In Which I'm Excited For December (And Star Wars!)

I'm really having a hard time realizing that the year is only a few weeks away from being over.
Like, really? REALLY?

But, also, you know what happens before then?

Frickin star wars.

STAR WARS!



(he just looks so terrified about the shit that's about to go down)
It is going to be awesome. I feel it in my gut. Though I'm slightly worried about what may happen to Han Solo. I mean, especially if you want to compare its possible arc to episode IV. Is all I'm saying.
But I guess we'll find out in a few weeks (eeee!) Of course I don't get to see it until Sunday the 20th, so hopefully people will avoid posting spoilers for a week or so.

I cannot express how I excited I am.

I think the only think I'm more excited for (and, really, I'm so excited for both of these that it's really hard to tell what I'm more excited for) might be Captain America Civil War, but that doesn't come out until May, so I have some time before then.

 

(I mean, LOOK AT THIS!!!)

How about you? What are you looking forward to over the next few months (holidays notwithstanding)

Friday Fun

It seems like it's been forever since we've done a Friday Fun, and before we know it, 2015 will be gone forever.

But before 2016 we have a holiday of presents!

So let's get this first December Friday started off right!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Well, today is the last IWSG of 2016. Seems like the year just flew by.

It was a year of a lot of new things for me. I did edits on ASSASSIN'S HEART and copy edits. And first page passes. I got to see my cover for the first time, then hold my arcs. I got my first Goodreads reviews, and my first trade reviews.

And in 60 days the book will be out in the world, to do it's thing.

Which is extremely exciting.

But also scary.

Things move so slow in publishing, so even though you have an agent, or a book deal, etc, etc, it really doesn't feel like much has changed. Unless you quit your job to write full time or something. Which, yeah, is something I would love to do sometime in the future, but also, right now, I think I want to work my day job as long as I possibly can, for financial reasons alone. A twice monthly paycheck is something I'm not sure I'm ready to give up, yet. Even though multiple times a week I sit at my desk and just think about putting in my notice.

Sigh.

But, really, nothing much feels different. And I suspect the same will be said on February 2nd, the actual release date of ASSASSIN'S HEART. It will probably just be like any other day. And that's okay.

(though, really, I'm totally taking the day off from work. Probably get something good to eat for lunch, and then maybe hit a couple of bookstores to see my little book baby in the world.)

Anyway, I have work to do. Book 2 will need to be revised. And revised again. And in January, before any of this, I'll be graduating from my MFA. Something I'm both super excited and super sad about. 2 years went by too fast.

So, yeah. It's going to be a busy few months. But exciting. And I'm looking forward to it.

In Which I Guest Post

This is a little late, just because it posted while I was on my blogging hiatus to finish my draft of Book 2, but nonetheless, I was a guest blogger over on ReadWriteLove28 talking about one of my favorite topics, how to use Pinterest as a writer.

So, maybe stop by and check it out!

How was your Thanksgiving? I hope it was awesome.

Also, I cannot believe today is the last day of November. Where did the month (nay, the year!) go?

Also, though, Wednesday marks the 60 day countdown until ASSASSIN'S HEART is officially out in the world.

EEEEEE!

 

In Which It's Thanksgiving

I hope everyone's having a great holiday weekend!

 

In Which ASSASSIN'S HEART Got A Starred Review!

So while I was away from the blog, trade reviews started to roll in for ASSASSIN'S HEART, which is both exciting and terrifying.

Mostly, I was hoping that I would sneak through with some nice things said. I didn't need anything fancy. I just mostly didn't want to be, you know, destroyed.

But then an amazing thing happened. ALA Booklist gave ASSASSIN'S HEART a star!
A whole frickin star!

It's like, I'm just going about my day, working hard, and suddenly, something shocking, but also kind of nice happens.

This is, like, one of my writer dreams. The idea that maybe, someday, one of my books could get starred by a trade review. And to have it happen kind of blew my mind.

You can find the full review here (just released today!)

Also School Library Journal said some wonderful things, too! But that review won't be available until December 1st and I'll post it then.

And! And! Publisher's Weekly was all like "Here's some awesome things to say about ASSASSIN'S HEART, too!"

So, really, it's been kind of a mind blowing experience and mostly I spend a lot of time swooning.

I need, like, a fainting couch or something.

How about you? What are your thoughts on reviews?

And also, for those of you in the US, have a great thanksgiving tomorrow!

ACNE, ASTHMA AND OTHER SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE HALF DRAGON Release Day!

Well my blogging hiatus stretched on my longer than I intended but what better way to come back that with a BOOK RELEASE for my friend Rena Rocford!

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Acne, Asthma, And Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon

Pub. Date: November 23, 2015

Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Format: eBook and paperback

Find it: Amazon  |  Barnes and Nobles |  Goodreads

 

About Acne, Asthma And Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon:

Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon’s fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers.

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he’s been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit.

 

About the Author:

 

Living as a muggle has brought Rena some levels of success such as completing her master’s degree, but always the stories returned, calling her to the keyboard in the dark of night. Now, having built armies from words, Rena has set her sights on world domination, one book at a time. From her secret base in the wine country, Rena has enlisted the help of her cats, her loyal dogs, and her family―who can be relied upon to hide the launch codes at a moment’s notice. You can find Rena at her blog, follow her on Twitter, Goodreads, or find her on Facebook. Her debut novel, Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon comes out November 23^rd, 2015.

Be sure to stop by the release party on Facebook and win some fun prizes to help along your reading fun, and maybe even a gift card or two!

I cannot wait to get my copy and I hope you can't either!