Si, Se Puede--Yes, you can!

1. Today is Dia de los Muertos-Day of the Dead! Today is when some celebrate/honor their loved ones that have passed. Some have altars that they'll place something that the loved one loved such as chocolate, a glass of wine, fried chicken, or some tamales. There will be a photo of the loved one too. I have a scene in my book EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA where Lupe finds one of these altars of her mother. **One thing Dia de Los Muertos isn't is an extension of Halloween. Rather it's a day to celebrate and reflect on loved ones who have died. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican/Latin celebration though my husband said there are similar celebrations in Korea and other Asia countries. Here's a fun link with some children's books that celebrate Dia de Los Muertos: http://www.babble.com/babble-voices/ana-flores-besos/13-favorite-childrens-books-for-day-of-the-deaddia-de-muertos/ 2. Here's my son bedazzling during last night's Halloween celebrations: 3. A...

1. Halloween is almost here. Last night son went to his 'first' dance at our church. He wanted to be a vampire. **Can you guess what TV show is my favorite? He said he loved going as he got to hug TONS of girls. Son, "Mommy, there's like double the girls there as the boys. It's like 2 girls to one of us!" OMG, he's 12 years old and talking about girls already! 2. I'm trying to flesh out a short story for a YARWA class I'm taking. I decided to see the world through Phoenix's eyes. He's one of the dreaded 'Others' that Espie's been warned about since childhood. I woke up the other night and heard a song on Leno that felt so much like Phoenix! Thomas Rhett, "It Goes Like This". What's funny about this is I HATE Country music but my character likes it. If anything, most of the music I hear when I write his scenes have music similar to the above. Who says characters don't speak to you? 3. B...

I was really excited to read and review another winning Sourcebooks novel! I'm a huge fan of this publisher! Chloe is a mediocre student who has a huge crush on fellow student Blake. One day, while in study hall, she falls asleep and finds herself six months in the future. She can't remember what happened in those missing months. Now she has a 2155 SAT score and on the fast track to any Ivy League university she wants. Blake happens to be her boyfriend but Chloe is creeped out whenever he touches her. Chloe can't help but know that something isn't right. Also her best friend Maggie wants nothing to do with her. Add to that the strong chemistry she feels whenever she's around bad boy Adam. Chloe is determined to do anything she can to regain her memory and make things right again. What worked: I really enjoyed this page turning tale of a girl who loses her memory only to find that her whole world has been turned topsy turvy. I enjoyed the unique twist on ho...

1. First off, I had a totally great experience at last weekend's OCCRWA Birthday Bash. The theme was Mardi Gras so of course I wore a mask: A selfie I took in my hotel room. I had the 2 room suite ALL TO MYSELF. It was wonderful! I also was able to do a booksigning with a bunch of other RWA authors including the fab Victoria Dahl! Totally loved Victoria's speech on unlikeable women and real ones. Her speech totally resonated with me. What I love about my local RWA? Their willingness to accept all authors regardless of what big name publisher/agent they might have. I feel welcome in this charter with my small press pubbed books. And this was too cool: 2. Received this package from the fab Mandy of YA Books Central: 3. Son loving his history class at his student center. This year they are studying Medieval world. This was on the Maori warriors. Then he made a mosaic for the Byzantinne empire: 4. Finished reading RED by Alison Cherry: ...

1. First off, it was so much fun being a part of this Fall's YA Scavenger hunt! The winner of my own giveaway is: RACHEL EDMUNDSON Congrats! 2. Getting ready for OCCRWA Birthday Bash this Saturday! Booked my hotel room, got some fun Audrey Hepburnish PJs, a Mardi Gras mask, and also have some books for a booksigning. Later that night going to a couple PJ 'parties' and also plan to have breakfast the next day with some other RWA authors. Should be fun! Hope to have photos to share next week! Knocking on wood I don't get... 3. Sick as son had some virus the other day. Ugh. Been living on Airborne and spraying Listerine EVERYWHERE! Now for the book finds of this week! 4. Read this e-book galley that was sent to me from Netgalley: Think THE AMERICANS meets YA paranormal spy kids. Set in 1963 Russia during the Cold War this story had me on the edge of my seat. Amazing storyline that peels back what could have happened during the Cold War in the S...

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours! Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are THREE contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM--but there is also a red team and a gold team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books! If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list o...

I'm excited to reveal the cover of the upcoming New Adult novel by Jus Accardo. Ruined will be released by Entangled New Adult imprint, Embrace, on November 11th, 2013. Jus Accardo is celebrating the cover reveal with a $10 Amazon gift card giveaway! Ruined by Jus Accardo Hell is looking for a way to break loose… Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him. After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget. Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running i...