I know I said this was going to be an all-Narnia week, but I got distracted on Thursday night and then crashed as soon as I got home from the Washington Romance Writers retreat on Sunday, so you find me unprepared this morning. Hold your horses (Talking and otherwise), and I’ll get back to you.
In passing, it was a great weekend. Heard some good speeches, went to some cool workshops, started on a collage for the fourth SSG book, but, most importantly, had lots of good gab time with my fellow writers, Amanda Brice, Carrie Ryan, and Kresley Cole.
Carrie and I gave away a basket at the raffle, and if I were smart, I would have taken a picture of it first, but I totally forgot. Shame. It looked awesome! It was called “Sunshine and Shadow: for the Teen at Heart” and was a beach tote filled with all sorts of YA and YA-friendly goodies on both the dark and light side of the spectrum. My side (light) had sunglasses, glittery nail polish, a DVD of one of my favorite teen movies, Bring it On, a cute, beachy candle with sand and seashells on it, an ARC of Rites of Spring (Break), and truffles. Her side (dark) had these gorgeous rose-shaped string lights, dark nail polish, clubbing makeup, a DVD of one of my other favorite teen movies, Ginger Snaps, gummy worms, The Zombie Survival Guide, and a very special chapbook from Carrie’s debut novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth.
It was very hard for me to resist throwing raffle tickets in for myself.
Sophia Nash won the basket. She claims she’s giving it to her daughter.
My favorite workshop was the one Kresley gave on working in the paranormal market. Enlightening and candid. She also opened it up at the end so the other writers in the room working in that market could talk about their own experiences. Pamela Palmer, who writes for Silhouette Nocturne and Avon, had some great insights.
I also got to chat with Emmanuelle Alspaugh from Wendy Sherman Associates, who represents debut author Danielle Younge-Ullman, whose book finalled in the very first Stiletto Contest back in 2004. And I had an extra-long dinner with Tracy Farrell of Harlequin, wherein we all grilled her about the new YA line.
Speaking of Tracy Farrell and Harlequin, guess what I have in my hot little hands? Gena Showalter‘s The Darkest Night. I know. Are you jealous? I read the first three chapters online the other day and I knew I had to have the whole thing. Imagine my joy when I discovered a copy in my retreat goodie bag!
Of course, first I have to finish my revisions, and get this Narnia ball rolling.
And, of course, see the new Harold and Kumar. Because Neil Patick Harris on a Unicorn is basically my dream come true.
