Monday, December 30, 2013

2013: In Review

What happened this year? Thankfully I have blog posts and pictures to help me remember. ;-)

February - I got older. Had a book signing in Fullerton, CA. Went to an Ally Carter signing. Put on an Indiana Jones themed party for my son.

March - Book signing in San Diego, CA.

April - LA Times Festival of Books! Met authors, had a signing, hung out with my friend Gretchen, fun with my husband and kids.

May - Met Eoin Colfer down at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore. Helped with rehearsals for the 4th grade play. Local Author Day at the Fullerton Public Library. Went to NYC for BookExpo America.

June - Met several authors at Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore. Went to San Francisco for signing at Copperfield's Bookstore in Petaluma.

SUMMER - Worked for Eureka Summer Camp - awesomeness! Took a walk with llamas, cooking camp x 2. Was second shooter for the wedding of my college friend.

September - Was a speaker at the Big Orange Book Festival in Orange, CA. Both sons are now in Cub Scouts. Subbing a lot.

October - More subbing. Not much writing. A lot of crafting. Reading. Busy mom stuff.

November - More of the same.

December - Again. Busy. Where did the year go??

2013 was pretty amazing! I've had a great time meeting many new people, read a lot of great books, drank too much coffee, had fun with my kids, and kept the house clean enough to maintain marital happiness. ;-)

Looking forward to 2014 - I've going to attempt to not do what my friend Jessica Grey describes as "over -resolving" in her blog post. I need to make reasonable goals and work to attain those goals. Bite size goals. Once I have those defined, I'll get back to you.


2013 End of Year Book Survey

I like looking back over the year at what I've read and reflect over my favorite books. I found this survey at "Effortlessly Reading".


1. Best Book You Read In 2013?
Fantasy/Science Fiction: ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill
Fairytale Retelling: ATONE by Jessica Grey
Contemporary: THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith
Dystopian: THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass


2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?
ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card. I really, really didn't like the amount of violence in the book where young children were involved. It disturbed me SO much. I only finished it to see how it would all end up.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
THE ELITE was surprising in that for a second book of a trilogy, it was really good! Usually second books have (unfortunately) an issue with plot lags, likeability, etc. But ELITE was just as good as SELECTION.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
For YA contemp - UNITED WE SPY by Ally Carter. I love the Gallagher Girls series!
For fairy tale re-imagining - ATONE: A FAIRYTALE by Jessica Grey.
For Austen-esque - AGAINST HIS WILL by Nancy Kelley.
YA Fantasy - THE RUNAWAY KING by Jennifer Nielsen.
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
The "Bailey Flannigan" series by Karen Kingsbury.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Gail Carriger of CURTSIES AND CONSPIRACIES
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS is a sci-fi time travel book that will make your head hurt in the best way. Usually time travel is so vaguely explained that it makes me lose interest or so deeply explained it makes my eyes glaze over. This book does neither! It was amazing.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
ATTEMPTING ELIZABETH by Jessica Grey. I love Jane Austen and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE so I had to read AE. It was fantastic! I had to keep reading to find out how it would resolve. LOVE.
9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Probably PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I re-read it this year for the 5th? time. I'm planning to read it again for a project for next year. :-)
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger. It's gorgeous!
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
This is hard. I have many characters that stick with me, especially characters from book series. Cammie Morgan from GG is one of my favorite characters ever.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
NORTH AND SOUTH by Elizabeth Gaskell. I think some of the most beautifully written books are the old ones.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Again, several answers. ALL OUR YESTERDAYS made me think of time travel for a very long time. THE RUNAWAY KING made me want to be a better writer and tell epic stories. GRAVE CONSEQUENCES by Lisa T. Bergren haunted me for a long time with the amazing story telling and choices characters had to make.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
NORTH AND SOUTH. 
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
“You should have had the decency to die when you needed to."
“Sorry,” I admitted. “I’ve been going through a bit of a rebellious streak. I swear it’s almost over.”
  - UNITED WE SPY by Ally Carter
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Umm...let me check Goodreads...Longest is HOUSE OF HADES by Rick Riordan. Shortest is probably the short story collection VIEWS FROM THE DEPTHS by Jessica Grey.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? Basically ALL of UNITED WE SPY. 
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
ATTEMPTING ELIZABETH between Kelsey and Mark. <3
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Marta Perry and her Amish mystery novels
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE. Many people recommended it. When I saw it at the library, I had to check it out. :-)
21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
Fantasy and dystopian, primarily. Young Adult contemporary.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
No one comes to mind...
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS. (I really loved this book!)
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
ATONE and the Fae World.
25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
CURTSIES AND CONSPIRACIES was fun.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
UNITED WE SPY.
27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
BRUISED by Sarah Skilton. A raw YA contemp that is really amazing.

My official Goodreads book count is 83 for the year. I'm pretty happy with that! I know that I've read more than that because I re-read books and Goodreads doesn't like to keep track of re-reads for some reason. I'm thankful for our public library that keeps good books available because I don't have all the money to buy all the books. ;-)

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

If You Need To Smile

So, you might be at the beginning of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) or you might have given up already. (Kinda like...me.) Maybe you had a bad day. Maybe you yelled at your kids for licking the floor. Maybe you spilled your white chocolate mocha while it was still full. Whatever the reason, here's some happy gifs to make you smile!



















Saturday, October 26, 2013

Cover Reveal: THE BOY WHO LOVED FIRE by Julie Musil

Cover Reveal: THE BOY WHO LOVED FIRE by Julie Musil

I met Julie when we both went to an author dinner at the fabulous Dana Elmendorf's home. Julie is very sweet and her blog is wonderful for writers to get tips from. Her YA novel THE BOY WHO LOVED FIRE has a cover!

Designed by Jeff Allen Fielder
Summary:
Manny O’Donnell revels in his status at the top of his high school food chain. He and his friends party in the mountains on a blustery night, sharing liquor and lame ghost stories around a campfire. The next morning, as a wild fire rages in those same mountains, Manny experiences doubt. He was the last of the drunken crew to leave the cave, and he’s uncertain if he extinguished the flames. Within hours, he becomes the number one arson suspect.

Santa Ana winds + matches = disaster. You’d think he would've learned that the first time he started a fire.

As he evades a determined arson investigator, Manny, a modern-day Scrooge, is visited by ghosts of the past, present, and future. He’s forced to witness the fate of his inadvertent victims, including Abigail, the scarred beauty who softens his heart. Manny must choose between turning around his callous, self-centered attitude, or protecting his own skin at the expense of anyone who gets in his way.


You can find out more on 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Book Release: AGAINST HIS WILL by Nancy Kelley

Book Release: AGAINST HIS WILL by Nancy Kelley

I'm excited to tell you guys about a new Austen-esque book written by my friend Nancy Kelley! It's the third in her series entitled "The Brides of Pemberley." Nancy is one of the co-founders of the amazing site "Indie Jane" - dedicated to all things Austen! Nancy can write authoritatively about England because she was just over there for six weeks (most amazing holiday ever!!). We both like Dr. Who, Shakespeare, and Jane Austen.



From Goodreads.com

Sebastian Montgomery never thought he’d inherit a title. Quite comfortable in his role as the family black sheep, he has made a life for himself as one of England’s most valuable agents against Napoleon. Now he will be expected to remain at him as the Earl of Lisle, fulfilling all manner of domestic duties... starting with finding a wife and ensuring the continuance of the family line.

Kitty Bennet met Seb when he was just Mr. Montgomery and quickly developed a crush on him–
feelings she now assumes will remain unrequited, as an earl is out of her reach. Sebastian however has no interest in a grand alliance. If he must marry, he will choose a wife with the capacity for intelligent conversation. Kitty’s gift for witty banter draws him to her; any affection he feels for her is simply an added bonus.

But their potential happiness is threatened by someone they don’t even know: the man who killed Sebastian’s grandfather and uncle. When the danger becomes real, Sebastian realizes that, almost against his will, he has fallen in love with Kitty. Can he solve a decades old family mystery in time to keep her safe?


You can buy a copy (I did!) on Amazon for the Kindle or on B&N for the Nook.

Check out Nancy's other titles:
  HIS GOOD OPINION (Mr. Darcy's story) and LOVING MISS DARCY (Georgiana Darcy's story).

Friday, October 4, 2013

What's Next?

Hello! I know it's been a while since I last blogged. Life has been busy. That's good. My boys are both in Scouts, I've been subbing, I've been crafting, cleaning the house, organizing closets, working on volunteer things at my boys' school. Y'know. Life.

But! I do have something fun to announce. (Though "announce" seems too fancy a word for this.) My friend Jessica Grey (amazing author!) and I are both Janeites and love Pride and Prejudice to the nth degree. We've decided to attempt a collaboration on writing a newer version of P&P. Scary, right? And amazing! I just started the outline and sent it over to Jess. She'll add her thoughts and then...I don't know! The story has been in my head for so long, it's going to be hard to get it all out on paper (screen) without my mind oozing from the pressure of it finally being relieved. (I talked out the outline to my sister as we were driving up to Big Bear Lake for Labor Day weekend.)


I'm also going to the SCBWI Editor's Day tomorrow at Cal State Fullerton. I hope to see some of you there!

Saturday, October 12 is the Big Orange Book Festival. I'll be speaking at 11:00 a.m. on the Storytime panel. Please come by and see me as well as all of the other authors who'll be there that day. (It's supposed to be super cool!) (The festival runs from Friday night to Sunday.) There's also an app so you can schedule who you want to see that day.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Big Orange Book Festival at Chapman University!

Hey howdy hey!

I'm SO very excited to share the news you all that I'm one of the speakers at the Big Orange Book Festival this year! I'll be there on Saturday, October 12 at 11:00 a.m. Please check the festival schedule at the BOB website for the full list of all speakers and authors that will be there.

I hope to see you there!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Farewell to summer!

Goodbye, summer. It was nice seeing you. :-)  My kids are back to school now (started back last week!) because the school district decided to start two weeks sooner and get out two weeks sooner. It's been a strange adjustment to go from my kids around all day long to having a quiet house for 6 hours.

If you missed what I've posted on Instagram or Twitter, this is what happened this summer while I taught at an awesome summer camp. (Eureka Ministries)

-Taught at Cooking Camp x 2
-Went to the cheap movie theater x 2
-Crocheted a few hats
-Sewed some baby items for a friend
-Celebrated my husband's birthday
-Saw "Star Trek: Into Darkness"
-Saw my little sister as Ariel in "The Little Mermaid"
-Took a walk with llamas with the summer camp
-My oldest son got a concussion
-My good friend from college got married and my sister and I were the wedding photographers!
-Taught "The Science of Superheroes" at camp. I dressed up as Batgirl.
-Was part of "Local Author Night" at Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore in La Verne, CA. 10 authors and lots of fun!
-Read a bunch of books (of course)

It was a very full summer! (For pics, you can check out my Instagram feed.) It's nice to be home now and get the house organized, closets cleaned out, etc.

As for writing, I'm outlining ideas for more "Tales of Gymandrol". I've been researching fairy tales that I want to reimagine into something else. I'm revising some picture book manuscripts that I wrote. I want to *finally* finish the YA contemp story I've been working on for almost two years (in between other projects). I should probably set some firm goals for word count, dates to be done with writing, sending it out to agents/pub houses. Probably being the operative word.

How about you, book friends? Any writing goals you've set for yourselves?


Saturday, July 20, 2013

Author Interview: Michelle Lowery Combs

Author Interview

Michelle Lowery Combs

I had the pleasure of reading Ms. Combs' YA novel HEIR OF THE LAMP, Book 1 in "The Genie Chronicles" series. HEIR TO THE LAMP by Michelle Lowery Combs is an exciting new spin on a genie tale. The characters are what made this story come to life for me. Virginia is a feisty main character who I would love to have as a friend. Each of Virginia’s siblings has a distinct personality and are relatable. The mystery that surrounds Virginia’s heritage drew me in instantly. The legend of “djinns” in history was captivating! I look forward to reading more of Ms. Combs’ work.



A family secret, a mysterious lamp, a dangerous Order with the mad desire to possess both. Ginn used to think she knew all there was to know about how she became adopted by parents whose #1 priority is to embarrass her with public displays of affection, but that changes when a single wish starts a never-ending parade of weirdness marching through her door the day she turns thirteen.

Gifted with a mysterious lamp and the missing pieces from her adoption story, Ginn tries to discover who…or what…she really is. That should be strange enough, but to top it off Ginn’s being hunted by the Order of the Grimoire, a secret society who’ll stop at nothing to harness the power of a real genie. Ginn struggles to stay one step ahead of the Grimms with the help of Rashmere, Guardian of the lamp and the most loyal friend a girl never knew she had. The Grimms are being helped, too—but by whom? As much as she doesn’t want to, Ginn’s beginning to question the motives of her long-time crush Caleb Scott and his connection to her newest, most dangerous enemy.

------------------------

Interview with Michelle!
(My comments in red.)

Michelle Lowery Combs

When did you start writing Heir to the Lamp?
The entire first draft of Heir to the Lamp was written in 2009 in a couple of notebooks at my sons’ pee-wee football practices:  two hours per evening, four nights a week for four months that would have killed me with boredom had I not had a novel burning inside me to get out.  Some of the other parents must have thought that I was the most antisocial person they’d ever met.  I shudder to imagine what I looked like hunched over those notebooks scribbling like a mad woman. (I love this! I've felt the same way when I've been writing and other people are around!) 

What was your biggest motivator to finish the story?
I wanted the story to be complete for my children…something for them to read later in life and have a laugh because of all the little anecdotal stories of our family life I’d peppered into the broader adventure of a teenage genie.  I had no real goal of publication in the beginning.

How many drafts did you go through to get to the final product?
I did three complete rewrites—the first draft was in third person; the second in first, but included an ending that just kind of petered out with no real resolution; the third felt right and was very close to the final and published version.
Between rewrites I did a lot of revising:  I cut some characters, reworked scenes and dialogue.  The manuscript was rejected 13 times over three years, and every time I received a rejection letter I sat down with the work anew.  There was validity in each of those rejections, and I used them to make the story better.

Who is your favorite character in the story? Why?
I’d have to say Rashmere, main character Virginia’s guide and guardian of the lamp, is my favorite.  He’s thousands of years old and has witnessed the rise and fall of empires.  None of that has prepared him for 21st Century America, however.  He’s a loveable misfit that does everything in his power to prove himself to be the best friend a girl never knew she had.

What are your future plans for the book series?
In the second installment, Solomon’s Bell, Ginn is attempting to come to terms with her new identity, learning whom she can and can’t maintain a close relationship with as her true nature becomes known to more and more people, and all while confronting a new enemy—one older and more sinister than even the Order of the Grimoire! 

How does your family play into your story writing? (I have two boys and they enjoy helping me name characters and create “dire” situations for my main characters!)
(How fun!  Some of my children run screaming from the room whenever I want to talk plot.)  The Genie Chronicles series is heavily influenced by my family; we are as eclectic as Ginn’s family.  I have three biological children, two step-children, and maintain a close relationship with a now adult cousin that I informally adopted when he was a teen.  Each of these young people are represented as characters in the book and much of the banter, teasing and torment of one another that happens in the book can be witnessed on any given day around our house.
Similarly, Daddy’s Girl, another manuscript I’m working to complete, is largely based on my mother and her siblings, growing up in 1960’s Alabama in the years after their father’s sudden death.
I’m a “write what you know” writer for sure. 


THIS OR THAT
Blue or pink?  Blue
Computer or Television? Television…on the computer.
Pizza or Potatoes?  Potatoes.  Having six children has ruined pizza for me…possibly forever.
Coke or Pepsi?  Coke
While writing: Noise or Silence?  Noise.  There’s nothing so deafening as silence when you’re accustomed to a houseful of kids.
Batman or Superman?  To date:  Superman.  He’s a journalist, after all, and smokin’ hot.  To be:  Batman.  He’s a billionaire with all those cool gadgets.
Summer or Winter?  Winter.  Summers in Alabama can be BRUTAL!
E-mail or Text?  Email.  I hate “text speak”. (Me too!!)
Mouse or touchpad?  Mouse.  I am 5’10” tall with giant, man-sized hands.  Touchpads hate me. (Ha! I'm 5'9" and I know what you mean! My hands are almost as big as my husband's.)
Science or English Literature?  I’m fascinated by science…so many potential story ideas there.  I also love English Literature, especially modern English Literature.  Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling are two of my favorite authors.
Mind control or invisibility?  Mind control.  I have teenagers. (Bahaha!)
Have a maid or have a gardener?  A maid.  I have teenagers.
Roller coasters or lazy river?  Lazy river—it’s like lolling in a giant bath tub.  The best!
Favorite Disney princess?  Rapunzel from Tangled—she isn’t looking to be rescued and actually saves her prince. (This is why she's awesome, folks!)

-Other questions of randomness-
Last movie you saw in the theater?  Oz the Great & Powerful
Last book you read?  Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Last book you read that you cried while reading it?  This is Not a Drill by Beck McDowell
If you could dress up as anything, what would it be?  An expectant mother—no need to hold in your stomach when the world believes you’ve got a passenger in it.
The area of the bookstore you spend the most time in?  The children’s and Young Adult section.
What did you want to be when you grew up?  A teacher.
What is the next place you want to travel to?  New Orleans, Louisiana.


You can connect with Michelle on Twitter - @miclowery77.


Book Giveaway!
For the giveaway - one (1) free ebook of HEIR TO THE LAMP by Michelle Lowery Combs for the Kindle or Nook. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be contacted. If winner does not respond in 48 hours, another winner will be chosen. To enter: leave a blog post comment below! (Yep, it's that easy!)
(Giveaway now closed)

Comment on: if you had a genie, what would you wish for?

--WINNER IS: Leslie!--

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

ATONE: A FAIRYTALE by Jessica Grey

The second book of the fairy tale trilogy by Jessica Grey is now available!

ATONE: A FAIRYTALE


From Goodreads.com

Becca Ward knows that magic is real...

Two years ago not only had she and her best friend Alex found a real-life Sleeping Beauty in the middle of Los Angeles, they also discovered that they were powerful in their own right. They’ve managed to keep both their fae powers and their friend Lilia’s identity as a medieval princess a secret and live a normal life. Now their normalcy is threatened by the return of their former advisor at the Gem and Mineral Museum—and Becca’s least favorite person, Nicholas Hunt.

...and she’s about to find out that more than one fairy tale is true.

Nicholas has been obsessed with proving Lilia’s identity and the existence of magic. While working on an archeology dig he discovered an ancient fae artifact—a mirror that is imbued with a powerful protection spell that twists his obsession, and his body, until he is more beast than man. In order to protect her friends, Becca is forced to help him, and she is surprised to find that in spite of his outward appearance, Nicholas is no longer the beast she remembers. Will she let herself be the beauty that breaks the curse, or will she let her prejudice against him stop her from discovering true love?

*****
I just finished reading this book and I LOVED it! It's the right mix of fairy tale magic, strong female main character, and brooding man-turned-into-a-beast-with-smoldering-eyes. This story picks up two years after book 1 in the series (AWAKE: A FAIRYTALE). I'd recommend reading AWAKE first but you can read this one on its own. Grey has an amazing way with words and connecting the reader to emotions of the characters. Watching Becca and Nicholas fall in love but resisting it is heartbreaking but also SO great. ("The path of true love never did run smoothly" - Shakespeare) I love that Becca learns more about her magical fae abilities and seeks to use her abilities for good. There are also laugh out loud lines in the book. I really enjoy books that have that mix of fun with seriousness.

If you enjoy fairy tales set in our contemporary world, check out ATONE!


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Local Author Night at Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore

Local Author Night at Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore

Thursday, August 8 at 5 p.m.

Meet and mingle and snack! 
(And buy books!) ;-)




Authors include:

Kristen Kittscher (THE WIG IN THE WINDOW)

Cecil Castelluci  (ODD DUCK)

Teddy Steinkeller (TRASH CAN DAYS)

Scott Speer (IMMORTAL CITY series)

Melissa Buell (THE SEVENTH BLESSING, THE HIDDEN BLESSING)

Elana K. Arnold (SACRED, BURNING)

Jessi Kirby (MOONGLASS, IN HONOR, GOLDEN)

Morgan Matson (AMY AND ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR, SECOND CHANCE SUMMER)

Eliza Wheeler (MISS MAPLE'S SEEDS, DOLL BONES)

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Multi-Author Signing at Copperfield's Books

My husband, kids and I drove up to San Francisco on Friday so I could go to Copperfield's Books in Petaluma for a multi-author signing. The drive was rather easy with my awesome husband at the helm. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, a first for our boys. It was super foggy when we drove across which made it kind of scary.
Kindle and Sleeping Beauty pillow for the car ride




We walked around Ghirardelli Square, Hyde Street Pier and went to the Maritime Museum. It was a great time for sightseeing.






Alcatraz Prison

We then drove up to Petaluma and found our hotel. I traveled on to Copperfield's Books for the Super Summer YA Pizza Party and met up with the other authors at the event. I also ran into Tabitha who I met while I was at BEA! Small book world! 





Daisy Whitney, Shannon Messenger, Debra Driza, SJ Kincaid, Marissa Meyer, Susanne Winnacker, and me and Tabitha from "My Shelf Confessions"! All of these ladies are SO very nice and fun to be on a panel with.


 Daisy Whitney was the moderator for the event. She had great questions for us. It was then opened to the audience for questions. A 10 year old boy was there and was so cute with his questions. "How did you come up with your idea? Were you just sitting there, hanging out, and thinking, 'Huh, maybe I could mix a cyborg with Cinderella. That'd be cool.'" (His question for Marissa Meyer.) We ended with signing books and meeting the readers and bloggers who attended the event. Blogger Mindy has a post on the event, too.

I met Petaluma Batman after the signing

More sightseeing around San Francisco before we drove to the Big Basin Redwood State Park and then back home.





Thank you to EVERYONE who supported this event. Hugs and cupcakes to you!

BookExpoAmerica 2013

Post to be updated as soon as I receive my books...

Friday, May 17, 2013

Halfway through May...

May has turned out to be a verrrry busy month for me and my family. (Sorry about the lack of posts lately!)
I've been going to rehearsal for the 4th grade play, subbing, helping in my kindergartener's class, and various and sundry other activities (such as cleaning the house and doing laundry). I wanted to catch up on some of my Instagram photo challenge pics (from "The Idea Room" blog) for the month. I know I have a few gaps and I aim to fill those in before the month is through.


I still need to blog about meeting Eoin Colfer (eeekkk!!) last Saturday at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore. Next post, I promise!

Monday, May 6, 2013

June Book Signing - Copperfield's Books


Super Summer Sampler YA Pizza Party!!


Friday, June 7th at 7 p.m.

Petaluma, CA


Eat drink and be literary at Copperfield's!  Celebrate the start of summer with a slew of great YA authors: Marissa Meyer, Suzanne Winnacker, Debra Driza, SJ Kincaid, Shannon Messenger, Daisy Whitney, and Melissa Buell will present their latest books.  Re-imagined fairy tales, tech-y science fiction,razor-sharp real life, naughty fairies: WOW!  There's something for everybody.  And there's pizza!  Feed your body and your mind and start the summer off right with these bestselling YA authors!

I'll be up there in Petaluma, guys! I'm so looking forward to this event. I hope to see you and eat pizza and talk about books and then eat gummy worms and have fun!!


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

May Photo-A-Day Challenge!

I love taking photos but sometimes I'm stumped about what to take a photo of...Enter in the "Photo-A-Day Challenge!"

This set is from "The Idea Room." I'll be on Instagram (you can follow me, if you want - 4melissabuell). Use the hashtag "#theidearoom" for this photo challenge.



Day One:
Colorful

Friday, April 26, 2013

Book Signing in June!

I'll be traveling up to Northern CA for a signing at Copperfield's Books in Petaluma, CA.

June 7
at 7 p.m.



Eat drink and be literary at Copperfield's Books! Celebrate the start of summer with a slew of great YA authors: Marissa Meyer, Suzanne WinnackerDebra Driza, SJ KincaidShannon Messenger, Daisy Whitney, and Melissa Buell will present their latest books. Re-imagined fairy tales, tech-y science fiction,razor-sharp real life, naughty fairies: WOW! There's something for everybody. And there's pizza! Feed your body and your mind and start the summer off right with these bestselling YA authors!


Please join us! 
There will be pizza and gummy bears and laughter 
and book speaking and fun!!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Monday, April 22, 2013

Bookish Weekend!

This weekend was filled with activities of the bookish sort!

On Saturday, my family and I headed out to the LA Times Festival of Books on the USC campus. It's a HUGE event! I signed at the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore booth. My kids enjoyed the childrens' stage and authors present. I was able to hang out with my friend Gretchen and meet up with old family friends who brought their girls to the MG booth to meet Ridley Pearson.






With the "Tumbler" (Batmobile)

On Sunday, we went to the Young Authors' Faire after church. The YAF was held at the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana. It is put on by the OC Dept. of Education. I presented with Sarah Skilton at the YA Author Panel. Sarah is so sweet and fun to hang out with! Her YA contemporary novel is about a girl, Imogen, who is a black belt in Tai Kwon Do. Barnes and Noble hosted us and they have autographed copies of my books and Sarah's books at their location across the street from the MainPlace Mall!

Sarah Skilton, author of BRUISED
Me, talking about writing

Reading from THE SEVENTH BLESSING

Presenting at the YA Author Panel with Sarah Skilton, author of BRUISED

We read excerpts from our books and then we had volunteers from the audience perform in a "Readers' Theatre" from a scene from THE HIDDEN BLESSING. The kids did a wonderful job!




Signing at the Barnes and Noble table in the mall


Representing TLT Publishing!
(Bookmarks for TLT, CONSUMED, DARTBOARD, THE CHOSEN HISTORIAN)

Crowd at the Young Authors' Faire


It was a busy weekend but also filled with fun. Thank you to everyone who came out to these events!