Sunday, September 2, 2012

Closing Out Summer on a High Note

The last couple of weeks have been good writing wise. I discovered the hook I needed for my novel and pumped out 3,000 new words on the revision.Yay! This is big for me. It felt like this:



 When my usual pace is more like this:



And I was able to meet with my good friend three nights this week to write (and chat.) I always feel motivated when I get together with other writers to talk about our progress or even our obstacles, because talking them through can make them easier to overcome.

Another highlight was a visit to the local independent bookstore where authors Huntley Fitzpatrick and Kimberly Marcus were speaking. I've never been to a writers conference and I'm not much of a traveler, so unless they appear right in my backyard, I don't have many chances to meet with other YA writers often. So this opportunity had me pretty excited.

Huntley Fitzpatrick, Me, and Kimberly Marcus


 It was great to hear about Kimberly's experience writing Exposed,



 her first novel in verse. (Some of you know I'm currently revising my own novel in verse.) Kimberly was very gracious, and encouraging, answering all of my questions and showing genuine interest in my project. I may have talked her ear off. *cringe* I actually woke up in the middle of the night thinking "Oh no, was I obnoxious?! I hope not.

 And though I haven't yet read My Life Next Door,



Huntley seemed like such a sweet person that I wanted to read her book simply because I liked her so much. Added bonus: her book sounds amazing - and realistic contemporary is my all-time favorite.

 The format of the talk was great with each author asking the other questions before opening things up to the audience. Although my TBR pile is a bit overwhelming right now, I'm moving My Life Next Door to the top of the stack. And I'm already re-reading Exposed, because reading novels in verse always helps me to move forward with my own verse project.

What's at the top of your TBR pile?



68 comments:

  1. Geez Louise. I don't know what's at the top. It's all in one big jumbled mess! I did just finish OKAY FOR NOW by Gary D. Schmidt. It was fantastic.

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    1. Oooo, that one's on my list. I keep hearing good things about it.

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  2. I had no idea we had such similar tastes. I've read just about every YA novel in verse out there and I'm always eager for another (nudge.) I've got MY LIFE NEXT DOOR on my TBR list. Right now I'm reading a bunch of humorous MG.

    Yay for having a productive summer, Ruth!

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  3. Wow, Ruth- you look beautiful between the two authors, Huntley Fitzpatrick & Kimberly Marcus. I'll say summer was good for you!
    And reading that the wind is once again sailing beneath your writerly wings is wonderful too.

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  4. At the top of my TBR pile is CURSED by Jennifer Armentrout and INBETWEEN by Tara Fuller.

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  5. Ruth - Love the post, love the photo! Glad your writing is going so well. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Victoria. Hope your writing is going well also =)

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  6. You were not at all obnoxious! It was lovely meeting you, Ruth. Best of luck with your book!
    Kim Marcus

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  7. What a great writing-related way to finish out the summer!

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    1. It's too bad those super-productive days are usually followed by a day that's monumentally unproductive =(

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  8. Yay! What a great way to finish off the summer. Go you!

    The top of my TBR pile is Kate Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. I'm really looking forward to it!

    And I hadn't even heard of Life Next Door--being added to my TBR pile right now! Thanks!

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  9. I have THE WELL OF ASCENSION by Brandon Sanderson at the top of my TBR list. What a world builder!

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  10. It's lovely to be with other writers ... so I'm glad these two showed up practically in your backyard. I miss WA for that reason because the annual conference was just at the bottom of hill where we lived.

    I'm in research mode and my book piles are medical texts. I'm utterly fascinated by the footnotes!

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    1. Wow, medical texts, how intimidating. I admire you for delving into such research.

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  11. Excellent that your writing is going so well, I'm sure you could never be obnoxious :) and My Life Next Door looks so good that I just bought it for my Kindle! :)

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    1. Thank you, Susanna. I'm not good in social situations, so beating myself up over things I said or didn't say or whatever is always part of the aftermath. *Sigh* I wish it wasn't so.

      Hope you enjoy My Life Next Door. I started it last night.

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  12. Fantastic and I can't wait to read all these novels-in-verse I love them. p.s. I'm doing a giveaway of Unending Devotion right now if any of your readers are interested in historical romance.

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    1. Thanks, Catherine, for stopping by and mentioning the contest =)

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  13. New books for me to check out:) They sound so good.

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    1. I love passing along the names of good books. Most of my TBR list is compiled of titles I've heard of on other blogs.

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  14. Congratulations on your writing progress! I bet it feels great. Can't believe you've never been to a conference before. I wouldn't be going either, except a friend/employer hired me to copyedit his book and paid me "good measure, pressed down,shaken together, and running over"! I'm so grateful for friends and fellow writers generous with their time/money/advice! Sounds like you've experienced that recently too.

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    1. Congratulations on the copy editing gig! How wonderful that it will allow you to attend the conference. Yay!

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  15. Wow! 3,000 words. Ruth that's wonderful and I know you must feel like you're going the speed of light . . . well, the speed of a very fast pooch anyway. Congratulations. And how great to meet with other authors and actually talk.

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    1. Thanks, Lee. We must celebrate those good days - especially since they're so rare ;) for me anyway.

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  16. Ruth, I'm sure you were not obnoxious! You seem far too kind and thoughtful to ever come across as obnoxious. Love those two "pace" photos! I haven't decided what I'm reading next, I only know it needs to be something fun.

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    1. Awww, thank you, Jean.

      Oh, something fun, I'd love to hear what you choose.

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  17. Aw, Ruth -- you look so pretty with your long hair! (Sorry, my brain is still on hair, after responding to everyone's comments.)

    Thank you so much for popping over, giving your two cents and following! And congratulations on the 3,000 words! The best thing about the accomplishment is what it accomplishes within -- that inestimable sizzle of confidence, baby.

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    1. So true, Suze, that boost to the confidence is of great worth.

      Thanks so much for stopping by =D

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  18. Sounds like you are in a great place, Ruth! I love to see that :)

    I love that inspired moment when you figure something important out for your story.

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    1. Those moments are grand, but when you've had one, you fear you may never have another. Teehee. Wish I could trust the process a little more.

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  19. Love the pics!

    And I have sooooo much respect for authors who write in verse... it's beyond me... I enjoy it so much! Too cool, Ruth. And I hope the inspiration keeps flowing! Run, girl. Run like the wind!!!!! ;)

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  20. How cool that you've been a word count superstar! I too have been through days where my writing pace is very slow, so I totally get what you mean when you posted that pic.

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    1. Word count superstar, hmmmm, that has a nice ring to it ;)

      Thanks, Cynthia.

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  21. Sounds like you had a great summer! Congratulations! :)

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  22. Currently my TBR pile is overflowing, but at the very top is the new Jodi Picult book: Between the Lines. After that, is Gone Girl. I need just a bit of time to sit down and read.

    ctny

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    1. I haven't read a Jodi Picoult book in a while, but I do love her stuff. Hope you find the time soon.

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  23. Yay, Ruth, for getting the right hook you need! And 3,000 words is great progress. I love meeting with my writer friends, too. It really helps to keep me pumped up and keep writing. That's so cool that you got to meet those two authors and pick their brains. I'm sure they loved answering your questions and I bet they appreciated your engaging in the discussion. There are always others who want to know the same info but are too shy to ask. Looks like you're not letting your shyness stop you! You go, Ruth!

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    1. You're right, Lynn. The shyness is always there, but on a good day, I don't let it stop me. (Of course, there are others when I do.) It's an ongoing battle ;) Thanks for your encouragement!

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  24. I'm a big fan of novels in verse. I hadn't heard of this one, so thanks!

    Good luck with your novel in verse. I started one, but I've put it aside for now.

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    1. Always good to hear there's another novel in verse fan out there. =D

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  25. Yay for all of your progress! Fantastic. I'm reading Tokyo Heist right now and enjoying it. I just finished a ARCs of Sanctum and Deviants and loved both of those.

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    1. Thanks for sharing those titles, Christina. I haven't heard of them. Off to look them up. . .

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  26. Anna Dressed in Blood is next on my TBR list. How cool that you met the both of them!

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    1. Not sure what that's about, but the title alone makes me squeamish. *shiver*

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  27. I LOVE getting together and writing with my crit. partners. We'll stop every so often and make each other read the sentence we just wrote. It's a blast. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson is at the top of ye olde TBR pile. I'm just finishing Forever by Maggie Stiefvater.

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  28. I've had two friends recommend My Life Next Door. It's on my hold list at the library.

    I'm currently rereading Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (even though my TBR pile is out of control) and will be reading If I Lie after that.

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  29. That snail picture looks suspiciously like me -- how did you take it without my knowing??!!

    Yay for 3000 words and getting to meet such lovely authors! :-)

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  30. Sounds like you had a great time with your writer-friends, Ruth. :) I love novels-in-verse, too. I recently finished one you recommended some time ago: "Inside Out and Back Again" in one day. One day! I hardly finish a book that fast. But it was that delicious. Good luck with your WIP. Can't wait to read it!

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    1. That was a good one. So glad you enjoyed it - and got through it so quickly!

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  31. Ruth you look like a teenager in that photo!! :)
    I just read My Life Next Door--loved it! I am now reading a MG story, Rebel McKenzie.

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  32. Three thousand words! Well done. I currently have a TBF pile (to be finished). I have several books lying around my place that are in various states of completion. That's very unlike me.

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  33. Love the picture Ruth. Love the long hair. Congratulations on the breakthrough and 3,ooo words. Am glad you had the opportunity to spend time with Huntley and Kimberly. I can't imagine writing a novel in verse -- although I love to read them.
    What am I reading: "Between the Shades of Gray." Just finished "The Giver" and "Between the Slashings."

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  34. How great that you got this chance. Thanks for sharing the picture.

    At the top of my TBR pile is Capture the Flag by Kate Messner.

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  35. I love the image of that dog. It so perfectly illustrates how you might be racing through your writing. Glad to hear you're on a roll. You can't beat meeting up with writer friends to keep the spirits up either.

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  36. I have some titles from Netgalley in my TBR pile. I'm finishing up Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride and Sharon Flake's Pinned.

    I enjoyed Exposed and I'd like to read My Life Next Door.

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  37. Sounds like you had a lovely time with your writer friends! I'd like to read Exposed- sounds intriguing!

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  38. Sounds like busy and fast paced progress indeed.... Congrats! I have to say I am extremely jealous of your opportunity to meet with Kimberly and Huntley. What I am finding most challenging at the moment is that I travel with my husband for his job, so I have no wriing group.
    Well thank you for sharing your experience :)

    And top of the TBR list is The HOBBIT. I want to read it before the movie comes out in December =)

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