I <3 My Job

I’ve been a lazy blogger this week, but I promise I will get it together and have something very special to read on here next week.

The weather here has been gorgeous, which is especially nice for my current occupation, which is (oh joy!) not sitting front of a computer watching my hips spread. I’ve been spending a lot of time outside, enjoying the bright sunshine and the beautiful spring flowers. This morning, I dropped by some friends’ house, and the special double tulips they gave away as bulbs at their wedding were blooming all along their front walk.

It never ceases to amaze me how different it feels to live in the North. I never appreciated springtime in Florida. But here, everything blooms. Cherry blossoms and lilacs and entire lawns (the less tended, the better!) covered in dandelions and violets. It’s stunning!

Okay, enough about pretty pretty flowers.

Despite the fact that this is tax week, I’m having one of those “love to be a writer” weeks. My YA editor has been sharing some ideas for the book that have me so excited. And I’m starting to hear back from the few family members and friends that have a copy of the Rites of Spring (Break) ARC, and, though I know they love me, so they’re a bit biased when it comes to my book, it’s still nice to hear.

My dad: “This one is suspenseful. I like it best of all the books you’ve let me read.”

(My dad’s a little bitter about how I didn’t let him read my stuff until I was contracted.)

My sub-rights agent: “This is the best so far.”

(It’s nice when people get paid to say stuff like that.)

My sister-in-law: “Finished the book last night. Loved it! Especially the [spoilers redacted] storyline. Thought it was great!”

My brother: “I’ll read it after my exam.”

(Before my sister in law was my sister in law, she and her boyfriend/my brother gave me great insight into the first book, since they were, at the time, students at an Ivy League College, and practically Amy’s age — Amy ages much more slowly than a real person. Bro and sis should probably get consultancy credits, but I seriously could not afford what I know their going rates are these days.)

My best friend: “Oh! I just hit the part where, you know, [huge giant spoilers redacted].” (She casts a guilty look at her husband.) “Well, I already told you that part.” (Husband looks nonplussed.) “It’s so awesome. I almost missed my train stop. In fact, I want to go back to reading it right now.” (We were in the middle of dinner at the time.)

(My best friend’s husband apparently laughed out loud when reading my first book, which is the highest praise I can imagine, since I’ve been trying to make him laugh since we were in high school and have succeeded approximately twice.)

I know that the general population doesn’t give a fig if my mother in law’s sister’s roommate’s dogwalker likes my book, but I feel so grateful that my friends and family read my books, even if they are way out of their usual genre (my best friend), even if they don’t generally read novels (my dad), and even if I can’t for the life of me understand what it is they do for a living (my one brother). It’s really sweet and considerate and I love them for it.