Things I learned in 2017

It's been a tough few weeks. I had the flu and my husband is dealing with sciatica. When I'm not working, I'm trying to rest up and get my energy back or running him to doctor and PT appointments. Here's hoping for a healthy new year!

It's pretty easy to focus on the negative stuff, so I decided to make a list of the things I learned in 2017.  I still hope to do a more detailed post of the highlights from 2017, because I love looking back at those. But for now, here's my list.

1) Paris in the spring is more lovely than I ever imagined.
2) Auvers-sur-Oise is my new favorite place in the world.
3) Calling elected officials is important and not nearly as difficult as my brain might have wanted me to believe.
4) Sometimes parenting means doing hard things, but amazing and wonderful things often come from those hard things.
5) Time and energy spent on a child is always time and energy well spent.
6) My body appreciates it when I take good care of it.
7) Riding the bus is actually a pretty relaxing way to get to work and I don't mind it much (except for the germs).
8) My new job has shown me I am capable of focusing and being productive for hours at a time and I love that feeling. (Note to self: remove social media apps from writing computer for the new year).
9) I mustn't take health and mobility for granted. It's too important and must be a top priority, always.
10) Rereading CHARLOTTE'S WEB via audio with E.B. White reading it to me was an excellent decision.
11) Waiting for "the next shoe to drop" and checking for news on and off all day is a terrible way to live.
12) I'm happiest when I see friends regularly.
13) Maybe I can't make a huge difference and change the world, but I can do small things every day that make a difference in my small part of the world.
14) Music and stories via books, movies, TV, plays, etc. still give me life and money spent on those things is always money well spent.
15) My dog is still the best snuggle muffin in town, even with only one eye.<3 span="">
16) I love fashion from the fifties (thanks to The Crown for this new revelation).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Pamela Zagarenski

A look back - 2015

While I don't necessarily enjoy writing these "year in review" posts very much, I sure do appreciate having them to read later on. So here I go as we say good-bye to another year and hello to a new one! It's hard to say what I was working on in any given month. I don't really write that down in my calendar. I'm just always working on *something.* 

January 
A little recognition for my small-town, big-dreams book

I was notified that THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU was an Oregon Book award finalist, which was wonderful news. Ultimately, it didn't win (April Henry's THE BODY IN THE WOODS took home the award) but it's always nice to be nominated. In January, I also finished a proposal for the book that would become SEALED WITH A SECRET, a companion novel to MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS (coming in May, 2016)

February
A new middle grade novel!

I worked hard on this novel for a lot of years, so it was fun to finally have it out in the world. I've gotten a lot of notes from people who have enjoyed it, which makes me happy! Besides the book release, my calendar shows a lot of substituting. And shuttling my son, who was a senior in high school last year, from school to home because he had early release and didn't drive. This year he's away at college -- we just took him back yesterday. I often hear parents complain about feeling like a taxi driver, but I never mind that part of parenting. Some of my best conversations with my kids happen in the car. 



March
Let's talk about reading and writing

I love visiting with kids, both virtually and in-person. In March I participated in World Read Aloud Day and read aloud to a bunch of kids all across the country. I also visited some middle schools in Grants Pass and had so much fun talking doing that! One of my favorite things about doing school visits is that kids often get the opportunity to take home a signed book. I was so impressed with the girl who told me she saved her dog-walking money so she could buy four of my books and get them signed and personalized.


April
My friend Cynthia Lord


The highlight of April was definitely meeting a friend I've known on the Internet for many years but had never met in person. When I heard Cynthia Lord (author of RULES and others) she was coming to my city for a school visit, I jumped at the chance to see her. We went out for dinner together and the next day I was lucky enough to be able to attend one of her presentations. She is so good at talking to kids, and I learned a lot from her. We forgot to take a photo at dinner, so we took a selfie in the car together. I love it! 

May
The first Cavalcade of Authors West

There's a great program in the tri-cities area of Washington that happens every year called the Cavalcade of Authors where authors come and teach middle school kids on many different writing topics. Last year, the Seattle area decided it was time they implemented something similar and I was fortunate enough to be invited for this inaugural year. Um, don't be too jealous but that is me on a panel with Marissa Meyer (THE LUNAR CHRONICLES),  Richelle Mead, (VAMPIRE ACADEMY) and Terry Trueman (STUCK IN NEUTRAL). It is so hard not to be a total fangirl at these events, let me tell you. May was also spent writing SEALED WITH A SECRET.

June
The month of freak out

Lots of times when I talk to kids they want to know what it's like to have a book published. To have a book with your name show up in bookshelves across the country. Of course in a lot of ways, it's thrilling. Wonderful. Humbling. But it also can be terrifying. Because the words you've slaved over, the words you've changed and changed and changed again, trying to get it *just* right, will now be read and dissected by people. I don't think I'd ever been as nervous about a book releasing as I was for ALL WE HAVE IS  NOW. I tried to keep my head down, I needed to finish the companion to MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS after all, but I also spent a fair amount of time worrying. Which is not a good way to spend my time, I know. But there you have it. I often tell kids who are wanting to be writers to try to stay focused on learning the craft and writing for fun and to practice because publishing is a TOUGH business. To say you have to have a thick skin for the criticism that will undoubtedly come your way when a book is published is an understatement. Maybe that's what I was doing in June - preparing my skin for what was to come. Because boy, did it come.


July
My seventh YA novel

When I did a librarian event in October, I had a librarian come up to me, so excited to tell that this is probably her favorite YA novel that she's read in the past ten years. It's one of the best compliments I've ever received about my writing. I could tell you the other things that have said about this book, but I'm not going to. I'm going to focus on the positive. Every day I try to remind myself I don't write for the people who dislike my books, I write for the books who DO like them. Not always easy to remember, but I try!


August
Time for some fun

I saw James Bay in concert. I took my husband to see Wicked for the first time (my third time, his first). I ate lots of peaches. Did a fun event at Seattle University Bookstore with some other authors. Soaked up the sun. (I miss you, sun!). 

September
College, here he comes

There was a lot of shopping in September. A lot of "making lists and checking them twice" to make sure he'd have everything he needed. He's only two hours away, but still, I wanted to get it right. It's hard to leave home and it made me feel better to know we'd done everything we could to make his new room as comfy and cozy as possible. 

October
New York City!

This was probably the highlight of the year! Oh, we had so much fun, my husband and me. It was great to lunch with my editors and to see the places where books are made and where dreams come true. I want to go back again soon. It had been four years since I'd been there (my first time), and it was too long. Next time I want to go with my husband in the late spring or early fall when it's much warmer. It was a little too cold at times for me. 

November
Switching gears

After some disappointing news, I did some soul searching and decided to work on something new. It's secret. Super secret. I've only told a few people. I love it. I'm going to keep working on it because I want to finish it and because I think it's good, dang it. This business has been and always will be a roller coaster. The main thing is to keep writing through it all, and that's what I always try to do.

December
A sad month

There were four sad days in December, when I logged in to Social Media and felt my heart break for myself and friends who had lost someone wonderful. I don't really have it in me to elaborate so I'll just leave you with this thought that I posted on my author FB page. 

As I look ahead to the new year, I want to do a better job remembering that the best things in life are the little things and the best friends/family in life are the ones who are always happy to see you, and to treasure them every day. 

Happy new year!!

A look back - 2014

As I sit down to write this, I'm like, will I have much of anything to fill up this year's review? I honestly don't know. That's why it's good that I do these - my memory ain't what it used to be, that's for sure. If I hadn't done this the past 4-5 years, I might not remember that it was in 2012 I got to be a cupcake judge. OMG, so much fun. In 2013, I went to Arizona, Vegas, Manzanita, and San Diego and I wrote FOUR books. So let's see how 2014 stacked up.

January, February, March
Skype and Sunsets

I took a lot of photos of sunsets last winter. I have no idea why, but I love them! And I hope this winter provides as many opportunities for some colorful scenery as last winter. January and February are my least favorite months, mostly because of the gray and darkness. My calendar says I did a lot of Skype visits during those three months too. Other than that, I was working on a YA manuscript that eventually sold and will be out in 2015!

April
Howdy, Texas Librarians

I love the Texas Librarian Association conference so much. One year I met and chatted with Suzanne Collins on the way home, at the airport. It's fun telling kids I've met Suzanne Collins - gives me Cred, yo.

I did a presentation on Skyping and signed Advanced Review Copies of THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU, which went really well. It's always a little anxiety-producing when you're signing books at a conference. Unless you're John Green or Veronica Roth or Cassandra Claire. For mid-list authors, it's anxiety-producing, because you never know if people will show up. But Jennifer Ziegler and I were paired up and we ran out of books, so yay!


May
Charmed Life #1 and #2

CAITLIN'S LUCKY CHARM and MIA'S GOLDEN BIRD were both released in May. After working so hard on this series for most of 2013, it was fun to finally have the first two books out for people to read.

In May I also led a Young Writer's Workshop at Powell's, which is always a good time. I was at Powell's a lot in May, actually. I went to three author events during the month, one of them for my Scholastic editor, which was fun, because we finally got to meet in person!

June
Suz and Summer

For the month of June, my timeline on Facebook is filled with happy-making things and sweet pictures - the rose garden, strawberries, kids getting out of school, etc. Makes me happy just looking and remembering. I am a summer girl, for sure. My friend Suzanne came to Oregon for a signing, and it was fun to hang out a little bit.

During May and June, I was working on a new manuscript. Just recently, I've gone back to that manuscript to try and make it better/stronger (the bionic manuscript?). Fingers crossed it will sell!

July
New book times two

The third CHARMED LIFE book came out along with my sixth YA novel, THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU. Here I am at a signing with a bunch of other YA authors (I think the signing happened in August, actually, a little bit after the book was officially released).

Along with all of the new books out in the world excitement, my family went to Sunriver over fourth of July and Crater Lake after that and we had SO much fun. I want to go again this year but not sure it's in the cards. Er, checking account. Boo.

August
I love Outlander, apparently

On my calendar for the month are appointments and the premiere of Outlander. Haha. Well, I loved the book and in case you are new here, I love TV. Obviously. Story is story, so I feel no shame. Oh, and someone challenged me to do the ice bucket challenge, but I chose to send donations out instead. Because I'm a wimp. Brrrr... But the BEST thing about August was the office makeover that I started. It was ugly at first, but starting is often the hardest part.

September
I Heart Booksellers

I attended the Pacific NW Bookseller's Conference up in Washington, which was awesome. More work on the office. And another project - going through a box of letters from my grandma's college days and beyond. Such a treasure trove of stuff. And something there inspired me to start a new YA novel, which I did in November.

October
Vegas and a Video


No, not that kind of video. An educational one. Come on!

Some months you just have a TV show on your calendar. Other months, you get to go to Vegas for the book festival AND have a film crew come to your house. October was fun, man. And I had my best hair day EVER (thanks to my first visit to a blow-dry bar.) Here's what I learned while filming a video segment for Scholastic to promote MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS. I would never make it as an actor. But it sure would be awesome to be famous and have someone blow out my hair for me every day.





November
NaNoWriMo

I participated in National Novel Writing Month, where everyone tries to write 50,000 words in a month, but I didn't "win." I'm not a super fast drafter. I mean, I do okay, at about 1,000 words a day, but to win at NaNoWriMo, you have to do like 1,667 words a day, and that is just not me. I finished the month with about 30,000 words, so although I didn't get a badge or whatever you get (which, come on, maybe if there was a better prize, I might have tried harder to win. Write 50,000 words and get a new car! I think we need Oprah to sponsor NaNoWriMo.) I did get a good start on a new book, and for that, I'm grateful!

December
a Disney Vacation

A couple of rejections in November and December made me decide to go back to work, kind of. Worrying about money sucks! Anyway, I'm now subbing for our school district, which is great because I have lots of flexibility and don't have to work if I don't want to. Have to admit, even after all this time, rejections still sting. But it's amazing what a little sunshine and warm temperatures will do for this girl's attitude. We went to Disney World for the first part of winter break and had an amazing time. I came home and got back to work. I'm not a fan of roller-coaters, the real life ones or the emotional ones, but it's part of the job when it comes to publishing. As always, it's the writing that I love, and when I focus on that, it's all good.

Looking ahead, I'm excited about the books I have coming out this year!

On 2/24/15, MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS (ages 8+) will be here! It's gotten some lovely reviews, which I'll share with you next time.

And on 7/28/15, ALL WE HAVE IS NOW (ages 12+) will be released. Two amazing authors have blurbed it, which is exciting. More on that to come as well.

Happiest of new years to you, and may 2015 bring all kinds of good things your way!

A look back - 2013

As we approach a new year, I think back to the past year and it's kind of one big blur of writing in my mind. I mean, I wrote a LOT. How much? I'm going to break it down, month by month, so I can really see how much. Here we go! (click on the pictures if you want to see one better)

January
My fifth YA novel

Falling For You came out January 1, 2013. Blah. January releases kind of suck, if you want to know the truth. It's actually selling much better since it came out in paperback the first part of December. Someone even snapped a picture of it in a Fred Meyer store up in Washington. How exciting! Besides the release, the highlight of January was traveling to Tempe, Arizona to stay with my mom for a couple of days while I also did an event at the fabulous Changing Hands bookstore. I got to hang out with my good friend, Suzanne Young and other YA writers for a while. Writing-wise, I was working on a YA novel that I was excited about. I also had my first conversation with my Scholastic editor at the end of January about the MG series I'd be writing.

photo credit: Vy's blog

February
I love Vegas

It seems I go to Vegas at least once a year. I can't help it - my girl Lindsey Leavitt lives there. So when I get the chance to go, I go. We did an all-day event with some other YA authors at one of the public libraries there. Lindsey picked me up the day before the event and she took me to Cafe Rio where I had the best taco salad of my entire life. I still dream about that salad from time to time. We made a video together for one of our favorite librarians, Sarah. I think I lost some money gambling, but I can't quite remember because I pushed that out of my memory forever, as you are supposed to do when you're in Vegas. Also in February, I did an event at Powell's on my birthday with Kimberly Derting. It was SO much fun. I really got into the game we played, in case you can't quite tell by this photo. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I squeezed in time to work on the super sekrit YA project. I'd had some disappointment in the YA arena around another book, so I was writing a book simply for the fun of it (or so I told myself).

March
Poison and Skyping

March marked the release of the YA novel Poison by Bridget Zinn, a friend and Portland author who lost her life to cancer far too soon. Her husband along with Holly Westlund and the great folks at A Children's Place Bookstore organized a fantastic multi-author signing and celebration. Over 100 books were sold, and it was just a fantastic evening. I did a few Skype visits in March and finished Book #1 in the CHARMED LIFE series.

April
More Skyping, a school visit, and SOLD!

I did more Skype visits in April, and also got out and did a live, in-person event at an elementary school  (Valley Catholic) just a few minutes from my house. I love it when that happens! My son was heavy into track at this point, so there were lots of track meets happening. On April 10th, five days before it was due, I turned in book #1 to my editor. AND, what do you know, that YA novel I was writing, just for the fun of it, sold to Scholastic. It's now titled THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU and comes out July, 2014. I wrote this post after the book sold (without saying as much) about how this particular book saved me at a time when I wondered if maybe I was done writing YA. And last but not least, I turned in CHARMED LIFE #2 the end of April. Whew!

May
Mt. View Middle School

Yay, another in-person school visit this month, even closer to my house! Mt. View Middle School asked me to come and speak to the students who participated in their reading program and met their goals, and of course I said I'd be happy to do that. I talked for a little while, and then they gave away some books, sold some books, had cake, and a good time was had by all. Or so I hope. I was working hard on edits for books 1 and 2 as well as the YA novel, but I still managed to do a few more Skype visits AND get outside for some fresh air, sunshine, and tulips. All work and no play makes a writer CRANKY. Always remember this little fact. Always.

June
Sunshine and Stormy

I walk my dog, Stormy, every day. Every single day, pretty much, for 30 - 60 minutes. If we haven't gotten a walk in by 3:00, she comes and tells me in no uncertain terms it's time to go. And so we do. It's good for me and it's good for her. But one day, it wasn't quite so good. She stuck her nose into a beautiful little Japanese maple tree, with leaves that hung down and touched the ground, and discovered a cat was hiding in there. The cat scratched her. At the time, I didn't realize how bad it was. But a week or two later, her eye got really awful looking. Turns out, the scratch created an ulcer on her cornea and it took many, many vet appointments trying different procedures until we finally found one that worked. She had to wear the cone of shame and have drops in her eyes four times a day for WEEKS. It was miserable. And of course, we had a vacation scheduled in June, so our friends/neighbors who had agreed to take care of her had to keep up with the cone and the drops while we were gone. The good news is we were in sunny San Diego for a week, and we had a blast. As you can tell by the smiles on our faces. I'm ready to go back. Right now. Today. Please?

July
Revisions and Relay

I love alliteration, in case you couldn't tell. July was spent revising my face off. Lots and lots of revising, on lots of different books. I also did the Relay for Life at the end of the month to raise money to kick cancer's arse. Stupid cancer.

August
Manzanita retreat

Lindsey came my way for a change and we went to Manzanita where we spent a few days looking out at the beautiful beach as we wrote and revised. I can specifically remember writing the first couple of chapters of CHARMED LIFE #3 while we were there. Of course, we got out of the house too, and visited the famous Haystack rock, ate clam chowder at Mo's, shopped at Cannon Beach and some other fabulous things. I also took her to the grilled cheese bus in Portland after her plane landed. Mmmmm... grilled cheese.

September

Frosting and Friendship

Another release - this time, the third and final book in the "It's Raining Cupcakes" trilogy, and my tenth book baby overall. Ten!? Kind of unbelievable. I was so busy writing and revising and retreating, I didn't even think to schedule a signing event for this book. Eep! Hopefully I will schedule something in 2014 for the new series, and if kids want to bring their books to be signed then, I'm happy to do so. I turned in book #3 this month! Only one more to go, due December 1st. Could I do it, I wondered? In the personal department, my nephew was born. He had kind of a rough start, but he's doing great now!

October
Presenting... me

Along with working on the fourth and final book in the series, I did a presentation at the Oregon Association of School Librarians on Skyping with authors and also drove up to Longview, WA for Teen Read Week and spoke to teens there about how books can help us through hard times.

November
Some good news

That I can't share yet. And lots of writing. Because the fourth book was due, remember? And of course, because that book was due, I got a new idea for a YA novel that wouldn't leave me alone. So I worked on it here and there, as I could, after I got my required writing done for the day. Um, what else? Some Skype visits. Book club. Turkey and pumpkin pie. Mmmm.... pie.

December
Ready for a nap, but it's December, and no naps allowed (unless you're a baby)

I turned in the fourth and final book on Monday, December 2nd. My editor turned around and got me her notes pretty quickly, so I revised while I Christmas shopped on-line. And still, the secret YA project called to me. It's now winter break, and I get up early every day and write while the rest of the family sleeps in. It's pretty awesome. I have 75 pages finished. I'd love to have a draft finished by the end of January, but we'll see.

So there it is. A pretty good year, all-in-all. Of course, no big awards, no best-seller lists, no movie news for me, but that's okay.  I'm doing a job I really enjoy that gives me lots of time to taxi my non-driving teens around and walk the dog every day and cook dinner every night (except Fridays, when we get pizza. Yay pizza!).

When I wrote my wrap-up a year ago, I imagined myself mostly chained to my desk for an entire year. I'm glad to see that wasn't actually the case. As I look ahead to the new year, I'm ready to fill the well in a big way. I'm hoping to take piano lessons. Work out more. Read more. Find sunny places to visit. Eat delicious taco salads and grilled cheese sandwiches with friends. I'm really, really looking forward to 2014.

If you got this far, thanks for reading! I hope the new year is filled with all of the people you love and your favorite things, and that it's a happy and healthy year for all of us!

Love,
Lisa

My year in writing - 2012

Here we go - a look back at the past year!

January

Saying good-bye is never easy

January marked my two year anniversary of quitting the day job. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to write for a living. I saw John and Hank Green when they came to Portland, which was fun. But mostly, I remember being sad in January because my good friend, Suzanne Young, moved to Arizona. On a positive note, The Day Before was an Oregon Book Award finalist!

February

A trip to Utah

I spent a long weekend in Utah at a writing retreat with friends Lindsey Leavitt, Rachel Hawkins, Emily Wing Smith, and Irene Latham. I was working hard on revisions for Falling for You at the time. Seems like just yesterday we were writing and talking and getting milkshakes and watching the finale of season 2 for Downton Abbey, and now Falling for You is out!

March

Me? A cupcake judge!? AWESOME!

I took an amazing trip to Rhode Island to be a part of Cupcake Madness, an annual fundraiser to raise money for Hazard Castle. I signed books and ate cupcakes. And the weather was incredible, so I even spent some time before the event on the beautiful beach. A great trip! To round out the month of cupcakes, I sold a third book to Aladdin, called Frosting and Friendship, coming out September of 2013!

April

A busy month! 
I drove four hours south, down to Grants Pass Oregon and had a really fun school visit at South Middle School. The librarian, teachers and kids were AWESOME! A couple of weeks later, I flew to Chicago for the International Reading Assoc. conference. Deep dish pizza - mmmmm.

May
Hello Blackhawk Middle School!

When a teacher outside of Chicago e-mailed me in early April about visiting her school, I had to see if we could tie it in to the trip I already had planned for IRA. It worked out beautifully, and the visit at Blackhawk Middle School was a huge success. I did three presentations for each of the grades and signed lots of books. This is a picture of a wall of poems the kids wrote after reading one of my verse novels.

June

ALA and Hawaii!

The Day Before came out in paperback and ARCs for Falling For You were ready. I went to the American Library Assoc. conference (ALA) in Anaheim where I participated in the YA Koffee Klatch and signed ARCs at S&S's booth. Here I am with my buds Lindsey Leavitt and Jessi Kirby. Love these girls! After that, the family and I took off for a vacation in Maui. June was a very, very good month!

July

A month of revision

My oldest son had his wisdom teeth pulled the end of July. And I spent most of the month revising a manuscript that ended up not selling. Disappointing, yes, but in the long run, perhaps it's for the best. July was not the best month. You win some, you lose some, right?

August
A trip to Los Angeles
I flew to L.A. to hang out with friends at the SCBWI conference. We had a blast! We ate good food, we brainstormed plots, and we danced the night away on the patio. I came home and started work on a new manuscript. August made up for a crappy July.

September

It's a writing kind of month
Spent most of the month working on a new manuscript. Sprinkles and Secrets came out in paperback.

October

A trip to Houston

Tweens Read is an all-day book festival specifically geared toward 5th - 8th graders. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this great event. It was an awesome day where I participated on a panel and signed books. Here I am with authors Diana Lopez, Claire Legrand, and Shana Burg.

November

Lots of writing

While lots of other writers participated in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month), I worked on a secret something-something. And I got 20,000 words written on a new YA manuscript that I'm very excited about. I'm hoping to work on this and maybe finish it in January.

December

Editorial revisions 

In 2011, I sold a fantasy middle grade novel to Henry Holt. December was the month of editorial revisions for that novel. I worked really hard on them, and I think the book is better for it. I hope soon we'll nail down a title, and that 2013 brings more news about this book that I can share! I also got some good news I can't share yet - hopefully soon!

***

Overall, it was a good year. A fun year. I did enough traveling that it kept things interesting while I wasn't so busy that I couldn't write. I did write quite a bit.

There will be less traveling and more writing in 2013. Probably more writing than I've ever done in a year - and that will be the challenge. I'm excited and terrified!!

2013 also brings two new releases for me - Falling For You, my fifth YA novel, and Frosting and Friendship, my third MG novel. I'm so thankful for my readers, who have supported me over the years. Thank you for allowing me to make a living at this writing thing. It's hard work a lot of the time, but it's also a lot of fun.

Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for everyone!

My year in writing - 2011

I did this last year, and thought I'd do it again this year. It's nice to have a summary of the year to remember all the fun I had.

January

Baby it's cold in Utah

January marked my one year anniversary of quitting the day job. It felt so good to make it to that year mark. As for writing, I was revising a YA novel I'd written in the fall. I worked on it during a writing retreat my friend, Lindsey Leavitt, hosted in Utah. So much fun. That's me with rock star author, Becca Fitzpatrick.

February

One day, forever changed

I have written books about love and loss, healing and hope. But nothing can really prepare you for losing a dear friend. On February 23rd, I got the call that Lisa had passed away. A few hours later, I got the call that I had sold my first fantasy middle-grade novel to Holt. As it says in THE DAY BEFORE, "Life is the bad with all the good. The deadly sharks with the beautiful sea stars."

March

Tri-Cities, here I come and Hello, are you serious?

I attended the Cavalcade of Authors in Washington the first part of March and it was SO much fun! Look at all of those kids, excited about reading and writing. I did three back-to-back workshops on revising and then spent the afternoon signing and answering questions. Later in the month, I got the call that CHASING BROOKLYN was a RITA finalist. I'd finally get to go to NYC!!!

April

Paperback releases and YAY Scholastic
IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES and CHASING BROOKLYN both came out in paperback in April. I also got word that Scholastic had picked up I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME and CHASING BROOKLYN for book clubs/fairs in the fall. This made me all kinds of happy. Honestly, getting books picked up by Scholastic has been one of the best things that has happened to me career-wise.

May

I love Oregon Trail Elementary!
The highlight of May was definitely the elementary school visit I did. The K-2nd graders went on an imagination safari with me and Little Chimp from LITTLE CHIMP'S BIG DAY while the 3rd-5th graders learned how baking up cupcakes is a lot like baking up stories. Thanks to my friend Jenn who helped make the school visit happen. I loved every minute of it.

June

THE DAY BEFORE and NYC!!

My fourth YA novel released in June and for the most part, was positively received by readers. The end of June, I headed to New York City for the RITA awards, where I had lunch with my agent, met my fabulous editors in person, had a cupcake party at the S&S offices, and signed books at Books of Wonder. June was an amazing month. More months like June, please!

July

Vegas, baby!

When you combine Lindsey Leavitt and Lifehouse, Lisa Schroeder will be unable to say no. Lindsey tweeted me one day - Lifehouse will be here in two weeks. Wanna come visit? Yes. Yes I do. And so off I went. And what a fun weekend we had, even if it was about 133 degrees outside. Crystal Perkins, the amazing bookseller at B&N even threw together a signing for me. Awesome.

August
Summer time, fun time
August was all about enjoying the nice weather that we'd been longing for here in Oregon and preparing for the release of SPRINKLES AND SECRETS. I made a bunch of videos dressed as a cupcake, which you can see on youtube if you'd like by searching for "Fun with Cupcakes Lisa Schroeder."

September

SPRINKLES AND SECRETS
Yay, after months and months of kids asking if there would be another book about Isabel and Sophie, I could finally say Yes there is and you can read the book now! I also started writing a new book - a YA novel with four different POVs. Oh boy.

October

Wordstock with special thanks to Sara Gundell

I love this picture like WHOA! Hung out with my pals Lindsey Leavitt, Suzanne Young, Sara Gundell, and Corey Whaley, who I hadn't met until Wordstock but fell madly in love with because he is the type of guy you just can't help but adore. The panel with Lindsey, Corey and myself was awesome and I want to do it again. Please, someone invite us - we're an entertaining trio and you will LOVE us! Thanks Sara, for making it happen!

November

Hit me Vegas, one more time

I couldn't resist. I went to Vegas again! My sweet friend, Suzanne Young, and I shared a room and participated in the Vegas Book Festival with a whole bunch of amazing authors. We also played the Wizard of Oz penny slots while drinking Coronas and had a magical night with Dorothy. I'm ready to go again. Suz??

December

First draft done!!

I finished the year with a new YA manuscript. Yay! I'm getting ready to send it off to a beta reader and after that, to my agent. The new year will bring revisions on contracted books (one of which I haven't even announced yet, but hopefully SOON), a new middle grade fantasy I want to write, and a couple of trips I'm really excited about. The best one? A trip to Rhode Island in March to participate as a JUDGE at an event called Cupcake Madness!

I have the best job in the world!! And I just realized I saw Lindsey four months out of twelve this year. Thank you, God. You obviously gave me what I really needed.

Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for everyone!

xoxo
Lisa

My year in writing - 2010

Inspired by Shannon Messenger's month-by-month look back, I thought I'd do something similar. I like the idea of having this post to look back on when I'm having a bad day/week/month to remind myself I can be productive when I really put my mind to it.

January

New book, new career, new story:

On January 5th, my third novel, Chasing Brooklyn was released. It received good reviews. Many readers told me it was their favorite book of mine yet. I breathed a big sigh of relief. On January 15th, I worked my last day at the day job so I could write full-time. I should have been on top of the world, but I received some rejections that I had to shake off, and it wasn't easy. But somehow, I did it, and the end of January saw me beginning a brand new story. 

February

The month of love

On February 4th, I wrote this in a blog post about disappointment: "Believe it or not, I'm now thankful for that disappointment! Isn't that amazing? I'm actually THANKFUL for it! Because I am now writing a  story that I love with my WHOLE, ENTIRE HEART." 

March

A dream come true filled with cupcakes

Middle grade fiction has always held a special place in my heart. The first three novels I wrote (that were not good enough to be published) were middle grade. The strongest memories I have from my childhood around books and reading are during the middle grade years. Books were a lifeline for me then. So what a thrill to have my first middle grade book released to the world. And even more fun? Having a book release party with CUPCAKES!!

In addition to the release, in the middle of March, I sent a new verse novel manuscript to my agent. She replied back, after reading it, "I LOVE this book." 

April

It's going to be a book, hello Texas, and a companion

It's always a good month when a book sells. And the book I worked on night and day for two months, The Day Before, sold to Simon Pulse. And then I was off to San Antonio, for TLA, where I did a panel with Sonya Sones and Ellen Hopkins. Wow, I had SO much fun at that conference, and trust me when I say Texas Librarians are AWESOME! A highlight of that trip was chatting with Suzanne Collins (THE HUNGER GAMES) on the Skylink train in the Dallas airport. When I got home, I began working on a companion novel for It's Raining Cupcakes.

May

Rochester and a new story

The highlight of May was definitely the Rochester Teen Book Festival. So fun meeting all kinds of amazing writers, including Joanne Levy who I sat by at dinner one night, and my on-line friends Deena and Kate from the Author2Author blog. And how many times does a person get a POSTER made of him/her? So cool. The end of May, I started writing a new MG novel, while we waited to hear back on the proposal and five chapters for the companion novel to It's Raining Cupcakes.

June

LOTS of writing

I wrote fast and furious the first two weeks of June. I finished one middle grade novel and then decided, on a whim, to fast draft the rest of the companion novel to It's Raining Cupcakes. Yes, lots and lots of writing. And then revisions came for The Day Before and I spent long hours every day working on that. A vacation to Disneyland at the end of the month was a welcome break. And a signing at Vroman's, where I met Shannon Messenger, Alyson Beacher, Christine Henderson, and others I'm forgetting right now. Ack!

July

LOTS of revising and a sale!!

More revisions for The Day Before. And, hooray, Aladdin buys the companion novel to It's Raining Cupcakes, which stays untitled for the next few months. And of course, lots of summer fun.

August

LA SCBWI, Write On Conference, and The Contemps

The SCBWI in LA is always a fun time and this was no exception. Lindsey and I scored a suite and we were the talk of the conference. Ah, good times. The first annual Write On Conference was a huge success and I was honored to be a part of it, with my video on writing romance in YA. AND, what an exciting time, launching the new group of contemporary authors called The Contemps. 

September

Welcome to the world Little Chimp, and more revisions

I sold Little Chimp's Big Day a long, long time ago. When it finally released, it was almost like - I wrote this? Yes, I did. And Lisa McCue's illustrations are so adorable, and what fun to do a reading and signing with a group of little kids and share Little Chimp with them. And my friends Lisa and Sara too, who were so kind to drop by.

I spent most of the month in revision mode. Again. For the companion novel to Cupcakes.

October

A title, FINALLY and a new story

We decide on the title Sprinkles and Secrets for the follow-up book to Cupcakes. Yay! I love it, it's perfect! And I start in on a new YA project. It is nice to be out of revision mode and back to writing something new.

November

New web site, lots of writing and cover revealed

I moved my web site over to blogger to save money and to make it easier to update it myself. So far, I'm happy with that decision. I continued working on the YA novel, none of it very easy going this time. I just kept telling myself, keep writing, keep writing, keep writing.

And, I got the cover for The Day Before. When I shared it with the world, the reaction was very, very positive. So excited to share Amber's story with the world in June!!

December

First draft done!!

I finished the year with a fourth manuscript complete. Yay! I will work on revising it in January and then, see what my agent thinks. There's a middle grade novel up there in June that has been in a bit of limbo for a while, but I'm crossing my fingers for good things for that book (one really close to my heart) in 2011!! 

Wishing you all much success, as well as health and happiness, in the new year!