Adios 2012; 2013... Bring it!

Here we are at the dawn of a new year. Since my son got me up at the ungodly hour of 5am (and then again at 7am), I've had some time to reflect on the last year. Sorry, but Johnny Test marathons can only hold my attention for so long. Heh

The last 365 days have been such an enormous roller-coaster for me on a personal note, as well as a writerly note. I'm not going to focus on the family stuff in this here post, as that was filled with too many negative and conflicting emotions. If you really want to know, we shall share a bottle of wine and chat. 

Instead, I'm going to give my ode to the wonderful people I've met this year who have been so beyond pivotal in my growth as a writer, and a person... 

If you have not had the pleasure, I insist you track down the awesomely sparkly C. Issy. We sort of Twitter-befriended and chatted lots before finally meeting face-to-face at SCBWI in NYC last January. We fangirled, we cried, and we shared mush-brains after an incredible virgin SCBWI conference. Since then, Carli has become an awesome friend and wonderful critique partner. Carli keeps my 'teen voice' in check and inspires me to write super swoony kissy scenes. You can't have her, she's mine. So there.

The fab Cassandra Clare talking love triangles

TOTALLY geeked out when I passed S&S!

Henry Winkler's speech was beyond inspirational to the budding writer.

After a fate-sealing CP request post on AgentQuery Connect, I met the hysterical and insanely talented Alisha Marie Klapheke. As fate would have it, Ish lives literally like a half hour from me. Super weird, I know! It was awkward at first, but soon we realized we had so much in common we might have been sisters in another life. Kinda sappy? Yeah, but I heart my friends. Alisha loves a good edit and has taken the figurative red pen to my work more times than should be legal, but always has great advice and brainstorming. Passive voice be gone! And if you ever need a hot date for some tandoori chicken and naan bread, she's your gal!

Alisha and I often meet here (YUM!) to talk books, fictional boys, and everything else.

Inkpop may no longer be a place for young writers to connect and share, but it's the reason Michelle Warren is on my "awesome people of 2012" list. Michelle is a self-published author who I met through the HarperTeen sub-site. Her books, Wander Dust and Protecting Truth, I reviewed right here on this blog!! We traded a few emails and soon Michelle not only became a fantastic friend, but also an incredible beta reader/critique partner/inspiration/cover artist/ and all around awesome person to have in your arsenal. Michelle pushes me to question everything in my writing (the good/probing kind of questioning) and pointed out my horrible 'was' affliction. Awful. Really.

Last July, I met a budding YA/NA author at utopYA Con right here in Nashville. M.R. Polish came all the way from Nevada to take part in a fledgling Con for paranormal writers. We chatted, laughed, and absorbed all the amazeballs info at utopYA. Ms. Polish has recently debuted her novel WOLF SPELL and I had the pleasure of being a beta. It's a wonderfully magical story full of awesome visuals and imagination. M.R. has helped me as well. She has read for me and, like Ish, is a big fan of the figurative red pen. But her insight and questions, like Michelle, have pushed me to question things myself. 

Abbi Glines, Tiffany King, C.A. Kunz (Adam and Carol), and Michelle Leighton at utopYA 2012

Raine Thomas, L.M. Davis and Willow Cross at utopYA 2012

Linda Foster, K.C. Neal and Myra McEntire at utopYA 2012

Laskey Hall at Scarritt-Bennett where it all went down

Scarritt Hall at Scarritt-Bennett Center

I am so very thankful to have these ladies in my life. In the last two years that I've been actually writing, I have heard many times that finding good people to be part of your writing life is crucial to success. These ladies are my people. They are intelligent, witty, creative, crafty, funny, serious, practical, genius, supportive, encouraging, grounding, and by golly I heart them! Because of their insight, advice, and honesty, I would never be the writer I am today. I'm no where near where I want to be, but these fab ladies have helped me find a starting place. And with a little luck, we will all find that place of awesomeness together!

The Next Big Thing (Week 25)

How did I not know about this awesome longstanding writer meme So You Think You Can Write A Novel? Nice little play on my all time fave show So You Think You Can Dance! If you know me, or follow my randomness on Twitter, you know I get all sorts of gushy over the show.

Anyway, so my pal Alisha Klapheke tagged me in this wee meme where we get to [gasp] share some tidbits of our [lip quiver] current WIP and post a [near faints] Q & A session about it. Oi. If you're not a writer, you probably don't understand the palm-sweat-inducing nerves that posting bits of your coveted baby on the world wide web creates. Granted, if you're published, this is 'meh' to you. BUT! For us who still linger in the shadows, it can be darn right frightening. 

So here goes! [cracks knuckled and pops neck] Let's do dis.

#1. What is the working title of your book? BLOOD SHIFT, and that's the 3rd working title so far. Heh.

#2. Where did the idea come from for the book? After reading far too many YA novels than should be considered normal, a mini-movie starting flipping through my head. I also attribute it to my endless fascination with all things speculative as well as Celtic folklore.

#3. What genre does your book fall under? Hmmm. Good question. Young Adult Urban Fantasy is my guess.

#4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Oh boy! Love this. Okay. [rubs hands together with devilish glee] This part isn't nearly as fun without the visual aid, and it also eliminates the Wha...? Who? factor.

Bree has always been a Nina Dobrev (with curly hair) to me.

Kennon is rep'd by this one picture of Sam Claflin. 

All of Sam's other pics don't work. Or I would go with an Alex Pettyfer. Cuz...yummm

Tess is Blake Lively.

Lucy is Lauren Prepon, but with short hair...

Franco has been a young Dario Franchitti in my head. Now Dario's not an actor, but an Indy Race-car driver. The hot Scottish kind. Grrrr.

And G-ma I see as a Lois Smith.

#5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Ew. Hate this part. Ahem. When a seventeen year-old girl discovers the truth behind the whacked dreams plaguing her for months, she learns she has two choices: either suck it up and become the fighter her bloodline dictates, or turn away from her legacy, surrendering her soul to her birthright's wild energy.

#6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? Not sure yet. Have some Indie Pubs that I'm looking at...

#7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? The first horrific rough draft? Four months. The last year attempting to make it not so horrific.

#8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I'm horrible at this, sorry, and really have NO idea how to answer this. I believe readers who liked the HUSH, HUSH series by Becca Fitzpatrick and maybe the LUX novels by Jennifer L. Armentrout would like BLOOD SHIFT. For those who've CP'd feel free to chime in here...

#9. Who or What inspired you to write this book? My friend Rachel. [BIG grin] She was the person who said "GO FOR IT" when I said I had an idea for a book. Heart her.

#10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Pishaw! I wrote it, duh! Totally kidding. Seriously, besides hot boys with accents who are swoonishly deadly, I believe it's a story about strength. Finding strength in those around you and also, and most importantly, within yourself.

You get all that? Fantastic! Now I'm going to tag a couple of wickedly talented people I know to continue this tradition for Week 26 next Wednesday.

The wonderfully sparkly Isabel Bandeira and uber awesome M.R. Polish (who might need a NaNo stress relief about now) will share some loveliness on their blogs next time so keep a watch out!