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!

A New Year's Remembrance

On the eve of 2013, I'd like to take a moment to remember the best friend a girl could ever have...

A true friend is so very hard to find.

One who is loving, supportive and kind,

A welcome grin and energetic hello's,

With power to heal all of life’s woes.

A shoulder to lean on when in need

Being the rock is in their creed.

To love when our hearts are surely broken

To heal all scars without a word spoken.

To make us laugh with unending joy

When enthralled with the simplest of toys.

Sticks and balls and a tug rope or two,

A Frisbee, a bone; whatever you choose.

Maybe a squeaky toy or maybe a cat

To chase ‘round the house, as a matter of fact,

They’ll encourage a walk, or better yet, a run;

Just grab the lead and it’s all about fun.

A trip in the car is the biggest way to please

These creatures so dear to our hearts, don’t you see?

Front seat or back seat; it matters not

As long as their human is the one they’ve got.

Being our partner in life is always their goal

And maybe a treat and a heaping food bowl

‘Cause a head scratch and a thorough belly rub

Are prices gladly paid to be part of this club

Of a human and her dog, twin souls forever.

No matter how hard life is to weather.

“Where you go, I go!” She wags with a wiggle

Of her body and I can't contain my giggle.

“Mountains, or deserts, or rivers, or streams,

We’ll tackle them all ‘cause we are a team!”

“New houses, new yards, new pee-mails to check,

New cats, new humans; well, oh what the heck?

Even the little human, who I never asked for,

Can be part of my pack while we roll on the floor."

So you see, it’s rather quite simple and true,

‘Man’s best friend’…a dog, and then you.

Bonded together, no matter how little the time,

'Twas time well spent, with that best friend of mine.

From puppy years of chewing and barking and more,

Potty training, digging, vet visits and snores,

Slobbering on windows, yanking the leash,

Licking my face every time you could reach.

Sitting on feet, leaning against my leg,

And listening to me when I said, “Don’t beg!”

Howling at fire trucks, bouncing at the back door,

Hysterical ‘bath time theatrics’ that made my gut sore,

Hiding from the vacuum, ‘clean up the mess’

Rawhides were okay, Nylabones were the best.

Being allowed on the bed was a super special treat

You’d run ‘round crazy in a furry blonde streak.

A decade of memories tucked away in my heart.

How much I miss you? Don’t know where to start.

Best friends can be human for some, I believe.

Mine? A goofy lab mutt who refused to retrieve.

My imperfect diamond, my flawed little pearl,

My best friend, my Arwen, always my ‘Baby Girl.’

Rest easy, my sweet Arwen... 12/25/01 - 12/06/12

UtopYA Con - Part Deux

Howdy reader/writer peeps!

I just wanted to pop in for a wee announcement from Nashvegas. Some of you may remember, or even attended, the virgin voyage of UtopYA Con last July. Well, things are ramping up for 2013! That's right, UtopYA Con is back for another round! WOOT!! And if the most recent feedback, inquiries, and general buzz (and awesomeness) is any indication, next June will ROCK - YOUR - SOCKS. Please feel free to check out the website for more information on the Black Friday sale and newly listed Exhibitor information.

UtopYA Con 2012, our local nod to all things YA and it's all around awesome, was stocked full of local and not-so-local authors, writers, and fans. If you're an author looking to network or boost your presence, this is an awesome way to get your name out there. I know, from personal experience, that UtopYA is a great way for readers to find new authors to love and fan-girl over. And you just never know who you'll see in attendance in June...(wink wink). If you are a HUGE fan of the young adult genre, then there is NO reason you shouldn't join in the party.

UtopYA is not your average Con. Please read this post I did earlier this year to catch a glimpse of how wonderful it is. It was nothing short of amazing and I cannot WAIT for June.

The best part? It doesn't matter if you are self published, independently published, or even pubbed by the big boys! All are welcome and encouraged to come. And the second best thing? Well, maybe a tie for best. UtopYA Con is once again at the Scarritt-Bennett Center (aka: Hogwarts Lite) for 2013. If you've been there, you know how wonderful this campus is. If you haven't, just check out the pics on their website and you will see just how beautiful Scarritt-Bennett is.

Hope to see y'all there for this 'heavenly' event! *cough, cough* Yeah, I'm lame, but you love that about me.

If you attended the last UtopYA, please feel free to chime in on the comments below. What did you love about it? Who did you discover at UtopYA? What author did you meet that you secretly (or blatantly) adore (or stalk) while at UtopYA? Who would you love to see at UtopYA Con 2013?

There is room at the top for ALL of us!

Many, many apologies to everyone for sort of falling off the face of the earth. With managing some health issues, my 10 1/2 year old Lab's health issues, and seemingly endless life crap, things just sort of...well, went to the crapper. That's me being honest, and PG-13.

Anyway, that's neither here nor there. As you may have seen from my multiple tweets on the subject, I was very excited about a wee event called UtopYA Con that took place right here in Nashville. A start-up convention for YA paranormal writers, authors, and all the freakin' readers who obsess... stalk... LOVE to read! I knew it would be the cat's meow, and I was right. Over the next several days, or weeks as time wills, I will try to recap some of the awesome I experienced over the last couple days.

For now, I just have to give my thanks. Many, many thanks.

Janet Wallace, Nashville's Kid-Lit Meet-Up group organizer and owner of Social Deviants, birthed this idea for UtopYA and she did a phenomenal job. This was the second time I've gone to this sort of event, the first being the SCBWI Conference in NYC. SCBWI was big and awesome and crazy informative, but UtopYA had something in it I didn't really find at SCBWI NYC. I thought I had, and I'm sure it IS there, but it was not as blazingly obvious as it was at UtopYA.

That thing, is HEART.

I'm not a hard core writer. I will be the first to admit this. There are so many freakin' awesome writers and authors out there. Me? I'm the sort of misfit kid in the back of the room that never really...'fit.' But I LOVE to write. It has freed me in so many ways over the last two years. Quite literally, I have finally found...me. It took thirty mumble-grumble years to do it, but hell if I found her finally.

UtopYA oozed with wonderful people that were just like you and me. Some were traditionally published, most were either indie published or self published, some just budding out on the page. Did they throw it around like a fluorescent pink boa with diamond crusting? Nope. Did they spout stats like a stock broker on crack and zero sleep? Nuh-uh. Were they welcoming? Were they excited to meet someone who has read, or is dying to read, one or all of their books? You bet your buttered biscuit baby!

When I say UtopYA has the heart I didn't find at other, larger, meets, I mean it. We were all there for the same reason: we love YA paranormal. There was a common unity no matter where you are in your career. The writing community really IS a community. It is a family that I am so very proud to be a part of. I still feel sort of like a distant cousin tip-toeing around the edges at times, but I still felt it. I felt the heart of this Con. I felt the heart of UtopYA.

Will it be the same in 2013? I sure as hell hope so! But really, I think it will. Everyone there, I think, picked up on the same vibe. We are readers. We are writers. We are authors. We are a group of people who LOVE to help the next coming. "There is room for all of us!" "A success for one, is a success for all." We all strive to the same goal: readers. And readers LOVE to read...a LOT.

The lovely Willow Cross said in a panel I attended, and I will paraphrase here: it might take her readers a week to read her novel, what are they going to do with the other 51 weeks of the year? 'If you like my books, here, check out my friend's book too!'

That is what we do as writers, as authors. Support. Community. Family. Friends. You CAN do it. We ALL can do it.

Willow Cross, Raine Thomas, Amanda Havard, Myra McEntire, Chelsea Fine, Tiffany King, L.M. Preston, Angeline Kace, Teal Haviland, Tammy Blackwell, M.R. Polish, Amy Bartol, Abbi Glines... oh my word there are just too many. All of these women were phenomenal to meet and share experiences with. We laughed, we cried, we joked, we teased. We were just like those crazy cousins that get together at family reunions and gossip over who is doing what.

And why?

Because we are a community. We are a community of writers. And there is room for ALL of us.

Will YOU be a part next time? UtopYA Con 2013 is on the books. Come be part of the HEART of this awesomesauce community. You will NOT be disappointed. Come play. Come laugh. Come learn. Come fan-girl. Come be a part of the family.





Footnote. Yes, I totally cried writing this whole thing. But I'm a crier. That's how I roll y'all. =^)