If I was a rich girl...

YA Highway has posed quite a brilliant question...what would I do if I had a lot of money? First, I would thank my agent and publishers with a beautiful gift :) WHY? Obviously because I would be rolling in the dough from my book deals. Anyway, I would also get better living quarters- a place that would be worth the stupendous amount that I pay every month- AND HAVE A WORKING WIRELESS INTERNET SYSTEM!




I would get a better car- one that is not WHITE and a TWO DOOR (which were the only things that I didn't want when I went to the car dealership :( ).

Hmmm, what else would I do? Buy some cool books- cause I already spend too much money on books, I can't imagine what kind of damage I would do to Borders and Barnes and Nobles if I had more money! I would get a new laptop, a new desk, some notebooks, a million Sharpie Fine Point pens- although I barely write with pen and paper anymore-and finally, I would buy plane tickets to go and stalk Robert Pattinson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ashton Kutcher, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tobey Maguire, Eminem...I think you get my point :))Look at all that hotness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, tell me- what would you do if writing made you freakin' rich?!!!!!

Angels, Hybrids, and Vampires OH MY!

I am a big fan of paranormal/fantasy YA as I am a hardcore Hunger Games follower, I love Twilight (more because I love Robert Pattinson *swoon*)

...and I am really getting into hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick- but it makes me wonder...when are we gonna overload on these topics? It makes contemporary YA look like boring garbage- and that makes me sad :( I'm also jealous because I didn't create any of these concepts and really wish I had. Yesterday, my cuz (she has a new contest going on - check it out!) and I were just talking about how much we wished we had come up with the concept from Supernatural- two brothers road tripping to kill goblins and ghouls? Can you say, SO MUCH MATERIAL!

Anyway, I'm wondering if there is still room for my kind of writing- which, like I said I would love to do paranormal and fantasy, but I just have to come up with something unique. So, for right now- my kind of writing is dark, moody, thrilleresque (I create my own words too) YA. Kind of in the vein of movies like Brick and Lucky Number Slevin -if you haven't seen those movies, you HAVE to check them out. I am working on a new novel that will fit in that genre and I am just curious to see how many agents and editors are willing to take a novel that does not include one of the three things mentioned in my title. What do you think??? What kind of novel are you working on- will it fit in fantasy/paranormal- or do you feel like that fat kid on the swim team like I do???

Submitting Short Stories

I must admit, I have been more focused on working on/polishing what I refer to as my POS (piece of sh**), but others may call it a WIP- Chasing Manson. The first draft is complete, but I need to make some se-riou-s changes to it. Anyway, in the mad fervor to compelte my novel, I forgot about it's ugly, red-headed step-child- the short story (short stories are almost one of my nemesis-people ALWAYS think my short stories are part of a longer piece). I am in a MFA program so I wrote a few short stories, but I need to complete more to meet my word requirment for my creative thesis- and I just want to write more short stories. I was reading the Writer magazine and an article pointed out how good it looks for a writer to have their stories published in a literary magazine- well, duh!

So, I am trying to get to work on some new short stories to submit to various magazines. I have a short-short that I sent to a few mags back in October and I only recieved one rejection- the others haven't bothered to contact me yet. When I work on more quality material I will follow the advice from John Matthew Fox (he's published fiction in Tampa Review, Los Angeles Review, and Pedestal Magazine, and nonfiction in teh Los Angeles Times and US Airways Magazine) and his article in the Writer magazine's April 2010 issue:

• He offers up the best and worst times to submit to lit mags- best is in September, worst after Christmas, and university mags are closed during summer breaks so don't submit to those in May and June.
• The length should be around 4,000 words.
• Submit to local lit mags
• Go for issues that have a theme
• Don't worry if you have no pubish credits to your name
• KNOW the journal that you submit to (research it)
• And don't stress over the cover letter

There is more details in the article that will help if you are interested. You can also visit John Matthew Fox's blog to get more of his insight on short stories and publishing.

You can go to The Writer Website to get some insight on various lit mags. Click on Writing Resources :) (You have to become a member to view) Have fun!

I Want To Be Just Like...

Yeah- I'm back in the game, baby! All other bloggers go to sleep because I'm awake now :) Okay, I'm done with the trash-talking. My besties over at YA Highway have posed a wonderful question- which author's career would I want to emulate??? Do I have to choose just one? There are a lot- but if I have to narrow it down I would say that I have to give props to the lady that has created one of my obssessions- Suzanne Collins. I would love to create something so unique as The Hunger Games Trilogy- it's just one of those ideas that you wish you came up with. And there is a movie in the works, which combines the two of the things that I love!

And I have to shout-out another favorite of mine- the incomparable Joyce Carol Oates- especially since I just found out that she writes YA too (Freaky Green Eyes). It's kinda what I want to do- YA and then some creepy adult books that make you wonder and dream about - (ie. Zombie). Oates has so many novels under her belt and they are very effective and interesting- all about topics that some may consider taboo. I am completely and utterly intrigued with dangerous and taboo topics and books and I want to end up writing novels just like hers!




I want to know all about the author's careers that you want to have too- share with me :)

Contests!

Hi :) This is just a quick post- I am writing to inform you of two contests that I have heard about thus far!

First, My cuz- Pam Harris- is offering a really cool contest that she will post next TUESDAY. I cannot reveal any secrets, therefore, I can't tell you what it's about- but you'll love it- believe me!
Make sure you check it out.

Second- Beth Revis at: writing it out is offering a contest to both writers AND readers. Check out her post to find out what it is! Also, congratulate her on her recent book deal :)

Okay, there's some insight for ya!

Obsessions Part II (Team PEETA)

So, I have a stack of maybe 10-15 books in my bookshelf, and then I went and got MORE books Friday- I spent almost $60.00 on various YA books. One of them is hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I read the first five or so pages before I had to get back to real life, but I am intrigued. The opening was slightly confusing, but I still feel like I want to keep going. It has something to do with a girl, a fallen angel, romance, and an epic battle- all things that I can relate to :) I also see that there will be a sequel coming soon called Crescendo- I think I'm already liking these books- the titles alone are pretty enticing.

If you want to learn more, or even hear a snippet of the book go here: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hush-Hush/Becca-Fitzpatrick/9781416989417 OR here:
http://beccafitzpatrick.com/
I intend to follow her page.

Now to my old and # 1 obsession right now! I'm a little upset because I ALMOST bought Catching Fire, but I am trying to hold out for the paperback. I regret it now and I can feel my hands itching to go and get that book. I have already read that one and The Hunger Games, but I intend to read them both OVER...and OVER again. It is a genius series and I am counting down until the third book: Mockingjay (August 24th, 2010) is released! And as always, just like the title of this blog post says, I am Team Peeta!!!!!

Here is a fan club website that I go to often: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/the-hunger-game-trilogy

Where have all the ROCK STARS gone?

So, when I was writing my novel, Chasing Manson- which I may include some sneak peeks of up here soon enough (yes, I mean it- you can let that breath out now :) ) I was including music from the late 60's and early 70's. I mean classics like Jefferson Airplane, the Beatles, the Doors,


Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones, and the EAGLES. And when I was finished, I was proud of how I incorporated my love for music with my love for writing and historical events- but now I am ready to work on my second novel and this one will be contemporary and I want to include my love for music in this one as well. SO....the big question- what in the h*** music will I use for inspiration???

Where have all the rock stars gone? I've been listening to the radio, and watching MTV- which should be called Reality TV now- but I can't get no...well, satisfaction :( What kind of music do you listen to ? Indie rock, hip hop, R & B, whatever- I need music that will move me like the artists in the 60's and 70's did. I'm open to all types of music - hook a sista up!