Si, Se Puede--Yes, you can!

Wow, can you believe it's almost April? Time really flies by when you're in the revision ditches like I've been! Just got the proofs for NO GODDESSES ALLOWED which means this next week I'll be busy checking and rechecking my story before it goes out to get published! Yay! This project seems to have taken FOREVER or like Liz my fab editor at Zumaya likes to say--it has been under the mummy's curse. This is in reference to Jordan's cursed bracelet. Today I'm going to use A YEAR OF WRITING DANGEROUSLY again! Loving this book that I picked up at ALA12 last summer! Thanks New World Library and Barbara Abercrombie! #360 On Not Giving Up Kathryn Stockett got sixty rejections for her bestselling novel THE HELP. Her first rejection read, "Story did not sustain my interest." But it was her very first rejection, so she was actually thrilled with it. She went back to edit her story. On the fortieth rejection, she cried. She thought...

1. This week was our Spring Break. I've been running all over town getting things 'done' plus of course picking up things for Easter which is this Sunday! 2. While in doctor's office saw this: Talk about pretty timing! My own upcoming book NO GODDESSES ALLOWED main character, Jordan Lake, LOVES Audrey Hepburn. This Broadway adaptation of the classic Truman Capone screenplay BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S is opening in NY this year! **Interesting fact: Capone wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly and thought Audrey Hepburn wasn't 'right'. 3. Also took advantage of a week free of yoga at my local Yoga Works. 4. Reading this non-fiction book on Paris: 5. Just got this book: **Guilty pleasure: I'm going to attend a meditation class! Need something to help calm me down!

First let's start off with today's winner! Pat Edsen Go to this post to pick your prize (You have the choice of any of the remaining ones) http://denisejaden.blogspot.ca/2013/03/march-madness-is-here-wipmadness.html And then email Denise your choice at d(at)denisejaden(dot)com and she'll get it to you. Today I'll be taking a prompt from the book A YEAR OF WRITING DANGEROUSLY by Barbara Abercrombie 59. What Writers Can Learn from Six-Year-Olds There's something about the above picture that reminds me of the joy of being a child. Remember getting on a swing and being able to lift up high? Remember how freeing that sensation was? I'm a former first grade teacher and I used to marvel at my students. They had tons of energy, weren't afraid to use emotions, and when they loved something? They'd be very focused on it. I can say the same of my 11 year old. So here's some things we can learn from six-year-olds with our own ...

1. Tomorrow is the funeral of a friend who was killed while biking home from work. Eric Billings was the type of person who would give the shirt off his back to anyone. He always had a huge smile and something good to say about everyone. We'll miss him. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/struck-500059-billings-margarita.html 2. My query was part of the Writeoncon held this past week. The agent assigned to my query gave some great feedback. I usually don't post things like this but since it's up at www.writeoncon I'll go ahead and repost. Here's what it said: Garrison - 13: EL COMPUESTO YA Science Fiction The founding fathers of the hidden desert community, El Compuesto, thought eliminating racial differences would help them from the intolerance and hate from non-believers. Their spiritual leader, El Padre, preaches only true obedience to their way of life will lead them to spiritual enlightenment. Those ‘Outside’ the safety of the community are corrup...

First let me start off with today's winner: Misha Gericke Go to this post to pick out your prize http://denisejaden.blogspot.ca/2013/03/march-madness-is-here-wipmadness.html And then email Denise your choice at d(at)denisejaden(dot)com and she'll get it to you. Last Summer I was lucky enough to be able to attend ALA as it was held in Anaheim, California. I live about 30 minutes away so I didn't have any excuse. I went. One galley I picked up, A YEAR OF WRITING DANGEROUSLY by Barbara Abercrombie, sounded intriguing as it's a collection of quotes, lessons, prompts from a UCLA Extension Writing teacher. Today I thought I'd share one of her prompts with everyone. 52. The Writer as Spy. The great advantage of being a writer is that you can spy on people. You're there, listening to every word, but part of you is observing. Everything is useful to a writer, you see-every scrap, even the longest and most boring of luncheon parties... Gr...

1. So I decided to just chop off my hair. Mark, my hairdresser extraordinaire listened and did a fab job! Had lots of positive comments on it except well, mother-in-law, who just 'stared'. All that matters is what I think and I love it! **And my mother sent me a big album filled with my baby photos: This was for an activity our church was having the other night. Guess who the baby is! And no one got it! Haha 2. Wednesday was exciting as I heard about the Veronica Mars project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project Yes, I backed it! **I want that t-shirt! 3. Also exciting to hear about the new Pope! I'm not Catholic, but both sets of grandparents were. Plus, this Pope is from Argentina. Even though he has Italian immigrant parents, what's huge is he's from a Latin American country which has the highest percentage of Catholics. I'm very excited. 4. Read this: This is the perfect place ...

I hope everyone has been having a great and productive writing week. Remember, we're cheering you on over here this month: Back in September I got an email from a librarian in LA asking if I'd like to be their school's first author to do a Skype visit. She chose CROSSED OUT for their October book club read. I'm with a couple small Indie publishers, so when I heard this I was very excited and also nervous. At this time I was kind of in a funk with my writing. It seemed like EVERYONE was doing better than me. Usually conferences and big book events helped but not this time around. So to get this email brightened my mood. But then again I was nervous. What if the girls HATE my book? What if no one reads it or even worse... What if no one shows up? Then the event came and I still remember this one teen who came up to ask me questions about CROSSED OUT. She twirled her skirt while nervous energy bounced off her. "I just want you to know I lo...

1. This week started off with me being sick. Hate that. It really bothered son as he told me, "Mommy, you can't be sick! Who'll take me to my classes?" Yes, even though I homeschool, I commute at least 2-3 times a week to take son to his classes. I tell people it's 'community school' as I'm driving everywhere! By Wednesday I was feeling a little better. 2. Read this: I love the whole premise behind this publisher! Here's a teaser of my YABC review: There's so much to love about this ebook serial: romance, mystery, suspense, and one very hawt ghost. There's also the start of a possible love triangle that I hope will continue in the next installment. Plus there's added surprises like a girl from Luc's mysterious past who pops up after the veil between our world and the spirit world has been torn. There's some other reveals toward the end that leave readers wanting more Link to review: http://www.yabookscentral....

I'm excited to be hosting March Madness every Saturday this month! I'll also be giving away some fab YA books! All you have to do is follow and post at each site this month for a chance to win some amazing prizes! First, let's go over the prizes: We have some truly awesome prizes up for grabs this year! We will start by giving away a prize to one person who comments below with their goals within the next 24 hours! Here are the prizes that are up for grabs (these are in no particular order and have been donated by my generous co-hosts for this event!): First Five Pages Critique (Courtesy of Angelina Hansen - International) First Five Pages OR Query Critique (Courtesy of Denise Jaden International) Query Critique (Courtesy of Kelsey Macke - International) First Chapter Critique (Courtesy of Kelsey Macke - International) First Chapter Critique (Courtesy of L.S. Taylor - International) Bookish Jewelry (Courtesy of Mary Ann Scott - US mailing only) Writ...

1. Last week started off well enough until around 12:30ish Tuesday morning when husband came in and told me he thought we had water seeping into our foundation. Not good. What happened is our drainage pipes outside ended up clogging up with not only the recent rain but runoff from our homeowner's slope on the side of our house. The pipes aren't regulated and so inspectors don't catch half you know what kind of work. Our pipes were cracked and so we had a plumber come out and replace one section and clean out all the pipes throughout our house for, hold yourself... $2700! They kept telling us they needed to replace yet more for more $$$. I got another estimate from someone from our church and it was $1k less than what the first plumber quoted. Still the work is going to cost us over $5K. I'll try to post some photos of the damage. Tree roots broke through part of the pipe. That's the part we replaced. The roots look like overgrown hair. Totally disgust...