News

Jan

I ♥ Monday

♥ Maggie Stiefvater. Her New Years’ Resolutions: The Butt-kicking Fear Edition really resonated with me. Especially this bit: Every time you make a decision or refuse to make a decision based on fear, that’s a possibility that is dead in the water. It’s a slightly shrunken world. It’s someone who you’ll never be. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder, giving name to something that I’ve struggled with forever. I am intimately acquainted with fear. It would be easy, sometimes, to let it paralyze me and go all New Moon Bella Swan. It’s tempting, because frankly it takes a lot of effort otherwise. I suspect it’s temping for lots of writers, because what we do is scary and hard almost as often as it’s fun and rewarding. But whatever I have to do, whether it means meds or a therapist or a good butt-kicking or all...

Jan

Fashion Friday

Jessica

I’m going to SCBWI NY in a few weeks. It’s my second conference–the first being ALA, where I basically just floated around the exhibit floor in a bibliophile haze. This time I’ll actually be attending panels, hearing editors talk about the YA market and being inspired by other writers. Like Sara Zarr! Anyway, this–plus some Christmas gift certificates–is the perfect excuse to buy some professional yet fun stuff from ModCloth, right? This is what I’m thinking: First, the Let’s Be Buds dress. If you click, you can see the back, which has an awesome gold zipper. You can also see a close-up of the pattern, which looks less…upholstery…I think. With brown tights and cute red flats? I’m all about the flats for conferences. Second, the Falling For You frock. With black tights and a ruffly black cardi? Third, the Couch Tour dress. This one’s my favorite. I’m thinking a purple cardigan and...

Jan

I ♥ Monday

Jessica

♥ This Monster.com commercial, which sums up how I felt this morning, after 10 days of winter break. ♥ This website shows stunning photos of abandoned theatres. They’re lovely and haunting and I’m so, so excited that I found it. I’ve been perusing pictures of industrial ruins or abandoned city architecture as inspiration for my new project. I’m hesitant to say much about it because so many ideas have fizzled on me in the last two months since I finished Thrice. But this voice is pretty persistent. We’ll refer to it as the Dead City Theatre book here for now. ♥ Regina Spektor. I’m in the mood for lovely, haunting music. I think female vocalists. Any recs? ♥ My new website! It’s simple but pretty, I hope. And pink, of course. Bless WordPress. Eventually I hope posts will show up in both places simultaneously, but I’m not sure whether I’ve set it...

Jan

Happy 2011!

Jessica

For the last few years, I’ve tried to pick a word to focus on in the coming year. Setting an intention seems less stressful to me than resolutions. 2009’s was PATIENCE, and 2010’s was RELEASE. I’m a girl who smooths things over and wants to make sure everyone’s happy. This year I started to worry more about whether I was happy. I got a tattoo and dyed pink streaks in my hair without worrying about what everyone might think. I started to accept that I can’t give 110% to every aspect of my life–that sometimes, the dishes and laundry will totally pile up and I’ll eat microwaved soup when I’m writing and Steve’s in rehearsals. I hired a maid service before our Christmas party. I said no to invitations that weren’t an absolute yes. I stopped beating myself up for taking anti-anxiety meds. I left a concert where I was...

Dec

Best Books of 2010

Jessica

I read 78 books this year, which is less than last year’s 100. Next year I’m going to try for 100 again. But I read lots of wonderful books—so many that it was really difficult to choose my top 10 favorites. But here are 10 that I really, really loved. THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson (debut)ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins (debut)FIRE by Kristin CashorePLAIN KATE by Erin Bow (debut)IF I STAY by Gayle FormanWITHER by Lauren DeStefano (debut; ARC; pubbed March 2011)BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves (debut)RESTORING HARMONY by Joelle Anthony (debut)JANE by April Lindner (debut)THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES by Carrie Ryan You will notice that 7/10 are debuts! I try to buy and read a lot of debut authors, and I was totally rewarded this year. In fact, here are a few more that I highly recommend: FREEFALL by Mindi Scott, LOSING FAITH by Denise...

I ♥ Monday

Fashion Friday

I ♥ Monday

Happy 2011!

Best Books of 2010

FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

BOOKS AND ANTHOLOGIES

POSTS FOR WRITERS