Fresh New Year (updated)

Before the blog begins, I want to thank all of you for wishing me a happy birthday last week. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated all of the well-wishes, especially from the lurkers in the group! You guys are so sweet, and you reminded me why blogging can be good.

I may have mentioned this before, but since my birthday is so close to the Western calendar’s New Year, I have developed a habit of treating it like my official “New Year” and the three weeks leading up to it as my practice run. Now is the time that I must really buckle down and work at the things I hope to accomplish during this particular trip around the sun.

First, and probably most noticeable to you, dear reader: new blog design. Pretty, huh? And strangely reminiscent of something…. Hmmm… could it be “Blue Girl in Cape” (a.k.a. Under the Rose)? I am aware it still needs some tweaking. Most noticeably, I’m not happy with how my name looks. I was trying to make it look like the font on the cover of Under the Rose, but that may be beyond my skillset. (Anyone who can help, I’m all ears!) Updated to add: Miri helped me out with the colors and the font of my name. Nice, huh? Also, I am planning on indexing certain posts (yes, Carrie, the four-act structure one) and I still need to add a blogroll for friends who aren’t writers, because– and I know this sounds shocking– but I actually have a couple friends who are, like, butchers and bakers, and candlestick makers. But I was impatient and totally tired of the old look, so whee! Blue! Pretty!

(I know. I totally don’t sound twenty-eight.)Apparently, I am to stop talking about this. 😉

Also, I’ve been working on my calendar for the year, and it looks very, very busy. I’m speaking in February, have a conference in March (the NEC Conference with agent Deidre Knight and critique partner Marley Gibson on NETWORKING), a writing retreat in April (if I get in), a book release in May, two more in June, and two weddings a month apart in June and July.

And this is without taking into account the, er, wedding planning, publicity for those books, travel on account of Sailor Boy, and, of course, the biggie, writing more books.

But for now, it’s just (and always) writing, critiquing a draft for a friend, and then contest judging (I’m judging two right now) and pimping people’s books. So, let’s get to it. I know the giveaway is why you’re really here. 🙂

Once again, this week, we have Surviving Demon Island, by Jaci Burton. Dear Reader, this book is an Angelina Jolie action thriller come to life. I read it two weeks ago and I can’t wait for the next installment. Don’t miss out.

We’ve also got The Rest Falls Away, a debut paranormal by Colleen Gleason. This book has been winning fans wherever it pops up. It’s gritty, it’s angsty, it’s actiony, and there are reticules and balls. If you don’t believe me, check out the review at All About Romance, who says: “…this novel has enough dark, angsty touches to it that I was utterly wrung out by the end. It is also so good that I couldn’t wait to get online to see when the next in the series will come out (June 2007 for the curious).”

The YA of the week is Simone Elkeles’s debut, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, one of the launch books of the Flux line. Pithy title and humorous tone aside, this story is an edgy and complex examination of family, home, identity, and culture shock when Chicago spoiled brat Amy Nelson spends the summer on her Israeli father’s farm. And the hero is sooooooo swoonworthy. Makes ya wish you too were 18 again.

Hmmmm, and you know what, guys? I’m drawing a blank on this week’s wildcard. Not from lack of entries. From too MANY. I can’t seem to decide which book to choose. So I’m leaving it open for now. But there is a fourth book. And it will be awesome. (And, um, if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments.)
Okay, I’ve decided. I know a lot of writers read this blog, and I think every writer should read, if not own, a copy of ON WRITING, by Stephen King. Part memoir, part writing class, part philosophy of craft, this book galvanized my own dedication to my chosen career like little else. (It also turned me from occasional reader of King to slavering fangirl, but that’s another story.) It’s funny, it’s shocking, and it’s true.

Usual rules apply: leave a comment in this post to enter. You may comment from now until Friday. On Friday, I shall pick a winner and then he or she will choose which book of the four they want.

Happy New Year!