July 2010
It's release day!!! Win a copy of So Over It
30 June 2010
Today So Over It officially goes on sale. Which would feel slightly more exciting if I hadn’t already been seeing it on shelves for a couple weeks now, but still. There are only so many release days an author has in her career, and it deserves a couple exclamation marks.
In honor of release day, I’m giving away a copy of So Over It.
Here’s how to enter. Leave a comment below with a TV pet peeve of yours. This is an example taken right out of the book:
“Have you ever noticed on TV or in movies that characters randomly come and go from rooms?” Abbie asked. “They come in for no apparent reason, say something poignant to our troubled main character, and then walk out for no reason. That never happens in real life. I’m annoyed.”
“Want to turn it off?”
“I’m not that annoyed. And it’s giving me something to think about besides poor Owen.” She patted his back. “So what’s the verdict? Are you giving Connor another chance?”
Abbie’s pet peeve, as you might guess, is something that drives me crazy. In high school, I used to watch 7th Heaven, and that show does that all that time.
My current pet peeve, however, is how grossly they mis-portray pregnancy. Particularly labor. I’m 38 weeks pregnant, and I’ve been to the hospital TWICE in the last week with false labor. Which would be super embarrassing if the nurses hadn’t been ridiculously nice about the whole thing. On TV, it seems like the character’s water always breaks, or they have one strong contraction and just “know.” No one’s ever induced. No one ever has contractions all morning and all afternoon long, only to go to the hospital and have them die a sudden death.
Okay, rant over.
So sometime between now and Monday, leave a comment below with your TV (or movie) pet peeves, and I’ll enter you to win a copy of So Over It.
Jenny B. Jones is here!!!
1 July 2010
Anybody who even semi-frequents this blog knows that I’m a huge fan of Jenny B. Jones’ books. Jenny’s latest YA novel, So Over My Head came out in May (or May-ish, anyway) and you should totally check it out.
And because she’s a super sweet lady, Jenny agreed to answer a few questions for me.
Jenny, not only are your books funny, but so are your blog posts, Tweets, and status updates. It’s obvious that humor comes naturally to you. But are there days where it feels more forced than others, and how do you deal with that?
Wow. Thank you so much. I think humor is just the filter I sift everything through—thoughts, actions, responses. Even funerals provide sources of irreverence in my head. Lately I’ve realized that if I’m not writing in my comfort zone of humor, that my book is suffering. It’s my sweet spot. I think it’s the same for all of us—whatever God has gifted you with—a heart for people, a listening ear, a knack for working with your hands—if you’re disconnected from that gift and not using it, you’re not being the most effective, and odds are, you’re not exactly in your happy place.
There are definitely days, or even seasons, when I can’t think of anything funny. Usually I’m on the tail end of a deadline or edits. Or unloading the dishwasher. Or doing taxes.
You’re now writing young adult books and adult books. Are there any differences in the process? And do you ever find yourself more in the mood to work on one or the other?
The two genres have more in common than not. My women’s rom-com (romantic comedies) and YA are both about girls who are wrestling with dilemmas, are far from perfect, struggling with their faith, and still don’t understand boys. The only difference is a decade or two in age. And one of them doesn’t have to deal with zits or curfews. (The trade-off being the teen doesn’t have to put up with house payments and Miss Clairol.)
I tend to want to work on anything but the book I’m supposed to be finishing. So when I’m writing YA, I’m missing the Rom-Com. When I’m pounding my head on the desk over a women’s story, I’m thinking about the fun life of a teenager. And when I’m on deadline for both, I’m thinking about cleaning the garage and rearranging my spice cabinet. I live in a perpetual state of “The Grass is Always Greener…”
On top of cranking out books like crazy, you’re a teacher. How do you manage this? Any time management tips you’d like to offer?
I’m the last person you want to ask about time management. I think the important thing for me has been to give myself permission to let things go. If I’m on deadline, do I care if I could write the entire Constitution in the dust on the coffee table? Nah. Do I care if I threw out a skillet instead of taking the time to wash it? Nah. Do I care if I can’t remember what the inside of the shower looks like? Actually, yes. I do. Because that would just be gross.
When you interviewed me on your blog, you asked me this question and I absolutely loved it: You just inherited ten million dollars from a long-lost (and now deceased) relative. What is the first thing you buy for someone ELSE?
I ask this same question of my students every year. I usually get answers like, “I’d buy a homeless guy a Snickers and then go spend the rest of my money.” It’s heart-warming moments like these that compensate for the minimum wage a teacher makes on her paycheck.
I think I’d buy my family members new houses and cars. It’s time everyone got an upgrade. Then, of course, they would love me so much, they’d invite me over for dinner. A lot.
Your most recent book, So Over My Head, is the final book in the Charmed Life series. I’m sad to be saying bye to Bella. Are you? And what will you miss about her?
I’m definitely sad to wrap that up. I’m already getting a lot of emails asking about book four. But Bella’s story is done, and it’s time for new characters. By book three, I am usually tired of being in the same town with the same characters, and I’m running out of ideas. But usually by the time the last book hits the shelves (about a year after it’s written), I’m missing my characters and thinking about what they could be up to.
I’ve really enjoyed writing Bella Kirkwood. She’s girly and fashion savvy, but yet she went through a humbling process over the course of the series. And humbling a character is always fun. I always get attached to my supporting cast, so I’ll miss crazy, say-anything Ruthie and the professional wrestling oddities that became part of Bella’s family. But new is fun, too, so I’m definitely looking forward to the next series and creating a new cast of characters to get attached to.
Best/worst/most embarrassing high school memory?
Ugh, you know I always ask this question of people, too, but I never have an answer myself. I was the girl who had an embarrassing moment practically every day (and still do. . .), so I don’t really remember them. I think I’ve blocked them all out.
My best memory was probably a collection of moments. I grew up in a really small town (and when the rain would fall down…) so I knew everyone in the entire high school. Our parents knew each other. Our grandparents. . .you get the idea. So every day was fun. I loved high school. Loved hanging out with friends who were basically family. I don’t miss the homework, the girl drama, the boy stress, or the pink and blue eye shadow, but those were awesome days.
And worst memory? Oh, a girl has to have some secrets. . .
Guys – READ JENNY’S BOOKS. This weekend. You can read samples of all her stuff on her web site, where you can also find her “zippity” blog.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
I'm an old lady
5 July 2010
It’s always sad to discover such a thing about yourself. I once assumed that I would be the eternally youthful type. Sadly, no. It really is true – having kids changes everything.
My daughter, who loved fireworks last year, decided this year that there’s nothing scarier. We hadn’t planned to go see any fireworks displays this year, so when it started pouring down rain Sunday night during twilight, it didn’t interrupt any of our plans.
I’m not exactly sure when the rain let up, but I’m guessing it was somewhere around 11 last night. Because that’s when our neighbors started shooting off fireworks. And while they didn’t wake McKenna up, they woke me up. And they woke me up again around 11:20. And again at 11:45.
You want to know what my thought was? “I should go look out the window so I know who’s doing this. And then when McKenna wakes me up at 6:30 tomorrow morning, we’ll go ring their doorbell a few times.”
Yikes.
While I stand by my feelings that it’s super inconsiderate to be shooting off fireworks in your neighborhood that close to midnight, I also recognize this isn’t a thought I would have had a few years ago.
I’m old.
Another Chance to win So Over It
6 July 2010
Renee (who entered on behalf of her daughter Kayleigh) was the winner of the copy of So Over It. Her movie/TV pet peeve was, “When major problems are resolved in 30 minutes or one hour! In real life it may take months!”
Which I’m in complete agreement – very annoying.
For another chance to win So Over It, check out Erica Vetsch’s blog today. In honor of her daughter getting her driver’s license (or at least taking the test today… Just kidding, Heather), I guest posted about the fact that I’ve now had my license for 10 years. Which seems kind of crazy to me.
If you leave a comment (on Erica’s blog, not mine) you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of So Over It.
Good luck!
And another chance to win So Over It...
7 July 2010
For whatever reason, all my scheduled giveaways wound up within two weeks of each other. Today I’m on Casey Herringshaw’s blog where you can learn two things most people don’t know about Stephanie-the-writer. And if you missed it, I blogged yesterday at Erica’s about how I’m not so sure about this whole adult thing…
Other than giveaways, here are the big things going on in my life. In no particular order:
1. Sleeping.
Sleeping is good stuff. Yesterday I took an hour and a half nap due to the fact that it was rainy and dark outside. Oh, right. And because I’m pregnant. Which leads us into:2. Being pregnant
I’d totally forgotten how the last weeks of pregnancy seem to just drag on. And on. And on. And after being at the hospital twice with false labor, I really can’t believe that I’m still pregnant.With McKenna, I spent the last couple weeks staring at my belly chanting stuff like, “Come out, come out, come out.” Then on Christmas Eve, when she was 10 days old, we had our first night with her where she would not go to sleep, would not stop crying. Then I kept rocking her, thinking, “Go back in, go back in, go back in.”
3. Lots and lots of reading
In the last week, I’ve read two and a half books. Miss Match by Sara Mills, which was great. Only thing is, it’s a total cliffhanger ending, and there’s no sign of book three being published. Which just makes my heart hurt for Sara. I can’t imagine how frustrating that is to deal with.Then I finally got around to reading The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Macker. Soooooo good. And also, surprisingly, quite sad. Or at least it was surprising to me. There was some sex stuff in there that I don’t think I’d want my teen reading, but it was a really wonderful book and very deserving of all the awards it won.
Now I’m reading The Cowboy by Joan Johnston. It’s something I never would have picked up on my own, but Donald Maass uses it as an example in his fabulous Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook so I’ve been wanting to read it. Again, there’s some sex stuff in there that makes me go, “Eek!” but the story is masterfully woven.
Hope everyone is having a great week!
Book Friday - Miss Match by Sara Mills
8 July 2010
A circle of lamplight in the otherwise darkened office cast a cool glow on the
letter as I wrote. The hum of cars whizzing through the night, far below my
second-story office window, was the only noise I could make out. Soon waking
sounds would echo through the streets of New York, but at four a.m., it was as
quiet as the city ever got. I took a deep breath, picked up my pen, and signed the letter.Since I enjoyed the first book in Sara Mills’ Allie Fortune series, Miss Fortune, I wasn’t surprised at all to find that I enjoyed the second book just as much.
Something I found particularly intriguing about Miss Match is that Allie Fortune was still our main character and primary narrator, yet the events of the book didn’t really focus on her. And somehow it worked.
It was interesting to “spend time” in post World War II Berlin, even though it somewhat removed us from the fragile relationship between Allie and her mom, which is something I really enjoyed in the first book.
Here’s the real bummer. Miss Match ends with just as big a cliffhanger as the first book (maybe an even bigger one) but her publisher has no plans to publish the third book in the series, Miss Taken. When asked if she intends to self-publish book three, Sara says, “No, I don’t but I am toying with the idea of finishing the series off with a short story that would be available on my website.” You can sign up to be notified if/when it becomes available.
I really hope she does, because this has been a great series, and I’d rather not spend the rest of my life wondering about David Rubineski.
Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!
Eclipse - it should have been better
12 July 2010
Well, I managed to squeeze in a trip to the theater to see Eclipse while still pregnant. (Though at this point, I’m feeling like I’ll probably get to see Breaking Dawn in the theater while pregnant as well. A whole other issue, though.)
Maybe it’s my funky pregnant brain. Maybe it’s that I was hungry and needed to pee during the last half hour of the movie. But for whatever reason, I left the theater less-than-thrilled with Eclipse. Which surprised me because I’d read several reviews talking about this being the best Twilight Saga movie yet.
I felt lots of scenes lacked punch, had a general feeling of flatness, and that there were unnecessary distractions. (They couldn’t have given Bella some kind of coat during the snow scenes? And if not a coat, no one thought, “Hey, Bella, you should shiver more”?)
The biggest place I noticed the flatness was the camping scene. This is one of my all-time favorite scenes in the entire series, so I was really excited to see it played out on screen.
Sigh.
First of all, I felt like it wasn’t clearly established that Edward is cold. Maybe that’s just me, but I felt it would have gone a long way had there been some kind of reminder (Bella drawing back from him, Bella’s shivers getting worse when he came closer, etc.) that Edward is cold and Jacob’s body temp is 108.
In the book, Edward and Jacob’s conversation was so good, whereas in the movie it felt rushed. It didn’t feel like the big turning point in their relationship that it’s meant to be.
Another disappointment was Jacob in general, who I felt lacked all his fun Jake-ness in this movie. I don’t think it was the actor’s fault. I think they just left out the parts in the book where he’s being funny and charming. Actually, I’m wondering if the adapter is Team Edward, because I spent a lot of the movie feeling sorry for Edward. Much more so than I did while reading the book.
In the book, I felt like Edward was controlling and needed to back off. He was so over-protective of Bella, and I just wanted him to give her some space. Which was such a sharp contrast to the way Jacob was, where he encouraged her to be herself and be young. I don’t think that came through in the movie at all.
Which is probably why when Bella and Jacob had their big kiss, I was sitting there thinking to myself, “What are you doing, girl? You made your choice – let Jacob go pout.” While reading the book, however, I was like, “Finally!”
There were definitely things I liked about the movie. Basically any scene with Bella’s father, Billy Burke, who I’ve loved since seeing him on Gilmore Girls.
I’m glad I saw it and everything, just… I just think with a few tweaks it could have been a lot better.
But that’s just one girl’s opinion. Who happens to be very pregnant and semi-cranky, so take it for what it’s worth.
Oh, the Waiting You'll Do...
12 July 2010
Today I’m blogging over at Girls, God, and the Good Life about waiting:
When I graduated high school, I was given a copy of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go. I never read it. I put it on the shelf with all the other Dr. Seuss books I’d loved as a child, and went on with my life. Until a couple weeks ago when my daughter asked if we could read it.
I’m sure at least most of you are familiar with the concept of Oh, The Places You’ll Go. Basically the guy is off to great places.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
I was really enjoying the book, even getting a little teary in places that I felt particularly relate to me. And then I hit this part:
Domestic Bliss
14 July 2010
Before we had McKenna, I spent a lot of time fantasizing about what parenthood would be like. I thought mostly about big events – like decorating the Christmas tree as a family. Showing her ornaments that had been mine since I was a little girl, and Ben helping her put the star on top of the tree. I imagined Halloween; her skipping along the sidewalk, delighted by candy and costumes and all the other kids.
The big events I dreamed of before her arrival rarely happen the way I’d like. Someone is sick or cranky (often me), or I didn’t anticipate McKenna being afraid of something, or or or.
While I have the life I always imagined for myself – Ben, writing, kids – it doesn’t feel easy and simple the way I thought it would.
Except for sometimes.
Like two days ago.
It was 7 in the morning. Ben was standing at the sink, shaving, and I was lingering in bed, unwilling to move because I’d found a rare comfy position. (No easy task at 40 weeks pregnant.) I had one arm hanging over the edge, and our dog kept nudging it with his nose, trying to coax an ear scratch out of me. Then McKenna pranced into our room with a cry of, “It’s morning time!” and proceeded to grab this obnoxious toy vacuum cleaner and get to work on our carpets.
As I’m lying there listening to the vacuum say rude things like, “We must pick up the dust!” and, “This place is a pigsty!” I had a strange, “Ahhh,” kind of moment. Which, I know, seems weird since it was 7am and my housekeeping was being insulted by a toy. But there was just something about it that made it one of those sweet treasures.
They rarely happen when I expect them to, like on holidays or other special events. More often they crop up like they did this week, on a random Tuesday morning, when I can’t even really put a finger on why everything suddenly seems simple, easy, and blissful. I just know to enjoy it while it’s happening.
Connor has arrived!
18 July 2010
Thursday, July 15th Connor Joshua Morrill surprised us by showing up on his due date. You would think that would feel like the most likely date of all, but it happens so rarely (arriving on their predicted date), it actually kinda threw me.
He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21 inches long. I know I’m his mom and everything, but he’s a total cutie. Looks just like his dad.
More will follow soon, but here’s a snapshot from the night he was born. He’s maybe a half hour old in this picture.
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine wasn’t the most restful, but it sure was awesome…
The ducks have scattered, and there's not a ball in sight...
26 July 2010
As you might guess from the title, life is a little overwhelming at the moment.
I used to be so organized and driven, and now I’m feeling about as far from it as possible. For the most part, I’m okay with that. I’ve done the new baby thing once before, and I had vague memories of the “too much to do, not enough time or energy to do it in” feelings that overwhelmed me during the first few months of McKenna’s life. I knew it would be like this when Connor joined us, and yet…
Today was the first time McKenna, Connor, and I all ventured out of the house together. When we walked out the door on our way to the doctor’s office, both kids were wailing, and I wasn’t too dry-eyed myself.
And the morning played out much like a scene from a goofy movie about parenthood full of cheap laughs. The doctor was running behind schedule, and about five minutes before she walked in, McKenna stunk up the tiny room with her diaper. I had an extra with me … in the car. (Fortunately our pediatrician is super sweet. She grabbed me a diaper from their stash so McKenna didn’t have to ride all the way home like that. And she insisted I just leave the stinky diaper there in the exam room. I felt all kinds of guilty doing that…)
After we got home, I set McKenna up with a lunch of apple sauce, yogurt, and crackers, and zapped myself some leftover spaghetti. Then I attempted to feed Connor with one hand, eat with the other, and talk to my husband on speaker phone. About 5 minutes into the phone conversation, Connor’s diaper started leaking all over me. And then as I grabbed a new diaper for him, he spit up everything he’d just eaten. It soiled my already tainted skirt, the floor, and the vacuum cleaner, which just happened to be sitting there.
I hollered at McKenna that I was going upstairs and that she should come up whenever she’d finished, then I attempted to clean Connor and I up. And tried to not think about everything in the house that might potentially be covered in strawberry yogurt by the time McKenna wandered upstairs.
Ten minutes later, when all of us were decently clean, Connor was back to eating, and McKenna was sitting on the floor arranging her stuffed animals, I said to her, “I’m proud of you. Thanks for being such a big girl this morning.” And she said, “I’m proud of you too. Thanks for being such a big mommy.”
Which made me both laugh and tear-up. I know in the next day or two I’ll find myself once again stressing about the dirty kitchen floor or work I “should” be doing, given that I had a book release this month, but at the moment I’m content with what I did manage to do this morning: hang out with my great kids. And keep my shirt clean.
Yay for good reviews! And an opportunity to win So Over It
27 July 2010
A couple of nice reviews have come in for So Over It over the last couple days. I’m relieved that they were good because my new-mom hormones have made me a little unpredictable these days, and I’m not sure what kind of a tail spin a lousy review might send me into. I’m also relieved because Michelle Sutton, also known as the edgy inspirational author, is a tough critic. You can read Michelle’s thoughts on So Over It and The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series here.
And for a teen’s take on So Over It, check out Carman Boley’s review on her blog, where you can also enter to win a free signed copy of the book. (Click here to do that.)
And while I’m in a promotional state of mind, I’ll also remind you of the book signing taking place here in Overland Park, Kansas this Saturday at the Barnes and Noble at Oak Park Mall. I’ll be there from 1-3 to autograph copies of So Over It, along with the first two books in the series. I’m always paranoid about no one showing up, so please, please come if you can.