Behind on blogkind

I’ve been a bad blog-reader recently… so far behind on reading my usual blogroll. So, let’s see what’s out there, shall we?

Julie Leto has an excerpt of her new book up. I can’t wait to read DIRTY LITTLE LIES! Gena Showalter has been on a bit of reading binge recently, and both books she’s blogged about look like real winners. I basically gave up on Bombshells a while ago because they premises sounded so wonderful and then I could never get into the actual storytelling, but I might be tempted to try again. Must pick them up. Marianne Mancusi has had a bad week, and some anonymous poster is giving her trouble for blogging about it. Stick to your guns, Mari, it’s good for teens to feel they can be upset about stuff and the world’s not going to end! (Lord knows I needed that lesson at age 16, and, um, now.) Alison Kent’s got a great post on the recent discussions about whether chasing the market = selling out and how much is “acceptable” (make sure to read the comments trail as well). Of course, the big question is, acceptable to whom? The fickle fans? Your conscience? Your kids’ college funds? Exactly why this is a good topic. (Oh, and Lydia Joyce has a blog up about what writers make, but it’s really mathematical and makes some assumptions I don’t quite agree with). Rachel Vincent has an excellent post on plotting and world building (apparently apart two is forthcoming), and in the comments section, Heather Dawn points to a March Midnight Hour post by JR Ward on the same topic. Haven’t been able to bring myself to read Ward yet, but the lavish praise in response ot her post makes me think I will have to try to grit my teeth through “rhage” and “phury” and “beeczar” and read the damn things. I also want to read Shannon Stacey’s 72 Hours, after hearing Jaci rave, but I’m on a strict book diet, what with the deadline pressure and all. I just need to finish up Nalini’s Singh’s latest Desire and then I’m back on the wagon. Justine Larbalestier has a whole bunch of great “our writerly neuroses” posts up, including one on getting used to nos, and one on praise addiction. Both are quite timely for yours truly. Scott Westerfeld, on the other hand, is so busy writing about airships in 1914 that the most we’ve heard from him of late is posting the weirdo papaerback cover of PEEPS. (Love the idea, but what’s up with the poufy lips? Have they been hanging out in Diego? Jana got good news from her agent (go give her a high five) but Shannon‘s been having a rougher time (go give her a hug). Shanna Swendson‘s stories make me glad I’m not in the dating pool. Kristin Nelson asks if it’s rude to be an agent caught up on queries if that means she can send your rejection in minutes, and oh, wow, does Bookseller Chick have some amazing posts up recently. And finally, Deidre Knight’s Amazon blog has an interesting post about remakes. (Honestly, I like Dennis Quaid just fine, and I do have a soft spot in my heart for him, etc. etc., but I was totally underwhelmed by The Big Easy. Could not for the life of me figure out what the big deal was, what “the scene” everyone always talks about is, or what kind of accent Quaid thought he was pulling. I rented it because a lot of people told me I had to see this one scene blah blah blah, but neither Sailor Boy nor I could figure out what any one was talking about. Maybe a generational thing?)

Oh oh oh, and before I forget! Cindy Procter-King sold to RED SAGE! Woo hoo, go, Cindy! So excited for you. I love red Sage, and not just because I’m occasionally on the cover.