Taking Risks Contest

What are you afraid of? How can your fears hold you back?

These questions become very important as you make choices about life and who you want to be in the world. Fear keeps many of us from pursuing dreams.

Super Reader Girl just posted an interview where I discuss how terrifying it was to actually pursue my dream of becoming a writer. But if I'd never taken that risk I wouldn't have any of the joy I'm experiencing now with Nightshade's publication.Last week after BEA I did something else scary. Trapeze.

The Penguin offices in SoHo overlook the Trapeze School New York. When Editor Jill pointed the school out to me and I said "wow, I'd like to try that," she said "next time you're in town we'll go!"Editor Jill keeps her promises.Trapeze is scary. You have a little bit of practice.
But up on the platform you can see all the way to the Statue of Liberty.

Fortunately Abby is up there to reassure you -when you stretch your arm outand then both arms.The hardest part is right here, when you're leaning forward, toes over the edge of the platform and your heart is pounding.And that's when you have to jump. Yes, jump. Even though your blood is shrieking "no, no, no, no, no!" fueled by millenia of survival instincts.

But if you don't jump, you can't fly.And flying is worth the risk.
You just have to believe in yourself.And if you're like Editor Jill you can even fly upside down. Go Jill!! (I couldn't quite get the upside down, but next time I will!)
And remember there are people cheering you on - here's our teacher, Evan.
If you don't leap you'll never soar. And you need to remember that it's okay to fall. Everyone ends up in the net, but that doesn't mean you won't fly again.
It's June - a new month, leading us to summer. And it's time for a new giveaway. At BEA I had the joy of meeting so many amazing readers and writers all aspiring to wonderful dreams.

The characters in Nightshade face a number of their deepest fears to overcome obstacles. To win a signed Nightshade ARC leave a comment below describing something you'd like to try but are afraid to (like trapeze!) be it bungee jumping, writing a story, climbing a mountain.

The winner will be drawn randomly on Friday!

Ooh, Shinies!

An award! An award!

Thanks so much to fellow Buffy addict, Tricia from Talespinning, for honoring me:
Like Tricia I'm going to be a rule contrarian and go 'five by five'; that is, Five Honest Things About Me and Five Bloggers to whom I'll pass on the award.

Hmmm, five honest things...

Well I think it's the most difficult to be honest about those things you're afraid of, so I'll offer five of my true fears, ranging from silly to serious:

1) I cannot tolerate anyone looking over my shoulder. I freeze up and can't do anything until said lurker is gone.

2) I am terrified of crocodiles. For realz. And I live in Minnesota, go figure.

3) I am afraid of mustaches.

4) My dogs turn eight in 2010. I am scared that they will soon be old dogs :(

5) And my biggest fear: that when that biggest of big dreams happens - Nightshade's release date, October 14, 2010 - that no one will like it. (I think all authors share this fear!)

True confessions over, onto the awards:

I'd like to give the Honest Scrap award to:

LisaDez
Suzanne Young
Carrie Harris
Caroline
The Screaming Guppy

And finally I'd like to dedicate this award to my followers (76! Woo-hoo!) it's so awesome to see you here every day :) And to any lurkers out there, I'm happy to have you here too. Don't be shy, you can come out from behind those bushes if you'd like. I won't bite until we get to know each other better.Biting people: not a fear of mine. Though I'm sure many of you are now afraid of me. Bwaaa-haa-haa.

Happy Wednesday!

I Know I Don't Call (But That Doesn't Mean I Don't Care)

True confessions: I have an incredible aversion to the phone. I wouldn't label it a phobia. I'm not overwhelmed by a gut-gnawing sensation when my phone rings, but I do experience a sharp irritation akin to sandpaper on bare skin.

I envy people who can chatter endlessly on the phone because it appears to be a nice way to connect with other people. But that's not me, nor will it ever be. I'm not a phone person. In fact, I am on the other side of the planet from where you phone people live.

I can't offer a sound or rational explanation for the reason phone calls strike me as burdensome. I love talking face to face. I love hand-written letters, emails, Facebook, and of course, this blog. But phone calls - everything from the press of the device against my ear to the raspy metallic sound of the distant voice on the other line - strike me as artificial and forced. I'm not good at it, I don't enjoy it.

So I won't call. But I still miss you and you should write me a letter or email if you want to talk.

It's not you. It's me.