Tag Archives: friends

Champagne for all!

My friend and fellow Heartlander Barb Stuber sold her first novel, a YA called CROSSING THE TRACKS!!!

Karen Wojtyla, executive editor at Margaret K. McElderry, a division of Simon and Schuster, and clearly a woman of extraordinary taste, says novel is lyrical and haunting, wrapped her in an embrace and spoke to her heart. And having read much of CROSSING THE TRACKS, I can attest to that. Put this on your MUST BUY list for 2010.

Congratulations, Barb and your wondeful agent Ginger Knowlton! May this be the first of many celebrations for your partnership!

Quick!

1. Happy birthday Sister #4!!
2. Happy birthday jamarattigan !!
3. John Green Is Made of Awesome!
4. Kelly Fineman Is Made of Awesome!
5. My elementary BFF Michelle Is Also (say it with me now) Made of Awesome.
5. I’m sort of almost caught up on reading everyone’s LJs, just in time to get another three weeks’ behind.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hope to see you again before the year is out!

No small thrill

Jon Bard, managing editor of Children’s Book Insider, showcases my interview with dynamo Laura Manivong at KidLit Central at his vlog:

Hey! There’s my little mouse dude, doing his Tom Cruise impersonation!

Completely unrelated sidebar: I passed John Green a note from Kelly Fineman yesterday. It felt a lot like Study Hall 1983. John even said, "I love Kelly" after he tried unsuccessfully to open my high school note-folding origami.

More on the nerdfighter tour later!

Monday recap of Ultra Super Exciting Weekend!!!

hello all! Still overworked and underpaid, but thought I’d swing by for some quick recaps. Since we last spoke, I:

1. Rocked all night with Chris, Will and the other Coldplay boys. Their opening acts (yes, multiple) were cool, too. Can’t go wrong with a band whose lead singer references The Flying Burrito Brothers in his banter.

2. Spent a raucous movie night at my kids’ school, watching Kung Fu Panda and learning how to break wood. No, I wasn’t one of the lucky folk picked to actually break wood (I took pictures for the yearbook instead), but I now know how to balance my weight and find the right pitch to grunt at it should I ever in the future think it a good idea to break wood in half with my fist.

3. Caravaned (sort of) with my supersized family to rural Illinois to surprise Sister No. 4 for her birthday party/co-party with niece turning 14 and watch my nephew play in the state championship football semifinals (they lost). Then we trekked back to St. Louis for a supersized Italian dinner and copious wine.


The next morning. Only half of us made it up in time for the walking tour of the riverfront.

 

4. Stuffed myself, one thrill-seeking son, one birthday girl niece and one recently licensed nephew in the tiny elevator/torture chamber that takes adventurous souls to the top of the Gateway Arch. We were the only ones brave (foolish?) enough to go. It was cool, I’d do it again!


The spot of red in the green here is No. 1 son, firmly on the ground

Today: I blog at KidLit Central, where I introduce you all to the delightful lauramanivong . Come over and say hello!

Tonight: I meet up with the above Lovely Laura and Fanboy to see The Brothers Green! Whoot!

Tomorrow: I have lunch with long-lost elementary school BFF Michelle!

Ongoing: PTA!!! Fundraiser job!!! Freelance project!!!! No sleep!!!! Floundering NaNo manuscript!!!! Trying to revise CLEMENTINE for super secret agent!!!!

See you all in four weeks!
 

What’s up?

Since my last head poke up from the chaos two weeks ago, life piled upon me more, um, er, "opportunities" I couldn’t pass up. Looks like I should have a breather around, oh, Dec. 26.  Anyone have any exciting news to share? Nothing here.  

Oh wait, yes there is!   
Tomorrow I get to see these guys!
And Monday you’ll find me laughing at
him and him!  
Yay me! So I’ll leave you all with this:


 

Fun fact: Coldplay’s lead singer looks a lot like a friend of mine from high school:


Everyone say hi to Bob!
(notice the mid-’80s mobile phone latched onto the belt and the neon clothing! Gnarly!)