My Little Announcement of BIG Proportions

Kate Schafer Testerman gave me an early Christmas present. She called last week to offer represent representation, so I am now a proud client of kt literary! Squeeeee!

You can check out Kate's announcement >>here<< and find me on her client list, as well.

This is how I feel about all this:

(Thank goodness for braces in this picture, right? I have a lot of teeth. And my mom will probably tell me I should've brushed my eyebrows.)

It's funny how at moments like these you feel so humbled and grateful and absolutely unworthy. Well, at least that's how I feel. Thanks for being with me on this crazy writing journey, all my bloggy-friends -- not to mention family and other friends who read this blog. Continuing this marathon-of-awesome would not be possible without you and I'm really not just saying that.

And thank you, Kate, for giving my books a chance. I'm so excited to work with you (as I've probably repeated ad nauseam)! 

Wordless Wednesday: Love

 

This is a Twitter and Facebook repeat. But too cute not to post again.

Balancing Act

I've said it on my blog many times and I've seen it discussed on other blogs, too, but one of the most difficult parts of pursuing anything worthwhile is finding balance--juggling all the bits that make this YOUR LIFE.

Family

Friends

Studies

Work

Play

Writing

Kids' activities

Writing

Hobbies

Blogging

Laundry

Cleaning bathtubs

It's tough!

I feel like I was doing okay before.

When my daughter started competitive gymnastics this fall, I thought I'd be able to keep all the balls in the air. But I found myself slipping.

Mine is on the right

 The first balls to drop are the online ones, of course. I forget to blog sometimes. And I know I've been terrible at visiting blogs for months now. 

At the same time, I know I don't always use my time effectively. When I'm tired, I sometimes space in front of Facebook or Twitter, which are lovely distractions (and I'm keeping up with friends!) but not very substantive.

All this to say, please bear with me. I'm not giving up the blog. I'm one of those weirdos who really enjoy blogging. But if I disappear for a little while from time to time, you'll know I'm just juggling away over here. I have all these great kids who are growing up and doing amazing things, and that's the ball I have to keep in the air. And I need to find time for writing, too, and occasionally cleaning my bathtub.

I guess I'm just asking for special Christmas grace. This is a learning curve for all of us, as life deepens and stretches us.

I know I've asked it before, but I'll ask it again, because I love good advice: How do you balance everything? 

Wordless Wednesday: No Room for Jesus...

"...because Mary and Joseph bought a couch."  ~ my four-year-old

Too Afraid to Review?

I saw a conversation on Twitter the other day where authors were encouraging writers never to post a bad review of a book anywhere on the internet.

Why? Because someday that writer might want to work with the editor of said hated book, or he/she may need a blurb from that writer. We want to make friends, not burn bridges.

I felt a little defensive when I read this advice.

Do you think authors need to leave their critical-thinking caps in the closet when they're writing reviews? Should honest book reviewers never try to write novels?

I'm not talking about people who go out of their way to slam books just to be mean. I'm talking about thoughtful, critical reviews. Sometimes a thoughtful, critical review can cast a book in a negative light. We live in a culture where a bunch of three-star ratings can bring a book down.

While I'm all for preserving bridges and making friends and building relationships, I don't think editors are so egotistical that they cannot take a critical review of one of their books with grace. We all are trying to grow and learn. Editors, too!

I don't want to be afraid to give a two or three star rating on Goodreads if I think it's deserved. I would honestly hope any editor I worked with would be more interested in my book than in my opinions about other books. But maybe I'm too idealistic.

How about you? If you're a writer, do you shy away from giving honest reviews of certain books because of possible backlash? Do you avoid reviewing books at all? (If you're not a writer -- lucky you! You can review however you want!)

I'm really interested to hear what you all think, so please let me know in the comments!

Wordless Wednesday: Mr. Happy-Big-Nose*

*I don't mean to be misleading. We actually haven't had any snow this year. 

This pic is from last year, but I thought he was cute. 

And appropriate for the season.

Because there really should be snow by now. 

I mean, it's December! 

Come on, snow!

Cover Reveal: FAULT LINE

My friend/bloggy buddy/critique partner Christa Desir's debut comes out from Simon Pulse on 11/12/13. I'm so excited for her, and especially excited now that we have a cover to put with her new title, FAULT LINE. Yes, that's right, this is a COVER REVEAL POST! Woooot!

Here's what FAULT LINE is about:

Ben could date anyone he wants, but he only has eyes for the new girl — sarcastic free-spirit, Ani. Luckily for Ben, Ani wants him too. She’s everything Ben could ever imagine. Everything he could ever want.

But that all changes after the party. The one Ben misses. The one Ani goes to alone.

Now Ani isn’t the girl she used to be, and Ben can’t sort out the truth from the lies. What really happened, and who is to blame?

Ben wants to help her, but she refuses to be helped. The more she pushes Ben away, the more he wonders if there’s anything he can do to save the girl he loves.

And this is what FAULT LINE will look like:

Amazing, isn't it? I love how dramatic it is. I get goosebumps looking at it.  

I'm so excited for Christa and for all the good things that lie ahead for her!

You can find it on Goodreads here. ... And if you want to drool with me about the book in the comments, that's more than fine, of course!

Have a fab Monday. <3 br="br">