FREE BOOK TIME

The Ex Games isn’t due out until September 8, but Barnes and Noble.com says it’s ready to ship in 2 to 3 days. You know what that means. Barnes and Noble.com heard a rumor that their shipment is in the stockroom somewhere. So it’s time for us to start looking for the book in stores, too! Either that or there has been some horrible mistake and Barnes and Noble.com will take the “usually ships in 2 to 3 days” phrase off their web site in a few hours! Either one.

Well, whatever. I’m so excited, I’m starting this contest anyway, to get us in the winter spirit. It’s

FREE BOOK TIME!

1. If you are a youngling, first get permission for this from your Responsible Old Person.

2. Find a copy of The Ex Games. Library copies are fine. Take a photo of the book in snow or ice. No, it doesn’t have to be snow on the ground that fell from the sky. That would not be fair to my fellow Alabamians. We will not get snow until March, if then. Be creative. Take a picture of it in your sno-cone machine, or the freezer. Prop it up against your little brother’s Star Wars Ice Planet Hoth play set. I probably won’t know the difference.

OR

Take a photo or draw a picture of a Winter Scene of Teen Love. (No book required.)

3. E-mail me the photo or picture at echolsjenn at yahoo dot com. To make this fair, I won't count any entries I receive before 8 p.m. Central on September 8, and I'll count them in the order I find them in my inbox.

4. The first seven entries before September 30 win a free signed copy of The Boys Next Door, Major Crush, or Going Too Far—your choice! (BTW, if you haven’t read The Boys Next Door, you need to do that before the sequel comes out next June. I’m just sayin.’)

5. Void where prohibited. Only residents of U.S. states may enter.

Update Sept 31: I just read a new article that says book giveaways requiring a purchase may be illegal in some places. I just want to give away some books IS THAT SO WRONG? *sniffle* Anyhoo, I have tweaked the contest rules a bit: a purchase is not required, and only residents of U.S. states may enter. I’m sorry, Finland.

Here, Kitty Kitty!

I've always been a cat person. When my husband and I bought our first house, it didn't take long for us to get a kitten. She was very sickly and tiny at first, but she grew into the most beautiful, spunky, crazy cat I've ever had. That's Moxie, prowling behind me in the photo. Now she's very old and after several visits to the vet, it's evident she won't live much longer. But don't get sad; something great has happened!

You see, last week, my family was on a walk and as we passed a bush by the highway, I heard a kitten mew. The tiniest ball of gray fur came bounding out and instantly cozied up to us. After playing with her for a little while, my youngest son looked up at his dad with those big blue eyes and said, "Can I have the kitty for my birthday?" (Yes, it was the day before his third birthday. Smart kid, eh?) So we knocked on doors but no one had any info on the kitten. We took her home and introduced her to Moxie and fed her and played with her. The next morning, she'd left a dead mouse on our doorstep. (I'd rather a box of chocolate or a flower or something, but maybe she's trainable.)

I could go on and on about how fun little Zoey is, and how she's the friendliest cat I've ever known. But back to Moxie, our geriatric kitty. Bringing home the new kitten has breathed new life into her. She's out and about more, kind of showing the kitten the lay of the land. They eat together, sleep together, go on strolls together. It's really something! So I'm confident that if Moxie passes away sometime soon, her last days will have been improved because of the little kitten who chose to live with us.

You either love the thrift store, or you don't.

My husband loves the thrift store. I am not sure whether this is because he grew up without a lot of money, or because he now works as a salesman and loves the idea of making an advantageous trade. All I know is that he haunts the thrift store. He has ascertained that they put out new merchandise on Tuesday, and Thursday is two for one day. Several times he has almost bought pants there, then realized that they were his own pants that he gave away to the thrift store last year.

Lucky for him, we live not far from Unclaimed Baggage, which is even better than the thrift store (if you are into this sort of thing). This store buys lost luggage from the airlines and sells the suitcases and everything in them. It is a gold mine for the thrift store lover, and you are much less likely to buy your own pants. Many a time my husband has called me from Unclaimed Baggage to ask my advice on buying a table, or a bomber jacket, or clothes for our child. I always say

NO!!!!!!!!!

because I do not love the thrift store. The economy is bad and we need to tighten our belts like everybody else, but I am just sorry. I draw the line at the thrift store. You have no idea what the previous owner has done in, to, or with that stuff. It could be sprinkled with anthrax. It could be laced with marijuana residue, and the drug dogs will hunt you down. You know what you will say to the police? "But these are not my pants! There was a previous owner of these pants!" And you will sound like every other criminal on COPS.

I think a lot of my fear stems from a Nancy Drew book--not part of the newfangled series, but the original series that remains in your library only because the librarian is nostalgic about these books since she read them when she was a tween herself, back in 1805 or so. You know, the series in which Nancy has titian hair (whatever that is) and drives a sedan and wears smart outfits, and her father Carson Drew wears trousers, and her friend George (a girl with a boy's name--edgy!!!) has cropped hair and a boyish figure, and her friend Bess is pleasingly plump.

I want to say the book in question is The Spider Sapphire Mystery. Nancy and her boyfriend Ned (and probably George, Bess, Burt, and Dave, maybe even the motherly housekeeper Hannah--I don't know) take an overseas flight. They leave their suitcases unattended for a moment (DON'T DO IT NANCY AND NED YOU FOOLS) and when they pick the suitcases up again, their hands itch and burn! Is it psoriasis? Is it anthrax? NO IT'S ACID! While they had their backs turned, THE VILLAIN PAINTED THEIR SUITCASE HANDLES WITH ACID!!!!!!!!

You can see why a have a particular problem with Unclaimed Baggage.

In light of all this, imagine my dismay when I came home yesterday and found the following:



Me: Oh God, you've been to the thrift store again.

Husband: Who, me?

Me: How much did you pay for this?

Husband: Thirty dollars.

(I can tell he is lying. His trips to the thrift store are a veritable web of deceit.)

Me: It's ripped.

Husband: It's supposed to be that way, because it's a recliner.

Me: Recliners are not supposed to be ripped.

Husband: Okay, maybe I ripped it trying to get it up the stairs. It wasn't ripped when I bought it.

Me: Was it white originally?

Husband: No, it's supposed to be brown.

Me: Then why is it lighter brown on the top than it is on the bottom?

Husband: It isn't. I cleaned it.

Me: It smells.

Husband: That's the cleaner.

Me: (A) What I smell does not smell like cleaner and (B) YOU SHOULD NEVER BUY FURNITURE THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED!!!

Husband: Help me get it upstairs.

Me: No!

If I am lucky, this chair will soon be for sale again at our local thrift store. If I am unlucky, it will find a home in our den, where it will grace the atmosphere with its peculiar odor. Who needs Glade? And if I am very unlucky, my whole family is about to be hospitalized for anthrax. Or acid.

Nine Pounds

Most writers I know reward themselves after finishing a book, mailing out a proposal, or working through a particularly tricky part of their work-in-progress. It's a great incentive to keep going when the writing isn't easy.

Some writers buy themselves a gift (jewelry, shoes, and handbags seem to be popular amongst my friends.) Others go get a manicure or a massage. Some take a day (or a week) away from the computer to get fresh air and/or travel before diving into the next project. I think rewarding yourself for a job well done is always a good idea, whether you're a writer or not.

Since I wrapped up a new proposal last week, I went to Holliston, Massachusetts (one of the towns featured in Sticky Fingers) to go blueberry picking.

Ever wonder what nine pounds of blueberries looks like? Me, too. Mostly because I picked nine, but only seven and a half made it to the counter for this photo by the end of the day. I was eating them like one might nosh on a bowl of popcorn.

So...seven and a half pounds of blueberries:



Think this isn't a great writing reward? Three words for you: Homemade blueberry cobbler.

Hotel Wi-Fi is as Flaky as I Feel!

One of the things I both fear and dread is summer travel. For various reasons, we have done very little this actual summer (did quite a bit in the spring). Seeing family is fun, but stressful, and going South means hot weather. I'm a little melt-y in hot weather, given that I've lived in Maine for 21 years (!?!). We knew we'd have to take at least one trip (part business for DH and part family), and we'd planned it in our minds for mid-August.

One week ago yesterday, DH told me our timetable had changed and we'd be going to Ohio...on Saturday. And then on to Delaware. So I frantically tried to catch up on everything I had to do (and the four unexpected things that dropped into my lap last week...sheesh!). I almost succeeded. I was pretty pleased. Everything I had left to do could be done in a hotel room with Wi-Fi. Or so I thought (cue ominous music).

What I can do: write; listen to my i-Pod; exercise in the fitness room; swim in the pool; check e-mail sporadically; send e-mail -- if there are no attachments (hence no pictures of Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls -- gorgeous!). Now, some of the work I needed to do requires me to send files, so this is actually a big problem. I've attempted sending the e-mail with files at various times of the day (and night). No luck.

All I can say is thank goodness for Starbucks. I know there is one in Delaware with nice, reliable Wi-Fi. I should be able to send out my files on Friday.

I'm trying to take lessons from the annoying obstacles in my life. From this one, I'm taking the lesson that I should enjoy the pool and fitness room when I can, and forgive the hotel its flaky Wi-Fi. After all, life is short, and there is a maid to clean my room!

P.S. I have updated my website after a long hiatus (ds1, aka my webmaster, was busy, but he finally figured out how to take my high maintenance DreamWeaver site and turn it into a low-maintenance Wordpress site). No fancy bells and whistles yet, but one day soon (when I am back with my lovely high speed internet access at home).

Kelly

(going to stretch out, turn on my i-Pod and write guilt free for the rest of the no-housework day)

Love Off Limits hits shelves!

I think the last time I posted on the Simon Pulse ro com blog was when I had just finished writing Love Off Limits, and now it's available to purchase! Yes, time has totally escaped me. You're probably wondering why I've been a ghost around here. Well, I had another baby girl late last year. When you have two children under the age of three time moves differently. It flies. And two little ones are plenty enough to keep anyone away from their favorite blog let alone a hair salon, the grocery store -- even my own front yard most days. It has been a whirlwind and I can hardly believe that Love Off Limits is in bookstores!
I'm really proud of this book. It's full of irony and a little scandal too -- juicy. Natalie Dean, the heroine of my story, is leading a double life. By day, she is a secret columnist for the romance section of her school newspaper, dishing out sound advice for the romantically wounded and conflicted on campus. By night, she seeks help for her own love life on a popular love advice website. Why is she seeking advice? Because she has a whopper of a crush on her boyfriend's best friend, and doesn't know how to handle this impossible situation. I don't want to give away too much more, but I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Okay, I should really go help my husband. I think he might be using the dust buster to remove food from my child's hair.

Models wanted

It seems like only yesterday that my father-in-law found an adorable kitten abandoned under his house.



I took Kitty in, because he needed me, and because I thought I could exploit him to publicize my books.



However, it was NOT only yesterday. It was more than a year and countless cans of Friskies Meaty Bits ago. Now Kitty is wearing his Meaty Bits on his hips, but he continues to live in the fast lane as if he were still three months old.



The saddest part is, he genuinely does not seem to realize his career as a model is over.



Like so many child stars who don’t age well, he is no longer an effective spokescat for my books. We here at Jennifer Echols LLC try to portray an upbeat image to the teens, and we feel that Kitty would be more comfortable hawking another product, such as denture cream or protective undergarments.



This means I am in the market for a new spokesperson for The Ex Games, due in stores on September 8. If you know any talking babies or Chihuahuas, please send them my way.

New Book Trailer & FREE book giveawy!

Hello! It's always so exciting to see which Ro-Coms are coming out. Congrat's to those authors who have summer releases.

I'm way behind on my blogging because I'm busy traveling and getting a new book whipped into shape. But I have some pretty exciting news to share. Check out the book trailer for Miss Match


I hope you enjoy it! To celebrate, I'm giving away a FREE signed copy of Miss Match. Just contact me via my website and write "enter me" in your message to be entered into a random drawing on Monday, Aug. 3.

xoxo

Your Half-Year's Resolution

I usually give myself two fresh starts a year—one on New Year’s Day and the other on my birthday. I was born in March, the month when most people (especially moi) are loosening their grip on their New Year’s resolutions. So by the time March 19th rolls around, I quietly rededicate myself to those personal promises I made back in January. But in 2009, I’m giving myself a third opportunity to stay on course.

July 1st marked the start of the year’s second half. Sounds like a good time as any to throw out what hasn’t worked and pick up better habits. So, call me Cap’n, because I’m setting sail and charting a new and improved course.

Yep, that’s me and our house guest (my groom’s best man) on a hobikat (read: a raft with a sail attached). Nevermind that seconds after this photo was taken, the sail whipped around and knocked that brand new cap right off my head and into the water (never to be seen again). And so what we had to be rescued two hours later after difficulty navigating back to shore? Living close to the ocean has inspired me. It’s all about staying afloat, navigating through rough waves, letting the wind catch your sail…and any other maritime-born cliché you can think of.

My half-year checkup showed that I’ve been feeling easily overwhelmed (editing and writing deadlines, traveling, hosting a parade of house guests, etc.). Time to pick up the slack and get back on board. My half-year’s resolution is to read and write more hours in the day, stay disciplined, and dedicate myself to regular exercise and better eating habits (I recently purchased my first yoga mat!).

This calls for a little inspiration.

Here I am standing tall next to the tall ships visiting from all over the world.

Anyone with me? What’s your half-year’s resolution?

Chicks ahoy! :-)

Great news!

...at least, if you're ready for a ro-com set in a winter wonderland! The publication date of The Ex Games has been moved up to September 8. You can see the description here, or listen to the soundtrack and read the first chapter here. Then leave a comment in my guestbook and tell me what you think!

However, as it is 90 degrees here in Alabama (and we think that's nice and cool for July), I am having a little difficulty getting into the winter spirit. I just spent a terrific 4th of July down at the 44,000-acre lake where I grew up, which is also the basis for the setting of Major Crush and The Boys Next Door. There was a boat parade in the morning--here's an example with somebody dressed up like a hot dog, and in the background you can see one of the bridges that inspired Lori and Adam's bridge in The Boys Next Door.



That night we watched the fireworks over the lake. After using the "fireworks" setting on my camera, I am no longer impressed by this feature, but at the bottom right you can see the lights of hundreds of boats that watch the show from the lake (I have done that too, when I was a teenager, and it was awesome). Under the fireworks you can see the smoke from burning bushes. It is not a party in Alabama until something catches fire.



The 4th is over, but next week I'm going on the trip I look forward to every summer: the Romance Writers of America National Convention, where I see all my writer friends. If you live in the Washington D.C. area, you should definitely come to the charity booksigning next Wednesday night. I'll be signing Going Too Far, and you can meet other YA authors including Rosemary Clement-Moore, Melissa Marr, and our own Niki Burnham. Bring your mom, because Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, Linda Howard, Allison Brennan, and my critique partner Victoria Dahl are always there, along with hundreds of others. If you miss me Wednesday night, you can come to the Pocket signing from 9:45 to 11:15 Friday morning (Going Too Far is published by MTV Books, which is a division of Pocket Books, which is a division of Simon & Schuster = the publishing industry is hopelessly complicated). And if D.C. is a world away from you, keep in mind that next July the convention will be held in Nashville.

After the convention, I have one more beach trip to go, and then my son goes back to school on August 10. So I guess the summer really is drawing to a close for me. How about your summer? What have you been up to? Do you feel like your glass of summery goodness is half-full or half-empty?

Non-required reading

Question: When is a Ro Com author not a Ro Com author?

Answer: 

Nah, it's not really a riddle! 

Survey says: when she's authoring her own fancy new hardcover novel, which, in the case of Aimee Friedman, is the upcoming Sea Change from Scholastic Point!

Aimee's book is the story of a girl who finds a magical kind of love at the beach over the course of one mysterious summer--the perfect book to toss in your tote on your way to your own fun-in-the-sun afternoon. This past Wednesday, Aimee hosted a book party at the beautiful Boat Basin Cafe . The weather co-operated, and it was the ideal balmy night to fete a book that celebrates the steamy, sexy atmosphere of a summer romance. That's Aimee on the left up there--isn't she purty?--next to me, and authors Lynn Weingarten and Claudia Gabel. Fun was had by all, and we talked books in between fruity cocktails and stories about boys. All in all, a perfect book party!

Summer is a great time to catch up on our easy, breezy, escapist reading (hence my copy of LA Candy sitting beside me on the desk AS WE SPEAK). OBVS, the Simon Pulse Ro Coms make for great beach reads, but what you might not know is that your fave Ro Com authors also write original stories that are one hundred percent vacation-tested, Micol-approved. 

Some suggestions (keep in mind that this list is in no way exhaustive):

1. Goddess Games by Niki Burnham: One summer at a spa that changes everything. Personally, I don't even care about the dramz--summer at a SPA? I'm there!

2. The Drama series by Paul Ruditis: because you know you need your HSM fix. 

3. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols: edgy + hot = sign me up!

Oh--and of course, don't forget Sea Change!

So, what are YOU reading this summer? 

*and PS: not to be too self-serving, but I'd probably be remiss if I didn't mention a certain other project out just in time for summer...

Ready. Set. Read!

“Call me Ishmael.”

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

“It was a drag queen’s worst nightmare.”

A good opening line doesn’t always mean that you’re in for an entertaining read, but it’s an auspicious start. It sets the tone. It pulls you into a story. It should give the reader an idea of what kind of book is in store. And it’s often the hardest part of a book to write.

Of the three lines above, two are classics and one is mine. Can you guess which one?

No. I did not write A Tale of Two Cities. But thank you for thinking I'm that old.

“It was a drag queen’s worst nightmare” is the opening line to DRAMA! The Four Dorothys. It’s my favorite first line that I’ve ever written. And I didn’t even write it. I "borrowed" it from a friend (with her permission) who responded with that quote when I told her the plot of the story. But how could I not use it? That line totally encapsulated the tone of the entire book series in just seven words. That’s a lot to ask from a sentence.

Which leads me to wonder if any of you have a favorite opening line? Either from books you’ve read or books you’ve written? Enquiring minds want to know.

Ye Olde Mailbag

One of the best things about being a writer? The letters. I've received letters and e-mails from all over the world with questions and comments about my books. Some questions show up in many of the letters I receive, so I'm betting other authors get them, too. For today's blog, a few answers:

1) Are You Your Characters? Or Are They People You Know?

No. Characters--at least in fiction--are figments of the author's imagination (see your Merriam-Webster for the definition of "fiction.") Speaking for myself, there may be facets of people I've met in the characters I've created, or there may be snippets of conversations I've overheard worked into a character's personality, but that's the extent of it. If an author wants a career--that is, they want to write multiple books, year after year--then they need to create a variety of characters with a range of personality traits. It'd get boring writing (or reading!) about the same characters forever. Plus, wouldn't it be awful if authors WERE their characters? Think about some of Agatha Christie's murderers. Or Stephen King's demented villains.

2) Do You Design The Covers Of Your Books?

Nope. Folks with backgrounds in graphic design, art, and photography do that. The wonderful Amy Saidens does the covers for the romantic comedy line. She has talents most authors don't!

3) Why Did (Such and Such Character) Do Something So Stupid?

There are several answers to this question, so take your pick: a) Because perfect characters are boring; b) Because normal people make mistakes; c) Because it made the story more interesting; d) Because if the character hadn't made that mistake, they wouldn't have discovered XYZ.

4) Can You Name A Character _________ ? And Give Her A Boyfriend Named ____________ ?

If I do, it's coincidence. But thanks for the suggestion. (And hey, if you have characters and a story in mind, maybe YOU can write it! Why not?!?)

Too close for comfort

I have never blogged about this because my close call doesn’t seem close enough to be a close call. But just today another online article was posted about Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River in New York City last January. It will not leave me alone, so I’m going to blog about it and get it off my chest.

That was my flight.

No, I was not supposed to be on it that day. No, I had not been on it the day before. I was not supposed to be on it the following day. I was supposed to be on it in two weeks.

Two weeks after the crash, I flew to New York to see my BFF from high school, attend a writers’ conference, and meet Editor Mike. My flight back was supposed to be Flight 1549 from LaGuardia to Charlotte; in Charlotte I would pick up my return flight to Birmingham.

On the day of the crash, I was watching the news reports when my husband called from the road. He’d heard about the crash on the radio in his car and wanted me to tell him more about it. He really empathized with the victims because he flies so often from Birmingham to Charlotte and from Charlotte all over the country. He wanted to make sure the passengers were okay.

In the back of my mind I was thinking...Charlotte? LaGuardia to Charlotte? Naaah... And then when I logged onto my computer, I had an e-mail from U.S. Air: “Your Flight 1549 in two weeks has been changed to Flight 1548.” Translation: “We are sorry but your airplane is floating in the Hudson.”

Everyone I’ve told about this story has laughed with me about it. My BFF said the airplane floated right past her office in the Garment District. If I had been on it, she would have waited for me to be rescued and met me at the ferry with a latte. In addition to the two-weeks-out scenario, it’s easy to laugh about because no one was killed. The folks unlucky enough to have been on this flight were as lucky as possible.

I would not let this or the French crash stop me from flying. They say it’s safer than driving and I absolutely believe it. Still, I have to say, I was very nervous flying home. I was on the lookout for birds. And all around me, the other passengers seemed unconcerned. “What is the problem? We are on Flight 1548!”

Surely you have a better brush-with-death story than this. What’s your close call?

I Winnn!!!

What? You didn't know I was playing a game? Well, I was. And the game is called Blog On the Given Day. You see, our illustrious blog overseer Jenn assigns us days to blog (not out of a desire to control the world, but simply to spread out the goodness during the month). To win the game, I really need to blog on my given day (the 5th of the month). Jenn, being a benevolent overseer, is clear that our given day is a roundabout number. Hitting somewhere nearby -- for me, say, the 7th or the 3rd -- would be just fine.

Today, I win by hitting the bullseye -- today is June 5th! Yay me. [I thought it was the 6th, and I was one day off, so this is probably a much sweeter moment for me than anyone can truly understand.]

I have missed two months in a row completely, but this new bullseye clears my record and I can do the victory dance (at least, by my rules, I can). So picture me (on second thought -- don't) doing the victory dance on the blog goal line.

This may seem to be a post without a relevant topic (something I personally loathe), so let me connect my uber-extravagant-cool-bullseye win with a point: set your goal, and celebrate when you make it.

Just for example, if you graduated or are graduating in the past or upcoming few weeks: celebrate. And not just the cap and gown, listen to the speakers kind of celebration. Nope. I want you to celebrate in the way that means the most to you. Outside celebration and recognition is wonderful -- really, I got a bike for my high school graduation (never used it because I am the world's most dangerous bike rider), lots of cash, and some fun graduation parties (and I soooo don't count the family party). But that was other people celebrating their relief/joy that I had met one of the big milestones for entering adulthood.

Graduating high school meant I was eligible for college, of course, but also that a larger job market was now available (I was only 17 when I graduated, and didn't turn 18 until I was already a freshman in college). That I was, in essence, soon to be off my parents' tax forms and grocery list. My parents and relatives could breath a sigh of relief that I'd completed twelve laps on the way to being an adult (I didn't go to kindergarten, though I wish I had).

Looking back, I can fully appreciate that sense of relief, especially since I have now managed to get all three of my children into the fitful world of adult responsibility, and two of them are not listed on my tax forms any longer.

But what I remember most, is what I did to celebrate for myself -- I agreed to help my aunt (whose Navy husband was deployed for six months), by being her "au pair" for the summer. I traveled by bus from New Castle, Delaware to Jacksonville, Florida -- alone (full disclosure -- my mother and aunt made all the logistical arrangements, as I was a complete traveler-doofus still).

My Aunt Patty made sure I had plenty of beach and reading time, but I helped out by overseeing and being a second pair of hands to take care of my cousins, who were 5 and 18 months. We even took my older cousin, and another 5 year old cousin to Disneyworld (in Florida...in August...which is why DH and I took our kids to Disney in January when we went). It was the perfect break for bookish, shy, and timid me. I have to say it prepared me for college in a way I didn't appreciate at the time.

Behind me were the days of school buses, class bells, and a set schedule. Ahead were the responsibilities of getting myself up and out for classes (and really, the hardest part was sometimes tearing myself away from the 24 hour Pinochle game going on in the dorm lounge...blush...cringe.)

And for that summer, I reveled in winning the high school game. Getting the diploma. Getting into college. And having an entire summer at the beach with an aunt and two cousins I adored.

So -- whatever you won recently, remember to award yourself a prize that has nothing to do with other people's joy/relief. It's okay if it is being a family au pair (I loved babysitting my cousins, but this was a step up from that). Or, like my husband did, taking a week long beach camping trip with just your peers. It doesn't matter if your personal celebration is small or grand. You just need to thank yourself when you set a goal and *you* make it!

Enjoy the summer!

Kelly

Pub Story: Erin Downing

One more thing from me on Pub Day for Drive Me Crazy....

The lovely Reviewer X has this cool thing going where she posts stories about how writers got their start - in their own words. A new story pops up every Tuesday, and they're all really, really different and incredibly interesting. Want to know how I went from reader to book editor to writer-without-an-agent? Check this out.

School Visits Rock!

My favorite parts of being a YA author are getting to work in my pajamas, receiving email from readers, hanging out with cool authors, and visiting schools.

Today I got to visit Grantsville Middle School in Utah, along with 5 other authors, an illustrator, and a photo journalist. Right when I walked through the doors, I was pleasantly surprised to see a lovely young lady holding a "Wendy Toliver" sign like chaffeur drivers do at airports. Kyra took me around the whole day, letting me know what to expect and keeping me from getting lost. First up was a delicious dutch oven lunch in the library, followed by an assembly in the cafeteria where the talented Jessica Day George (of Dragon Slippers fame) had the students in stitches when she explained that her 8th grade teacher told her she was such a great writer she could just quit school. Which didn't go over too well with Jessica's mom, needless to say.

Next I was taken to a classroom where I gave a talk to two separate groups of students. They asked some great questions and I hope they learned something from me, or at least were somewhat entertained by my sleep-deprived presentations. I had a personal first when one of the guys offered to be my agent. Finally, we had a book signing in the gym. In addition to books, I signed countless bookmarks, pieces of paper, foreheads, and hands. It was a wonderful day and I'm thrilled to have been a part of it.

Frequent Flyer

Look up and wave, y’all. If you’re on the East Coast, chances are good that that’s me flying overhead in a commercial jet. I’ve been doing a lot more flying ever since I moved to an island. Thankfully, Bermuda is only a short jaunt home to New York/New Jersey—less than two hours! You could burn that much time sitting in traffic on the way to the Lincoln Tunnel!

My husband (then fiancé) and I had never been to Bermuda until we were flown out here for his job interview close to two years ago. I remember how unconvinced I was when other ex-pats living here told me that we’d be taking plenty of trips “off-island” as the often-used term goes. I doubted, because it sounded like an expensive lifestyle. But they were right. Once in a while, it’s good to take a breather from a 21-square mile nation in the middle of the lonely Atlantic Ocean. There’s family to visit, weddings to attend, and—as is the case next week—the book expo (BEA) to dive into.

(landing in Bermuda)

Once upon a time, I didn’t mind flying. I never even flinched during bad stretches of turbulence. It just felt like a bumpy bus ride to me. In fact, I was usually the one helping nervous flyers feel at ease. I used to love flying so much that I thought about taking flying lessons. But last month’s flight to Atlanta changed all this. The pilot was horrible, saying alarmist things like, “There’s going to be a rough patch for the next 15 minutes—I hope we get through it.” I kid you not. I literally had to search my iPod for gospel music to calm myself down. All the passengers were tense and quiet until we touched down.

This new fear of flying has got to go. I have to “shake it off” like Mariah Carey. I can’t very well swim across the Atlantic. And, for that matter, I can’t swim very well--across the Atlantic or across a pool. When I was moving here, my geographically-challenged great aunt asked if one can drive to Bermuda. That’s a Guinness World Record bridge if I’ve ever heard of one. So, like we say in Jersey, “whaddayagonnado?” No other way around it.

So, hope to see you at the book expo next week. But for now, gotta fly!

Bad Work Habits

All of us have sloppy/bad/lazy work habits, though writers are, on the whole, rather notorious for them. I have friends who write in their bathrobes and clean their desks once a year...maybe. Others I know write for days without showering when they're on a tight deadline. Grocery shopping and housecleaning often go by the wayside when time is tight. Me, I've spilled soy sauce into my keyboard while trying to eat sushi and type at the same time (and learned my lesson, as I had to remove every key from the keyboard to clean up that particular mess!)

But the guys in this office in San Jose, CA, win the prize. I don't know a single writer whose work habits have required the services of a hazmat team, nor do I know anyone whose inattention to cleaning resulted in seven people being sent to the hospital. I don't know about you, but if I go to all the effort of carting food somewhere--like, say, an office--I don't let it go to waste. This story makes me wonder just how much food--and what kind--these workers left!

What are your worst work habits? Do they get worse when you're on deadline or have a project due? (And have you ever required the services of a hazmat team?!)

I was on the road last week, and had a fantastic time with Florida Library Association at their annual conference, where I talked to librarians about creating fun programs for teens. You can bet that when I arrived home, I cleaned the fridge!

A book for all seasons

A lot of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies are published about two months before the season in which they're set. For instance, Jamie's Valentine's Day book appeared in December, and Catherine's Christmas book came out in October. That's because Simon Pulse figures you want to read a seasonal book.

My books are no exception, and I recently realized that when my fourth book comes out, I'll have a book for every season! Here they are:

Summer: The Boys Next Door

A high school junior pretends to date the boy next door to catch his older brother, her childhood crush. This novel is set on a beautiful lake in Alabama, much like the one where I grew up. It begins a few days before Memorial Day and lasts until the middle of June, so if you love those seasonal books, you'd better hurry for this one! You can read more about it here or sneak a peek here.

Fall: Major Crush

A beauty queen turns band geek in a small Southern town. I was not a beauty queen, but I was the first female drum major of my high school marching band. I love fall, I love school, I love football, and I LOVE BAND. If that back-to-school feeling excites you too, this book's for you. Major Crush is also my first published novel, and I will always have a soft spot for it (and the hero, Drew). You can read more about it here.

Winter: The Ex Games

A snowboarder challenges her ex-boyfriend to a battle of the sexes on the slopes. It's coming out this October 6, just ahead of winter, The X Games, and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Mark it on your calendars to get you in the mood for cheering on your favorite chick-athletes! You can read more about it here.

Spring: Going Too Far

Published by the MTV Books side of Simon & Schuster rather than the Simon Pulse side, this novel is about a seventeen-year-old who avoids prosecution for a high school stunt by spending spring break on night patrol with the nineteen-year-old rookie cop who arrested her. It just came out in March, and I feel very happy and VERY grateful to all the readers who bought it, because it's already in its third printing. You can read more about it here, or listen to the soundtrack and read the first chapter here, or see what book bloggers have said about it here.

As for writing books seasonally--I never seem to do this. I wrote the summer and spring books in fall, the fall book in winter, and the winter book in summer. And I'm not a seasonal reader, either. Right now, personally I'm not looking for a book set in the late spring or the summer to get me in the mood for the beach. I'm simply on the hunt for the next great story. If a novel were able to transport me from Alabama's tornado season into the dead of winter (somewhere else, because Alabama does not have a dead of winter), I would admire the author and think that was pretty cool. How about you?