Wednesday, June 5, 2013

What's Up Wednesday and post-BEA Breather


What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up. It's hosted by Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk, and if you want to join in, sign up on Jaime's blog!

What I'm Reading: 

I'm currently beta-ing and CPing, so published books will have to wait. I did break my focus for a little novella break- Camp Kiss by JK Rock. It's the prequel(kind-of) for Camp Boyfriend. Since I've been on a contemporary kick lately and love, love, love camp, this just sounds like a perfect read.

Plus, uhm, cute but slightly geeky boy (at least in the novella.) These boys might be giving my fictional dead boys a bit of work to stay closest to my heart.


What I'm Writing: 

WIP is happily churning along at around 7K. I had a massive planning-outlining session the weekend before last because my outline was just a little too nebulous and I was starting to wander. I'm definitely a planner!

I'm having fun being in Em's head. She's so dramatic and very different from Phoebe (Bookishly's MC.)

What Inspires Me Right Now: 
I've been on a pinterest kick lately. Dramatically Ever After has its own board where I get to be all OCD and plan some more.

What Else I've Been Up To:

BEA. This was my second year as a Power Reader, and while I stood in a LOT of lines, I also took the time to cover the whole floor (except the remnant bookseller section.) As a reader, it was great to pic up a few ARCs and books and meet fave authors and TWEEPS (translation: twitter friends)!!! As a writer, I made sure to pay attention to the industry part of the conference-- meaning, I absorbed the displays, paying attention to what was being promoted and how. I listened to bloggers and other readers in line complain about their pet peeves and gush over what they loved in recent books. I don't know when or how that information might be useful, but I filed it all in the back of my brain.


First stop! Standing on line for Harlequin's signing. Of course, I was there for the HarlequinTeen titles!



HarperTeen and their Epic Reads ladies had a WHEEL where you could win books or an epic t-shirt. Thanks to the luck of King Snarkles (if you don't know who Snarkles is, I'm very disappointed in you,) I actually won a *book shimmy* t-shirt!!!

SFWA Panel with Jeri Smith-Ready!

 
 BEA kitty followed me around and is now an occasional plaything for baby nephew.

I met (and fangirled) Karen Rock, one of the authors of Camp Boyfriend!!! And now I have a signed bookmark *squeee*

Minus the books that have already been handed to coworkers or family, here's what I brought back:


Finally, I came home and ate a custard mint-chocolate chip custard blizzard from Masso's. Because life is awesome.


That was my insane week. What have you been up to lately?

14 comments:

  1. Sounds like you've been busy the last week! The camp books sound interesting though, are you enjoying them!
    Great to hear your WIP is churning along :)

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    1. I loved Camp Kiss-- it was adorable. I can't wait for Camp Boyfriend. I'm in full summer contemporary mode now!

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  2. Cute, slightly geeky boys in YA are pretty much the best thing ever. Well, except for maybe tattooed boys in YA... I've made myself a couple of Pinterest boards for my stories too. I like that you can keep them hidden if you want. They're just great for inspiration. Custard mint-chocolate chip? That sounds so good! And I have to say, I'm SO envious of everyone who attended BEA. I think I might have to forego SCBWI and go to BEA sometime instead. :-)

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    1. Tattooed... and guyliner. Definitely guyliner (but that miiiight be Hook's and Hatter's faults.)

      Yes, Pinterest rocks so much. I have a ton of links, too, but I love the instant visual hit you get from pinterest's set-up.

      And, I predict you -will- go to BEA sometime. Hopefully as a part of the industry, too, so I can go fangirl you, too :)

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  3. THAT is a sweet stack of books you brought back! I'm super jealous of everyone that got to go to BEA. Glad you had a good time though! I'm a big time planner too, so I know how awesome it feels to have a solid outlining session. Hope the new clarity in your outline gets the words flowing even more!

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    1. I'm so glad they opened one day up to the public, because BEA is great (and beats the spinal and medical device manufacturing conferences I have to attend for my day job.)

      *hugs outline* Isn't being a planner wonderful?

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  4. Wow, looks like you had an awesome time at BEA! ^_^

    Hope your plan for your WiP came together nicely. I don't plan. Ever. I'm a pantser through and through! It makes editing something of an adventure :P

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    1. :) I envy pantsers. It would be awesome to go into a writing session without a pre-writing planning session!!!

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  5. OMG that blizzard makes me want one right now! :0) BEA looks fantastic and fun. How cool! Glad also that you're having fun with your WIPs and chugging right along.

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    1. Thanks. The blizzard is from this little local place that's been around forever.. meaning, they know how to make amazing custard and water ice. *craves some more now*

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  6. Glad you had a good time at BEA! Keep up the good work on your WIP! I'm a total pantser myself - anytime I try to plan too much I get really panicky and blocked. :)

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    1. Thanks. I'm the exact opposite- no plan and I freeeeeeeeze! I love how we all end up with finished work in so many different ways :)

      Writing is magic, isn't it? (well, mine is magic with a roadmap and compass and gps and, and...)

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  7. I'm so glad we met at BEA! Though it's good you didn't have your Blizzard at the time since I tend to turn into a Gremlin when around ice cream- as in- I might have gotten a tad aggressive and tackled you for it- lol- but seriously , I'm getting help in the form of a half gallon of Stewarts Stargazer currently thawing in my kitchen. It's prescribed in my recovery plan since it's light :D I'm thrilled that you liked CAMP KISS and cannot wait for you to read CAMP BOYFRIEND!! There's another summer sizzling guy for me to introduce you to- a ripped athlete who knows his way around a dugout with Lauren- very hot! Thank you so much for mentioning the series and for putting the bookmark with your awesome stack of books! Can't wait to read your WIP- good luck :)

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    1. I'm so glad we met, too! I had a great time fangirling and then chatting with you! The blizzard-- between that, and Masso's "crème-demint" (their spelling!) water ice, I'm set for the summer. My coach jokes that she always sees me detour there after skating, then reminds me that, as a pairs skater, she can see every ounce I gain from it.

      Sooooo can't wait for Camp Boyfriend and hot boy #2 to enter the picture!

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