Warning. More Writer Deadline Confessions.

When writing a new book, once in a magical while (usually at the beginning when brains are enamoured with  new shiny stories) it sometimes seems like it's the best thing ever written by anyone ever. There may be laughing out loud while writing, there may be tears as characters suffer. These moments are usually replaced by fear that this is the most horrible drivel ever conceived and that the editor will rip up the contract and block email when she receives her first copy of the manuscript.  There may have to be intervention from other writers.

Thinking about people especially professional reviewers reading your work at this stage can only cause major carbohydrate binging. It is best avoided.

Even when it doesn't look an author on deadline is working. She is. She's watching and thinking and contemplating the way real life scenarios or conversation bits might be useful in books. She`s thinking about what her characters are doing and why. She`s wondering how she can make that person more alive. All this is secretly done while driving, eating, talking, watching our children play sports and even sleeping.

An author on deadline secretly wishes that everyone could just stop needing her for a couple weeks. Going away to a secluded room with wifi and coffee and snacks seems like the best idea. Ever. And a personal maid would be awesome too. The author still loves her family and her dog, she just wishes they could function without her for a couple weeks.

Coffee and pop become food staples.  Exercise seems much less important in the whole scheme of things.

Daily chores are really aggravating. And often aren`t done. Laundry starts to breed and multiply.

Google becomes a writer`s best friend. Real friends are only communicated with on Twitter, Facebook or in a real emergency, by email.

Worry. There is lots of worry. And hope. Lots of that too.

Happy writing!!

Confessions and a Deadline

I'm not Catholic but I live in a house with them and therefore this feels like a good time for a confession.

Hello Blog. I have not visited you in two weeks.  During that time I have often been busy working on my new novel as I should be. I also had to stop to write two non fiction write- for- hire books about Football. It was fun but way more work than I thought. The time she is ticking. November, she is a busy busy month. Plus I have begun a run program with plans to run my first half marathon in March 2012?. Yes. I might be crazy. Have I mentioned that I am not a very good runner?

I have spent wasted time reading celebrity gossip. What is up with Blake Lively? Did she really dump Leo or did he dump her? Should I really care? I suppose I'll never know the truth. Seriously she'll always be Bridget from The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants to me. No matter who she is sleeping with or how much cleavage she shows in a dress.  Okay. Yes. I'm jealous.

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I also rediscovered that I am really not a fan of Jesse James. Really not. Did you know he fooled around on that tattoo girl 19 times? Well with 19 different woman, probably more times. Which is bad enough, but what makes it worse to me is that he said something that was a total SLAM to Sandra Bullock,while engaged to tattoo girl.  Something about the tattoo girl being the very best lover he ever had.  So he purposely went out of his way to make Sandra Bullock feel bad when he was fooling around on Tattoo girl too.  Grrr. He has really scary eyes I think. Plus have I mentioned how much I love Sandra Bullock? She handled the whole thing with mega class.

 Please Blog. Tell any teen readers to never ever let themselves be fooled by the bad boy antics of boys like Jesse James. They will break your heart. Every time. There may be a character who has similarities in my new book. But I don't want to give spoilers. So shhhhhhh.

During my absense I also watched almost two full seasons of Drop Dead Diva. This. This is an awesome show. I need to hunt down Season Three.  But not until I finish writing.

I am working working working on book 3, WHO I KISSED.  I promise. And you know what, it has some really awesome parts. Unfortunatley right now it also has some parts that need work. ALOT of work. This deadline stuff is kind of freaky.

The next few weekends I have swim meet committments. I have lots of work to do. Did I mention this deadline stuff is kind of freaky?

I will be back soon, Blog. In the meantime.  If I'm not here, I'm writing. (or catching up on celebrity gossip. But shhhhh. Let's pretend it's all writing)

Read all about The First Time!

You never forget your first...

In THE FIRST TIME, 25 young adult authors contribute 25 stories all about firsts: first loves, first kisses, first zombie slayings, and more. Featuring New York Times bestselling authors Carrie Ryan and Jessica Verday, plus a host of others. From humor to horror, and everything in between, these stories will make you laugh, cry, cheer, (and maybe even scream) as you experience something brand new from the authors that you love.

Contributing authors include: Cyn Balog, Lauren Bjorkman, Leigh Brescia, Jennifer Brown, Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Janet Gurtler, Teri Hall, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Stacey Jay, Heidi R. Kling, C. Lee McKenzie, Saundra Mitchell, Jenny Moss, Jackson Pearce, Shani Petroff, Carrie Ryan, Sydney Salter, Kurtis Scaletta, Jon Skovron, Kristina Springer, Rhonda Stapleton, Charity Tahmaseb, Jessica Verday, J. A. Yang, and Lara Zielin

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