My Better Half

No, not my husband (though he's wonderful, too) - my editor: Jill Santopolo.

Due to the great success of Unofficial Official Agent Day, the writing world has issued a call to celebrate Editor Appreciation Day. Huzzah!!

I'm delighted to have the opportunity to do wave my pom-poms in celebration of my fabulous editor, or better yet give a super cheer NIGHTSHADE style!
Jill has been such a joy to work with. Insightful, considerate and encouraging, she is a brilliant editor. Jill is also a writer who understands the ups and downs of creating a novel. She's compassionate about how deeply tied I am to my story and characters, and I know she loves my them too and wants them to be their absolute best! She's a fantastic person - a blast to chat with and chock full of mad skills when it comes to bringing a writer's vision to life, overcoming all obstacles that arise.


Thanks, Jill, for being my partner and friend in this thrilling journey!

Less Serious, More Giggles

So after my reflective post of yesterday, I thought we needed to revert to more standard blog fare. I'm working up a series of posts waxing eloquently (not really) upon the things I enjoy about the holiday blitz. We'll start those this weekend, for now - more awesome Twilight spoofage:



Ooh, and big writerly moment. NIGHTSHADE is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Cover still top secret, but that magical pre-order button is there. Plus, it made me giggle that Amazon reminds you that should you order my book, it will not arrive before December 25...

Bridge

In addition to being a writer I teach history at a liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minnesota. I love my job - my classes bring me into contact with brilliant young people (okay now that I've referred to them as 'young people' I feel old) whose questions and ideas broaden my own horizons in fabulous ways.

My husband works for a non-profit organization that assists ex-offenders with reintegration into society. His program in particular mentors young men who are coming out of the maximum security juvenile facility in our state.

We both go to work every day, encounter 17 - 21 year olds, and try to help them find paths to the lives they hope for. But for the circumstances we encounter, he and I might as well be living in different universes. While my students are reading dense academic texts and writing at a post-graduate level, his may or may not be literate and their chances of finding employment as ex-offenders are slim. When we come home at the end of the day with tales from the work trenches, we're both aware that this disparity lays bare an immense, seemingly insoluble problem of 21st century America.

Tonight our worlds collided at an amazing, inspiring event that was the culmination of the "Schools to Prisons" class at my college. In this course students build a bridge between the privileged word of private education and the harsh realities of prison, release, and recidivism prevention. The students in this class participate in internships where they work for organizations like my husband's to get a firsthand look at the grassroots programs that attempt to disrupt the cycles of imprisonment and unemployment that plague our country. These students are humble, hard-working and absolutely committed to trying to make a difference in the world. They have the ideas we need to create a better future and the determination to see it through.

The semester has come to a close and tonight reminded me why being a teacher brings me so much joy. Thank you to the next generation, who bring hopes for a better future to life and share it with the world.

Next up: Wacky Holiday Post Extravaganza

Take a Page

An exciting benchmark in my book's life just occurred: I have a copy of the first pass pages. They are beautiful - the interior design of NIGHTSHADE is unique, striking, and perfect! It makes me feel like:


The further I progress along the road of publishing, the more I realize how much of that world remains a mystery to me. As I peruse my pages, I've become more and more curious about what creative departments at publishing houses are like, how decisions about font, design, page structure are made. And then the Rejectionist pointed me to this video, which explains it all.



I had no idea typesetting was so glamorous.

My favorite line: "Even when it's bold, italic."

Sap

I'm a sucker for romance, trials, and tears. Working through some really heart-wrenching scenes as I revise WOLFSBANE, you'd think I was going through my own break up. I have some of the same songs set on my iPod to replay over and over and over as I write my way through specific events. There are moments when I hear a song and a scene just blossoms in my mind. I've discovered that if I really hang onto that song and drown myself in it, the scene becomes all the more powerful as I'm writing.

Though it also means I cry a lot because IN MY BOOK I HAZ SAD STUFF HAPPENZ. But getting that emotionally invovled in the writing is one of my favorite parts of the craft.

So here is the song I've had on repeat all night while writing.



Your challenge: What type of scene would this song write for you?

My Very Own Mad Men (and Women)

It's Unofficially Official Agent Day! (Thanks to Kody Keplinger for this great concept.)

Today we celebrate all the wonderful work agents do to make writers' dreams jump from author's mind to readers' hands in the form of beautiful books.

I'm thrilled to be represented by the phenomenon that is InkWell Management. My agents Richard Pine and Charlie Olsen are more than superheroes. They are my Mad Men.

Charlie OlsenDear, dear Charlie. I am not a morning person, but THE CALL from Charlie came at 6 a.m. when I was in Seattle at a history conference and it was instantly the BEST MORNING EVER! He drew my little ms out of slushy peril and polished it to a shiny glow. Plus, he loves comics. Epic win.

Richard Pine
When Richard first called to introduce himself I was in Salt Lake City at a history conference (wow, good things happen when I'm out of town. Note to self: must travel more), having just lugged my suitcase in the pouring rain across the University of Utah campus to my uh...spartan little dorm room (it really felt more like a cell and I was wondering whether saving money by staying in the dorms rather than the conference hotel was really worth it).

My phone rang and Richard proceeded to turn my world upside down with compliments and his ever-present, sincere-but-hypnotizing charisma. It no longer mattered that I was stuck in a tiny room, with a scratchy wool blanket, and shower over toilet combo bathroom - everything had new sparkle.

Lyndsey BlessingI haven't had the chance to talk with Lyndsey on the phone yet, but she is my favorite email buddy. Lyndsey works miracles with foreign rights in addition to being an all around lovely person. (*Update: Just this morning Lyndsey sent another great email announcing my book deals in Czech and Slovak!)

Patricia Burke
Patricia and I also haven't spoken yet, but we have a constant second hand "I've heard great things about you, I love your work" back and forth via Charlie and Richard. I can't wait to meet Patricia and I already know she's doing amazing things for my books.

The TeamOne of my favorite things about being represented by InkWell is that all my interactions with my agents make it clear that this agency works as a team. I know my manuscripts get multiple reads and that enthusiasm for my work comes not from a single person, but runs throughout the whole group. And an incredible group of talented folk it is! I am the luckiest girl ever :)

Thanks so much to my Mad Men (and Women)! You've got the talent, the style, and the spirit to rock the literary world and you do so every day. I'm so thankful to be a part of it.

I'm counting the days until I come to New York to meet my InkWell family!!

Want to see more agent appreciation and learn about Unofficially Official Agent Appreciation Day? Get thee to Lisa and Laura's blog for a list of all the participating authors.

Snow! Emergency!

Yesterday afternoon a band of wintry weather stretching from the tip top of the U.S. down into Iowa careened across our state, leaving a trail of deep drifts and icy roads in its wake.

For those of you in warmer climes, a snow emergency is the city's way of efficiently clearing the roads for drivers by regulating street parking and towing cars like mad. If you (like me) are sadly living without a garage, extreme vigilance is necessary throughout the snow emergency. Should a car be left too long on the wrong side of the street, it will be whisked away to the impound lot. Those collective sobs you hear rising into the skies over the Twin Cities aren't bemoaning the cold, they're realizing they forgot that today is EVEN SIDE plowing day.
Despite the lack of shelter for my vehicle, I still like snowy days. Snowy days mean I can bundle up on the couch, still in pajamas, and bond with my lap top with no interruption. Bad weather days are usually good writing days.

I also got a call from amazing Editor Jill letting me know that my first pass pages will arrive tomorrow. I cannot wait to see the typset and design for NIGHTSHADE!

For those of you, who like me, are avoiding the howling winds and building drifts - may you steer clear of spin outs and find toast warmth inside. Or if you're truly lucky, having a magical journey with the spirits of the season.