This week's writerly news

Happy Friday! This week I've been hunkered down getting OPEN THY HEART ready for betas. (The cover reveal is Monday. Squee.) And... as I write this post, I'm just not done yet. *hangs head* It's frustrating, because, I kid you not, I've been sitting at my computer for pretty much seven days straight. I'm at that point where my legs are mad at me and my eyes don't want to focus on anything and every single thing I read is so dumb that I should just delete it allllll and hide for a couple of weeks. (It's not a fun phase.) 

Author pals, I know you totally get this, and I just want to spread my slightly-tanned, jiggly arms out and hug you, because this part is so time-consuming that it's hard to remember how awesome it's going to be in a few (long) days. We have to stick together, yes? *grabs duct tape*

Reader friends, you probably kind of get this, and to be honest, that's enough for me. I guess basically what I'm doing is trying to be more honest about the process. (Not that I usually lie about it, but there is only so much time in a day. I do choose what to and not to share. And don't even get me going about the novella that's due to come out before OPEN THY HEART in uh, August, I guess? Hold on, I need tissues...)  

Anyway. I didn't mean to type out a ranty blog post. (I don't know what I meant to do.) This is so not my usual Friday post, so sorry about that. 

As for music (haven't shared any in a couple weeks), two songs I've been listening to on repeat whilst editing (deleting, screaming, bashing my head against my desk, and ingesting insane levels of caffeine--thanks Lovemuffin...) are

1) Breath of Life by Florence + the Machine

and

2) Hello Rain by Poor Man's Poison

Food-wise, I have nothing addictive to share, because for the past week I've been stuck--wait... we've been over this. (I've been eating salads and mini-candy bars and whatever I can get my hands on that takes two minutes or less to prepare.) Oh, and quick shout out to Kaitlin and Eugenia for the amazing virtual sweets to keep me going. 

Book-wise, right before hunkering (there's that word I never use again and then use twice in one post) down on OTH, I read a few books in a row. I'm not going to share the traditional ones because they have pretty great visibility already, but my indie pal Cheyanne's Somewhere Only We Know blew me away. Not because the writing was phenomenal (it's great, of course, Cheyanne if you're reading this, I don't mean it that way *bites fingernails*), but because the storyline was really good. Imagine a YA version of 50 First Dates, make the guy the one with the memory issue, add a supernatural element, and you have yourself Somewhere Only We Know. Oh, and pizza. If you like pizza (or sandwiches) you'll appreciate this. Wait wait wait I forgot to mention romance! (A touch of it.) I know I seem like I plug Cheyanne a lot, but I do it because I enjoy her work. (Note: I'd say this book is upper YA due to underage drinking and language.) If you'd like to check it out, go HERE.

Giveaway-wise, come back Monday or go straight to Hafsah's blog, IceyBooks, to see the OPEN THY HEART cover reveal, and enter to win swag and an e-advanced readers copy. (If you won the BY SUN AND CANDLELIGHT one, it's coming in a couple of weeks, I swear.)

And if you missed the She's the Man giveaway I've got going on, click over HERE ASAP because this is a fun movie and my pals Tabitha and Mandie (we're the #nerdherd crew on Twitter) and I are going to watch it very soon as our #nerdherdmovienight and you have to have seen it at least once before then! (More details coming soon.)

Last but not least, this month's #30daysofbookstagrams on Instagram is going strong (though I haven't gotten to do many posts). It's a fun way to connect with fellow book lovers (YA especially), so go HERE if you want to learn more about it. :)

Okay. I think I've probably procrastinated enough. Time to go pay bills work on OTH some more. 

Smooches. 

Have a blessed weekend.


P.S. Sorry no pictures this week. If you actually made it through this entire post I'll send you book swag (and not just mine, either). Not kidding. Let me know in the comments.