YA Author Trish Doller

It's not you, blogger. It's me.

2011-07-14T16:13:00.000-04:00

Most of what I'm saying right now is being said over HERE. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm not sure blogger and I are breaking up, but I kind of love tumblr right now.

The Book Formerly Known as THE NEW NORMAL...

2011-07-06T12:12:00.004-04:00

...is now called SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL. I don't know about you, but I like it! (I should. I was the one who suggested it.) According to my editor, the book will be going to a marketing preview on the 20th and anything could happen, but she doesn't foresee any problems with the title. So let's call it official, okay? (Still no cover yet, but hopefully soon!)

Hey, look over here...

2011-07-02T07:45:00.000-04:00

Oh, no. Trish is thinking again. (I haven't stopped blogging, but I'm trying to figure out how I want to revamp/consolidate all my Internet places. And I've been writing.)

OPERATION NOOK Update

2011-06-27T20:56:00.002-04:00

I spent the day downloading eBooks for OPERATION NOOK. After buying the Nook Simple Touch and protection plan, we still had $125 left for books. So I bought: * I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Tucker Max * Stormy Weather - Carl Hiaasen * Feed - Mira Grant * The Zero Game - Brad Meltzer * American Gods - Neil Gaiman * The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins * Gates of Fire - Steven Pressfield *

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL (MasterBerk Edition)

2011-06-25T18:16:00.003-04:00

If you've never seen MasterBerk Theatre, let me tell you about it. YA and MG author Josh Berk...no, wait, let me start again...Award-winning YA and MG author Josh Berk does dramatic readings of excerpts of some of the best young adult and middle grade books. In celebration of the release A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, he did this: He makes a pretty good Charlotte, huh? (Suzanne, maybe you should hire

Random Acts of Kindness

2011-06-21T07:30:00.003-04:00

About a decade ago...wow, it really doesn't seem that long ago, but it is...anyway, about a decade ago, I was working as a staff writer for a newspaper. Halloween was approaching, and I was fretting over the fact that my daughter wanted to be Hermione Granger for Halloween and we were completely broke. I was sitting at my computer in the newsroom, trying to see how much money one of my old rings

OPERATION NOOK Update

2011-06-20T23:56:00.000-04:00

I am SO excited to report that we have met (and passed) our goal of raising $250 to buy a Nook Simple Touch and books for a U.S. Marine deployed to Afghanistan. As of right now, we have enough for the Nook, the replacement protection plan, and LOTS of books. To all of you who donated, either online or directly to me at the store...THANK YOU! I really could not have done this without your help.

Care Packages

2011-06-15T10:34:00.000-04:00

Between everything I bought and the extras my friend, Pam, bought, I have enough stuff to send TWO packages to Backhaus. Both boxes have Pop Rocks, Slim Jims, Oreos, individual cereals, Blow Pops, Orbit gum, and Monster energy drinks, but the one on the left has mini cans of Chef Boyardee and the fixings for pizza (mini-ready crusts, sauce, mushrooms, pepperoni, and sprinkle cheese), and the

OPERATION NOOK

2011-06-12T23:07:00.000-04:00

Awhile back I talked about Backhaus and how I was putting together a care packages to send to him in Afghanistan. When I told one of my co-workers, she went to Costco and bought bulk boxes of Slim Jims, Oreos, Blow Pops, and Orbit gum for me to add to the boxes. And then she had an even better idea...to chip in and buy Backhaus a Nook loaded with books that he and the other Marines in his

Things I Like

2011-06-10T08:27:00.000-04:00

I'm going to Islamorada for the weekend and I'M NOT TAKING YOU WITH ME. I know. I'm sorry. But I don't have wi-fi down there unless I seek it out, and it seems really silly to be surfing the 'net when there are so many other things to do. So I'm leaving the laptop at home, and taking a notebook and pen for writing. While I'm gone, here are some things I like that you might like, too. 1. ELVIS

Almost Like the Real Thing

2011-06-04T09:07:00.001-04:00

Want to see something cool?* (Psst. If you click on it, you can actually read it.) This is The Book Formerly Known as THE NEW NORMAL on the new Nook Simple Touch. No, it's not the real book. It hasn't been released in ANY format yet and it still won't be out until 2012. I just converted the manuscript into the .ePub format so I could proofread. Seeing it in a completely different way helped me

And...done again.

2011-06-01T19:08:00.003-04:00

This time with the final edits. There weren't many and they were mostly small, so it didn't take long to finish them up. From here we move to copyediting, which I've heard can be tedious and annoying, but it's one step closer to a real book...so whatever! We're also one step closer to a new title AND a cover, neither of which I know enough about to even pretend like I'm being secretive and

The New Title

2011-05-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

The title of my book is going to be changed. (I know. I had the same reaction.)The sales department at Bloomsbury thought THE NEW NORMAL sounded a little self-helpish and they might have a point. When I did a search on Amazon and B&N, there are books with the same title about the economy, green living, death & grieving...there's even a self-published gay romance about a Marine. So...yeah.

Book Research

2011-05-22T20:04:00.004-04:00

So today my daughter and I went to Tarpon Springs to eat some Greek food do some research. See, ALL THAT WAS LOST is set there and one of the main characters works on a boat not unlike this... ...as a sponge diver. We went on a sponge boat tour, during which we learned a lot about how they harvested sponges in the past--and included the big suit (pictured) with the dive bell helmet--and how

Backhaus

2011-05-17T10:04:00.006-04:00

When I started working on THE NEW NORMAL, I did tons of research about the Marines and spent a lot of time following articles and videos on a certain battalion that was in Afghanistan at the time. I became emotionally invested and when they came home, I sobbed. Seriously. You can ask my family. I cried for days with relief that most of them made it home alive (and cried more for those who didn't)

A Need So Beautiful

2011-05-13T12:48:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen this trailer, see it. If you haven't pre-ordered the book, order it. Not only does Suzanne Young turn paranormal on its ear, but her writing is beautiful and smart. DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK.

Trish Recommends...

2011-05-08T23:36:00.000-04:00

Ordinary Beauty by Laura Weiss From bn.com: How can you make someone love you when they won’t?And what if that person happens to be your mother?Sayre Bellavia grew up knowing she was a mistake: unplanned and unwanted. At five months shy of eighteen, she’s become an expert in loneliness, heartache, and neglect. Her whole life she’s been cursed, used, and left behind. Swallowed a thousand tears and

Done

2011-05-06T17:22:00.003-04:00

I turned in my second round of revisions to my editor today. I think this will be all. There might be some small tweaks and tightening, but I don't anticipate any more major changes to the book. What happens next?Well, next comes copyedits. That's the one that fine tunes the grammar, punctuation, and continuity. I'm not sure what to expect when it comes to copyedits and THE NEW NORMAL, but I

Updateyness

2011-04-28T23:22:00.002-04:00

So. I'm thisclose to having my revisions finished and, you guys...I've fallen in love with THE NEW NORMAL all over again. These little tweaks have made a big difference in the tension and the story and GAH! I can't wait for you to be able to read it! In other news, my editor and I have been talking cover art. I don't get to pick what goes on the cover, but she did take my ideas. In fact, one of

Where I've Been...

2011-04-22T09:44:00.001-04:00

I haven't been around the Internet much lately. I mean, I peek in nearly every day, but I don't really have a lot to say. I guess I'd rather not be someone who says too much, you know? In any case, I've been striving for a better balance in my life. I've spent the last several years writing and it's caught up with me. I've gained weight, I've been so tired, and I've been neglectful with some of

On Reading and Writing

2011-04-08T09:14:00.001-04:00

I haven't blogged in awhile, I know. But I really haven't had a lot to say and I'm approaching the valley between the end of THE NEW NORMAL revisions and the beginning of something new, so I don't have any WIP Wednesday material right now, either. After all, I can't spill all the TNN beans, now can I? In the meantime, I've been reading a lot of ARCs and eGalley versions of upcoming books,

News-type Stuff

2011-03-31T07:40:00.003-04:00

A lot of authors I know have met their editors--usually over lunch or coffee in New York--and when I hear about it, I've always been a little envious. How cool to meet your editor, right? So recently I got an email from my own editor, Victoria, telling me she was going to be on vacation in Florida and suggesting we get together. So yesterday I spent most of the morning hanging out with her--and

This and That

2011-03-24T23:44:00.000-04:00

So I received a surprise in the mail today...my second round of edits! It's funny, when I received the first set of revision notes from my editor, I had just started working on ALL THAT WAS LOST. So I had to file away my enthusiasm until I finished the revisions. This time? I had just started thinking about ATWL again when the package arrived. It's like my editor has this WIP radar! Still, I'm

Work In Progress Wednesday (on Thursday... again)

2011-03-17T09:59:00.000-04:00

I didn't want to post twice yesterday and my daughter's birthday was more important than WIP Wednesday, so here's a sneak peak of one of my works in progress, called SECOND WIND.... The next day we studied The Rime of the Ancient Mariner in first period senior English and I fell asleep in the back row. Because Mom and I stayed up too late watching chick flicks and zombie movies. My head did that

March 16, 2005

2011-03-16T12:46:00.000-04:00

Today my daughter turns sweet sixteen. And she really is sweet. I've made a point to keep her identity private and to not embarrass on the Internet. I hope she won't be bothered by these pictures because there shouldn't be anything embarrassing about being the most beautiful child on the entire planet. Happy Birthday, C. I love you at sixteen...and forever.

March 10, 1991

2011-03-10T08:22:00.000-05:00

My son is 20 today. Twenty! Can you believe it? Sometimes I wonder how that's possible, but mostly I'm just so proud of the man he's become. Happy Birthday, Scott! I love you!

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-03-09T23:28:00.001-05:00

The day nearly got away from me, but when I went on twitter, Gail reminded me that I hadn't posted anything for WIP Wednesday. So, just under the wire... THANKS, GAIL! (from scadets.org) At boot camp we did everything in alphabetical order, so the two other recruits whose names I learned

One Step Beyond

2011-03-07T09:51:00.001-05:00

This morning I sent my revisions off to my editor and, with one little click of a button, I stepped into new territory. Sounds so dramatic, doesn't it?! What I mean is that first round revisions was the farthest (furthest? Gah! I never can get those straight!) I got with The Book That Wasn't. So while all my writer friends went on to the next round and author photos and cover art and blurbs, I...

Playlists

2011-03-05T08:59:00.001-05:00

I always create a playlist when I'm writing. Usually they start out huge and I narrow down the songs that fit the story best. I make them for WIPs, for The Book That Wasn't, and I even have one for a write-for-hire project I wrote samples for. I didn't get the gig, but the playlist was awesome, so I still have it. I asked some bloggers today if an author can post the playlist too soon. I mean,

Work In Progress Wednesday (on Thursday... again)

2011-03-03T19:46:00.000-05:00

I completely forgot yesterday was Wednesday! But I still have a hot little excerpt from TNN to share with you... Her hand curls around the back of my neck and pulls my face down. She feathers kisses on my forehead, my cheeks, along my jawline, the spot just below my ear—her lips so fleeting my brain can barely register them before they’ve moved on. Shivers race up and down my spine like

Trish Recommends...

2011-02-26T09:51:00.001-05:00

Since I've been overdosing on revisions lately, I took some time yesterday to read a couple of books. Yes, two. In one day. (I'm fast like that.) What was significant about these books is that both of them made my Favorite Books of 2011 list on my website, because even though it's still very early in 2011, they left a strong impression. First, let's talk about Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey

Work In Progress Wednesday (and a bit of randomosity)

2011-02-23T20:42:00.001-05:00

It's WIP Wednesday and I've spent the entire day working on my revisions because my deadline is approaching. But I wanted to share a little bit with you. (This is Backhaus, who said "I don't give a fuck" when I asked if I could post his picture. He is awesome.) Kevlar tries to drape his arm around her shoulders as we walk down the hall to the elevator, but it’s kind of difficult considering she

Randomosity

2011-02-20T11:49:00.003-05:00

I cleaned, organized, and color-coordinated my bookshelves today. I think it looks pretty cool! Bookcase 1: On top is a drawing my son made when he was very small. It's just scribbles, but I love it. There's also a box he made in grade school and a photo of my daughter sitting in a tree. Shelf 1 - Orange Shelf 2 - Yellow Shelf 3 - Pink Shelf 4 - Green Shelf 5 - Books about sailing and

Bookstores

2011-02-19T09:13:00.007-05:00

Recently a guy called Edward Champion compiled a list of independent bookstores that shoppers can patronize in area where Borders has closed. If you'd like to see that list, it's here. Now, I have nothing against independent bookstores, but I had to chuckle a little when I looked at this list because the closest independent bookstore to my local Borders is a paperback shop that primarily sells &

On revising

2011-02-18T08:57:00.001-05:00

I woke up this morning and had this shiny idea for a blog post. I started writing it, and then I was hit by a feeling of deja vu. So I did a quick search of my own blog and discovered that I've already covered this topic. However. Since I've been guilty of something lately, clearly I need reminding. (And maybe you do, as well.) I don't pretend to be an expert on writing and I started this blog

Work In Progress Wednesday (on Thursday... again)

2011-02-17T20:34:00.005-05:00

Since today was a better revision day, I thought I'd make up for yesterday and post a bit of TNN. (a Marine from the 3/6 in a poppy field, Helmand, Afghanistan - from 2space.net) My family has never been especially good at warm and fuzzy. My mom's thing was always ferrying us to practices, supplying juice boxes at halftime, and sitting in the stands at every game. Even rainy days she'd be there,

Revising

2011-02-16T21:55:00.000-05:00

I know I normally have WIP Wednesday today, but revising today has been.... ...puzzling. Right now I feel like I have all sorts of missing pieces and no picture to use as a guide. I know this is a temporary situation and it will get better, but today... eh. Good night.

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-02-09T20:01:00.001-05:00

(a Marine from the 3/6 in Helmand, Afghanistan - from militarytimes.com) I didn't forget WIP Wednesday. Here's a small snippet of something new from THE NEW NORMAL: I don't want to sit in some counselor's office every week and talk about how I feel, and if Gunny Leonard was here right now, he'd tell me to unfuck myself and get over it. Guys coming home from France and Germany after World War II,

Happy Release Day...

2011-02-08T06:36:00.000-05:00

...to Ty Roth, whose book So Shelly comes out today! Congratulations! (Isn't that cover gorgeous?!) For more about Ty, check out my interview with him at The Apocalypsies and visit his website. Oh, and buy the book!

Music Monday

2011-02-07T22:40:00.004-05:00

When I was a kid, my mom and I went to Germany to visit our relatives. I have a cousin, Peter, who is several years older than me and when we visited, he was a teenager. His room fascinated me because he had posters of Peter Frampton and Alice Cooper. And Alice Cooper had a snake wrapped around him. (What can I say? I was very young.) Anyway, I had no idea what Alice Cooper sounded like, but I

Friday is sick day, too. Ugh.

2011-02-04T11:31:00.000-05:00

Last night I was in the mood to read something, but I wasn't sure what. Then I came across THE THINGS A BROTHER KNOWS by Dana Reinhardt. Because it deals with a boy whose older brother comes home from war, my interest was piqued. So I downloaded it from bn.com and read it in one sitting. And just...WOW. Levi Katznelson's older brother, Boaz, was a golden boy who could have gone to any of the

Thursday is sick day.

2011-02-03T17:50:00.000-05:00

I took the day off work today because I'm sick. I caught a cold over the weekend and it got progressively worse. Today I woke to a cough and throughout the day I've been wheezing when I breathe out. Sexy, huh? So I've mostly spent the day in my pajamas, taking cold medicine and working on my revisions. But, I haven't forgotten about you, Internet. I have some things I'd like to share with you. 1

Music Monday and WIP Wednesday Mash Up

2011-02-02T12:06:00.001-05:00

I'm always on the hunt for good music and finding songs for my writing playlists is a never ending endeavor. Today I discovered--well, technically, today I was introduced by the always awesome Didie--to this cover song. Honestly? I'd never heard of Sky Ferreira, nor the band she is covering, but it's like it was made for for the All That Was Lost playlist. And speaking of ATWL... “Oh, I was

The Return

2011-01-30T21:09:00.000-05:00

My little vacation ended way too soon, but wow, was it relaxing! I arrived at the boat around noon on Friday, spent about an hour or so listening to music and watching the sky, and then took a nap. When my husband arrived, we went for dinner at the Green Turtle Inn Restaurant, where I had braised sea scallops with goat cheese whipped potatoes. So good. After dinner, we drove up to Tavernier and

Escape

2011-01-28T07:14:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, for about a minute I was a little jealous my friends who are at SCBWI in NYC this weekend. Until it snowed. Again. Yeah, no thanks. If you need me this weekend, I'll be here: Looks WARM, doesn't it? I'm taking my laptop and my revisions, so it's not a complete escape from reality, but when there's beer, sailing, and grilled lobster involved, that's really all I need. Have a good

Trish Recommends...

2011-01-27T12:53:00.000-05:00

I have to credit Carla at The Crooked Shelf for pointing me toward FREAK MAGNET by Andrew Auseon. She's a one-woman street team! So on her recommendation I bought a copy. FREAK MAGNET is the story of Charlie, whose mother is mentally deteriorating, which leaves him feeling helpless. He finds comfort--and strength--in wearing a Superman costume beneath his clothes, which he acknowledges makes him

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-01-26T09:34:00.000-05:00

Since my WIP is going on the back burner for a few weeks while I work on my edits, I thought I'd leave you with one more little bit from ALL THAT WAS LOST: The first place Mama and I lived without Daddy was a model home in a development that had never been completed. The streets were paved and the curbs had flat spots for driveways, but there were no houses, no street lights, no stop signs, no

In My Mailbox

2011-01-25T22:49:00.001-05:00

I came home from work today and found my revision notes waiting for me. And can I tell you how excited I am to get started? It's the weirdest feeling, since the last time I did this (with My Way or the Highway) I was overwhelmed and afraid that the changes I made would be wrong. This time, not so much. I'd like to think I'm more confident because I've grown as a writer, but it might just be that

Music Monday

2011-01-24T06:49:00.000-05:00

I'm starting revisions today on THE NEW NORMAL. Send happy thoughts my way, mmkay?

Let's talk about sex...

2011-01-23T07:56:00.002-05:00

...or drugs. Or profanity. Or anything that might get your book banned. My latest post at YA Outside the Lines is up now. (P.S. Not that advice isn't nice, but more I'm interested in discussion. I thought that seemed pretty clear, but apparently not.)

Work in Progress Wednesday

2011-01-19T08:00:00.010-05:00

The other day Miranda Kenneally and I decided to do a 1-hour/1,000-word challenge. Ever since I finished TNN, I've been at loose ends, trying to decide what I wanted to write next. I'd been mulling some things over in my mind, but nothing felt right. So when Miranda and I planned our first challenge hour, I wasn't even sure what I was going to write. But I sat down, set my timer, and...well, here

Oops.

2011-01-18T08:24:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted lately, have I? But, let's be honest, you didn't miss Random Fact Friday or Music Monday, did you? I'm not alone in my lack of enthusiasm for the top songs of the 80's, am I? Well, I'm sorry anyway. One of these days I'll have something interesting to say. Until then, I've started a new project that has kidnapped all my attention. It's tentatively titled WHERE ALL THAT WAS LOST

5 Things

2011-01-12T13:29:00.001-05:00

1. Huge congratulations to Blythe Woolston on winning the William C. Morris YA Debut Award for The Freak Observer. If you haven't read this book yet, you really should. Also, congratulations to Karen Healey for being a Morris nominee. Her book, Guardian of the Dead, is also on my list of books I loved in 2010. Additionally, YA novels by Erin Bow, Kimberly Derting, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Karen

Music Monday

2011-01-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

I realized last week that aside from #5 on my Top Five Songs of the 80's, most of my choices aren't as embarrassing as I'd first thought. I mean, yeah, that Phil Collins song is pretty cringeworthy, but this one... ...aside from Howard Jones' hair, that's a really good song! And it was my theme song for every guy I liked who didn't like me back. Oh, the injustice! ;)

Random Fact Friday (on Saturday)

2011-01-08T02:52:00.000-05:00

I recently bought a box of Kashi Go Lean Crunch because I'd never tried it before and I'm attempting to eat healthier foods. Attempting being the operative word. Anyway, it's tasty stuff. I like it. But it feels weird in my mouth, like I'm eating caramel corn and twigs. Will I finish the box? Sure. Will I buy it again? Probably not. I'll likely go back to my favorite cereal, which is kind of the

Changes

2011-01-07T10:45:00.002-05:00

Don't mind the dust. I've been doing some remodeling around here and it's still a little messy. The biggest change is that this blog no longer points to my domain, but to my brand new website. I kinda love it. And the coolest part is that I did it myself! Well, okay, I used a drag-and-drop website builder, but I didn't edit a pre-made template. I started with a blank page and chose all the

Music Monday (on Tuesday)

2011-01-04T09:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was just...ugh. Sorry. But my belated Music Monday should make everything okay, because it's upbeat. It's fun. It's the '80s! Feeling better now? I know I am!

Yes, I am a Nerd

2011-01-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

I posted a Random Fact Friday about my love of The Sims. I especially love building and decorating houses. And The Sims 3 has basically made the possibilities endless. Well, my daughter and I have been doing a Veronica Mars marathon and am I the only one who wants to live in her apartment? I didn't think so. So I decided to make a house inspired by the Mars household: Living Room (I couldn't find

Work in Progress Wednesday

2010-12-29T09:31:00.001-05:00

It's Wednesday! You know what that means, right? Excerpt time! From Second Wind: “Do you want to watch a movie?” she asked.I needed to study for my Spanish exam. “No chick flicks.” “No zombies.” “Wouldn’t it be cool if they made a chick flick zombie movie?” I asked. “The main character would be an editor at a publishing house like Bridget Jones, and she’d be whining about how she can’t find Mr.

2010 Survey

2010-12-28T23:35:00.000-05:00

I was going to do one of those month-by-month reviews of 2010, but I have no idea what happened last week, let alone February. So I stole borrowed this from E. Lockhart: 1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? I tried pho. And promptly developed a low-grade addiction. 2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't remember if I made

Music Monday

2010-12-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty sure this is going to embarrass me, but today begins my Top 50 Songs of the '80s. No. I'm positive. This is going to be super-embarrassing. But I'm willing to sacrifice myself on the altar of ridicule. So, here we go: When I was a junior in high school, I had a boyfriend who awesome and we dated for about six months. On the night he broke up with me, I could feel it coming. He was

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T19:10:00.002-05:00

I was going to do a real post today of the things I've learned about publishing in 2010. But it's nearly Christmas so I'll save that for another day. We've been living in Florida for four years and there's not much about Ohio I miss, aside from friends and family we don't see nearly enough. I miss Lake Erie sometimes. I miss going to Cleveland for punk shows and the West Side Market. And I kind

Work in Progress Wednesday

2010-12-22T13:47:00.003-05:00

So I think this is my next project, which was actually the manuscript I was writing when Travis showed up and refused to leave. I've featured excerpts from this one a couple of times before. It's called Second Wind.We’re seated in a black vinyl booth by a waitress who claims her name is Glinda––like the good witch in The Wizard of Oz––but I don’t believe her. Glinda the Good Witch had the power

Music Monday

2010-12-20T10:20:00.001-05:00

Here it is, the moment we've all (and by all I mean me and the googlebot) waiting for...number one in my Top 5 All-Time Favorite Songs. From the train rhythm opening to the fading harmonica finish, I love this song. The Clash wrote so many good songs, but this one...I don't know. It just grabs something in me and won't let go. (Interesting side note: Train in Vain was a late add to the

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-12-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

So it's not exactly a work-in-progress anymore, but I thought I'd share one last bit of THE NEW NORMAL before I begin my next project. A mountain of broken crab legs, empty oyster shells, and peeled-away shrimp skins rises up in the middle of a table on the hotel balcony overlooking the Gulf. We’ve eaten a metric shit-ton of seafood we had delivered from Pincher’s Crab Shack and if the number

2010 in Review

2010-12-14T22:51:00.003-05:00

I found this at The Crooked Shelf who found it at The Perpetual Page-Turner. As I am not a blogger, I've left out the blogging-related categories and added a couple of my own (in red). Best Book of 2010 - I loved so many books this past year, but I'd have to say my very favorite was Monsters of Men, the conclusion to the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I loved every heart-pounding,

Music Monday

2010-12-13T11:29:00.001-05:00

So. The New Normal is with my agent in Colorado and with my editor in New York, and it was kind of nice to wake up this morning and NOT think about Travis. As I was driving my daughter to school, I looked at her and said, "You know what I'm not thinking about right now?" She laughed and said, "The book?" I'm going to take a couple more days like this and then I'll probably dive into my next

The End.

2010-12-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

It felt strange to write those words at the end of the manuscript. It's not like I haven't written them before. I mean, I wrote a whole other book before The New Normal. But My Way or the Highway was a very different story. I still wish it had sold again, but if it had, I might not have written The New Normal––and that is something I can't even imagine! Travis changed me. In his story, I found

Islamorada

2010-12-07T08:22:00.000-05:00

So Saturday morning my daughter and I drove down to the Keys to meet up with the Boat God (aka my husband) and son, who were sailing our boat down to Islamorada from Fort Lauderdale. I texted them before we left and asked if there was anything we needed to bring. Apparently sleeping on the boat Friday night was very cold so BG texted back: Hotel tonite. Haha! I booked at a place called Gilbert's

Music Monday

2010-12-06T10:33:00.002-05:00

Well, it's Monday and that means it's time for song number three in my Top 5 All-Time Favorite Songs. Once upon a time, the Counting Crows were awesome and Adam Duritz was kind of hot (instead of looking like Sideshow Bob). However, their first album, August and Everything After, stands the test of time. It's amazing and every song is brilliant. This, however, is the one that makes the list:

Wasted away again at...

2010-12-04T09:21:00.000-05:00

...okay, no not Margaritaville. But Islamorada is close. I'll be incommunicado (Wow! The Jimmy Buffett references! They're everywhere!) for the rest of today and tomorrow because I'll be here: Maybe. Because it's kind of cold down here in Florida right now. Relatively speaking, of course, because it's not snowing. But it might be goosebumpy on the beach, so I'll probably be here with Travis and

Random Fact Friday

2010-12-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

I like reading surfer magazines. I'll admit right up front so you're not left secretly thinking, "It's because of the dudes, right?"-- it's mainly because of the dudes. Can you blame me? But it's not just about the dudes. Surfing is one of those sports I wish I could do, but know I'd never have the skill (or balance) to master no matter how much I practiced. Like skateboarding and BMX, it's

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-12-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

I found a bit of THE NEW NORMAL that I just really love, so it's my excerpt for today: I fucking hated football. Not because I wasn’t good at it, but because I hated the way it took over my life. Dad signed me up for Pop Warner Tiny Mites when I was five. So while other kids were learning to ride two-wheelers, I was practicing my receiving. It was fun when I was little––the game was still a

Music Monday

2010-11-29T08:00:00.003-05:00

This week's Music Monday is #4 on my list of Top 5 All-Time Favorite Songs. And it was hard to narrow down because I like a lot of songs by this artist, but the number four slot goes to Alison by Elvis Costello. I'm not gonna lie. I like sad and melancholy songs a lot better than happy ones. Not sure why, but I think they take me to a more creative place.

5 Things

2010-11-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

1. Christmas Decorations. Now that my Thanksgiving is over--we celebrated today--I'm starting to think about decorating for Christmas. I don't like to put our decorations up too early, but we pulled everything out of storage tonight and that's kind of exciting. 2. Islamorada. We were hoping to go this past weekend in lieu of Thanksgiving dinner, but the boat wasn't ready. My husband and son

Movie Marathon

2010-11-26T11:59:00.001-05:00

My daughter and I recently completed a movie marathon, of sorts. Having only seen a couple of Hayao Miyazaki's animated films, we decided we'd like to see as many of them as we could, so we lined up eight in our netflix DVD queue. When we'd finish one, we'd send it back for another. Well, we recently finished the last one and started talking about which ones we liked best. The interesting thing

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T09:51:00.003-05:00

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Well, I have a lot to be thankful for every year, but 2009 was not banner. This year, however, was awesome and 2011 definitely shows promise. Anyway, I just wanted to pause before the holiday storm to express my gratitude for all the good things in 2010--my family, making new friends (especially the guys at TL), reconnecting with old friends, a job I

Bits and Pieces

2010-11-23T09:38:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm blogging today at YA Outside the Lines about finding my true YA voice. I would love it if you'd got check it out--and maybe add the site to your bookmarks because all they authors there completely rock.I read Hate List by Jennifer Brown last night and just...wow! It's our November pick for the Last Tuesday Book Club (you need to be on facebook for that link to work)

Music Monday

2010-11-22T08:52:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite movies is High Fidelity. I've watched it so often that Top Five has become a part of my everyday vernacular. And like Rob, Dick, and Barry, I'm always thinking about what my Top Five This or Top Five That might be. So I decided that for the next few Mondays, I'd do my Top Five Favorite Songs of All-Time.5. Element - Matthew Mayfield The first time I heard this song on pandora

5 Things

2010-11-21T05:43:00.006-05:00

1. My mom is coming down in just a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. And she's bringing cookies! (Just hoping TSA doesn't confiscate them.)2. NookColor is awesome and I want one. (Ahem, Santa!)3. Restrepo, the documentary by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington about U.S. soldiers in the Korengal valley of Afghanistan is out now on National Geographic On Demand. I started watching it

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-11-17T20:01:00.003-05:00

I'm a little late in getting this up today because I've been working on some self-edits before I hand the finished manuscript over to my editor. Today was a struggle. One of those days when I hate this book and doubt my abilities as a writer. I know it's just coming from a place of stress and I'm not the only writer who has felt like this--and it will pass. This will probably be one of the last

Music Monday

2010-11-15T08:04:00.002-05:00

I'm a huge fan of The Clash, but I think Joe Strummer was one of those artists whose work got better and richer with time. And one of my favorite songs is one he did with the Mescaleros called X-Ray Style. I was thinking of holding off on this song until next month--the anniversary of his death--but I'm in this kind of mood today. Even if you don't listen to the whole song, pay particular

Trish Recommends...

2010-11-13T20:33:00.007-05:00

I'm doing to do something I've never done before... recommend a book I'm still reading. What's more? It's an adult novel. With paranormal elements. I know! So not me! But Soulless by Gail Carriger is hilarious and sexy and when I'm reading it, I'm so caught up in it that I don't want to stop. And, really, isn't that what reading's all about? The other book I recently finished is You Wish by

Random Fact Friday

2010-11-12T10:43:00.003-05:00

My birthday is April 26 (Mark your calendars! I like cake!) so that makes me:In other news, I recently joined a group blog called YA Outside the Lines, composed of contemporary YA writers whose work is...well, outside the lines. My first post will be November 23, but don't wait around until then to check them out. They are some seriously awesome writers and I am thrilled to be a part of this

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-11-10T08:43:00.003-05:00

How cool is it that WIP Wednesday falls on the birthday of the USMC? They've been doing what they do for 235 years. Amazing, isn't it? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES!* * *“I think that’s the place, right there.” [She] points from her side of the Jeep at a squatty purple house with yellow trim and flower boxes full of red flowers. It looks like it should be an antique shop, or where someone’s grandma

Music Monday

2010-11-08T10:41:00.003-05:00

As I'm getting toward the end of TNN, I've been thinking about which songs might make the final playlist. This song was one of the first to come to mind as I was planning the book and has been a constant throughout. Beware, it will make you cry.An interesting aside: A couple years ago the Street Dogs were opening for Bouncing Souls at the State in St. Petersburg and my son wanted to go. I wasn't

Sunday is Funday!

2010-11-07T16:53:00.002-05:00

If you're having a bad day, this will make everything better. If you're having a good day, this will make it AWESOME.

Is it Sunday yet?

2010-11-06T23:56:00.012-04:00

My mom is a harsh critic, man. She told me she loves the new design and then told me I don't write anything interesting. Ouch. But truth, I know. I promise I'll be out from under soon. In the meantime, have you heard Westbound Train?I know posting a video is not the same as blogging, but not much exciting has been happening lately. Oh, wait. Not true. We recently acquired a luxury waterfront

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-10-27T18:32:00.004-04:00

All WIP Wednesdays and no other posts makes this a dull blog, no? I'm sorry about that. I've been working and writing and writing and working... and that's about all. Must remedy that. Oh, I've also kind of taken up yoga in the mornings. But I'm only slightly more consistent at yoga as I am at blogging. Must remedy that, as well.However, it IS WIP Wednesday and I've got something different:There

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-10-20T21:21:00.003-04:00

Yikes! I nearly missed it again! It's WIP Wednesday! From TNN:Forty-five minutes, maybe an hour, pass before the shark starts getting as tired as [her]. In the shade of the Tigers cap, she’s fighting not to cry and part of me wants to just go over and take the pole away to give her a break, but I know she’s too stubborn for that. One step forward, two steps back, she slowly reels it in. The drag

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-10-13T21:50:00.003-04:00

Yikes! I nearly missed it, but I didn't. Here we go!She moves so we’re both blocking the avocados, her arm brushing against mine. It makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle. “My mom left when I was ten. She went back to Denmark to take care of my grandma, who was dying of cancer, and never came back.”“Oh, shit. I had no idea.” Her shoulders lift in a careless little bounce that seems to

Music Monday

2010-10-10T15:45:00.004-04:00

So yesterday my son and I were going to have pho for lunch because my new friend, Didie, has turned me into an addict. But the places that serve it in my town were both closed.Instead we went to a little Caribbean restaurant where the only thing on the menu yesterday was curry chicken wings, white rice, black beans, and plantains. Only?! Yes, please! It came family-style in bowls on the table, so

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-10-06T21:03:00.002-04:00

I nearly forgot about WIP Wednesday because I've been trying to finish up THE NEW NORMAL, but here we go... a bit from SECOND WIND:Under the blazing sun it takes forever for my grandma to cross the parking lot. It feels like we’re walking on a griddle. I never knew Florida was this hot. Finally, we reach an old red Jaguar with paint that’s faded and soft-looking. I stow my suitcase in the trunk

Music Monday

2010-10-04T11:46:00.002-04:00

I had this song on repeat yesterday, both in my head and on iTunes. Not sure why, because it's not really connected to any of my projects. I just like it I guess.What's on your playlist today?

In case you were wondering...

2010-10-02T18:28:00.002-04:00

The "Help Me Name My Character" poll is now closed and ELLE was the winner with 57% of the vote. Not sure where this particular WIP will fit in my writing schedule, but thanks to all 28 of you who voted!

Random Fact Friday

2010-10-01T17:39:00.004-04:00

I love art and some of my favorite artists include Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miro. My favorite, however, painted this painting, which is also one of my favorites:It's called The Lamb and it was done by Franz Marc.What about you? Do you have a favorite artist? A favorite work of art? Tell me about it in the comments!In other news, I forgot to mention that Cinette at

Trish Recommends...

2010-09-30T06:46:00.004-04:00

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian(From the author's website)Slut or saint? Good friend or bad friend? In control or completely out of it?Life is about choices, and Natalie Sterling prides herself on making the right ones. She’s avoided the jerky guys populating her prep school, always topped honor roll, and is poised to be the first female student council president in years.If only other

Work In Progress Wednesday

2010-09-29T08:09:00.007-04:00

It's Wednesday and in honor of Banned Books Week 2010 I managed to find an excerpt from The New Normal filled with things that get book banners all in a tizzy. Enjoy!*“So this is where the homoerotic male bonding happens,” a female voice says.It’s Paige and she’s working the Tomb Raider look with a tight army green tank top and aviator sunglasses, her hair skimmed back in a tight ponytail. She

It's LAST TUESDAY!

2010-09-28T10:52:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to announce the official first meeting of the Last Tuesday Book Club at my Barnes & Noble store here in Fort Myers. I've wanted a young adult book club since I first took over the kids/teens department so to see it actually happening is so gratifying and exciting. Our first book is IF I STAY by Gayle Forman, a book I chose because despite how many good things I'd heard about it I

Help me name a character!

2010-09-26T20:48:00.002-04:00

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