News

First: I did a mini-interview with Patricia at Tangled Up in Words here. You can read about my favorite moment and my favorite thing about my publishing journey, and the thing I wish I’d known sooner. Second: congratulations are in order for a few of my favorite people. My friend Miranda Kenneally just announced a two-book deal for her books PLAYING PARKER and BAD, BAD THING. You can read more about them here. I loved her book CATCHING JORDAN and I seriously hope she’ll let me beta so I can read these early! Also, my CP Jackie Dolamore announced her new fantastic two-book deal for DARK METROPOLIS last week, and you can read more about that here. Congratulations, fabulous ladies! Now…today is September 7. Do you know what that means? Only five more months until BORN WICKED! And it’s time to give away another ARC! Plus, there are a bunch... Read More

Happy September!!! I am both elated and mildly terrified that it’s here. OMG there is so much to do! There’s this whole sequel-writing thing, and people are starting to get ARCs and read BORN WICKED, and I did not do ALL THE THINGS in August the way I wanted to. In fact, I do not really have a new-lifestyle routine in place yet! Yesterday I was feeling very emo-hedgehog-y about it all. But you know what? CHIN UP, BUTTERCUP. (That is one of the things I tell myself when I am feeling overwhelmed. You have random inspirational mantras too, right?)     Let’s make a YAY, SEPTEMBER! list instead. Ready? YAY, SEPTEMBER! REASONS I LOVE YOU Boots Sweaters Dresses and tights and cardis Open windows Drinking hot tea instead of iced tea A new yoga studio that opened 5 blocks from my house Apples and butternut squash (and apple-squash soup)... Read More

My grandfather passed away today. He’s struggled with Alzheimers for the last 5+ years and seemed to go downhill rapidly after my grandmother died 3 years ago. Earlier this summer my family made the difficult decision to place him in a retirement home. I can’t help feeling that his death is a blessing in some ways, but I’m mourning the amazing man I grew up with: a schoolteacher and a football coach, a World War II veteran, a generous and gregarious father and grandfather. Here’s something I wrote about him back in 2006. When I was a little girl, he and I played school bus, lining up smooth wooden chairs in a double row and placing a doll or stuffed animal in each seat. We took walks through the fields behind the big red barn, my hand in his leathery one, carefully avoiding cow pies, to visit with the horses.... Read More

LOOK WHAT I JUST GOT. I knew Penguin was doing a giant mailing yesterday, but the package blew me away. It’s gorgeous. There’s an invitation to meet Miss Catherine Cahill, and it’s got a gorgeous rose wax seal, and there’s a mysterious letter from the book, and there’s the galley itself. And it all comes inside a pretty BORN WICKED be-stickered package. That crazy look on my face? That is because I am constantly amazed at how fantastic and supportive my publisher is. Amazed and very, very grateful.