Thankful Thursday - a successful shopping trip

Yesterday, I took the day off from revisions and went to the mall.

The RWA Rita awards in NYC are just two weeks away, and in case you didn't hear the news, CHASING BROOKLYN is a finalist in the YA category. And apparently the Rita awards ceremony is a BIG deal and everyone really dresses to the nines!

I had bought a purple dress that was pretty but every time I tried it on, I thought - I will not be comfortable in this. It had little beads sewn all over it and I knew one wrong move and I'd have beads all over the floor.

I scoured the racks yesterday and luckily, I found a much simpler dress in the same color, which is good because I already had shoes, a bag, a wrap, etc. Plus, I saved $75.00! SCORE!!

I am so excited about my trip to New York City, I can hardly stand it. And remember, if you're in the area, I'll be signing books at Books of Wonder on Thursday, June 30th at 6:00 PM with three other YA authors. YAY!! I'd love it if you'd come and see me!!!!

Look what I found...

This weekend, my husband and I went for a walk while the sun decided to grace us with its presence. We were walking pretty briskly, as I like to do, so imagine my surprise when I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a four-leaf clover. I stopped, reached down to check, and sure enough, it was.

And sitting right next to it was another one and right next to THAT one was a five-leaf clover!!!

Does this mean I'm due for some good luck three times over? Wheeeee, I hope so, especially if it relates to this $*%& revision I've been working on that is about to do me in!

Look - my book!

My editor sent me a copy of THE DAY BEFORE today, hot off the presses! On my wrist is a bottle of glitter, which she tied around the book with a pretty, green ribbon. Why glitter? Well, yes, everything is better with glitter. But there's an even better reason. One you have to find out by reading the book. :)

Only a little over two weeks until it's in bookstores. Eep!

Wordless Wednesday

Three. More. Weeks! And NYC book signing!

Just three more weeks until THE DAY BEFORE hits stores!

Eeeep!

Some tweets I've accidentally seen tell me some early readers love it. And some, not so much. But that's just the way the pages fall. Ha! I'm trying to avoid reviews right now - lots of bloggers have been reading it, and while I'm working on this huge, difficult revision, I have to stay as strong and as confident as I can.

It is not a secret - my books are different. They just are. I'm not going to apologize for that or feel badly that some people won't like them or get them because they are different. There is a lot on the shelves right now that is similar. Sometimes a change of pace is nice, right?

Man, I hope so.

My friend, Shannon Messenger, who is all kinds of awesome, helped me with a book trailer, so watch for that to be revealed on release day - June 28th!

The most exciting news to share with you today - I'm doing a book signing at Books of Wonder! This is a DREAM COME TRUE! In case you don't know, Books of Wonder is this awesome children's book store in New York City I've always wanted to visit and now I don't get to just visit, I get to be an author reading from my book and signing too! To make it even more fun, my friend, Kimberly Derting is doing it with me, signing copies of her books THE BODY FINDER and DESIRES OF THE DEAD.

If you are in the New York City area, please come and see us! We'll be there Thursday, June 30th at 6:00 p.m.

My first Booklist review

When the e-mail from my editor landed in my inbox yesterday, I couldn't open it for a minute. Even though I'd heard Booklist doesn't give bad reviews, they only review books they like, I was scared.

Maybe I'm alone in this, but my writerly confidence goes up and down like a roller coaster. Some days it's fine and I feel okay, and some days, not so much. I've been in a lower place these past couple of weeks for some reason. Mostly I try really hard to just keep my head down, ignore it, and put that anxious energy into my work. After all, this is my job now. I need to write whether I am feeling good about my writing and my career or not. Yes, easier said than done some days.

Anyway, I eventually opened the e-mail. And it made me smile. Booklist has never reviewed me before, so it was especially sweet for that reason. Here it is:

Issue: June 1, 2011
The Day Before

Schroeder is the author of several teen books, including I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME (2009), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers. Reluctant or not, readers will find plenty of appeal factors in this outing. The basic frame is a sort of noir Ferris Bueller's Day Off, in which two teens decide to spend a perfect day together before their respective fates claim them." (Spoilers omitted) "Cade, meanwhile, is handsome and brooding -- and his particular crisis delivers a punch at the novel's end. Schroeder has Amber narrate through free verse, the kind of jottings that might appeal to teens used to texting. This device gives Amber's revelations an immediacy and economy that add up to a surprising amount of tension. Fans of Lisa McMann's Wake series should gobble this up." -- Connie Fletcher

WINNER of THE DAY BEFORE ARC and other goodies

I am laughing at myself. And you guys!!!

I have no idea why I said - please leave a nice comment for the contest entry.

Why did I include the word "nice?" I have NO idea. But it cracked me up to read some of the entries, because I could tell some people were like - is this a nice enough comment? How nice to I have to be? Do I have to be ALL KISSY-KISSY I LOVE YOU nice?

Oh. My. Gosh. It just cracked me up.

I'm sorry you guys! I really didn't mean anything by it. I meant - just comment. I promise! Please don't think that I was implying you guys *aren't* nice. Okay? Please?

*big sigh after lots of laughter*

That was fun, huh?

Sorry I'm posting this late but HOLY BLOG HOP you guys, over 150 entries, with more than half of those also tweeting about it for an extra entry!? That is INSANE!! It took a while to compile all of the entries and throw them into the random number generator.

I wish I could give all of you a prize! But, if you're interested in reading THE DAY BEFORE it goes on sale June 28, 2011! It's a great beach read, if I do say so myself. :)

Okay, the winner is LIBRARY LADY! Yay, congratulations! I hope you enjoy your jelly beans and CD, and the book, of course. I'll send you an e-mail and get all of your contact information.

Thanks you guys!