Thought I would mention that I've started a new blog: The Practical Free Spirit.  My plan is to make this new blog interesting *even if you don't know me*.  Radical idea, I know.

There is an LJ feed created for anyone who would enjoy following this new blog on LJ.  The feed url is ( Read more... )

71. Model Spy, by Shannon Greenland. YA
72. Spirits That Walk in Shadow, by Nina Hoffman. YA fantasy
73. The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester. SF
74. Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang, by Kate Wilhelm. SF
75. The Lifecycle of Software Objects, by Ted Chiang. SF
76. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris. Urban Fantasy
77. Living Dead in Dallas, by ( Read more... )

My trend of reading more books in the summertime continued this year.  I read quite a mixture of genres the past two months, although I think YA dominates, as per usual.  I've been reading a bit more contemporary YA this past year to get to know the market, since my current WIP is, in fact, contemporary YA.

41. Naamah's Curse, by Jacqueline Carey ( Read more... )

Apologies for those of you who follow my blog's feed, but since I particularly love today's entry, I'm posting a link over here in LJ land as well: http://practicalfreespirit.com/2010/08/18/six-impossible- ( Read more... )

I'm off to the airport in about an hour to fly to the SCBWI summer conference -- very exciting!  This is a longer more intensive conference than the one I attended in New York in January.  And there's a hot tub.  Woohoo ( Read more... )

Not quite as much reading the past few months, due to crazy amounts of critiquing with a dollop of travel.  Oh, and moving, let's not forget that.

24. By Heresies Distressed, by David Weber.  SF
25. Changeless, by Gail Carriger. Fantasy
26. My Life as a Rhombus, by Varian Johnson. Contemporary YA
27. How to Say Goodbye in Robot, by Natalie Standiford. ( Read more... )

Yesterday I tried to create my own recipe and met with some success!  The lamb in particular was amazingly tender and delish.  To give credit where it's due, I relied heavily on my experience with the Gluten-Free Goddess's crockpot meat recipes.  You can substitute out any  of the veggies for your favorites - I thought the carrots turned out ( Read more... )

1. My studio business is officially closed, and has been since the end of May.  The result, so far, is a wonderful decrease of stress and much more time to focus on writing.  I'm glad I was able to take the leap and make a big change for the better in my life ( Read more... )

1. Fly on the Wall, by E. Lockhart
2. Size 12 Is Not Fat, by Meg Cabot
3. Heaven to Besty, by Maud Hart Lovelace (RR)
4. Betsy in Spite of Herself, by Maud Hart Lovelace (RR)
5. The Gatecrasher, by Madeleine Wickham
6. When Besty was a Junior, by Maud Hart Lovelace (RR)
7. Betsy and Joe, by Maud Hart Lovelace (RR)
8. Jemima J, by Jane Green
9. Betsy and ( Read more... )

Exciting news!  I have finished the rough draft of my latest work-in-progress novel, How to Get Over Stage Fright!

I finished about two weeks ahead of schedule and did a stellar job (if I do say so myself) meeting my goals and writing regularly.  I finished up on Friday with a marathon (for me) 4500-word day.  I'm really excited about the directions ( Read more... )