm thrilled to see the responses I've received! More on that to come soon!

I've also been working on my outline for my new WIP that I'll be writing for NaNo next month -- and I'm super excited about this one!

Oh! If you're in need of some inspiration to write - join the YA Buccaneers Word Sprint! Two rounds, one hosted tonight from 6-7pm PST, and one tomorrow night from 4-5pm PST on Twitter! #YABWordSprint

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW:

Our beautiful summer here in Seattle...and the gorgeous fall we've been having.

I so didn't want summer to come to an end. We really lucked out here in Seattle...and had one of the best summers EV-VER (and I had the good fortune of having the time off to enjoy it!) -- I'm already missing the sunny skies and warmer temperatures. And not looking forward to the months ahead of dreary, rainy weather.

At least while it was still nice out, my husband and I did manage to run in two races:

The Zombie 5k - Run For Your Lives

And The Color Run in Portland, OR.

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO:

My husband and I went down to Mazatlan, Mexico last week, for 8 full days, to celebrate our 8th Anniversary!

While the weather was gorgeous, I managed to spend an entire 24 hours in my room, sick as a dog...we're still not sure if it was something I ate (or drank) or if it was from the Mexican OTC Aleve I took, thanks to a severely strained calf muscle issue. Either way, it wasn't pleasant...but at least it was in the middle of our vacation, so we still had time to enjoy the pool!

But now we're back and it's cold (although it is sunny, so there's that!)...and I'm already missing the palm trees and pool. Oh well. We'll see the sunny weather again next June!

Other than that, this fall has managed to be a tad crazy with a few other fun things that I'll share at a later date. Let's just say that when it rains...it pours. And I'll take it.

SO, WHAT'S NEW FOR YOU TODAY?