Kristi Chestnutt's Blog

So... *ahem*
It has been....a....while...

Before I get into the details of the curve ball that tossed my life a little (read: A LOT!) out of balance for a while, you should know going in that this one is going to be a bit personal. And sad. I'm going to be honest: writing this will still cause tears to pour down my face. So there's your warning: if you want to close out now and save yourself, now is your chance. RUN.

No? This is like one of those accidents on the highway, isn't it? You want to look away, but you can't. Because we all have that strange curiosity thing inside of us, don't we?

And I'm procrastinating. Because yeah. Baby steps.

Best to rip that band-aid off, I suppose...so... in October 2015, my fur baby got sick and sort of passed out/fell over on the living room carpet one night, so we went to the vet the next morning, thinking maybe he had diabetes or a dietary problem:

Vannie and hubs chilling at the vet
Spoiler Alert: this was not a good day. Not at all.

Our sweet Vannie was sick and not the "he'll get better soon kind" but the "you have a few hours" kind. And I still can't type that without bawling like a baby. We were told it would be fast, but my sweet guy managed to hang on for a few weeks for us...mostly I think to allow us the opportunity to really snuggle him, say our goodbyes properly, and cook him lots and lots of chicken and rice.

I spent two weeks sleeping on the downstairs couch because he no longer had the strength to go up the stairs. I'd sleep with one hand lying on his back, just in case he needed me, because you see,  I was his "person", and if you've ever had pets, you know what I mean. There was this "thing" we had that is hard to explain, but losing him really, really, REALLY crushed me.

  For those who know me IRL, you'll likely find this hard to believe, but growing up I was an extreme introvert. (As in I didn't talk to anyone, not my teachers, not other people, no one except my immediate family. My poor mother had several parent/teachers conferences up through second grade about my unsocial behavior.)
So, as extroverted as I've become these days, when life sends me a bit off balance, I tend to go back to "hermitville" where it's safe. I go inward. I hang out with family, I get off social media, and I hit my "reset" button.
 I've been around, doing my usual things, and slowly, life is returning to normal, which is both sad and also healthy. I don't miss my sweet baby any less, and YES, I do eventually plan on getting another dog, but my heart and family just aren't ready yet. We'll know when the time is right.

Much like this post I thought about writing many, many, many times over the past few months, as some of my poor writing friends can attest. It feels like time. It feels like a bit of therapy. But most of all, it feels like healing.

And I've missed you all, I truly have. It feels great to slowly come back to everything I've missed and to boot up my computer in the early morning hours to play with the imaginary friends inside of my head. Come to think of it, maybe I never really grew out of my introvert stage after all, maybe writing is my way of hanging on to the past while still living in the present. That seems about right.

Hope this post finds you all well...sending lots of warm thoughts and virtual hugs your way this morning. Thanks for taking a walk with me down memory lane and allowing me to ramble a bit about a part of my family who is dearly missed but never forgotten.
Until next time...

You guys! The past few weeks have been insanely busy with all the non-writing, living-life kind of things. (Hence the length of time between posts...sorry about that!)

But you know what? I've missed my words in the very BEST kind of way. There's something special that happens when you don't write for awhile, when your world is just a little out of rhythm, when you sense this hole beginning to take shape in the middle of your heart, KNOWING there's only one thing that will fill it. And until that time comes, you find yourself daydreaming about that next project, or analyzing the revisions that need to happen to that manuscript you thought was done, you start scribbling notes into notebooks at random times of the day, you FEEL INSPIRED. And desperate to get back to your words.

Sometimes stepping away, whether we want to or not, can be totally invigorating. As is reliving the #WDC15 conference I attended a few weeks (months? gasp!) ago.

Here's my Sunday recap, which I like to call the NYC tourist version.

Sunday, August 2nd:

*The Persistent Writer: Strategies to Succeed in a Changing Publishing Landscape with Jordan Rosenfeld - This session was great in SO many ways. As writers, I feel our emotions tend to go in waves. There are so many ups and downs, so many times you are in love with your manuscript coupled with the times you think it's complete crap. Being persistent with your writing and not giving up, especially while experiencing the "downs" is CRUCIAL.

Favorite Note: It took me three days to realize I could take photos with my phone instead of maniacally scribbling things down into my notebook and missing half. MAGIC! The below screen shot was a favorite note that is currently coming in quite handy. The "Get Distance" thing is definitely happening. Time apart is eye-opening.


*Breaking In: First Time Novelists Share How They Got Their Book Published with Kristen Harnisch, Anjali Mitter Duva, Kim van Alkemade, Theresa Walsh, Rachel Shane, Pia Padukone - I love, love, love hearing other writers/authors tell their publishing stories because the more you listen, the more you realize there isn't a one-size-fits-all story to be had. Everyone's path looks and feels different, but the one thing that does typically remain throughout: Persistence. Not giving up. That's pretty common no matter how your story evolves.


Favorite Note(s): I'm going with two favorite quotes that really resonated with me:
"Be ego-less and eager to change/listen to feedback" - Theresa Walsh.
"It's about the reader experience" - Kristen Harnisch

*Dirty Little Secrets: Learn How the Publishing Industry Really Works in Order to Become a More Successful Author with Phil Sexton - This session had a ton of really great information that at times felt WAY over my head, mostly because of my personal stage in the process. Pretty sure I took more notes on this one than all the others combined and if I had to sum it all up in one thought: Be involved in every stage of the process and always ask questions.


Favorite note: Ask to see the spine during the cover creating process. You may or may not have cover approval, but the color and font located on your spine is what most people will see when walking into a bookstore and quite often how they will find your book when looking for it. This was something I'd honestly never thought of before, but once you hear it, I'm not sure you can ever forget. It's simple yet so very, very important.
All in all, the conference was an absolutely TERRIFIC experience. Great information, great people, and tons of information to be soaked up over time. Definitely plan on attending this one again in the future.
My CP, Erin, and I headed out to tour NYC after the conference wrapped up, and it's safe to say our FitBits have never been happier with us, though our feet *did* have some complaining to do that night. 
Here's a little mini photo-tour of our day: (Grand Central, which always reminds me of Harry Potter!)
(on the Staten Island Ferry!)
(with this cute little guy)
(You know who she is, right?)
(Unisphere)
(Central Park!)
(Rockefeller Center)
(The New York Public Library)

(night view from the top of the Empire State Building)
(Empire State - Great way to finish off our NYC trip!)
Until next time...peace, love, and lots and lots of books!

It has been so fun going back through my notes from the conference and "reliving" all those teachings. I'm in the brainstorming phase of a new project and there were so many great things that came out of these sessions. The inspiration and FEELS are motivating in the very best kind of way.

Here's a recap of the second day:

Saturday, August 1st:

*The Effective Query Letter Workshop with Janet Reid - Not going to lie. I mostly went to this session to listen and watch Janet in person. I've been a fan of her blog since I first began writing. Her humor is spot-on and I couldn't imagine missing the opportunity to see her present material in person. Considering the number of margaritas I had the night before, it was a mini-miracle and a testament to my adoration that I was able to pry myself out of bed to make it to the session by 9 am. Only for Janet. And she was just as amazing (and hilarious) in person as she is online. If you're a querying writer and have never visited her website (Query Shark), do yourself a favor and go now.

Favorite note: "Stick up their asterisks" ~ Janet said this in reference to something and I scribbled it down as I laughed, promising myself to find a time to use it in random conversation. Writing humor is the best. Also picked up a few new tips/tricks I hadn't heard before. If you check out her site the presentation she gave is online and SUPER useful.

*Pitch Slam Session #2!!! - I actually blogged about this over at fellow #WDC15 attendee Ralph's website Novel Pitch, so you can check it out HERE. This is a great place for any writer to go who is about to pitch, whether it be in person or via a contest on twitter. Lots of great info.

*How to Stay Sane During The Writing Process by Nathan Bransford - Nathan, a literary agent turned author, was another person I'd followed online for quite a while when I first started writing. My CP and I were excited about attended his session and it didn't disappoint. Nathan was humble, down to earth, and had some really great tips for navigating and balancing writing with life. I'm currently reading his How to Write a Novel and really enjoying it.

Favorite note - There were so many from this session. For me, it's a tie between Rule #3 Recognize the forces outside your control and Rule #8 Park your jealousy at the door. The first one is something I think many of us writers struggle with, especially if control is one of those things you like to have at all times. Not that I know anything about that. *cough* *Type A* *cough* Just know once the writing is over, there's an awful lot of waiting. Publishing is slow. Just embrace it. Know it's outside your control and be okay with that. The second one is just a really great reminder no matter who you are. Jealousy is an ugly, unhelpful thing, and while I'm usually pretty good at this one, I like the reminder. I'm genuinely happy when my twitter and online writer friends are doing well. I love nothing more than walking into a bookstore and recognizing the names on the shelf. It's sort of THE BEST. But, and it's an ugly but, we all have those days when this is harder than it should be. Remember that your writing, your story, is about YOU. No one else. Keep your eyes on your own paper.

*Central Keynote - Behind the Books by Jacqueline Woodson - Wow. Just wow. Another amazing speech, this one given by a spectacular woman who is as beautiful as she is intelligent. The number of awards her books have won is staggering. Jacqueline writes for children (woohoo!) and her collection includes picture books, middle grade books, young adult books and poetry. My CP was especially excited to hear her speak since she read a ton of her books in her teaching days. I've just ordered my first Jacqueline book, but I know it won't be my last. Her personality is magnetic and I have no doubt she carries that feeling into her writing.

(Phil with Writer's Digest introducing Jacqueline Woodson)
Favorite note: This one is easy...Jacqueline recited, from memory, several pages from her book Behind You , a moving, beautifully written story of love and loss, written from varying points of view. This book is a follow-up to her If you Come Softly novel, and her voice, the way she read the vignettes, the rhythm of the words, the emotion they created...it was pure magic. There was a silence in the room as everyone tuned into this poetic story falling from her lips, each of us plunged into this different place where her words, perfectly timed in tone and rhythm, evoked a setting that was so very easy to see and feel. I felt like I was plunged into her book just by listening. Poetry has never felt so alive.

This was Erin's first time to NYC, so after Jacqueline's keynote, we rushed back to our room to grab our tickets and head out to Broadway!

You guys...Finding Neverland with Matthew Morrison was absolutely FANTASTIC! There aren't enough exclamation points in the world to explain my love of this show! It really was "magical" in every way. I wanted to turn around and watch it again the next night. The eerie part about it all? The plot/story tied in SO WELL with our conference weekend. What better way to experience a writing conference than going to a play about a playwright who is struggling to come up with a new idea?

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre "The Story of How Peter Became Pan"
Erin and I pre-show, inside Lunt-Fontanne TheatreAll in all, another fantastic conference day!

Up next: #WDC15 Sunday, August 2nd Recap - The Tourist Edition

Until then...peace, love and lots and lots of books!

You guys. The WDC15 conference! It was such a GREAT experience. I met new friends, learned new things, remembered old things I'd forgotten along the way, pitched my latest manuscript to agents and editors (eeeeppppp!), listened to so many inspiring authors, and just, to be completely honest, had a lot, lot, lot of fun.

Here's a recap of that first day:

Friday, July 31st

*Pitch Perfect with Chuck Sambuchino - This was such a great session! Chuck has the ability to hold your attention and present material in a way that has you laughing while taking notes at the same time. After having gone through my first pitch slam EVER, I look back at my notes and laugh even harder. Because half the things we all thought were ridiculous at the time (i.e. why would anyone ever do THAT?), we probably all did. The nerves are killer. Never say never.

Favorite note from the session: Being generalistic sinks ships. Be Specific. (One of the things I learned to improve upon after a very spastic first pitch resulted in a "Can you tell me more?" question from an agent. More on that in a later post.)

*7 Steps to Stronger Middle Grade & Young Adult Novels with Gabriela Pereira from DIY MFA - Oh man. Lots of great info here. Gabriela was energized and you could tell she has a passion for what she does. I love that. She also used several relevant examples of current popular books as examples to prove her points. I'm a 'learn by example' type of person and it helps the ideas to "stick" in my mind, so for me, this was a great combination.

Favorite note: When the story unfolds as a result of the MC's choice, it makes it an active (and more interesting) event instead of a reactive one. Example: Prim's name being pulled from the jar is far more interesting when Katniss volunteers than if her own name had been pulled. She decides to volunteer and we're all now invested in the outcome in a different way than if she'd be thrown in herself. Her sacrifice and choice makes is intriguing.

*Plot Perfect with Paula Munier - Another great presenter and speaker. Listening to Paula speak was like listening to a best friend talk who you haven't seen in a while (or ever met). She's warm, friendly, funny, and somehow manages to get that "voice" across while talking from a podium.

Favorite note: Your theme statement should consist of three things: Theme (emotional impact), Plot (story you 'hang' the theme on), and USP (unique selling proposition, i.e. what makes your story unique/stand out.)

*Opening Keynote with Jonathan Maberry - I'm going to be honest, this one's so hard to put into words because all I really want to do is use lots and lots of happy emojis instead. If you ever have the chance to listen to Jonathan speak, you should DO IT. Besides being amazingly interesting, with the very BEST stories about his career and how it all happened, he also comes across as genuine, friendly, and just a downright NICE human being. Did I mention super-humble with a heart for writers?

Favorite note: "If we help each other (writers), we all prosper." YES. SO MUCH YES. *fist pump*

A girlfriend of mine lives in NYC, so after the keynote, we went out for drinks and dinner on the town. (Best. Night. Ever.)

(Our new writer friend Patricia...who is amazing and helped me throughout the week with my pitch and crazy nerves...my critique partner, frequent cheerleader, and partner-in-crime Erin...and moi.)
Up next: WDC15 Saturday recap (to include my thoughts on my first ever Pitch-slam experience!)

Until then....

Peace, love and lots and lots of books!

Congratulations to..... AILA JIANG! [GIF courtesy of Giphy - Glee Fandom] These pretty, pretty things will be on their way to you as soon as I have your postal address! I hope you love this book and these boys as much as I do!


And thanks SO MUCH to all who entered! If you didn't win this time, stay tuned...I hope to have another giveaway in the coming months!

Until then...hope you're all staying cool this summer!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today I have my friend (and YA author) Kristin Rae on the blog! We're talking about her debut WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN, release week, writing advice, and the amazing Texas YA book scene.

And we all know how much I AMORE (that's Italian, right? Maybe?) giving away free books, so there's a rafflecopter entry form after the interview. The winner will get a copy of WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN, as well as an autographed matching bookmark!

Before we get started, here's a little bit more about WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN...

Goodreads Description:
Pippa has always wanted to go to Italy … but not by herself. And certainly not to sit in art school the entire summer learning about dead guys’ paintings. When she steps off the plane in Rome, she realizes that traveling solo gives her the freedom to do whatever she wants. So it’s arrivederci, boring art program and ciao, hot Italian guys!

Charming, daring, and romantic, Bruno is just the Italian Pippa’s looking for—except she keeps running into cute American archeology student Darren everywhere she goes. Pippa may be determined to fall in love with an Italian guy … but the electricity she feels with Darren says her heart might have other plans. Can Pippa figure out her feelings before her parents discover she left the program and—even worse—she loses her chance at love?

About the author:
Kristin is a lover of books, music, movies, crafty things, and chocolate. Her young adult contemporary debut WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN is out now, and WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED is coming March 29, 2016 from Bloomsbury! She's represented by Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

You can find her on her WEBSITE, on TWITTER, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM.

Thanks for stopping by the blog, K-Rae! And congratulations again on your YA debut, WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN! Such a good book. The boys! The gelato! How was your first book release? Was it everything you imagined? Anything surprising?
 Thank you! Funny you mention gelato. I try to warn people to buy some and keep it on hand before they start reading! My first book release was a fun time. The Saturday after pub day, I had a launch party where friends, family, and local bookish people crammed into my local indie bookstore to listen to me make a fool of myself as I tried to detail my publishing story with major baby brain (which hasn't gone away now that baby is here, I might add….). I think it was what I imagined, and wasn't at the same time. There's so much build up before launching that first book. So much excitement! My day is finally here! My book is on shelves! Then the next Tuesday comes and it's someone else's turn. So I guess the biggest surprise is how quickly the excitement fizzles, and you're once again sitting on the couch in dirty yoga pants scarfing M&M's and trying to write another book. I'm sorry that was sort of a sad surprise haha!   
I don't know...yoga pants and M&M's doesn't sound so sad. :) 
As a writer and a reader, I'm addicted to author success stories. Can you tell us a little about how you got your agent that lead to your TWO book deal with Bloomsbury?
My agent pulled me out of her slush pile! I filled out the submission form on her agency's website, she contacted me requesting to read the whole thing, and it just happened that the day she asked for my full manuscript, I got my first offer from an agent. A week and a few more offers later, I was on the phone with Marietta and I knew she was my agent. About three months later my book sold to an editor at Bloomsbury for a new romance line they were planning, and they wanted to launch it with MY BOOK! I still get chills thinking about it. I signed on for two books with the romance line.
Any advice you can give writers who want to publish traditionally and are out there trying to get their own agent?
Read and write. Write and read. Be patient. Do your research. Take critiques seriously and don't get offended (unless someone is intentionally trying to be mean--don't take that seriously). If this isn't the book that's going to get an agent, write another one. Make it better. Don't give up on those voices in your head. 
Speaking of Book Two, can you give us any details about the next book coming out? Is that allowed? ;)
Yes! It's called WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED, and it'll be published March 29, 2016. It came from a special corner of my heart and I can't wait to share it!
 Drama girl Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the romantic, classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the baseball team, she's struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family--but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised as a dancer and still practices in the community theater dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all! But when it becomes clear that baseball--not dance--is Jessie's passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?
I can NOT wait to read this one, Kristin! That cover is absolutely perfect! Why is March 2016 so far away? ;)

Speaking of books I can't wait to read...there's nothing more inspiring than going to a book signing and it's cool to get to meet my favorite writers and hear what they have to say. And Texas has the BEST book scene! (Can you sense the jealousy oozing from my keyboard?) Do you have any upcoming events? Anywhere you're going to be?  Texas really does have THE BEST book scene! Seriously, I'm so thankful to live here. I've met so many talented writers and I always walk away inspired. The only event I have coming up is a 2015 debut author panel that I'm moderating. It's June 20th at Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, with Katie M. Stout, Jenny Martin, and Meredith Moore! 
Kristin, it's times like this I really wish I lived closer! That event sounds amazing! For any local friends, HERE'S the information if you'd like to attend!

Thanks again for stopping by the blog, Kristin! Always fun to catch up with you! 

To win YOUR copy of Kristin's book, plus an autographed bookmark, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below...all you need is an email address so I can contact you if you win...all other items are optional.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time ~ wishing you all peace, love and BOOKS!

Congratulations to...

Erin Cataldi!!!




These goodies will be headed your way soon....










Thanks to everyone who participated!

Hope you all have a lovely week!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today I have my friend (and Romance author) Emmy Curtis on the blog! We're talking about her debut ALPHA OPS series, as well as her writing process, some writing advice, and her favorite books.

And because I ADORE giving away free books, there's a rafflecopter entry form after the interview. The winner will get an autographed copy of OVER THE LINE, Book #2 in the Alpha Ops series, as well as some cool swag from Emmy to go along with it! (And trust me, guys, you WANT THIS. It's laugh-out-loud funny, make-you-blush hot, and a page-turning thriller. All in one!)

 Before we get started, here's a little bit more about OVER THE LINE and one of my favorite girls from across the pond...

Goodreads Description:
The last time James Walker saw Beth Garcia, he was carrying her off the battlefield. A year later, he runs into her as she’s completing her last physical therapy appointment before she can be deployed again. She’s still sexy as hell, but just as prickly and hard-headed as she was when they first met.

An arranged rock climbing weekend together quickly turns into a nightmare family wedding after a panicked phone call from his sister about mysterious and ominous emails she’s been receiving.

Beth, thinking she’s going rock climbing for the weekend, is surprised when she realizes the biggest rock she’ll be facing is the one James needs her to wear. And while trying to protect James’s sister, she’ll also have to lie to James’s father, the Director of the CIA, about who she is, jeopardizing her carefully planned career. And while she does owe James her life, he’s in for a wild ride if he thinks he can get away with this deception unscathed…

About the author: Emmy Curtis is an editor and a romance writer. An ex-pat Brit, she quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and Fray Bentos pies. She's lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled for the time being, in North Carolina. When not writing, Emmy loves to travel with her military husband and take long walks with their Lab. All things considered, her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if you get that reference...well, she already considers you kin.

You can find her on her WEBSITE, on TWITTER, and FACEBOOK.


Emmy! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Thank you so much for having me – I’m excited!

I'm in the middle of OVER THE LINE right now and am absolutely loving every page. This is the second book in the Alpha Ops series, though each book is a companion, so they can definitely be read out of order and each individual book can stand on its own. Did I get that right, Emmy?
Yes! As a reader I much prefer being able to jump into any book that takes my fancy without needing to start with the first in a series…so I elected to write that way too. You can pick up any of the Alpha Ops book and read them as stand-alones. DANGEROUS TERRITORY covers the story of a reporter who gets stuck behind enemy lines, and the Pararescuer who is tasked with extracting her. The second book, OVER THE LINE, is about two people who were in the convoy that came under attack, leaving the reporter stranded in the first book, and the third book PUSHING THE LIMIT is about two people who happened to be at the wedding the second couple attended in the second book. Confused? Well, it made sense in my head! I also have three more books contracted, and all of those will be stand-alones, but each book’s events will be happening almost concurrently.
One of the many things I love about this series is how strong the female main characters all tend to be. These ladies are anything but damsels-in-distress. They are strong, witty, intelligent, and in Beth's case, a total bad ass (pardon my language...no other way to describe her IMO). I love that and was wondering if this is something you do on purpose? Do these women inspire you?
I really love writing about women who are strong in one way or another. Beth was a blast to write as she is a take-no-prisoners bad-ass Special Forces soldier. She talks like a man and is very career-oriented, but her heart is a mystery, even to her. So although she’s mentally and physically strong, she’s—let’s say—a little under-developed in the emotions department! But Henrietta, for example, my heroine in the third Alpha Ops book, is pretty weak physically, but she’s emotionally and mentally very strong, until someone unravels that part of her heart that was wrapped up tight. So yes, I heart strong women!
How do you come up with these fabulous story lines? I was literally laughing-out-loud reading last night. Such a great situation/plot going on in OVER THE LINE. Are you mostly a pantser when it comes to writing or do you plot things out before you dive in?
I’m instinctively a pantser. But once you come a cropper when you’ve pantsed, and then have to re-write two thirds of your book, you will never pants again! It’s important to me to have a coherent plot, especially since I love surprising readers and creating twists that thankfully no one’s seen coming. If you try to write twists, you pretty much have to plot and plan! So now, I insist on knowing all the plot points, and how the suspense part plays out and ends, but I pants the relationship part. That way I can still be spontaneous when I write!
Your writing is so clean, your pacing so perfect...do you think your time as an editor helped you really hone these skills? (Because, girl, you make it look effortless!)
Ha! I equate this to movie stars on the red carpet; they look gorgeous, and perfect and effortless, but you know a team of at least five people have spent hours making it look as if the dress, hair and make-up have been thrown together! While to do absolutely try to turn in the cleanest manuscripts I can (because as an editor I always appreciated it when authors send in their best manuscripts), I have an editor, a copyeditor, a line editor, a proofreader and a cold-reader at the publishing company who do the heavy lifting! So THANK YOU for saying it looks effortless. I just threw it together *tosses hair* ;-)
Speaking of your time as an editor - any words of wisdom for aspiring writers out there? Things you see all too often? 
If you pay attention, and adhere, to an agent or editor’s submission guidelines, you are already ahead of the game. Even today, there are a lot of people who don’t submit within the guidelines and those who do are greatly appreciated! The real piece of advice is that you only have to find one agent or editor who loves your book. And there are a lot of them out there. So persevere, and find that one who wants to nurture your book-baby as much as you do! PS Get someone who has never read your book to check over your query letter to make sure it makes sense, and sounds enticing.
One last question...five great books you've read lately. And go!
THE MADNESS UNDERNEATH by Maureen Johnson. I love the Shades of London series and I’ve just received the last one in this best-selling YA series. I cannot wait to read it!
THE SPY WORE RED by Aline, Countess of Romanones, subtitled: My adventures as an undercover agent in World War II. This is research. Exciting, fascinating and incredible research. She writes a great (and terrifying) story!
A POCKET FULL OF RYE by Agatha Christie. I’ve read this before, but I stole, uh borrowed it from mum when I went home at Christmas. Christie is the queen of twists.
A SPY AMONG FRIENDS by Ben Macintyre. This book is non-fiction and is a fascinating look at cold-war spies. This is research again (I love my job!)
BROKEN HONOR by Tonya Burrows. A woman after my own heart, she writes gripping and sexy suspense books. I’m such a fan of all that she’s written, and this new release is certain to be a best-seller!
Thank you SO much for having me! Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by! Some of us North Carolinians are going to miss you in a few weeks! *cough* DON'T LEAVE US! *cough* 
If you'd like to win an autographed copy of OVER THE LINE, as well as some cool book swag, you can enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below! All you need is an email address and the luck of the Irish! (Saint Patrick's Days is coming up, right? Too early? Don't worry...there are extra bonus entries available to up that luck in the meantime!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(The winner will be announced in two weeks!)

Until then...happy reading!

Goodreads Description:

From Rob Thomas, the creator of groundbreaking television series and movie Veronica Mars, comes the first book in a thrilling new mystery series.

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.
Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.  

My thoughts:
You guys! YOU GUYS!!!

Not going to lie. I was nervous for this one...to the point I bought a copy on my kindle and let it sit there for a few months until I thought I was ready. Because, as my fellow VM backers and fans know, we marshmallows have a deep love of this series, so going from a TV show to a movie to a book? TERRIFYING!

So let me ease some fears by saying: I ADORED THIS BOOK!

It was great to be able to stay in Veronica's world just a little bit longer. The book picks up right after the movie, with Veronica staying in Neptune as part of Mars Investigations, and I felt like the characters stayed true to themselves, the writing was well done, the wit and sarcasm we've come to expect was all there, and even without much Logan at all, it was a really, really enjoyable read.

I definitely plan on continuing the series and am hopeful that maybe sometime down the road, we'll get another movie? Maybe? :)

Ahhh...Veronica. It seems I adore you in ALL FORMS. *happy sigh*



REMINDER: Interview and Giveaway coming up this Friday!

Until then...peace, love and books!

You guys!

I don't know if you heard, but February was basically the month of ALL the AWESOME news!

It's so cool to see so many of my online and IRL friends having writing success! And it's so well deserved! Congrats to each and everyone one of you! You are an inspiration!

In case you missed it, here were some of my MOST favorite highlights:

DL Hammons from Cruising Altitude signed with an agent!
DL was one of the first writers I "met" online, and though we've never officially met in person, I can tell you he's like a big teddy bear--he's always optimistic, always encouraging, and very, very humble. Just an all around good guy. It doesn't take long hanging out around his blog to see that for yourself. Speaking of...if you've never been to his blog, you really, really need to visit. Like now. Go ahead. I'll wait. His agent story is one of inspiration and hope, and you can read Part 1 of his journey HERE. Congrats again, buddy! SO HAPPY FOR YOU!

Julie Dao also signed with an agent!
Julie is another long time blogging and Twitter buddy. She, like DL (who I believe both critique each other's work...how cool is that?!?), has a HUGE heart. She always tends to be happy, upbeat, and so, so supportive of other writers. Hearing her announcement right after DL's just seemed right. Like the universe had spoken. Her story, like DL's, is so inspiring, and proves that optimism and determination are often the road to success. As writers, so many of us struggle with ups and downs and the rejections that are a necessary evil of the process of publication. It's so great to hear how both hard work and a great attitude, always believing in yourself and your craft, can help you gain that success! Congrats, Julie! Thanks for sharing your story, and for always being encouraging! I can't wait to read your book!

Emmy Curtis signed a new 3 book deal for her Alpha Ops series!
The official announcement:

Emmy is a dear friend of mine who I'm going to miss VERY much when she moves in a few short weeks! If you like romance, especially of the VERY HOT kind, you must check these books out! I just finished OVER THE LINE and so far, it's my favorite....there were laugh out loud moments, blushing, fanning myself moments, and speeding-through-the-pages-to-see-what-happens next moments. You can check out her snazzy new website HERE, and if you come back next Friday, March 6th, I'm posting an interview with Emmy and giving away an autographed copy of OVER THE LINE and some fun swag! Congrats to you (and us as readers) on the Alpha Ops series, Emmy!

Erin Fletcher has a new blog...about Young Living oils and the writing life!
Not going to lie, guys. I'm ADDICTED to essential oils. I'm new at it, and Erin's been helping me learn all about the best ways to use them. She's an awesome resource if you've ever been curious about oils and their many benefits!

Any other good news I missed? If so, PLEASE SHARE in the comments!

Here's to hoping March brings about more good news for all of my friends! Keep up the amazing work, and keep sharing the joy!