Me Again.

I have been so friggin' busy lately.

Business trip, swim club, work, cleaning, swim club, homework. Mostly it's the new back to school schedule. Swim club everyday after school eats up a lot of time. I have been taking my laptop along and trying to get some writing work done, but it's slow going.

But. No one wants to hear me whine. Right? Right. So instead I will do the lazy person post and copy a Meme I saw on another writer's blog and declare it my own.

If you could have a superpower, what would you have? Why?

I would totally choose to be invisible. It would be a great test of my moral values being able to sneak around without being seen. No?

2. Who is your style icon?

Style. Really? Hmm. Is there a middle aged woman who wears Converse runners or black boots with her t-shirt and jeans? If so. That's her. Er. Me. Something like that.

3. What is your favorite quote?

"Just do it." Nike.

4. What is the best compliment you've ever received?

Have you lost weight? No no. How about. You look much younger than (actual age)! But truly, any compliments I've gotten about my books are the ones that knock my socks off.

5. What playlist/cd is on your ipod/cd player right now?

I have a blend of old and new pop songs, bop to it songs, to keep me moving in the gym. That's the only time I ever use my iPod. Does that make me lame?

6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?

Morning, but not as early as it used to be.

7. Do you prefer dogs or cats?

Dogs. Except Garfield.

8. What is the meaning behind your blog name?

My name is Janet. And I love YA books. Yeah. I do.

Workshopping!

Sitting on your butt listening to other people talk all day doesn't sound like fun. Unless you're a writer and you're learning about craft! We are a wild and wacky bunch we writers. ;)

So yes, spent a fab day with SCWBI Calgary folk at our first official writing workshop and it was great. I always consider a craft learning session a good one, when I can't wait to get home and write --and tonight I raced home (well after sitting in the lounge for few hours for a post day chat with some of my fave local writers) to fix up my flawed first pages. Oh. So much better!!

Crystal Stranaghan, Publisher, and Jared Hunt, Senior Editor, Gumboot Books put on a great presentation/workshop catering to both the newbies in the crowd as well as providing moi with some ah ha moments about setting and character to use in INSTINCT--plus other great learning tools for the "intermediates". Whatever the heck that is.



Also got to chat with my Calgary writing homies--Linda, Angie, Gloria and world famous photographer/writing homie, Stina.



Stina is taking my author photo's next week. Of course in honor of the occasion I dyed my hair too dark and now look like Elvira's flat chested , bouffant less sister. It's always one thing or another with me. Trust.

The Weight of Bones....COVER!!!

*update January 11, 2011
Weight of Bones has been changed to I'M NOT HER and given a NEW COVER! It's a completley different look, but really suits the book better I think!

Yippee!

As I have lurked in the background of the online world, so busy with life not really feeling like I had much to say, changes have been going on. First of all I was lucky enough to be adopted by the new editor at Sourcebooks, Teen Fire, Leah Hultenschmidt, and she is fabulous. Capital F. Leah comes from Dorchester, with a great reputation as an editor in the Romance Industry. Since I started out writing romance and was a member of RWA for several years, this is exciting news!!!

We have spoken on the phone and have been working on revisions and now I have been told I can offically post the cover for THE WEIGHT OF BONES, selected with input from the great folks who voted at the TEEN FIRE website.

http://teenfire.ning.com/forum/topics/help-us-pick-the-new-weight-of

The votes really did count because the cover that I was originally shown is not the cover that was chosen. I am SOOOOO happy with the cover that was chosen (it was secretly my favorite) They added some spice to make it even better and without further blah blah blahing....here is is!!!



THE WEIGHT OF BONES is going to be released in APRIL 2011!

I am really excited about this book (it's a weepy one for people who love weepy books as much as I do) and can't wait for the next steps in the book journey!!!

Revisions and Sister or Soccer

I have been stuck to the couch all night, working on The Weight of Bones revisions. My laptop is getting really hot in my lap. Didn't some guy start a fire or get a major burn that way? Pillows. That's why we have pillows people. They're also really good under your head when you're sleeping.

I have to get my butt in gear with a new website soon. Janetgurtler.com. And some blog content (ah hmmm) would be good for this blog. Right.

I did hear something funny about sisters when I went to pick up my son at school today.

Two boys about 11 or 12 walking along, one has a soccer ball, the other is walking with a little girl.

Boy with the soccer ball asks the other kid to play soccer. Boy says no.

"Which do you love more?" soccer ball boy shouts. "Soccer or your sister?"
"Soccer," othe boy yells back. "But my mom will kill me if I don't walk my sister home."