My editor Farrah and her friend Britney have an amazing blog about books! Add them to your "Must Read Blogs" list. :) I Eat Words Blog
Here's a recent post from Farrah that we would love to get your input on! What Covers Are You Attracted To?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
There's My Desk!
I was so bothered by the clutter all over my desk that today I decided to do something about it! I've been following PrettyHandyGirl on Twitter and reading her blog and was inspired to get it done now! ;) I have had plans for awhile (weeks) now and I finally had everything I needed to accomplish it. I've been accumulating things along the way (99 cent shelf on clearance at Ikea!) and I went to Ace Hardward for the brackets for said shelf. I put my husband's tools to good use and drills holes for the brackets and then screwed everything together. I cleared off my desk (I don't even want to show you the before picture of it) and I am so happy with the results. The "art" above the shelf is actually two pieces of scrapbook paper that I love and mounted to a foam board. I can write in peace now. Well, that's if my kids can stay out of the office... ;-)
"Far far away" "Happily Ever After" is what the scrapbook paper reads
Monday, March 14, 2011
Meeting Patrick Rothfuss
Patrick Rothfuss is the author of The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear. Wise Man's Fear (hereafter shortened to WMF) was released on March 1, 2011. Pat's first book was introduced to me by my friend Bryan. Bryan is an avid reader and he said this was his favorite book EVER. Bryan is not one given to hyperbole so I knew I had to read this book. Wow. Name of the Wind is just....wow. If you like fantasy, adventure, epic novels, etc. it should be on your "To Be Read" pile. So, all that to say that when WMF came out, I bought it the day it was released. I couldn't read it right away because I had other responsibilities (like children and housework) but when I started it, I could hardly put it down to sleep at night. I don't know how Pat comes up with what he does. Amazing writing. (There are a few parts that are...PG-13, I suppose. Read those quickly and don't let your imagination get too into it.) Ahem.
I was checking Pat's website and noticed that he was going to be at a book signing at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Huntington Beach, CA. That's about 40 minutes from my house and I jumped up and said, "Yes!" I've always wanted to go to a book signing and here was my opportunity! I told my friend Amanda about it (because she also read NOTW and loved it) and she was on board to attending the signing. Her little sister, JoJo also wanted to come. We met up and drove down there all together. Parking was CRAZY. Super crazy. No where to park crazy. We drove to the other side of the shopping complex and speed walked back to the bookstore. The signing was set to start at 7 p.m. and we arrived at the escalator to the second floor right as Pat was walking out. The store had anticipated 100-150 people showing up and set up about 100 chairs. 400 people showed up. FOUR HUNDRED. We stood in the line that snaked between the shelves and waited with many other rabid fans. A guy in front of us (pics following) brought his lute to be signed. His lute. 'Cuz in the book, Kvothe plays a lute. Now THAT is a fan. The guy even had red hair like Kvothe. My friend Bryan was there with some of his other friends toward the front of the line but we didn't see him there because the line was THAT long. Pat answered some questions (refusing to do any spoilers, yay!), read some passages from the book, and then told us an awesome story about his guinea pig that was also a fish. A guineafish. Amanda used her awesome drawing skills to sketch a guineafish in her sketch book that she brought along and showed it to Pat. He LOVED it. (It was really amazing.) We waited in line for 3.5 hours before we got to meet him and he signed my books and then took a photo with me. I told him that he could be a dwarf in Lord of the Rings and he laughed. *Note to self: Send Patrick Rothfuss a battle axe.*
It was a long night but totally worth it. Book signing with great author, bonding time with friends, reading time sitting on the floor of Barnes and Noble waiting, laughing at the guineafish story. *sigh* Twas a great night.
I was checking Pat's website and noticed that he was going to be at a book signing at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Huntington Beach, CA. That's about 40 minutes from my house and I jumped up and said, "Yes!" I've always wanted to go to a book signing and here was my opportunity! I told my friend Amanda about it (because she also read NOTW and loved it) and she was on board to attending the signing. Her little sister, JoJo also wanted to come. We met up and drove down there all together. Parking was CRAZY. Super crazy. No where to park crazy. We drove to the other side of the shopping complex and speed walked back to the bookstore. The signing was set to start at 7 p.m. and we arrived at the escalator to the second floor right as Pat was walking out. The store had anticipated 100-150 people showing up and set up about 100 chairs. 400 people showed up. FOUR HUNDRED. We stood in the line that snaked between the shelves and waited with many other rabid fans. A guy in front of us (pics following) brought his lute to be signed. His lute. 'Cuz in the book, Kvothe plays a lute. Now THAT is a fan. The guy even had red hair like Kvothe. My friend Bryan was there with some of his other friends toward the front of the line but we didn't see him there because the line was THAT long. Pat answered some questions (refusing to do any spoilers, yay!), read some passages from the book, and then told us an awesome story about his guinea pig that was also a fish. A guineafish. Amanda used her awesome drawing skills to sketch a guineafish in her sketch book that she brought along and showed it to Pat. He LOVED it. (It was really amazing.) We waited in line for 3.5 hours before we got to meet him and he signed my books and then took a photo with me. I told him that he could be a dwarf in Lord of the Rings and he laughed. *Note to self: Send Patrick Rothfuss a battle axe.*
It was a long night but totally worth it. Book signing with great author, bonding time with friends, reading time sitting on the floor of Barnes and Noble waiting, laughing at the guineafish story. *sigh* Twas a great night.
Lute guy
Melissa and Patrick Rothfuss
(I brought him cookies.)
Pat signing Amanda's sketch of a guineafish
Amanda, JoJo, and Pat
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Jane Austen Quotes
I recently watched (again) the BBC version (yes, the l o n g one) of Jane Austen's Emma. It is a fantastic version and does the book justice. I love the relationship between Mr. Knightley and Emma.
"Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them...."
The book is full of great quotes and I thought that I would share some of my favorite Jane Austen quotes. I wish I could say such rich, concise things. (And the things she wrote 200 years ago still ring true!)
"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." - Mr. Knightley to Emma.
"Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies."
"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."
"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
"Nobody minds having what is too good for them."
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."
"Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them...."
The book is full of great quotes and I thought that I would share some of my favorite Jane Austen quotes. I wish I could say such rich, concise things. (And the things she wrote 200 years ago still ring true!)
"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." - Mr. Knightley to Emma.
"Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies."
"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."
"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
"Nobody minds having what is too good for them."
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
My Amazing Publisher Is...
The Little Things Publishing Co. is my publisher! I have signed for a three book series with the first book coming out this year. Yay! *happy dance* TLT is an awesome company and I am SO incredibly happy to be included in the "TLT family." :-) The CEO, Randi Ertz, is friendly and welcoming and I am grateful to her for all of her hard work. I look forward to meeting my editor and illustrator (yay for cover art!) soon. I get to be a part of the editing and cover art process because TLT is cool like that.
The March newsletter just came out. Please sign up for it to come directly to your e-mail. (It's good for business.) ;-) March Newsletter
You can also follow them on Twitter: @TLTPublishing
The March newsletter just came out. Please sign up for it to come directly to your e-mail. (It's good for business.) ;-) March Newsletter
You can also follow them on Twitter: @TLTPublishing
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