Friday, September 30, 2011

Friday Obsessions: A MILLION SUNS, "A Writer's Inbox, and Apples and Honey

Everything I was obsessed with this week.
Because I know you want to know.

1. A MILLION SUNS.  Last week, a book-shaped package was waiting for me outside my door. I thought it was another sweet care package from CP extraordinaire, Gina, but when I looked closer, the return address said, "Penguin."  Uh, excuse me?

I thought maybe they were offering me a three-book deal and the contract was unusually small and fat.

(I know. I crack myself up.)

I opened it up and beheld this:




And promptly had a heart attack.

Then reality hit me and I remembered that I had applied to receive an ARC of A MILLION SUNS through Penguin's website, never ever ever expecting to get a copy.

Then I freaked out and emailed my CPs, screaming "WHAT DO I EVEN DO WITH THIS?!!?!"

And they were both like, "Um....read it?"

So I did that. And it ruled. And I'll post all about it once the High Holidays are over, and then I'm going to throw a giveaway of the first book in the series, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, because 1. I just love Beth Revis and Penguin that much and 2. As much as I love you all (and I do!) I don't love you enough to send you the ARC.

2. "An Agent's Inbox" over at Krista's blog, "Mother. Write. Repeat." 
Krista's one of the queens of secret agent contests in the writing blogosphere, and she's got one going on right now.  (She's also an amazingly talented writer, who I expect to snag an agent any day now.)

You send her your query and first page, and the secret agent responds just like she would if it were actually in her inbox.  (AMAZING.)

Submissions are closed for this round, but I got in by the skin of my teeth - entry #50. Entries are open for critiques from anyone through Tuesday, so run over and visit all the uber-talented writers who have their stuff posted over there! Other entries near and dear to my heart are #41, #47, and #33, so go give them some love too.

3. Apples and Honey.

So, it's the Jewish New Year, and like every Jewish holiday, it's all about the food. We make lots of excuses about eating sweets for three days straight because we're hoping for a "sweet new year" but really? Apples dipped in honey just totally rules in every way possible.



Never had the combo? Go try it. Now. You can thank me later.

4. The WiP - It's been abysmal for writing this week - busiest season at work, so I maybe got in a few hundred words max - but for the first time, the end is in sight. I'm calling it a couple weeks till this pile of bad grammar, repetitions, and run-ons  first draft is finished.  Here are some lines.

I run downstairs and Mom raises an eyebrow at me. “You look nice, sweetie.”

I’m not feeling that generous, so I kind of raise an eyebrow at her and make a lot of noise unwrapping my Twinkies so I don’t have to talk to her. I stand there, fidgeting while eating, impatient with the slowness of my own chewing.
“I made some eggs, honey,” Daddy calls from the kitchen.
I swallow hard and call, “Thanks, gotta go though.” I would rather die than eat the jiggly yellow-and white grossness that is scrambled eggs, and Dad knows that. But he doesn’t want to feed me. He wants to hear about me studying with my friends, like a normal kid.
As much as Dad loves me, even he wants me to be normal. Pick a side, already.
I slug back a glass of chocolate milk, rinse it and throw it in the dish sterilizer, and stride out, before I even get to hassle Max and Michael for the morning.
There’s a damp chill to the air made up of the first days of autumn and the dew from the grass. I slump into my car, and fumble through my bag for my keys. My fingers fidget, like I’ve had too much coffee, even though I haven’t had a drop since yesterday morning. I crank up the heat and briefly consider digging out Elias’s sweatshirt, then decide that wearing it would make me look like a tool, or at least like one of the girls crushing on him. No chance.
Then I look at the clock - 6:45. Half an hour before I have to leave for school.
What is wrong with me?

Your turn! What were you obsessed with this week?

14 comments:

  1. My Harper rep is studiously ignoring the e-mail I sent her requesting HALLOWED ARC's. But if she thinks I'm too dignified to follow it up with a phone call, she would be wrong. WE WILL HAVE ARC'S, DAMN IT!

    My obsession this week would be the amazing person who sent me a box full of goodies for no other reason than she's freaking awesome. And HOURGLASS? Totally karate chopped my book slump. Hooked from line 1, and the Scarlett O'Hara reference cinched it. Can't wait to read more :)))

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  2. Oh! I am green with envy over your ARC! so green!

    MY obsession this week is Laini Taylor's "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" oh dear lord this woman is one serious story teller... I can't even wrap my brain around her awesomeness. AND I get to meet her on saturday at a book signing. YAY!

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  3. I started reading A MILLION SUNS yesterday! Because you DO love me. :D When I finish, we shall have a discussion about this book...

    And I am also loving the Agent's Inbox contest. I think it finally gave me the kick I needed to tweak my query.

    Apples in honey? As soon as I get home today.

    And, as always, love the ONE snippet. Duh.

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  4. @Gina - Actually, the reason is YOU'RE freaking awesome. I would pretty much bow to you if you wrangled an ARC of HALLOWED (have I told you I'm a little bit on Team Christian? *ducks*)

    @Cristina - Book recommendation - logged! I am actually afraid to go to book signings. What would I wear? How would I keep from shaking, and blabbering? You are brave.

    @Chess - I was afraid that was what you were tweeting about last night. Maybe we'll collaborate on that post....(also if G wants that ARC you have to send it to her too.)

    You ladies rule! <3

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  5. Uh, yeah, I'm really nervous about meeting her... really nervous... she's having a Q&A session and I can't even form coherent words in my brain just thinking about it. LOL... I'll probably just hide in the back and gawk!

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  6. @Cristina - You are BRAVE. If I think about meeting my fave authors...the only thing I can imagine doing is crying.
    (please please take pics and post about it on your blog.)

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  7. I am soooo jealous that you have A MILLIONS SUNS! I really wish I could get my hands on one of those ARCs.

    I haven't been obsessing over anything this week, but I did start reading THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER last night and it's great so far!

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  8. I so excited for you / jealous about awesome book packages! And I'm definitely trying apples dipped in honey.

    And those were some SWEET WIP lines! (Get it? Sweet? :))

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  9. @Melissa - YAY book recommendations! I put the sample of UNBECOMING on my Kindle. Thank you!

    @Peggy - You are hilarious. Har har.
    I really think it should be in the CP questionnaire - 1. What is your critique style? 2. How often do you send crits? 3. Do you send care packages?

    :)

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  10. You guys! Don't be nervous about going to book signings!
    I used to be an events coordinator at a bookstore, and most of the time, the authors (even a lot of big authors!) are super nervous that no one will show up, or that no one will ask questions, or that everyone will think they're dorky and bad at public speaking, or...you get the idea. So if you show up and talk to them and like their book, you are pretty much making their day. Seriously. And book signings are so fun!

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  11. WOW. Major ARC envy!

    Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for the feedback in the AgentInbox contest - you had some great suggestions! And then I saw you linked to my entry here and it kinda made my day :) Have a lovely weekend!

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  12. @Maggie - That is actually really helpful! Great advice.

    @MarcyKate - If you need more readers....(TEAM TOMMY)

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  13. I'm sadly not obsessed with anything this week. Except maybe a shiny new idea I'm attempting to ignore until the current WiP is drafted. But ignoring it isn't working--probably because I give in so easily to my whims.

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  14. Totally jealous that you got Beth's new book. I had her sign, Across the Universe on Thursday, and was completely tongue tied. Only managed to say, I loved the book, and I follow her blog. I will have to check out the Agent's Inbox.

    Chocolate milk and twinkies for breakfast. My son would be in heaven. LOL.

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