Hiatus

I don't know why I didn't just post last month that I was going on a blogging hiatus, but I guess I wasn't really sure then.  Life was way too busy and something had to give (and it's always the good stuff that ends up being sacrificed, right?).  I am such an all or nothing person and so when I thought to myself that I really didn't have time to blog, read blogs, Tweet, follow Twitter, and write (so sad), instead of just scaling back or picking one or two of those things to eliminate- I shut it all off like a faucet.  And I miss it (and all of you bloggies and twitterers), but I'm not ready to come back yet.  My husband talked me out of taking down my blog completely (I believe his words were "dramatic" and "extreme"), so I'll just put it out there- I am unfortunately and officially on hiatus.  If anyone out there in the world (other than my mother, sister, and mother-in-law) cares, fear not- I do intend to ramble on about books and writing again one day.  Hopefully I'll be back soon.

Just some things

Hello and welcome to the end of March- the month that brought 80 degree temperatures followed by a hard freeze (I love when the weather guy says that- makes me giggle), lots of basketball and St. Patrick's Day merriment, and my dog Boston pooping on the floor.  In sum, a pretty crazy month.

As usual, I have been found lacking on the blogging front, but I as I take a break in the midst of a long work day, I wanted to share a few random tidbits.
 

1.  I have been a voracious re-reader this month (which is hurting my 2012 book reading goal, but that can't be helped).  For whatever reason I have been seeking comfort in past loves rather than looking for new ones.  In the last two weeks alone I have re-read THE HUNGER GAMES (twice), CATCHING FIRE, and MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins, all five GALLAGHER GIRLS books by Ally Carter, SON OF NEPTUNE and THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan, GRACELING by Kristin Cashore, and BORN AT MIDNIGHT by C.C. Hunter.  You should have read all of those books already- they are wonderful.  Also, I am too lazy to link to all of those Goodreads profiles.

 

2.  The book I am most anticipating this entire year is BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore and it's release is only a little over a month away.

3.  The lovely and talented Jenny S. Morris of Jenny's Imaginary World (my first critique partner) is staring a group blog (Falling for Fiction) with her critique group and it launches on April 1!  Read her blog post about it and make sure to look for it next week.  All of these ladies are amazing and I know it will be a funny stop with tons of useful information, motivation, and games (yay for games!).

4. Is anyone else just dying about the sheer amazingness of The Secret Circle (Thursdays at 9:00 on The CW)?  I mean, dying.

5.  The Hunger Games film was so wonderful that my eyes hurt from trying not to blink and miss something.  Opening night is always a gamble given my two pet peeves (and I mean serious pet peeves) of talking in the movie theater and clapping during or after movies, but those two things were thankfully held to a minimum.  I am SICK about the subsequent revelation of racist and disgusting tweets, posts, etc. about some of the casting and so I'll not even mention it except I just did so I'll also say, bigotry is an enemy of imagination, progress, and all things wonderful.

That's all my brain can handle for now.  XXOO.

Top O' the Hoppin' to Ya!

Are you O'Hoppin?  In honor of St. Patrick's Day, please join me in hopping around Mark Koopmans "Got Green?" Blog Hop.  The quest? Tell a tale o' the Irish in 333 words or less, or just share an Irish tale or memory.


Click here to go to Mark's blog and get the full list of participants so you can read everyone's entries!


My story will take readers back to the days of yore... err... last August, when I visited Ireland on a family vacation.  My husband and I traveled with my sister and brother-in-law before gathering with my parents and extended family for a wedding.  Many wonderful and amazing things occurred on that trip.  For example, we saw this:

Inis Oirr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands

And this:

Thomond Park, Limerick- The Munster Rugby Stadium

But we had our troubles.  My sister and her (now) husband caught the craziest flu that any of us has ever seen.  We stayed in one Bed &  Breakfast where the bathrooms were so small you couldn't turn around- if you wanted to use the toilet you had to back in through the doorway.  And then the Budget Rental Car Debacle of 2011.  Told through photos and quotes below.

Me: "It's eleven in the morning on a Tuesday.  Can they really be closed?"
Pilot Walking Through Airport:  "Hello!  Looking for your car?  He'll probably be asleep now won't he?  We'll have someone give him a call."
Us:  "..."

One Hour Later
Awakened Budget Employee:  "Your reservation was cancelled in the UK last week."
Me:  "I did not cancel the reservation and I do not know anyone in the UK, so certainly I did not instruct anyone there to cancel."
ABE: [yawns]
Me:  "What are my options, here?"
ABE: "Options?"
Me:  "Yes.  I still need a car.  What are my options.  Do you have another one we could rent?"
ABE: "No."
Me: [turning very red and taking very deep breaths]
ABE: "You could go to our office in Galway and see if there is a car there for you."
Me:  "Go back to Galway, where we just were before we took a taxi here to the airport to get our car that I reserved two months ago?"
ABE:  "Yes."

Two Hours Later
[We met some very nice people at the central Galway Budget office who got us a car and a nice discount.  We walked to the garage where the rental cars are housed and located our vehicle by going through four levels of garage and reading the license plates.]
Me:  "I don't understand.  You can't get the emergency brake off?"
Husband:  "You're not helping."
Brother-in-law:  "It's stuck or something."
Sister:  "Push the button and pull at the same time."
Brother-in-law:  "Yes I had thought of that.  It's stuck."
Me:  "Are you doing it right?"
Husband:  "Megan, you are still really not helping."

They do say driving abroad is difficult!  [We did get it eventually.]

Happy St. Patrick's Day and Happy "Go Green!" Blog O'Hop!

What's your March Madness?

I know not everyone is a college basketball fan.  I don't know why, but I know some folks must get  jazzed up about other things in March.  This is my favorite sports-related event of the year (I am talking about the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for those of you who REALLY aren't college basketball fans), but here are some other things I'm excited about right now.

1. The release of Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter.  This is happening  TODAY and I am heading to pick it up at the bookstore as soon as I finish watching the suddenly nail-biting Western Kentucky/ Mississippi Valley State game.  I can 92% guarantee that I'll read the whole thing tonight.  The Gallagher Girls are the best.

2. Being able to say "Beware the Ides of March" in two days, my favorite Shakespeare quote to toss out.  I have yet to say it to anyone (other than my mom, who says it too) who gets the reference.  I guess I need more cultured friends?  (To my friends- just kidding :)).

3. Spring weather!! Today was SEVENTY degrees.  Sunlight makes me so happy.

Tell me, what are you excited for this March?  If you are a b-ball fan, who are your final four teams?  Mine are Kentucky, Missouri, Florida State, Kansas.  Sadly my beloved BC team had a tough rebuilding year and are not dancing.

For the love of bookstores

Want to see something cool?  You can help build an amazing children's bookstore in Decatur, Georgia with children's book artist R.Gregory Christie.  This project was featured in a Publisher's Weekly story earlier this week.



You know what I love?  Bookstores.  When I saw this project on Kickstarter, I knew I wanted to be a supporter.  Check out the video and if you can, contribute a couple of dollars.  Doesn't it seem doable to find 1,000 people to donate $23 each?  $23 is such a reachable number and there are such a huge number of book lovers and bookstore lovers out there.

Where are you (re)writing?

I tried something completely new over the weekend- I took my computer down to my local library and set up shop. It didn't work out quite the way I had hoped.  My motive for the change of scenery was that while my writing space (my husband let me turn our office into a library/ writing lounge and it's awesome) works for writing, it hasn't been working for revisions.  I don't know why, but I'm not getting the same inspiration as when I create.  So, enter the scene with me at the library.  I had three free hours before I was heading to see The Lorax with my husband (more on that later), and thought even with travel and unpacking time, I would have a solid 2.5 hours of working on my novel (the excruciating change to first person on AN UNEXPECTED KINGDOM).

Here's a little sample of how that went:
10:30:  Arrive at Stoneham Public Library
10:33:  Get caught in weird conversation with circulation desk worker about automatic doors that I can't seem to end
10:40:  Finally get to the upstairs carrels and pick one
10:41-10:50: Set up my stuff and get situated- coat off, scarf off, computer and note cards unpacked, phone silenced, note cards arranged on desk, computer plugged in and turned on
10:5:1  Realize outlet has no power and that battery only has half hour of juice left
10:52-11:00:  Repeat procedure at new carrel
11:01:  Open document
11:02:  Woman asks me where the new YA books are- get into a discussion about why the library needs a separate section for new YA books
11:15:  Get back to document
12:00:  Realize I spent 45 minutes on the prologue, which really didn't need work, and I changed about three words and one comma
Aaaand the experience went downhill from there.  I am still adrift on my revisions and would love to know where other people write and if that same space works for revisions or editing.

Oh, and PS- see The Lorax; it's amazing!  My husband was embarrassed because I cried.  I'm not made out of stone!

First Annual National Critique Partner Appreciation Day

Hey- have you heard about the new holiday coming up this Friday March 2?  No?  That's because I've just invented it.  It's National Critique Partner Appreciation Day!  So send your CPs lots of encouragement, love, and lavish gifts. 
Today I received a package in the mail with a completely unexpected present from my mother-in-law and a card saying she decided to create National Daughter-In-Law Appreciation Day.  LOVED it!  In honor of her awesomeness, I decided to pass it on.
Soo, spread the word and let me know what you decide to gift to your Critique Partner this Friday.  I would have created a logo, but I'm not very artistic even with a computer.  If anyone does create one, send me a link.
Have a great week!